JP2004180214A - Copying device and mode switching program of copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate no wasteful standby time or labor to a user even when a copying device is constituted so that switching between a prescribed copy stop mode and a copying mode is possible and is in the copy stop mode. <P>SOLUTION: A state notification request is transmitted (S21) from a personal computer 30 to the copying device and a state ("in operation" (copyable state) or "in halt" (copy halt state)) at this time is returned (S13, S17) from the copying device in response to transmission. In the case of "in halt", a state switching instruction is transmitted (S24) from the personal computer 30 to the copying device, the copying device is switched to the copyable mode (operation mode) in response to transmission and the personal computer 30 is notified (S16) of a fact that the copying device is switched to the copyable state ("in operation"). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a copying apparatus configured to be able to switch between a predetermined copy pause state and a copy enabled state, and a copying apparatus state switching program for requesting the copying apparatus to switch the state.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, from the viewpoint of promoting energy saving, power saving has also been advanced in copying apparatuses. In such a copying apparatus, when the user does not perform any operation for a certain period of time or more, the power supply to a heater and a display operation unit such as a touch panel provided in the fixing device is stopped, so that the operation of the apparatus is stopped. Many have a function of shifting to a power saving mode (an example of the copy pause state) for minimizing power consumption. As a result, wasteful power consumption of the copying apparatus can be reduced.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-20179
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the low power mode, it is necessary to warm up the fixing device after a predetermined return operation (such as operation of a predetermined return button or opening / closing operation of an automatic document feeder (ADF)) is performed. Unless after a lapse of time, the operation mode in which the copying process can be performed (an example of the copying enabled state) is not attained, so that there is a problem that a wasteful waiting time occurs.
It is also conceivable to provide a copy reservation function that allows a user to set a document and reserve a copy process so that the reserved copy process is automatically executed when the copy process becomes possible. Even in this case, there is a problem that the user has to go to the copying apparatus again to pick up the copy and the manuscript, which is troublesome.
Patent Document 1 discloses a printer system capable of controlling on / off of a power supply of a printer by remote control. However, a state in a copying apparatus capable of switching between a copy suspension state and a copy enabled state is disclosed. It does not suggest switching control at all.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a case where a copying apparatus configured to be able to switch between a predetermined copy suspension state and a copy available state is in a copy suspension state. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a copying apparatus and a state switching program for the copying apparatus that do not cause a user to uselessly wait for time and trouble.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a copying apparatus configured to be switchable between a predetermined copy pause state and a copy enabled state, and an external communication means for communicating with a predetermined external device; A copy-enabled state switching unit that switches to the copy-enabled state when a predetermined state switching command is received from the external device by the external communication unit when the state is a state. It is configured as
With such a configuration, before moving to the place of the copying apparatus, the user transmits the state switching command by the external device such as a personal computer at his / her seat to switch to the copying enabled state, and then switches to the copying enabled state. When the user moves to the place, even if the copying apparatus is in the copying pause state, other work can be performed at his / her seat until the copying apparatus enters the copying enabled state, so that unnecessary waiting time and copying apparatus This eliminates the need to make multiple round trips between the user and his / her seat.
[0006]
Further, when the external communication unit is switched to the copy enabled state by the copy available state switching unit, the external communication unit notifies the external device that is the transmission source of the start command that the copy available state is established. One configured as such is also conceivable.
This allows the user to confirm that the copying device has been switched to the copy-enabled state by the external device such as a personal computer at his / her desk, so that there is no waiting time when moving to the place of the copying device. Can be surely grasped.
[0007]
Further, the external communication means is configured to, when receiving a predetermined status notification request from the external device, notify the external device whether the status is the copy enabled status or the copy suspended status. Things are also possible.
Accordingly, the status of the copying apparatus can be remotely confirmed in the external device, so that, for example, it is possible to perform the transmission process of the status switching command only when it is confirmed that the copying is in the pause state.
[0008]
Further, the present invention can be considered as a program for switching the state of a copying apparatus executed in the external device (computer) capable of communicating with the copying apparatus.
