Patent ID: 7664417
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing apparatus, comprising: a fixing member which is rotatable; a pressure member for pressing the fixing member; and an external heating member for coming into contact with a surface of the fixing member so as to heat the surface from outside, a recording material being allowed to pass through a space between the fixing member and the pressure member so as to fix a toner image formed on the recording material, said fixing apparatus comprising a control section for controlling a state in which the fixing member is driven and for controlling a state in which power is supplied to heat sources respectively provided in the fixing member and the external heating member, wherein the control section carries out a first fixing member maintenance process, in which the fixing member is kept rotating also after stopping supplying power to the heat source of the external heating member, when shifting from a temperature raising step for raising a surface temperature of the fixing member so that the surface temperature is equal to a preset fixing temperature to a standby mode so as to stop supplying power to the heat source of the external heating member, and based on a surface temperature of the external heating member, the control section keeps the fixing member rotating during a period in which a surface temperature of the external heating member drops in a contact portion with respect to the fixing member so as to be equal to or lower than a durable temperature of the surface of the fixing member; and the control section carries out a second fixing member maintenance process, in which time for beginning to supply power to the heat source of the external heating member is delayed from a time for beginning to supply power to the heat source of the fixing member, when carrying out a temperature raising step on start up or a temperature raising step upon restoration from a sleep mode; wherein the control section begins to supply power to the heat source of the external heating member when the surface temperature of the fixing member attains a softening temperature of toner, in carrying out a temperature raising step on start up or a temperature raising step upon restoration from a second sleep mode in which the surface temperature of the fixing member rises from a temperature lower than the softening temperature of the toner, and after the toner softening temperature is reached both the heat source in the fixing member and the heat source in the external heating member are turned on until a fixing temperature is reached.