Start control device and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a memory storing management information, the management information comprising a system preparation time required to complete preparation of non-fuser components of a system from starting the system and a fusing preparation time required to complete preparation of a fuser from starting heating of the fuser;
• an interface configured to receive a start command;
• a processor configured to:
• determine whether the system preparation time is longer or shorter than the fusing preparation time;
• control a timing of starting the non-fuser components of the system and a timing of starting the heating of the fuser to equalize a first timing at which the preparation of the non-fuser components of the system is completed and a second timing at which the preparation of the fuser is completed, based on the start command and the management information, wherein
• based on the system preparation time determined to be longer than the fusing preparation time, the timing of starting the heating of the fuser is delayed with respect to the timing of starting the non-fuser components of the system, or
• based on the system preparation time determined to be shorter than the fusing preparation time, the timing of starting the non-fuser components of the system is delayed with respect to the timing of starting the heating of the fuser;
• and
• the fuser configured to fuse a formed image on a sheet.

A start control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• receiving a start command;
• and
• controlling a timing of starting non-fuser components of the image forming apparatus and a timing of starting the heating of a fuser to equalize a first timing at which the preparation of the non-fuser components is completed and a second timing at which the preparation of the fuser is completed, based on the start command and management information, the management information comprising a non-fuser components preparation time required to complete preparation of non-fuser components of the image forming apparatus from starting the non-fuser components of the image forming apparatus and a fusing preparation time required to complete preparation of the fuser from starting heating of the fuser,
• wherein the controlling the timing comprises delaying a timing of starting the non-fuser components based on the first timing at which the preparation of the non-fuser components is completed is longer than the second timing at which the preparation of the fuser is completed, or delaying a timing of starting the heating of the fuser based on the second timing at which the preparation of the fuser is completed being longer than the first timing at which the preparation of the non-fuser components is completed.