Apparatus and method for protecting fixing unit from overheating and image forming apparatus using the same

A method of protecting a fixing unit from overheating, comprising:

• detecting a temperature of the fixing unit;
• comparing the detected temperature to a first reference temperature;
• and
• controlling the temperature of the fixing unit based on results of the comparison, while a controller to control the temperature of the fixing unit is turned on and performs initialization.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a fixing unit;
• a sensor to detect a temperature of the fixing unit;
• a controller to control the temperature of the fixing unit based on the detected temperature;
• and
• an overheating protector to compare the detected temperature with a first reference temperature, and to control the temperature of the fixing unit based on results of the comparison while the controller is turned on and performs initialization.

An overheating protection device of a fixing unit, comprising:

• a controller to control the temperature of the fixing unit;
• a power source to supply power to the fixing unit heater during a controller initialization period;
• and
• a feed-back loop to interrupt the power source when the fixing unit reaches a first reference temperature.