JP2009118005A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing an operating speed of a storing part for storing image data from being lowered in a low temperature environment. <P>SOLUTION: The temperature of a hard disk drive mounted in the image forming apparatus is measured (S102) in a sleep mode of the image forming apparatus (S101; Yes), and when the measured temperature is a temperature (≤10°C) at which the operating speed of the hard disk drive is lowered (103; Yes), current-carrying to the hard disk drive is performed only for a predetermined time (S105/S106). The temperature of the hard disk drive is measured again after the current-carrying (S107), and when the measured temperature is lowered than a constant temperature (18°C) (S108; No), current-carrying for the predetermined time is repeated to the hard disk drive until the temperature rises up to the constant temperature or higher. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a hard disk device or the like as a storage device for image data.

  In recent years, hard disk devices are easily affected by temperature as the capacity and density increase, and some hard disk devices have taken measures to ensure reliability at low temperatures and high temperatures. However, due to the influence, when the operating environment temperature or the temperature of the hard disk device itself becomes a low temperature or a high temperature, the data read / write operation is limited in speed. Similarly, a decrease in operating speed occurs in the initial state of control from the start of energization to stable operation.

  In an image forming apparatus in which such a hard disk device is mounted as a storage device for image data, the temperature of the hard disk device is increased by performing a control to stop the rotation of the cooling FAN when the temperature of the hard disk device becomes low in the operating state of the image forming apparatus. Techniques have been disclosed that prevent problems during the low-speed operation of the hard disk device by, for example, performing control that prohibits job submission or multiple submission in a low-speed access state (for example, patent documents) 1).

JP 2006-56062 A

  However, the above technique relates to temperature control of the hard disk device in the operating state of the image forming apparatus, and does not consider temperature control in a sleep mode (non-operating state) in which energization of the hard disk device is stopped. For this reason, when the hard disk device becomes low in the sleep mode or the like, the image forming apparatus starts (wakes up) from that state, resumes energization to the hard disk device, and immediately starts reading or printing the original image. Input / output may not be in time for document reading / printing, which may interrupt processing and reduce productivity.

  As described above, in an image forming apparatus equipped with a hard disk device, when it is desired to perform document reading / printing output under the fastest conditions of the device immediately after the start of the device, the above-described temperature environment factor of the hard disk device increases productivity. It has become a problem that must be solved because it affects.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that can prevent a decrease in operation speed in a low temperature environment of a storage unit that stores image data.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] An image data input unit;
A storage unit for storing image data output from the input unit;
An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on image data read from the storage unit;
A temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the storage unit;
An operation mode switching unit that switches the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to a sleep mode or another mode;
A control unit that performs energization control of the storage unit based on a detection result of the temperature detection unit when the operation mode of the image forming apparatus is the sleep mode;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

  In the above invention, the energization control of the storage unit is performed based on the temperature of the storage unit detected by the temperature detection unit when the operation mode of the image forming apparatus is the sleep mode. For example, energization control is performed such that when the low temperature temperature at which the data read / write speed of the storage unit is reduced is detected, the storage unit is energized, and when the normal temperature at which the data read / write speed does not decrease is detected, the storage unit is not energized. As a result, the storage unit can be maintained at a temperature at which the operation speed does not decrease even during the sleep mode, and the operation speed of the storage unit is reduced even if image formation is started immediately after transition from the sleep mode to another mode (normal mode). It can be accessed in the state without.

[2] An image data input unit;
A storage unit for storing image data output from the input unit;
An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on image data read from the storage unit;
A temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the storage unit;
An operation mode switching unit that switches the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to a first operation mode in which the storage unit is continuously energized or a second operation mode in which the energization is stopped;
A control unit that performs energization control of the storage unit based on a detection result of the temperature detection unit when the operation mode of the image forming apparatus is the second operation mode;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

  In the above invention, the energization control of the storage unit is performed based on the temperature of the storage unit detected by the temperature detection unit when the operation mode of the image forming apparatus is the second operation mode in which the energization of the storage unit is stopped. Note that the second operation mode is a mode in which the power supply to the storage unit is stopped due to factors other than temperature. For example, energization control is performed such that when the low temperature temperature at which the data read / write speed of the storage unit is reduced is detected, the storage unit is energized, and when the normal temperature at which the data read / write speed does not decrease is detected, the storage unit is not energized. Thereby, the storage unit can be maintained at a temperature at which the operation speed does not decrease even in the second operation mode, and when the access request is generated, the storage unit can be accessed immediately without the operation speed decreasing.

