JP2004074558A - Image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation apparatus which saves power in accordance with the efficiency of a switch power supply part. <P>SOLUTION: A printer 1 operates by a power supply supplied to each of a printer controller 13, an engine controller 14 and an I/O part 15 from a PSU 11, thereby recording and outputting images on the basis of image data. The printer 1 has a charging part 12 and changes over selector switches 16-18 to store the power at the time of a high efficiency of the PSU 11 in the charging part 12 and to supply power to each of parts 13-15 with the use of the stored power of the charging part 12 at the time of a low efficiency of the PSU 11. A reactive power is reduced to efficiently cut the power consumption. Thus the power consumption of the whole printer 1 can be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that saves power according to the efficiency of a switch power supply unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For the purpose of environmental protection, power saving has become an important issue in image forming apparatuses in recent years, and energy consumption of equipment when not in use is economically wasteful for users. is there. Regarding the power during standby, the value is specified by International Energy Star and others.
[0003]
In a device such as an image forming apparatus, a switching power supply (hereinafter, referred to as a PSU (Power Supply Unit)) is used as a power supply device. In the case of a printer, for example, as shown in FIG. The unit 100 includes a PSU 101, a printer controller 102, an engine controller 103, an I / O unit 104, and the like.
[0004]
The PSU 101 converts AC power into DC power and supplies it to each of the units 102 to 104. The printer controller 102 performs processing of image data from the host device 110 and an engine in response to a print command from the host device 110. The image data is output to the controller 103. The engine controller 103 controls the I / O unit 104 such as a sensor, a motor, a clutch, and a high-voltage power supply based on image data from the printer controller 102 to generate a print image. In the electrical unit 100, the printer controller 101 performs the energy saving mode control based on a predetermined standby condition.
[0005]
The PSU 101 generally has an efficiency characteristic curve as shown in FIG. 6, and is tuned so that the efficiency peaks during operation. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the PSU has a characteristic that the efficiency is high at the time of high power consumption and low at the time of low power consumption. That is, it is higher than the ratio of the power consumption.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such an image forming apparatus provided with the conventional PSU, the PSU is tuned so that the efficiency peaks during operation, and the efficiency is high at the time of high power consumption and low at the time of low power consumption. It has a characteristic, and when power consumption is low, wasteful power consumption is high with respect to the ratio of total power consumption. Conventionally, power consumption is reduced by focusing on such PSU characteristics. There is no technology, and this is a point that should be noted for efficient power consumption reduction.
[0007]
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that focuses on reactive power in the efficiency characteristic of a PSU and reduces the power to reduce power consumption.
[0008]
Specifically, the invention according to claim 1 operates with a power supply supplied to each unit from a switch power supply unit, and when recording and outputting an image based on image data, a predetermined charger is provided, and a switch power supply unit is provided. By storing the high-efficiency power in the charger and supplying power using the stored power of the charger when the switch power supply unit is in low efficiency, the reactive power is reduced and the power consumption is efficiently reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that reduces the power consumption of the entire image forming apparatus.
[0009]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, a normal image is stored in the non-power saving mode by storing power in the charger and supplying power from the charger in the power saving mode in which power supply to each unit is reduced. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that efficiently reduces power consumption by using a power consumption mode of a forming apparatus, and that reduces power consumption more efficiently and inexpensively.
[0010]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, by storing power in the charger and supplying power from the charger in conjunction with the operation state of the image forming apparatus, the efficiency of the switch power supply unit is not detected. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can efficiently reduce power consumption, reduce power consumption even more inexpensively, and more efficiently.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the power supply amount is carelessly detected by detecting the charge amount of the charger and supplying power from the charger only when the charge amount exceeds a predetermined power amount. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing unnecessary trouble from occurring due to a decrease in power consumption, and efficiently reducing power consumption while improving usability.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined charger is provided in the image forming apparatus that operates with a power supply supplied to each unit from a switch power supply unit and records and outputs an image based on image data. The above object is achieved by accumulating the high-efficiency power of the switch power supply unit in the charger and supplying power using the stored power of the charger when the switch power supply unit is low efficiency.
[0013]
According to the above configuration, when a switch is operated by a power supply supplied to each unit from the switch power supply unit to record and output an image based on image data, a predetermined charger is provided, and the power of the switch power supply unit at high efficiency is provided. Since the power is stored in the charger and supplied using the stored power of the charger when the switch power supply unit is at low efficiency, the reactive power can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced efficiently. The power consumption of the entire image forming apparatus can be reduced.
[0014]
In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, the image forming apparatus includes a power saving mode for reducing power supply to each unit, and stores the power in the charger in the non-power saving mode. The power may be supplied from the charger in the power saving mode.
