JP2007296771A - Printing device needing warm-up - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the best power-saving control or a warm-up control in a printing device having a security printing function. <P>SOLUTION: The printing device for performing a printing by warming up a printing engine is equipped with a control unit which controls either of a full mode for warming up the engine to a specified temperature and a power saving mode at a temperature lower than the specified one according to the frequency of accepting an usual printing job. The control unit makes a security printing job performed after accepting the security printing job and the password being applied and passing the authentication. When accepting the security printing job in the power saving mode, the control unit responds to the acception of the printing job concerned and makes the mode shifted to a preliminary mode for warming up the engine to a preliminary temperature which is higher than the power saving mode temperature and lower than the specified temperature of the full mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that requires warm-up, and more particularly to a power-saving control and warming of a printing apparatus having a security printing function for executing printing after an authentication procedure using a password in a printing apparatus after receiving a print job from a host computer. Regarding up control.

  In a multifunction device having a printing device and a printing unit, a print job is executed by an exposure process for forming a latent image on a photoconductor, a development process for adding toner to the latent image by a developing device, and a toner image on the photoconductor. A transfer process for transferring to the paper, and a fixing process for fixing the toner image on the paper. As fixing methods, there are a flash fixing method, a pressure roll fixing method, a thermal fixing method, and the like, but the thermal fixing method is the mainstream.

  In this heat fixing method, a heat roller having a heater such as a halogen lamp and a pressure roller are provided, and a paper on which a toner image is formed is passed between these rollers, and the toner is melted by heat and fixed on the paper. Therefore, it is necessary to warm up the temperature of the roller to a specified fixing temperature before starting printing. In addition to the fixing unit, it may be required to warm up the print engine to a predetermined temperature for some reason.

  In a printing apparatus or a printing unit, waiting for reception of a print job in a constantly warmed-up state can shorten the time until completion of printing, but is not preferable because it increases power consumption. Therefore, when the next print job is not received within a predetermined period after the execution of one print job, the warm-up is stopped and the mode is shifted to the power saving mode in which the roller temperature is lower than the fixing temperature. Yes. For example, as described in Patent Document 1.

  According to Patent Document 1, it is described that the preheating temperature in the preliminary mode is variably controlled according to the frequency of accepting print jobs.

  On the other hand, in recent years, printing apparatuses are connected to a plurality of host computers via a network and are used in correspondence with the network. In that case, print jobs are received from a plurality of host computers, and printing is executed for each. Therefore, a plurality of users pick up printed documents from the printing apparatus. In this case, in order to print a highly secure document that cannot be seen by others, it is necessary to confirm that there is no other person at the printing apparatus installation location. Alternatively, it is necessary to make a print request when there is no other person.

In order to respond to such a high-security document printing request, a security printing function that requires password authentication in a printing apparatus has been proposed. In secure printing, after receiving a print job from a host computer, a user inputs a password from the operation panel of the printing apparatus, and executes the printing after an authentication procedure. Therefore, the printed document can be reliably delivered to the user, and security can be maintained.
JP 7-199717 A

  However, when the printing apparatus receives a security print job while in the power saving mode, the warm-up is not started unless the password authentication procedure is completed. Therefore, the user waits for a long time until the printing is completed.

  On the other hand, if a warm-up is started when a secure print job is received during the power-saving mode, if the password input operation by the user is delayed, the power consumption will depend on the warm-up status from the print job reception to the password input. This is undesirable because it increases. Furthermore, if the user does not perform a password input operation for a predetermined period, the power saving mode is returned again. In this case, the warm-up itself is wasted and the power consumption is increased.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide the best power saving control or warm-up control in a printing apparatus having a security printing function.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus for executing printing by warming up a print engine,
A control unit that controls the print engine in either a full mode that warms up to a specified temperature or a power-saving mode that is lower than the specified temperature, depending on the reception frequency of a normal print job;
The control unit, after accepting a security print job, supplies a password corresponding to the security print job and passes authentication, and then causes the print engine to execute printing of the security print job,
Further, when the control unit receives the security print job during the power saving mode, the control unit responds to the reception of the print job with a preliminary temperature that is higher than the temperature of the power saving mode and lower than the specified temperature of the full mode. It is characterized by shifting to a warm-up standby mode.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus for executing printing by warming up a print engine,
A control unit that controls the print engine in either a full mode that warms up to a specified temperature or a power-saving mode that is lower than the specified temperature, depending on the reception frequency of a normal print job;
The control unit, after accepting a security print job, supplies a password corresponding to the security print job and passes authentication, and then causes the print engine to execute printing of the security print job,
Further, when the control unit receives the security print job during the full mode, the control unit sets the full mode higher than the temperature of the power saving mode after a power saving transition time elapses from the end of printing of the previous print job. It is characterized by shifting to a preliminary mode having a preliminary temperature lower than the temperature.