[3] a plurality of the storage units;
A plurality of the temperature detection units provided corresponding to the plurality of the storage units;
With
The image forming apparatus according to [1] or [2], wherein the control unit performs the energization control for the plurality of storage units one by one.

  In the above-described invention, the energization control for the plurality of storage units is performed one by one, so that the energization control is performed on the plurality of storage units simultaneously in the sleep mode / second mode. Power consumption at the time can be suppressed.

[4] The image forming apparatus according to [3], wherein the control unit performs the energization control on the plurality of storage units in order from a storage unit with a high priority set in advance.

  In the above invention, when energization control is performed on each of the plurality of storage units one by one, for example, the higher priority is set for the storage unit that is more likely than the storage unit that is not likely to be requested for access. The energization control is performed in order from the storage unit with the highest value, and the temperature is raised to standby. Thereby, the energization control with respect to each memory | storage part can be performed efficiently.

[5] An environmental temperature detection unit that detects an internal temperature of the image forming apparatus provided with the storage unit,
The image according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the control unit performs the energization control based on a detection result of the temperature detection unit and a detection result of the environmental temperature detection unit. Forming equipment.

  In the sleep mode and the second operation mode in which the energization to the storage unit is stopped, the temperature inside the image forming apparatus decreases, and the temperature of the storage unit tends to change following the temperature decrease in the image forming apparatus. . Therefore, in the above invention, the energization control of the storage unit is performed based on the temperature of the storage unit itself and the environmental temperature inside the image forming apparatus provided with the storage unit. In this way, by taking into consideration the environmental temperature in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to realize energization control with a margin for predicting the temperature change of the storage unit.

[6] The image forming apparatus according to [5], wherein the environmental temperature detection unit is a thermocouple.

[7] The image forming apparatus according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the energization control is control to turn on / off the storage unit at regular time intervals.

  In the above invention, since the storage unit is merely turned on / off at regular time intervals, the control is simplified.

[8] The image forming apparatus according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the energization control is performed such that a temperature of the storage unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

[9] The image forming apparatus according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein the temperature detection unit is an internal temperature detection unit provided in the storage unit.

  In the above invention, by detecting the temperature using the internal temperature detection unit provided in the storage unit, the accurate temperature in the storage unit can be detected and controlled. Further, temperature detection with a simple configuration is possible.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a decrease in operating speed in a low temperature environment of a storage unit that stores image data. Therefore, even immediately after the image forming apparatus is started from the sleep mode or the like, the storage unit can be accessed in a state where the operation speed does not decrease, and processing can be performed with maximum productivity.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 has a scanner function for optically reading a document, a copy function for forming an image of the image data obtained by the reading on a sheet and printing it out, converting print data input from the outside into image data, The digital image forming apparatus includes a printing function for forming an image of the converted image data on paper and printing it out, and a facsimile function for transmitting / receiving image data to / from an external device via a public line.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an overall control unit 11, a hard disk device 12 (displayed as HDD; Hard Disk Drive in the figure), an external interface (I / F; Interface) 13, and a facsimile unit. 14, a scanner unit 15, an image processing unit 16, a process control unit 17, a process control interface 18, a printer unit 19, a temperature sensor 20, a mode control switch 21, and a power supply control unit 22. Yes. The overall control unit 11 also includes a central processing unit (CPU) 30, a read only memory (ROM) 31, and a random access memory (RAM) 32 that control the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 10 including the above-described functions. And a non-volatile memory 33 and a hard disk device interface 34 to which the hard disk device 12 is connected.

  The ROM 31 stores programs executed by the CPU 30 and various fixed data. The RAM 32 functions as a work memory that temporarily stores various data when the CPU 30 executes a program, and an image memory that temporarily stores image data acquired by reading a document or image data received by facsimile. The nonvolatile memory 33 has a function of storing predetermined data to be stored even after the power is turned off, such as various parameters unique to the device and control data used for energization control of the hard disk device 12.

