Fusing unit of image forming apparatus and control method for the same

A fusing unit of an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on a recording medium in an electrophotographic manner, comprising:

• a heating member comprising a surface heater to heat the recording medium;
• a power supply to supply power to the heating member;
• a pressing member to transmit rotational force to the heating member while in contact with the heating member and to apply pressure to the recording medium;
• a driver to rotatably drive the pressing member;
• a first sensor mounted in the heating member, to measure an internal temperature of the heating member;
• a second sensor mounted to an outside of the heating member, to measure a surface temperature of the heating member;
• and
• a controller to determine whether there is an error in the rotation of the heating member, based on outputs from the first and second sensors.

An image forming apparatus including a photosensitive body, an exposure unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body, a developing unit to develop the latent image, for formation of a toner image, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image formed by the developing unit to a recording medium, and a fusing unit to fuse the toner image transferred to the recording medium, wherein the fusing unit comprises:

• a heating member to heat the recording medium, the heating member being formed, at a surface thereof, with a predetermined pattern;
• a power supply to supply power to the heating member;
• a pressing member to transmit rotational force to the heating member while in contact with the heating member and to apply pressure to the recording medium;
• a driver to rotatably drive the pressing member;
• a pattern sensor to sense the pattern formed at the heating member and to output a result of the sensing in the form of a signal;
• and
• a controller to determine whether there is an error in the rotation of the heating member, based on the output from the pattern sensor.

An image forming apparatus including a photosensitive body, an exposure unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body, a developing unit to develop the latent image, for formation of a toner image, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image formed by the developing unit to a recording medium, and a fusing unit to fuse the toner image transferred to the recording medium, wherein the fusing unit comprises:

• a heating member to heat the recording medium while rotating;
• a power supply to supply power to the heating member;
• a pressing member to transmit rotational force to the heating member while in contact with the heating member and to apply pressure to the recording medium;
• a driver to rotatably drive the pressing member;
• a first sensor mounted in the heating member, to measure an internal temperature of the heating member;
• a second sensor mounted to an outside of the heating member, to measure a surface temperature of the heating member;
• and
• a controller to determine whether there is an error in the rotation of the heating member, based on outputs from the first and second sensors.

A control method for a fusing unit of an image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording medium in an electrophotographic manner, comprising:

• sensing a pattern formed on a surface of a heating member to heat the recording medium;
• calculating a linear velocity of the pattern based on a result of the sensing;
• comparing the calculated linear velocity of the pattern with a predetermined reference value;
• and
• determining that there is an error in a rotation of the heating member, when it is determined, based on a result of the comparison, the calculated linear velocity of the pattern is less than a predetermined value.