Patent ID: 6687469
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:an unfixed image forming portion for causing an unfixed toner image corresponding to an image to be borne on a recording sheet; a fixing device provided with a heater for performing a heat fixing operation to the unfixed toner image to thereby fix the toner image on the recording sheet; and image formation controlling means for controlling, on the basis of a width size of a recording sheet on which a previous image formation has been effected and a detected temperature at a longitudinal end portion of the heater, a heat fixing operation in a next image forming operation, wherein the image formation controlling means has an end offset avoiding mode for inhibiting the image forming operation until the detected temperature of the end portion becomes below a preset reference temperature when the width size of a recording sheet used in the next image forming operation is broader than the width size of the recording sheet on which the previous image formation has been effected and when the detected temperature of the end portion of the heater is higher than the reference temperature, wherein the image formation controlling means has a function of enabling a selective changing-over between a performance priority mode for executing the image forming operation without inhibiting the image forming operation and the end offset avoiding mode.