[0015]
According to the above configuration, power is stored in the charger in the non-power saving mode, and power is supplied from the charger in the power saving mode in which power supply to each unit is reduced. By using the power consumption mode, power consumption can be reduced efficiently, and power consumption can be reduced more efficiently and inexpensively.
[0016]
Further, for example, as described in claim 3, the image forming apparatus stores power in the charger and supplies power from the charger in conjunction with an operation state of the image forming apparatus. It may be something.
[0017]
According to the above configuration, the power is stored in the charger and the power is supplied from the charger in conjunction with the operation state of the image forming apparatus. The power consumption can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced more inexpensively and more efficiently.
[0018]
Further, for example, as described in claim 4, the image forming apparatus detects the amount of charge of the charger, and only when the amount of charge exceeds a predetermined amount of power, The supply may be performed.
[0019]
According to the above configuration, the amount of charge of the charger is detected, and power is supplied from the charger only when the amount of charge exceeds the predetermined amount of power. As a result, it is possible to prevent unnecessary trouble from occurring, and it is possible to efficiently reduce power consumption while improving usability.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are added. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. The embodiments are not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise specified.
[0021]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of an electrical unit 10 of a printer 1 to which the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.
[0022]
In FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes an electrical unit 10 and also includes various units (not shown) as a printer, for example, a printer engine, a paper feeding unit, a fixing unit, and the like. It includes a unit 12, a printer controller 13, an engine controller 14, an I / O unit 15, and three switching units 16, 17, 18, and the like.
[0023]
A commercial AC power supply is connected to the PSU (switch power supply unit) 11 via a main switch (not shown) of the printer 1, and the PSU 11 converts the supplied AC power into DC power and converts the converted DC power. The power is supplied to the charging unit 12 to be charged, and is also supplied to each unit such as the printer controller 13, the engine controller 14, and the I / O unit 15.
[0024]
The charging unit (charger) 12 includes a storage battery or the like, supplies DC power supplied from the PSU 11 to the storage battery to charge the storage battery, and switches the received DC power at a predetermined timing through the switches 16 to 18. , The printer controller 13, the engine controller 14, and the I / O unit 15.
[0025]
Although not shown, a host device such as a computer is connected to the printer controller 12 as in the case of FIG. 5, and the printer controller 12 processes image data from the host device and also receives data from the host device. The image data is output to the engine controller 14 according to the print command. The printer controller 12 also controls an energy saving mode (power saving mode).
[0026]
The I / O unit 15 is connected to sensors (not shown) such as a printer engine, a paper feed unit and a fixing unit, a motor, a clutch, a high-voltage power supply, and the like, and outputs signals from the respective units to the engine controller 14. And outputs a control signal and the like to each section.
[0027]
The engine controller 14 controls each unit of the I / O unit 15 according to the image data of the printer controller 12 to generate a print image.
[0028]
The switch 16 is provided between the PSU 11 and the charging unit 12 and the printer controller 13, and alternatively connects the printer controller 13 to the PSU 11 and the charging unit 12.
[0029]
The switching unit 17 is provided between the PSU 11 and the charging unit 12 and between the engine controller 14 and connects the engine controller 14 to the PSU 11 and the charging unit 12 alternatively.
[0030]
The switching unit 18 is disposed between the PSU 11 and the charging unit 12 and between the I / O unit 15 and connects the I / O unit 15 to the PSU 11 and the charging unit 12 alternatively.
[0031]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The electrical unit 10 of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment stores the power of the PSU 11 when the efficiency is high in the charging unit 12 and supplies the power stored in the charging unit 12 when the efficiency is low to the units 13 to 15 to reduce the power consumption. Efficiently reduce
[0032]
That is, the printer 1 receives image data from the host device, outputs image data to the engine controller 14 in response to a print command from the host device, and the engine controller 14 controls each unit of the I / O unit 15. To generate a print image.
[0033]
At the time of high power consumption such as the operation mode of the printer 1, the PSU 11 supplies power with high efficiency and high efficiency as shown in FIG. Therefore, the electrical component unit 10 connects the switches 16 to 18 to the PSU 11 side, and supplies power to the printer controller 13, the engine controller 14, and the I / O unit 15 from the PSU 11. Then, at this time, the electrical component unit 10 supplies the power from the PSU 11 supplied with high efficiency to the charging unit 12 to charge the power source unit 12.
[0034]
Then, when the efficiency of the PSU 11 is low, such as in an energy saving mode in which the printer 1 saves power, the electrical unit 10 connects the switches 16 to 18 to the charging unit 12 side to charge the power From the charging unit 12 to the printer controller 13, the engine controller 14, and the I / O unit 15.
