JP2008233922A - Use state display machine, image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently perform an image forming operation when an image forming apparatus has not shifted to an energy saving mode by causing a use state display machine to display information about whether the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode or not, thereby allowing a user to view the display of the use state display machine. <P>SOLUTION: When a user turns on the power source 17 of the use state display machine, the system control section 11 of the use state display machine transmits a signal to the image forming apparatus via a transmission reception control section 10 at fixed time intervals during the on-state of the power source 17 in order to inquire whether the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode or not. If receiving, from the system control section 2 of the image forming apparatus, the signal indicating that the apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode, the system control section 11 of the use state display machine causes a display section 12 to display information that the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, and more particularly to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus having an energy saving mode and a usage status display device for displaying a usage status of the apparatus.

In recent years, most image forming apparatuses shift to an energy saving mode after a certain period of time (can be set by a user) that remains unused to reduce power consumption. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a “recording apparatus” that automatically returns from the remote mode or the energy-saving mode to the copyable mode when an original is set or operated on the platen glass or the document feeder. ing.
JP-A-8-305231

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, once the mode is changed to the energy saving mode, it takes time to return from the energy saving mode. In addition, the user cannot confirm whether the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode from a place away from an apparatus such as an office desk, and whether or not the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode. If you go to the image forming device without knowing and have entered the energy-saving mode, cancel the energy-saving mode by pressing the preheat key on the operation unit or setting the document on the automatic document feeder. It was necessary to perform an image forming operation. Therefore, even when an image forming operation is urgently required, it is necessary to wait until the user returns from the energy saving mode, which may impede business.

  Further, in an office or the like sharing a plurality of image forming apparatuses, the user cannot confirm whether or not each image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode from a place away from an apparatus such as a desk. Especially when you are in a hurry, you have to go to the place where the image forming apparatus is located one by one and check the image forming apparatus that has not shifted to the energy saving mode. At this time, if all the image forming apparatuses have shifted to the energy saving mode, the user selects one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and presses the preheating key on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus or the original. The image forming operation has to be performed after canceling the energy saving mode, for example, by setting in the automatic document feeder. Therefore, even when an image forming operation is urgently required, it is necessary to wait until the user returns from the energy saving mode, which may impede business.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and (1) an image forming apparatus having an energy saving mode, and a usage status display device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus capable of displaying the usage status of the image forming apparatus. By constructing an image forming system consisting of the above, the image forming apparatus displays the usage status display on the usage status display device to inform the user whether the image forming apparatus is currently in the energy saving mode. When you are in the mode, go to the image forming device, cancel the energy saving mode and wait until you return from the energy saving mode. Making it possible to perform an image forming operation efficiently;

  (2) The image forming apparatus displays on the usage status display device whether or not it is currently in the energy saving mode and notifies the user. By enabling the user to return from the mode, the user can go to the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode, release the energy saving mode, and wait for the energy saving mode to return. After confirming that the image forming device that has been shifted to the energy saving mode is restored from the energy saving mode by operating the usage status indicator at a remote location, and that it has returned from the energy saving mode by looking at the usage status indicator. To go to the image forming apparatus and perform the image forming operation efficiently;

  (3) By constructing an image forming system comprising a plurality of image forming apparatuses having an energy saving mode, each image forming apparatus capable of displaying the usage status of each image forming apparatus, and a usage status display capable of communicating with each image forming apparatus, If the image forming device is currently in the energy saving mode, it is displayed on the usage status display device to inform the user, and if all the image forming devices are in the energy saving mode, they can be restored from the energy saving mode earliest. The image forming apparatus and the return time are informed, and the user can select the image forming apparatus by the operation from the usage status display and return from the energy saving mode. Even if you do not check the image forming apparatus that has not been shifted to the energy-saving mode until there is no It is possible to check the image forming apparatuses that have not shifted to the energy saving mode from the inside, and if all the image forming apparatuses have shifted to the energy saving mode, check the image forming apparatus that can be restored from the energy saving mode earliest, The object is to enable an image forming operation to be performed efficiently using the image forming apparatus by an operation from a usage status display.

