Abstract: An image forming apparatus, for which a heated roller fixing device is employed but for which a savings in power can still be obtained, is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device 109, which is a heated roller fixing device that requires pre-heating in the stand-by state; an operation panel 115, with which a power-saving mode transition time period T can be changed; and a control part 118, which selects pre-heating or does not select pre-heating of the heated roller fixing device. The control part 118 employs the power-saving mode transition time period, entered at the operation panel 115 (S301), to change the pre-heating or to not change the pre-heating of the heated roller fixing device (S302 and S303).

Abstract: An apparatus and method of driving a transfer belt are disclosed. The apparatus and method comprise driving the transfer belt provided in an image forming apparatus by a predetermined distance when the transfer belt has been stopped for a predetermined time, and thus varying the contact portion with a plurality of rollers provided on the transfer belt. Image contamination due to deformation on the belt can be avoided. Additionally, because the rotation time of the driving source can be set to a predetermined time during the power-saving mode, power consumption can be minimized.

Abstract: Using an operation panel a user selects group to which a recording medium to be subjected to image formation belongs out of plural groups of recording media classified according to grammages, a classification processing unit sub-classifies the group selected, to which the recording medium belongs, into plural sub-groups of recording media according to a detecting result of the media sensor provided further upstream in a conveying direction of a recording medium than a fixing unit, and a control unit sets, for the recording medium belonging to the group selected, the temperature of the fixing unit to a fixing temperature in a fixing temperature range and controls this fixing temperature according to any one of the sub-groups sub-classified. Consequently, it is possible to perform fixing processing at an optimum temperature according to a type of a recording medium.

Abstract: A multifunction apparatus according to the present invention transmits an electromagnetic wave signal to a memory card carried by a user who enters a detection area, scans identification information of the user for user authentication, and starts a warm-up operation immediately after the authentication. Accordingly, the time period spent by the user starting from the user's arrival at the multifunction apparatus until the completion of the warm-up operation is shortened. In addition, the multifunction apparatus determines whether the user remains in the detection area after a job is completed, and transitions from a normal mode to an energy-save mode when it is determined that the user is not remaining in the detection area, the normal mode being in a state where sufficient electrical power is supplied for a job execution, the energy-save mode being in a state where the power supply is decreased compared to the normal mode.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus is provided which can maximize the throughput without causing thermal damage of the fusing components. It determines a sub-thermistor temperature threshold value for switching small size paper feed intervals in response to a sub-thermistor initial temperature. It supplies a heating body with current for heating, and starts feeding recording mediums at the feed interval determined by a feed interval initial value. It makes a successively conveyed paper count. Every time the successively conveyed paper count reaches a paper count threshold value, it performs the switching control of the sub-thermistor temperature threshold value. If the sub-thermistor temperature exceeds the threshold value while the recording medium is passing through the fusing apparatus, it carries out the switching control of the feed intervals. In another mode, it prevents the extension of the paper feed interval of the paper conveyance during a specified paper count ?.

Abstract: A heating unit is heated by supply of an alternate-current power. A heating control unit executes a phase control to supply the alternate-current power to the heating unit for an ON-width in at least a half-wave period of the alternate-current power. A storing unit stores therein parameters for calculating the ON width. The heating control unit calculates the ON width based on the parameters stored in the storing unit and executes the phase control using a calculated ON width.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a predetermined period different from a fixing process period in which fixing of toner to recording paper is carried out is set as a toner removal period, and during the toner removal period a hot roller and a pressure roller are intermittently rotated, and separation claws in contact with the rollers are caused to vibrate by the intermittent rotation of the rollers such that toner adhered to the separation claws is caused to drop due to this and is removed. Also, faces of the separation claws that oppose the surfaces of the hot roller and the pressure roller are set in a convex shape.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling the temperature of a heat roller and an image forming apparatus based on the same. The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: a heat roller for heating a printing paper having a toner image formed thereon to completely fuse the toner image to the printing paper; a heat lamp for heating the heat roller; and a controller for controlling the driving of the heat lamp, whereby the heat roller is maintained at a designated target temperature level during a pre-printing period. As such, it becomes possible to prevent a problem with the fusing process caused by low temperature of the heat roller during the pre-printing period for subsequent printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fixing device for fixing by heat an image formed on a recording material; a heater for heating the fixing device; a controller for controlling electric power supply to the heater, wherein the apparatus is operable in a stand-by mode in which an electric energy consumption of the heater is reduced, wherein in the stand-by mode, the controller continuously supplies the electric power to the heater.

