JP2005161570A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can reduce a life decrease and noise of a motor without bringing about a throughput decrease due to a rise time of the motor for rotating a polygon mirror. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus which carries out recording of images by modulating a laser light by a desired image signal outputted from an image signal generating means, deflecting the modulated laser light by the polygon mirror, and thereby scanning a face to be scanned is equipped with a radio communication part which performs radio communication between a wireless terminal and the part. In the image forming apparatus, a control means which controls the rotation of the motor that rotary drives the polygon mirror for scanning laser beams controls a rotational speed of the motor variably on the basis of communication contents or a communication state with the wireless terminal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a laser scanning device for scanning a laser beam.

  A typical image forming apparatus capable of performing printing at high speed includes a laser beam scanning apparatus.

  For example, a laser beam printer forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member by, for example, scanning a drum-shaped photosensitive member with a laser beam by a laser scanning device, and develops the electrostatic latent image with toner. An output image is obtained by forming a visible toner image and transferring the toner image onto a sheet.

  The outline of the laser scanning device is such that a laser beam generated and adjusted by a laser diode unit is reflected by a polygon mirror and guided to a photosensitive member. As the polygon mirror rotates at high speed, the laser beam is scanned on the photosensitive member in the length direction (main scanning direction) of the photosensitive member. Since the polygon mirror is driven by a motor and rotates at a high speed, a large noise (wind noise) is generated. In addition, the life of the motor that drives the polygon mirror to rotate is also a problem.

Therefore, conventionally, a control means for reducing the noise of the motor by reducing the rotation speed of the polygon mirror below a predetermined rotation speed at the end of the recording operation other than the time of image recording or at the time of auto shut-off so as to prevent a reduction in motor life. A configuration of (Patent Document 1)
In addition, the rotation time of the polygon mirror drive motor is counted, and when this rotation time has not reached the motor life, the rotation is continued at the same rotation speed as at the time of recording after the recording operation is completed. Has proposed an image recording apparatus that immediately stops the rotation of the motor when recording is completed. (Patent Document 2)
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 4-49688 JP 2000-301765 A

    However, when the polygon mirror is rotated at a low speed except during image recording, it is possible to shorten the time required to reach the high rated rotational speed. There was a problem that the rise time became a problem and the throughput was lowered. Moreover, it was necessary to use an expensive motor in order to further shorten the rise time.

    Also, if an inexpensive motor is used and the motor is rotated at a high speed after the recording operation is completed until the motor life is near, and the motor is stopped after the recording operation is completed, the motor rotation Rotating time was extended even when recording was not performed, and the motor life and noise reduction due to motor rotation could not be satisfied sufficiently.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can effectively change the rotational speed of a polygon motor and reduce the life and noise of the motor.

    The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention modulates a laser beam with a desired image signal output from the image signal generating means, and deflects the modulated laser beam with a polygon mirror to be scanned. An image forming apparatus that records an image by scanning a surface includes a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a wireless terminal, and scans a laser beam based on communication contents or communication state with the wireless terminal. The control means for controlling the rotation of the motor for rotationally driving the polygon mirror for variably controls the rotational speed of the motor.

  Specifically, in the image forming apparatus having the above configuration, when wireless communication is established with the wireless terminal, the rotation speed of the motor is set to the first rotation speed, and wireless communication is not established. In this case, the rotation speed of the motor is the second rotation speed.

  In addition, when it is determined that the image forming apparatus having the above configuration has established wireless communication with the wireless terminal and the image forming operation is permitted based on user information obtained from the wireless terminal. If the rotation speed of the motor is the first rotation speed and wireless communication is established but it is determined that the image forming operation is not permitted, or if wireless communication is not established, the rotation of the motor The speed may be set to the second rotation speed.

