Image forming apparatus

Claim 2

An image forming apparatus, comprising: image forming means for forming a visible image on a paper sheet; conveyor means for conveying the paper sheet to said image forming means; fixing means for fixing the visible image formed on the paper sheet by said image forming means; and control means for controlling said fixing means and said conveyor means, said control means including means for driving said conveyor means for a predetermined time, means for driving said fixing means until the temperature of said fixing means reaches a predetermined temperature, and means for detecting that the temperature of said fixing means reaches said predetermined temperature and stopping said conveyor means when the temperature of said fixing means is detected to be said predetermined temperature.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controlling means comprises a programmable microprocessor connected to said fixing means and said conveyor means, said programmable microprocessor including a central processing unit for receiving timing signals to control said conveyor means, and a read-only memory device which stores a permanent program for functions of said central processing unit so as to perform a specific function of said controlling means, wherein said controlling means controls said fixing means and said conveyor means to perform preheating of said fixing means and driving of said conveyor means for a predetermined time interval immediately after power is supplied and to stop said conveyor means when preheating of said fixing means is completed before the predetermined time interval has elapsed.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means continues the operation of said conveyor means when a paper sheet is jammed in said paper conveyor means, even if preheating of said fixing means is completed before the predetermined time has elapsed.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming means comprises: a photosensitive drum; an optical system for radiating light onto a document and guiding light reflected by the document to said photosensitive drum; discharger means for discharging a surface of said photosensitive drum; charging means for charging the surface of said photosensitive drum after said photosensitive drum is discharged; exposure means for exposing the surface of said photosensitive drum after said photosensitive drum is discharged; developing means for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed by said exposure means on the surface of said photosensitive drum; transferring means for transferring a visual image formed on the surface of said photosensitive drum onto a paper sheet; separating means for separating the paper sheet, onto which the visual image has been transferred, from said photosensitive drum; and cleaning means for cleaning said photosensitive drum.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image forming means comprises: a photosensitive drum; an optical system for radiating light onto a document and guiding light reflected by the document to said photosensitive drum; discharger means for discharging a surface of said photosensitive drum; charging means for charging the surface of said photosensitive drum after said photosensitive drum is discharged; exposure means for exposing the surface of said photosensitive drum after said photosensitive drum is discharged; developing means for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed by said exposure means on the surface of said photosensitive drum; transferring means for transferring a visual image formed on the surface of said photosensitive drum onto a paper sheet; separating means for separating the paper sheet, onto which the visual image has been transferred, from said photosensitive drum; and cleaning means for cleaning said photosensitive drum.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said image forming means comprises: a photosensitive drum; an optical system for radiating light onto a document and guiding light reflected by the document to said photosensitive drum; discharger means for discharging a surface of said photosensitive drum; charging means for charging the surface of said photosensitive drum after said photosensitive drum is discharged; exposure means for exposing the surface of said photosensitive drum after said photosensitive drum is discharged; developing means for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed by said exposure means on the surface of said photosensitive drum; transferring means for transferring a visual image formed on the surface of said photosensitive drum onto a paper sheet; separating means for separating the paper sheet, onto which the visual image has been transferred, from said photosensitive drum; and cleaning means for cleaning said photosensitive drum.