  The invention of claim 1 is an image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus having an energy saving mode and a usage status display capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. When the usage status display is turned on, An inquiry is made as to whether or not the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode, and whether or not the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode is displayed.

  The invention of claim 2 is an image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus having an energy saving mode and a usage status display capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. Inquires whether the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode, displays whether the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode, and when the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode, The image forming apparatus is returned from the energy saving mode by an operation from the usage status display device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus system comprising a plurality of image forming apparatuses having an energy saving mode and a usage status display capable of communicating with the image forming apparatuses, wherein the usage status display is turned on. Then, inquires about whether or not the plurality of image forming apparatuses have shifted to the energy saving mode, displays whether or not each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses has shifted to the energy saving mode, and all the image forming apparatuses When the apparatus is shifted to the energy saving mode, the usage status indicator identifies and displays the image forming apparatus that returns the earliest from the energy saving mode, and the operation from the usage status indicator prompts the earliest from the energy saving mode. The returning image forming apparatus returns from the energy saving mode.

(1) Effect on Invention of Claim 1 In an image forming apparatus system comprising an image forming apparatus having an energy saving mode and a usage status display capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is currently used as the usage status display. When the image forming device is in the energy saving mode, the user can go to the image forming device and cancel the energy saving mode to save energy. It is possible to efficiently perform an image forming operation when the mode is not shifted to the energy saving mode only by looking at the usage status display machine without waiting for the mode to return.

(2) Effect on Invention of Claim 2 In an image forming apparatus system comprising an image forming apparatus having an energy saving mode and a usage status display capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is currently used as the usage status display. If the user is in the energy saving mode, the user can be returned to the energy saving mode by operating the usage indicator. However, when the image forming apparatus is shifting to the energy saving mode, the image forming apparatus is moved to the energy saving mode without going to the image forming apparatus, releasing the energy saving mode and returning from the energy saving mode. The image forming device is returned from the energy saving mode by operating from the usage status indicator. After confirming that the printer has returned from the printer, the user can go to the image forming apparatus and perform an image forming operation efficiently.

(3) Effect on Invention of Claim 3 In an image forming apparatus system comprising a plurality of image forming apparatuses having an energy saving mode and a usage status display capable of communicating with each image forming apparatus, each usage status display is provided with each image. Displays whether the forming device is currently in energy saving mode and informs the user. If all image forming devices are in energy saving mode, the image forming device that can be restored from the energy saving mode earliest is restored. By letting the user know the time and selecting the image forming device by operating from the usage status display and returning it from the energy saving mode, the user can go to the place where the image forming device is located one by one. You can save energy from multiple image forming devices just by looking at the usage status display device, without having to check the image forming devices that have not been switched to energy saving mode. In addition to confirming the image forming devices that have not shifted to the mode, if all the image forming devices have shifted to the energy saving mode, check the image forming device that can be restored from the energy saving mode earliest and check By the operation, the image forming apparatus can be used to efficiently perform the image forming operation.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of an image forming system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (A) is a configuration diagram of a main part of an image forming apparatus having an energy saving mode, and FIG. 1 (B) is an image forming apparatus. FIG. 1C is an overview diagram of the usage status display device, in which 1 is a transmission / reception control unit, 2 is a system control unit, and 3 is an image formation control unit. 4 is a high voltage power supply unit, 5 is a FAX unit, 6 is a printer unit, 7 is a scanner unit, 8 is an arithmetic processing unit, 9 is an execution unit, 10 is a transmission / reception control unit, 11 is a system control unit, and 12 is an image forming apparatus. Is a display unit that displays whether or not is in the energy saving mode, 13 is a memory unit, 14 is an ID identification control unit, 15 is a return order determination unit, 17 is a power button for turning the power ON / OFF, and 18 is an image forming apparatus. For transmitting and receiving signals to and from the image forming apparatus 19 Execution button for commanding restoration from the power saving mode for, 20 is a cursor key for selecting a specific image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus displayed on the display unit 12. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, although not particularly shown, the image forming apparatus is also provided with an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the usage status indicator.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment of the operation of the image forming system according to the present invention. When the user turns on the power supply 17 of the usage status indicator (S1), the system controller 11 of the usage status indicator asks the image forming apparatus whether the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode. The signal is transmitted to the image forming apparatus via the transmission / reception control unit 10 (S2).

