JP2001096849A - Printing apparatus and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus having a soft switch function and a control method therefor wherewith restoration to the state of executing printing can be made in a short period of time when an operator gives an instruction for putting a switch on at a power source before electric supply is actually cut off after the soft switch is operated for cutting off the electricity. SOLUTION: A means for judging whether or not an instruction for supply of electricity by an on/off switch at the source of electricity is made during execution of a post treatment and a control means for making a pretreatment for printing skipped when the instruction is confirmed to be made during execution of the posttreatment by the judging means are provided, and a control for judging whether or not a density adjustment should be made for a printing apparatus is made by the two means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for receiving print data from a host computer and performing processing based on the print data, and a control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printing apparatus compatible with a soft switch, a power supply switch is turned off, and a fan for cooling a fixing device or the like of the printing apparatus is rotated. . Then, after an appropriate time has elapsed, the soft switch is operated to completely shut off the power.
In addition, if the operator turns on the power switch of the printing apparatus again until the power is turned off by the soft switch, the printing apparatus performs the initial processing when the power is turned on regardless of the on / off period of the power switch. After that, the density adjustment processing of the printing apparatus was performed.

[0003]

However, even if the power switch of the printing apparatus corresponding to the soft switch in the standby state is turned off, the printing apparatus has a power switch function for a while because of the function of the soft switch. Is supplied, and the environment in the apparatus changes little, so that the density adjustment parameters and the like of the printing apparatus are effective. Therefore, when the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned on again after the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned off and before the power supply to the printing apparatus is stopped by the soft switch, the density of the printing apparatus becomes lower. Performing the adjustment processing and the like is useless, and there is a problem that much time is required until the printing apparatus enters a standby state.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and in a printing apparatus having a soft switch function, when an operator gives an instruction to turn on the power again until the power is turned off by activating the soft switch. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a control method for the printing apparatus, which can return to a printable state in a short time.

[0005]

To solve this problem, for example, a printing apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement. In other words, the printing apparatus has a power ON / OFF switch, and when the power OFF instruction is given by the switch, performs post-processing and then activates the soft switch to shut off the power. The instruction is the power supply O
Means for judging whether or not the instruction is being executed by the N / OFF switch; and determining that the post-processing is being executed by the judging means. Control means for skipping processing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, for example, when the power switch of the printing apparatus in a standby state is turned off and the power switch of the printing apparatus is immediately turned on, the power supply of the printing apparatus is turned off. Since the density adjustment of the printing apparatus is not performed until the printing apparatus enters the standby state due to the input of the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus is markedly compared with the printing apparatus which enters the standby state after performing the density adjustment of the printing apparatus. Will be in standby mode sooner.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a controller of a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the figure, reference numeral 130 denotes a host computer, and 150 denotes a printing device. Host computer 13
0 and the printing device 150 are connected via the host interface unit 101 with, for example, a Centronics interface cable or the like. Reference numeral 140 denotes a video controller in the printing apparatus that performs image processing. Reference numeral 120 denotes a printing unit of the printing apparatus, and the video controller 140 and the printing unit 120 of the printing apparatus are connected by the video interface unit 107. The video controller 140 will be described in detail.

The video controller 140 comprises a host interface unit 101, a controller control unit 102, a reception data storage unit 103, a bitmap memory 104, a power-off timer unit 105, an image processing unit 106, and a video interface unit 107. The host interface unit 101 is a unit that receives print data output from the host computer 130. The reception data storage unit 103 includes a host interface unit 101
Is a part for storing the print data received in step S1. The image processing unit 106 develops the print data stored in the reception data storage unit 103 into a bitmap image based on the print data received from the host computer 130 via the host interface unit 101. The bitmap memory 104 is a memory for storing the developed image developed in the bitmap format by the image processing unit 106, and outputs the developed image in the bitmap format to the printing unit 120 via the video interface unit 107. This series of processing,
This is performed by the controller control unit 102. The power-off timer unit 105 includes a power-off flag 201, a calibration-on flag 202, and a power-off timer 203.
It consists of. If the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned on again before the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned off and the power supply to the printing apparatus by the soft switch is cut off, the off / on period of the power switch is turned off. This is a part for determining whether or not to cause the printing unit 120 of the printing apparatus to perform density adjustment. The description of the power-off timer unit 105 will be described later.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the power-off timer unit 105. The power-off timer unit 105 includes a power-off flag 201 and a calibration-on flag 2
02 and a power-off timer 203. The power-off flag 201 is set to “1” when a power switch (not shown) of the printing apparatus is turned off. When the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned on again, the value becomes '0'. The calibration ON flag 202 is a flag for determining whether or not to perform density adjustment of the printing apparatus for the printing apparatus when the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned off and the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned on again. . In a state where the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned off and the power supply to the printing apparatus is not cut off by the function of the soft switch,
When the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned on again,
Controller controller 102 of video controller 140
Checks the calibration ON flag 202, and if the calibration ON flag is set to “1”, the printing unit 120 of the printing apparatus instructs the printing unit 120 of the printing apparatus to perform the density adjustment processing before the printing apparatus enters the standby state. On the other hand, it issues a command for urging density adjustment. Power-off timer 2
Reference numeral 03 denotes a timer serving as a condition as to whether or not the calibration ON flag 202 is set to “1”. This timer is composed of a down counter. Power-off timer 2
The initial value of 03 is a state in which the power supply to the printing apparatus is not cut off by the soft switch function of the printing apparatus when the power of the printing apparatus is turned on or the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned off. Is set when the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned on again.
The initial setting value of the power-off timer 203 can be set from a panel of the printing apparatus (not shown). When an initial setting value of the power-off timer 203 is set on a panel (not shown), the set value is stored in a register (not shown) in the power-off timer unit 105.