Abstract: When a main switch 11 is off, an electricity storage device 93 is charged with electric power of a commercial AC power supply 80. When the main switch 11 is on and warming-up of a fixing unit 35 is necessary, a halogen heater 51 in a heating roller 41 is actuated by the electric power of the commercial AC power supply 80 and a halogen heater 52 in the heating roller 41 is actuated by discharge electric power of the electricity storage device 93.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a short warm-up time desired by a user, wherein a quick output section is provided, and when a quick output mode is set by the quick output section, warm-up completion temperature is set to be low, and thereby, warm-up time is made to be short.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which causes a long recording medium carrying a toner image thereon to pass between a fixing roller and a pressure roller to fix the toner image onto the long recording medium by means of the action of heat and pressure. The temperature of the fixing roller is prevented from being significantly reduced during operation of fixing the toner image, and thereby the occurrence of a toner image fixation failure is prevented. When the temperature of the fixing roller is reduced, in addition to a main heating member of heating means, electric power is also supplied from an auxiliary power source to an auxiliary heating member to cause the auxiliary heating member to generate heat.

Abstract: A fixing device has a heating rotor, a pressure belt, a sheet member, first and second pressurizing members, a motor and a control unit. The control unit controls the motor to rotate the heating rotor and the pressure belt in a direction opposite to a conveyance direction of a recording material at startup time after jam treatment of the recording material. Contact positions of the sheet member with respect to the first and second pressurizing members are changed, so that the sheet member is prevented from obstructing independent actions of each of the first and second pressurizing members, which allows the nip portion N to maintain proper nip width and proper nip pressure. Thus, the fixing device has excellent stability at the nip portion to improve fixability and conveyability of the recording material with a simple construction.

Abstract: A technique is provided that enables extension of the life of an auxiliary power source by efficiently using the power of the auxiliary power source and thereby reducing the fixing temperature raising time and effectively restraining the lowering of the fixing temperature in an image forming apparatus having a fixing device. A fixing device is provided in an image forming apparatus and it can switch execution of a first heating mode for performing heating processing using a regular power source and a second heating mode for performing heating processing with a larger quantity of heating per unit time than in the first heating mode by using an auxiliary power source in addition to the regular power source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image, a fixing unit to fix the image which is formed by the image forming unit onto a printing medium, a power supply unit to supply electric power to the fixing unit, a first fixing unit control part to control the power supply unit to supply electric power to the fixing unit if initialization of the image forming unit is ended, and a second fixing unit control part to control the power supply unit to supply electric power to the fixing unit while the initialization is performed by the first fixing unit control part.

Abstract: An image forming system has an image forming device, a first image heating device for heating a toner image at a first nip to maintain a target temperature, a second image heating device for heating a toner image at a second nip to maintain a target temperature, a selecting device for selecting a first image forming mode in which only the first image heating device is used for a image heating process and a second image forming mode in which the first image heating device and the second image heating device are used for the image heating process, and a delaying device for making timing at which the target temperature of the first image heating device is lowered in a stand by state later than a timing at which the target temperature of the second image heating device is lowered in the stand by state.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, pressure member, first temperature detector, and pressure adjustment mechanism. The pressure member presses against the fixing member to form a nip though which a recording medium bearing a toner image thereon is conveyed. The first temperature detector detects a temperature of the fixing member. The pressure adjustment mechanism performs an adjustment to contact pressure between the fixing and pressure members to be lower than an appropriate pressure for image fixing at the detected temperature of the fixing roller or separation of the pressure roller from the fixing member for a part of a period between a time at which a tailing end of a precedent recording medium is conveyed out from the nip and a time at which a leading end of a following recording medium is conveyed into the nip when a plurality of recording media are successively conveyed through the nip.

