Patent ID: 8879940
Filing Date: 2014-11-04
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet of paper, the apparatus comprising: an adjustment unit that adjusts an image transfer position of the sheet of paper along a main scanning direction that is orthogonal to a transporting direction of the sheet of paper; a transferring unit that transfers a toner image at the image transfer position on the sheet of paper, the image transfer position of the sheet of paper having been adjusted by the adjustment unit; a fixing unit that (i) fixes on the sheet of paper the toner image transferred on the sheet of paper by the transferring unit using fixing rollers to heat and press the toner image on the sheet of paper and (ii) performs a fluctuation of the fixing rollers along the main scanning direction; a detection unit that detects whether or not the fixing rollers of the fixing unit nip the sheet of paper; and a control unit that controls the fixing unit to perform the fluctuation of the fixing rollers when determining that the fixing rollers of the fixing unit do not nip the sheet of paper based on a detection result of the detection unit; wherein: the control unit determines whether or not an interval between the sheets of transported paper is longer than a reference interval which has been previously set; if the interval between the sheets of transported paper is longer than the reference interval, the control unit controls the fixing unit to perform the fluctuation of the fixing rollers when the fixing rollers of the fixing unit do not nip the sheet of paper; and if the interval between the sheets of transported paper is not longer than the reference interval, the control unit controls the fixing unit to perform the fluctuation of the fixing rollers regardless of whether or not the fixing rollers of the fixing unit nip the sheet of paper.