Fixing device, image forming apparatus, computer readable medium, and fixing method

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a toner-image-forming section that forms a toner image;
• a transfer section that transfers the toner image to a recording material;
• a fixing section including
• a fixing member that fixes the toner image on the recording material,
• a pressure applying member that is pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member and forms a press-fixing part therebetween through which the recording material having an unfixed toner image is transported, and
• a heating unit that heats the fixing member;
• a pressure-applying-member-moving unit that moves the pressure applying member and changes the pressure applying member between being pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member and being spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member;
• and
• a heating control unit that controls the heating unit,
• wherein the heating control unit controls the heating unit at the start of a fixing operation under heating conditions corresponding to a change in the state of the fixing member occurring when the pressure applying member is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member by the pressure-applying-member-moving unit.

A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for realizing functions, the process comprising:

• acquiring information on the state of a fixing member corresponding to the temperature of a pressure applying member;
• determining, on the basis of a change in the state of the fixing member, conditions for a heating operation performed by a heating unit at the start of a fixing operation;
• and
• controlling the heating unit on the basis of the conditions.

A fixing method comprising:

• fixing a toner image on a recording material;
• pressing a pressure applying member against an outer peripheral surface of a fixing member and forming a press-fixing part therebetween through which the recording material having an unfixed toner image is transported;
• heating the fixing member;
• and
• changing the pressure applying member between being pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member and being spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member,
• wherein the fixing member is heated at the start of a fixing operation under heating conditions corresponding to a change in the state of the fixing member occurring when the pressure applying member is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member.