Abstract: A service providing system includes input/output devices, a service providing device configured to provide services by driving the input/output devices, and a preparation device, in response to receipt of a provision command for a service, configured to selectively place the input/output devices, for providing the service, which are in a non-standby state, into a standby state. In a multi-function device system including input/output devices, a method of providing a service includes receiving a provision command for a service, and selectively placing the input/output devices for providing the service into a standby state in response to the provision command.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which is for forming an image using a fuser unit, including: a fuser roller; a heater heating the fuser roller; a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of the fuser roller; and a controller controlling the heater to substantially achieve a desired temperature of the fuser roller, wherein the controller includes a desired-temperature setting device. The device is operated during a cold start of the fuser unit, so as to set the desired temperature to a second standby-temperature which is lower than a fusing temperature and higher than a normal standby-temperature, so as to maintain the desired temperature at the second standby-temperature during a heat-storing period during which heat is stored in the fuser unit, and so as to set the desired temperature to the normal standby-temperature upon termination of the heat-storing period.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus serves to raise a temperature of fusing section (22) only when an operational item received from operation panel section (3) is determined that an image printing is required. The image forming apparatus includes scanner section (1) for outputting an image data upon reading out an image on a text, image forming section (21) for forming an image on a predetermined print medium based on the image data, fusing section (22) for fusing thus formed image on the predetermined print medium at a prescribed fusing temperature, print requirement determination section (25) for determining as to whether or not an input of a specific operational item received from operation panel section (3) requires an image printing thereof, in which fusing temperature controlling section (23) serves to control a temperature rise of fusing section (22) on the basis of the determination by print requirement determination section (25) that the image printing is required.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a heating part that heats the fixing member to fix an image formed on the recording material by heat, a storage unit that is charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part, and a control unit that controls the external power source to supply power to the heating part and determines whether to start to supply power to the heating part from the storage unit. The control unit controls the external power source to charge the storage unit during a period from when power supply from the storage unit to the heating part is completed at the time of warming-up the fixing member by the heating part until when the power supply from the storage unit to the heating part is started.

Abstract: A warm-up execution portion 102 sets whether or not a color adjustment process is executed at a time of execution of a warm-up process. The warm-up execution portion (102) executes the warm-up process including a prescribed color adjustment process executed by forming a predetermined toner image on an image forming section (190) at a time of resume from a sleep mode or at a time of activating an image forming apparatus (10). When a setting portion (103) is set that the color adjustment process is not to be executed, the image forming section (190) is allow to execute the warm-up process excluding the color adjustment process.

Abstract: A control section (101) includes a first power control section (81) (a first power control mode) and a second power control section (82) (a second power control mode). The first power control section (81) is for controlling an setting value of electric power to be supplied to a heater lamp (64) based on the temperature of a heating roller (61). The second power control section (82) is for controlling the setting value of electric power to be supplied to the heater lamp (64) in order to forced-drive the heater lamp (64) by an electric power that is higher than the setting value of electric power. Switching control means (84) performs switching between the first power control mode and the second power control mode depending on a status of operation of each of components forming an image forming apparatus (100).

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of an embodiment of the invention includes an auxiliary pressure member to press a belt to a heat roller side. A belt mechanism to integrally support the belt and the auxiliary pressure member is rotated so that the belt is spaced from the heat roller except for a necessary time. The temperature gradient characteristic of the surface temperature of the heat roller is compared with a reference temperature gradient characteristic, and a correction value of power supplied to a coil is estimated. The correction value is added to the supply power obtained from the detection result of a sensor, and control power for controlling an inverter drive circuit is obtained.

Abstract: A fusing roller in an image forming apparatus heats and fuses a developed image transferred to a recording medium. A heat generator is controlled to maintain a detected temperature of the fusing roller at a reference fusing temperature until a predetermined time period is elapsed from when a trigger signal for starting preheating provided prior to entry of a print command is entered, and is stopped when the predetermined time period elapses. The fusing roller is rotated while being heated until the detected temperature once reaches the reference fusing temperature, and thereafter the detected temperature is maintained at the reference fusing temperature until the predetermined time period elapses by heating but not rotating the fusing roller.

Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention heats a metal conductive layer of a heat roller using an induction current generating coil. In order to supplement a heat capacity of the heat roller, a press roller having a large heat capacity is heated by a halogen lamp. During a start of activation of an image forming apparatus, when a printer control circuit is started, the supply of electric power to the halogen lamp is started before warming-up is started.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention controls, using a CPU and a temperature comparator, an inverter circuit that supplies electric power to an induction heating coil and performs temperature control for a heat roller. The CPU adjusts and controls a power value supplied by the inverter circuit. When the adjustment and control of the power value by the CPU is late, the inverter circuit is ON-OFF controlled by the temperature comparator.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, it is detected whether an auxiliary power source device is mounted in an apparatus main body or not. When the auxiliary power source device is mounted in the image forming apparatus, after a specified time has passed in a printable state, power supply to a first heat roller to heat a heat roller is shifted to a sleep mode. When the auxiliary power source device is not mounted in the image forming apparatus, after a specified time has passed in the printable state, a shift is made to a preheat mode in which the heat roller is kept at a preheat temperature, and a specified time has further passed, a shift is made to a sleep mode.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives a request of a user; a fixing unit that heats an unfixed image on a recording medium to thereby fix the same to the recording medium; an executing unit that executes at least one function that consumes electric power other than a fixing function by the fixing unit; and a controller that controls to reserve execution of the other function by the executing unit that is required to execute the request in the case where electric power consumption exceeds a prescribed value because a start-up operation of the fixing unit and the execution of the other function by the executing unit are performed in parallel, and the fixing unit is used to execute the received request during the start-up operation that raises the temperature of the fixing unit to a prescribed target temperature with a prescribed amount of electric power.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a fixing device having: a first heat generator for generating heat for a fixing processing, the first heat generator using electric power supplied by a commercial power source; and a second heat generator for generating heat for the fixing processing, the second heat generator using electric power supplied by the auxiliary power source device; a heat generation controller for allowing the first heat generator and the second heat generator to generate heat; a sheet jam detector for detecting a sheet jam of a recording sheet which occurs in the image forming section having the fixing device and a conveyance path of a recording sheet; and a charge controller for allowing charging of the auxiliary power source device to start when the sheet jam detector detects a sheet jam, and the charged capacity detector detects no full charge of the auxiliary power source device.

Abstract: A fixer includes a fixing member configured to fix a toner image on a recording medium by application of heat, a coil part configured to extend in a width direction to face the fixing member, a core part configured to face the coil part and generate heat by electromagnetic induction to heat the fixing member when an electrical current passes through the coil part, and a shield configured to shield the core part partially to change a heating area thereof in the width direction. An amount of heat generated in an end portion of the core part in the width direction is changed when a predetermined number of sheets pass though the fixer during continuous feeding of sheets that are equal in size to a maximum heating area of the fixing member.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording medium includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a heat source that heats the fixing member, a storage device that supplies power to the heat source, a pressing member temperature estimating device, and a control device that changes the amount of power supplied from the storage device to the heat source based on the temperature of the pressing member. The temperature estimating device estimates the temperature based on at least one of an elapsed time since a start of image formation, a number of recording media on which images are formed since the start of image formation, a local ambient temperature in the vicinity of the fixing member, and a change of temperature of the fixing member.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus is provided which can maximize the throughput without causing thermal damage of the fusing components. It determines a sub-thermistor temperature threshold value for switching small size paper feed intervals in response to a sub-thermistor initial temperature. It supplies a heating body with current for heating, and starts feeding recording mediums at the feed interval determined by a feed interval initial value. It makes a successively conveyed paper count. Every time the successively conveyed paper count reaches a paper count threshold value, it performs the switching control of the sub-thermistor temperature threshold value. If the sub-thermistor temperature exceeds the threshold value while the recording medium is passing through the fusing apparatus, it carries out the switching control of the feed intervals. In another mode, it prevents the extension of the paper feed interval of the paper conveyance during a specified paper count ?.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material includes a fixing member disposed on a recording material conveyance path, a heating part configured to heat the fixing member to fix the image formed on the recording material by heat, and a storage unit configured to be charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part. The fixing device further includes a local ambient temperature detecting unit configured to detect a local ambient temperature in the vicinity of the fixing member, and a control unit configured to change a supply of power from the storage unit to the heating part based on the local ambient temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a thermal fixing unit reduces a current inputted from a commercial power source using electric power charged in the capacitive when warming up the thermal fixing unit. The apparatus comprises a first charging unit to charge the capacitive unit at a first charging rate, and a second charging unit to charge the capacitive unit at a second charging rate lower than the first charging rate and greater than a natural power discharge rate of the capacitive unit. A charge switching control unit switches a power source charging the capacitive unit from the first charging unit to the second charging unit when the image forming apparatus transitions into an energy saving standby mode, and returns the power source charging the capacitive unit from the second charging unit to the first charging unit when the image forming apparatus returns from the energy saving standby mode.

