JP2005035227A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the damage of a hard disk drive at the time of breaking of an AC power supply caused by power failure or the like while corresponding to a power saving mode, in an electrophotographic printer controlled by a control part having the hard disk drive. <P>SOLUTION: In this printer having a main body control part for controlling printing operation, a DC power supply for the main body, a controller part for performing image data processing and the communication with upper order to control the main body, a DC power supply for the controller part and the hard disk drive connected to the controller part, a circuit part for detecting the lowering of the AC input voltage fed to the printer is provided and the lowering of the AC input voltage is reported to the controller part to stop the access operation to the hard disk drive. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus such as a laser beam printer or a copying machine.

  A conventional power supply configuration and control method in the electrophotographic printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The controller power supply 1 for supplying DC power to the controller unit 12 including the hard disk drive 14 that performs image data processing of the printing device and communication control with the host device, and the operator panel 16 that displays the status of the printing device is an AC. DC + 5V and DC + 12V are generated and output by a DC output circuit unit 4 having a power source 2 as an input and a power source via a filter unit 3 as an input. The controller power supply device 1 also includes an input voltage drop detection circuit A7 that detects that the AC power supply 2 has been cut off, and a power-off signal that informs the DC output before the drop in response to the input voltage drop detection. In the case where the circuit unit A8 is provided and the AC power source 2 is cut off, a power-off signal is issued from the power-off signal signal generation circuit A8 to the controller unit 12.

  On the other hand, a main body power supply 15 is provided separately from the controller power supply 1 as a main power supply for the main body portion that performs the printing operation, and the AC power supply 2 is input as in the controller power supply 1, and DC + 5V is provided. , DC + 24V, AC200V, etc. are generated and supplied to the main body control unit 13. The DC / AC output supplied from the power supply unit 15 for the main body is a sensor for detecting power supply to the electronic circuit IC, a paper jam, and the like, a motor for the paper transport / developer, and heat for fixing the toner. It is used to turn on a heater lamp that is a heat source of a roll.

  Next, an operation when the AC power source 2 is interrupted due to a power failure or the like will be described. When the AC power supply 2 is cut off, the voltage drop detection circuit A7 inside the controller power supply 1 detects a voltage drop, and the power-off signal generation circuit unit A8 issues a power-off signal to the controller unit 12. When the controller unit 12 receives this signal, the controller unit 12 saves data to the hard disk drive 14 and stops accessing the hard disk drive 14 after a certain period of time after the power-off signal is issued. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In a printing apparatus having this control configuration, it is necessary to provide a controller power supply device 1 having a voltage drop detection circuit and a power-off signal generation circuit, but this is a general-purpose standard switching power supply device having this function. The ones that are there are rare. In general, power supplies for general-purpose personal computers have a power supply with this function. However, power supplies that ensure reliability not only for office use but also as output devices for business use. However, there is a problem that it is necessary to manufacture a custom power supply exclusively, which costs development costs, mold costs, and the like, and that the development period of the power supply is required in addition to the development period of the printing apparatus.

  Next, a conventional power supply configuration and control method using the uninterruptible power supply 17 will be described with reference to FIG. An uninterruptible power supply 17 is provided in front of the controller power supply 1 of the printing apparatus, and AC power via the uninterruptible power supply 17 is supplied to the controller power supply 1. When this uninterruptible power supply 17 detects a power failure, the uninterruptible power supply 17 switches to a supply path that supplies AC power from a built-in battery, and continuously outputs AC power to the controller power supply 1 for several minutes to several tens of minutes. It has a function to do. Moreover, it has a signal line for reporting the power failure detected by the uninterruptible power supply 17 to the controller unit 12.

  In the printing apparatus having such a configuration, a power failure detection signal is issued from the uninterruptible power supply 17 to the controller unit 12 when a power failure occurs, and the controller unit 12 that has received this signal accesses the hard disk drive 14 as described above. And the hard disk drive 14 is protected from being damaged. During this time, AC power is continuously supplied from the uninterruptible power supply 17 to the controller power supply 1, and the controller power supply 1 continuously outputs DC output. For this reason, the controller unit 12 can complete the stop process without being affected by the power failure (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  When the power failure is canceled, the uninterruptible power supply 17 switches the supply of the AC power to the path for outputting the AC power 2 as it is, not from the built-in battery. Further, the power failure detection signal issued from the uninterruptible power supply 17 to the controller unit 12 is canceled, and the controller unit starts an initialization operation and shifts to a standby state.

