JP2008203704A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently suppress power consumption by supplying power only to a required functional part for every time zone or functional operation to be used in an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus has a control part supplying the power only to the desired functional part for every functional operation, and sets shift standby time for shifting to a limited power supply mode of every functional operation and the order of shift modes for every designated time, whereby detail setting for a power saving mode can be configured according to the time zone, consequently the power saving is attained without deteriorating user's convenience. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In an image forming apparatus, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of saving power by enabling power supply of each functional unit to be controlled by a user's designation.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, power consumption in the fixing unit is large because toner is thermally fixed. However, the fixing unit is preheated even in a standby state so that printing can be performed quickly after a print request is made. . However, in the case where continuous operation is not performed, power is saved at the expense of user convenience without performing preheating for power saving.

  The power supply to each functional unit of the image forming apparatus is not limited to the above preheat example, and when the operation is performed continuously, the power is supplied to each functional unit, such as a time zone that is not often used such as at night. In the power saving mode, power is supplied only to the minimum necessary part, thereby achieving both user convenience and power saving.

  For example, it is a coupling device configured by combining a plurality of units that are provided with power supply or cutoff permission, and sets a power supply condition or a cutoff condition according to each unit, and the set condition is Therefore, each unit can be equipped with a power control means to supply and cut off power individually, so that it can have a delicate power saving function. There is a method that can be used (see Patent Document 1).

  However, in this method, only a power saving mode can be obtained only in unit units coupled in advance, and the apparatus for each functional operation such as transmission (facsimile transmission or e-mail transmission), copying, printing, etc. in the image forming apparatus. The power supply of the internal devices (scanner unit, printing unit, operation unit, etc.) could not be controlled by the user's specification to suppress power consumption.

JP 2000-295768 A

  The problem to be solved is to supply power to devices in the device (scanner unit, printing unit, operation unit, etc.) for each function operation such as transmission (facsimile transmission or e-mail transmission), copying, printing, etc. It is a point that it was not possible to control power consumption by controlling by user designation.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention has a plurality of different limited power supply modes for supplying power only to a functional part necessary for each functional operation, and includes a timer for counting a predetermined standby time and a signal from the timer. When the function determination unit determines whether or not the functional operation has occurred within the predetermined standby time, and when the operation determination unit determines that the functional operation has not occurred, the operation proceeds to the next predetermined limited power supply mode. A mode transition control unit that transitions, and a mode transition setting unit that enables the order of the limited power supply mode to be transitioned by the mode transition control unit and the standby time to be set for each specified time. Main features.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention has a plurality of different limited power supply modes for supplying power only to a functional part necessary for each functional operation, and includes a timer for counting a predetermined standby time and a signal from the timer. When the function determination unit determines whether or not the functional operation has occurred within the predetermined standby time, and when the operation determination unit determines that the functional operation has not occurred, the operation proceeds to the next predetermined limited power supply mode. A mode transition control unit for transitioning, and a mode transition setting unit for setting the order of the transition operation of the limited power supply mode to be transitioned by the mode transition control unit and the standby time for each specified time. Because it is a major feature, it is possible to control the power supply of the device in the device for each function operation such as transmission, copying, printing, etc., by user's specification, and to suppress power consumption .

  In the image forming apparatus, the power supply of the in-apparatus device for each function operation such as transmission, copying, printing, etc. is controlled by the user's designation, and the power consumption cannot be suppressed. A limited power supply mode in which power supply is set for each function operation is provided, and the problem is solved by determining which function operation is prioritized for each specified time zone.

[Constitution]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus includes the scanner unit 101, the printing unit 103, the operation unit 105, the storage device 107, and the control unit 111 shown in FIG. The control unit 111 includes a mode transition control unit 113, a mode transition setting unit 115, an operation determination unit 117, and a timer 119.

  The scanner unit 101 includes a scanner and takes an image as electronic information.

  The printing unit 103 includes an exposure unit, a developing unit, a fixing unit, and the like for performing printing by an electrophotographic method, and performs printing. The printing unit consumes the most power.

  The operation unit 105 includes a display panel and operation keys. The operation unit 105 instructs operations such as copying and facsimile transmission of the image forming apparatus, and sets a transition order to the limited power supply mode and a standby time.

  The storage device 107 includes a semiconductor memory and a magnetic disk. The storage device 107 stores electronic information of an image scanned by the scanner unit, holds image data received by facsimile, and realizes a functional operation of the image forming apparatus. Hold.

  The control unit 111 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a peripheral control circuit, and controls the entire image forming apparatus. In addition, power supply to each functional unit of the image forming apparatus is controlled. The control unit 111 includes the following functional units.

  The mode transition control unit 113 performs control to shift the limited power supply mode set for each functional operation. When the mode is changed, the mode change control unit performs control to supply power only to functional parts (necessary parts of the scanner unit, the printing unit, and the operation unit) necessary for the functional operation corresponding to the mode.

  Further, the mode transition control unit 113 waits in a certain limited power supply mode, and when a functional operation that requires power supply to a functional unit that is not supplied with power in the limited power supply mode occurs, Control is performed to supply power to functional units that need to be supplied.

