JP3668601B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that is used in a copying machine or the like and has an energy saving mode.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an image forming apparatus having an energy saving mode is known. In this image forming apparatus, the transition to the energy saving mode is executed by a manual SW (switch) disposed in the operation unit, and the return is performed by pressing the manual SW again or connecting to an external I / F (PC). It is well known that it is executed by a return request from a printer unit or a fax unit having a facsimile function.
[0003]
FIG. 15 shows an image forming apparatus having a conventional energy saving mode.
In FIG. 15, the transition to the energy saving mode is performed by the main power supply SW 86 arranged in the operation unit 30. When the main power SW 86 is pressed, the power controller 82 turns off the power relay SW 83. Thereby, the power supply from the main power supply 81 is stopped, and the main control unit 80, the scanner unit 50, and the engine unit 90 are in a non-energized state (energy saving mode).
[0004]
In order to return from the energy saving mode, the power control unit 82 turns on the power relay SW 83 by either pressing down the main power SW 86 again, a return request from the printer unit 73 or a return request from the fax unit 74. Thus, power is supplied from the main power supply 81, and the main control unit 80, the scanner unit 50, and the engine unit 90 are in an energized state (normal mode).
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, conventionally, when the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode and there is a return request from the external I / F, the entire image forming apparatus (including the scanner unit) is re-energized. However, when the image forming apparatus is used as an online printer of a PC, the scanner unit of the image forming apparatus is not used, the engine unit and the image data conversion unit (main control unit) are used, and the image receiver is used as a facsimile receiver. Similarly, when the forming apparatus is used, the scanner unit is not required.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to operate a function in a minimum necessary energized state in response to a request from an external I / F.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, scanner means for reading a document and outputting image data, engine means for visualizing the image data to form an image on a transfer sheet, scanner means and engine means And control means for controlling execution processing of each operation of the apparatus, connection means for connecting external devices, power supply means for supplying power to the scanner means, engine means and control means, and instructions for supplying and shutting off the power Instruction means , power supply control means for controlling the power supply means in response to an instruction from the instruction means or an instruction sent from the external device via the connection means , key input after turning on the power, the engine means, and a determining means for determining whether the processing request from one of the application, the power supply control means, power is shut off to the above means In this state, when there is a power supply instruction from the external device, the power supply means is controlled so that power is supplied to the engine means and the control means, and a power supply instruction is issued from the instruction means. The power supply means is controlled so that power is supplied to the scanner means, the engine means and the control means. After the power supply by the power supply control means, the control means makes a judgment by the judgment means. In response to a processing request for any of the key input, engine means, or application, the power control signal sent from the power control means is prohibited from being turned off .
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a power supply unit of the image forming apparatus.
In FIG. 1, a main control unit 80 for controlling the image forming apparatus and a main power supply 81 for supplying electric power thereto are provided. Further, a power control unit 82, a power relay SW 83 that operates under the control of the power control unit 82, and an auxiliary power source 85 that supplies power to the power control unit 82 are provided. Then, power supply from the main power supply 81 is controlled by the power relay SW 83. A power control signal 80 a from the main controller 80 is applied to the power controller 82, and a control signal from the main power SW 86 for manually controlling the power in the operation unit 30 is applied to the power controller 82. Further, a power relay SW 84 according to the present invention and a power-on register 87 in the power control unit 82 are provided.
[0011]
First, the first operation will be described with reference to FIG. The operation condition in this case is that when the printer unit 73 or the fax unit 74 requests to return from the energy saving mode, it is not necessary to use the scanner unit 50, and image data is obtained using the main control unit 80 and the engine unit 90. Is to output.
[0012]
In FIG. 1, the transition to the energy saving mode is performed in the same manner as in the conventional example of FIG.
Next, the return from the energy saving mode is performed by either pressing the main power SW 86 again, a return request from the printer unit 73, or a return request from the fax unit 74. In response to this return request, the power supply controller 82 turns on the power relay SW83. As a result, power is supplied from the main power supply 81, and the main control unit 80 and the engine unit 90 are in an energized state (normal mode). The main control unit 80 checks the power-on register 87 of the power supply control unit 82 after completing predetermined initial settings.
[0013]
Here, the power-on register 87 will be described with reference to FIG.