  The facsimile unit 14 is connected to a public line (not shown), and performs a function of compressing / decompressing image data by a compression method corresponding to facsimile, and a function of controlling various communication procedures for facsimile transmission / reception through the public line.

  The scanner unit 15 has a function of reading a document and acquiring image data, and a light source that irradiates the document, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor that reads the document for one line in the width direction, and an analog image output from the image sensor. An A / D converter for converting the signal into digital image data is provided. Although not shown in the drawings, a moving mechanism that moves the reading position of the line unit by the image sensor in the length direction of the document, and an optical component that includes a lens or a mirror that guides reflected light from the document to the image sensor and forms an image. Etc.

  The external interface 13 is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 2, a facsimile unit 14, a scanner unit 15, and the like, and receives data from an external terminal through the facsimile unit 14, the scanner unit 15, or a function for transmitting / receiving data to / from the outside. A function of developing (rasterizing) print data composed of a character code or the like into image data (image data) is provided. The external interface 13 functions as an input unit for image data.

  The hard disk device 12 has a function of storing and accumulating a large amount of image data in order to enable printing output of a plurality of image data obtained by reading a document by the scanner unit 15. In addition, the hard disk device 12 uses SMART (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) as a self-diagnosis function that detects various inspection items including the usage time of the device itself and the temperature inside the device in real time and retains the information. It is installed.

  The image processing unit 16 has a function of performing various image processing for print output on the image data input from the overall control unit 11 and outputting the processed image data to the process control unit 17. The process control unit 17 has a function of outputting the image data input from the image processing unit 16 to the printer unit 19 via the process control interface 18 and controlling the printing operation by the printer unit 19.

  The printer unit 19 forms an image corresponding to image data input from the process control unit 17 via the process control interface 18 on a sheet by an electrophotographic process and outputs the image. The printer unit 19 includes a paper transport device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an LD (Laser Diode) that is controlled to be turned on according to input image data, and laser light emitted from the LD (not shown). It is configured as a so-called laser printer having a scanning unit that scans on a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a transfer separating device, a cleaning device, and a fixing device. Instead of an LED printer that irradiates a photosensitive drum with an LED (Light Emitting Diode) instead of a laser beam, other types of printers may be used.

  Inside the image forming apparatus 10, a process control interface 18 and a process control unit 17 are disposed in the vicinity of the printer unit 19, and a hard disk device 12 is further installed in the vicinity thereof.

  The temperature sensor 20 is composed of a thermocouple, and is connected to the process control interface 18 and attached in the vicinity of the process control unit 17 and the printer unit 19 to detect the temperature (environment temperature) inside the image forming apparatus 10. It functions as an environmental temperature detector. In addition, since the hard disk device 12 is installed in the vicinity of the process control unit 17 and the printer unit 19, the temperature sensor 20 also has a function of detecting the ambient temperature around the hard disk device 12.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is provided with a normal mode and a sleep mode as operation modes, and the mode control switch 21 has a function as an operation mode switching unit that switches the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 10 to the normal mode or the sleep mode. ing. The mode control switch 21 is configured as a touch panel type operation display unit (operation panel) capable of image display and touch operation, and various modes relating to the operation state, operation guidance, warnings, errors, and the like of the image forming apparatus 10. It also has a function of displaying information and a function of accepting an input operation from the user.

  The power supply control unit 22 is connected to a power supply unit (not shown), and performs power supply control (energization / stop) for the hard disk device 12, the image processing unit 16, the process control unit 17, the process control interface 18, the printer unit 19, the mode control switch 21, and the like. Fulfills the function of performing. Further, the external interface 13, the facsimile unit 14, the scanner unit 15 and the like operate without being subjected to power control by the power control unit 22.

  Hereinafter, a normal mode and a sleep mode that the image forming apparatus 10 includes as operation modes will be described.

