JP5883823B2 - Printing system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system including an image forming apparatus capable of switching between a normal mode and a power saving mode, and the image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for executing a printing process after receiving an input of a predetermined operation instruction from a user. .

  Conventionally, as described in, for example, Patent Document 1 below, a normal (printing) mode for supplying power necessary for printing processing, and a power saving mode for reducing power consumption of the image forming apparatus as compared with the printing mode, There is known an image forming apparatus capable of switching between and. In such an image forming apparatus, in order to perform a printing process in the printing mode, a preparatory process is performed in which the heater of the fixing roller of the fixing device is turned on and the standby of the temperature of the fixing roller reaches a predetermined temperature or more.

  Also, as described in Patent Document 1 below, when an instruction to execute a printing process is received from an external personal computer, the printing process is not immediately started and a predetermined operation is performed by the user. An image forming apparatus that executes a printing process is known. For example, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 below, when an instruction to execute a printing process is received from a personal computer, a preparation process is started after a user authentication operation is performed. Then, after the temperature of the fixing roller becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the printing process is executed.

JP 2011-185974 A

  However, when the image forming apparatus receives an instruction to execute a printing process in the power saving mode, the user who intends to acquire a printed matter quickly does not perform the preparation process after the user authentication operation is performed. After the execution instruction of the printing process is input in the personal computer, the time until the fixing roller reaches the predetermined temperature or more by the preparation process even though the user immediately comes to the image forming apparatus and performs the authentication operation. Had to wait.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a printing system including an image forming apparatus capable of switching between a normal mode and a power saving mode, printing is quickly performed on the image forming apparatus according to the user's intention. The purpose is to execute the process.

  In the printing system according to the present invention, an image forming apparatus that performs a printing process for forming an image on a sheet and an instruction apparatus that transmits a print instruction that is an instruction to execute the printing process to the image forming apparatus can communicate with each other. In the printing system, the image forming apparatus includes: an instruction receiving unit that receives the print instruction; an image forming unit that performs the print process after performing a preparation process for performing the print process; and the print process A mode control unit that alternatively executes a normal mode in which power that can be executed is supplied, a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode, and a preparation mode for executing the normal mode; An operation instruction receiving unit that receives an input of a predetermined operation instruction, and when the print instruction is received during execution of the power saving mode, the power saving mode is being executed. A contact transmitter that transmits contact information to the instruction device, and the instruction device receives an input of the print instruction from a user and transmits the received print instruction to the image forming device. Receiving the contact information and notifying the user of the received contact information, and receiving response information indicating that the contact information has been recognized from the user, and receiving the received response information as the image forming apparatus. A response unit that transmits the response information, and the image forming apparatus further includes a response reception unit that receives the response information. The mode control unit is configured to receive a predetermined first restriction after the contact information is transmitted. If the response information has not been received within the first period until the time elapses, execution of the preparation mode is started at the end of the first period, and the image forming unit To perform the serial preparation process.

  When the response information has not been received within the first period, it is considered that the user has gone to the image forming apparatus without recognizing the contact information notified by the notification unit. That is, in this case, it is considered that the user intends to quickly execute the printing process after inputting the printing instruction.

  According to this configuration of the printing system, when the response information is not received within the first period, the preparation mode is executed, and the image forming unit performs the preparation process. In other words, when the user who intends to execute the printing process quickly arrives at the image forming apparatus, the preparation process has already been performed, and the preparation process starts after the user arrives at the image forming apparatus. In contrast, the time required for the preparation process to end after the user arrives at the image forming apparatus is reduced. As a result, when a user who intends to execute the printing process quickly arrives at the image forming apparatus, the image forming unit can quickly execute the printing process.

  In addition, when the response information is received within the first period, the mode control unit starts execution of the preparation mode when the operation instruction is received, and the image forming unit The preparation process may be performed, and then the execution of the normal mode may be started, and the image forming unit may perform the printing process based on the printing instruction.

  When the response information is received within the first period, that is, when the user recognizes the contact information notified by the notification unit in the pointing device and inputs the response information within the first period, the user prints quickly. It is not intended to execute the process, and is considered not to go to the image forming apparatus for a while.

  According to the configuration of the printing system, when response information is received within the first period, when the user reaches the image forming apparatus and a predetermined operation instruction is received by the operation instruction receiving unit, the saving is performed. Execution of the preparation mode is started instead of the power mode, and preparation processing is performed. Thereafter, the normal mode is started and printing processing is performed.

  For this reason, response information is received within the first period, the user does not intend to promptly execute the printing process, and it takes time until a predetermined operation instruction is received by the operation instruction receiving unit. In such a case, by starting the execution of the preparation mode from the end of the first period and performing the preparation process, from the end of the first period until the operation instruction predetermined by the operation instruction receiving unit is received Meanwhile, it is possible to reduce the possibility that power is wasted.

  The image forming unit includes a heating unit that heats a sheet on which an image is formed, and the preparatory process uses the electric power so that the temperature of the heating unit becomes a predetermined heating temperature. The image forming apparatus further includes a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of the heating unit, and the mode control unit further receives the response information after the first period. When the temperature of the heating unit detected by the temperature detection unit does not exceed a predetermined specified temperature lower than the heating temperature, the execution of the power saving mode is started and the operation instruction is accepted. The image forming unit starts the preparation process, and then starts the normal mode, and the image forming unit performs the printing process based on the print instruction. The It may be configured so as to I.

  According to this configuration, when response information is received after the first period, if the temperature of the heating unit does not exceed a specified temperature lower than the heating temperature, the preparation mode started at the end of the first period is entered. Instead, execution of the power saving mode is started. Thereby, the process which heats the heating part currently performed from the end of a 1st period is complete | finished. Then, when the user reaches the image forming apparatus and a predetermined operation instruction is received by the operation instruction reception unit, execution of the preparation mode is started instead of the power saving mode, and preparation processing is performed. Thereafter, the normal mode is started and printing processing is performed.

  Therefore, when the response information is received after the first period, that is, when it is considered that it takes time until the operation instruction predetermined by the operation instruction receiving unit is received, the temperature of the heating unit is By continuing the process of heating the heating unit started at the end of the first period for a long time from a temperature lower than the specified temperature to the heating temperature or higher, the possibility that power is wasted is reduced. it can.

  The image forming unit includes a heating unit that heats a sheet on which an image is formed, and the preparatory process uses the electric power so that the temperature of the heating unit becomes a predetermined heating temperature. A temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the heating unit, and the temperature detecting unit detects the response information when the response information is received after the first period. A guide transmission unit that transmits guidance information indicating that a user is guided to go to the image forming apparatus and input the operation instruction when the temperature of the heating unit exceeds the specified temperature; The instruction device may further include a guidance notification unit that receives the guidance information and notifies the received guidance information.

  According to this configuration, in the image forming apparatus, when the response information is received after the first period, if the temperature of the heating unit exceeds the specified temperature, the heating performed from the end of the first period The processing for heating the part is continued, and the guidance information is notified by the guidance notification unit indicating that the instruction device goes to the image forming apparatus and guides the user to input a predetermined operation instruction.

  That is, it is considered that it takes time until response information is received after the first period and a predetermined operation instruction is received by the operation instruction receiving unit, but the temperature of the heating unit exceeds the specified temperature, and heating is performed. When it is considered that it does not take time to raise the temperature of the part to the heating temperature, the process of heating the heating part is continued, and the temperature of the heating part rises to the heating temperature soon.

  At this time, since the guidance device is notified of the guidance information, it is possible to prompt the user in the guidance device to quickly go to the image forming apparatus and input a predetermined operation instruction. This reduces the possibility that the time from when the first period ends until the operation instruction predetermined by the operation instruction receiving unit is received becomes longer. As a result, by continuing the process of heating the temperature of the heating unit started from the end point of the first period, it is possible to reduce the possibility that power is wasted.

