Patent ID: 8600253

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a transfer material; a fixing device configured to fix the toner image on the transfer material, the fixing device including a first fixing member heatable by a heating member, and a second fixing member, wherein the first fixing member and the second fixing member are pressible against each other to form a nip between the first fixing member and the second fixing member, for nipping the transfer material to convey the transfer material through the nip while heating and pressing the transfer material; a pressurizing unit configured to be selectively switchable between a pressurizing state for causing the first fixing member and the second fixing member to be pressed against each other and an unpressurizing state in which the pressurizing state is released; a pressurizing state-detecting unit configured to detect whether the first fixing member and the second fixing member are in the pressurizing state; a temperature-detecting unit configured to detect a temperature of the fixing device; a power supply unit configured to supply electric power to the heating member; a protection unit configured to allow, when the pressurizing state-detecting unit detects that the pressurizing unit is in the pressurizing state, the power supply unit to supply electric power to the heating member, and to cut off, when the pressurizing state-detecting unit detects that the pressurizing unit is in the unpressurizing state, the supply of electric power to the heating member by the power supply unit; and a control unit configured to: cause, when the toner image is formed on the transfer material, the pressurizing unit to switch to the pressurizing state; and determine that an abnormality occurs in the pressurizing unit and cause the power supply unit to stop the supply of electric power to the heating member, when a temperature detected by the temperature-detecting unit exceeds a predetermined temperature after a lapse of a predetermined time period from the start of the supply of electric power to the heating member by the power supply unit, even if the pressurizing state-detecting unit detects that the pressurizing unit is in the pressurizing state.