Patent ID: 8411332

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, in which a power supply mode is shifted between a normal mode and a power saving mode that requires lower power consumption than the normal mode, the image forming apparatus comprising: a main body system comprising a fixing device for fixing a toner image to paper by heat generated through power supply to a heating element; a power control section for controlling power supply to the main body system to turn OFF the power supply to the heating element, and causing the main body system to shift from the normal mode to the power saving mode; and a temperature detecting section for detecting, as remaining heat temperature, temperature of the fixing device due to remaining heat after the power supply to the heating element is turned OFF, wherein the power saving mode comprises a plurality of levels that are different in recovery time to the normal mode and in power consumption of the main body system, wherein the plurality of levels are set to correspond to the remaining heat temperature so that the recovery time to the normal mode becomes shorter as the remaining heat temperature is higher, and the power consumption of the main body system becomes lower as the remaining heat temperature is lower, and wherein, depending on a change in the remaining heat temperature, the power control section switches to a level corresponding to the remaining heat temperature, of the plurality of levels of the power saving mode of the main body system.