  Further, the mode control unit further includes the second control unit within a second period from the end of the first period until a second time limit that is shorter than a preliminarily set preparation time as a time required for the preparation process elapses. When response information is received, execution of the power saving mode is started when the response information is received, execution of the preparation mode is started when the operation instruction is received, and the image forming unit The preparatory process may be performed, and then the execution of the normal mode may be started, and the image forming unit may perform the print process based on the print instruction.

  According to this configuration, when response information is received within the second period, the power saving mode is executed instead of the preparation mode started at the end of the first period. Thus, the preparation process that has been performed since the end of the first period ends. Then, when the user reaches the image forming apparatus and a predetermined operation instruction is received by the operation instruction reception unit, execution of the preparation mode is started instead of the power saving mode, and preparation processing is performed. Thereafter, the normal mode is started and printing processing is performed.

  For this reason, when the response information is received within the second period, that is, when it is considered that it takes time until the predetermined operation instruction is received by the operation instruction receiving unit, the first period ends. Reduces the possibility of wasted power by continuing the preparation process for a long period from the time when the second time limit has not elapsed since the time until the time when the preparation time has elapsed from the end of the first period. can do.

  In addition, when the response information is received after the second period, the image forming apparatus provides guidance information indicating that a user is guided to enter the operation instruction by going to the image forming apparatus. A guidance transmission unit may be further provided, and the instruction device may be configured to further include a guidance notification unit that receives the guidance information and notifies the received guidance information.

  According to this configuration, when the response information is received after the second period in the image forming apparatus, the preparatory processing that has been performed since the end of the first period is continued, and the instruction apparatus causes the image forming apparatus to Guidance information indicating guidance to the user to go out and input a predetermined operation instruction is notified by the guidance notification unit.

  That is, it is considered that it takes time until response information is received after the second period and a predetermined operation instruction is received by the operation instruction receiving unit, but the second time limit has elapsed since the end of the first period. In other words, if the remaining time from the end of the first period to the time when the preparation time has passed is short and it is considered that it does not take time to finish the preparation process, the preparation process is continued, The preparation process will be completed soon.

  At this time, since the guidance device is notified of the guidance information, it is possible to prompt the user in the guidance device to quickly go to the image forming apparatus and input a predetermined operation instruction. As a result, the possibility that the time from when the first period ends until the user inputs a predetermined operation instruction is reduced. As a result, by continuing the preparation process from the end of the first period, it is possible to reduce the possibility that power is wasted.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus sets a time receiving unit that receives an input of a first set time that can be the first time limit, and sets the first set time received by the time receiving unit as the first time limit. You may comprise so that a 1st time setting part may be further provided.

  According to this configuration, when the input of the first set time that can be the first time limit is received by the time receiving unit, the received first set time is set as the first time limit by the first time setting unit. . For this reason, an appropriate first set time is set in consideration of the time required to move from the instruction device to the image forming apparatus after the user who intends to execute the printing process quickly inputs the print instruction. By inputting, the first time limit can be appropriately changed.

  The instruction apparatus further includes a time transmission unit that receives an input of a second set time that can be the first time limit, and transmits the received second set time to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes: A second time setting unit that receives the second set time and sets the received second set time as the first time limit may be further included.

  According to this configuration, when the input of the second set time that can be the first time limit is received by the time transmission unit in the instruction device, and the received second set time is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, the image is displayed. In the forming apparatus, the second setting time is received by the second time setting unit, and the received second setting time is set as the first time limit. For this reason, an appropriate second set time is set in consideration of the time required to move from the instruction apparatus to the image forming apparatus after the user who intends to execute the printing process quickly inputs the print instruction. By inputting at the pointing device, the first time limit can be appropriately changed.

  The instruction transmitting unit receives the input of the new print instruction after the notification unit notifies the contact information until the response unit receives the response information. The notification of the contact information may be terminated, and the response information may be transmitted to the image forming apparatus together with the received new print instruction.

  According to this configuration, when the instruction transmission unit receives an input of a new print instruction after the notification of the contact information until the response unit receives the input of the response information, the instruction transmission unit The notification is terminated, and response information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus together with a new print instruction. For this reason, apart from the input of a new print instruction, the user is saved from the trouble of performing an operation of terminating notification of contact information by the notification unit and an operation of inputting response information.

  The image forming apparatus receives an input of authentication information from a user, and determines whether or not the user is an authenticated user who is permitted in advance to use the image forming apparatus based on the received authentication information. An authentication unit may be further provided, and the operation instruction receiving unit may be configured such that the operation instruction is input from a user when the authentication unit determines that the user is the authenticated user. .

  According to this configuration, when the authentication unit determines that the user is an authenticated user, the operation instruction receiving unit receives a predetermined operation instruction. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the possibility of receiving a predetermined operation instruction input by a user who is not permitted in advance to use the image forming apparatus and executing the printing process.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that can communicate with an instruction device that transmits a print instruction that is an instruction to execute a printing process for forming an image on a sheet, and that receives the print instruction. A receiving unit, an image forming unit that performs the printing process after performing a preparation process for performing the printing process, a normal mode in which power that can execute the printing process is supplied, and a power consumption that is higher than that in the normal mode A mode control unit that alternatively executes a power saving mode with less power and a preparation mode for executing the normal mode, an operation instruction receiving unit that receives an input of a predetermined operation instruction from a user, and the power saving When the print instruction is received during the execution of the mode, the contact transmitting unit that transmits the contact information indicating that the power saving mode is being executed to the instruction device, and the instruction device A response receiving unit that receives the response information indicating that the user has recognized the contact information, and the mode control unit has a first time limit determined in advance after the contact information is transmitted. If the response information has not been received within the first period until the elapses, execution of the preparation mode is started at the end of the first period, and the image forming unit performs the preparation process.

  When the response information has not been received within the first period, it is considered that the user has gone to the image forming apparatus without recognizing the contact information notified by the notification unit. That is, in this case, it is considered that the user intends to quickly execute the printing process after inputting the printing instruction.

  According to the configuration of the image forming apparatus, when the response information is not received within the first period, the preparation mode is executed, and the image forming unit performs the preparation process. In other words, when the user who intends to execute the printing process quickly arrives at the image forming apparatus, the preparation process has already been performed, and the preparation process starts after the user arrives at the image forming apparatus. In contrast, the time required for the preparation process to end after the user arrives at the image forming apparatus is reduced. As a result, when a user who intends to execute the printing process quickly arrives at the image forming apparatus, the image forming unit can quickly execute the printing process.

  According to the present invention, in a printing system including an image forming apparatus capable of switching between a normal mode and a power saving mode, the image forming apparatus can quickly execute a printing process in accordance with a user's intention.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of a printing system of the present invention. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the multifunction machine. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the computer which concerns on one Embodiment of the instruction | indication apparatus of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a part of an operation when a computer receives an input of a print instruction to the multifunction peripheral. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another part of the operation performed when the computer receives an input of a print instruction to the multifunction machine. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a part of an operation when a printing instruction is received in the multifunction peripheral. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another part of the operation when the MFP receives a print instruction. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the aspect by which notification information is alert | reported by the alerting | reporting part in a computer. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the time-sequential change of the temperature of a heat roller. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the aspect by which guidance information is alert | reported by the guidance alerting | reporting part in a computer.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system SYS according to an embodiment of the printing system of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system SYS includes a multifunction device 1 (image forming device), a facsimile device EF connected to the multifunction device 1 via a telephone line network 95, a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, and the like. And a computer EC (instruction device) such as a personal computer connected to the multi function device 1 via the network 97 are configured to be able to communicate with each other.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the multifunction peripheral 1 according to an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the multifunction machine 1. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the multifunction machine 1 includes an operation unit 3, a document reading unit 5, a document feeding unit 6, and a main body unit 100.

