Patent ID: 8027601

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a fixing roller to fix a toner on a recording medium; a heater to heat the fixing roller; an alternating current (AC) power source to generate an AC electric power such that the heater heats the fixing roller according to the AC electric power; a unit interposed between the heater and the AC power source to selectively supply the AC electric power from the AC power source to the heater so as to control the heater to heat the fixing roller; a relay comprising: a first relay contact point disposed on a first AC power supply line between the AC power source and the unit; and a relay coil to open and close the first relay contact point, the relay selectively supplying the AC electric power from AC power source to the heater and the unit; a direct current (DC) power supplier to supply a DC power to the relay coil; and a thermoswitch interposed on a DC power supply line between the DC power supplier and the relay coil to control the supply of the AC electric power from the AC power source to the heater and the unit according to an temperature of the fixing roller.