JP2008112037A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To safely and quickly perform forcible discharge for discharging the power of a storage capacitor in such the case of not generating fixing-heat required to form an image on a recording paper. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: the storage capacitor for storing the power of a commercial power source; a fixing device including a first heat generating body that obtains power from the commercial power source and generates heat, and a second heat generating body that obtains power previously stored by the storage capacitor and generates heat; a cooling means for cooling the fixing device; an operational instruction input means to which user's operational instructions are inputted; and a forcible discharge control means for controlling the second heat generating body to generate the heat and to discharge the power of the storage capacitor when the fixing processing is not performed in the fixing device, and also, to operate the cooling means during the discharge period, in the case of input of the discharge instruction to discharge the power stored in the storage capacitor to the operational instruction input means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power storage device that stores power from a commercial power source, a first heating element that acquires power from the commercial power source and generates heat for fixing processing, and power that is stored in the power storage device in advance. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a fixing device including a second heating element that generates heat for fixing processing.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a fax machine, or a so-called multifunction machine has been used.

  The image forming apparatus is provided with a power storage device that stores electric power from a commercial power source. Then, the main heating element that generates power for fixing processing by acquiring power from the commercial power source to the fixing device, and the power stored in advance in the power storage device, regardless of the rated power of the commercial power source, An auxiliary heating element that generates heat for fixing processing is provided together with the main heating element, and the auxiliary heating element is rapidly heated together with the main heating element when the fixing device is started up or at the start of printing. A large amount of heat can be generated.

  Here, when replacing the power storage device, when performing maintenance of the image forming apparatus including maintenance of the power storage device, or when transporting the image forming apparatus, it is desirable to improve the safety as much as possible. I want to perform these tasks with the device empty.

  Therefore, in the image forming apparatus, when a predetermined user input is input, the auxiliary heating element is forcibly generated to forcibly store power even when heat for fixing processing is not generated. Forced discharge for discharging the power of the apparatus to the auxiliary heating element is made possible (Patent Documents 1 to 4).

In Patent Documents 1 to 3, when the main power supply of the image forming apparatus is turned off, the remaining stored power of the power storage device is forcibly discharged to the second heating element or a load dedicated to discharge, thereby It is shown that the electric power stored in is discharged and the power storage device is emptied. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a technique for securely transporting the image forming apparatus by securely fixing the discharge switch of the power storage device to an off state. And also in this patent document 4, when fixing a switch to an OFF state, it shows that the remaining electric power of an electrical storage apparatus is forcedly discharged to a 2nd heat generating body or a dedicated load.
JP 2003-162184 A JP 2004-286882 A JP 2005-73468 A JP 2004-303435 A

  However, in the conventional techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 4, the power of the power storage device is forcibly discharged when the fixing device is not in a normal heat generation operation that generates heat used for fixing processing. It could not be discharged or could not be discharged quickly. When heat is generated for the fixing process in the fixing device, the heat generated by the auxiliary heating element by discharging the power storage device is consumed in the fixing process, that is, the heat generated by the heating element is transferred to the recording paper. While the transmission roller is driven and the generated heat is quickly diffused to the recording paper, fixing member, etc., when the forced discharge is performed when the main power is turned off, the heat roller stops. Therefore, heat easily accumulates in a narrow part such as an auxiliary heating element, and the part becomes extremely high. In addition, cooling means such as a cooling fan is normally operated, but this is also stopped during forced discharge.

  For this reason, in the prior art, forced discharge must be performed slowly and gradually over a long time from a power storage device to an auxiliary heating element or a dedicated load at a sufficiently low discharge voltage.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and performs forced discharge for discharging the power of the power storage device when heat for fixing processing is not generated in order to perform image formation on recording paper. The purpose is to be able to carry out promptly and with further safety.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a power storage device that stores power from a commercial power source, a first heating element that generates heat by acquiring power from the commercial power source, and heat that acquires power stored in the power storage device in advance are generated. The power storage device stores power in a fixing device including a second heating element, cooling means for cooling the fixing device, operation instruction input means for inputting an operation instruction from a user, and the operation instruction input means. When a discharge instruction for discharging electric power is input, when the fixing process is not performed in the fixing device, the second heating element is caused to generate heat to discharge the electric power of the power storage device, and at the time of the discharging, the cooling unit An image forming apparatus including forced discharge control means for operating the.

