JP2005131991A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve energy-saving by executing an operation by holding a power-saving condition to the utmost. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus 2 has a power saving mode for a low power consumption and processes a job having a light load in the power saving mode without changing the mode. The image forming apparatus 2 has a resting mode which can not operate and is in an extremely low power consumption and the power saving mode. The image forming apparatus 2 moves to the power saving mode when receiving a job in the resting mode, and then executes an operation similar to the above case. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention controls an image forming apparatus having a sleep state in which power consumption of a circuit is reduced and operation is impossible, and a power saving state in which power consumption of the circuit is reduced and is operable in a limited condition It is about the method.

  In recent electronic office machines, as represented by the US Energy Star standard, there is a movement to regulate power consumption, and the reduction of power consumption is a major issue. In these standards, power consumption particularly in a standby state is severely limited. In order to adapt to these standards, a device has been devised to reduce power consumption when the standby state has passed for a certain period of time. In order to reduce power consumption by reducing the operating frequency, turning off power to unused circuit parts, transitioning to a power saving state, and further reducing power consumption, stop the operation completely and A transition to a hibernation state in which power is supplied only to a minimum circuit that holds and detects a condition for return is performed.

In addition, the elapsed time is measured by a timer, and the printer device is automatically turned off according to the elapsed time. This prevents the printer from being forcibly turned off during use. Therefore, as a technique for turning on the power supply when the printer device is in use, for example, Patent Document 1 is available.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-221179

  In the conventional technology, when there are a plurality of power saving states, when shifting to the power saving state, the state may be gradually shifted to a state where the power saving effect is large, but when returning from the power saving state, The structure was always restored to the normal state.

  However, the image forming apparatus may not require the maximum processing capacity depending on the type of job. For example, this is the case of a job that is completed in a short time with a small processing load such as an inquiry of device information from a PC. Even in such job processing, once returning to the normal state and processing, it consumes unnecessary power, and after the job processing is completed, it is until the transition to the power saving state before the job processing again. During this time, power is wasted.

  The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above problems, and includes the following configuration as one means for solving the above problems.

  In other words, in an image forming apparatus that can operate and has low power consumption, and an image forming apparatus having job processing means, when the arrival of a job is detected under the power saving state, the power saving state is maintained and the contents of the job are saved. The power saving state is canceled if the job requires the maximum processing capacity, and the power saving state is maintained if the job does not require the maximum processing capacity.

  Furthermore, in the case of an image forming apparatus that has a paused state in which the operation is stopped but the process can be continued, the process cannot be performed in the paused state. The job is investigated and the power saving state is canceled if the job requires the maximum processing capability, and the job is performed while maintaining the power saving state if the job does not require the maximum processing capability.

  According to the present invention, when a job is received under a power saving state, the power saving state can be prolonged without unnecessarily canceling the power saving state, thereby further saving power consumption.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a process that is completed in a short time, such as an inquiry of device information in a power saving state, can be handled without completely returning from the power saving state. As a result, the power saving state can be maintained, and power consumption can be saved.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The reader unit 1 reads an image of a document and outputs image data corresponding to the original seat image to the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 records an image corresponding to the image data from the reader unit 1 and the image input / output control unit 3 on a recording sheet. The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to the reader unit 1 and includes a fax unit 4, a computer interface unit 5, a formatter unit 6, a hard disk 7, an image memory unit 8, a core unit 9, and the like.

  The fax unit 4 decompresses the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the decompressed image data to the core unit 9, compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 9, and compresses the compressed image data. Compressed image data is transmitted via a telephone line.

  The computer interface unit 5 is an interface between the personal computer or workstation (PC / WS) 10 and the core unit 9. The formatter unit 6 develops code data representing an image transferred from the PC / WS 10 into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2. The hard disk 7 is connected to the formatter unit 6 and stores programs and data. The formatter unit 6 is also used for temporarily storing developed image data and the like. The image memory unit 9 temporarily stores data transferred from the PC / WS 10.

  The core unit 9 controls the flow of data among the reader unit 1, the fax unit 4, the computer interface unit 5, the formatter unit 6, and the image memory unit 8.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2.

  The laser emission unit 201 of the printer unit 2 emits laser light corresponding to the image data output from the reader unit 1. The laser beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 202, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202.

  A developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 202 by the developing unit 203. At a timing synchronized with the start of laser light irradiation, the recording paper is fed from either the paper cassette 204 or the paper cassette 205 and conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and the developer adhered to the photosensitive drum 202 is removed from the recording paper. Transcript to. The recording paper on which the developer is placed is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed to the image paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207.

  The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by a discharge roller 208, and the sorter 220 stores the discharged recording paper in each bin and sorts the recording paper. The sorter 220 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin when the sorting is not set. If double-sided recording is set, the recording paper is transported to the discharge roller 208, and then the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed and guided to the refeed conveyance path by the flapper 209.

