Image forming apparatus with fixing unit adapted to fix toner including pressure-induced phase transition toner

摘要

An image forming apparatus including multiple imaging units and a fixing unit is provided. Each of the imaging units includes an image bearing member, a developing device containing a toner including a pressure-induced phase transition resin or a thermoplastic resin, a transfer device, and an image bearing member cleaner, and is adapted to form a toner image with the toner. The fixing unit includes a pressure fixing device adapted to fix the toner including the pressure-induced phase transition resin on the recording medium by applying a temperature Tb and a pressure Pb thereto in a pressure fixing nip, and a heat fixing device adapted to fix the toner including the thermoplastic resin on the recording medium by applying a temperature Ta and a pressure Pa thereto in a heat fixing nip. The image forming apparatus satisfies the following inequations: TbTa and PbPa.