  According to this configuration, when a discharge instruction is input to the operation instruction input unit, the second heating element is heated when the fixing process is not performed on the fixing device, and the electric power of the power storage device is forcibly discharged. The In this way, forced discharge is performed to the second heating element instead of a dedicated load or the like. When such forced discharge is performed, a cooling means for cooling the fixing device is operated, so that forced discharge can be performed quickly and with further safety.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a cooling fan that cools the fixing device, and a fixing roller of the fixing device that is heated by the first heating element and the second heating element to heat the toner image of the recording paper are driven. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a driving unit, wherein the cooling unit includes at least one of the cooling fan and the driving unit.

  With this configuration, for example, a conventional product can simply configure a cooling fan and a driving unit, and even with such a cooling unit, in this image forming apparatus, forced discharge is mainly input to the operation instruction input unit. Since the power is turned on, the cooling means can be operated to cool the fixing device and dissipate the heat of the fixing device at the time of discharging, so that forced discharge can be performed easily, quickly and with high safety.

  The invention according to claim 3 is provided with a storage amount detecting means for detecting the remaining power stored in the power storage device, and the forced discharge control means is configured such that when the discharge instruction is input to the operation instruction input means, The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second heating element is caused to generate heat until it is detected by the storage amount detection means that there is no remaining power in the storage device.

  According to this configuration, the power of the power storage device can be discharged until the remaining power of the power storage device is completely eliminated, and further safety can be realized when performing maintenance, transporting the device, or the like after the discharge.

  Invention of Claim 4 is provided with the user alerting | reporting means which alert | reports to a user, The said forced discharge control means, while the said discharge instruction | indication is input into the said operation instruction input means, 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the power storage device detects that there is no remaining power in the power storage device, the user notification unit notifies the user.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to notify the user that the storage amount detection means has detected that there is no remaining power in the storage device.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the fixing roller, wherein the forced discharge control means acquires a detected temperature from the temperature detection means, and the discharge instruction is given to the operation instruction input means. Is input and when the detected temperature reaches a predetermined allowable temperature while the second heat generating element is heated, the detected temperature is made lower than the allowable temperature by stopping the heat generation of the second heat generating element. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the heat generation of the second heating element is resumed after the detected temperature becomes equal to or lower than the allowable temperature.

  According to this configuration, when the detected temperature detected as the temperature of the fixing roller exceeds a predetermined allowable temperature, the heat generation of the second heating element is stopped, but the detected temperature is decreased by this stop. After the detected temperature falls below the permissible temperature to be less than the permissible temperature, the heat generation of the second heating element can be resumed to quickly discharge without losing safety. it can.

  The invention according to claim 6 further comprises operation mode setting means for setting a normal operation mode and an operation confirmation operation mode for operation confirmation in the image forming apparatus, wherein the forced discharge control means is configured to set the operation mode. When the operation confirmation operation mode is set in the image forming apparatus by means, the second heating element is caused to generate heat for operation confirmation when the discharge instruction is input to the operation instruction input means. Item 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 2 to 5.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to cause the second heating element to generate heat for operation confirmation by excess power remaining in the power storage device.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the fixing device includes a plurality of the second heating elements, and the operation instruction input unit inputs a selection instruction for selecting one of the plurality of second heating elements from the user. The image according to claim 6, wherein the forced discharge control means causes the second heating element selected by the selection instruction to generate heat when the selection instruction and the discharge instruction are input to the operation instruction input means. Forming device.

  According to this configuration, the second heating element for forced discharge can be selected, and when there is a malfunction only when some of the second heating elements generate heat, which of the second heating elements is defective in operation Can be easily identified.

  According to the present invention, forced discharge can be performed quickly and with further safety.

  A copying machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the copying machine 1. The copier 1 is configured as a copier that performs printing by electrophotography.

  The copying machine 1 is an example of an “image forming apparatus” described in the claims.

  The copying machine 1 is provided on a paper feeding unit 11 on which the recording paper P is stacked, a conveyance path 12 for the recording paper P, and a conveyance path 12, and is carried from the paper feeding unit 11 to the conveyance path 12. The image forming unit 13 having a photosensitive drum or the like for forming a toner image on the recording paper P conveyed to the downstream side is also provided on the downstream side of the image forming unit 13 on the conveying path 12. When the toner image formed on the recording sheet P is heated to fix the toner image on the recording paper P, and the recording paper P on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 100 is conveyed further downstream by the conveyance path 12. The operation unit 300 includes a discharge unit 14 from which the recording paper P is discharged, a liquid crystal touch panel, and the like, displays information to the user and receives user input, and controls the operation of each unit of the copier 1 including these components. System And a section 200.