Abstract: An image-forming system includes an image-forming apparatus, and a terminal device capable of communicating with the image-forming apparatus. The terminal device comprises a signal-transmitting unit. The image-forming apparatus comprises an image-forming unit; a signal-receiving unit a first storage unit for storing a starting condition of a preparing action for image formation in the image-forming unit; a first determining unit for determining whether the starting condition is satisfied at the time the signal-receiving unit receives the signal from the terminal device; and an instruction unit for providing an instruction to start the preparing action in the image-forming unit when the first determining unit determines that the starting condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus has a heater that includes a magnetic shunt alloy whose Curie temperature is set higher than a fixing temperature; an induction heater that generates an alternating magnetic field applied to the magnetic shunt alloy and performs electromagnetic-induction heating on the heater; and a body controller that controls the induction heater so as to adjust the fixing temperature in each fixing job. The body controller controls the induction heater so as to perform electromagnetic-induction heating on the heater, during a period between fixing jobs. The body controller thereby reduces a temperature difference generated on the heater between portions corresponding to paper feeding and non-paper feeding areas in a previously executed fixing job.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an operation state, standby state or installation environment of an image forming apparatus is detected or determined, and details of heating control of the surface temperature of rollers of a fixing apparatus are changed in accordance with the detected or determined state or environment. For example, when the operation state is a state in which printing on a last sheet of recording paper in a print job is complete, or when the operation state is a state in which printing on recording paper is interrupted, and, in addition, when the installation environment is a low-temperature and low-humidity environment and the image forming apparatus enters the standby state, heating of the rollers is respectively controlled to prevent unexpected and inappropriate changes in the surface temperature of the rollers.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a heating part that heats the fixing member to fix an image formed on the recording material by heat, a storage unit that is charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part, and a control unit that controls the external power source to supply power to the heating part and determines whether to start to supply power to the heating part from the storage unit. The control unit controls the external power source to charge the storage unit during a period from when power supply from the storage unit to the heating part is completed at the time of warming-up the fixing member by the heating part until when the power supply from the storage unit to the heating part is started.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a power switch for turning on and off a power source. An electric power saving mode designation acceptor can accept a designation to set a power saving mode to suppress power consumption. The apparatus further has an image former for forming a toner image on a sheet; a fixing device for thermally fixing the toner image; a heater for heating the fixing device; and an electric power saving controller for shifting to the power saving mode if the power saving mode designation is accepted by the power saving mode designation acceptor, and for controlling the heating section to heat the fixing device to a predetermined fixing temperature necessary for fixing the toner image on the sheet if the power saving mode designation is not accepted by the electric power saving mode designation acceptor, in response to shifting of the power switch from off to on.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed which interrupts the power supply to the sensors that are used during image formation when it is impossible to form an image, thereby allowing the image forming apparatus so save energy more effectively. The image forming apparatus controls the power supply to sensors that are used during image formation, other than a heating temperature sensor and fixation control sensors, such that the image forming apparatus interrupts the power supply when switched to the non-fixation operation control state, and supplies power when switched to the fixation operation control state and the temperature detected by the heating temperature sensor is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature near the fixation temperature.

Abstract: A thermal fixing device for fixing toner images onto recording sheets includes a heat member, a pressing member, a temperature sensor, a clock, and a control unit. The control unit performs a toner fixing control and a high-temperature heat-up control. During the toner fixing control, the control unit controls the heat member to heat up to a fixing temperature required to melt toner on a recording sheet disposed between the heat member and the pressing member. During the high-temperature heat-up control, the control unit controls the heat member to heat up to a high-temperature fixing temperature that is higher than the fixing temperature. The control unit sets length of the high-temperature heat-up control in accordance with length of the start-up time measured by the clock.