  With this configuration, the rotation speed of the motor becomes the first rotation speed at which an image can be formed only by the user who owns the wireless terminal approaching the image forming apparatus, and the user leaves the image forming apparatus. The second rotation speed is obtained. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately control the motor without requiring any user operation.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration can reduce the rotation speed of the motor to the second speed if the operation is not performed continuously for a predetermined time even when the wireless communication is established with the wireless terminal. It is good to set it as the rotational speed of. With such a configuration, even if a user who does not intend to perform an image forming operation exists in the vicinity of the apparatus, the rotation speed of the motor is not continuously maintained in the first mode, and appropriate control of the motor is performed. Can be achieved.

  A low speed that allows the rotary polygon mirror to be maintained in the rated rotation state when the image forming operation is likely to be performed, and the motor to be shifted to the rated rotation state in a short time when the image forming operation is unlikely to be performed. Since the rotation state can be achieved, the noise of the motor can be reduced and the lifetime can be prevented from being lowered without lowering the throughput in a laser printer or the like.

    Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a digital multi-function peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view mainly showing a mechanical configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital multi-function peripheral 1 includes a main body 1, first to third paper feed cassettes (111 to 113) disposed on the lower side of the main body 1, a bypass paper feed 114, a conveyance path 12, a registration roller pair 13, Image forming means 14, laser scanning device 141, fixing means 15, paper discharge port 16, in-cylinder paper discharge unit 17, in-cylinder paper discharge tray 171, automatic document feeder 18, scanner unit 19, portable wireless possessed by the user The wireless communication unit 20 is configured to perform wireless communication with the terminal X.

  Sheets are stacked in the first to third sheet feeding cassettes (111 to 113), respectively. The in-body discharge unit includes an in-case discharge tray 171 and the like, and all the sheets discharged from the discharge outlet 16 are discharged to the discharge tray 171.

  Documents are stacked on the document conveying device 18. This document is conveyed one by one to the reading unit by the pickup roller 181, read by the scanner unit 19, and discharged to the document discharge unit 182.

    The operation for normal copying will be described with reference to FIG. When a document is set on the document conveying device 18 and the start button of the operation unit 20 is pressed, the document is conveyed one by one to the reading unit by the pickup roller 181, read by the scanner unit 19, and discharged to the document discharge unit 182. .

    The paper fed from either the first to third paper feed cassettes (111 to 113) or the paper feed bypass 114 passes through the conveyance path 12, and the latent image is written from the laser scanning device 141 to the photosensitive drum. In order to synchronize with the timing of the sheet and to align the leading edge of the sheet, the registration roller pair 13 is temporarily stopped, the toner image is transferred to the sheet by the image forming unit 14 at the timing, and then the heat roller and pressure roller are fixed by the fixing unit 15 Then, the toner image is fixed by being sandwiched and heated, and then discharged from the discharge port 16 to the in-body discharge tray 171.

    A block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2 (although it is common with the image forming apparatus according to the mechanical description above, a new reference numeral is given as an explanation of the block diagram). ). The digital multi-function peripheral 1 includes a scanner unit 232, an operation unit 241, a control unit 200, a printer unit 251, an image processing unit 261, an HDD (hard disk drive) 271, a network IF unit 281, and a wireless communication unit 295.

    The scanner unit 232 includes an automatic document feeder 231 and includes an exposure lamp 191 and a CCD (charge coupled device) 192 shown in FIG. The scanner unit 233 reads an image from the original by irradiating the original conveyed by the automatic original conveying unit 231 one by one with the exposure lamp 191 and receiving the reflected light with the CCD 192, and obtains image data for the read image. The image is output to the image processing unit 261.

    The image processing unit 261 performs correction processing such as level correction and γ correction on the read image data as necessary, and performs processing such as enlargement or reduction processing on the image data as necessary.

    The printer unit includes a laser scanning unit 252, an image forming unit 253, a paper feeding / conveying unit 254, a fixing unit 255, and a discharged paper detecting unit 256. The image forming unit 253 includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a transfer roller, and the like, and develops the electrostatic latent image exposed by the light modulated by the image data by the laser scanning unit 252 with toner of the developing device. The laser scanning unit 252 will be described later.