  The fixing device 100 is an example of a “fixing device” recited in the claims. The operation panel 300 is an example of an “operation instruction input unit” recited in the claims.

  Here, the fixing device 100 includes a fixing roller 100r. The recording paper P that passes through the fixing device 100 by the conveyance path 12 is provided between the fixing roller 100r and a pressure roller that is provided to face the fixing roller 100r with the conveyance path 12 interposed therebetween and presses against the fixing roller 100r. pass. Then, when passing, the fixing roller 100r applies heat to the toner image on the recording paper P, so that the toner image is welded to the recording paper P. In this way, the fixing device 100 applies heat to the toner image on the recording paper P by the fixing roller 100r to perform a fixing process on the recording paper P.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the copying machine 1 showing mainly a group of components related to the fixing device 100 with the fixing device 100 of the copying machine 1 as a center.

  The copying machine 1 includes an AC heater switch Sw1 provided between the commercial power supply and the fixing device 100, an auxiliary power supply device 400 that stores the power of the commercial power supply, and between the auxiliary power supply device 400 and the fixing device 100. Two DC heater switches Sw21 and Sw22.

  In FIG. 2, the power transmission line is indicated by a solid line, and the information transmission line is indicated by a broken line.

  The auxiliary power supply device 400 is an example of the “power storage device” recited in the claims.

  The auxiliary power supply device 400 is connected to a power storage device 401 configured by connecting a large-capacity capacitor in series and the like, and two positive and negative electrodes of the power storage device 401, and detects the output voltage of the power storage device 401. And an inter-electrode voltage detection circuit 402.

  The inter-electrode voltage detection circuit 402 is an example of “amount of charge detection unit” recited in the claims.

  The power storage device 401 acquires power from a commercial power supply via a charging circuit provided in the auxiliary power supply device 400 and stores the acquired power.

  In addition, the power storage device 401 causes the interelectrode voltage detection circuit 402 to detect the voltage of the output voltage as described above, while the DC heaters 120a and 120a of the fixing device 100 are connected via the discharge device included in the auxiliary power supply device 400. Output to 120b.

  The block diagram of FIG. 2 shows the detailed configuration of the fixing device 100 shown in FIG. The fixing device 100 includes an AC heater 110, DC heaters 120a and 120b, and a thermistor 130.

  The AC heater 110 is an example of a “first heating element” recited in the claims. The DC heaters 120a and 120b are both examples of the “second heating element” described in the claims. However, each of the DC heaters 120a and 120b is an example of the “second heating element” in claims 1 to 6 of the claims. The thermistor 130 is an example of the “temperature detection means” recited in the claims.

  AC heater 110 and DC heaters 120a and 120b are heaters that heat fixing roller 100r (FIG. 1), and are, for example, halogen heaters. These heaters 110, 120a, 120b are provided, for example, inside the fixing roller 100r.

  The AC heater 110 obtains electric power from a commercial power source and generates heat.

  The DC heaters 120a and 120b acquire power output from the auxiliary power supply device 400 and generate heat. That is, the power previously stored in the power storage device 401 of the auxiliary power supply device 400 from the commercial power supply is acquired from the auxiliary power supply device 400 and generates heat.

  The AC heater switch Sw1 is a switch for switching ON / OFF of power supply from the commercial power source to the AC heater 110.

  The DC heater switches Sw21 and Sw22 are switches that turn ON / OFF the power supply from the auxiliary power supply device 400 to the two DC heaters 120a and 120b, respectively.

  Here, a total of three heaters of the AC heater 110 and the DC heaters 120a and 120b can generate heat simultaneously. The commercial power supply has a rated power, and while the AC heater 110 is generating heat, the output power of the commercial power supply has less margin, and the DC heater 120a and the DC heater 120b are simultaneously driven by the commercial power supply simultaneously with the AC heater 110. I can't say that. Therefore, the copier 1 is provided with an auxiliary power supply device 400. The auxiliary power supply device 400 is charged with electric power from a commercial power source in advance, and the AC heater 110 is directly driven by the commercial power source. The DC heaters 120a and 120b are simultaneously driven in parallel with the AC heater 110 by the auxiliary power supply device 400 using the power stored in advance. In this way, the DC heaters 120a and 120b generate heat simultaneously with the AC heater 110, and the fixing device 100 can generate a lot of heat rapidly in a short time.