  In the first aspect or the second aspect, according to a preferred embodiment, the control unit changes the password after receiving the security print job or after waiting for a password waiting time from entering the preliminary mode. When there is no supply, the mode is shifted to the power saving mode.

  In the first or second aspect, according to a preferred embodiment, when the password is supplied during the standby mode, the control unit is responsive to the start of a series of operations for supplying the password. , Transition from the preliminary mode to the full mode.

  In the first or second aspect, according to a preferred embodiment, when the password is supplied during the full mode, the control unit maintains the full mode if the password authentication is not passed. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the third aspect of the present invention,
In a printing device that warms up the print engine and executes printing,
A control unit that controls the print engine in either a full mode that warms up to a specified temperature or a power-saving mode that is lower than the specified temperature, depending on the reception frequency of a normal print job;
The control unit, after accepting a security print job, supplies a password corresponding to the security print job and passes authentication, and then causes the print engine to execute printing of the security print job,
In addition, when the password is supplied during the power saving mode, the control unit shifts from the power saving mode to the full mode in response to the start of a series of operations for supplying the password. To do.

  In the third aspect, according to a preferred embodiment, when the password authentication is not passed, the control unit shifts from the full mode to the power saving mode.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but extends to the matters described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

[Configuration of printing device]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a laser beam printer 10 will be described as an example of a printing apparatus.

  The printer 10 includes a charging unit 30, an exposure unit 40, a developing device 50, a primary transfer unit 60, and an intermediate transfer body 70 along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 20 that is an image carrier that carries a latent image. And a cleaning unit 75. Further, the printer 10 includes a secondary transfer unit 80, a fixing unit 90 having a roller warmed up to a specified temperature, and a display / output for outputting various information to the user and inputting various information from the user. An operation unit 95 and a control unit 100 for controlling these units are provided.

  The photosensitive drum 20 has a cylindrical conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, is rotatable about a central axis, and rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow. The charging unit 30 charges the photosensitive drum 20, and the exposure unit 40 irradiates the charged photosensitive drum 20 with a beam from a built-in light source to form a latent image.

  The developing device 50 includes mounting portions 50a to 50d to which developing units 51 to 54 that store toner as a developer are detachably mounted, and are rotatable with respect to a central shaft 50e. The developing device 50 is rotated, the necessary developing units 51 to 54 are brought close to the photosensitive drum 20, and the toner is supplied to the photosensitive drum 20, whereby the latent image is developed into an image with toner.

  The primary transfer unit 60 transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 to the intermediate transfer body 70. The intermediate transfer member 70 is an endless belt and is driven to rotate at the same peripheral speed as that of the photosensitive drum 20. In the color printing mode, the CMYK images are transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70 in an overlapping manner, and in the monochrome printing mode, a monochrome image is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70. Then, the secondary transfer unit 80 transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 70 to a printing medium such as paper, and the fixing unit 90 welds the toner image transferred onto the printing medium to the medium and becomes permanent. It is an image.

  The cleaning unit 75 has a cleaning blade 76 that comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 20, and removes the developer (toner) remaining on the photosensitive drum 20 after the primary transfer by the cleaning blade 76.

  FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The printing apparatus 10 includes a control unit 100A that receives a print job from a host computer or the like and performs predetermined image processing, power saving control, and warm-up control, and a print engine 200. As described with reference to FIG. 1, the print engine 200 includes a paper supply / discharge unit 98 in addition to the photosensitive unit 20, the development unit 50, the fixing unit 90, and the like, and an engine control unit 100B that controls these units. .

  The control unit 100A includes an interface 102 that receives a print job from the host computer, a job memory 104 that records received print job data, a control program memory 108 that performs various controls, a CPU 106 that executes the control program, and an image processing unit. And an image processing unit 110 that performs the image processing, and a pulse width modulation unit 112 that performs pulse width modulation on the image forming print data generated by the image processing unit 110. The control unit 100 </ b> A performs display control and input control for the display / operation panel 95.

[Power saving control and warm-up control]
The control unit 100 </ b> A or the engine control unit 100 </ b> B (which is referred to as a control unit) performs power saving control and warm-up control of, for example, the fixing unit 90 in the print engine 200. When the fixing unit is a heat fixing type, a large amount of power is consumed to maintain a warm-up full mode state. Therefore, the power saving control and the warm-up control in the present embodiment are mainly the temperature control of the fixing unit 90. However, in the control unit 100A and other components in the print engine 200, it is necessary to save power. Are subject to power saving control and warm-up control in this embodiment.

