Patent ID: 6807386
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A fixing device comprising:a fixing belt which is driven rotationally; a counter member disposed opposite to the fixing belt; a first heater which heats the fixing belt; and a second heater which heats the counter member, wherein the fixing belt and the counter member define a nip therebetween, through which a recording medium carrying a toner image to be fixed thereon is passed such that the toner image is directed to contact a surface of the fixing belt, in the presence of heat and pressure applied to toner in the toner image during passage thereof to fix the toner image on the recording medium, wherein a target temperature on the fixing belt during fixation is previously set, and first and second reference temperatures are previously set, the first and second reference temperatures being lower than the target temperature, a maximum allowable power is supplied to the first heater to heat the fixing belt when the temperature on the fixing belt is lower than the first reference temperature during activation of the fixing device, the fixing belt is driven rotationally, power supplied to the first heater is decreased, and power is also supplied to the second heater when the temperature on the fixing belt reaches the first reference temperature, and fixation is allowed to start at a point in time at which the temperature on the fixing belt reaches the target temperature and the temperature on the counter member reaches the second reference temperature.