EP2428846A2 - Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung, Bilderzeugungssystem und Bilderzeugungsverfahren - Google Patents

Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung, Bilderzeugungssystem und Bilderzeugungsverfahren Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2428846A2
EP2428846A2 EP20110180303 EP11180303A EP2428846A2 EP 2428846 A2 EP2428846 A2 EP 2428846A2 EP 20110180303 EP20110180303 EP 20110180303 EP 11180303 A EP11180303 A EP 11180303A EP 2428846 A2 EP2428846 A2 EP 2428846A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
image forming
speed
unit
image
sheets
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP20110180303
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP2428846A3 (de
Inventor
Norikazu Okada
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ricoh Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ricoh Co Ltd filed Critical Ricoh Co Ltd
Publication of EP2428846A2 publication Critical patent/EP2428846A2/de
Publication of EP2428846A3 publication Critical patent/EP2428846A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G03G15/5004—Power supply control, e.g. power-saving mode, automatic power turn-off
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G03G15/5066—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control by using information from an external support, e.g. magnetic card
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G03G15/5075—Remote control machines, e.g. by a host
    • G03G15/5083—Remote control machines, e.g. by a host for scheduling

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and a method of forming an image.
  • An enhanced function-type electric power meter which has a communication function for communicating with devices as loads and has a management function for managing the devices, are started to be widely used worldwide.
  • Such an electric power meter is a new electronic-type meter and is called as a smart meter.
  • a wireless communication function as a communication function is built in, and the smart meter is connected to apparatuses such as an air conditioner, a lighting device, a thermometer, a security apparatus, or an image forming apparatus that are equipped in a house or a business site.
  • an application is considered in which an electric power supplier performs power control to each device through the smart meter connected with a network.
  • an application is considered in which the set temperature of an air conditioner is raised by +2°C by an electric power supplier at the peak time of power consumption in the summer season.
  • power control is known (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-209924 ) in which, in a case where there is no room for the electric power supplied to the image forming apparatus, the operating mode of the image forming apparatus is forcedly switched into a power saving mode, in which the supply of electric power is suppressed, or an operating mode called a power reduction mode in which the copying productivity is reduced, instead of the power saving mode in a case where a copying operation is performed by the image forming apparatus.
  • the power reduction mode for example, the linear velocity is limited when a copying is operated.
  • the copy productivity is reduced by lowering the linear velocity at the time of performing a copying operation or the like even in a case where a copying operation is performed for only one sheet
  • the operating time until the sheet for which the copying operation is performed is discharged is lengthened, and, as a result, the power consumption may increase to the contrary of the intention.
  • the user convenience is not degraded, and even the power consumption is not reduced.
  • the invention is contrived in consideration of the description presented above, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and a method of forming an image that are capable of reliably realizing reduction of power consumption in accordance with a command transmitted from an electric power supplier in consideration of the user convenience.
  • an image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium based on designation of the image and image formation; a communication unit that communicates with an external apparatus; a determining unit that determines whether or not to reduce a speed at which the image forming unit forms the image based on the designation, when the communication unit receives a power reduction command that requests to reduce power consumption; and a control unit that allows the image forming unit to form the image on the recording medium at a second speed lower than a first speed that is determined in advance, when the determining unit determines the speed to reduce.
  • an image forming system in which an image forming apparatus and an external apparatus managing electric power of the image forming apparatus are connected to each other, wherein the external apparatus includes a transmission unit that transmits a power reduction command requesting to reduce power consumption to the image forming apparatus; and the image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium based on designation of the image and image formation; a communication unit that communicates with the external apparatus; a determining unit that determines whether or not to reduce a speed at which the image forming unit forms the image based on the designation, when the communication unit receives the power reduction command; and a control unit that allows the image forming unit to form the image on the recording medium at a second speed that is lower than a first speed that is determined in advance, when the determining unit determines the speed is to be reduced.
