JP2001282058A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device whose power saving effect in a power economizing mode is high. SOLUTION: A mode switching circuit 9 cuts off power supply to a central control circuit 2 and a 1st fixing heater control circuit 1 in the power economizing mode, and switches the control of a fixing mechanism from the circuit 1 to a 2nd fixing heater control circuit 6 which is not controlled by the circuit 2 whose power consumption is high.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a power saving mode in addition to a general copying mode, and more particularly to temperature control of a fixing mechanism in the power saving mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer, reduction of power consumption in a power saving mode is required.
This is realized by lowering the fixing temperature to reduce the power consumption of the heater, and by stopping the supply of power to unnecessary fans and unnecessary fans unless it is necessary to perform copying and printing (hereinafter simply referred to as copying).

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the temperature of the fixing heater is required to be controlled even during the power saving mode. Therefore, the temperature is controlled using the mechanism used in the general copy mode. ing.

For this reason, a large-scale circuit such as a central control circuit of an image forming apparatus consumes power,
There is a problem that the effect of power reduction in the power saving mode is suppressed low.

The present invention has been made under such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a large power reduction effect in a power saving mode.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an image forming apparatus is configured as described in the following (1) to (5).

(1) A central control circuit for controlling the entire image forming apparatus, a first fixing heater control circuit controlled by the central control circuit, and a second fixing heater control not controlled by the central control circuit And a power supply to the central control circuit and the first fixing heater control circuit in the power saving mode, and controlling the fixing mechanism from the first fixing heater control circuit to the second fixing heater control circuit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit for performing power saving mode control for switching.

(2) The image forming apparatus according to (1), wherein the control unit stops the power saving mode control when the temperature of the fixing mechanism becomes abnormal.

(3) The image forming apparatus according to (1), further comprising: a cover open detecting unit of the image forming device; and a rotation abnormality detecting unit of the cooling fan, and the control unit includes the cover open detecting unit. An image forming apparatus which stops the power saving mode control when detecting that the cover is opened or when the rotation abnormality detecting means detects the rotation abnormality of the cooling fan.

(4) The image forming apparatus according to (1), further comprising an external addition mechanism such as a document feeder, wherein the control means stops the power saving mode control when the external addition mechanism is abnormal.

(5) In the image forming apparatus described in (4), the external addition mechanism has an abnormality detection line connected to the image forming apparatus, and the control unit operates the external addition mechanism in a power saving mode. An image forming apparatus that interrupts power supply to a normal communication mechanism and stops the power saving mode control when an abnormality of an external additional mechanism is detected via the abnormality detection line.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to examples of an image forming apparatus.

[0013]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a main configuration of an "image forming apparatus" according to a first embodiment. FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a first fixing heater control circuit, which is controlled by a central control circuit 2, which will be described later, based on operation state information such as the number of copies, paper type, outside air temperature, and paper size. It controls temperature. Reference numeral 2 denotes a central control circuit that controls the entire image forming apparatus, and has a logic circuit that consumes large power.

A triac circuit 3 controls a current flowing through the fixing heater 4 based on a signal from the fixing heater control circuit. Reference numeral 5 denotes a thermistor that detects the temperature of the fixing heater 4 and outputs the detected temperature to the first fixing heater control circuit 1 and the second fixing heater control circuit 6.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a second fixing heater control circuit which is a simplified control circuit which operates exclusively with the first fixing heater control circuit 1, and which is not controlled by the central control circuit 2, 5 to control the triac circuit 3 to control the temperature of the fixing mechanism (not shown). Reference numeral 7 denotes a power supply for supplying power to the entire image forming apparatus. In the figure, portions which are not directly related to the description of the present embodiment are omitted. Reference numeral 8 denotes a mode switching SW, which outputs to the mode switching circuit 9 a signal by which the user makes a transition from the general copy mode to the power saving mode. The mode switching circuit 9 uses a signal from the mode switching circuit 9 or a signal relating to the condition determination of the central control circuit 2 to implement a user's transition instruction or a request from the central control circuit 2. Via the central control circuit 2 and the first
The power to the fixing heater control circuit 1 is cut off, and the temperature of the fixing heater 4 is controlled via the control circuit switching circuit 11 from the control of the first fixing heater control circuit 1 to the second fixing heater control circuit 6. Switch to control.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
In the power saving mode, the power supply to the logic circuit of the central control circuit 2 that consumes a large amount of power is cut off, so that the power can be significantly reduced.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an "image forming apparatus" according to Embodiment 2. In FIG. 2, the blocks other than 12 are the same as in the first embodiment, and thus the description of the first embodiment is referred to and the description is omitted here.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an abnormal temperature comparison circuit. Even if the abnormal temperature comparison circuit 12 determines that the temperature of the fixing mechanism is abnormal (exceeds a predetermined temperature) even in the power saving mode, the second fixing operation is immediately performed. An abnormal signal is output to the mode switching circuit 9 in order to return from the state using the heater control circuit 6 to the state used in the general copy mode, that is, the state using the first fixing heater control circuit 1.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
In addition to the effect of the first embodiment, even if the temperature of the fixing mechanism is abnormal even in the power saving mode, the first fixing heater control circuit 1 is switched from the use state of the second fixing heater control circuit 6 to the first fixing heater control circuit 1.
, And the central control circuit 2 has the effect of enabling highly intelligent processing such as recovery operation at the time of abnormality, safe operation, and recording of abnormality information.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an "image forming apparatus" of Embodiment 3. In FIG. 3, blocks 1 to 11 are the same as the respective blocks in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment, so the description in FIG.
The description here is omitted.