[0035]
As described above, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment operates with the power supplied from the PSU 11 to each of the units 13 to 15 and, when recording and outputting an image based on image data, provides the predetermined charging unit 12 and the PSU 11 Is stored in the charging unit 12 at the time of high efficiency, and the power is supplied using the stored power of the charging unit 12 when the efficiency of the PSU 11 is low.
[0036]
Accordingly, the power consumption can be reduced efficiently by reducing the reactive power, and the power consumption of the entire printer 1 can be reduced.
[0037]
FIGS. 2 to 4 are views showing a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the electrical components of a printer 20 to which the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main part of a unit 30.
[0038]
2, the electrical unit 30 of the printer 20 includes a PSU 31, a printer controller 32, an engine controller 33, an I / O unit 34, and the like. The printer controller 32 includes the same components as those of the printer 1 of the first embodiment. A host device such as a computer (not shown) is connected similarly to the electrical unit 10.
[0039]
The PSU (switch power supply unit) 31 converts the supplied AC power into DC power, and converts the converted DC power into the printer controller 32, the engine controller 33, and the I / O power supply, similarly to the PSU 11 of the first embodiment. / O unit 34 and the like.
[0040]
The printer controller 32 includes an energy-saving power non-supply unit 35, an energy-saving power supply unit 36, a charging unit 37, and the like. The energy-saving power non-supply unit 35 is a generic name for each unit that does not require power supply during energy saving. The energy-saving power supply unit 36 is a general term for each unit that requires power supply during energy saving. The charging unit (charger) 37 includes a storage battery and the like, and supplies DC power supplied from the PSU 31 to the storage battery under the control of the printer controller 32, similarly to the charging unit 12 of the first embodiment. While charging, the received DC power is supplied to each unit such as an energy-saving power supply unit 36, an engine controller 34, and an I / O unit 34 via a switch (not shown). Although not shown, the printer controller 32 has a power supply path switching function. When the PSU 31 is in the high-efficiency operation mode of the printer 1, the PSU 31 sends various parts of the printer controller 32 and the engine controller 33 to the I / O unit. In the energy saving mode where the efficiency of the PSU 31 is low, the power is supplied from the charging unit 37 to the engine controller 33 and the OCR unit 34, and only the power is supplied to the energy saving power supply unit 36 of the printer controller 32. It is supplied from the unit 37.
[0041]
The I / O unit 34 is connected to sensors (not shown) such as a printer engine, a paper feed unit and a fixing unit, a motor, a clutch, a high-voltage power supply, and the like, similarly to the I / O unit 15 of the first embodiment. A signal from each unit is output to the engine controller 33, and a control signal and the like from the engine controller 33 are output to each unit.
[0042]
The engine controller 33 controls each unit of the I / O unit 34 according to the image data of the printer controller 32 to generate a print image, similarly to the engine controller 14 of the first embodiment.
[0043]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The electrical unit 30 of the printer 20 according to the present embodiment includes a printer controller 32 including a charging unit 37 and a function of switching a power supply path between the PSU 31 and the charging unit 37. Switch the power supply path.
[0044]
That is, the electrical unit 30 has a function of switching the power supply path, and when the PSU 31 is in the high-efficiency operation mode of the printer 1, power is supplied from the PSU 31 to each unit of the printer controller 32 and the engine controller 33 and the I / O unit 34. In the energy saving mode in which the efficiency of the PSU 31 is low, the power supply output from the PSU 31 is completely shut down, the power is supplied from the charging unit 37 to the engine controller 33 and the I / O unit 34, and the power supply during the energy saving of the printer controller 32 is supplied. Power is supplied from the charging unit 37 only to the supply unit 36.
[0045]
Specifically, when the printer 1 is in the high power consumption operation mode, the printer controller 32 causes the PSU 31 to supply power to the printer controller 32, the engine controller 33, and the I / O unit 34, and the charging unit 37. Is charged (step S101), and it is checked whether the operation mode has been completed (step S102).
[0046]
If the operation mode has not ended in step S102, the printer controller 32 returns to step S101 to supply power to the units 32 to 34 from the PSU 31 and charge the charging unit 37 (steps S101 and S102). When the operation mode ends in step S102, the printer controller 32 stops power supply to each unit of the PSU 31 color, ends charging of the charging unit 37, and ends the processing (step S103).
[0047]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the mode of the printer 1 enters the energy saving mode (power saving mode), the printer controller 32 checks whether the charging power of the charging unit 37 is sufficient to supply the power ( In step S201), when the charging power is sufficient, the charging unit 37 supplies power from the charging unit 37 to the engine controller 33, the I / O unit 34, and the power-saving-time power supply unit 36 of the printer controller 32. The power supply is completely stopped (step S202).