  Depending on the frequency at which normal print jobs are received, the control unit can perform full mode with the print engine warmed up to the specified temperature, stop warming up to lower the temperature, or lower the print engine to a temperature lower than the specified temperature. The print engine is controlled in either one of the power saving modes to enter the power saving state. For example, when the power is turned on, the control unit warms up the print engine to enter the full mode, but shifts to the power saving mode when a power saving transition time elapses without accepting a print job. When a print job is received, the power saving mode is shifted to the full mode and printing is performed. When the power saving transition time elapses without receiving a new print job after printing is completed, the power saving mode is entered. With this control, when the print job is frequently received, the full mode is maintained, and when the frequency of the print job decreases, the printer waits in the power saving mode. This avoids an increase in power consumption due to always waiting in the full mode state.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing power saving control and warm-up control in the present embodiment. FIG. 3 shows control when a security print job is received during the power saving mode.

  Here, security printing will be described. When a security print job is received from the host computer, the printing apparatus 10 records the print job data in the job memory 104 and adds it to the security print list. A separate password is set for each secure print job. After that, when the user selects a security print job and inputs the corresponding password from the display / operation panel 90 of the printing apparatus 10 and passes the password authentication, the control unit prints the print data of the selected security print job. The image is processed and the print engine executes the printing. As a result, printing is executed in a state where the user stands by at the installation position of the printing apparatus, so that the printed document can be obtained without being seen by others.

  In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis corresponds to the time and the vertical axis corresponds to the warm-up mode. And a standby mode in which the print engine is warmed up to a standby temperature that is higher than the temperature of the power saving mode and lower than the specified temperature of the full mode. Accepting a print job in full mode saves time required for warm-up and can complete printing in a short time, but increases power consumption. Power saving mode can save power, but it takes time to warm up, so it takes a long time to complete printing.

  FIG. 3A shows an example of control when the printing apparatus receives a security print job during the power saving mode. A solid line indicates a control example of the present embodiment, and a broken line indicates a conventional control example. When a security print job is received during the power saving mode (T1), the control unit warms up the print engine to the standby temperature and maintains the standby mode. When the password input operation from the user is started (T2), the standby mode is immediately shifted to the full mode. Since the warm-up to the preliminary temperature has already been completed, the warm-up to the specified temperature in full mode can be completed in a short time. If password authentication passes, the control unit causes the print engine to perform security printing.

  First, since a transition is made to the preliminary mode when a security print job is received, the time from the password input operation to the completion of printing can be shortened. Second, in response to the start of a series of password input operations, the mode shifts from the preliminary mode to the full mode, so the full mode is entered immediately after password authentication is completed or immediately after completion, and printing can be executed immediately. In this respect, the time until the printing is completed can be shortened.

  If the password authentication fails, or if the user cancels the password authentication (T4), the state before the password input operation, that is, the standby mode is entered. This saves power.

  FIG. 3B is another control example when the printing apparatus receives a security print job during the power saving mode. When a security print job is received during the power saving mode (T1), the control unit shifts to the standby mode. Then, when there is no password input operation and the password waiting time t2 elapses, the control unit shifts from the standby mode to the power saving mode. This avoids an increase in power consumption due to wastefully maintaining the standby mode.

  When a password input operation is started during the power saving mode (T2), the control unit shifts from the power saving mode to the full mode. Although the warm-up time from the power saving mode to the full mode is longer than the warm-up time from the standby mode to the full mode, the warm-up is started in response to the start of the password input operation. Thus, it is possible to shorten the time until the warm-up is completed rather than the warm-up start after the authentication is completed. Subsequent control is the same as in FIG.

4A, 4B, and 5 are control examples when a security print job is received during the full mode. In FIG. 4A, after normal printing or security printing ends (T0), a security print job is accepted when the full mode is maintained (T1). If no password is supplied from the end of the previous printing (T0) until the power saving transition time t1 elapses, the full mode is canceled by normal power saving control. However, since the security print job has been received, the control unit shifts from the full mode to the standby mode and waits for the supply of the password.
Eventually, when the password input operation is started (T2), the warm-up is immediately started to the full mode as described above, and the security printing is executed if the password authentication is passed. If password authentication cannot be passed and password input is canceled (T4), the standby mode returns to the previous state.

