Patent attributes
In a fixing apparatus of the present invention, an end section fixing control temperature changing section selects an end section fixing control temperature in accordance with the number of paper sheets that have been processed in one continuous printing process. A sub-heater on/off determining section turns on or off a sub-heater in accordance with a temperature detected by an end section temperature sensor and the end section fixing control temperature selected by the end section fixing control temperature changing section. This prevents the occurrence of fixing failure even in continuous printing with respect to large-size paper sheets in an arrangement in which a temperature sensor is disposed outside a maximum-size sheet passing region at an end section of a fixing roller and controls energization of a heater which is disposed corresponding to the end section of the fixing roller in accordance with a temperature detected by the temperature sensor.