| 摘要 |
An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrying member that carries an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, and an ink holding member that is disposed in opposing relation to the latent image carrying member and holds a thin layer of conductive ink on a surface thereof. The surface of the ink holding member is formed of a conductive material and has a plurality of projecting portions. The image forming apparatus further comprising a voltage applying unit that applies, to the projecting portions, a voltage of polarity different from that of a potential of the electrostatic latent image and thereby causes the ink to jump from the projecting portions located in opposing relation to the electrostatic latent image toward the electrostatic latent image. In the image forming apparatus, the following weak inequality is satisfied: (h1+h2-h3)/(h1+h2)>/=0.1, where h1 represents height of each of the projecting portions, h2 represents thickness of the thin layer of ink on each of the projecting portions, and h3 represents thickness of the thin layer of ink between the projecting portions.
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