  If multiple recording is set, the flapper 209 guides the recording sheet to the refeed conveyance path so that the recording sheet is not conveyed to the discharge roller 208. The recording paper guided to the refeed conveyance path is fed to the transfer unit 206 at the timing described above.

  The document feeder 101 feeds paper documents for copying and fax transmission one by one to the document table 102. The user can also place the document on the document table 102 by raising the document feeder 101 upward.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reader unit 1. Image data output from the CCD 109 is subjected to analog / digital conversion by the A / D / SH unit 110 and shading correction. The image data processed by the A / D / SH unit 110 is transferred to the printer unit 2 through the image processing unit 111 and also transferred to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 through the interface unit 113. The

  The CPU 114 controls the image processing unit 111 and the interface 113 according to the setting content set by the operation unit 115. For example, when a copy mode for performing copying by performing trimming processing at the operation unit 115 is set, the image processing unit 111 performs trimming processing and transfers it to the printer unit 2.

  When the fax transmission mode is set on the operation unit 115, the control command corresponding to the set mode of the image data is transferred from the interface 113 to the core unit 10. Such a control program of the CPU 114 is stored in the memory 116, and the CPU 114 performs control while referring to the memory 116. The memory 116 is also used as a work area for the CPU 114.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the core unit 9. Image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, and a control command from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the CPU 123. The data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing, and the image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 is transferred to the control command transferred from the reader unit 1. In response, the data is transferred to the fax unit 4 and the computer interface unit 5 via the interface 120.

  Further, code data representing an image input via the computer interface unit 5 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, and then transferred to the formatter unit 6, where the data is converted into a format called an intermediate code, and the intermediate code The image data is developed into bitmap format image data, and the image data is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then transferred to the fax unit 4 and the printer unit 2. This series of processing is performed by the CPU 125 in the formatter unit 6. This CPU has a built-in power saving state that enables operation with lower power consumption than normal, and a function for shifting to a hibernation state that stops the operation and keeps the state in order to keep power consumption low. By the hardware signal, it is possible to shift from the sleep state, the power saving state, and the normal state. When the computer interface unit 5 receives data to be processed by the formatter unit 6 from the PC / WS 10, a hardware signal is transmitted from the core unit 9 to the formatter unit 6. With this signal, when the CPU 125 is in a sleep state or in a power saving state, it is possible to shift to another state set in advance.

  Image data from the fax unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then transferred to the printer unit 2, the file unit 5, and the computer interface unit 5.

  The image data from the file unit 5 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, and then transferred to the printer unit 2, fax unit 4, and computer interface unit 5. The CPU 123 performs such control according to the control program stored in the memory 124 and the control command transferred from the reader unit 1.

  The memory 124 is also used as a work area for the CPU 123. As described above, processing that combines functions such as reading of an original image, printing of an image, transmission / reception of an image, storage of an image, and input / output of data from a computer can be performed around the core unit 10. .

  Next, an operation when data of the formatter unit 6 is output will be described.

  First, when the formatter unit 6 performs output without storing the data in the storage unit of the image memory, the formatter unit 6 expands the data of the first page into bitmap data, transfers the data to the printer via the bus, and performs printing. . Similarly, the above operation is repeated until the last page.

  When the formatter unit 6 stores data in the storage means of the image memory unit 8 and outputs the data, the formatter unit 6 expands the data of the first page into bitmap data and transfers it to the image memory unit 8 via the bus. To do. At this time, the image memory unit 8 is notified of information such as the number of output copies and single / double-sided printing.

  Since the image memory unit 8 is designated for each job, the image memory unit 8 performs only the process of storing the bitmap data received from the formatter unit 6 in the storage unit. Similarly, the above-described operation is performed up to the final page, and the formatter unit 6 expands the data of the final page into bitmap data and transfers it to the image memory unit 9 via the bus. Notice.

  The image memory unit 8 stores the bitmap data received from the formatter unit 6 in the storage unit, and since it is the last page, transfers the bitmap data of each page to the printer for printing.

  Next, the hard disk 7 connected to the formatter unit 6 will be described. The hard disk 7 stores programs and data necessary for processing in the formatter unit 6 in advance, and these are read at initialization or according to job processing. Further, it is used for temporary storage of job data received by the computer interface unit 5, temporary data storage during image expansion, and storage of images generated after image expansion.

  Next, the operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention in the image processing apparatus configured as described above will be described.