  The DC heaters 120a and 120b are provided with a fixing roller 100r that is at a considerably low temperature immediately after the copying machine 1 is turned on or when the copying machine 1 returns from the energy saving operation mode or standby mode to the normal operation mode. Is driven under the control of the control unit 200 in order to rapidly heat up to a high temperature at which the fixing process can be performed.

  Further, if there is remaining power in the auxiliary power supply device 400, the DC heaters 120a and 120b are driven together with the AC heater 110 during the initial period after image forming is started after the fixing device 100 has been started up. Sometimes.

  The thermistor 130 is provided in the fixing device 100 and detects the temperature of the fixing roller 100r (FIG. 1).

  In place of the thermistor 130, various types of temperature sensors may be used. For example, a thermocouple or an infrared temperature sensor can be used.

  The control unit 200 is an information processing apparatus that includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The control unit 200 controls the operation of the copying machine 1 by executing software stored in the ROM.

  Note that the control unit 200 is not necessarily configured as information processing hardware with high versatility by the CPU or the like as described above, and at least a part of the functions of the control unit 200 is realized as dedicated hardware. Also good.

  In FIG. 2, functional blocks that are realized by executing software in the control unit 200 are indicated by broken lines.

  In the control unit 200, a simulation operation processing unit 200a is realized. As a part of the function of the simulation operation processing unit 200a, the function of the forced discharge control unit 200b is realized in the control unit 200. Further, as a part of the function of the forced discharge control unit 200b, the functions of the heater control unit 201, the cooling device control unit 202, the discharge key display control unit 203, and the operation mode setting unit 200x are realized in the control unit 200. Is done.

  The simulation operation processing unit 200a is a functional block that operates the copying machine 1 in the simulation mode, and has a function of executing various processes for the copying machine 1 to operate in the simulation mode.

  The simulation operation processing unit 200a performs the operation in the simulation mode when a service person such as a manufacturing company of the copying machine 1 performs maintenance or when a manufacturing worker inspects in a manufacturing line of a factory. Let me.

  The copying machine 1 operates as a suitable copying machine as a whole by combining the configuration described in FIG. In the simulation mode, the copying machine 1 independently performs individual operations of each unit, such as only the operation of the sheet feeding unit 11, only the operation of the conveyance path 12, or only the operation of a specific motor of the sheet feeding unit 11 or the conveyance path 12. Thus, the operator such as a service person can check the operations to be performed and confirm whether or not those operations are appropriately performed. The simulation mode is an operation mode that can be executed by a special operator such as a service person who can execute a certain operation for checking the operation. Various operations to be checked for operation are set in the software stored in the ROM of the control unit 200.

  The simulation mode and the normal operation mode described above are examples of the “operation check operation mode” and the “normal operation mode” described in claim 6, respectively.

  The operation mode setting unit 200 x sets the operation mode of the copying machine 1 in the copying machine 1. The operation mode setting unit 200x sets the above-described simulation mode in the copying machine 1 and sets the normal operation mode in which image formation is performed on a normal recording sheet in the copying machine 1, respectively. The copying machine 1 can be operated in the normal operation mode.

  The operation mode setting unit 200x is an example of an “operation mode setting unit” described in the claims.

  With this operation mode setting unit 200x, the simulation operation processing unit 200a can set the copying machine 1 as the operation mode and set the simulation mode, and operate the copying machine 1 in the simulation mode.

  The copying machine 1 can be performed in such a simulation mode, and a forced discharge operation is included as one of the operations to be checked for operation set in the software of the control unit 200.

  The forced discharge control unit 200b is a functional block that causes the copier 1 to execute a forced discharge operation when an operator such as a service man instructs the operation panel 300 to perform a forced discharge operation.

  The forced discharge control unit 200b is an example of “forced discharge control means” described in the claims.

  The forced discharge control unit 200b copies, as the forced discharge operation, an operation in which the auxiliary power supply device 400 drives the DC heaters 120a and 120b, that is, an operation in which the auxiliary power supply device 400 discharges the electric power stored in itself to the DC heaters 120a and 120b. Let machine 1 execute.

