JP2007272178A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of avoiding such a situation that machinery is damaged even when a main power source switch is turned off (a main power source is turned off) during a printing operation. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus including a main power source switch cover 22 for the main power source switch 21, includes an opening/closing detection sensor 23 for detecting the opening/closing situation of the main power source switch cover 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a main power switch cover on a main power switch.

A recent image forming apparatus usually has a composite function such as a printer function, a FAX function, and a scanner function, and is used as a part of a network terminal. Therefore, the user (client) can always access the image forming apparatus. It will be placed in an environment that needs to remain accessible.
Therefore, in addition to the main power switch that turns on and off the entire device, the power for the controller that functions as an interface with the network user (client) remains and the power for the imaging engine is turned on and off. A power switch for energy saving is provided, and the main power supply is always turned on so that it is always on as a terminal on the network.
It cannot be predicted when the main power switch will be turned off depending on the convenience of the user. If the main power switch is turned off during the printing operation, the image processing apparatus will be damaged, and a failure may occur due to the influence even after the subsequent return.
With respect to this problem, in the main power switch of the multifunction image forming apparatus having two or more power switches as described above, the main power switch is used to prevent the user from turning off the main power switch easily. A corresponding technology is disclosed by providing a switch with a main power switch cover (safety device) that can be opened and closed, and is widely used as a product.