  The operation unit 3 includes a display unit 31 for displaying information and an operation key unit 32 for allowing the user to perform various instructions. The display unit 31 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display having a touch panel function. The operation key unit 32 includes a start key 33, a power saving key 34, and the like. The start key 33 is provided for inputting an instruction to start the operation of each function of the multifunction device 1 such as a copy function and a scanner function. The power saving key 34 is provided for inputting an instruction to switch the operation of the mode control unit 12 (FIG. 3) described later to the power saving mode.

  The document reading unit 5 includes a scanner unit 51 including an exposure lamp, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and the like, and a document table 52 and a document reading slit 53 made of a transparent member such as glass.

  The scanner unit 51 is configured to be movable by a drive unit (not shown). When reading a document placed on the document table 52, the scanner unit 51 is moved along the document surface at a position facing the document table 52 to scan the document. The image data representing the acquired image is output to the control unit 10 (FIG. 3) described later. Further, when reading a document fed by the document feeding unit 6, the document is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 53 and synchronized with the document feeding operation by the document feeding unit 6 via the document reading slit 53. The image of the original is acquired, and the image data is output to the control unit 10 (FIG. 3) described later.

  The document feeding unit 6 includes a document placing unit 61 for placing a document, a document discharge unit 62 for discharging a document whose image has been read, and a document placed on the document placing unit 61. A document transport mechanism 63 that feeds out the sheets one by one and transports them to a position facing the document reading slit 53 and discharges them to the document discharge section 62 is provided.

  The main body unit 100 includes a manual feed tray 460, a plurality of paper feed cassettes 461, a plurality of paper feed rollers 462, and the image forming unit 4.

  The paper feed roller 462 pulls out the paper from the manual feed tray 460 on which the paper is placed and the paper feed cassette 461 in which the paper is stored, and conveys the paper toward the image forming unit 4.

  The image forming unit 4 includes a paper transport unit 41, an optical scanning device 42, a photosensitive drum 43, a developing unit 44, a transfer unit 45, a fixing unit 47, a temperature sensor 49 (temperature detection unit), and a discharge. Part 8.

  The paper transport unit 41 is provided in a paper transport path in the image forming unit 4 and includes a plurality of transport rollers 413. Each transport roller 413 supplies the paper transported by each paper feed roller 462 to the photosensitive drum 43.

  The optical scanning device 42 outputs laser light based on the image data input to the control unit 10 under the control of the control unit 10 to be described later, and scans the photosensitive drum 43 with this laser light, thereby sensing light. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the body drum 43.

  The developing unit 44 forms a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 43. The transfer unit 45 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 43 to a sheet.

  The fixing unit 47 heats the sheet on which the toner image is transferred to fix the toner image on the sheet. The fixing unit 47 includes a heat roller 472 (heating unit) for melting the toner image formed on the paper, a pressure roller 471 for conveying the paper while being pressed between the heat roller 472, and a heat roller 472. A heater 473 for heating. The heater 473 is disposed inside the heat roller 472. The heater 473 heats the heat roller 472 to heat the paper nipped by the heat roller 472 and the pressure roller 471.

  The temperature sensor 49 detects the temperature of the heat roller 472 and outputs a detection signal indicating the detected temperature to the control unit 10.

  The discharge unit 8 includes discharge rollers 81 and 82, a stack tray 85, and a discharge tray 86. The discharge roller 81 discharges the sheet on which the image is formed to the stack tray 85. The discharge roller 82 discharges the sheet on which the image is formed to the discharge tray 86.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the multifunction machine 1 further includes a power supply unit 2, switches 24, 25, and 26, a communication unit 9, and a control unit 10 inside the main body unit 100.

  The power supply unit 2 converts an AC voltage supplied from an AC power source such as a commercial power source into a DC voltage having a predetermined voltage value by using an AC / DC converter (not shown), so that the power source voltage used for the operation of the multifunction device 1 is used. Is generated.

  The switches 24, 25, and 26 are switches that are turned on / off (opened / closed) under the control of the control unit 10. When the switch 24 is turned on (closed state), the power supply voltage is supplied from the power supply unit 2 to the image forming unit 4, and when the switch 24 is turned off (opened state), the power supply unit 2 transfers to the image forming unit 4. The supply voltage of is interrupted. When the switch 25 is turned on, the power supply voltage is supplied from the power supply unit 2 to the document reading unit 5, and when the switch 25 is turned off, the supply of power supply voltage from the power supply unit 2 to the document reading unit 5 is cut off. The When the switch 26 is turned on, the power supply voltage is supplied from the power supply unit 2 to the document feeding unit 6. When the switch 26 is turned off, the power supply voltage is supplied from the power supply unit 2 to the document feeding unit 6. Blocked. A power supply voltage is supplied from the power supply unit 2 to the operation unit 3, the control unit 10, the temperature sensor 49, and the communication unit 9 without passing through a switch.

  The communication unit 9 includes a facsimile communication unit 91 and a network I / F unit 93. The facsimile communication unit 91 is connected to the telephone line network 95. The facsimile communication unit 91 includes an NCU (Network Control Unit) that controls connection of a telephone line with a facsimile apparatus EF (FIG. 1) of a partner and a modulation / demodulation circuit that modulates / demodulates a signal for facsimile communication.

  The network I / F unit 93 is connected to the network 97. The network I / F unit 93 is a communication interface circuit for executing communication with the computer EC (FIG. 1) connected to the network 97.

  The control unit 10 governs the overall operation of the multifunction machine 1. The control unit 10 temporarily stores, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes predetermined arithmetic processing, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) in which a predetermined control program is stored, and data. RAM (Random Access Memory) that stores data and peripheral circuits thereof.

  The control unit 10 uses a part of the storage area of the nonvolatile memory as the authentication information storage unit 20. In addition, the control unit 10 executes a control program stored in the nonvolatile memory, so that the instruction reception unit 11, the mode control unit 12, the authentication unit 13, the contact transmission unit 14, the response reception unit 15, and the guidance transmission unit 16 are executed. , A time receiving unit 17, a time setting unit 18 (first time setting unit, second time setting unit), and an operation instruction receiving unit 19.

  The authentication information storage unit 20 stores information indicating a combination of identification information for identifying an authenticated user who is permitted in advance to use the multifunction machine 1 and a password.

  As will be described later, the instruction receiving unit 11 uses the communication unit 9 to receive a print processing execution instruction (print instruction) transmitted from the computer EC connected to the network 97. The printing process is a process performed by the image forming unit 4 and indicates a process of forming an image on a sheet and discharging the sheet on which the image is formed.

  The mode control unit 12 alternatively includes a normal mode in which power that can execute the printing process is supplied, a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode, and a preparation mode for executing the normal mode. Run.

  Specifically, the mode control unit 12 executes the preparation mode when, for example, the initial operation of the multifunction machine 1 or when an operation using the operation unit 3 is performed. When starting the execution of the preparation mode, the mode control unit 12 turns on the switches 24, 25, and 26 to supply the power supply voltage from the power supply unit 2 to the image forming unit 4, the document reading unit 5, and the document feeding unit 6. . The mode control unit 12 causes the image forming unit 4 to perform a preparation process for performing the printing process. In the preparation process, the heating roller 472 is heated by the heater 473 so that the temperature of the heating roller 472 becomes a predetermined heating temperature as preparation for fixing the toner image on the sheet by the fixing unit 47 in the printing process. Processing is included.

  When the preparation mode is being executed and the temperature of the heat roller 472 detected by the temperature sensor 49 reaches a predetermined heating temperature, the mode control unit 12 executes the normal mode instead of the preparation mode. When the execution of the normal mode is started, the mode control unit 12 performs a document transport process by the document feeding unit 6 and a document by the document reading unit 5 based on various operation instructions input by the user using the operation unit 3. Read processing and print processing by the image forming unit 4 are executed.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the mode control unit 12 transports the document by the document feeding unit 6 based on various operation instructions input by the user using the operation unit 3 when the preparation mode is executed. It may be configured to execute a process or a document reading process by the document reading unit 5.