  The normal mode is a state in which each part of the apparatus including the mode control switch 21 as an operation display unit is energized and the user can perform a function operation from the mode control switch 21. In this normal mode, the hard disk device 12 is also energized. In other words, the normal mode is an operation mode (first operation mode) in which the hard disk device 12 is continuously energized.

  The sleep mode is a state in which each part of the apparatus is turned off / low power in order to obtain a power saving effect, but a trigger (start signal) for returning to the normal mode is accepted. In this sleep mode, the mode control switch 21 turns off the backlight or turns off the display, but senses a touch operation by the user. In addition, the hard disk device 12, the image processing unit 16, the process control unit 17, the printer unit 19 and the like are de-energized by the power control unit 22, and the print function is stopped. However, the external interface 13, the facsimile unit 14, and the scanner unit 15 are energized and are in an operable state (standby state). When the mode control switch 21 is touched in the sleep mode, a print job is input to the external interface 13 through the LAN 2, a facsimile job is input to the facsimile unit 14 through the public line, or an original is set in the scanner unit 15. The image forming apparatus 10 wakes up and returns to the normal mode. Further, the process control interface 18 is energized by the power supply control unit 22, and the temperature sensor 20 is in an effective state.

  As described above, in the sleep mode, the hard disk device 12 is turned off. In other words, the sleep mode is an operation mode (second operation mode) in which energization of the hard disk device 12 is stopped. However, the hard disk device 12 may be energized even in the sleep mode by energization control described later.

  The sleep mode is manually switched by performing a sleep mode selection operation (such as pressing the sleep mode selection button) with the mode control switch 21, or when a predetermined time elapses with no operation and no job input. It is automatically switched by a timer.

  Next, a flow from input to output of image data in the normal copy operation and print operation by the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  In the case of a copy operation, when the scanner unit 15 reads a document image, image data is sequentially output from the scanner unit 15 and input to the overall control unit 11 via the external interface 13. This image data is temporarily stored in the RAM 32 and further transferred from the RAM 32 to the hard disk device 12 via the hard disk device interface 34 and stored therein.

  In the case of a printing operation, when the external interface 13 receives print data from an external terminal (not shown) via the LAN 2, the external interface 13 expands the print data into image data. This image data is input from the external interface 13 to the overall control unit 11, temporarily stored in the RAM 32 as in the copying operation, and transferred from the RAM 32 to the hard disk device 12 via the hard disk device interface 34 and stored therein.

  In both the copying operation and the printing operation, the image data stored in the hard disk device 12 is read at the time of output, and is output to the image processing unit 16 via the overall control unit 11, and various image processing is performed in the image processing unit 16. Thereafter, the data is output to the printer unit 19 via the process control unit 17 and the process control interface 18. The printer unit 19 controls the lighting of the LD according to the input image data, forms an image on a sheet, and prints it out.

  Next, energization control of the hard disk device 12 performed in the sleep mode of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  As described in the background art, the data read / write speed may decrease at a low temperature in the hard disk device. Moreover, the decrease in the data read / write speed due to the temperature factor may vary depending on the model, and there is a model in which the data write speed is significantly decreased. For this reason, image processing devices that achieve high resolution and high-speed output, in particular, are unable to input / output image data by the hard disk device for reading or printing output due to a decrease in the data reading / writing speed of the hard disk device. A data waiting time may occur, which may interrupt processing and reduce productivity.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the relationship (characteristics) between the temperature of the hard disk device 12 mounted on the image forming apparatus 10 and the data read / write speed is measured in advance, and the lower limit temperature at which a decrease in the data read / write speed can be allowed in the document reading / printing output. The power supply control of the hard disk device 12 is performed using the lower limit temperature when the image forming apparatus 10 is in the sleep mode. Further, in order to give a margin to the start of the energization control, the energization control is performed in consideration of the ambient temperature around the hard disk device 12 inside the image forming apparatus 10.

