Image forming apparatus for forming an image on a continuous sheet while reducing damage to a rotating member

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a conveying unit which conveys a continuous sheet at least longer than a length of the image forming apparatus itself;
• an image forming unit which forms an image on the continuous sheet conveyed by the conveying unit;
• a first rotating member in the conveying unit;
• and
• a second rotating member opposing the first rotating member in the conveying unit,
• wherein,
• the first rotating member can be pressed to and separated from the second rotating member;
• the first rotating member can be rotated while being separated from the second rotating member;
• the continuous sheet can be stopped and held when the first rotating member is separated from the second rotating member;
• and
• the image forming apparatus further comprising a control unit, wherein when the continuous sheet is stopped and held and a rotation operation of the first rotating member is started, the control unit moves at least one of the first rotating member and the continuous sheet so that the continuous sheet is not in contact with the first rotating member, and then the control unit starts rotation of the first rotating member while the first rotating member is separated from the second rotating member.