  When the normal mode is being executed, the mode control unit 12 does not perform any operation of the operation unit 3 within a predetermined period or when the user operates the power saving key 34. For example, the power saving mode is executed instead of the normal mode. When starting the execution of the power saving mode, the mode control unit 12 turns off the switches 24, 25, and 26, respectively. As a result, the mode control unit 12 cuts off the supply of power supply voltage from the power supply unit 2 to the image forming unit 4, the document reading unit 5, and the document feeding unit 6, thereby reducing the power consumption of the multifunction device 1 compared to the normal mode. Reduce.

  The authentication unit 13 receives authentication information such as identification information for identifying a user or a password input by the user using the operation unit 3, and the user uses the multifunction device 1 based on the received authentication information. An authorization process is performed to determine whether or not the user is an authorized user who is permitted in advance.

  Specifically, when the authentication unit 13 starts the authorization process, for example, the authentication unit 13 displays an operation screen including an input unit for identification information and a password on the display unit 31. When the user inputs identification information and a password to the input unit of the operation screen using the operation unit 3, the authentication unit 13 receives the input identification information and password as authentication information, and receives the received authentication information. It is determined whether or not information indicating the combination of the identification information and the password included in is stored in the authentication information storage unit 20. And the authentication part 13 determines with a user being an authentication user, when the information which shows the combination of the identification information contained in the received authentication information and a password is memorize | stored in the authentication information storage part 20. FIG.

  Details of the contact transmission unit 14, the response reception unit 15, the guidance transmission unit 16, the time reception unit 17, the time setting unit 18, and the operation instruction reception unit 19 will be described later.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a computer EC according to an embodiment of the pointing device of the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the computer EC includes an operation unit 76, a storage unit 77, a communication unit 78, and a control unit 70.

  The operation unit 76 includes a display unit 761 for displaying information, and a keyboard 762 and a mouse 763 for operating various instructions by the user. The display unit 761 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display.

  The storage unit 77 is a storage medium that stores information, and includes, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a USB memory, or the like. The storage unit 77 stores various data such as image data and document data.

  The communication unit 78 is connected to the network 97. The communication unit 78 is an interface circuit for executing communication with the multifunction machine 1 (FIG. 1) connected to the network 97.

  The control unit 70 controls the operation of the entire computer EC. The control unit 70 temporarily stores, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes predetermined arithmetic processing, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) in which a predetermined control program is stored, and data. RAM (Random Access Memory) that stores data and peripheral circuits thereof.

  The control unit 70 constitutes an instruction transmission unit 71, a notification unit 72, a response unit 73, a guidance notification unit 74, and a time transmission unit 75 by executing a control program stored in a nonvolatile memory.

  The instruction transmission unit 71 receives a print processing execution instruction for the multifunction peripheral 1 connected to the network 97, which is input by the user using the operation unit 76. Hereinafter, an instruction to execute the printing process is referred to as a printing instruction.

  The print instruction includes image data representing an image to be formed on a sheet by printing processing and information indicating printing conditions. The image data is obtained by converting various data such as image data and document data stored in the storage unit 77 into data in a predetermined format representing an image by the operation of the operation unit 76 by the user. The information indicating the printing conditions is information indicating various conditions when an image is formed on a sheet in the printing process, and is input by an operation of the operation unit 76 by the user. The information indicating the printing conditions includes, for example, information indicating the density of an image when an image is formed on a sheet by printing processing, information indicating enlargement or reduction of an image formed on the sheet, and the like.

  Upon receiving a print instruction input by the user, the instruction transmission unit 71 transmits the received print instruction to the multifunction device 1 using the communication unit 78.

  Details of the notification unit 72, the response unit 73, the guidance notification unit 74, and the time transmission unit 75 will be described later.

  Hereinafter, an operation when the computer EC receives an input of a print instruction to the multifunction device 1 and an operation when the multifunction device 1 receives the print instruction will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the operation when the computer EC accepts an input of a print instruction to the multifunction device 1. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing operations when the MFP 1 receives a print instruction.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the computer EC, when the instruction transmission unit 71 receives a print instruction for the multifunction device 1 input by the user using the operation unit 76 (S1; YES), the instruction transmission unit 71 transmits the received print instruction to the communication unit. 78 is transmitted to the multi function device 1 (S2).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, in the multi function device 1, when the print instruction transmitted from the computer EC is received by the instruction receiving unit 11 (S <b> 21; YES), the power saving mode is executed by the mode control unit 12. If so (S22; YES), the contact transmission unit 14 transmits contact information indicating that the power saving mode is being executed to the computer EC using the communication unit 9 (S23). The transmitted contact information is received by the notification unit 72 using the communication unit 78 in the computer EC.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the computer EC, when the notification unit 72 receives the contact information transmitted from the multi-function device 1 using the communication unit 78 (S3; YES), the received contact information is displayed on the display unit 761. Display (S4).

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a mode in which contact information is notified by the notification unit 72 in the computer EC. Specifically, in step S23 (FIG. 7), the contact transmission unit 14 “Currently, the multifunction device is in the power saving mode. It takes some time from the authentication to the multifunction device to start the printing process. A message M1 indicating "." Is transmitted to the computer EC as contact information. When receiving the message M1 transmitted from the multifunction device 1 (S3; YES, FIG. 5), the notification unit 72 closes the received message M1 in step S4 (FIG. 5), for example, as shown in FIG. A contact information notification screen W1 including the button SK1 is displayed on the display unit 761. Thus, the notification unit 72 notifies the user of the contact information by displaying the contact information on the display unit 761.

  Returning to FIG. 5, when the user presses the close button SK1 in the contact information notification screen W1 by operating the mouse 763 or the like (S5; YES), the response unit 73 indicates that the contact information has been recognized by the user. It is determined that an input operation has been performed, and the pressing operation is accepted. When the response unit 73 accepts the pressing operation, the response unit 73 ends the display of the contact information notification screen W1 including the contact information, and uses the communication unit 78 to display response information indicating that the user has recognized the contact information. (S6). The transmitted response information is received by the response receiving unit 15 using the communication unit 9 in the multifunction device 1. Note that the response information is configured in an arbitrary format such as a message or a numerical value.

  On the other hand, when the close button SK1 of the contact information notification screen W1 (FIG. 9) displayed on the display unit 761 in step S4 is not pressed down by the user (S5; NO), the instruction transmission unit 71 performs step S1. When a new print instruction is received for the same MFP 1 as the MFP 1 that is the transmission destination of the print instruction received in (S8; YES), the user notifies the contact information in accordance with the input operation of the new print instruction. It is assumed that an input operation of response information indicating that the contact information displayed in the screen W1 has been recognized is performed.

  In this case, the instruction transmission unit 71 transmits the new print instruction to the multi function device 1 (S9), causes the notification unit 72 to end the display of the contact information notification screen W1, and the user enters the contact information notification screen W1. Response information indicating that the displayed contact information has been recognized is transmitted to the multifunction device 1 (S10). In step S9, when a new print instruction is transmitted to the multi-function device 1 by the instruction transmission unit 71, in order to receive the contact information transmitted from the multi-function device 1 in response thereto, the steps after step S3 are performed. Processing is performed.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, in the multi-function device 1, during a period from when the contact information is transmitted to the computer EC by the contact transmission unit 14 in step S <b> 23 until a predetermined first time limit T <b> 1 elapses ( S24; NO), when the response information is not received by the response receiver 15 (S25; NO), and the first time limit T1 has elapsed since the contact information was transmitted to the computer EC by the contact transmitter 14 in step S23. (S24; YES), it is considered that the user leaves the computer EC and goes to the multifunction device 1 without recognizing the contact information.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the mode control unit 12 starts execution of the preparation mode and causes the heater 473 to heat the heat roller 472 (S41). Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, a period from when the contact information is transmitted to the computer EC by the contact transmitter 14 until the first time limit T1 elapses is referred to as a first period.