Reference numerals 12 and 13 denote a group of fans for cooling the inside of the apparatus. Abnormal rotation of the fan is detected by a fan rotation detecting circuit 21, and the mode switching circuit 9 is operated by the output of the fan rotation detecting circuit 12 to operate the power saving mode. To a general copy mode.

Reference numerals 14 and 15 denote opening detection means for the cover of the image forming apparatus main body. The opening of the cover is detected by the cover opening detection circuit 22. The mode switching circuit 9 operates according to the output of the cover opening detection circuit 22. However, the mode can be changed from the power saving mode to the general copy mode.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
In addition to the same effects as in the first embodiment, even in the power saving mode, the function of detecting the rotation abnormality of the cooling fan and the function of detecting the opening of the cover are not stopped, so that the effect that the safety of the device can be ensured can be obtained. .

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an "image forming apparatus" according to a fourth embodiment. FIG.
In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1 to 11 are the same as the respective blocks in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment, so the description in FIG.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an external additional mechanism, such as a document feeder, a finisher, an additional paper deck, etc., which is disposed outside the image forming apparatus and communicates with a main body communication mechanism 13 of the image forming apparatus main body which receives the signal.

The main body communication mechanism 13 is configured to receive power supply from the power supply 7 regardless of the operation of the mode switching circuit 9. The external addition mechanism 12 can secure communication with the main body communication mechanism 13 at the time of its abnormality, and can realize a transition from the power saving mode to the general copy mode via the mode switching circuit 9 by a signal from the main body communication mechanism 13. It has become.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
In addition to the effects of the first embodiment, even in the power saving mode, when an abnormality occurs in the external addition mechanism 12, the mode is immediately returned to the general copy mode and required processing can be performed.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main part of an "image forming apparatus" according to a fifth embodiment. FIG.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion corresponding to blocks 12 and 13 in FIG. In the present embodiment, the parts of the external addition mechanism 12 and the main body communication mechanism 13 are further subdivided to control power cutoff.

An additional mechanism portion 16 of the main body communication mechanism 13,
Data communication mechanism 1 with main body in external addition mechanism 12
7, the highly intelligent control of the external addition mechanism 12 is performed by communication.

In the power saving mode, only the abnormal signal is handled via the abnormal signal line 20 between the abnormal signal receiving mechanism 18 of the main body communication mechanism 13 and the abnormal signal transmitting mechanism 19 of the external adding mechanism 12. And the additional mechanism portion 16 of the main body communication mechanism 13 and the external additional mechanism 12
The power supply to the data communication mechanism 17 is interrupted by the switch 23. When the receiving mechanism 18 of the main body communication mechanism 13 receives an abnormal signal from the external addition mechanism 12, the mode is switched from the power saving mode to the general copy mode via the mode switching circuit 9.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
Even in the power saving mode, the operation of the abnormal signal line 20 connecting the main body communication mechanism 13 and the external additional mechanism 12 is guaranteed, and the same operation as that of the fourth embodiment can be performed while increasing the power saving effect.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An image forming apparatus having a large power reduction effect in the power saving mode can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a main part configuration of a third embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main part configuration of a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main part configuration of a fifth embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 First fixing heater control circuit 2 Central control circuit 9 Mode switching circuit 6 Second fixing heater control circuit 10 Power cutoff circuit 11 Control circuit switching circuit

Claims (5)

[Claims] A central control circuit for controlling the entire image forming apparatus; a first fixing heater control circuit controlled by the central control circuit; and a second fixing heater control circuit not controlled by the central control circuit. In the power saving mode, power supply to the central control circuit and the first fixing heater control circuit is cut off, and control of the fixing mechanism is controlled by the first fixing circuit.
And a control unit for performing power saving mode control for switching from the fixing heater control circuit to the second fixing heater control circuit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The image forming apparatus, wherein the control unit stops the power saving mode control when the temperature of the fixing mechanism becomes abnormal. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The image forming apparatus further includes a cover opening detection unit and a cooling fan rotation abnormality detection unit, and the control unit detects when the cover opening detection unit detects that the cover is open, or when the rotation abnormality detection unit detects the cooling abnormality. An image forming apparatus that stops the power saving mode control when a rotation abnormality of the fan is detected. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
An image forming apparatus comprising an external additional mechanism such as a document feeder, wherein the control unit stops the power saving mode control when the external additional mechanism is abnormal. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
The external addition mechanism has an abnormality detection line connected to the image forming apparatus, and the control unit cuts off power supply to a normal communication mechanism according to the external addition mechanism in a power saving mode, and sets the abnormality detection line to An image forming apparatus that stops the power saving mode control when an abnormality of the external additional mechanism is detected through the control unit.