  The mode transition setting unit 115 sets the transition order and the waiting time until the transition when the limited power supply mode transitions for each specified time. As for the setting, one in which representative operations are initially set is prepared in advance, and the user may select from among them, or the user may perform the setting.

  The operation determination unit 117 determines when the image forming apparatus shifts from one limited power supply mode to another limited power supply mode. If no functional operation has occurred within a predetermined standby time from a certain limited power supply mode state, it is determined that the next limited power supply mode is to be entered.

  The timer 119 counts the waiting time when the operation determination unit determines.

[Transition to power saving mode]
In each functional operation of the copying machine, the devices used for transmission (facsimile transmission and electronic mail transmission) are the scanner unit 101 and the operation unit 105 shown in FIG. 1, and the printing unit 103 is not used. For copying, the scanner unit 101, the printing unit 103, and the operation unit 105 are used. In the printer (printing), only the printing unit 103 is used.

  The user can set the priority function, time zone, and standby time (interval for mode transition) in advance. Then, the type of the device whose power supply is stopped is automatically selected by the combination and enters the sleep state (limited power supply mode).

  For example, assume the following settings.

Set the waiting time to 5 minutes,
The designated time zone is as follows: (1) 08: 00-18: 00 (daytime) priority: 1. Printing, 2. 2. Copy Transmission (2) 18: 00-20: 00 (overtime) priority: 1. Send, 2. 2. Copy Print (3) 20: 00-08: 00 (midnight) priority: 1. None None. In the case of none (1), it is determined that the transmission function is not necessary when the state in which the user does not operate from 8:00 has elapsed for 5 minutes. When five minutes have passed, it is determined that the transmission and copying functions are not necessary, and the power supply to the scanner unit and the operation unit is stopped. Thereafter, when another 5 minutes elapses, the power supply of the printing unit is stopped and a complete sleep state is entered.

  On the other hand, if 5 minutes elapses between 18:00 and 20:00 in (2), it is determined that the print function is not necessary. When five minutes have passed, it is determined that the copying function is not necessary, and the power supply to the printing unit is stopped here. Thereafter, when another 5 minutes elapse, the power supply to the scanner unit and the operation unit is stopped, and a complete sleep state is entered.

  In addition, when no function priority is set as in the setting of 20: 00-08: 00 in (3), all power supply is stopped after 5 minutes and a complete sleep state is reached. to go into.

[flowchart]
The operation flow will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  S11: The control unit determines whether it is possible to shift to the limited power supply mode from the setting state of the image forming apparatus. If the transition is impossible, the operation is terminated without shifting to the power saving mode. If migration is possible, the operation proceeds to S13.

  S13: The control unit refers to the designated time, priority function order, and standby time for transition to each limited power supply mode designated by the user.

  S15: The control unit determines a device to stop power according to the priority function based on the information referred to in S13.

  S17: The power supply to the power supply stop device designated in S13 is stopped.

  S19: Transition to the first limited power supply mode in the specified order within the specified time.

  S21: In the set limited power supply mode, it is determined whether there is no functional operation during the designated standby time. If there is no functional operation, it is determined that the mode can be changed and the operation proceeds to S23. . If migration is not possible, the loop is repeated in S21 until the conditions for migration are met.

  S23: Refer to the current setting state.

  S25: The power to the predetermined device is stopped based on the state referenced in S23.

  S27: Transition to the limited power supply mode. Thereafter, the operation proceeds to S21, and it is determined whether or not to move to the next limited power supply mode.

[Effect of Example]
The image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention preferentially supplies power to a functional part that seems to be frequently used during a specified time period such as daytime, overtime, or midnight. When the designated standby time function operation is not used, the user can subdivide the two purposes of prompt response of the image forming apparatus and suppression of power consumption by the method of shifting to the next limited power supply mode. It is possible to achieve both by setting.

[Others]
In this embodiment, it is divided into three categories of daytime, overtime hours, and midnight hours. Also good.

  As a mode to be shifted by the mode transition control unit, a normal mode for supplying power to all functional units may be provided instead of a mode in which power is supplied in a limited manner.

1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus (first embodiment). FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the image forming apparatus (first embodiment).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Scanner part 103 Printing part 105 Operation part 107 Storage device 111 Control part 113 Mode transition control part 115 Mode transition setting part 117 Operation | movement judgment part 119 Timer

Claims (4)

Each functional operation has a number of different limited power supply modes that supply power only to the functional parts necessary for that operation,
A timer that counts a predetermined waiting time;
An operation determining unit that determines whether or not the functional operation has occurred within the predetermined waiting time based on a signal from the timer;
When the operation determining unit determines that the functional operation has not occurred, a mode transition control unit that shifts to the next predetermined limited power supply mode;
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a mode transition setting unit that allows the mode transition control unit to set the order of the transition operation in the limited power supply mode and the standby time to be set for each specified time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The mode transition control unit, when there is a request for a functional operation that requires power supply to a function unit other than the functional unit required for the functional operation specified in the limited power supply mode during the limited power supply mode. The image forming apparatus, wherein power is supplied to a functional unit necessary for the functional operation so that the functional operation can be executed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The limited power supply mode for each functional operation includes a print mode, a copy mode, a transmission mode, and a standby mode. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image forming apparatus characterized in that the specified time for each specified time is daytime, overtime, or midnight.

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