  The first time limit T1 is set in advance using the time receiving unit 17 and the time setting unit 18. Specifically, the time reception unit 17 displays an operation screen including an input unit of a first set time that can be the first time limit T1 on the display unit 31, and is input to the input unit by the operation of the operation unit 3 by the user. The set first set time is received. The time setting unit 18 sets the first set time accepted by the time accepting unit 17 as the first time limit T1, and stores it in the nonvolatile memory.

  The first time limit T1 can also be set using the time transmission unit 75 in the computer EC and the time setting unit 18 in the multifunction machine 1. Specifically, in the computer EC, the time transmission unit 75 displays an operation screen including an input unit of a second set time that can be the first time limit T1 on the display unit 761, and the operation unit 76 is operated by the user. The second set time input to the input unit is received. Then, the time transmission unit 75 transmits the received second set time to the multifunction device 1 using the communication unit 78. In the multi function device 1, when the time setting unit 18 receives the second set time transmitted from the computer EC using the communication unit 78, the time setting unit 18 sets the received second set time as the first time limit T <b> 1 and is nonvolatile. Store in sex memory.

  Returning to FIG. 8, after the mode control unit 12 starts execution of the preparation mode at the end of the first period (S41), when response information is not received by the response receiving unit 15 (S42; NO), When the user arrives at the multi-function device 1 and the authentication unit 13 receives an execution instruction for the authentication process input by the user using the operation unit 3 (S45; YES), the authentication unit starts the authentication process and the user It is determined whether or not (S46).

  In step S46, when the authentication unit 13 determines that the user is an authenticated user (S46; YES), the operation instruction receiving unit 19 receives an operation instruction (predetermined from the user who is the authenticated user) indicating a print processing start instruction. The received operation instruction is accepted as an input. In this case, the mode control unit 12 waits until the temperature C of the heat roller 472 detected by the temperature sensor 49 reaches a predetermined heating temperature E (S47; NO), and the temperature C of the heat roller 472 is the heating temperature. When it becomes E (S47; YES), execution of the normal mode is started instead of the preparation mode (S48). Then, in step S21 (FIG. 7), the mode control unit 12 causes the image forming unit 4 to execute print processing based on the print instruction received by the instruction receiving unit 11 (S49). The execution of the printing process based on the print instruction indicates that an image represented by the image data included in the print instruction is formed on a sheet according to the print conditions included in the print instruction.

  When the printing process by the image forming unit 4 is completed, the mode control unit 12 transmits information indicating the end of the printing process to the computer EC (S50). The transmitted information indicating the end of the printing process is received by the notification unit 72 and the guidance notification unit 74 using the communication unit 78 in the computer EC.

  On the other hand, in the computer EC, as shown in FIG. 5, the close button SK1 of the contact information notification screen W1 (FIG. 9) displayed on the display unit 761 in step S4 is not pressed (S5; NO). In addition, when a new print instruction is not accepted by the instruction transmission unit 71 (S8; NO), as shown in FIG. 6, the notification unit 72 receives information indicating the end of the printing process (S16; YES). ), The display of the contact information notification screen W1 including the contact information is terminated (S17). When the information indicating the end of the printing process is not received by the notification unit 72 (S16; NO), the processes after step S5 are repeated as shown in FIG.

[Operation when response information is received within the first period]
Next, an operation when the response information is received within the first period in the multifunction device 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, in the multi-function device 1, during the first time limit T <b> 1 elapses after the contact information is transmitted to the computer EC in step S <b> 23 (during the first period) (S <b>24; NO). When response information is received by the response receiving unit 15 (S25; YES), the user recognizes the contact information displayed on the display unit 761 of the computer EC, that is, has not yet been sent to the multifunction device 1. Conceivable.

  In this case, the mode control unit 12 continues to execute the power saving mode. Thereafter, when the user arrives at the multifunction device 1 and the authentication unit 13 receives an execution instruction for the authentication process input by the user using the operation unit 3 (S26; YES), the authentication unit 13 starts the authentication process and the user It is determined whether or not the user is an authenticated user (S27).

  When the authentication unit 13 determines that the user is an authenticated user (S27; YES), the operation instruction receiving unit 19 receives an operation instruction indicating a print processing start instruction from the user who is the authenticated user. The operation instruction is accepted. In this case, the mode control unit 12 starts execution of the preparation mode instead of the power saving mode, and causes the heater 473 to heat the heat roller 472 (S28).

  After execution of step S28, as shown in FIG. 8, the processing after step S47 is performed. That is, after the temperature C of the heat roller 472 reaches the heating temperature E (S47; YES), the normal mode is executed by the mode control unit 12 (S48), and the printing process is performed by the image forming unit 4 (S49). When the printing process by the image forming unit 4 is completed, the mode control unit 12 transmits information indicating the end of the printing process to the computer EC (S50).

[Operation when response information is received after the first period]
Next, the operation of the multifunction device 1 when response information is received after the first period will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, when response information is received by the response receiver 15 after the execution of the preparation mode is started by the mode controller 12 at the end of the first period in step S41 (S42; YES). The mode control unit 12 determines whether or not the temperature C of the heat roller 472 detected by the temperature sensor 49 exceeds a predetermined temperature D (S43).

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a time-series change in the temperature of the heat roller 472. In FIG. 10, the vertical axis indicates the temperature of the heat roller 472, and the horizontal axis indicates the elapsed time from the end of the first period. Symbol E indicates the above-described heating temperature E (for example, 250 ° C.) that is predetermined as the temperature of the heat roller 472 when the image forming unit 4 can perform the printing process. Note that the information indicating the time-series change in the temperature of the heat roller 472 shown in FIG. 10 is determined in advance based on experimental values from a test operation or the like and stored in a nonvolatile memory.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the execution of the preparation mode is started from the end of the first period, and the heating roller 472 is heated by the heater 473, so that the temperature of the heating roller 472 is changed to a temperature D (for example, 125 ° C.). It rises slowly until it reaches, but rises rapidly when the temperature D is exceeded. That is, when the temperature of the heat roller 472 does not exceed the temperature D, it is necessary to continue the process of heating the heat roller 472 with the heater 473 for a long time until the temperature of the heat roller 472 reaches the heating temperature E. Conceivable. On the other hand, when the temperature of the heat roller 472 exceeds the temperature D, the process of heating the heat roller 472 with the heater 473 may be continued for a short time until the temperature of the heat roller 472 reaches the heating temperature E. It is done. This temperature D is predetermined as the specified temperature D.

  That is, the mode control unit 12 heats the heat roller 472 by determining whether or not the temperature C of the heat roller 472 detected by the temperature sensor 49 exceeds the specified temperature D in step S43 (FIG. 8). It is determined whether the processing to be performed should be continued for a short time or should be continued for a long time.

[Operation when the temperature C of the heat roller 472 exceeds the specified temperature D]
Returning to FIG. 8, when the temperature C of the heat roller 472 detected by the temperature sensor 49 exceeds the specified temperature D (S43; YES), the mode control unit 12 heats the heat roller 472 in step S43. Is continued for a short time, the preparation mode started from the end of the first period in step S41 is continued, and the process of heating the heat roller 472 is continued.

  In this case, the guidance transmission unit 16 transmits to the computer EC using the communication unit 9 guidance information indicating that the user is guided to the MFP 1 to perform the authentication process by the authentication unit 13 (S44). . The transmitted guidance information is received by the guidance notification unit 74 using the communication unit 9 in the computer EC.

  In the computer EC, after the response information is transmitted to the multi function device 1 in step S6 (FIG. 5) or step S10 (FIG. 5), as shown in FIG. 6, the guidance notification unit 74 receives the guidance information (S11). YES), the received guidance information is displayed on the display unit 761 (S12).

