Image forming apparatus with space particle layer formed on transfer drum

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image bearing member;
• and
• a recording material bearing member for bearing a recording material to convey it to a transfer station where an image is transferred from said image bearing member onto the recording material, said recording material bearing member being capable of bearing a plurality of recording materials simultaneously at different positions thereon;
• wherein said apparatus is operable in a mode in which respective images are successively transferred onto first and second surfaces of each recording material, and, in said mode, when images are formed on the second surfaces of the plurality of recording materials, during a time period in which an area of said recording material bearing member with which the first surface of the recording material was previously contacted is passing through at least said transfer station without bearing the recording material, spacer particles are provided between said image bearing member and said area on said recording material bearing member to prevent transfer of oil to said image bearing member from said area on said recording material bearing member.