  Specifically, the lower limit temperature (T) set based on the above measurement result in the hard disk device 12 is stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory 33 of the overall control unit 11, and energization is stopped when the image forming apparatus 10 is in the sleep mode. The temperature of the hard disk device 12 is monitored. When this temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature, it can be determined that the data reading / writing speed is reduced in the hard disk device 12 due to document reading / printing output by the image forming apparatus 10, and the hard disk device 12 is energized for a certain period of time to increase the temperature. I do. Further, when the temperature of the hard disk device 12 is approaching the above lower limit temperature (T + α1) and the ambient environmental temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature (T), the temperature of the hard disk device 12 may soon be lower than the lower limit temperature. In this case as well, the hard disk device 12 is energized for a certain period of time to control the temperature. Further, the energization for a certain period of time is repeated until the temperature of the hard disk device 12 reaches a certain temperature (T + α2) or higher.

  For example, when the data read / write speed is lowered when the hard disk device 12 is 10 ° C. or less, the reading / printing output productivity is affected, the lower limit temperature (T) as the energization start condition is 10 ° C. Set to. Further, the temperature margin (T + α1) for starting energization of the hard disk device 12 when the environmental temperature is equal to or lower than the lower limit temperature can be arbitrarily set. However, in this embodiment, the measurement error of the temperature sensor 20 that measures the environmental temperature is 2. Considering that the temperature is about ° C, the lower limit temperature is set to + 2 ° C (= 12 ° C). Further, a constant temperature (T + α2) that is a condition for stopping energization of the hard disk device 12 can be arbitrarily set, but is set to 18 ° C. in the present embodiment. The energization control process of the hard disk device 12 described below is performed using each temperature set in this way.

  FIG. 2 shows a flow of energization control processing of the hard disk device 12 performed by the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment.

  When starting this processing (start), the CPU 30 constantly monitors whether or not the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 10 has been switched to the sleep mode (step S101). When the user automatically switches to the sleep mode by the operation of the mode control switch 21 or a timer (step S101; Yes), the CPU 30 sends an instruction to the power supply control unit 22 and stops the power supply to the hard disk device 12 by the power supply control unit 22 Let Subsequently, the CPU 30 measures the temperature of the hard disk device 12 and the temperature inside the image forming apparatus 10 (step S102). Specifically, the CPU 30 acquires temperature information inside the hard disk device 12 detected by the SMART of the hard disk device 12 in real time, and the inside of the image forming apparatus 10 detected by the temperature sensor 20 in real time (around the hard disk device 12). Get temperature information.

  Next, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the temperature of the hard disk device 12 is 10 ° C. or less from the temperature information acquired from the SMART of the hard disk device 12 (step S103). When the temperature exceeds 10 ° C. (step S103; No), the CPU 30 also refers to the temperature information acquired from the temperature sensor 20, and the temperature of the hard disk device 12 is 12 ° C. or less and the temperature inside the image forming apparatus 10 (hard disk). It is determined whether or not the operating environment temperature of the device 12 is 10 ° C. or less (step S104).

  If the determination is negative (step S104; No), the process returns to step S101, and the CPU 30 continues the process after the determination to switch to the sleep mode. If the determination is affirmative (step S104; Yes), or if the temperature of the hard disk device 12 is 10 ° C. or lower (step S103; Yes), the CPU 30 sends an instruction to the power supply control unit 22, and the hard disk drive by the power supply control unit 22 Energization of the device 12 is executed for a predetermined time t (steps S105 / S106). This energization raises the temperature of the hard disk device 12.

  When the energization is completed, the CPU 30 measures the temperature of the hard disk device 12 again (step S107). That is, the CPU 30 acquires again the temperature information inside the hard disk device 12 detected by the SMART of the hard disk device 12 in real time.

  Then, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the temperature of the hard disk device 12 is 18 ° C. or higher from the acquired temperature information (step S108). When the temperature is less than 18 ° C. (step S108; No), the process returns to step S105, and the processing after step S105 (energization for the predetermined time t to the hard disk device 12) is repeated. When the temperature is 18 ° C. or higher (step S108; Yes), the process returns to step S101, and the CPU 30 continues the processing after the determination of switching to the sleep mode.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, by controlling the energization of the hard disk device 12 based on the temperature of the hard disk device 12 during the sleep mode, the operation speed of the hard disk device 12 is reduced even during the sleep mode. Temperature (10 ° C. or higher). As a result, the hard disk device 12 can be accessed in a state in which the operation speed does not decrease even if reading of a document or printing output is started immediately after shifting from the sleep mode to the normal mode. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the input / output of image data from the hard disk device 12 from being in time for reading a document or printing output, and reading / printing the document under the fastest condition (maximum productivity) of the image forming apparatus 10 from the start of the job. Output can be implemented.