    The developed toner image is transferred onto a transfer sheet conveyed one by one by a transfer roller, and fixed by a fixing unit 255. The fixed transfer paper is discharged to the in-body discharge unit 17 by the transport unit 254.

    The network IF unit 281 uses a network IF (10 / 100Base-TX) or the like to control transmission / reception of various data with a plurality of PCs such as PCs 291 and 292 connected via a LAN (Local Area Network). To do. The HDD 271 stores image data read by the scanner unit 233.

    The control unit 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 221 that controls each unit of the apparatus, a ROM 222 (Read Only Memory) that stores program data and the like, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 223 that is used as a work area of the CPU 221, and various types A rewritable nonvolatile memory 226 such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) in which setting data is stored, an image data signal IMGS corrected and processed by the image processing unit 261, and a start signal generated prior to the output of this IMGS SS, polygon mirror drive motor mode control signal PMMS, polygon mirror drive motor speed setting signal PMSS, image signal generation means 224, and timer means 225 for measuring the current time and date.

  The operation unit 241 includes a display unit 243 configured by a liquid crystal touch panel, a print button 2421, a ten key 2423 for setting the number of copies, a set button 2422 for setting items set by the display unit 243, the ten key 2423, and the like. Key input means 242 is included.

  Since the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is the digital multi-function peripheral 1, when a print command is issued from the PC, the image signal and the number of prints sent from the line via the network IF unit 281 and the sort instruction The setting signal is developed into a bit image by a communication control means (not shown) by the communication control means (not shown), and this is sequentially sent to the printer unit 3 via the image signal generation means 224 to become an image as a signal of the laser scanning means 252.

  The wireless control unit 295 performs wireless communication with the portable wireless terminal X possessed by the user.

  As the portable wireless terminal X, a wireless tag equipped with a communication IC chip or an antenna circuit may be used, and the shape thereof is any form such as a label type, a card type, and a stick type. It doesn't matter. Further, it is assumed that the portable wireless terminal X stores the user information of the owner (user ID, department ID, etc.) in advance. The EEPROM 226 stores user information data that permits the use of the image forming apparatus 1.

    FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment for driving and controlling the rotation of the polygon mirror of the laser scanning means of the present invention. A motor 301 for rotating the polygon mirror 300 is driven by a motor control signal PMD output from a motor driving circuit 302. Driven by. The motor drive circuit 302 is controlled to be stopped and rotated by a motor on / off signal PMSW input from the control means 303, and the rotation speed during rotation is controlled by a motor speed control signal PMV.

  The control unit 303 controls the motor 301 by generating a motor on / off signal PMSW and a speed control signal PMV based on various signals input from the image signal generation unit 224 that generates an image signal.

  In addition to the image signal IMGS, the control means 303 determines a start signal SS, a mode control signal PMMS for setting a mode for rotating the motor at a rated speed or a low speed, and the rotational speed of the motor at a low speed. The mode speed setting signal PMSS is input. There is also a motor ready signal PMRDY that is output when the motor reaches the rated rotation.

  Further, the wireless control unit 295 always searches for the presence or absence of the portable wireless terminal X in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 1 (communication range of the wireless communication unit 14, for example, within 100 cm). The control unit 200 is notified of the data of the terminal X.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for changing the motor speed. The authorized person or the authorized department of the digital multifunction device 1 is set in advance by the key input means 242 of the operation unit 241 or the PCs 291 and 292 connected to the digital multifunction device 1 by the network IF unit 281. This set value is stored in the EEPROM 226.

  After the power of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is turned on, the control unit 303 controls the motor speed control signal PMV based on the mode control signal PMMS, and the motor 301 is controlled by the second speed set by the mode speed setting signal PMSS. To a low motor rotation speed (step S1).

  Next, it is determined whether or not communication with the portable wireless terminal X is possible (that is, whether there is a user in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 1), and communication is impossible (that is, there is no user in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 1). When this happens, the motor 301 continues to rotate at a motor rotation speed that is the second rotation speed (NO in step S2).