  In the conventional control, as shown by the broken line, when the power saving transition time t1 elapses from the end of the previous printing (T0), the mode is shifted to the power saving mode.

  In FIG. 4B, after normal printing or security printing ends (T0), a security print job is accepted when the full mode is maintained (T1). Then, there is no password input or supply from the end of pre-printing (T0) until the power saving transition time t1 elapses, and the standby mode is entered, and the password waiting time t2 elapses from the receipt of the security print job (T1). There is no password entry or supply, and the standby mode has shifted to the power saving mode. The time count of the password waiting time t2 may be counted after shifting to the standby mode. In any case, the mode is temporarily shifted to the standby mode, but if the password is not supplied for a predetermined time, the mode is shifted to the power saving mode to avoid unnecessary power consumption.

  When the password input operation is started during the power saving mode (T2), the warm-up is immediately started to the full mode in response to the start of the input operation as in FIG. 3B. Then, if password authentication passes, secure printing is executed. When the authentication is not passed and the password input is canceled (T4), the power saving mode or the standby mode is changed to the original state. In FIG. 4B, it is described so as to shift to the preliminary mode. Although not shown in the figure, the power saving mode may be entered again after the password waiting time t2 has elapsed. Alternatively, when the password input is canceled, the original power saving mode may be entered.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another power saving control and warm-up control when a security print job is received during the full mode. After the previous printing is completed (T0), a security print job is received during the full mode (T1), and a password input operation is started before the power saving transition time t1 elapses (T2). However, if the password input is canceled without passing the password authentication (T4), the full mode is canceled after the elapse of the power saving time t1 from the end of the pre-printing (T0) according to the normal power saving control. However, since the security print job is accepted, the mode shifts from the full mode to the standby mode instead of the power saving mode.

  If there is a password input operation during the preliminary mode (T12), the warm-up is immediately started to the full mode in response to the start of the input operation. Although not shown, when the password waiting time t2 elapses from the reception of the security print job, the transition from the standby mode to the power saving mode is the same as in FIG. 4B.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a series of operations for password entry in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 shows displays (A) to (E) related to password input on the display / operation panel 90. In addition to the display / operation panel 90, a cross key 90A for moving a selection position in the panel is provided.

  First, when the “security print” button is selected on the print setting screen of (A), the screen moves to the print job selection screen of (B). There, a secure print job list is displayed, prompting you to select one. When one of the security print jobs is selected, the screen moves to the password input screen (C), and a password corresponding to the selected print job is input using the cross key or the like. When the “authentication” button is selected after password entry, the control unit of the printing apparatus performs authentication processing. When the authentication pass is performed, an authentication pass screen (D) is displayed. If the authentication is not passed, the authentication failure screen (E) is displayed. If the “Cancel” button is selected on this authentication failure screen, the password input is cancelled. When the “re-input” button is selected, the process is repeated from the (C) screen or the (B) screen.

  As described above, a series of password input operations consists of several input operations. In the present embodiment, when a series of password input operations are started in both the power saving mode and the standby mode, warm-up is immediately started to the full mode. As a result, the print end is faster than the warmup start from the point of time when the authentication is passed.

  In this embodiment, the warm-up start timing is, for example, when a “security print” button is selected on the screen (A), when a print job is selected on the screen (B), and when a password is input on the screen (C). Any timing may be used at the time of starting. There is no waiting for warm-up until the multi-digit password has been entered and authentication is complete.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of power saving control and warm-up control in the present embodiment. Based on this flowchart, the control program of FIG. 2 performs power saving control and warm-up control.

  First, while a security print job is not accepted (NO in S1), the normal power saving control causes a transition to the power saving mode when the power saving transition time t1 has elapsed from the completion of the previous printing (YES in S2) (S3). When the mode is shifted to the power saving mode, the internal power saving flag SFLG is turned ON.

  Next, when a security print job is accepted (YES in S1), if it is in the power saving mode (YES in S4), the standby mode is first switched to the standby flag PFLG (S5). While in the standby mode, a password input operation is waited (S8), but when the password waiting time t2 has elapsed after receiving a security print job (YES in S6), the mode is switched to the power saving mode and the power saving flag SFLG is turned on. (S7).

  When the password input operation is started during the standby mode or the power saving mode (YES in S8), in response to this, the mode is shifted to the full mode (S9), the password authentication process is performed, and the authentication is passed (YES in S10). , Security printing is executed (S11). If password authentication cannot be passed (NO in S10) and password input is canceled (YES in S12), if the previous state is either power saving mode or backup mode (S13 YES), move to branch A Then, it shifts to the preliminary mode (S5). In the control at this time, since the state before the password input is the standby mode or the power saving mode, the mode shifts to the standby mode. That is, this is the same as the transition to the standby mode after the password cancellation shown in FIGS. 3 (B) and 4 (B).