  • an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a communication unit that communicates with an external apparatus, a determining unit, and a control unit, based on designation of the image and image formation, the method including: determining whether or not to reduce a speed at which the image forming unit forms the image based on the designation detennined by the determining unit, when a power reduction command requesting to reduce power consumption is received by the communication unit; and controlling to allow the image forming unit to form the image on the recording medium at a second speed that is lower than a first speed that is set in advance, when the speed is determined to be reduced by the determining unit.
  • Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a smart meter.
  • the smart meter is installed to each house or office.
  • Devices as loads such as an air conditioner, a lighting device, and an image forming apparatus that are placed inside each house or office are connected to each smart meter.
  • the electric power delivered from a power supplier is supplied to each smart meter through a power pole that is connected to a power line and is supplied to each load through the smart meter.
  • the smart meter While a conventional electric power meter only measures the power (power consumption) consumed by the loads placed inside a house or an office, the smart meter is of an enhanced function type in which a function for transmitting a measurement result to a power supplier through wireless communication or communication using power lines (it is unnecessary for a person to read a meter), a communication function for communicating with the loads, a power management function for managing the power of the loads, or the like is further included in addition to a function for measuring the power consumption.
  • the power management function there is a function for allowing a power supplier to raise the temperature setting of an air conditioner placed inside each house or office by several degrees centigrade or set the temperature of the air conditioner to predetermined temperature (for example, 28°C that is temperature recommended by a Cool Biz campaign) through smart meters at the time of peak power consumption in the summer season. Accordingly, the power consumption can be reduced.
  • predetermined temperature for example, 28°C that is temperature recommended by a Cool Biz campaign
  • Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating a simplified example of a connection between the smart meter and an image forming apparatus.
  • the smart meter that is connected to a power pole through power lines or AC power supply lines and the image forming apparatus are connected to each other through AC power supply lines. From the smart meter to the image forming apparatus, power is supplied through the AC power supply lines.
  • a distribution board and a plug socket are present between the smart meter and the image forming apparatus.
  • the image forming apparatus includes a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication, and, as illustrated in Fig. 2 , can communicate with the smart meter in a wireless manner.
  • the smart meter can realize at least the power management function of the image forming apparatus.
  • the power management function of the image forming apparatus is a function for determining whether or not the image forming apparatus is started, transmitting a command used for reducing the power consumption of the image forming apparatus at the time of peak power consumption in the summer season to the image forming apparatus, similarly to the air conditioner, or the like.
  • the image forming apparatus includes a main power supply switch (SW) 30, a power supply unit (PSU) 31, a control unit 32, an operation display unit 33, a fixation unit 34, a variety of motors 35, and a scanning unit (not illustrated in the figure).
  • the main power supply SW 30 is a switch that is switched between On and Off in accordance with a user operation and switches between supplying and not supplying of an alternating current (AC) voltage from an AC power supply to the PSU 31 in accordance with the switching to On or Off.
  • the PSU 31 includes a DC voltage generating unit 36 and a heater driving unit 37.
  • the DC voltage generating unit 36 generates a DC voltage by converting the AC voltage supplied from the AC power supply through the main power supply SW 30 into the DC voltage and supplies the generated DC voltage to the control unit 32.
  • the heater driving unit 37 supplies the AC voltage supplied from the AC power supply through the main power supply SW 30 to the fixation unit 34 or the scanning unit.
  • the scanning unit scans an image from an original in accordance with a user operation input that instructs a copy operation through the operation display unit 33 to be described later.
  • the fixation unit 34 fixes the toner image on the paper sheet so as to form an image on the paper sheet, thereby performing printing as a copying operation or a printing operation.
  • the motors 35 are of various types of motors that are used for driving the photosensitive element, a paper feeding roller, and the like.
  • the operation display unit 33 is configured by integrally forming an operation unit such as operation keys or operation buttons to which an operation is input from a user and a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays information.
  • Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary overview of the operation display unit 33.
  • reference numerals 2, 3, 5 to 8, 10, 12, and 15 to 21 are hardware keys such as operation keys or operation buttons that are configured by hardware
  • a reference numeral 4 is a touch panel-type display
  • reference numerals 9, 11, 13, and 14 are light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are used for displaying the statuses of the image forming apparatus.
  • LEDs light emitting diodes
  • the control unit 32 supplies the AC voltage to the operation display unit 33 or the variety of motors 35.
  • the control unit 32 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 38, a random access memory (RAM) 39, a read only memory (ROM) 40, a wireless communication unit 41, a hard disk drive (HDD) 42, an ASIC 43, and a communication unit 44 and controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus.
  • the CPU 38 realizes various functions by controlling each device included in the image forming apparatus by reading out and executing various programs that are stored in the ROM 40 or the HDD 42.
  • the ROM 40 stores various programs or various kinds of data therein.
  • the RAM 39 temporarily stores various programs that are executed by the CPU 38 or various kinds of data therein.
  • the HDD 42 stores various programs and various kinds of data such as various types of image data.
  • the wireless communication unit 41 communicates with an external device such as the smart meter in a wireless manner.
  • the ASIC 43 is an integrated circuit (IC), which includes hardware elements used for image processing, dedicated only for image processing and controls the driving of the variety of motors 35 and the fixation unit 34.
  • the communication unit 44 communicates with an external device such as an information processing apparatus through a network and, for example, receives print instruction data used for instructing printing of an image from the information processing apparatus.
  • the image forming apparatus includes: a smart-meter communication control unit 50; a display control unit 51; a printing control unit 52; and a storage unit 53.
  • the smart-meter communication control unit 50, the display control unit 51, and the printing control unit 52 are generated, for example, in the RAM 39 when the CPU 38 executes various programs stored in the ROM 40 or the HDD 42.
  • the storage unit 53 for example, is generated in a storage area that is secured in the ROM 40 or the HDD 42.
  • the smart-meter communication control unit 50 receives a command from the smart meter through the wireless communication unit 41 and is an example of a communication unit. Described in more detail, when a power reduction command is received from the smart meter through the wireless communication unit 41, the smart-meter communication control unit 50 stores a power reduction flag having a value of "1" in the RAM 39.
  • the power reduction command requests reduction of power consumption and, in other words, the power reduction command is a command, which is transmitted from a power supplier, requesting reduction of the level of power consumption.
  • the smart-meter communication control unit 50 sets the value of the power reduction flag stored in the RAM 39 as "0".
  • the power reduction cancelling command is a command that is used for cancelling the request for reduction of power consumption and is a command that is used for cancelling the request for lowering the level of power consumption.
  • the printing control unit 52 controls a printing operation that is performed in a case where there is a printing request; and the printing control unit 52 determines whether or not a transition to the power reduction mode is to be made based on a printing condition that is designated in a printing request and allows the fixation unit 34 to perform a printing operation based on a determination result.
  • This is an example of a control unit.
  • the image forming apparatus in a case where there is an operation input used for instructing a copy operation through the operation display unit 33, or print instruction data is received from the image processing apparatus through the communication unit 44, it is assumed that there is an image formation instruction used for instructing image formation with a printing condition designated as a printing request.
  • the printing control unit 52 allows the fixation unit 34 to perform a printing operation at reduced productivity.
  • an index that represents the productivity of a copying machine there is a copy per minute (CPM). This is a speed that represents the number of paper sheets for which a copy operation is performed in one minute.
  • the power reduction mode in a case where printing is controlled in accordance with an operation input instructing a copy operation, the printing control unit 52 performs control such that printing is performed at reduced CPM (speed), and, in a case where printing is controlled in accordance with reception of the print instruction data, the printing control unit 52 performs control such that printing is performed at reduced PPM (speed).