    If it is determined in step S2 that wireless communication is possible (that is, the user exists near the image forming apparatus 1), the portable type mobile terminal X is recognized with the recognition that the user who owns the portable wireless terminal X exists near the apparatus. User information of the owner is acquired from the wireless terminal X (YES in step S2, step S3). Then, based on the user information, it is determined whether the image forming operation is permitted for the owner. If it is determined that the image forming operation is permitted (YES in step S4), the flow proceeds to step S5, and if it is determined that the image forming operation is not permitted (NO in step S4), The flow returns to step S1. In determining whether the image forming operation is permitted in step S4, for example, whether the user ID and department ID obtained from the portable wireless terminal X match the ID of the image forming operation permitted user registered in advance. What is necessary is just to determine.

   When it is determined that the image forming operation is permitted, the control unit 303 controls the motor speed control signal PMV based on the mode control signal PMMS, and the motor 301 is designated by the mode speed setting signal PMSS. The motor speed is controlled to a high (rated) motor speed of 1 (step S5). As described above, when it is determined that there is a user in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 1, the motor 301 shifts to high speed rotation, so that it is possible to form an image without waiting for the user.

  After the motor 301 shifts to high speed rotation, if there is an image output request, an image forming operation is performed (step S7). If communication with the portable wireless terminal X has been established after the end of image output (YES in step S8), the process returns to step 6 and waits for an image output request again. If communication with the portable wireless terminal X is not established (NO in step S8), the process returns to step S1 and the motor 301 is changed to low speed rotation. Here, the image output request includes not only a request to start a copying operation, but also includes, for example, when the operation unit 241 is operated and when a document is set in the automatic document transport unit 231.

  If there is no image output request for a predetermined time after the motor 301 shifts to high speed rotation (NO in step S6, YES in step S9), the control unit 200 has a user in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 1, but the image formation is not performed. It is determined that there is no intention to perform the operation, and the motor 301 is controlled to a motor rotation speed that is the second rotation speed specified by the mode speed setting signal PMSS (step S10). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the same user exists, and if it exists (YES in step S11), the low-speed motor rotation speed is maintained (YES in step S11). If the same user does not exist (NO in step S11), the process returns to step S2.

  Although the rotation speed of the motor 301 is shifted to a low speed, the rotation speed at this time can be set to an appropriate speed by the mode speed setting signal PMSS as well as one type of low speed rotation. Therefore, the motor speed may be set to the most effective motor speed. Moreover, you may stop, without rotating a motor.

1 is a schematic side sectional view showing a mechanical configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram mainly showing an example of the electrical configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structural example which drive-controls rotation of the polygon mirror of the laser scanning means of this invention. It is a flowchart at the time of changing the motor speed of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital compound machine 17 The inside is a paper discharge part 18 Automatic document conveying apparatus 19 Scanner part 20, 295 Wireless communication part 141 Laser scanning device 224 Image signal generation means 225 Timer means 226 EEPROM
241 Operation unit 300 Polygon motor 301 Motor 303 Control means

Claims (4)

    In an image forming apparatus for recording an image by modulating a laser beam with a desired image signal output from an image signal generating unit, deflecting the modulated laser beam with a polygon mirror, and scanning a surface to be scanned. Control means for controlling the rotation of a motor that rotationally drives a polygon mirror for scanning a laser beam based on the communication content or communication state with the wireless terminal, comprising a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with the terminal Is an image forming apparatus that variably controls the rotation speed of the motor.   When wireless communication is established with the wireless terminal, the rotational speed of the motor is set to the first rotational speed, and when wireless communication is not established, the rotational speed of the motor is set to the second rotational speed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   If it is determined that wireless communication is established with the wireless terminal and an image forming operation is permitted based on user information obtained from the wireless terminal, the rotational speed of the motor is set to the first rotational speed. If it is determined that the wireless communication is established but the image forming operation is not permitted, or if the wireless communication is not established, the rotation speed of the motor is set to the second rotation speed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: Even when wireless communication is established with the wireless terminal, if the operation is not continued for a predetermined time, the rotation speed of the motor is set to the second rotation speed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

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