An image carrier is adapted to support a toner image thereon. A circulating intermediate transfer member is brought into contact with the image carrier to form a primary transfer position at which the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member. A secondary transfer member is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer member to form a secondary transfer position at which the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred onto a recording medium passing therebetween. A gate roller pair is adapted to nip the recording medium therebetween at a nipping position and to convey the nipped recording medium toward the secondary transfer position. A cleaning blade is retractably brought into contact with the intermediate transfer roller to scrape off toner remaining on the intermediate transfer roller. A conveyance speed of the recording medium at the nipping position is faster than that at the secondary transfer position. The cleaning blade is retracted from the intermediate transfer member until when a trailing end of the recording medium passes through the nipping position, in a case where the recording medium has a stiffness greater than a prescribed level.