Patent ID: 6858820
Filing Date: 2005-02-22
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing device which fixes toner on an image forming medium comprising: a fixing member which heats and fixes a toner image formed on the image forming medium on the image forming medium, and which includes a conductive member that generates heat in response to an eddy current caused by changes in a magnetic field; a first coil provided in correspondence to a first region of the fixing member and configured to provide the first region of the fixing member with changes in a magnetic field; a second coil provided in correspondence to a second region of the fixing member and configured to provide the second region of the fixing member with changes in a magnetic field; a first sensor configured to sense a temperature of the first region of the fixing member; a second sensor configured to sense a temperature of the second region of the fixing member; a control section which determines distribution amounts between first electric power to be supplied to the first coil and second electric power to be supplied to the second coil, on the basis of maximum applicable electric power, and which sets the first electric power and the second electric power on the basis of temperatures sensed by the first sensor and the second sensor in a warm-up period in which a temperature of the overall fixing member is raised to a fixing temperature, and a driving circuit which continually provides the first coil and the second coil with the first electric power and the second electric power which are set by the control section in the warm-up period.