Patent ID: 7634220

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner image forming section for forming a toner image; a toner image bearing section which is rotated while bearing an unfixed toner image thereon; a fixing fluid applying section for applying a volatile fixing fluid, which provides an effect of fixing toner onto a recording medium, to the unfixed toner image formed on the toner image bearing section; and a transferring and fixing section for transferring and fixing the unfixed toner image formed on the toner image bearing section onto the recording medium, wherein the fixing fluid applying section comprises: an applying section including an applying member which is rotated to apply the volatile fixing fluid to the unfixed toner image formed on the toner image bearing section; a contact and release operation section for supporting the applying section in a manner such that the applying member is moved approachably and separably with respect to the toner image bearing section; a contact and release detecting section for detecting whether the applying member is kept in contact with or kept away from the toner image bearing section; a rotational driving section for driving the applying member to rotate about its axis; and a control unit for controlling of the contact and release operation section in a manner so as to assure contact or separation between the applying member and the toner image bearing section, and controlling of the rotational driving section according to the detection result of the contact and release detecting section in a manner so as to assure the rotation of the applying member.