  The system controller 2 receives the signal via the transmission / reception controller 1 of the image forming apparatus. The system control unit 2 of the image forming apparatus that has received the inquiry signal from the usage status display device inquires of the high voltage power supply unit 4 whether or not the mode is shifted to the energy saving mode. At this time, when the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode (YES in S2), a signal indicating that the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode is sent from the high voltage power source unit 4 to the system control unit 2. The system control unit 2 that has received the signal that has shifted to the energy saving mode transmits the signal that has shifted to the energy saving mode to the usage status display device via the transmission / reception control unit 1 (S3).

  The system control unit 11 of the usage status display device receives this signal via the transmission / reception control unit 10 (S4), and instructs the display unit 12 to display that the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode. Put out. Upon receiving the command, the display unit 12 displays that the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode (S5).

  On the other hand, when the system control unit 2 of the image forming apparatus inquires of the high voltage power supply unit 4 whether or not the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode (NO in S2), Since no signal is returned from the high-voltage power supply unit 4, the system control unit 2 determines that the image forming apparatus has not shifted to the energy-saving mode, and uses the energy-saving mode via the transmission / reception control unit 1 for the usage status indicator. A signal that has not been transferred to is transmitted (S7).

  The system control unit 11 of the usage status display device receives this signal via the transmission / reception control unit 10 (S8), and instructs the display unit 12 to display that the image forming apparatus has not shifted to the energy saving mode. Put out. Upon receiving the command, the display unit 12 displays that the image forming apparatus has not shifted to the energy saving mode (S9).

  While the power supply is turned on, the usage status display device inquires whether the image forming apparatus is constantly in the energy saving mode at regular intervals (S10). In each mode, or when changing from the non-energy saving mode to the energy saving mode, the usage status display can indicate whether the image forming device has been switched to the energy saving mode, and the user can display the usage status. By looking at the machine, it is possible to know in real time whether or not the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining another embodiment of the operation of the image forming system according to the present invention. When the user turns on the power supply 17 of the usage status display device (S11), the system control unit 11 of the usage status display device inquires the image forming apparatus whether or not the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode. Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus via the transmission / reception control unit 10 (S12).

  The system control unit 2 of the image forming apparatus receives the signal via the transmission / reception control unit 1. The system control unit 2 of the image forming apparatus that has received the inquiry signal from the usage status display device inquires of the high voltage power supply unit 4 whether or not the mode is shifted to the energy saving mode. At this time, if the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode (YES in S12), a signal indicating that the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode is sent from the high voltage power source unit 4 to the system control unit 2. The system control unit 2 that has received the signal shifting to the energy saving mode transmits the signal shifting to the energy saving mode to the usage status display device via the transmission / reception control unit 1 (S17).

  The system control unit 11 of the usage status display device receives this signal via the transmission / reception control unit 10 (S18), and instructs the display unit 12 to display that the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode. Put out. Upon receiving the command, the display unit 12 displays that the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode (S19).

  When the user views the display and presses the execution button 20 to return the image forming apparatus from the energy saving mode (YES in S20), an execution command is issued from the execution unit 9 to the system control unit 11, and the execution command is received. The system control unit 11 transmits a signal for returning from the energy saving mode to the image forming apparatus via the transmission / reception control unit 10 (S21).

  The system controller 2 of the image forming apparatus receives the signal via the transmission / reception controller 1 (S22). The system control unit 2 of the image forming apparatus that has received the signal from the usage status display device issues a command to the high voltage power supply unit 4 to return from the energy saving mode. Receiving the command, the high voltage power supply unit 4 returns the image forming apparatus from the energy saving mode (S23).