FIG. 3 shows a flow of processing when the power-off timer unit 105 is activated. In step S301, it is checked whether the power-off flag 201 is “1” or “0”. Step S302 is a part for selecting subsequent processing based on the value of the power-off flag in step S301. If the value of the power-off flag is “1” in step S301, the process proceeds to step S303, where the power-off timer unit 105
Start the timer in. In step S304, “0” is set to the calibration ON flag.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing processing after the timer of the power-off timer unit 105 is started.

In step S401, the power-off timer 20
Check the value of 3. Step S402 is equivalent to step S40
This is a process branch depending on whether the value of the power-off timer 203 checked in step 1 is 0 or not. Step S403 is Step S
In step 401, when the value of the power-off timer 203 is larger than 0, it is checked whether the power-off flag 201 in the power-off timer unit 105 is "1" or "0", and the subsequent processing is determined.

In step S403, if "1" is set in the power off flag 201, the value of the power off timer 203 is checked again. Power off flag 201
Is “0”, the process proceeds to step S404, and the count value of the power-off timer 203 is cleared. In step S405, it is checked whether or not “1” is set in the calibration ON flag 202 of the power-off timer unit 105. Step S406 is equivalent to step S4
If the calibration ON flag 202 is “0” in the flow for determining the subsequent processing based on the check of the calibration ON flag 202 in 05, the processing ends as it is. That is, the printing apparatus is in a state where the power switch is turned on again while the power switch is turned off and power is supplied to the printing apparatus because the soft switch is not turned off. No density adjustment command is issued from the video controller 140 to the printing unit 120 of the apparatus, and the printing apparatus enters a standby state without performing density adjustment.

Step S407 is a process performed when the count value of the power-off timer 203 has become 0 in step S401, and sets the calibration ON flag 202 of the power-off timer unit 105 to "1". Step S408 waits for processing until the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned on again while the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned off and power is supplied to the printing apparatus by the soft switch function. It is the part that does. When the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned on again when the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned off and power is supplied to the printing apparatus by the soft switch function, the process proceeds to step S405. I do. Step S409 is a process performed when the calibration ON flag 202 constituting the power-off timer unit 105 is set to '1 in step S406.
When the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned on again when the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned off and the power is supplied to the printing apparatus by the soft switch function, the video controller 140 of the printing apparatus is turned on. Issues a density adjustment execution command to the printing unit 120.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an overall schematic configuration of an electrophotographic printer device 150 according to the embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 140 denotes a video controller. The printer of the present embodiment is a color laser beam printer. This printer forms an electrostatic latent image by scanning the photosensitive drum 15 with the polygon mirror 31 using laser light modulated with image data for each color obtained based on print data input from the host computer 130. Then, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner to obtain a visible image, which is multi-transferred to the intermediate transfer member 9 for all colors to form a color visible image. Further, the color visible image is transferred to the transfer material 2 and the color visible image is fixed on the transfer material 2. The image forming unit that performs the above control is a photosensitive drum 15
, A primary charging section having a contact charging roller 17, a cleaning section, a developing section, an intermediate transfer body 9,
The paper feeding unit includes the paper cassette 1 and various rollers 3, 4, 5, and 7, the transfer unit including the transfer roller 10, and the fixing unit 25.