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a mode in which guide information is notified by the guide notification unit 74 in the computer EC. Specifically, in step S44 (FIG. 8), the guidance transmission unit 16 uses the computer EC with the message M2 indicating “Ready for printing processing. Please authenticate with the MFP” as guidance information. Send to. When the guidance notification unit 74 receives the message M2 transmitted from the multi-function device 1 in step S11 (FIG. 6), the guidance information including the received message M2 and the close button SK2, for example, as shown in FIG. The notification screen W2 is displayed on the display unit 761. As described above, the guide notification unit 74 notifies the user of the guide information by displaying the guide information on the display unit 761.

  Returning to FIG. 6, when the user presses the close button SK2 in the guidance information notification screen W2 by operating the mouse 763 or the like (S13; YES), the guidance notification unit 74 displays the guidance information notification screen W2 including the guidance information. The display is terminated (S15).

  When the close button SK2 in the guidance information notification screen W2 is not pressed by the user (S13; NO), the guidance notification unit 74 receives information indicating the end of the printing process (S14; YES). Since it is considered that the user has gone to the multi-function device 1 without pressing the close button SK2 to end the printing process, the display of the guidance information notification screen W2 including the guidance information is also terminated in this case (S15).

[Operation when the temperature C of the heat roller 472 does not exceed the specified temperature D]
On the other hand, when the temperature C of the heat roller 472 detected by the temperature sensor 49 does not exceed the specified temperature D in step S43 (FIG. 8), the mode control unit 12 uses the image forming unit 4 to do so. In order to execute the printing process, it is determined that the process of heating the heat roller 472 must be continued for a long time, and the power saving mode is executed instead of the preparation mode started from the end of the first period in step S41. Is started (S51). As a result, the supply of power to the image forming unit 4 is interrupted.

  After execution of step S51, as shown in FIG. 7, the processing after step S26 is performed. That is, when the user arrives at the multi-function device 1, the authentication unit 13 receives an instruction to execute the authentication process (S26; YES), and the authentication unit 13 determines that the user is an authenticated user (S27; YES). Then, an operation instruction indicating a print process start instruction is received by the operation instruction reception unit 19, and the mode control unit 12 starts execution of the preparation mode instead of the power saving mode, and heats the heat roller 472 by the heater 473. (S28).

  After that, as shown in FIG. 8, the processes after step S47 are performed. That is, after the temperature C of the heat roller 472 reaches the heating temperature E (S47; YES), the normal mode is executed by the mode control unit 12 (S48), and the printing process is performed by the image forming unit 4 (S49). When the printing process by the image forming unit 4 is completed, the mode control unit 12 transmits information indicating the end of the printing process to the computer EC (S50).

[Operation when the power saving mode is not executed when the print instruction is received]
As shown in FIG. 7, in the multi-function device 1, when the print instruction transmitted from the computer EC is received by the instruction receiving unit 11 (S 21; YES), the mode control unit 12 executes the power saving mode. If not (S22; NO), the contact transmission unit 14 does not transmit the contact information, and the processing after step S26 is performed.

  That is, when the user arrives at the multi-function device 1, the authentication unit 13 receives an instruction to execute the authentication process (S26; YES), and the authentication unit 13 determines that the user is an authenticated user (S27; YES). Then, an operation instruction indicating a print process start instruction is received by the operation instruction reception unit 19, and the mode control unit 12 starts execution of the preparation mode instead of the power saving mode, and heats the heat roller 472 by the heater 473. (S28).

  After that, as shown in FIG. 8, the processes after step S47 are performed. That is, after the temperature C of the heat roller 472 reaches the heating temperature E (S47; YES), the normal mode is executed by the mode control unit 12 (S48), and the printing process is performed by the image forming unit 4 (S49). When the printing process by the image forming unit 4 is completed, the mode control unit 12 transmits information indicating the end of the printing process to the computer EC (S50).

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, in the computer EC, after the execution of step S2, the notification unit 72 is on standby to receive contact information using the communication unit 78 (S3; NO), but printing is performed. When the information indicating the end of the process is received (S7; YES), the waiting is ended.

  As described above, when the response information is not received within the first period, it is considered that the user is going to the multifunction device 1 without recognizing the contact information notified by the notification unit 72. That is, in this case, it is considered that the user intends to quickly execute the printing process after inputting the printing instruction.

  According to the configuration of the above embodiment, when the response information is not received within the first period, the preparation mode is executed, and the process of heating the heat roller 472 by the heater 473 is performed. That is, when the user who intends to execute the printing process quickly arrives at the multifunction device 1, the heating roller 472 has already been heated. Compared to the case where the process of heating the roller 472 is started, the time required for the process of heating the heat roller 472 to end after the user arrives at the multifunction machine 1 is reduced. As a result, when a user who intends to execute the printing process quickly arrives at the multifunction machine 1, the image forming unit 4 can quickly execute the printing process.

  On the other hand, when the response information is received within the first period, that is, when the user recognizes the contact information notified by the notification unit 72 in the computer EC and inputs the response information within the first period, It is not intended to promptly execute the printing process, and is considered not to go to the multifunction device 1 for a while.

  According to the configuration of the above embodiment, when the response information is received within the first period, the user reaches the multi-function device 1, and the authentication unit 13 determines that the user is an authenticated user. When an operation instruction indicating a print process start instruction is received by the reception unit 19, execution of the preparation mode is started instead of the power saving mode, and a process of heating the heat roller 472 by the heater 473 is performed. Thereafter, the normal mode is started and printing processing is performed.

  For this reason, response information is received within the first period, the user does not intend to promptly execute the printing process, and an operation instruction indicating a print process start instruction is received by the operation instruction receiving unit 19. If it takes a long time, the operation instruction receiving unit 19 starts printing from the end of the first period by starting the execution of the preparation mode from the end of the first period and heating the heat roller 472. Until an operation instruction indicating a process start instruction is received, the possibility that power is wasted can be reduced.

  Moreover, according to the structure of the said embodiment, when response information is received after the 1st period, when the temperature of the heat roller 472 does not exceed the specified temperature D lower than the heating temperature E, the first period In place of the preparation mode started at the end, execution of the power saving mode is started. Thus, the process of heating the heat roller 472 that has been performed since the end of the first period ends. Then, when the user arrives at the multi-function device 1, an authentication processing execution instruction is received by the authentication unit 13, and when the authentication unit 13 determines that the user is an authenticated user, the operation instruction receiving unit 19 performs print processing. When the operation instruction indicating the start instruction is received, execution of the preparation mode is started instead of the power saving mode, and the process of heating the heat roller 472 is performed. Thereafter, the normal mode is started and printing processing is performed.

  For this reason, when response information is received after the first period, that is, when it is considered that it takes time for the operation instruction reception unit 19 to receive an operation instruction indicating a print processing start instruction, The process of heating the heat roller 472 started at the end of the first period is continued for a long time until the temperature of the roller 472 reaches a heating temperature E or higher from a temperature lower than the specified temperature D, and power is consumed wastefully. It is possible to reduce the risk of being damaged.

  Further, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, in the multi-function device 1, when the response information is received after the first period, if the temperature of the heat roller 472 exceeds the specified temperature D, the first period ends. The process of heating the heat roller 472 that has been performed from time to time is continued, and in the computer EC, guidance information indicating that the user goes to the multifunction machine 1 and guides the user to perform the authentication process by the authentication unit 13 is the guidance notification unit. 74.

  That is, it is considered that it takes time until response information is received after the first period and an operation instruction indicating a print processing start instruction is received by the operation instruction receiving unit 19, but the temperature of the heat roller 472 is equal to the specified temperature D. When it is considered that it does not take time to raise the temperature of the heat roller 472 to the heating temperature E, the process of heating the heat roller 472 is continued, and the temperature of the heat roller 472 is soon reached. The heating temperature rises to E.

  At this time, since the guidance information is notified in the computer EC, it is possible to guide the user in the computer EC to quickly go to the multifunction machine 1 and execute the authentication process by the authentication unit 13. This reduces the possibility that the time from when the first period ends until the operation instruction reception unit 19 receives an operation instruction indicating a print process start instruction will be reduced. As a result, by continuing the process of heating the heat roller 472 started from the end point of the first period, it is possible to reduce the possibility that power is wasted.