  • the power reduction mode is a mode in which the speed relating to the printing operation is reduced.
  • the description will be presented by using the CPM.
  • the CPM in monochrome printing for A4 paper sheets, when the CPM is a speed of 75 sheets/minute in a case where there is no transition to the power reduction mode, the CPM is a speed of 65 sheets/minute in a case where the transition to the power reduction mode made.
  • the former productivity is referred to as normal productivity, and the latter productivity is referred to as low productivity.
  • the CPM of 75 sheets/minute is used for a specification under the copy condition of "a monochrome copy” and "a copy paper sheet of A4 in the vertical direction".
  • the CPM (the number of copy outputs in one minute) may be different from that in the case of a monochrome copy.
  • the CPM (the number of copy outputs in one minute) is different from that in the case where the size of the copy paper sheet is A4 in the vertical direction. Since the CPM changes in accordance with the copy condition, the numerical value of the specified number of sheets changes in accordance with a change in the CPM. In this embodiment, the specified number for each copy condition is stored.
  • the numerical values of the CPM and the number of sheets for convenience of the description, will be described on the premise of "a monochrome copy" and "a copy sheet of A4 in the vertical direction”.
  • the printing control unit 52 determines to transit into the power reduction mode in a case where the requested number of prints is a specified number of sheets or more, and determines not to transit into the power reduction mode in a case where the requested number of prints is less than the specified number of sheets. Then, the printing control unit 52 controls the fixation unit 34 to perform printing at the low productivity in a case where a transition to the power reduction mode is determined and controls the fixation unit 34 to perform printing at the normal productivity in a case where no transition to the power reduction mode is determined.
  • the storage unit 53 stores the specified number of sheets, the value of the CPM as the normal productivity, and the value of the CPM (second speed) as the low productivity.
  • the storage of the above-described values for example, is performed in advance by a manufacturer of the image forming apparatus in a manufacturing factory.
  • the display control unit 51 controls a display of information on the operation display unit 33 and causes the operation display unit 33 to display an operation screen that is used for a user to perform an operation input. In a case where a transition to the power reduction mode is determined by the printing control unit 52, the display control unit 51 causes the operation display unit 33 to display a message indicating that the supply of power is suppressed by the power supplier together with the operation screen.
  • Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary display of the message. On the display 4 illustrated in Fig. 4 , as illustrated in Fig. 6 , the operation screen is displayed, and a message of "peak power is in the process of being suppressed by the power supplier" is displayed at center of the upper portion of the operation screen. Since the message illustrated in the figure is merely an example, another message may be displayed, the message may be displayed in the form of a symbol or a mark, or the message may be displayed by turning on an LED.
  • the sequence of the processing performed by the image forming apparatus will be described.
  • the sequence of the processing performed when the image forming apparatus receives a power reduction command from the smart meter will be described with reference to Fig. 7 .
  • the image forming apparatus sets up a power reduction flag by storing the power reduction flag having a value of "1" in the RAM 39 in Step S2.
  • the sequence of the processing performed when the image forming apparatus receives a power reduction cancelling command from the smart meter will be described with reference to Fig. 8 .
  • the image forming apparatus releases the power reduction flag by setting the value of the power reduction flag stored in the RAM 39 to "0" in Step S 11.
  • the image forming apparatus refers to the power reduction flag stored in the RAM 39 and determines whether power reduction is requested from the power supplier by determining whether the value of the power reduction flag is "1" or "0" in Step S21.
  • Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an actually measured waveform of the power of the image forming apparatus.
  • the horizontal axis represents the time, and the vertical axis represents the power.
  • the graph illustrated in the lower portion illustrates a result of printing at reduced productivity according to this embodiment.
  • a method is used in which a paper passing interval is increased.
  • the waveforms of the power during a time period from 0 second to 200 seconds form similar curve in both cases.