The power-on register 87 is a 4-bit register, and the most significant bit (bit 3) is set when the entire system is started by turning on the main SW. Bit 2 is set to 1 when the main power SW 86 is pressed. Bit 1 is set to 1 in response to a return request from the printer unit 73. The least significant bit (bit 0) is set to 1 by a return request from the fax unit 74. (For example, in the case of a return request from the printer unit 73, the power-on register 87 indicates 0010, that is, 2H.)
[0014]
The main control unit 80 checks the power-on register 87 of the power supply control unit 82. If the value is 2H or 1H, the selector 64 shown in FIG. 8 described later is switched to connect the data bus to the printer unit 73 or the fax unit 74. To do. In this case, the main control unit 80 does not output an on command to the power relay SW 84, and the scanner unit 50 remains in a non-energized state. When the main controller 80 finishes checking the power-on register 87 of the power controller 82, it resets all the values of the power-on register 87 to zero.
[0015]
Next, the second operation will be described. The operating condition in this case is that when the user requests to return from the energy saving mode by pressing down the main power switch 86, the copy function or the facsimile transmission function is used, and the scanner unit 50 may be used. It is expensive.
[0016]
In this case, first, the main control unit 80 checks the power-on register 87 of the power supply control unit 82. If the value is 8H or 4H, the main control unit 80 outputs an on command to the power relay SW 84, thereby the scanner unit 50. Is energized. When the main controller 80 finishes checking the power-on register 87 of the power controller 82, it resets all values in the power-on register 87 to zero.
[0017]
A flowchart of each operation described above is shown in FIG.
In FIG. 3, when the power is turned on in step 101, initialization is performed in step 102, and then the register value of the power-on register 87 is checked in step 103. Next, in step 104, it is checked whether the register value is 1H or 2H. If the register value is 1H or 2H, it is assumed that the scanner unit 50 is not used, and the selector 64 is switched in steps 105 and 106 and the power relay SW 84 is turned off. On the other hand, if the register value is 1H or 2H, it is assumed that the scanner unit 50 is used. In step 108, the power-on register 87 is reset, and in step 109, the process returns to the main routine.
[0018]
Next, a detailed configuration and operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the image forming apparatus.
In FIG. 4, when a document bundle placed on the document table 2 in the automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 1 with the image surface of the document facing up is pressed, the start key 34 on the operation unit 30 is pressed. The image data of the original on the contact glass 6 is read by the reading unit (scanner unit) 50 fed from the lowermost original to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 by the feeding roller 3 and the feeding belt 4. Thereafter, the document that has been read is discharged by the feeding belt 4 and the discharge roller 5. Further, when it is detected by the document set detection 7 that the next document is present on the document table 2, the document is fed onto the contact glass 6 in the same manner as the previous document. The feed roller 3, the feed belt 4, and the discharge roller 5 are driven by a transport motor 26 (shown in FIG. 5).
[0019]
The transfer papers stacked on the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10 are fed by the first paper feeding device 11, the second paper feeding device 12, and the third paper feeding device 13, respectively, and are conveyed vertically. The unit 14 is transported to a position where it abuts on the photoreceptor 15. The image data read by the reading unit 50 is written on the photoconductor 15 by the laser from the writing unit 57 and passes through the developing unit 27 to form a toner image. Then, the toner image on the photoconductor 15 is transferred while the transfer paper is conveyed by the conveyance belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15. Thereafter, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 17 and discharged to the finisher 100 of the post-processing apparatus by the paper discharge unit 18.
[0020]
The finisher 100 of the post-processing apparatus can guide the transfer paper conveyed by the paper discharge unit 18 of the main body in the normal paper discharge roller 102 direction and the staple processing unit direction. By switching the switching plate 101 upward, the sheet can be discharged to the normal discharge tray 104 side via the transport roller 103. Further, by switching the switching plate 101 downward, it can be conveyed to the staple table 108 via the conveying rollers 105 and 107.
[0021]
The transfer paper loaded on the staple table 108 is aligned by the paper jogger 109 every time one sheet is discharged, and is bound by the stapler 106 upon completion of partial copying. The group of transfer sheets bound by the stapler 106 is stored in the staple completion discharge tray 110 by its own weight.