That is, the state switching requesting a copying apparatus configured to be able to switch from a predetermined copy suspension state to a copy enabled state in response to a predetermined state switching command to switch from the copy pause state to the copy enabled state. A copying apparatus status switching program for causing a computer capable of communicating with the copying apparatus to execute a command transmission process.
This allows the user to execute the program on a personal computer or the like (the external device) at his / her desk before moving to the place of the copying apparatus, thereby wasting a waiting time or reducing the time between the copying apparatus and the user's seat. There is no need to make reciprocating multiple times.
[0009]
Further, if it is possible to execute a process of receiving the state of the copying apparatus returned from the copying apparatus in response to the transmission of the state switching command and outputting the state to a predetermined output device, the user can use the personal computer at his / her desk. By using such a terminal, it can be confirmed that the state has been switched to the copy enabled state.
Further, a process of transmitting a status notification request for requesting a notification of the copying enabled state or the copying suspended state to the copying apparatus; and a copying process returned in response to the status notification request. If the processing of outputting the state of the apparatus to a predetermined output device can be executed, the user can remotely check the state of the copying apparatus at a terminal at his or her seat.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to facilitate understanding of the present invention. The following embodiments are examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a copying apparatus X according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of the copying apparatus X according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of communication processing between the copying apparatus X according to the embodiment of the present invention and a personal computer capable of communicating with the copying apparatus X.
[0011]
First, the configuration of a copying apparatus X according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The copying apparatus X has a plurality of recording paper storage sections 31 below, and a duplex unit 32 is disposed above the recording paper storage sections 31, and an image forming section 33 and a fixing device 3 are provided above the recording apparatus. Further, an image reading device 35 and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 36 are attached to the upper part. A display operation unit 4 such as a liquid crystal touch panel is disposed on the upper surface of the main body of the copying apparatus X, and the user operates the display operation unit 4 to select an image quality mode and a plurality of recording modes of the recording paper storage unit 31. Various operations such as selection of which paper cassette to use and start of image reading are performed.
The image forming unit 33 is provided with an image forming unit 44 in which a charging device 41, a developing device 42, and a cleaning device 43 are arranged around the photosensitive drum 40. A transfer device 45 is provided. The photosensitive drum 40 has, for example, a photosensitive layer formed on the surface of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 84 mm, and is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. The charging device 41 charges the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 40 to several hundred volts by corona discharge. A laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator 38 is irradiated on the surface of the photosensitive drum 40 downstream of the charging device 41 in the rotation direction, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. Image data used for controlling the laser beam output of the laser oscillator 38 is input from the image processing unit 30.
That is, the original image light guided by the mirror from the image reading device 35 enters the image sensor 37, where it is A / D converted and input to the image processing unit 30 as digital image data (original image data). Further, the original image data is subjected to predetermined image processing in the image processing unit 30, the image data after the image processing is input to the laser control unit 38a, and the image data after the image processing is converted by the laser control unit 38a. The laser oscillator 38 is controlled so that the corresponding laser beam is emitted. Further, the laser control unit 38a has a pulse width modulation function of modulating the pulse width of the output pulse signal to the pulse oscillator 38 in multiple stages according to the input image data. By this pulse width modulation, the size of the pixel (output pixel) of the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 40 is adjusted (multi-valued) in multiple stages.
[0012]
In the developing device 42, the developing roller rotates, and the magnetic brush formed on the surface of the developing roller comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 40, and the charged toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. The toner image is conveyed in the transfer device 45 while the recording paper conveyed from the recording paper storage unit 31 is sandwiched between the photosensitive drum 40 and the transfer belt 46 moving at the same speed as the peripheral speed. The toner image is charged and transferred onto the recording paper. A cleaning device 43 is disposed downstream of the transfer device 45, and removes toner and other deposits remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 40. Although the transfer device 45 in the copying apparatus X employs a transfer belt, it can be replaced with a transfer roller.
The recording paper onto which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer device 45 is conveyed to the fixing device 3 provided on the downstream side in the transport direction, and the space between the fixing roller 1 of the fixing device 3 and the pressure roller 2 opposed thereto is fixed. As described above, the toner on the recording paper is fused and fixed by the heat of the fixing roller 1 having a heater therein. The pressure roller 2 presses the recording paper against the fixing roller 1 to ensure that the toner is fixed.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main part of the copying apparatus X.