  • the averages of the amounts of power actually measured during a time period from 0 second to 200 seconds are about 2000 W in both cases. In the time period from 0 second to 200 seconds, when described with reference to Fig.
  • the reduction of the power consumption according to a command transmitted from the power supplier can be reliably realized just as the power supplier intended.
  • the image forming apparatus transits into the power reduction mode from the first sheet so as to perform printing.
  • the number of paper sheets referred to as the number of printed sheets
  • the power reduction mode is made, and printing is controlled at the normal productivity so as to be performed, and, in a case where the number of printed sheets reaches the specified number of sheets, a transition to the power reduction mode is made, and printing is controlled at the low productivity so as to be performed.
  • the printing control unit 52 of the image forming apparatus determines not to transit into the power reduction mode until the number of printed sheets reaches the specified number of sheets, and the fixation unit 34 is controlled so as to perform printing at the normal productivity, and, in a case where the number of printed sheets reaches the specified number of sheets, a transition to the power reduction mode is determined, and printing is controlled at the low productivity so as to be performed.
  • Step S20 to S22 are similar to those of the above-described first embodiment.
  • the image forming apparatus similarly to Step S25, performs control such that printing at the normal productivity is performed in accordance with a printing request.
  • Step S31 the image forming apparatus determines whether or not the number of printed sheets is the specified number of sheets or more by comparing the number (number of printed sheets) of paper sheets for which printing has already been performed in accordance with a printing request and the specified number of sheets that is stored in the storage unit 53 with each other.
  • Step S31 In a case where the determination result is negative (No in Step S31), the process is returned back to Step S30. On the other hand, in a case where the determination result of Step S31 is positive (Yes in Step S31), the process proceeds to Step S23. Steps S23 to S25 are similar to those of the above-described first embodiment.
  • the image forming apparatus performs controls such that printing at the normal productivity is performed employing the above-described configuration, whereby an increase in the power consumption can be suppressed without degrading user convenience. Accordingly, a decrease in the power consumption according to a command transmitted from the power supplier can be reliably realized.
  • the image forming apparatus performs control such that printing at the low productivity is performed, whereby reduction of the power consumption according to a command transmitted from the power supplier can be effectively realized.
  • CPM as a speed relating to first low productivity is set to 65 sheets/minute
  • CPM as a speed relating to second low productivity is set to 55 sheets/minute.
  • the normal productivity is similar to that of the above-described first embodiment.
  • a printing control unit 52 of the image forming apparatus determines to transit into the power reduction mode in a case where the requested number of prints is a first specified number of sheets or more, controls a fixation unit 34 such that printing at the first productivity is performed in a case where the requested number of prints is a first specified number of sheets or more and less than a second specified number of sheets, and controls the fixation unit 34 such that printing is performed at the second productivity in a case where the requested number of sheets is the second specified number of sheets or more.
  • the first specified number of sheets is set to 50 sheets
  • the second specified number of sheets is set to 100 sheets.
  • Step S40 the image forming apparatus determines whether or not the requested number of sheets is the first specified number of sheets or more by comparing the requested number of sheets that is designated in the printing request and the first specified number of sheets that is stored in the storage unit 53 with each other. In a case where the determination result is positive (Yes in Step S40), the image forming apparatus determines to transit into the power reduction mode, and, as illustrated in Fig.
  • Step S23 displays a message indicating that the supply of power is suppressed by the power supplier on an operation display unit 33 in Step S23.
  • Step S41 the image forming apparatus allows the message display displayed on the operation display unit 33 in Step S41 not to be displayed.
  • Step S25 is similar to that of the above-described first embodiment.
  • the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and may be embodied by changing the constituent elements in a scope not departing from the concept thereof in implementation steps.
  • various embodiments can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of the constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, several constituent elements may be eliminated from all the constituent elements represented in each embodiment. Furthermore, such constituent elements may be appropriately combined with another embodiment.
  • various changes as represented below as examples can be made.