  On the other hand, if password authentication cannot be passed and password input is not canceled (NO in S12), the password is re-input and re-authentication is performed.

  Further, when a security print job is received (YES in S1), if it is the full mode (NO in S4), normal power saving control in the full mode is performed. That is, until the power saving transition time t1 elapses from the completion of the previous printing (NO in S14), it waits for the password input (NO in S15). When password input is started (YES in S15), password authentication processing (S10) is performed according to branch C, and authentication processing similar to that described above is performed. However, if password authentication cannot be passed and password input is canceled, the previous full mode is maintained, and power saving management is performed for power saving transition time t1 according to branch B.

  If the power saving transition time t1 has elapsed since the completion of the previous printing without starting password input (YES in S14), the security print job is accepted, so the mode shifts to the preliminary mode (S5) and waits for password input. (S8). Subsequent control is the same as described above.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a security print job is received, the power saving mode is switched to the standby mode in response to this, so the time from the password input to the completion of printing can be shortened. . In addition, when a security print job is received in the full mode, even if the power saving transition time elapses, the standby mode is entered instead of the power saving mode, so that the time until the printing is completed can be shortened in the same manner. Further, when a password input operation is started in the power saving mode or the standby mode, the warm-up to the full mode is started in response to this, so that the time until printing is completed can be shortened.

It is a block diagram of the printing apparatus in this Embodiment. It is an internal block diagram of the printing apparatus in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the power saving control and warm-up control in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the power saving control and warm-up control in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the power saving control and warm-up control in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows a series of operation of the password input in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure of power-saving control and warm-up control in this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

T1: Accept security print job T2: Start password input operation T4: Cancel password input

Claims (9)

In a printing device that warms up the print engine and executes printing,
A control unit that controls the print engine in either a full mode that warms up to a specified temperature or a power-saving mode that is lower than the specified temperature, depending on the reception frequency of a normal print job;
The control unit, after accepting a security print job, supplies a password corresponding to the security print job and passes authentication, and then causes the print engine to execute printing of the security print job,
Further, when the control unit receives the security print job during the power saving mode, the control unit responds to the reception of the print job with a preliminary temperature that is higher than the temperature of the power saving mode and lower than the specified temperature of the full mode. A printing apparatus characterized in that a transition is made to a warm-up standby mode. In a printing device that warms up the print engine and executes printing,
A control unit that controls the print engine in either a full mode that warms up to a specified temperature or a power-saving mode that is lower than the specified temperature, depending on the reception frequency of a normal print job;
The control unit, after accepting a security print job, supplies a password corresponding to the security print job and passes authentication, and then causes the print engine to execute printing of the security print job,
Further, when the control unit receives the security print job during the full mode, the control unit sets the full mode higher than the temperature of the power saving mode after a power saving transition time elapses from the end of printing of the previous print job. A printing apparatus, wherein a transition is made to a preliminary mode at a preliminary temperature lower than the temperature. In claim 1 or 2,
The control unit shifts to the power saving mode after shifting to the backup mode, when the password is not supplied during the password waiting time after receiving the security print job or after shifting to the backup mode. Printing device to do. In claim 4,
When the control unit is supplied with the password after shifting to the power saving mode, in response to the start of a series of operations for supplying the password, the control unit shifts from the power saving mode to the full mode, When the password authentication is not passed, the printing apparatus is shifted from the full mode to the standby mode or the power saving mode. In claim 1 or 2,
When the password is supplied during the preliminary mode, the control unit shifts from the preliminary mode to the full mode in response to the start of a series of operations for supplying the password. apparatus. In claim 5,
The control unit shifts from the full mode to the preliminary mode when the password authentication is not passed. In claim 2,
When the password is supplied during the full mode, the control unit maintains the full mode when the password authentication is not passed. In a printing device that warms up the print engine and executes printing,
A control unit that controls the print engine in either a full mode that warms up to a specified temperature or a power-saving mode that is lower than the specified temperature, depending on the reception frequency of a normal print job;
The control unit, after accepting a security print job, supplies a password corresponding to the security print job and passes authentication, and then causes the print engine to execute printing of the security print job,
In addition, when the password is supplied during the power saving mode, the control unit shifts from the power saving mode to the full mode in response to the start of a series of operations for supplying the password. Printing device to do. In claim 8,
The control unit shifts from the full mode to the power saving mode when the password authentication is not passed.

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