The drum unit 13 is formed integrally with a photosensitive drum (photosensitive member) 15 and a cleaner container 14 having a cleaning mechanism also serving as a holder for the photosensitive drum 15. The drum unit 13 is detachably supported by the printer main body, and is configured such that the unit can be easily replaced according to the life of the photosensitive drum 15. The photosensitive drum 15 is formed by applying an organic photoconductor layer to the outer periphery of an aluminum cylinder, and is rotatably supported by the cleaner container 14. The photosensitive drum 15 is rotated by transmitting a driving force of a drive motor (not shown). The drive motor rotates the photosensitive drum 15 in a counterclockwise direction according to an image forming operation. Exposure to the photosensitive drum 15 is performed by the scanner unit 3
The electrostatic latent image is formed by selectively exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 to the laser beam sent from the laser beam 0. In the scanner unit 30, the modulated laser light is reflected by a polygon mirror that rotates in synchronization with a horizontal synchronization signal of an image signal by a motor 31a, and irradiates the photosensitive drum via a lens 32 and a reflecting mirror 33.

The developing section includes three color developing devices 20Y and 20 for developing yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) in order to visualize the electrostatic latent image.
M, 20C, and one black developing device 21B for developing black (B). Sleeves 20YS, 20MS, 20CS and 21B are provided in the color developing units 20Y, 20M, 20C and the black developing unit 21B.
S and these sleeves 20YS, 20MS, 20CS,
Coating blade 20Y pressed against the outer periphery of each 20BS
B, 20 MB, 20 CB, and 21 BB, respectively. Further, three color developing units 20Y, 20M, 20
C is provided with application rollers 20YR, 20MR and 20CR.

The black developing device 21B is detachably attached to the printer main body, and the color developing devices 20Y, 20M, and 20C are detachably attached to a developing rotary 23 that rotates about a rotating shaft 22. ing.

Sleeve 21BS of black developing unit 21B
Are arranged at a minute interval of, for example, about 300 μm with respect to the photosensitive drum 15. Black developing unit 21B
Is a sleeve 21B rotating clockwise while conveying toner by a feeding member built in the container.
A charge is applied to the toner by frictional charging so that the toner is applied to the outer periphery of S by the application blade 21BB. Further, by applying a developing bias to the sleeve 21BS,
The photosensitive drum 15 is developed in accordance with the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image on the photosensitive drum 15 using black toner.

Three color developing units 20Y, 20M, 20
C rotates with the rotation of the developing rotary 23 during image formation, and the predetermined sleeves 20YS, 20MS, 20
The CS is opposed to the photosensitive drum 15 at a minute interval of about 300 μm. As a result, the predetermined color developing units 20Y, 20M, and 20C are stopped at the developing position facing the photosensitive drum 15, and a visible image is created on the photosensitive drum 15.

When forming a color image, one of the intermediate transfer members 9
The developing rotary 23 rotates with each rotation, and a yellow developing device 20Y, a magenta developing device 20M, a cyan developing device 20C,
Next, a developing process is performed in the order of the black developing device 20B,
The intermediate transfer member 9 rotates four times to sequentially form visible images using yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, and as a result, a full-color visible image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 9.

The intermediate transfer member 9 is configured to rotate in accordance with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 15 in contact with the photosensitive drum 15 and rotate clockwise during color image formation. Undergoes multiple transfers of visible images. Further, the intermediate transfer body 9 simultaneously transfers the color visible image on the intermediate transfer body 9 to the transfer material 2 by multiple transfer by nipping and transporting the transfer material 2 by contacting a transfer roller 10 described later during image formation. An intermediate transfer member 2 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer member.
And a density sensor 9c for detecting the density of the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer member.

The transfer roller 10 includes a transfer charger which is supported so as to be able to contact and separate from the photosensitive drum 15, and is configured by winding a metal shaft with a medium-resistance foam elastic body.

The transfer roller 10 is separated downward so as not to disturb the color visible image during the multiple transfer of the color visible image onto the intermediate transfer member 9 as shown by a solid line in FIG. After the four color visible images are formed on the intermediate transfer body 9, the transfer roller 10 is moved by a cam member (not shown) in accordance with the timing of transferring the color visible images to the transfer material 2. It is located above indicated by.
As a result, the transfer roller 10 is pressed against the intermediate transfer member 9 with a predetermined pressing force via the transfer material 2 and a bias voltage is applied, so that the color visible image on the intermediate transfer member 9 is transferred to the transfer material 2.
Is transferred to

The fixing section 25 fixes the transferred color visible image while transporting the transfer material 2, and as shown in FIG.
6 and a pressure roller 27 for pressing the transfer material 2 against the fixing roller 26. The fixing roller 26 and the pressure roller 27 are formed in a hollow shape, and each has a heater 2 inside.
8, 29 are built-in. That is, the transfer material 2 holding the color visible image is transported by the fixing roller 26 and the pressure roller 27, and the toner is fixed on the surface by applying heat and pressure.