  However, such a configuration in which the uninterruptible power supply device 17 is provided is sufficient as a protection device for the hard disk drive 14 in the event of a power failure. However, since the uninterruptible power supply device 17 is provided, there is a problem that the cost increases. there were.

  Next, another power supply configuration and control method in the electrophotographic printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The main body power supply device 15 receives the AC power source 2 and generates DC + 5V, DC + 24V, and AC200V from the voltage passing through the filter unit 3 by the DC output circuit unit 4 and outputs them. Further, the AC voltage is supplied to the controller power supply device 1 via the AC output circuit unit 5. These outputs are mainly supplied to the main body control unit 13 that controls the printing operation. The sensor for detecting power supply to the electronic circuit IC, paper jam, and the like, motor driving of the paper transport / developer, and heat fixing of the toner. It is used to turn on a heater lamp, which is a heat source of a heat roll. Further, the AC 200V output via the main unit power supply 15 is connected to the controller power supply 1, and the controller power supply 1 uses the DC + 5 V to the controller unit 12 that performs image data processing and communication control with the host device. , DC + 12V is supplied. The main unit power supply 15 has an input voltage drop detection circuit A7 for detecting that the input voltage has been cut off, and a power-off signal generation circuit A8 for informing the DC output before the drop of the input voltage drop. When the AC power supply 2 is cut off, a power-off signal is issued from the power-off signal signal generation circuit A8. This power-off signal is connected to the controller unit 12 and the main body control unit 13. Further, the main body power supply device 15 has a circuit in the auxiliary power supply circuit section 6 for turning on and off the DC output by an external remote signal, while the controller section 12 has a circuit for on / off controlling the output of the main body power supply apparatus 15. Is provided. The printing apparatus power supply apparatus 1 has a circuit in the auxiliary power supply circuit section 6 for turning on and off the DC output by an external remote signal, while the controller section 12 controls the output of the main body power supply apparatus 15 on and off. A circuit is provided.

  When the AC power supply 2 is cut off, the voltage drop detection circuit A7 in the main body power supply device 15 detects the voltage drop, and the power-off signal generation circuit unit A8 issues a power-off signal. This power-off signal is connected to the reset circuit of the main body control unit 13, and the main body control unit 13 shifts to a reset operation. When the controller unit 12 receives this signal, the controller unit 12 saves data to the hard disk drive 14, stops access to the hard disk drive 14 after a certain time after the power-off signal is issued, and the hard disk drive 14 is damaged. Processing that does not.

  In the printing apparatus having this control configuration, the DC power output of the main body power supply device 15 is cut off by the remote off signal issued from the controller unit 12, and the controller power supply device for supplying power to the operator panel 16 and the controller unit 12 is supplied. By setting only one to the steady output state, it is possible to create a power saving state of the printing apparatus. However, since it is a necessary condition that the power-off signal of the power supply device is generally issued before the DC output drops when the input voltage is cut off, the remote-off signal is issued even when the remote-off signal is issued to the main body power supply device 15. A power-off signal is issued from the power-off signal generation circuit unit A8 to the controller unit 12 and the main body control unit 13 in synchronization with the signal. Since the controller unit 12 that has received the power-off signal performs the same stop process as when the AC power source 2 is shut off, there is a problem that it is impossible to return from this state unexpectedly when the AC power source 2 is turned off. Further, when the power off signal is not connected to the controller unit 12, the above state can be avoided, but there is no opportunity to know that the AC power source 2 has been cut off. There is a possibility that the AC power supply 2 may be turned off while data is being read from or written to the drive 14, and the hard disk drive 14 may be damaged in some cases.

JP 07-153172 A

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-19999

  The object of the present invention is to compare a method for avoiding a failure of a hard disk drive used for data recording of a controller unit in an electrophotographic printing apparatus having a power supply unit for a main body control unit and a power unit for a controller unit separately. It is realized at a low cost and corresponds to a power saving mode.

  The above object is achieved by providing a circuit for detecting a voltage drop of the AC power supply and a circuit for notifying the controller unit of the voltage drop when the voltage drop is detected.