[0048]
The printer controller 32 checks whether the energy saving mode has ended (step S203). If the energy saving mode has not ended, the printer controller 32 returns to step S201 to check whether the charging power of the charging unit 37 is sufficient to supply power. From above (steps S201 to S203).
[0049]
When the energy saving mode ends in step S203, the charging by the charging unit 37 ends, the power supply by the PSU 31 is restarted, and the process ends (step S204).
[0050]
In step S201, when the charging power of the charging unit 37 is not sufficient, the printer controller 32 determines that the power supply from the charging unit 37 cannot be performed, stops the charging by the charging unit 37, and stops the PSU 31 And the process is terminated (step S204).
[0051]
As described above, the printer 20 according to the present embodiment accumulates power in the charging unit 37 in the non-power saving mode (energy saving mode), and performs charging in the energy saving mode in which power supply to the units 32 to 34 is reduced. Power is supplied from the unit 37.
[0052]
Therefore, the power consumption mode of the image forming apparatus such as a normal printer can be efficiently used to reduce the power consumption, and the power consumption can be reduced more efficiently and inexpensively.
[0053]
The printer 20 according to the present embodiment stores power in the charging unit 37 and supplies power from the charging unit 37 in conjunction with the operation state of the printer 20.
[0054]
Therefore, the power consumption can be reduced efficiently without detecting the efficiency of the PSU 31, and the power consumption can be reduced more inexpensively and more efficiently.
[0055]
Further, the printer 20 of the present embodiment detects the charge amount of the charging unit 37, and supplies power from the charging unit 37 only when the charged amount exceeds a predetermined power amount.
[0056]
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the power supply amount from being carelessly reduced and an unnecessary trouble from occurring, and it is possible to efficiently reduce power consumption while improving usability.
[0057]
In the above description, the control of the power supply from the PSU 31 and the power supply from the charging unit 37 in the mode of the printer 20 in FIGS. 3 and 4 are performed in the case of the electrical unit 10 of the printer 1 according to the first embodiment. Can be similarly applied.
[0058]
As described above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. Needless to say.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a predetermined charger is provided when operating with a power supply supplied to each unit from the switch power supply unit and recording and outputting an image based on image data. The high-efficiency power of the unit is stored in the charger, and the power is supplied using the stored power of the charger when the switch power supply unit is low-efficiency. And the power consumption of the entire image forming apparatus can be reduced.
[0060]
According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, power is stored in the charger in the non-power saving mode, and power is supplied from the charger in the power saving mode in which the supply of power to each unit is reduced. Therefore, power consumption can be efficiently reduced by using the power consumption mode of the normal image forming apparatus, and power consumption can be reduced more efficiently and inexpensively.
[0061]
According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the power is stored in and supplied from the charger in conjunction with the operation state of the image forming apparatus. The power consumption can be efficiently reduced without performing the detection, and the power consumption can be more efficiently reduced at a lower cost.
[0062]
According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the charging amount of the charger is detected, and the power is supplied from the charger only when the charging amount exceeds the predetermined power amount. It is possible to prevent the power supply amount from being easily reduced and unnecessary trouble from occurring, and it is possible to efficiently reduce the power consumption while improving the usability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of an electrical unit of a printer to which an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of an electrical unit of a printer to which an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a power supply control process in an operation mode by the electrical unit of the printer in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a power supply control process in an energy saving mode by the electrical unit of the printer in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a main part of an electrical unit of a conventional printer.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing power consumption and efficiency characteristics of a PSU of an electrical unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer 10 Electrical unit 11 PSU
12 Charging unit 13 Printer controller 14 Engine controller 15 I / O units 16, 17, 18 Switching unit 20 Printer 30 Electrical unit 31 PSU
32 Printer controller 33 Engine controller 34 I / O unit 35 Power supply non-supply unit at energy saving 36 Power supply unit at energy saving 37 Charging unit

Claims (4)

A predetermined charger is provided in an image forming apparatus that operates with a power supply supplied to each unit from a switch power supply unit and records and outputs an image based on image data, and charges the switch power supply unit at the time of high efficiency. An image forming apparatus for storing power in a charger and supplying power using the stored power of the charger when the switch power supply unit has low efficiency. The image forming apparatus includes a power saving mode for reducing power supply to each unit, stores power in the charger in a non-power saving mode, and supplies power from the charger in the power saving mode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus stores power in the charger and supplies power from the charger in conjunction with an operation state of the image forming apparatus. Image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus detects a charge amount of the charger and supplies power from the charger only when the charge amount exceeds a predetermined power amount. Item 4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 3.

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