The copying apparatus X includes, in addition to the above-described fixing device 3, display operation unit 4, image forming unit 33, etc., a power control unit 7 for controlling the power supply to these units and each device, and a personal computer via a predetermined network 10. The apparatus includes a communication processing unit 5 (an example of the external communication unit) that communicates with an external device such as a computer 20 (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer), and a control unit 6 that controls the entire operation of the copying apparatus X. .
The power control unit 7 controls the heater included in the fixing roller 1 of the fixing device 3 and the display when the copying machine X is turned on by the user and no operation is performed for a certain period of time. By stopping the power supply to the operation unit 4 and the like, the apparatus shifts to a power saving mode (an example of the copying pause state) for minimizing the power consumption of the apparatus. When a predetermined return button shown in the drawing is operated or a return operation such as an opening / closing operation of the automatic document feeder (ADF) 36 is performed, the power supply to each unit and each device is returned to the normal operation mode (the above-described operation mode). (Return) to an example of a copy enabled state). In the case of the operation mode, the copying process is immediately executed by a predetermined copying operation from the display / operation unit 4. However, in the case of the power saving mode, the return operation is performed to shift to the operation mode. Unless the copying operation is performed, the copying process is not performed even if the copying operation is performed from the display operation unit 4. In the present copying apparatus, even in the power saving mode, the communication processing unit 5 performs communication processing with an external device such as the personal computer 20 and the power control unit 7 based on information received through the communication processing unit 5. The power supply is controlled so that a predetermined process (FIG. 3) to be described later can be executed.
The present copying apparatus X also has other components for functioning as a general copying apparatus, but is well known and will not be described here.
The personal computer 20 includes display means such as a CRT, input means such as a keyboard and a mouse, a control unit for performing various calculations, and storage means such as a hard disk in which various data and a predetermined program executed by the control unit are stored. , A general personal computer having a communication interface for controlling communication via the network 10.
Next, the procedure of communication processing between the copying apparatus X and the personal computer 20 that can communicate with the copying apparatus X will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control of the processing shown in FIG. 3 is executed by the power supply control unit 7 after the apparatus is started on the copying apparatus X side, and the personal computer 20 side performs a predetermined execution operation from its input means, thereby executing the operation. This is executed by a predetermined copying apparatus control program (copying apparatus state switching program) installed in the storage means. Hereinafter, S11, S12,... Represent the numbers of the processing procedures (steps).
When the copying apparatus X is started, the communication processing unit 5 is in a reception waiting state (No in S11).
On the other hand, when the execution of the copying apparatus control program is started in the personal computer 20, a predetermined "status notification request" is transmitted to the copying apparatus X (S21).
On the other hand, when a “status notification request” is received by the communication processing unit 5 of the copying apparatus X (Yes in S11), the power control unit 7 determines whether the current state is the power saving mode or the operation mode. Is determined (S12), and in the case of the operation mode, after the fact that the state is "operating" is transmitted to the personal computer 20 side (S17), the process returns to S11 and the process is repeated. . On the other hand, in the case of the power saving mode, the fact that the state is "suspending" is transmitted to the personal computer 20 (S13).
On the other hand, the personal computer 20 receives the status from the copying apparatus X (S22), and when the status is "operating" (Yes in S23), the display means displays "running". Is displayed (output) (S27), and the process ends. On the other hand, when the received state is “pausing” (No in S23), a predetermined state switching command is transmitted to the copying apparatus X (S24).
On the other hand, when the copying machine X receives the status switching command (Yes in S14), the power supply control unit 7 causes the current power saving mode to shift to the operation mode, that is, each unit. Then, a process of restoring the power supply to each device is performed (S15, an example of a process of the copy enable state switching unit), and the transition to the operation mode is completed (warm-up of the fixing roller 1 in the fixing device 3). Is completed), the fact that the state is "operating" is transmitted to the personal computer 20 side (S16), and the process returns to S11 to repeat the processing. If the state switching command is not received within a certain period of time after the transmission of "pausing" in S13 (No in S14), the process returns to S11 and the process is repeated.