The transfer material 2 after the fixing of the visible image is thereafter discharged to the paper discharge section 37 by the paper discharge rollers 34, 35 and 36, and the image forming operation is completed.

The cleaning means is for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 15 and the intermediate transfer member 9, and is provided after a visible image formed by the toner formed on the photosensitive drum 15 is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 9. The waste toner or the waste toner after transferring the four color visible images formed on the intermediate transfer body 9 to the transfer material 2 is transferred to the cleaner container 1.
4

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the process of density adjustment. In steps 601 to 604, the density of each color of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan of the toner is adjusted, and the results are used as density adjustment parameters in step 6.
At 05, it is held in the memory. Here, the density adjustment means detection of the fixing level of the toner on the drum in order to obtain a good output and adjustment thereof. The detection is performed, for example, by detecting the toner adhering to the drum by a sensor (not shown) and determining the output signal level. The fixing level of the toner varies depending on the environment in the printing apparatus. Generally, when the power is turned off and the temperature is raised by operation, and when the power is turned on equivalent to room temperature,
The same density adjustment parameter cannot be used because the temperature conditions are different and the toner fixing conditions are different, and it is necessary to adjust this according to the environmental conditions so that good printing can be performed in any case. is there. The density adjustment parameter may be, for example, a bias voltage value of a donor or a drum. Further, in the case of a color printer, such a density adjustment is performed for each color of black, yellow, cyan, and magenta, so that considerable time is required.

Therefore, after the power switch is turned off, before the power supply to the printing apparatus is cut off by the soft switch,
When the power switch is turned on again, there is little change in the environment inside the printing apparatus, and the density adjustment parameter when the power switch is turned off is considered to be effective. Therefore, it is necessary to use this without setting the density adjustment parameter again. It is efficient. As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the power is turned on again between the time the operator turns off the power switch and the time the power is actually turned off by the soft switch, the density adjustment and the like are performed. Since unnecessary preprocessing can be omitted, it is possible to return to the standby state in a short time.

Although the embodiment has been described with respect to an example in which the power supply is managed on the controller side, the printer engine and the controller may have independent power supplies. In this case, OF switch by power switch by operation
In the case of F, the power supply to the controller is cut off, but the engine continues to operate thereafter, and the control unit on the engine performs post-processing to control the soft switch and the power supply of the controller. With this configuration, at least when the operator turns off the power, the power on the controller (mainly composed of only a circuit) is completely shut off, so that it is more effective in terms of suppressing power consumption. Become a thing.

The present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but can be applied to an apparatus (a single device employing a soft switch system). For example, the present invention may be applied to a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and the like.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a printing apparatus having a soft switch function, if the power switch is turned on again before the power is turned off by the soft switch, the printer enters the standby state in a short time. It is possible to return.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a video controller in a printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a power-off timer unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a process after a power switch of the printing apparatus is turned off.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the power switch of the printing apparatus is turned off, and
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating processing until a power switch of the printing apparatus is turned on.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an overall schematic configuration of an electrophotographic printer device 150.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a density adjustment process.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus having a power ON / OFF switch, wherein when a power OFF instruction is given by the switch, a post-processing is performed, and then a software switch is operated to shut off the power. Means for determining whether or not the power-on instruction is being performed by the power ON / OFF switch; and determining whether or not the instruction is performing the post-processing; and determining that the post-processing is being performed by the determining means. And a control unit for skipping pre-processing related to printing when the printing is performed. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pre-processing is a density adjustment processing. 3. A method for determining whether or not the post-processing is being executed, comprising: determining whether power is turned on by a power ON / OFF switch within a predetermined period after power is turned off by a power ON / OFF switch. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is means for determining whether or not the printing is performed. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for externally setting the predetermined period. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means for skipping the pre-processing relating to the printing is means for transmitting a pre-processing command to the printing unit after the elapse of the predetermined period. A printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 6. A control method for a printing apparatus which has a power ON / OFF switch, and when a power OFF instruction is given by the switch, performs post-processing and then activates a soft switch to shut off the power. When an instruction to turn on the power is given by the power ON / OFF switch, a step of determining whether or not the instruction is under execution of the post-processing; And a control step of skipping pre-processing related to printing when it is determined that