Image forming apparatus and image forming method

An image forming apparatus which forms a primary image on an intermediate transfer body and then transfers the primary image onto a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• a movement device which moves the intermediate transfer body in a movement direction;
• a recess-projection forming device which forms a recess-projection shape in an image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body;
• a droplet ejection device which is provided on a downstream side of the recess-projection forming device in terms of the movement direction and ejects droplets of ink onto the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body in which the recess-projection shape has been formed, to form the primary image;
• a transfer recording device which is provided on a downstream side of the droplet ejection device in tell is of the movement direction and applies pressure to at least one of the intermediate transfer body and the recording medium in a state where the recording medium makes contact with the primary image foamed on the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body to transfer the primary image onto the recording medium, wherein:
• the intermediate transfer body has, in a whole of the image forming surface, a surface layer in which the recess-projection forming device forms the recess-projection shape;
• and
• the recess-projection forming device includes a pressing member with a surface having a recess-projection shape corresponding to the recess-projection shape to be formed in the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body, the pressing member being pressed against the surface layer of the intermediate transfer body to form the recess-projection shape in the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body.

An image forming method of forming a primary image on an intermediate transfer body and then transferring the primary image onto a recording medium, the image forming method comprising:

• a movement step of moving the intermediate transfer body in a movement direction;
• a recess-projection forming step of forming a recess-projection shape in an image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body;
• a droplet ejection step of ejecting droplets of ink onto the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body in which the recess-projection shape has been formed in the recess-projection forming step, to form the primary image on the intermediate transfer body;
• a transfer recording step of applying pressure to at least one of the intermediate transfer body and the recording medium in a state where the recording medium makes contact with the primary image formed on the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body after the droplet ejection step, to transfer the primary image onto the recording medium;
• and
• an application step which is provided on an upstream side of the recess-projection forming step in terms of the movement direction and applies resin material onto a whole of the image foil ling surface of the intermediate transfer body,
• wherein the recess-projection forming step includes a pressing member with a surface having a recess-projection shape corresponding to the recess-projection shape to be formed in the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body, the pressing member being pressed against the resin material on the intermediate transfer body to form the recess-projection shape in the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body.

An image forming method of forming a primary image on an intermediate transfer body and then transferring the primary image onto a recording medium, the image forming method comprising:

• a movement step of moving the intermediate transfer body in a movement direction;
• a recess-projection forming step of forming a recess-projection shape in an image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body;
• a droplet ejection step of ejecting droplets of ink onto the image foaming surface of the intermediate transfer body in which the recess-projection shape has been formed in the recess projection forming step, to form the primary image on the intermediate transfer body;
• and
• a transfer recording step of applying pressure to at least one of the intermediate transfer body and the recording medium in a state where the recording medium makes contact with the primary image formed on the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body after the droplet ejection step, to transfer the primary image onto the recording medium, wherein:
• the intermediate transfer body has, in a whole of the image forming surface, a surface layer in which the recess-projection forming step forms the recess-projection shape;
• and
• the recess-projection forming step includes a pressing member with a surface having a recess-projection shape corresponding to the recess-projection shape to be formed in the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body, the pressing member being pressed against the surface layer of the intermediate transfer body to form the recess-projection shape in the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body.