  • various programs that are performed by the image forming apparatus may be configured so as to be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and be provided by being downloaded through the network.
  • the various programs may be configured so as to be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a digital versatile disk (DVD) in an installable format or an executable format and be provided as a computer program product.
  • the image forming apparatus is applied to an MFP that has a scanner function for scanning an image from an original, a copying function for performing printing based on the scanned image, and a printer function for performing printing based on the print instruction data.
  • the image forming apparatus may be a copying machine that has a scanner function and a copying function or a printer that realizes a printer function.
  • the image forming apparatus may further include a facsimile function.
  • the value of the specified number of sheets corresponds to the value of the CPM as the normal productivity, the present invention is not limited thereto.
  • the value of the specified number of sheets may be stored in the storage unit 53 or updated in accordance with a request from the information processing apparatus through the communication unit 44 or may be stored or updated in accordance with a user operation input through the operation display unit 33. This is an example of a first setting unit.
  • the invention in order to determine whether or not to transit into the power reduction mode, although the specified number of sheets is used for being compared with a requested number of prints using the requested number of prints as the printing condition, the invention is not limited thereto, and a required time relating to printing and a specified time may be used.
  • the required time relating to printing is calculated based on the requested number of prints and the normal productivity.
  • the specified time is a value that is specified in advance for the required time relating to printing.
  • the printing control unit 52 determines to transit into the power reduction mode and controls the fixation unit 34 such that printing at the low productivity is performed in a case where the required time relating to printing according to a printing request is the specified time or longer.
  • the printing control unit 52 determines not to transit into the power reduction mode and controls the fixation unit 34 such that printing at the normal productivity is performed.
  • the value of the specified time is set to a value such that average power of a case where printing at the low productivity is controlled so as to be performed continuously over the specified time is lower than that that of a case where printing is controlled to be performed at the normal productivity.
  • the storage unit 53 stores not the specified number of sheets but the specified time and the value of the normal productivity in advance.
  • Fig. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the processing sequence of a case where an image forming apparatus according to this modified example performs printing in accordance with a printing request.
  • the determination result is positive (Yes in Step S50)
  • the process proceeds to Step S23.
  • Step S25 Steps S23 and S24 are similar to those of the above-described first embodiment.
  • the value of the specified time may be stored in the storage unit 53 or updated in accordance with a request from the information processing apparatus through the communication unit 44 or may be stored or updated in accordance with a user operation input through the operation display unit 33.
  • switching between enablement and disablement of the control function of determining whether or not to transit into the power reduction mode based on the printing condition and performing printing at changed productivity (speed) by using the image forming apparatus may be performed by a supervisor of the image forming apparatus.
  • This switching for example, may be performed in accordance with an operation input of a supervisor through the operation display unit 33 or may be performed by rewriting a value of a predetermined register that is included in the CPU 38.
  • the second embodiment see Fig. 12
  • the third embodiment see Fig. 13
  • the modified example see Fig.
  • switching between enablement and disablement of the control function of determining whether or not to transit into the power reduction mode based on the printing condition and performing printing at changed productivity may be performed by a supervisor of the image forming apparatus. This is an example of a switching unit.
  • the value of the CPM as the low productivity is stored in the storage unit 53 in advance by the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus.
  • the value of the CPM may be stored in the storage unit 53 or updated in accordance with a request from the information processing apparatus through the communication unit 44 or may be stored or updated in accordance with a user operation input through the operation display unit 33.
  • the power consumption in a time period from 0 second to 200 seconds does not change between the control of the normal productivity and the control of the low productivity, the power consumption is reduced as much as the amount of decrease in the value of the CPM in the control of the low productivity at 300 seconds later. Accordingly, the user sets the value of the CPM as the low productivity and stores the value of the CPM in the storage unit 53.
  • Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen used for a user to perform an operation input of setting a CPM value (speed) as low productivity.
