Patent ID: 8768193
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing apparatus that heats and fixes a toner image on a recording material, the fixing apparatus comprising: a fixing roller configured to have a heating unit incorporated therein; a pressurization roller configured to be abuttable on said fixing roller and freely rotating; a detection unit configured to detect a surface temperature of said fixing roller; a counting unit configured to count the number of recording materials subjected to fixing; and a control unit configured to control a fixing operation by selectively switching between a first mode and a second mode in which the number of sheets subjected to fixing per unit time is smaller than in the first mode, wherein said control unit controls a fixing operation by selecting one of the first or second modes based on a first temperature detected by said detection unit at a first time, a second temperature detected by said detection unit at a second time, and a minimum temperature of said fixing roller at which the toner image is fixed, and wherein said control unit selects the first mode at the start of the fixing operation, and using the first temperature and the second temperature, calculates the maximum number of recording materials on which the toner image is fixable without the surface temperature of said fixing roller becoming lower than the minimum temperature, and when the number of recording materials subjected to fixing after the start of the fixing operation counted by said counting unit reaches the maximum number, said control unit switches from the first mode to the second mode.