Control speed and fuser temperature based upon monochromatic or full-color printing

Abstract

A color image forming apparatus is capable of color printing and monochrome printing in accordance with print data. The apparatus has a plurality of image-forming sections that print toner images of corresponding different colors. The plurality of image-forming sections are aligned in a direction of travel of a recording medium, and print the respective toner images on the recording medium in superposition. The toner images are subsequently fixed at a fixing unit. The apparatus includes a data-identifying section and a mode-selecting section. The data-identifying section identifies the print data as to whether the print data is for color printing or for monochrome printing. The mode-selecting section selects a multi-color mode if the print data is for color printing and a mono-color mode if the print data is for mono-color printing. A printing operation is performed at a higher speed in the mono-color mode than in the multi-color mode. The mode-selecting section sets the fixing unit for a higher fixing temperature in the mono-color mode than in the multi-color mode.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.