  In the first embodiment, an example will be described in which a print job log inquiry from the computer interface unit 5 is processed in the power saving state when the formatter unit 6 is in the power saving state.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the first embodiment. In S501 of FIG. 5, the apparatus performs initialization. At this time, the apparatus is in a normal state, and the job log records the contents of the processed print job and the processing results. The information is stored in the hard disk 7 and every time the formatter unit 6 processes the print job. Updated. In step S <b> 502, the formatter unit 6 checks whether there is a request for transition from the core unit 9 to the power saving state. If there is a request for shifting to the power saving state, the formatter unit 6 is shifted to the power saving state in S503. Subsequently, in step S504, the formatter unit 6 checks whether or not the core unit 9 has received a job related to the formatter unit 6 from the PC / WS 10, and if received, the formatter unit 6 receives the received job in step S505. Checks if is a job log query. If it is not a job log inquiry, the job is processed in step S506. At this time, if the formatter unit 6 is in the power saving state, the process is performed after shifting to the normal state. For a print job, the job log data is updated. If the job received in S505 is a job log inquiry, the formatter unit 6 transfers the job log data to the PC / WS 10 via the core unit 9 and the computer interface unit 5 in S507. At this time, even if the formatter unit 6 is in the power saving state, the processing is performed while the power saving state is maintained. This makes it possible to maintain a low power consumption state for a long time.

  Next, an operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention in the image processing apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

  In the second embodiment, after the job is received by the computer interface unit 5, when the formatter unit 6 is in the hibernation state, the power saving state is examined and the contents of the job are examined, and the print job log is inquired. An example will be described in which processing is performed in the power saving state.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the second embodiment. In S601 of FIG. 6, the apparatus performs initialization. At this time, the apparatus is in a normal state. In step S <b> 602, the formatter unit 6 checks whether there is a request for transition from the core unit 9 to the power saving state. If there is a request for shifting to the power saving state, the formatter unit 6 is shifted to the power saving state in S603. In step S <b> 604, the formatter unit 6 checks whether there is a request for transition from the core unit 9 to the sleep state. If there is a request for transition to the dormant state, the formatter unit 6 is shifted to the dormant state in S607. In the rest state, the operation of the CPU 125 is stopped. In S <b> 608, the CPU 125 shifts to a power saving state by a hardware signal from the core unit 9. This hardware signal is generated when the PC / WS 10 unit receives a job to the formatter unit 6. In step S609, the formatter unit 6 checks whether the received job is a job log inquiry. If it is not a job log inquiry, the job is processed in S610. At this time, if the formatter unit 6 is in the power saving state, the process is performed after shifting to the normal state. For a print job, the job log data is updated. If the job received in S609 is a job log inquiry, the formatter unit 6 transfers the job log data to the PC / WS 10 via the core unit 9 and the computer interface unit 5 in S611. At this time, even if the formatter unit 6 is in the power saving state, the processing is performed while the power saving state is maintained. If there is no request for transition to the dormant state in S604, the formatter unit 6 checks whether or not a job related to the formatter unit 6 has been received from the PC / WS 10 to the core unit 9 in S605. For example, the above-described processing is performed from S609. As a result, even when a job is received when in a dormant state, processing can be performed in a power saving state depending on the content of the job, and a power saving effect can be expected.

1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of a reader part and a printer part. It is a block diagram of a reader part. It is a block diagram of a core part. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of Example 2.

Claims (8)

  A power saving state in which power consumption of the circuit is lower than that in the normal state and processing is possible under limited conditions, a first state switching unit that switches between the power saving state and the normal state, and an external job receiving unit; A job detecting means for detecting that the job has arrived by the job receiving means, and when the reception of the job is detected by the job detecting means in the power saving state, the job receiving means receives the job in the power saving state. An image forming apparatus comprising: determining contents of a job and determining whether to continue processing in the power saving state or to switch to the normal state by the first state switching unit.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the job received by the receiving unit is a print job, the first state switching unit switches to the normal state.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the job received by the receiving unit is an apparatus status inquiry, the image forming apparatus performs processing in the power saving state.   A power saving state in which the power consumption of the circuit is lower than that in a normal state and processing is possible under limited conditions; and a sleep state in which the power consumption of the circuit is lower than in a normal state and processing is stopped; A first state switching unit that switches between a power saving state and a normal state, a second state switching unit that switches between the hibernation state and the power saving state, an external job receiving unit, and a job arriving by the job receiving unit A job detection means for detecting that, when the job detection means detects a job reception under the hibernation state, the second switching means switches from the hibernation state to the power saving state, An image forming apparatus capable of receiving a job by the job receiving unit.   5. The content of the job received by the receiving unit in the power saving state is determined according to claim 4, and it is determined whether to continue processing in the power saving state or to switch to the normal state by the first state switching unit. An image forming apparatus.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the job received by the receiving unit is a print job, the first state switching unit switches to the normal state.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the job received by the receiving unit is an inquiry about the status of the apparatus, processing is performed in the power saving state. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the job detection unit does not detect a new job after the processing is completed, the second state switching unit immediately shifts from the power saving state to the hibernation state. Image forming apparatus.

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