Abstract: A recording medium surface property modifying apparatus is disclosed. The recording medium surface property modifying apparatus includes a conveying unit which conveys a recording medium in a predetermined direction; a discharging electrode which rotates and comes into contact with a face to be treated of the recording medium which is conveyed by the conveying unit to cause the face to be treated to be in contact with plasma to modify a surface property of the recording medium; and a hollow-shaped cover member which covers a plasma treatment unit which includes the discharging electrode, the recording medium surface property modifying apparatus further including a humidity control unit which controls, in advance, humidity of the plasma treatment unit in alignment with acidity of the recording medium which undergoes the surface property modifying treatment.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including: a toner image forming unit which forms a toner image on a surface of a transfer material, the toner image being an image formed of toner, the toner containing wax; a fixing device which fixes the toner image using a fixing member on which a mold release agent including oil is applied; and a surface processing device which processes the fixed surface of the transfer material, on which surface the toner image is fixed using the fixing member on which the mold release agent including the oil is applied, wherein the surface processing device further includes a discharging unit which generates a discharge on or near the fixed surface of the transfer material, on which surface the fixed toner image is formed.

Abstract: A surface treating apparatus configured to treat a surface of a transfer material includes a discharge part configured to cause dielectric barrier discharge on or near the surface of the transfer material where a toner image is to be formed on the surface and to cause the surface of the transfer material to be directly exposed to the dielectric barrier discharge, so as to increase the wettability of the surface of the transfer material with respect to toner for forming the toner image.

Abstract: An inkjet recording method including: (i) exposing a surface of a recording medium to non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma so as to hydrophilize the surface of the recording medium, and (ii) applying a stimulus to an ink composition so as to eject the ink composition to form an image on the recording medium, wherein the ink composition contains at least one of a pigment/water-dispersible resin particle mixture in which a pigment is dispersed along with water-dispersible resin particles and colored water-dispersible resin particles each of which is a water-dispersible resin particle which is colored.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including: a toner image forming unit which forms a toner image on a surface of a transfer material, the toner image being an image formed of toner, the toner containing wax; a fixing device which fixes the toner image using a fixing member on which a mold release agent including oil is applied; and a surface processing device which processes the fixed surface of the transfer material, on which surface the toner image is fixed using the fixing member on which the mold release agent including the oil is applied, wherein the surface processing device further includes a discharging unit which generates a discharge on or near the fixed surface of the transfer material, on which surface the fixed toner image is formed.

Abstract: To provide a highly human- and environment-friendly ink fixing method that is excellent in energy efficiency, operability and ink-fixing property and has a simple process, an ink fixing apparatus that is excellent in energy efficiency, operability and ink-fixing property and is a highly human- and environment-friendly, simple and compact apparatus, and a printer that is equipped with the ink fixing apparatus and can provide high-quality images at low cost. The ink fixing apparatus of the present invention includes at least fixing a print ink to a base material using a discharge generated between electrodes under pressure close to atmospheric pressure, wherein the print ink includes at least a non-volatile organic compound bearing a carboxylic group and includes no photopolymerization initiators.

Abstract: An inkjet recording method including: (i) exposing a surface of a recording medium to non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma so as to hydrophilize the surface of the recording medium, and (ii) applying a stimulus to an ink composition so as to eject the ink composition to form an image on the recording medium, wherein the ink composition contains at least one of a pigment/water-dispersible resin particle mixture in which a pigment is dispersed along with water-dispersible resin particles and colored water-dispersible resin particles each of which is a water-dispersible resin particle which is colored.

Abstract: To provide a highly human- and environment-friendly ink fixing method that is excellent in energy efficiency, operability and ink-fixing property and has a simple process, an ink fixing apparatus that is excellent in energy efficiency, operability and ink-fixing property and is a highly human- and environment-friendly, simple and compact apparatus, and a printer that is equipped with the ink fixing apparatus and can provide high-quality images at low cost. The ink fixing apparatus of the present invention includes at least fixing a print ink to a base material using a discharge generated between electrodes under pressure close to atmospheric pressure, wherein the print ink includes at least a non-volatile organic compound bearing a carboxylic group and includes no photopolymerization initiators.