Image processing apparatus, computer readable medium, and image processing method with dual heating modes

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• a mode switching unit that selectively switches a mode between a rapid heating mode, which is a mode of heating a fixing member in advance before contacting a recording sheet and which aims for relatively rapid heating, and a heat accumulating mode which aims for heat accumulation to achieve a relatively high productivity in a fixing unit which functions as a part of an image forming section and which performs at least a heating process on the recording sheet to fix developer to the recording sheet after a developing process is performed on the recording sheet using the developer;
• a receiving unit that receives an image formation request received from the outside;
• an extracting unit that extracts mode switching determination information at the earliest from the image formation request received by the receiving unit;
• a selecting unit that selects the mode based on the mode switching determination information extracted by the extracting unit, specifications of the fixing device, and a current temperature;
• and
• a switching control unit that controls the mode switching unit based on the mode selected by the selecting unit to switch the mode to the rapid heating mode or the heat accumulating mode, wherein
• the selecting unit includes a table which the selecting unit uses when selecting the mode based on the mode switching determination information extracted by the extracting unit, specifications of the fixing device, and a current temperature, and
• the table stores the type of recording sheet prepared in the image forming section, executability of monochrome/color, and a resolution, and
• the table is rewritable.