  According to the present invention, a device that protects a hard disk drive when AC power is cut off in a printing apparatus having a plurality of switching power supplies and having a control unit having a hard disk drive that records software, printing information of the printing apparatus, and the like is relatively proposed. And a power saving mode can be realized.

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

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

  1 is a controller power supply for supplying power to the controller section 12 and the hard disk drive 14, 2 is an AC power supply, 3 is a filter in the main body power supply apparatus 15, 4 is a DC output circuit section, 5 is an AC output circuit section, 6 Is an auxiliary power supply circuit unit for performing alarm detection of the power supply unit 15 for the main body, output on / off control by remote signal, input voltage detection, etc., 7 is a voltage drop detection circuit unit A for detecting the input voltage, and 8 is a voltage drop detection circuit unit The power-off signal generation circuit units A and 9 that issue a power-off signal triggered by a decrease in the input voltage detected by A7 are voltages for detecting the voltage of the AC output output from the AC output circuit unit 5 of the main body power supply device 15. Built-in detection circuit B10 and a power-off signal generation circuit unit B11 that issues a power-off signal triggered by a decrease in input voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit B10 AC voltage detection / report circuit unit 12, image data processing, a controller unit for controlling communication with a host device, 13 a main body control unit for controlling a printing operation, and 14 for writing and reading data from the controller unit 12. The hard disk drive 15 to which the AC power supply 2 is input and DC + 5V, DC + 24V, and AC200V are supplied to the main body control unit 13 that controls printing behavior such as paper conveyance, development, transfer, and fixing of the printing apparatus. An apparatus 16 is an operator panel of the printing apparatus.

  The configurations of the voltage drop detection circuit unit A7, the power-off signal generation circuit unit A8, and the main body control unit 13 provided in the main body power supply device 15 are the same as those shown in the related art. In the present invention, an AC voltage detection / report circuit unit 9 is provided in addition to the conventional control configuration. The AC voltage detection / report circuit unit 9 does not synchronize with the power-off signal issued from the voltage drop detection circuit B10 and the controller unit 12, but issues a power-off signal only when the voltage of the AC power supply 2 is lowered. An off signal generation circuit unit B11 is newly provided. However, the time from when the power-off signal generation circuit unit B11 detects a decrease in the AC input voltage until the power-off signal is issued is shorter than the output holding time when the AC input voltage of the controller power supply 1 is decreased, and printing is performed. Set the length long to meet immunity test regulations such as instantaneous interruption of the device.

  First, an operation when the AC power supply 2 of the printing apparatus is turned off will be described. When the AC power supply 2 of the printing apparatus is turned off, a voltage drop of the AC power supply 2 is detected by the voltage drop detection circuit A7 and the voltage drop detection circuit B10 of the power supply apparatus 15 for the main body. A power off signal is issued from the off signal generation circuit unit B11 to the main body control unit 13 and the controller unit 12. The main body control unit 13 captures this power-off signal in the reset circuit, and performs a reset operation by receiving the power-off signal. When the controller unit 12 receives the power-off signal, the controller unit 12 saves data to the hard disk drive 14 and proceeds to a stop process. As a result, the printing apparatus controls the AC power supply 2 so that it does not perform an unspecified behavior in a transient state in which the power supply voltage of the main body control unit 13 and the controller unit 12 decreases, and the hard disk drive 14 is damaged. To prevent. In this configuration, since the AC voltage detection / report circuit unit 9 is provided separately from the controller power supply device 15, a general-purpose standard power supply having no power-off signal can be selected as the controller power supply device 15. Become. Even for a general-purpose standard power supply, the output holding time is often different depending on the power supply. In this case, the power-off signal is detected after detecting the decrease in the AC power supply 2 in consideration of the output holding time of the selected standard power supply. By providing the power-off signal generation circuit unit 11 in the AC voltage detection / report circuit unit 9 with a volume that can vary the time until the issuance of the signal, it is possible to cope with various standard power supplies having different output holding times.