  In the sleep mode, each part of the image forming apparatus 10 is powered off / low power to reduce the temperature inside the apparatus, and the temperature of the hard disk device 12 is reduced to a temperature drop (low temperature environment temperature) in the image forming apparatus 10. There is a tendency to change following. In contrast, in the present embodiment, energization control of the hard disk device 12 is performed based on the temperature of the hard disk device 12 itself and the temperature (environment temperature) in the image forming apparatus 10, thereby predicting the temperature change of the hard disk device 12. Energization control with sufficient margin can be realized. Furthermore, this energization control is simple because the hard disk device 12 is only turned on / off at regular time intervals.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 50 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 50 is configured as a digital color multifunction peripheral having a color copy function and a color print function. The image forming apparatus 50 is configured to individually store image data of each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (blacK) used for forming a color image in a hard disk device. It has four hard disk devices. Specifically, the hard disk device 12C that stores cyan image data, the hard disk device 12M that stores magenta image data, the hard disk device 12Y that stores yellow image data, and the hard disk device 12K that stores black image data. And equipped.

  Further, the scanner unit 15 has a function of reading a color original image and outputting C, M, Y, and K image data. The overall control unit 11, the image processing unit 16, and the process control unit 17 have a function of individually processing C, M, Y, and K image data. The printer unit 19 has a function of forming a color image from input C, M, Y, and K image data. The power supply control unit 22 has a function of individually controlling energization of the four hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K.

  Other parts have the same configuration as that of the image forming apparatus 10 described in the first embodiment. The energization state of each part of the apparatus in the normal mode and the sleep mode is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  Next, energization control of the hard disk device performed in the sleep mode of the image forming apparatus 50 will be described.

  4 to 6 show the flow of energization control processing of the four hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K performed by the image forming apparatus 50 of the present embodiment.

  In general, in a sleep mode or the like for obtaining a power saving effect, usable power (reference power) is defined by a power regulation standard, and power consumption is limited to be equal to or less than the reference power. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 50 equipped with the four hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K as in the present embodiment, the power consumption becomes the above-described reference power when the hard disk devices are energized simultaneously in the sleep mode. May be exceeded. Therefore, in the energization control process of this embodiment, power consumption is suppressed by performing energization control for the four hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K one by one.

  Even in a color compatible machine, there are generally more opportunities to copy and print in monochrome than in color, so there is a possibility that the frequency of access requests to the hard disk device 12K is higher than in the hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y. Further, since the usage rate of black is often high in color originals and print data, the amount of data in black is larger than that in cyan, magenta, and yellow, and the hard disk device 12K is more than in the hard disk devices 12C, 12M, and 12Y. There is a possibility that the required data transfer rate will be high.

  Therefore, in the energization control processing of the present embodiment, the energization control of the hard disk device 12K, which is most likely to be requested for access and is expected to require a higher data transfer rate than other colors, is given the highest priority. The remaining three hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y are sequentially controlled. For this purpose, the priority of energization control of the hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K is set in advance corresponding to the function assignment. In this embodiment, the hard disk device 12K is assigned first, and for the remaining three units, for convenience, the hard disk device 12C is assigned second, the hard disk device 12M is assigned third, and the hard disk device 12Y is assigned fourth. Yes.

  When starting this processing (start), the CPU 30 confirms the function assignment of the four hard disk devices mounted on the image forming apparatus 50 (step S111). Here, the CPU 30 assigns the black hard disk device 12K to the first (HDD (1)), assigns the cyan hard disk device 12C to the second (HDD (2)), and uses magenta. It is confirmed that the hard disk device 12M is assigned to the third (HDD (3)) and the yellow hard disk device 12Y is assigned to the fourth (HDD (4)).

