Patent ID: 7822352
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A method of thermally conditioning an image forming apparatus including a heating device and a component wherein the component includes a lubricant and the lubricant is capable of exhibiting a targeted viscosity at a first selected temperature, comprising: setting said heating device to said first selected temperature, wherein said first selected temperature is less than a printing temperature and greater than a temperature of said heating device when not heated, and heating said heating device to said first selected temperature; maintaining said heating device at said first selected temperature for a selected time prior to moving said component including said lubricant, said selected time being greater than an amount of time for said heating device to be at said first selected temperature temporarily while being heated to a temperature greater than the first selected temperature; moving said component at a first velocity that is lower than a printing velocity of said image forming apparatus after maintaining said heating device at said first selected temperature for said selected time, wherein said setting, heating and maintaining said heating device and moving said component at a first velocity are independent of receiving a print request by the image forming apparatus; and following said selected time, heating said heating device to a second selected temperature greater than the first selected temperature, wherein heating said heating device to the second selected temperature is independent of receiving a print request by the image forming apparatus; and following said heating device reaching said second selected temperature, determining whether a print request has been received since said setting of said heating device.