  • the setting of the productivity can be divided into a case where full-color printing is performed for A4 sheets and a case where monochrome printing is performed for A4 sheets, and the values of the CPM as a plurality of types of low productivity and power consumption of a case where printing at each CPM is controlled to be performed are represented in contrast with the value of the CPM as the normal productivity.
  • the normal productivity is 65 sheets/minute, and the power consumption is about 1800 W.
  • the power consumption is about 1500 W. Accordingly, in a case where printing at the low productivity is controlled to be performed, it is illustrated that, although the number of sheets that can be copied in one minute decreases by 10 sheets, compared to a case where printing at the normal productivity is performed, the power consumption can be reduced by 300 W.
  • the power consumption is about 1000 W, and it is illustrated that, in a case where printing at the low productivity is controlled to be performed, although the number of sheets that can be copied in one minute decreases by 50 sheets, compared to a case where printing at the normal productivity is performed, the power consumption can be reduced by 800 W.
  • the value of the CPM as the low productivity of each case is selected and is stored in the storage unit 53.
  • the user may be notified of the value of the CPM as the low productivity and the effect of the power reduction by the image forming apparatus.
  • the image forming apparatus displays the message illustrated in Fig. 16 as an example on the operation display unit 33. This is an example of a notification unit.
  • a message is represented which includes an indication that a transition to the power reduction mode is made, the value of the CPM as the normal productivity, the value of the CPM as the low productivity, the amount of power reduction that is a difference between the power consumption of a case where printing at the normal productivity is controlled to be performed and the power consumption of a case where printing at the low productivity is controlled to be performed, and an effect of the power reduction that is a ratio of the amount of power reduction to the power consumption of a case where printing at the low productivity is controlled to be performed.
  • Such a message may be displayed on the display 4 illustrated in Fig. 6 as an example, may be displayed in accordance with an operation input that is input by using the hardware keys 2, 3, 5 to 8, 12, and 15 to 21 illustrated in Fig. 4 as an example, or may be transmitted to the information processing apparatus through the communication unit 44 and be displayed on a display unit connected to the information processing apparatus.
  • the productivity of a case where the transition to the power reduction mode is made and the power reduction can be visually recognized in an easy manner.
  • reduction of the power consumption can be reliably realized in accordance with a command transmitted from an electric power supplier in consideration of the user convenience.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Control Or Security For Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
  • Facsimiles In General (AREA)
EP20110180303 2010-09-09 2011-09-07 Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung, Bilderzeugungssystem und Bilderzeugungsverfahren Withdrawn EP2428846A3 (de)

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Citations (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2003209924A (ja) 2002-01-11 2003-07-25 Ricoh Co Ltd 消費電力管理システム
JP2010202413A (ja) 2007-06-27 2010-09-16 Asahi Glass Co Ltd ガラスの製造方法、ガラス原料の製造方法及びガラス原料

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JP2006301260A (ja) * 2005-04-20 2006-11-02 Canon Inc カラー画像形成装置
JP2008018542A (ja) * 2006-07-10 2008-01-31 Ricoh Co Ltd 画像形成装置
JP4921218B2 (ja) * 2007-03-27 2012-04-25 キヤノン株式会社 画像形成装置及びその制御方法
JP4673907B2 (ja) * 2008-06-27 2011-04-20 株式会社沖データ 画像形成装置
JP4858537B2 (ja) * 2008-12-26 2012-01-18 ブラザー工業株式会社 画像出力装置
JP5592274B2 (ja) * 2009-01-19 2014-09-17 株式会社エネルギー応用技術研究所 直流給電システム

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2003209924A (ja) 2002-01-11 2003-07-25 Ricoh Co Ltd 消費電力管理システム
JP2010202413A (ja) 2007-06-27 2010-09-16 Asahi Glass Co Ltd ガラスの製造方法、ガラス原料の製造方法及びガラス原料

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