In practice, however, the user may not be aware that turning off the main power switch during printing will cause damage to the device. Since there is no sound in the surroundings, even if the main power switch cover of the main power switch described above is provided, the user tends to turn off the main power switch without much concern. This is a situation where the function as a safety device has not been fully achieved.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of avoiding a situation in which a main power switch is turned off during a printing operation (main power is turned off) and the machine is damaged.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that an image forming apparatus having a main power switch cover in the main power switch has an open / close detection sensor for detecting an open / closed state of the main power switch cover. To do.
A second aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a system control unit that forcibly shifts to a print end operation when the main power switch cover is opened during a printing operation. And
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, when the main power switch cover is opened during the printing operation, the image forming apparatus has an operation unit that notifies the user that the printing operation is in progress. Features.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first, second, or third aspect, the system control unit connects the main power supply until a printing operation is completed even when the main power switch is turned off. It is characterized by leaving.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the operation unit notifies the user that the printing operation is interrupted.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first, second, or third aspect, the main power switch cover has a lock function, and the system control unit holds the main power switch cover during a printing operation. It is characterized by locking.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, there is provided a pressure detecting means for detecting that the user has attempted to open the main power switch cover while the main power switch cover is locked. And when detecting that the main power switch cover is about to be opened, the operation section notifies the user that the main power switch cover is locked.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the main power switch cover in the main power switch, the image forming apparatus has the open / close detection sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the main power switch cover, and when the main power switch cover is opened during the printing operation, Since the system control unit forcibly shifting to the printing end operation is provided, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the main power switch is turned off during the printing operation (main power is turned off) and the machine is damaged.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is connected to other image forming apparatuses via a network, and can be broadly divided into a control unit 11, an image forming engine 12, a scanner 13, an operation unit 14, and an interface unit 15.
The control unit 11 is divided into a system control unit 16 that controls all components, an image forming engine control unit 17 that controls the image forming engine 12 in a subordinate manner, and a scanner control unit 18 that controls the scanner 13. .
As a power supply mechanism, a main power switch for controlling on / off of power supply of the entire image forming apparatus is provided. In addition, since the image forming engine 12 (particularly the fixing module) occupies power consumption during standby for print output, power is supplied only to the system control unit 16 and the interface unit 15 to save energy during standby, and the rest is used. An energy-saving mode power switch is provided to turn it off.
FIG. 2 is a view showing an opening / closing mechanism of the main power switch. The main power switch 21 is provided with a main power switch cover 22 that can be opened and closed. Normally, as shown in (1), the main power switch cover 22 is closed so as to cover the main power switch 21. ing. When the main power switch cover 22 is opened as shown in (2), this open state is detected by the open / close detection sensor 23.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a lock mechanism of the main power switch. A lock member 25 that is moved up and down by a solenoid 24 is provided directly below the closed main power switch cover. When the main power switch cover 22 is opened, the lock member 25 is retracted downward as shown in (1). When the main power switch cover 22 is closed, as shown in (2), the lock member 25 is raised and locked with the lower end portion of the main power switch cover 22 to lock the main power switch cover 22.
Here, when the lock member 25 is formed of a piezo element, when a force is applied to the locked main power switch cover 22, that is, when the main power switch cover 22 is to be opened, this (main power switch cover pressing) is detected. be able to.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which an object detection sensor is provided for detecting the lock forcibly releasing operation. By providing an object detection sensor 26 composed of a photo interrupter or the like in the vicinity of the main power switch cover 22, it is possible to sense the user's hand trying to open the main power switch cover 22.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first control example in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. When the system control unit 16 receives a signal for opening the main power switch cover 22 of the main power switch 21 during the printing operation (S1) (S2), the system control unit 16 issues a compulsory print end command to the image forming engine control unit 17. (S3), an alarm is sounded (S4), and information on "Main power switch cover of main power switch is open. Printing operation has been interrupted" is displayed on the operation unit 14 (S5).
Further, in response to a print command input to the operation unit 14 and the interface unit 15, a new printing operation is not started as a standby state until the main power switch cover 22 of the main power switch 21 is closed. The operation of the image forming engine 12 at the time of forced termination is the same as the operation in which the printing operation is interrupted by pressing the clear stop key on the operation unit 14 during the copying operation.
After that, when the print operation end signal is received from the image forming engine control unit 17 (S6), if the main power switch 21 is turned off (S7), the main power supply is turned off (S8). If the main power switch 21 is on, it is determined whether the main power switch cover 22 is opened or closed (S9), and printing standby (S10) or printing is resumed (S11).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a second control example in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. When the system control unit 16 receives a signal for opening the main power switch cover 22 of the main power switch 21 during the printing operation (S11) (S12), the main control switch cover of the main power switch is displayed on the operation unit 14. "Please wait for the main power to be turned off while printing is in progress" is displayed (S13) and an alarm is sounded (S14).
Next, it is determined whether or not printing is in progress (S15). Depending on the determination result, either the determination of whether to open the main power switch cover 22 (S16) or the information display clear operation on the operation unit 14 (S17). Do something.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for locking and unlocking the main power supply cover. When the system control unit 16 obtains the printing operation information from the image forming engine control unit 17 (S21), the system control unit 16 locks the main power switch cover 22 of the main power switch 21 (S22). If the printer is on standby, the main power switch cover 22 is unlocked (S23, S24).
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of detection of pressing of the main power switch cover. When it is detected that the pressing force of the locked main power switch cover 22 has been applied, information “Please wait for main power to be turned off during printing” is displayed on the operation unit 14 (S31), and an alarm sound is generated. Is sounded (S32). If the main power switch cover 22 is not locked (S33), the information display on the operation unit 14 is cleared.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the example which provided the object detection sensor for lock | rock forced release operation | movement detection. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a first control example in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a second control example in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for locking and unlocking the main power supply cover. The flowchart of the press detection of a main power switch cover.

Explanation of symbols

21 main power switch, 22 main power switch cover, 23 open / close detection sensor, 25 unlocking member, 26 object detection sensor (press detection sensor)

Claims (7)

  An image forming apparatus having a main power switch cover in a main power switch, comprising an open / close detection sensor for detecting an open / closed state of the main power switch cover.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a system control unit that forcibly shifts to a print end operation when the main power switch cover is opened during a printing operation.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit that notifies a user that the printing operation is being performed when the main power switch cover is opened during the printing operation.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the system control unit keeps the main power supply connected until a timing at which the printing operation is completed even when the main power switch is turned off. Forming equipment.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operation unit notifies a user that the printing operation is interrupted.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main power switch cover has a lock function, and the system control unit locks the main power switch cover during a printing operation. Forming equipment. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a pressing detection unit that detects that a user has tried to open the main power switch cover in a state where the main power switch cover is locked, and the main power switch cover. When it is detected that an attempt is made to open the image forming apparatus, the operation unit notifies the user that the main power switch cover is locked.

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