  On the other hand, when the system control unit 2 of the image forming apparatus inquires of the high voltage power supply unit 4 whether or not it has shifted to the energy saving mode, if the image forming apparatus has not shifted to the energy saving mode (NO in S12), Since no signal is returned from the high-voltage power supply unit 4, the system control unit 2 determines that the image forming apparatus has not shifted to the energy-saving mode, and uses the energy-saving mode via the transmission / reception control unit 1 for the usage status indicator. A signal that has not been transferred to is transmitted (S13). The system controller 11 of the usage status display device receives this signal via the transmission / reception controller 10 (S14), and displays on the display unit 12 that the image forming apparatus has not shifted to the energy saving mode. Give an order. Upon receiving the command, the display unit 12 displays that the image forming apparatus has not shifted to the energy saving mode (S15).

  While the power supply is on, the usage status display device inquires whether the image forming apparatus is constantly shifting to the energy saving mode at regular intervals (S16). In each mode, or when changing from the non-energy saving mode to the energy saving mode, the usage status display can indicate whether the image forming device has been switched to the energy saving mode, and the user can display the usage status. You can see in real time whether the image forming device is in energy saving mode from a remote location, and if the image forming device is in energy saving mode, It is possible to return from the energy saving mode by the operation of.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining another embodiment of the operation of the image forming system according to the present invention. When the user turns on the power supply 17 of the usage status display device (S31), the system control unit 11 of the usage status display device determines whether or not the image forming device has shifted to the energy saving mode for each of the plurality of image forming devices. A signal for inquiring is transmitted to each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses via the transmission / reception control unit 10.

The system control unit 2 of each image forming apparatus receives the signal via the transmission / reception control unit 1. The system control unit 2 of each image forming apparatus that has received the inquiry signal from the usage status display device inquires of the high-voltage power supply unit 4 whether or not it has shifted to the energy saving mode. At this time, when the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode, a signal indicating that the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode is sent from the high voltage power supply unit 4 to the system control unit 2. The system control unit 2 that has received the signal that has shifted to the energy saving mode transmits the signal that has shifted to the energy saving mode to the usage status display device via the transmission / reception control unit 1 including the ID information. This ID information is for identifying the image forming apparatus.

  The system control unit 11 of the usage status display device receives this signal from each image forming apparatus via the transmission / reception control unit 10 (S32), and sends the ID information included in the signal to the ID identification determination unit 14. The ID identification determination unit 14 determines a specific image forming apparatus from the ID information and sends the information to the system control unit 11. Upon receiving the information, the system control unit 11 instructs the display unit 12 to display which image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode. Upon receiving the command, the display unit 12 displays which image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode (S33).

  On the other hand, when the system control unit 2 of the image forming apparatus inquires of the high-voltage power supply unit 4 whether or not the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy-saving mode, the high-voltage power supply unit 4 Since the signal does not come back, the system control unit 2 determines that the image forming apparatus has not shifted to the energy saving mode, and shifts to the energy saving mode via the transmission / reception control unit 1 with respect to the usage status indicator. The ID information is included in the signal that has not been transmitted.

  The system control unit 11 of the usage status display device receives this signal from each image forming apparatus via the transmission / reception control unit 10, and sends ID information included in the signal to the ID identification determination unit 14. The ID identification determination unit 14 determines a specific image forming apparatus from the ID information and sends the information to the system control unit 11. The system control unit 11 that has received the information instructs the display unit 12 to display which image forming apparatus has not shifted to the energy saving mode. Upon receiving the command, the display unit 12 displays which image forming apparatus has not shifted to the energy saving mode. In this way, the usage status display device receives and displays the status of all image forming apparatuses (S33).

  At this time, if all the image forming apparatuses have shifted to the energy saving mode (YES in S34), the system control unit 11 of the usage status display device controls the system of each image forming apparatus via the transmission / reception control unit 10. A command signal is transmitted to the unit 2 so as to calculate the return time from the energy saving mode of each image forming apparatus (S35). The system control unit 2 of each image forming apparatus that has received this signal via the transmission / reception control unit 1 instructs the arithmetic processing unit 8 to calculate the return time from the energy saving mode (S36). The arithmetic processing unit 8 receives the command, calculates the return time from the energy saving mode, and sends the result to the system control unit 2. Upon receiving this result, the system control unit 2 transmits a calculation result signal including ID information to the usage status display device via the transmission / reception control unit 1 (S37).