On the other hand, the normal paper discharge tray 104 is a paper discharge tray that can move back and forth. The paper discharge tray section 104 that can be moved back and forth moves back and forth for each original or each copy section sorted by the image memory, and sorts copy paper that is simply discharged.
[0022]
When forming an image on both sides of the transfer paper, the transfer paper fed from each of the paper feed trays 8 to 10 is not guided to the paper discharge tray 104 side, and the branch claw 112 for switching the path is used. By setting it on the upper side, it is once stocked in the duplex feeding unit 111.
Thereafter, the transfer paper stocked on the double-sided paper feeding unit 111 is re-fed from the double-sided paper feeding unit 111 to transfer the toner image formed on the photosensitive member 15 again, and the branching claw 112 for switching the path. Is set on the lower side and guided to the paper discharge tray 104. In this way, the duplex feeding unit 111 is used when creating images on both sides of the transfer sheet.
[0023]
The photoreceptor 15, the transport belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharge unit 18, and the development unit 27 are driven by a main motor 25, and the paper feeding devices 11 to 13 drive the main motor 25 by paper feeding clutches 22 to 24, respectively. Driven by transmission. The vertical conveyance unit 14 is driven to transmit the drive of the main motor 25 (shown in FIG. 5) by the intermediate clutch 21.
[0024]
FIG. 5 shows the inside of the main control unit 80 in more detail with the main controller as the center.
The main controller 20 controls the entire image forming apparatus. The main controller 20 includes image processing for performing display for an operator, an operation unit 30 for performing function setting input control from the operator, control for a scanner, control for writing a document image into an image memory, control for image formation from the image memory, and the like. A distributed control device such as a unit 49 (hereinafter referred to as IPU) and ADF 1 is connected.
Each distributed controller and the main controller 20 exchange machine states and operation commands as necessary. A main motor 25 and various clutches 21 to 24 necessary for paper conveyance are also connected.
[0025]
The operation unit 30 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a numeric keypad 32, a clear / stop key 33, a print key 34, a mode clear key 35, an interrupt key 36 for interrupting the copying operation and performing another copy process, a fax There is a switching key 37 for selecting a function and a switching key 38 for selecting an online printer function. On the liquid crystal touch panel 31, a mode setting function key (display), the number of copies, a message indicating the state of the image forming apparatus, and the like are displayed.
[0026]
Further, when the online printer function switching key 38 is pressed, the main controller 20 gives execution processing permission to the online printer function circuit unit 73. When an execution processing request from a personal computer (not shown) or the like is transmitted to the main controller 20 via the online printer function circuit unit in the printer unit 73, the main controller 20 determines the execution job status of the image forming apparatus, etc. The execution function permission is given to the online printer function circuit 73 based on the job execution state of the application function circuit unit (for example, the facsimile function circuit unit in the facsimile unit 74 in this case). The on-line printer function circuit unit 73 that has received the execution process execution permission by the main controller 20 receives the image signal and the control command from the personal computer, and transfers them to the IPU 49 via the selector 64 (shown in FIG. 8).
The same applies to the facsimile function circuit unit.
[0027]
6 and 7 are views showing display examples of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30. FIG.
When the operator touches a key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, the key indicating the selected function is inverted in black and the function is selected. Since the liquid crystal touch panel 31 uses a dot display, it is possible to graphically perform an optimal display at that time. In addition, predetermined keys 31 to 37 are provided. The display in FIG. 7 will be described later.
[0028]
Next, the image reading operation in FIG. 4 and the configuration and operation until the latent image is formed on the recording surface will be described. A latent image is a potential distribution generated by converting an image into light information and irradiating it on the surface of the photoreceptor.
The reading unit 50 includes a contact glass 6 on which an original is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 51, a first mirror 52, a lens 53, a CCD image sensor 54, and the like. Yes. The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown).
[0029]
When reading a document image, the first carriage and the second carriage are mechanically scanned at a relative speed of 2 to 1 so that the optical path length does not change. This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The document image is read by the CCD image sensor 54, converted into an electrical signal, and processed. The image magnification is changed by moving the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 in the left-right direction in the figure. That is, the positions of the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 are set in the left-right direction corresponding to the designated magnification.
