Patent ID: 7664418
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising; a fusing roller that heats and fuses a developed image transferred to a recording medium; a heat generator that heats the fusing roller; a temperature detection sensor that detects the temperature of the fusing roller or of the periphery thereof; a motor that rotates the fusing roller; a control unit that controls the heat generator and the motor on the basis of a detected temperature from the temperature detection sensor; and a cooling fan controlled by the control unit for cooling the fusing roller and the periphery thereof, wherein the control unit controls the heat generator to maintain the detected temperature at a reference fusing temperature until a predetermined time period is elapsed from an entry of a trigger signal for starting preheating provided prior to an entry of a print command and stops the heat generator when the predetermined time period has elapsed, the control unit operates the motor until the detected temperature reaches the reference fusing temperature in a case in which the temperature detected when the trigger signal is entered is lower than the reference fusing temperature, and stops the motor when the detected temperature reaches the reference fusing temperature, the control unit causes preheating to be carried out without operating the cooling fan when the trigger signal is entered for the first time, and the control unit causes preheating to be carried out with the cooling fan operated when trigger signals are entered from a second time onward during a period from one fusing process to a next fusing process carried out by the fusing roller.