  When the confirmation is completed, the CPU 30 constantly monitors whether or not the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 50 has been switched to the sleep mode (step S112). When the user automatically switches to the sleep mode by the operation of the mode control switch 21 or a timer (step S112; Yes), the CPU 30 sends an instruction to the power control unit 22, and the hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, Stop energization to 12K.

  Subsequently, the CPU 30 measures the temperatures of the four hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K in the order confirmed by the function assignment (order from the first to the fourth), and temporarily stores each temperature information.

  Specifically, after setting the variable n to 0 (step S113), the variable n is incremented by 1 (step S114), the temperature of the nth hard disk device (HDD (n)) is measured, and the temperature is tmp. Temporarily store in (n) (step S115). As described in the first embodiment, the temperature measurement of the hard disk device is performed by acquiring temperature information inside the hard disk device detected in real time by the SMART of the hard disk device. Until the variable n becomes 4 (step S116), the processes from step S114 to step S116 are repeated.

  When the variable n becomes 4 (step S116; Yes), the temperature measurement of the four hard disk devices is completed. Subsequently, the CPU 30 measures the temperature inside the image forming apparatus 10 and temporarily stores the temperature as tmp_m (step S117). As described in the first embodiment, the temperature inside the image forming apparatus 10 is measured by the temperature sensor 20 in real time (around the hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K). ) To obtain temperature information.

  Next, after setting the variable n to 0 (step S118), the CPU 30 adds +1 to the variable n (step S119), and if the variable n is 4 or less (step S120; Yes), the nth hard disk device. The temperature information tmp (n) of (HDD (n)) is read, and based on the temperature information tmp (n), it is determined whether or not the temperature of the nth hard disk device is 10 ° C. or less (step S122). When the temperature exceeds 10 ° C. (step S122; No), the CPU 30 also reads out and refers to temperature information inside the image forming apparatus 50 (step S123), and the temperature of the nth hard disk device is 12 ° C. or less and image formation is performed. It is determined whether or not the temperature inside the device 50 is 10 ° C. or less (step S124).

  If the determination is negative (step S124; No), the process returns to step S119, and the CPU 30 similarly repeats the processing from step S119 to step S124 for the next hard disk device. If the variable n exceeds 4 by repeating this process (step S120; No), the process returns to step S112, and the CPU 30 continues the process after determining the sleep mode.

  If the determination is affirmative (step S124; Yes), or if the temperature of the nth hard disk device is 10 ° C. or lower (step S122; Yes), whether or not the variable n is 1, that is, as the current target It is determined whether or not the hard disk device being used is for black (HDD (1)) (step S125). If the variable n is 1, the process proceeds to step S126 in FIG. 5, and if the variable n is not 1, the process proceeds to step S130 in FIG.

  When the process proceeds to step S126, the CPU 30 sends an instruction to the power supply control unit 22, and the power supply control unit 22 energizes the black hard disk device 12K (HDD (1)) for a predetermined time t (step S126). / S127). This energization raises the temperature of the hard disk device 12K.

  When the energization ends, the CPU 30 measures the temperature of the black hard disk device 12K again and temporarily stores the temperature information as tmp (1) (step S128).

  Then, the CPU 30 determines from the temperature information tmp (1) whether or not the temperature of the black hard disk device 12K is equal to or higher than 18 ° C. (step S129). When the temperature is lower than 18 ° C. (step S129; No), the process returns to step S126, and the processes after step S126 are repeated. When the temperature is 18 ° C. or higher (step S129; Yes), the process returns to step S112 in FIG. 4, and the CPU 30 continues the process after the determination to switch to the sleep mode.

  When the process proceeds to step S130, the CPU 30 determines the predetermined hard disk devices 12C, 12M, and 12Y (HDD (2) / HDD (3) / HDD (4)) for cyan, magenta, and yellow except black. Energization at time t is executed.

  Specifically, after setting the variable n to 1 (step S130), the variable n is incremented by 1 (step S131), and the CPU 30 sends an instruction to the power supply control unit 22, and the nth hard disk device by the power supply control unit 22 is sent. Energization of (HDD (n)) is executed for a predetermined time t (steps S132 / S133). This energization raises the temperature of the nth hard disk device.