On the other hand, on the personal computer 20 side, when the state ("operating") is received from the copying apparatus X after the transmission of the state switching command (S25), the fact that the state is "operating" is indicated. After the display (output) (S26) on the display means, the process ends. .
By performing such processing, the user of the copying apparatus X executes the copying apparatus control program from the personal computer 20 at his or her seat before moving to the place of the copying apparatus X, and is “operating”. If the user moves to the place of the copying machine X after confirming the above, even if the copying machine X is in the power saving mode, other work can be performed at his / her seat until shifting to the operation mode. There is no wasteful waiting time and no trouble of reciprocating between the copying apparatus X and the user's seat a plurality of times.
[0015]
Also, for example, of the processing of the copying apparatus control program (the processing on the personal computer 20 side) shown in FIG. 3, the remaining processing excluding the processing of S24 and S25 (the processing of transmitting the state switching command and the like) is performed. It is conceivable that a program that is repeatedly executed at regular intervals is always started (executed) by the personal computer 20. Thus, the user can always check the state of the copying apparatus X ("running" or "pausing") on the display means. Then, the user checks the state of the copying apparatus X on the personal computer 20 at his / her desk before copying the original, and executes a predetermined program for performing the processing of S24 and S25 in FIG. If it is executed, it is convenient to perform a predetermined operation (operation for executing a program for performing S24 and S25) only when necessary.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even when a copying apparatus configured to be capable of switching between a predetermined copy suspension state and a copy enabled state is in the copy suspension state, an external device capable of communicating therewith is provided. Since it is possible to return to the copying enabled state, it is possible to prevent the user from having to uselessly wait time and trouble.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a copying apparatus X according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main part of the copying apparatus X according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a communication process between the copying apparatus X according to the embodiment of the present invention and a personal computer capable of communicating with the copying apparatus X;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fixing roller 2 ... Pressure roller 3 ... Fixing device 4 ... Display operation part 5 ... Communication processing part 6 ... Control part 7 ... Power supply control part 10 ... Network 20 ... Personal computer (external device)
Reference Signs List 30 image processing unit 31 recording paper storage unit 32 duplex unit 33 image forming unit 35 image reading unit 36 automatic document feeder 37 image sensor 38 laser oscillator 38a laser control unit 40 photosensitive drum 41 ... Charging device 42 Developing device 43 Cleaning device 44 Image forming unit 45 Transfer device 46 Transfer belts S11, S12,.

Claims (6)

In a copying apparatus configured to be able to switch between a predetermined copy pause state and a copy enabled state,
An external communication means for communicating with a predetermined external device;
Copy enable state switching means for switching to the copy enable state when a predetermined state switch instruction is received from the external device by the external communication means in the copy pause state;
A copying apparatus characterized by comprising: The external communication means, when switched to the copy enabled state by the copy enabled state switching means, notifies the external device that is the transmission source of the activation command of the copy enabled state. The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The external communication means is configured to, when receiving a predetermined status notification request from the external device, notify the external device whether the status is the copy enabled state or the copy suspended state. Item 3. The copying apparatus according to any one of Items 1 and 2. The state switching command for requesting a copying apparatus configured to be able to switch from a predetermined copy halt state to a copy enabled state in response to a predetermined state switch command to switch from the copy pause state to the copy enabled state. A copying apparatus status switching program for causing a computer capable of communicating with the copying apparatus to execute a transmitting process. A computer communicable with the copying apparatus for executing a process of receiving the state of the copying apparatus returned from the copying apparatus in response to the transmission of the state switching command and outputting the state to a predetermined output device. 5. The state switching program of the copying apparatus according to 4. Transmitting a status notification request to the copying apparatus for requesting a notification of the copy enabled state or the copy suspended state;
Outputting a state of the copying apparatus returned in response to the state notification request to a predetermined output device;
6. A program for switching the state of a copying apparatus according to claim 4, which causes a computer capable of communicating with the copying apparatus to execute the program.

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