[0030]
The writing unit 57 includes a laser output unit 58, an imaging lens 59, and a mirror 60. Inside the laser output unit 58, a rotary polygon mirror (polygon mirror) that rotates at a high speed at a high speed by a laser diode as a laser light source and a motor. ).
The laser light emitted from the laser output unit 58 is polarized by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, passes through an imaging lens 59, is folded by a mirror 60, and is focused and imaged on the surface of the photoreceptor.
The polarized laser light is exposed and scanned in the direction (main scanning direction) perpendicular to the direction in which the photosensitive member rotates, and the line-by-line recording of the image signal output from the selector 64 of the image processing unit described later is performed. An image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the surface of the photosensitive member by repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotational speed and recording density of the photosensitive member.
[0031]
As described above, the laser beam output from the writing unit 57 is applied to the image forming photoconductor 15. Although not shown, a beam sensor for generating a main scanning synchronization signal is disposed at a position where a laser beam near one end of the photoconductor 15 is irradiated. Based on the main scanning synchronization signal, control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting / outputting image signals described later are performed.
[0032]
Next, the configuration of the IPU 49 will be described with reference to FIG. The light emitted from the exposure lamp 51 illuminates the original surface, and the reflected light from the original surface is imaged and received by a CCD image sensor 54 with an imaging lens (not shown), and is photoelectrically converted. The digital signal is converted by the D converter 61. The image signal converted into the digital signal is subjected to shading correction 62, MTF correction, γ correction, and the like are performed by the image processing unit 63, and scaling processing is performed by the scaling unit 71. The image data after scaling is sent to an editing unit 72 that performs image processing such as italics, black and white inversion, and mirroring. The image signal sent to the selector 64 is transferred to the writing unit 57.
The selector 64 can receive image signals and control commands from the on-line printer function circuit unit in the printer unit 73 and the facsimile function circuit unit in the facsimile unit 74, and switches the bus as necessary.
[0033]
Image signals and control commands from the online printer function circuit unit and the facsimile function circuit unit are transmitted to the memory controller 65 via the selector 64. The image signal is stored in the image memory 66, and the control command is stored in the RAM 70. (The image memory 66 and the RAM 70 may be supplied with power from the auxiliary power supply 84 or may be supplied with power from a battery or the like.)
[0034]
The operation will be described below according to the flowchart.
FIG. 9 shows the main flow.
When the power is turned on, an initialization process is first performed (step 01). The main contents of initialization are various flags such as an image memory management area, various counters are cleared, the image memory 66 is cleared, and an image forming mode is reset. (The initialization flow is not shown.) At this time, the power supply control signal is “off permission”.
[0035]
After the initialization is completed, the system waits for an event from the key input or image formation engine (any change factor) and an event from the application (step 02).
When the user performs any key operation, the operation unit 30 notifies the user of a key input event. Similarly, when an image forming engine is changed, for example, when a document is set on the ADF 1, a signal change of the document setting detection 7 is notified as an engine event. When any event occurs, the process proceeds to step 03.
[0036]
In step 03, it is determined whether the event that has occurred is a key input, an engine, or a processing request from an application. In the case of an engine, engine event processing (step 04), in the case of key input, key input event processing (step 05), and in the case of a processing request from an application, application event processing (step 06) is called. Again, the event of step 02 is awaited.
[0037]
FIG. 10 shows a part of the flow of key input event processing.
Steps 11 to 15 are determinations for determining the input key. Steps 16 to 20 are processing corresponding to each key. (The button-like display displayed on the touch panel on the liquid crystal screen is also expressed as “key”.) For example, when the print key 34 (shown in FIG. 6) is pressed, the process branches from step 11 to the right to copy. Processing (step 16) is invoked.
[0038]
FIG. 11 shows a part of the flow of application event processing.
When there is an execution processing request from the application, the power supply control signal is set to “off prohibition” (step 81). Then, the selector 64 (shown in FIG. 8) is switched (step 82), and execution processing permission is given to the application (step 83). The image data and processing command from the application are temporarily stored in the image memory 66 and the RAM 70, and after all the memory writing processes are completed, the selector 64 is returned to the original state (step 84), and the power control signal 80a is set to “OFF permission”. (Step 85).
