Heater controlling apparatus and a fixing apparatus of an electrophotographic apparatus in use therewith

A fixing apparatus for an image forming apparatus, said fixing apparatus comprising:

• a heater, adapted in said fixing apparatus, for heating a fixing member;
• a zero-cross detector for detecting zero-cross timings of electric power when a voltage of said electric power is at zero volts;
• a switching device for turning on and turning off supply of said electric power to said heater;
• a direct current power supply for generating a direct current from an alternative current of said electric power;
• a controller for controlling said switching device so as to provide a first state in which said electric power is continuously supplied to said heater for a multiple of half-cycles from one of said zero-cross timings, and a second state in which said electric power is prevented to be supplied to said heater for a multiple of half-cycles from another of said zero-cross timings;
• wherein said electric power is supplied to said heater with an intermittent pattern, including said second state, for a predetermined period after at least one of a turn-on operation of said heater and a turn-off operation of said heater.