US Patent 7651212 Image forming apparatus and image forming method

The image forming apparatus comprises: an ink ejection device which ejects a droplet of radiation-curable ink onto a recording medium; a solvent separating device which separates a coloring material component and a solvent component in the droplet of the radiation-curable ink on the recording medium; a solvent removing device which removes the solvent component separated by the solvent separating device; and a curing device which irradiates radiation onto the droplet of the radiation-curable ink after the solvent component is removed by the solvent removing device, in such a manner that the droplet of the radiation-curable ink is cured.