Patent ID: 8824004

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a communication interface unit that receives printing data; an image forming unit that performs an ordinary printing to form an image on one or more sheets of printing paper based on the printing data; a paper supplying unit that supplies the one or more sheets of printing paper to the image forming unit along with a paper supplying route; a determination unit that determines whether a functional printing can be performed on the paper supplying route in an interval section between the sheets of printing paper; and a controller that controls the image forming unit to perform a functional printing, if it is determined that a functional printing is required, wherein the ordinary printing is a printing performed on one or more sheets of printing paper, and the functional printing is a printing performed in an interval section between the one or more sheets of printing paper, and the controller controls the paper supplying unit to obtain a predetermined interval between the one or more sheets of printing paper for a functional printing by delaying the supply of the one or more sheets of printing paper, if it is determined that the functional printing cannot be performed in the interval section between the one or more sheets of the printing paper, wherein the functional printing is at least one printing among a toner line printing for adjusting a toner concentration, a toner line printing for preventing a cleaning blade of a photosensitive medium from being turned over, a toner line printing for preventing a cleaning blade of a transfer belt from being turned over, and a printing for discharging a heated and pressurized toner.