  An operator such as a serviceman can confirm the operation of the auxiliary power supply device 400 for discharging the DC heaters 120a and 120b by inputting an instruction to execute the forced discharge operation to the copying machine 1 through the operation panel 300. it can. Thus, the serviceman or the like confirms the operation of the auxiliary power supply device 400, the DC heaters 120a and 120b, and the DC heater switches Sw21 and Sw22 provided between the auxiliary power supply device 400 and the DC heaters 120a and 120b. it can. For example, a service person or the like can check the operation and check the degree of deterioration of the power storage device 401.

  In addition, an operator such as a serviceman instructs the execution of the forced discharge operation in this manner to discharge the stored power of the auxiliary power supply device 400 to the DC heaters 120a and 120b, thereby discharging all of the stored power of the auxiliary power supply device 400. If the auxiliary power supply 400 is emptied, the copier 1 can be safely moved or the inside of the copier 1 can be inspected after the evacuation. A serviceman or the like causes the copying machine 1 to execute a forced discharge operation when moving the copying machine 1 or when maintaining the copying machine 1.

  The functions realized by the forced discharge control unit 200b include the function of the heater control unit 201 and the function of the cooling device control unit 202.

  The heater control unit 201 inputs control signals to the AC heater switch Sw1 and the DC heater switches Sw21 and 22 and controls the heat generation of the AC heater 110 and the DC heaters 120a and 120b. The heater control unit 201 fixes the AC heater switch Sw1 in an off state to always stop the AC heater 110, and turns on the DC heater switches Sw21 and 22 to perform a forced discharge operation on the copier 1. Make it.

  The heater control unit 201 causes the auxiliary power supply device 400 to discharge to the DC heaters 120a and 120b until the inter-electrode voltage detection circuit 402 detects that there is no remaining power storage in the power storage device 401. The heater switches Sw21 and Sw22 are turned off, and thereafter the discharge is stopped.

  When the discharge is stopped in this way, the forced discharge control unit 200b displays the fact on the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation panel 300 to notify the user.

  The operation panel 300 is an example of “user notification means” described in the claims.

  The heater control unit 201 may cause only one of the two DC heaters 120a and 120b to discharge from the auxiliary power supply device 400 during forced discharge.

  The heater control unit 201 designates only one of the DC heaters 120a and 120b from the operation panel 300 and causes the heater control unit 201 to discharge only the designated DC heater 120a or 120b, or both. A heater selection instruction is specified to designate and cause the heater control unit 201 to discharge to both.

  This heater selection instruction is an example of an “operation instruction from the user to select a second heating element from the plurality of second heating elements” described in the claims.

  In response to the heater selection instruction, the heater control unit 201 turns on only one of the DC heater switches Sw21 or Sw22 corresponding to the designation when the heater selection instruction designates only one of the DC heaters 120a or 120b. The other is fixed to the off state so that only the designated DC heater 120a or 120b is discharged from the auxiliary power supply device 400, and both the DC heater 120a or 120b are designated by the heater selection instruction. If it is, both DC heater switches Sw21 and Sw22 are turned on so that both heaters 120a and 120b generate heat.

  The user can confirm the operation of one of the DC heaters 120a or 120b by designating the heater according to the heater selection instruction.

  In this way, when the heater controller 201 discharges the auxiliary power supply 400 to the DC heaters 120a and 120b, the thermistor 130 determines the temperature of the fixing roller 100r (FIG. 1) to which the heat of the DC heaters 120a and 120b is applied. Monitoring is performed by a signal to be output, and discharge control is performed so that the temperature detected by the thermistor 130 indicated by this signal does not become higher than a predetermined allowable temperature.

  The allowable temperature is set to a temperature such as the temperature of the fixing roller 100r when the fixing device 100 performs the fixing process, for example.

  The heater control unit 201 raises the temperature of the fixing roller 100r due to electric discharge, and discharges the fixing roller 100r when the temperature of the fixing roller 100r is lower than the allowable temperature. And maintain at its allowable temperature. As a result, it is possible to quickly discharge while preventing the temperature of the fixing roller 100r from exceeding the allowable temperature and ensuring safety.

  However, the heater control unit 201 may not perform such temperature control. When the forced discharge is executed, the AC heater 110 is not driven and stopped as described above. Therefore, at the time of the forced discharge, the amount of heat is much smaller than that when the fixing device 100 executes the fixing process. Is generated only by the DC heaters 120a and 120b, and in the copying machine 1, as described below, the heat generated during the forced discharge is quickly generated by the action of the cooling device control unit 202. It is diffused to the middle. For this reason, the temperature of the roller 100r may not rise to the allowable temperature. In such a case, the above temperature control may not be performed.

