FIXING UNIT, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH THE SAME, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE FIXING UNIT

摘要

A fixing unit, an image forming apparatus with the same, and a method for controlling the fixing unit are provided to enable a controller to intercept power supply to a heating element layer for metal resistance and keep power supply only to a plate heating element layer if temperature of the fixing unit is higher than 80% of set fixing temperature. A fixing unit(140) has a heat roller(141) which generates heat by including a heating element layer for metal resistance(143) and a plate heating element layer(143) having PTC characteristics and a pressure roller(148) which is elastically contacted with the heat roller(141) and forms a fixing nip. The plate heating element layer(143) is laminated in the outside of the heating element layer for metal resistance(143). An image forming apparatus has the fixing unit(140) which fixes an image on print media by adding heat and pressure to the print media where the image is formed and a controller(160) which controls temperature of the fixing unit(140).