Image recording apparatus and method which controls the fixing

Abstract

An image forming apparatus and method for controlling the temperature of a fixing device. When any key of the image forming apparatus is pressed, the temperature of the fixing device is raised from a normal waiting temperature to a high waiting temperature. Alternatively, only when a key related to an image forming operation is pressed is the temperature of the fixing device raised to the high waiting temperature. At the high waiting temperature, when a command is given to perform an image forming operation, the temperature of the fixing device is raised to the fixing temperature and after the image forming operation and the fixing operation is completed, the temperature of the fixing device returns to the high waiting temperature. The temperature of the fixing device is lowered from the high waiting temperature to the normal waiting temperature after a predetermined period during which there are no image forming operations performed and no keys are pressed. As an alternative, the temperature is lowered from the high waiting temperature to the normal waiting temperature when a key related to the image forming operation is not detected and no image forming operation has occurred. A key related to an image forming operation include keys for starting and controlling the image forming operation and also keys for setting the parameters of the image forming operation such as a key to control the density of the printed image, and a key to control the number of copies which are made.