  The cooling device control unit 202, which is another functional block included in the forced discharge control unit 200b, operates the cooling device group 100s shown in FIG. 2 and controls its operation during forced discharge.

  In the cooling device group 100 s, as described above, the AC heater 110 and the DC heater 110 are driven by the fixing device 100 when the fixing device 100 is started up during image formation or during image formation after the start-up. FIG. 2 shows various devices that are operated to cool the fixing device 100 during operation.

  The cooling device group 100s constitutes an example of a “cooling unit” recited in the claims. The entire cooling device group 100 s also constitutes an example of “cooling means”, and only a part of the devices constitutes an example of “cooling means”.

  The cooling device group 100s includes the following devices.

  When the DC heaters 120a and 120b generate heat when the fixing device 100 is started up or during image formation after the start-up, the DC heaters 120a and 120b and other parts of the copying machine 1 are connected to the DC heaters 120a and 120b. 120b is heated by the generated heat. The cooling device group 100s includes heat diffusing means for diffusing the heat generated by the DC heaters 120a and 120b at this time, and includes, for example, a cooling fan 100s1 (FIG. 2). Further, when the driving mechanism 100s2 (FIG. 2) of the fixing roller 100r drives the fixing roller 100r, the heat of the DC heaters 120a and 120b is diffused widely to the fixing roller 100r and other portions. 100s2 is also included in one of the thermal diffusion means.

  The cooling fan 100s1 is an example of a “cooling fan” recited in the claims. The drive mechanism 100s2 is an example of the “drive unit” recited in the claims.

  The discharge key display control unit 203 displays a discharge key on the operation panel 300, detects a user's touch operation on this key, and performs control related to the discharge key display. The discharge key will be described in detail in the description of FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the copying machine 1.

  In step S <b> 1, an operator such as a serviceman instructs the copying machine 1 to start the operation in the simulation mode using the operation panel 300. When this instruction is input to the copying machine 1 from the operation panel 300 or the like (step S1: YES), the simulation operation processing unit 200a is activated to set the operation mode of the copying machine 1 to the simulation mode.

  When the simulation operation processing unit 200a sets the operation mode of the copying machine 1 to the simulation mode, the copying machine 1 can perform normal copying operations and the like that were possible while the copying machine 1 was operating in the normal operation mode. Can no longer be executed. For example, even when the “print start button” on the operation panel 300 is pressed, the copying machine 1 is temporarily set so as not to execute the copying operation.

  In step S2, the forced discharge control unit 200b of the simulation operation processing unit 200a (step S1: YES) activated in the previous step S1 determines that the operation of the copier 1 that the user desires to confirm the operation by simulation is the auxiliary power supply 400. It is determined whether the forced discharge operation is performed.

  The forced discharge control unit 200b performs this determination when the discharge key display control unit 203 receives a signal indicating that the user has performed a touch operation on the discharge key of the operation panel 300.

  The discharge key display control unit 203 displays a discharge key on the operation panel 300 when the simulation operation processing unit 200 starts the operation of the copying machine 1 in the simulation mode.

  The touch operation on the discharge key is an example of “an operation instruction from the user for discharging the power stored in the power storage device” in the claims.

  In step Sx, when it is determined by the forced discharge control unit 200b that the user desires an operation other than the forced discharge operation (step S2: NO), the forced discharge control unit 200b in the simulation operation processing unit 200a is determined. The simulation operation processing unit 200a causes the copier 1 to execute an operation other than the forced discharge operation by a function other than the function.

  In steps S3 to S10, the forced discharge control unit 200b causes the copier 1 to execute a forced discharge operation.

  The copying machine 1 is provided with a simulation operation execution mode for each operation for checking operation, such as forced discharge. In step Sx, the copying machine 1 performs a simulation operation execution mode for operations other than forced discharge. In step S3 to S10, the forced discharge control section 200b sets the forced discharge operation simulation operation execution mode in the copying machine 1 in step S3 to step S3. -S10 may be executed by the copying machine 1 to cause forced discharge. First, the user sets a simulation mode in the copying machine 1 through the operation panel 300, and further instructs the copying machine 1 operating in the simulation mode through the operation panel 300 to set a simulation operation execution mode for forced discharge. Forced discharge (steps S3 to S10) can be performed.