  The system control unit 11 of the usage status display device receives the calculation result signal transmitted from each image forming apparatus via the transmission / reception control unit 10 (S38), and sends it to the return order determination unit 15. At the same time, the ID information included in the signal is sent to the ID identification determination unit 14. The system control unit 11 identifies the image forming apparatus that returns most quickly from the energy saving mode from the information of the ID identification determination unit 14 and the return order determination unit 15 (S39), and displays the image forming apparatus from the energy saving mode to the display unit 12. A command is issued to display the image forming apparatus with the fastest return and the return time.

  Upon receiving the command, the display unit 12 displays the image forming apparatus that has returned most quickly from the energy saving mode and the return time (S40). The user sees this, selects the image forming apparatus that returns most quickly from the energy saving mode using the cursor of the usage status display machine, and, as described in the embodiment shown in FIG. By pressing (S41), it is possible to return from the energy saving mode (S42 to S44). When the image forming apparatus that has returned most quickly from the energy saving mode returns from the energy saving mode, the usage status display device returns to a state in which the statuses of all the image forming apparatuses (whether or not the mode is shifted to the energy saving mode?) Are displayed.

  On the other hand, when the usage status display device receives and displays the usage status of all the image forming apparatuses, all the image forming apparatuses include an image forming apparatus that has not shifted to the energy saving mode (S34). NO), the usage status display device continues to display the status of all the image forming apparatuses (whether they are in the energy saving mode?) Until all the image forming apparatuses are in the energy saving mode.

  As a result, the user can not only check whether a plurality of image forming apparatuses have shifted to the energy saving mode from a remote location by using a single usage status indicator, but also save energy in all image forming apparatuses. When the mode is changed, the image forming apparatus that can be restored from the energy saving mode and the restoration time can be known, and the image forming apparatus can be selected from the usage status display device to be restored from the energy saving mode. . Since the usage status display device inquires each image forming apparatus whether or not it is constantly in the energy saving mode while the power is on, the user looks at the usage status display device in real time. You can get this information from a remote location.

It is a figure for demonstrating one Example of the image forming system by this invention. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment of the operation of the image forming system according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining another embodiment of the operation of the image forming system according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining another embodiment of the operation of the image forming system according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 10; transmission / reception control unit, 2, 11; system control unit, 3; image formation control unit,
4; high voltage power supply unit, 5; FAX unit, 6; printer unit, 7; scanner unit, 8; arithmetic processing unit,
9; execution unit, 12; display unit, 13; memory unit, 14; ID identification control unit,
15; Return order determination unit, 17; Power button, 18; Antenna, 19; Execution button,
20: Cursor key.

Claims (3)

In an image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus having an energy saving mode and a usage status display capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus,
When the power supply is turned on, the usage status indicator inquires whether the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode and displays whether the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode. A featured image forming system. In an image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus having an energy saving mode and a usage status display capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus,
When the power supply is turned on, the usage status display device inquires whether the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode, displays whether the image forming apparatus has shifted to the energy saving mode, and When the image forming apparatus is in the energy saving mode, the image forming apparatus is returned from the energy saving mode by an operation from the usage status indicator. In an image forming apparatus system comprising a plurality of image forming apparatuses having an energy saving mode and a usage status display capable of communicating with each image forming apparatus,
When the power status is turned on, the usage status indicator inquires whether or not the plurality of image forming apparatuses have shifted to the energy saving mode, and whether each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses has shifted to the energy saving mode. Display whether
When all the image forming apparatuses have transitioned to the energy saving mode, the usage status display unit identifies and displays the image forming apparatus that returns the earliest from the energy saving mode, and the operation status display unit performs the operation. An image forming system in which an image forming apparatus that recovers most quickly from an energy saving mode returns from the energy saving mode.

Images