  Further, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, when the input of the first set time that can be the first time limit T1 is received by the time receiving unit 17, the received first set time is first set by the time setting unit 18. It is set as the time limit T1. For this reason, an appropriate first set time is set by taking into account the time required to move from the computer EC to the multi-function device 1 after a user who intends to execute the printing process quickly inputs a print instruction. By inputting, the first time limit T1 can be appropriately changed.

  Further, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, in the computer EC, the time transmission unit 75 accepts the input of the second set time that can be the first time limit T1, and the accepted second set time is the multifunction device 1. In the multi-function device 1, the time setting unit 18 receives the second set time, and the received second set time is set as the first time limit T1. For this reason, an appropriate second set time is set by taking into account the time required to move from the computer EC to the multifunction device 1 after a user who intends to execute the printing process quickly inputs a print instruction. The first time limit T1 can be appropriately changed by inputting at the computer EC.

  Further, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, the instruction transmission unit 71 receives a new print instruction input from when the contact information is notified until the response unit 73 receives the input of the response information. Then, the display of the contact information by the notification unit 72 is terminated, and the response information is transmitted to the multi function device 1 together with a new print instruction. For this reason, apart from the input of a new print instruction, the user is saved from the trouble of performing an operation for terminating the display of contact information by the notification unit 72 and an operation for inputting response information.

  Further, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, when the authentication unit 13 determines that the user is an authenticated user, the operation instruction receiving unit 19 receives an operation instruction indicating a print processing start instruction. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the possibility of receiving the operation instruction indicating the print process start instruction input by the user who is not permitted in advance to use the multifunction device 1 and executing the print process.

  In the above embodiment, the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the mode control unit 12 is configured to determine whether or not the temperature C of the heat roller 472 detected by the temperature sensor 49 exceeds the specified temperature D in step S43 (FIG. 8). Was. However, in place of step S43, the mode control unit 12 has passed a second time limit that is shorter than a preliminarily set preparation time as a time required for the process of heating the heat roller 472 from the end of the first period. You may comprise so that the process which determines whether it exists may be performed.

  When the mode control unit 12 determines that the second time limit has elapsed since the end of the first period, the process after step S44 (FIG. 8) is performed, and the mode control unit 12 performs the first period. When it is determined that the second time limit has not elapsed since the end point, the processing after step S51 (FIG. 8) may be performed.

  Specifically, the preparation time is, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the temperature of the heat roller 472 is considered to exceed the heating temperature E using information indicating the time series change of the temperature of the heat roller 472. The elapsed time T0 from the end of the first period is set, and the second time limit is the first period when the temperature C of the heat roller 472 detected by the temperature sensor 49 is considered to exceed the specified temperature D. What is necessary is just to set to the elapsed time T2 from the end time.

  In this case, the heating roller 472 is heated by the heater 473 from the end of the first period, and when the second time limit T2 has not elapsed from the end of the first period, the temperature of the heating roller 472 is equal to the specified temperature D. It is thought not to exceed. Therefore, in this case, the process of heating the heat roller 472 by the heater 473 until the preparation time T0 has elapsed from the end of the first period, that is, until the temperature of the heat roller 472 is considered to exceed the heating temperature E. It is considered necessary to continue for a long time.

  On the other hand, when the second time limit T2 has elapsed since the end of the first period, it is considered that the temperature of the heat roller 472 exceeds the specified temperature D. Therefore, in this case, the process of heating the heat roller 472 by the heater 473 until the preparation time T0 has elapsed from the end of the first period, that is, until the temperature of the heat roller 472 is considered to exceed the heating temperature E. It may be necessary to continue for a short time.

  That is, the mode control unit 12 may determine whether or not the second time limit T2 has elapsed from the end of the first period, so that the process of heating the heat roller 472 may be continued for a short period of time. It may be configured to determine whether the time must be continued. Hereinafter, a period from when the first period ends until the second time limit T2 elapses is referred to as a second period.

  According to this configuration, when response information is received within the second period, the power saving mode is executed instead of the preparation mode started at the end of the first period. Thus, the process of heating the heat roller 472 that has been performed since the end of the first period ends. Then, when the user arrives at the multi-function device 1, an authentication processing execution instruction is received by the authentication unit 13, and when the authentication unit 13 determines that the user is an authenticated user, the operation instruction receiving unit 19 performs print processing. When the operation instruction indicating the start instruction is received, execution of the preparation mode is started instead of the power saving mode, and the process of heating the heat roller 472 is performed. Thereafter, the normal mode is started and printing processing is performed.

  Therefore, when the response information is received within the second period, that is, when it is considered that it takes time until the operation instruction indicating the print process start instruction is received by the operation instruction receiving unit 19, the first By continuing the process of heating the heat roller 472 for a long period from the time when the second time limit T2 has not elapsed since the end of one period until the time when the preparation time T0 has elapsed since the end of the first period. The possibility that power is consumed wastefully can be reduced.

  Further, in the multifunction device 1, when response information is received after the second period, the process of heating the heat roller 472 that has been performed since the end of the first period is continued. In the computer EC, the multifunction device 1 Guidance information indicating that the user is guided to go to and execute the authentication process by the authentication unit 13 is notified by the guidance notification unit 74.

  That is, it is considered that it takes time until response information is received after the second period and an operation instruction indicating a print process start instruction is received by the operation instruction receiving unit 19, but the second period from the end of the first period. The time limit T2 has elapsed, that is, the remaining time from the end of the first period to the time when the preparation time T0 has elapsed is short, and it is considered that no time is required to complete the process of heating the heat roller 472. If it is, the process of heating the heat roller 472 is continued, and the process of heating the heat roller 472 is completed soon.

  At this time, since the guidance information is notified in the computer EC, it is possible to guide the user in the computer EC to quickly go to the multifunction machine 1 and execute the authentication process by the authentication unit 13. This reduces the possibility that the time from when the first period ends until the operation instruction reception unit 19 receives an operation instruction indicating a print process start instruction will be reduced. As a result, by continuing the process of heating the heat roller 472 from the end of the first period, it is possible to reduce the possibility that power is wasted.

  In the configuration of the above embodiment, it is assumed that the operation instruction receiving unit 19 receives an operation instruction indicating a print process start instruction from the user when the authentication unit 13 determines that the user is an authenticated user. The operation instruction is received. However, the control unit 10 may be simplified so as not to configure the authentication unit 13.

  In response to this, instead of step S26 and step S27 (FIG. 7), the operation instruction receiving unit 19 displays a message for guiding the user to input a print processing start instruction on the display unit 31, for example. When a predetermined operation using the operation unit 76 for inputting a print process start instruction is performed by the user, such as when the start key 33 is pressed by the user, the print process start instruction is indicated by the user. The operation instruction may be received as an operation instruction is input.

  Similarly, instead of step S45 and step S46 (FIG. 8), the operation instruction reception unit 19 performs a predetermined operation using the operation unit 76 for inputting a print processing start instruction. When performed by the user, the operation instruction indicating the start instruction of the printing process may be input from the user, and the operation instruction may be received.

  Further, the instruction transmission unit 71 may be simplified so as not to execute steps S8 to S10 (FIG. 5). Accordingly, in step S5 (FIG. 5), if the close button SK1 on the contact information notification screen W1 (FIG. 9) is not pressed by the user (S5; NO), step S16 (FIG. 6). You may comprise so that it may perform.

  Further, in the computer EC, the control unit 70 may be simplified so as not to constitute the time transmission unit 75. Further, in the multifunction device 1, the control unit 10 may be simplified so as not to configure the time reception unit 17. In accordance with this, in the multi-function device 1, the control unit 10 may be simplified so as not to configure the time setting unit 18. In this case, the first time limit T1 may be stored in advance in the non-volatile memory by a dedicated jig or the like before the multifunction machine 1 is shipped.