  In this case, the forced discharge control unit 200b is an example of the “operation mode setting unit” recited in the claims.

  In step S3, the forced discharge control unit 200b acquires the heater selection instruction described above that is input by the user through the operation panel 300 (FIG. 1). Discharge to the heater designated by the heater selection instruction acquired here is performed by the heater control unit 201 in step S7 described below.

  In step S4, the heater control unit 201 fixes the AC heater switch Sw1 in the off state. After step S4, the heater control unit 201 continues to turn off the AC heater switch Sw1 until the end of the process of FIG. In the forced discharge operation, the AC heater 110 is not driven.

  In step S5, the cooling device control unit 202 operates each device of the cooling device group 100s.

  In step S6, the heater control unit 201 determines whether or not the detected temperature of the thermistor 130 exceeds the above-described allowable temperature, and if so, the discharge process in the next step S7 is not performed. (Step S6: NO).

  In step S7, when the detected temperature of the thermistor 130 does not exceed the above-described allowable temperature (step S6: YES), the heater control unit 201 executes forced discharge. The heater control unit 201 selects one or both of the DC heaters 120a and 120b designated by the heater selection instruction input to the copying machine 1 in step S3, and either one or both of them corresponding to the designation of the DC heater switches Sw21 and Sw22. Is turned on to generate heat and discharge the power of the auxiliary power supply 400 to the designated heaters 120a and 120b.

  In step S8, the heater control unit 201 determines whether or not the discharge stop key is touched. The forced discharge control unit 200b displays a stop key on the operation panel 300 during the processes of steps S3 to S9.

  And the heater control part 201 performs step S9, when the stop key is not touched (step S8: NO).

  In step S <b> 9, the heater control unit 201 determines whether or not the auxiliary power supply device 400 has discharged all the stored electric power and has become empty due to the discharge in step S <b> 7. As long as the auxiliary power supply 400 is not empty (step S9: NO), the processes of steps S5 to S8 described above are repeatedly executed.

  When the detected temperature of the thermistor 130 exceeds the allowable temperature (step S6: YES), the heater control unit 201 does not discharge the auxiliary power supply device 400 (step S7), but the cooling device control unit 202. Thus, the respective devices of the cooling device group 100s are operated (step S5), whereby the detected temperature of the thermistor 130 quickly falls below the allowable temperature due to the operation of the cooling fan 100s1 and the like (step S6: YES), the discharge is promptly restarted by the heater control unit 201 (step S7).

  In step S <b> 10, when the auxiliary power supply device 400 becomes empty (step S <b> 9: YES), the heater control unit 201 displays that fact on a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel of the operation panel 300 and notifies the user.

  The user notification in step S10 is an example of “notification” which is performed by the user notification unit by the forced discharge control unit described in claim 4 of the claims.

  When the stop key is touched (step S8: YES), the heater control unit 201 ends the processes of steps S5 to S8 regardless of whether the auxiliary power supply is empty (step S8: YES). At this time, in step S10, the heater control unit 201 simply notifies that the discharge has been stopped.

  Hereinafter, other embodiments will be described.

  (A) The forced discharge does not necessarily have to be executed in the simulation mode as described above, and the copying machine 1 can be executed at an appropriate operation timing that is not in the simulation mode.

  (B) As described above, the heater control unit 201 may not perform the temperature control based on the temperature detected by the thermistor 130, and in this case, the process of step S6 may not be performed.

  (C) The auxiliary power supply device 400 may be connected not only to the DC heaters 120a and 120b but also to the AC heater 110. During the forced discharge (step S7), the auxiliary power supply device 400 is controlled by the heater control unit 201. 400 electric power may be discharged not only to the DC heaters 120 a and 120 b but also to the AC heater 110. In this way, the discharge can be completed quickly until there is no remaining stored power in the auxiliary power supply 400. The heater selection instruction may specify whether or not to discharge the AC heater 110 as well.

  (D) When forced discharge is almost certainly completed in an instant, the user notification in step S10 may be omitted.

