Image forming apparatus and control method thereof that separate roller bodies after a predetermined time elapses after being in a power save mode

A control method for an image forming apparatus having an abutting and separating unit adapted to abut a first rotating body to a second rotating body, and separate the first rotating body from the second rotating body, and a power supply unit adapted to control power supply in the image forming apparatus, the control method comprising:

• a first control step of causing the image forming apparatus to change to a power-save mode in which power consumption of the image forming apparatus is reduced, and stop power supply from the power supply unit to the abutting and separating unit;
• a second control step of unit causing the image forming apparatus to abut the first rotating body to the second rotating body until an elapsed time after the image forming apparatus has changed to the power-save mode reaches a predetermined time, and to separate the first rotating body from the second rotating body by supplying power from the power supply unit to the abutting and separating unit when the elapsed time after the image forming apparatus has changed to the power-save mode exceeds the predetermined time;
• and
• a third control step of maintaining the power-save mode by stopping power supply from the power supply unit to the abutting and separating unit after the first rotating body is separated from the second rotating body.

An image forming apparatus for performing an image forming operation with a first element and a second element to which the first element abuts, the apparatus comprising:

• an abutting and separating unit adapted to abut the first element to the second element, and separate the first element from the second element;
• a power supply unit adapted to control power supply in the image forming apparatus;
• and
• a control unit adapted to cause the image forming apparatus to change to a power-save mode in which power consumption of the image forming apparatus is reduced, and stop power supply from the power supply unit to the abutting and separating unit,
• wherein said control unit is adapted to:
• cause said abutting and separating unit to abut the first element to the second element until an elapsed time after the image forming apparatus has changed to the power-save mode reaches a predetermined time, and to separate the first element from the second element by supplying power from said power supply unit to said abutting and separating unit when the elapsed time after the image forming apparatus has changed to the power-save mode exceeds the predetermined time;
• and
• maintain the power-save mode by stopping power supply from said power supply unit to said abutting and separating unit after the first element is separated from the second element.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, the apparatus comprising:

• an abutting and separating unit adapted to abut a first rotating body to a second rotating body, and separate the first rotating body from the second rotating body;
• a power supply unit adapted to control power supply in the image forming apparatus;
• and
• a control unit adapted to cause the image forming apparatus to change to a power-save mode in which power consumption of the image forming apparatus is reduced when an elapsed time from an end of an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus exceeds a first predetermined time, and stop power supply from said power supply unit to said abutting and separating unit,
• wherein said control unit is adapted to:
• cause said abutting and separating unit to abut the first rotating body to the second rotating body until an elapsed time from an end of an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus reaches a second predetermined time that is longer than the first predetermined time, and to separate the first rotating body from the second rotating body by supplying power from said power supply unit to said abutting and separating unit when an elapsed time from the end of the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus exceeds the second predetermined time;
• and
• maintain the power-save mode by stopping power supply from said power supply unit to said abutting and separating unit after the first rotating body is separated from the second rotating body.