  Next, a method for supporting the power saving mode method will be described. If the printing apparatus is not instructed to print to the printing apparatus for a predetermined time and is not operated by the operator, the printing apparatus shifts to the power saving mode. At this time, the power supply device 15 for the main body receives the remote off signal from the controller unit 12 by the auxiliary power supply circuit unit 6, cuts off the DC output of the DC output circuit unit 4 and the AC output of the AC output circuit unit 5, and A power off signal is issued from the off signal generation circuit unit A8 to the main body control unit 13. The main body control unit 13 that has received the power-off signal performs the same operation as when the AC power source 2 is turned off. On the other hand, since the power off signal is not issued to the controller unit 12, the operator panel 16 and the controller unit 12 are in an operable state. In this state, power supply to the main body control unit 13 that consumes more power is interrupted, and the operation of the DC output circuit unit 4 of the main body power supply device 15 is stopped, so that the power consumption of the entire printing apparatus can be greatly reduced. It is possible to easily realize the power saving mode. In the power saving mode, if the host device issues a print instruction or the operator accesses the operator panel 16, the controller unit 12 sends a remote on signal to the main body power supply device 15 to cancel the power saving mode. Issue. When the remote-on signal is received, the DC output circuit unit 4 of the main body power supply device 15 starts operating, and DC is output. When DC + 5V rises, the power-off signal issued to the main body control unit 13 is canceled. When the power-off signal is canceled, the main body control unit 13 starts an initialization operation and shifts to a standby state. When a print instruction is issued from the controller unit 12, the process proceeds to the print operation.

  Next, an operation when the AC power source 2 is shut off from the power saving mode will be described. When the AC power supply 2 of the printing apparatus in the power saving mode is cut off, the voltage drop detection circuit unit B10 detects that the AC power supply 2 has been cut off, and the power-off signal generation circuit unit B11 sends the controller unit 12 Issue a power-off signal. The controller unit 12 that has received the power-off signal completes data saving to the hard disk drive 14 before the output of the controller power supply device 1 is lowered, as in the case of the AC power source 2 shut off, and prepares for power off. Thereby, even when the AC power supply 2 is shut off from the power saving mode, it is possible to prevent the hard disk drive 14 from being damaged.

1 is a block diagram of a power supply unit / control unit in an embodiment of a printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a power supply unit / control unit in a conventional printing apparatus. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of another power supply unit / control unit in a conventional printing apparatus. FIG. 12 is a block diagram of still another power supply unit / control unit in the conventional printing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 is a controller power supply device, 2 is an AC power supply, 3 is a filter unit, 4 is a DC output circuit unit, 5 is an AC output circuit unit, 6 is an auxiliary power supply circuit unit, 7 is a voltage drop detection circuit unit A, and 8 is power. Off signal generation circuit units A and 9 are AC voltage detection / report circuit units, 10 is a voltage drop detection circuit unit B, 11 is a power off signal generation circuit unit B, 12 is a controller unit, 13 is a main body control unit, and 14 is a hard disk. A drive, 15 is a power supply for the main body, 16 is an operator panel, and 17 is an uninterruptible power supply.

Claims (5)

  Connected to the main body control section for controlling the printing operation, the main body DC power supply, the controller section for controlling the main body by performing image data processing and communication with the host, and the controller section DC power supply and the controller section In the printing apparatus having the hard disk drive, a circuit unit for detecting a decrease in the AC input voltage supplied to the printing apparatus is provided, the controller unit is notified of the decrease in the AC input voltage, and an access operation to the hard disk drive is performed. Printing device characterized by stopping.   The time for detecting the decrease in the AC input voltage is shorter than the time for the output of the DC power supply for the controller unit to decrease, and the time required for the immunity test regulation such as the output holding time characteristic and the voltage dip when the AC input voltage decreases. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is set long.   2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at the time of shifting to a power saving mode such as compliance with an energy star regulation, the DC power supply for the main body is turned off and the DC power supply for the controller unit is kept on.   2. The printing according to claim 1, wherein from a power saving mode state such as compliance with an energy star regulation, the controller unit is notified of a decrease in AC input when the AC input voltage is decreased, and the access operation to the hard disk drive is stopped. apparatus. A circuit for detecting the AC input voltage to the DC power supply for the main body, a signal generation circuit for notifying the AC input voltage drop, a circuit for detecting the AC input voltage to the DC power supply for the controller unit, and a signal generation for notifying the AC input voltage drop The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a circuit is provided separately to achieve a power saving mode.

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