Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and computer-readable recording medium with program recorded therein

An image forming method for an image forming apparatus including an image forming portion that forms on a recording material a toner image according to image data and a fixing portion that holds the recording material at a nip portion formed between a fixing member having a heating member therein and a pressing member and fixes the toner image onto the recording material,

• the method being executed by a computer and comprising steps of:
• dividing the image data into a plurality of regions in a sub scanning direction, and obtaining, for each of the plurality of regions in the sub scanning direction, a first value relating to pixels having density greater than a prescribed value in a first width and a second value relating to pixels having density greater than the prescribed value in a second width, which is greater than the first width;
• determining, for each of the plurality of regions, a target temperature for maintaining a temperature of the heating member on the basis of the first and second values;
• and
• controlling power supplied to the heating member so that the temperature of the heating member is maintained at the target temperature.

A computer-readable recording medium with a program recorded therein for causing a computer to execute steps in an image forming method for an image forming apparatus including an image forming portion that forms on a recording material a toner image according to image data and a fixing portion that holds the recording material at a nip portion formed between a fixing member having a heating member therein and a pressing member and fixes the toner image onto the recording material, the program causing the computer to execute the steps of:

• dividing the image data into a plurality of regions in a sub scanning direction, and obtaining, for each of the plurality of regions in the sub scanning direction, a first value relating to pixels having density equal or greater than a prescribed value in a first width and a second value relating to pixels having density equal or greater than the prescribed value in a second width, which is greater than the first width;
• determining, for each of the plurality of regions, a target temperature for maintaining a temperature of the heating member on the basis of the first and second values;
• and
• controlling power supplied to the heating member so that the temperature of the heating member is maintained at the target temperature.