Abstract: A method of controlling a fuser assembly within an image forming apparatus having a fuser assembly including a heating member and a backup member cooperating with the heating member to form a nip therebetween for fusing images onto substrates passing through the nip. The method is provided to minimize or avoid a temperature droop condition of the fuser and includes the steps of determining a set point temperature for performing a fusing operation, and determining whether the image forming apparatus has transitioned from a standby mode to a print mode upon receipt of a print job. If a sensed temperature of the fuser is within a temperature range having an upper threshold temperature that is less than the heating temperature and greater than the set point temperature or a lower threshold temperature, a power control for the fuser is switched to operate in a high power region, increasing power to the fuser, to provide heat energy to the heating member.

Abstract: A sheet counter counts points corresponding to the number of sheets subjected to a fixing process performed by a fixing unit during the image forming operation (during the copy state). A heater actuation time counter counts points corresponding to the heater actuation time (ON time) when a fixing operation is performed by a fixing unit during the image forming operation (during the copy state). When power consumption is high, a fixing control temperature can be set so as to reduce the power consumption during the non-image forming operating time (standby state and preheat state) by determining the power consumption (of the fixing unit) during the image forming operation based on the points counted by a sheet counter during one week, or points counted by a heater actuation time counter during one week.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a heat roller, a pressure roller, a fusing apparatus, and a method of controlling a fusing temperature of the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus includes a heat roller, a first temperature sensor which senses a temperature of the heat roller, a first heat source which is installed inside the heat roller, a second heat source which is installed inside the heat roller and has a lower heat capacity than the first heat source, a pressure roller, and a control unit which controls the first and second heat source based on the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor. The printing apparatus further includes a third heat source which is installed inside the pressure roller, wherein the control unit controls the first, second and third heat sources to reduce a warm-up time, power consumption, flicker and overshoot, while providing a stable fusing operation.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus has a first heating member and a second heating member provided in a heating portion, and a current control unit which controls an AC current to be supplied to the heating portion, The current control unit executes a wave number control, on the AC current supplied to the heating portion, in a unit of predetermined number of half-waves so that an AC current to the first heating member is supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in the unit of predetermined number of half-waves; an AC current to the second heating member is supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in the unit of predetermined number of half waves; AC currents to the first and second heating members are supplied in a positive-negative symmetrical pattern in total in the unit of predetermined number of half-waves and the current control unit increases the duty ratio alternately for the first heating member and the second heating member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is operable in a speed priority mode in which a temperature range that permits a fixing operation via a pressure belt is wide and an image-quality priority mode in which a temperature range that permits a fixing operation via the pressure belt is narrow. A user interface of the image forming apparatus is configured to enable an operator to select the speed priority mode or the image-quality priority mode for a coated paper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus operates in a power saving mode or in the normal printing mode. An image forming section forms an image in accordance with print data received from an external apparatus. A state detecting section detects a state of the image forming apparatus. A controller causes the image forming apparatus to enter into a power saving mode where the controller terminates supply of electric power to a section of the image forming apparatus that consumes a large electric power. A data detecting section detects whether the print data exists in the image forming apparatus. When the state detecting section detects a change in the state of the image forming apparatus and the data detecting section fails to detect print data in the image forming section, the controller causes the image forming apparatus to enter the power saving mode.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus having a first fixing device for heating an image on a recording material, and a second fixing device for heating the image on the recording material heated by the first fixing device, wherein at the start of an image heating process, the preparatory operation of the first fixing device is started earlier than the preparatory operation of the second fixing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for performing thermal fixing of toner images, including a fixing section, a heating section, a power supply section and a control section. The control section controls the power supplying section to start supplying electric power to the heating section, and the control section controls the power supplying section to stop supplying electric power to the heating section after a lapse of a predetermined time interval, based on a thermal response characteristic of a temperature detecting section, even when the temperature of the heating section has not yet reached a target fixing temperature.