[0039]
Here, if the switch 86 is in the off state, the main power supply 81 is turned off by the power supply control processing from FIG. If the switch 86 is in the on state, the image signal stored in the image memory 66 is subjected to normal expansion processing and transferred to the writing unit 57 via the selector 64.
[0040]
Next, basic control of the main power supply 81 will be described with reference to the flowcharts in FIG. Here, the energy saving mode is not particularly considered. FIG. 12 is a main flow of the power controller 84.
Monitoring of the state of the power switch 86 (step 50) and monitoring of the state of the power control signal 85 (step 51) are repeated.
[0041]
FIG. 13 shows the monitoring process of the power switch 86.
When there is an input of the power switch (step 60-Y), it is checked whether the main power supply 86 is on (step 62). If it is off (step 62-N), a relay switch is connected to the main power supply. Is supplied (step 64). If the main power supply 86 is on (step 62-Y), the state of the power control signal 85 is checked. If the main power supply 86 is off (step 63-Y), the main power supply is turned off (step 65). ). If it is in the off-prohibited state (step 63-N), the power switch off flag is set (step 66), and the fact that the power-off process is suspended is displayed on the liquid crystal display 31 of the operation unit 30 (step 67). The display state is shown in FIG.
[0042]
FIG. 14 shows the monitoring process of the power control signal 80a.
When the power switch off flag is set (step 70-Y), it is checked whether or not the power control signal 85 is in an off-permitted state (step 71). The power supply is cut off (step 72). Then, the power switch off flag is reset (step 73).
[0043]
With the above operation, even if the power is turned off to turn off the main power while the application function is being executed, the power control signal is prohibited to be turned off while the job is being executed. Is done. In addition, the power can be automatically turned off after the application function job is completed.
The operation including the energy saving mode is as described with reference to FIGS.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when returning from the energy saving mode due to an external return request, the on-line printer of the PC is prevented from starting the drive power supply to the scanner unit. When the image forming apparatus is used as an image forming apparatus, or when the image forming apparatus is used as a facsimile receiver, the function can be operated in the minimum energized state without energizing the unnecessary scanner unit. When returning from the energy saving mode by a request from an instruction means such as manual, it is determined that the copy function or facsimile transmission function is used, and the drive power supply to the scanner unit is started, so that the required functional operating environment Can be provided. Even if the power off operation for turning off the main power is performed during the execution of the application function, the power control signal is prohibited to be off during the execution of the job, so that the power can be prevented from being turned off accidentally. In addition, the power can be automatically turned off after the application function job is completed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a power-on register.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main control unit.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating a display example of an operation unit and its touch panel.
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram illustrating a display example of a touch panel of an operation unit.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit.
FIG. 9 is a main flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of key input event processing.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of application event processing;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart of basic control processing of the main power supply.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart of main power switch monitoring processing;
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of power supply control signal monitoring processing;
FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a power supply unit of a conventional image forming apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
50 Scanner Unit 73 Printer Unit 74 Fax Unit 80 Main Control Unit 81 Main Power Supply 82 Power Supply Control Unit 83, 84 Power Relay SW
86 Main power switch
87 Power-on register 90 Engine part 64 selector

Claims (1)

Scanner means for reading a document and outputting image data;
Engine means for visualizing the image data and forming an image on transfer paper;
Control means for controlling execution processing of each operation of the scanner means, engine means and apparatus ;
A connection means for connecting an external device;
Power supply means for supplying power to the scanner means, engine means and control means;
An instruction means for instructing the supply and interruption of the power;
Power control means for controlling the power supply means in response to an instruction from the instruction means or an instruction sent from the external device via the connection means ;
A determination means for determining whether a process is requested from any of the key input, the engine means, and the application after the power is turned on ;
The power control means is in a state where power to each means is cut off.
When there is an instruction to supply power from the external device, the power supply means is controlled so that power is supplied to the engine means and the control means,
Further, when there is an instruction to supply power from the instruction means, the power supply means is controlled so that power is supplied to the scanner means, engine means and control means,
After supplying power by the power control means,
The control means causes the key input determined by the determination means, the engine means, or an application to be executed in response to a processing request, and disables the power control signal sent from the power control means. An image forming apparatus.

Images