Patent ID: 9395664
Filing Date: 2016-07-19
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus for use with a long sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet conveyance section configured to convey the long sheet; an image forming section configured to transfer a toner image to the long sheet; and a fixing section comprising a fixing side member configured to make contact with a fixing surface of the long sheet, a back side supporting member configured to be brought into pressure contact with the fixing side member so as to form a fixing nip, and a heating section configured to apply heat to the fixing side member, the fixing section being configured to apply heat and pressure to the long sheet conveyed along a sheet feeding path at the fixing nip so as to fix the toner image wherein, the sheet conveyance section is configured such that, during cooling-down or warming-up of the fixing section, the sheet conveyance section performs conveyance of the long sheet when a temperature of the fixing side member is higher than a predetermined idling temperature, the idling temperature being a temperature at which discoloration and deformation of the long sheet are not caused even when conveyance of the long sheet is stopped, and stops conveyance of the long sheet when the temperature of the fixing side member is lower than the predetermined idling temperature.