  Further, in the multi-function device 1, the control unit 10 may be configured to be simplified so that the guide transmission unit 16 is not configured and step S44 (FIG. 8) is not performed. In accordance with this, in the computer EC, the control unit 70 may be configured to be simplified so that the guidance notification unit 74 is not configured and steps S11 to S15 (FIG. 6) are not performed.

  Further, it may be simplified so that step S42 (FIG. 8), step S43 (FIG. 8), and step S51 (FIG. 8) are not executed.

  In the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the process of heating the heat roller 472 by the heater 473 is described as an example of the preparation process performed before the printing process by the image forming unit 4 is executed. Not limited to, for example, a process of detecting whether there is an abnormality in the operation of each part in the image forming unit 4 such as an operation of a motor (not shown) that rotates the rollers such as the transport rollers 413 and the heat roller 472, etc. It may be.

  In the above embodiment, the notification unit 72 has described an example in which the contact information is displayed to the user by displaying the contact information on the display unit 761. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the notification unit 72 may be omitted, for example. The user may be notified of the contact information by outputting a sound indicating the contact information through a speaker or the like. Similarly, the guidance notification unit 74 has been described with respect to an example in which the guide information is displayed on the display unit 761 to notify the user of the guide information. You may comprise so that a guidance information may be alert | reported to a user by outputting the audio | voice which shows guidance information by a speaker etc.

  Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to a copying apparatus, a printer apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, and the like in addition to the case where the image forming apparatus is applied to the above-described multifunction device 1. Further, the pointing device according to the present invention can be applied not only to the above-described computer EC but also to a mobile phone or the like.

1 MFP (image forming device)
2 power supply unit 3 operation unit 4 image forming unit 5 document reading unit 6 document feeding unit 9 communication unit 10 control unit 11 instruction receiving unit 12 mode control unit 13 authentication unit 14 contact transmission unit 15 response reception unit 16 guide transmission unit 17 time Reception unit 18 time setting unit (first time setting unit, second time setting unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Operation instruction reception part 20 Authentication information memory | storage part 31 Display part 32 Operation key part 47 Fixing part 49 Temperature sensor (temperature detection part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 70 Control part 71 Instruction transmission part 72 Notification part 73 Response part 74 Guidance notification part 75 Time transmission part 76 Operation part 78 Communication part 97 Network 471 Pressure roller 472 Heat roller (heating part)
473 Heater 761 Display D Specified temperature E Heating temperature EC Computer (indicator)
SYS printing system T0 preparation time T1 first time limit T2 second time limit

Claims (11)

An image forming apparatus that performs a printing process for forming an image on a sheet, and an instruction apparatus that transmits a print instruction that is an instruction to execute the printing process to the image forming apparatus are capable of communicating with each other,
The image forming apparatus includes:
An instruction receiving unit for receiving the print instruction;
An image forming unit that performs the printing process after performing a preparation process for performing the printing process;
A mode control unit that alternatively executes a normal mode in which power that can execute the printing process is supplied, a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode, and a preparation mode for executing the normal mode; ,
An operation instruction receiving unit that receives an input of a predetermined operation instruction from a user;
A contact transmitter that transmits contact information indicating that the power-saving mode is being executed to the instruction device when the print instruction is received during the execution of the power-saving mode; and
The pointing device is
An instruction transmission unit that receives an input of the print instruction from a user and transmits the received print instruction to the image forming apparatus;
A notification unit that receives the contact information and notifies the user of the received contact information;
A response unit that receives input of response information indicating that the contact information has been recognized from a user, and transmits the received response information to the image forming apparatus, and
The image forming apparatus includes:
A response receiver for receiving the response information;
The mode control unit ends the first period when the response information is not received within a first period from when the contact information is transmitted until a predetermined first time limit elapses. A printing system that sometimes starts execution of the preparation mode and causes the image forming unit to perform the preparation processing.   Further, when the response information is received within the first period, the mode control unit starts execution of the preparation mode when the operation instruction is received, and causes the image forming unit to perform the preparation. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is caused to perform processing, and then the execution of the normal mode is started, and the image forming unit performs the printing processing based on the printing instruction. The image forming unit includes a heating unit that heats a sheet on which an image is formed,
The preparation process includes a process of heating the heating unit using the power so that the temperature of the heating unit becomes a predetermined heating temperature,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the heating unit;
The mode control unit further sets a predetermined specified temperature at which the temperature of the heating unit detected by the temperature detection unit is lower than the heating temperature when the response information is received after the first period. If not, the execution of the power saving mode is started, the execution of the preparation mode is started when the operation instruction is accepted, and the image forming unit performs the preparation process, and then the normal The printing system according to claim 1, wherein execution of a mode is started and the image forming unit performs the printing process based on the printing instruction. The image forming unit includes a heating unit that heats a sheet on which an image is formed,
The preparation process includes a process of heating the heating unit using the power so that the temperature of the heating unit becomes a predetermined heating temperature,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the heating unit;
When the response information is received after the first period, if the temperature of the heating unit detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds the specified temperature, the operation instruction is sent to the image forming apparatus. A guidance transmitter that transmits guidance information indicating guidance to the user to input to the pointing device;
The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the instruction device further includes a guidance notification unit that receives the guidance information and notifies the received guidance information.   The mode control unit further includes the response information within a second period from the end of the first period until a second time limit that is shorter than a predetermined preparation time as a time required for the preparation process elapses. Is received, the execution of the power saving mode is started when the response information is received, the execution of the preparation mode is started when the operation instruction is received, and the image forming unit The printing system according to claim 1, wherein a preparation process is performed, and then execution of the normal mode is started, and the image forming unit performs the printing process based on the printing instruction. When the response information is received after the second period, the image forming apparatus transmits to the instruction apparatus guidance information indicating that the user is to visit the image forming apparatus and input the operation instruction. And a guidance transmission unit
The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the instruction device further includes a guidance notification unit that receives the guidance information and notifies the received guidance information. The image forming apparatus includes: a time receiving unit that receives an input of a first set time that can be the first time limit;
A first time setting unit for setting the first set time received by the time receiving unit as the first time limit;
The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: The instruction apparatus further includes a time transmission unit that receives an input of a second set time that can be the first time limit, and transmits the received second set time to the image forming apparatus,
A second time setting unit configured to receive the second set time and set the received second set time as the first time limit;
The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:   The instruction transmitting unit receives the input of the new print instruction after the notification unit notifies the contact information until the response unit receives the response information. 9. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the notification of the contact information is terminated, and the response information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus together with the received new print instruction. The image forming apparatus includes:
An authentication unit that receives an input of authentication information from a user and determines whether the user is an authenticated user who is permitted in advance to use the image forming apparatus based on the received authentication information;
10. The operation instruction reception unit according to claim 1, wherein the operation instruction is input from a user when the authentication unit determines that the user is the authentication user. 11. Printing system. An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an instruction device that transmits a print instruction, which is an instruction to execute a printing process for forming an image on a sheet,
An instruction receiving unit for receiving the print instruction;
An image forming unit that performs the printing process after performing a preparation process for performing the printing process;
A mode control unit that alternatively executes a normal mode in which power that can execute the printing process is supplied, a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode, and a preparation mode for executing the normal mode; ,
An operation instruction receiving unit that receives an input of a predetermined operation instruction from a user;
A contact transmitter that transmits contact information indicating that the power saving mode is being executed to the instruction device when the print instruction is received during the power saving mode; and
A response receiving unit that receives response information transmitted by the pointing device and indicating that the user has recognized the contact information; and
The mode control unit ends the first period when the response information is not received within a first period from when the contact information is transmitted until a predetermined first time limit elapses. An image forming apparatus that sometimes starts execution of the preparation mode and causes the image forming unit to perform the preparation processing.

Images