  (E) When the fixing device 100 is started up during image formation or when the DC heaters 120a and 120b generate heat during image formation after the start-up, the DC heaters 120a and 120b and the auxiliary power supply device 400 In this case, an overcurrent prevention circuit that prevents an overcurrent from being generated by this current and an electric shock prevention mechanism that prevents an electric shock from being caused by the current are operated. . In step S5, the heater control unit 201 may operate a protective device such as an overcurrent prevention circuit or an electric shock prevention mechanism. At this time, unlike the case where the cooling fan 100s1 and the like are driven in step S5, the heater control unit 201 does not exceed the allowable temperature described above (step S6: YES), and the discharge process of step S7 is performed. These current prevention circuits or the like may be operated only when they are executed.

  (F) The process of step S3 in FIG. 3 is not performed, and in step S7, the forced discharge control unit 200b may cause the DC heaters 120a and 120b to discharge at any time.

  (G) At this time, the forced discharge control unit 200b may measure the time required for the forced discharge and notify the measured time in step S10.

  In this way, the user estimates the amount of stored power from the measured length of time required to discharge the stored power of the auxiliary power supply device 400, and the power storage device 401 of the auxiliary power supply device 400 supplies the power. It is possible to know how much the ability to store power has decreased due to deterioration such as aging of the power storage device 401.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a copier 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration group related to the fixing device 100 with the fixing device 100 of the copying machine 1 as a center. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the copying machine 1.

Explanation of symbols

P Recording paper Sw1 AC heater switch Sw21, Sw21 DC heater switch 1 Copying machine (image forming apparatus)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Paper feed part 12 Conveyance path 13 Image formation part 14 Ejection part 100 Fixing roller 100 Fixing apparatus (fixing apparatus)
100r roller 100r fixing roller 100s cooling device group (cooling means)
100s1 Cooling fan 100s2 Fixing roller drive mechanism 102 Cooling device controller 110 AC heater (first heating element)
120a, 120b DC heater (second heating element)
130 thermistor (temperature detection means)
200 control unit 200a simulation operation processing unit 200b forced discharge control unit (forced discharge control means)
200x operation mode setting section (operation mode setting means)
201 Heater control unit 203 Discharge key display control unit 300 Operation panel (operation instruction means, user notification means)
400 Auxiliary power supply (power storage device)
401 Power storage device 402 Voltage detection circuit between electrodes (charge storage amount detection means)
2011 Heater control unit

Claims (7)

A power storage device for storing power from a commercial power source;
A fixing device including a first heating element that generates heat by acquiring electric power from a commercial power source, and a second heating element that generates heat by acquiring electric power previously stored in the power storage device;
Cooling means for cooling the fixing device;
An operation instruction input means for inputting an operation instruction from a user;
When a discharge instruction for discharging power stored in the power storage device is input to the operation instruction input unit, the power storage device is configured to generate heat when the fixing device is not performing a fixing process. An image forming apparatus comprising: a forced discharge control unit that discharges the electric power and operates the cooling unit during the discharge. A cooling fan for cooling the fixing device;
Driving means for driving the fixing roller of the fixing device, which is heated by the first heating element and the second heating element to heat the toner image of the recording paper;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit includes at least one of the cooling fan and the driving unit. A power storage amount detecting means for detecting remaining power stored in the power storage device;
When the discharge instruction is input to the operation instruction input unit, the forced discharge control unit causes the second heating element to generate heat until it is detected by the storage amount detection unit that there is no remaining power in the power storage device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. User notification means for notifying the user,
When the discharge instruction is input to the operation instruction input unit and the second heating element generates heat while the forced discharge control unit detects that the remaining amount of power is not stored in the power storage device, The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the user notification unit performs notification. Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the fixing roller;
The forced discharge control means acquires a detection temperature from the temperature detection means, and the detection temperature is determined in advance while the discharge instruction is input to the operation instruction input means to cause the second heating element to generate heat. When the temperature is reached, the heat generation of the second heating element is stopped to bring the detection temperature below the allowable temperature, and after the detection temperature falls below the allowable temperature, The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein heat generation is resumed. An operation mode setting means for setting a normal operation mode and an operation confirmation operation mode for operation confirmation in the image forming apparatus;
The forced discharge control means confirms the operation when the discharge instruction is input to the operation instruction input means when the operation check operation mode is set in the image forming apparatus by the operation mode setting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second heating element generates heat for use. The fixing device includes a plurality of the second heating elements,
The operation instruction input means receives an instruction to select which of the plurality of second heating elements to select from the user,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the forced discharge control unit causes the second heating element selected by the selection instruction to generate heat when the selection instruction and the discharge instruction are input to the operation instruction input unit. .

Images