  When the energization is completed, the CPU 30 measures the temperature of the nth hard disk device again and temporarily stores the temperature information as tmp (n) (step S134).

  Then, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the temperature of the nth hard disk device is 18 ° C. or higher based on the temperature information tmp (n) (step S135). When the temperature is less than 18 ° C. (step S135; No), the process returns to step S132, and the processes after step S132 are repeated. When the temperature is 18 ° C. or higher (step S135; Yes), the processing from step S131 to step S136 is repeated until the variable n becomes 4 (step S136).

  When the variable n becomes 4 (step S136; Yes), energization to the hard disk devices 12C, 12M, and 12Y is completed, and the temperatures of the hard disk devices 12C, 12M, and 12Y become equal to or higher than a certain temperature (18 ° C.). Then, the process returns to step S112 in FIG. 4, and the CPU 30 continues the processing after the determination of the sleep mode.

  Further, in the processing shown in FIG. 6, the energization control is performed for all the hard disk devices 12C, 12M, and 12Y. However, the energization control is not performed for the hard disk device having a certain temperature (18 ° C.) or higher. You may do it. The modification is shown in FIG.

  In the process shown in FIG. 7, after setting the variable n to 1 (step S140), the CPU 30 adds +1 to the variable n (step S141), and the temperature of the nth hard disk device is determined from the temperature information tmp (n). It is determined whether the temperature is 18 ° C. or higher (step S142). If the temperature is 18 ° C. or higher (step S135; Yes), the current control of the nth hard disk device is not performed, and the processing from step S141 to step S143 is performed until the variable n becomes 4 (step S143). repeat.

  When the temperature is lower than 18 ° C. (Step S142; No), the same processing as Step S132 to Step S134 of FIG. 6 is performed. That is, the CPU 30 sends an instruction to the power control unit 22 and executes energization to the nth hard disk device (HDD (n)) by the power control unit 22 for a predetermined time t (steps S144 / S145). After this energization, the CPU 30 measures the temperature of the nth hard disk device again and temporarily stores the temperature information as tmp (n) (step S146).

  Thereafter, the process returns to step S142, and if the temperature of the n-th hard disk device is again lower than 18 ° C. from the temperature information tmp (n) (step S142; No), the processes after step S144 are repeated. If it is 18 degreeC or more (step S142; Yes), it will transfer to step S143.

  When the variable n becomes 4 in step S143 (step S143; Yes), the process returns to step S112 in FIG. 4, and the CPU 30 continues the processing after the determination of the sleep mode.

  With the above processing, in the hard disk devices 12C, 12M, and 12Y, only those having a temperature lower than a certain temperature (18 ° C.) are subjected to energization control and the temperature is raised to a certain temperature or more. It will not be executed.

  As described above, even in the color-compatible image forming apparatus 50 in which the four hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K are mounted, the hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K are configured based on the temperatures of the hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K. By performing energization control, each hard disk device can be maintained at a temperature (10 ° C. or higher) at which the operating speed does not decrease even during the sleep mode. As a result, even if reading of a color document or color printing output is started immediately after the transition from the sleep mode to the normal mode, each hard disk device can be accessed in a state where the operation speed does not decrease. Accordingly, it is possible to perform color document reading / printing output under the fastest condition (maximum productivity) of the image forming apparatus 50 from the start of the job.

  In the case of the present embodiment as well, the energization control of each hard disk device is performed based on the temperature of the hard disk device itself and the environmental temperature inside the image forming apparatus 50, so that a margin for predicting the temperature change of each hard disk device can be obtained. A certain energization control can be realized. Furthermore, this energization control is also simple because each hard disk drive is only turned on / off at regular time intervals.

  In the present embodiment, the power consumption is suppressed by performing energization control on the four hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K one by one. As a result, the power consumption in the sleep mode can be kept below the reference power for power regulation and the standard can be satisfied. Further, when performing energization control for the four hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K one by one, the hard disk device 12K has the highest priority for energization control in consideration of the usage status of color-compatible devices. Thus, the hard disk device 12K is preferentially heated to stand by. As a result, the energization control for the four hard disk devices 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K mounted on the color compatible device can be efficiently performed according to the usage status of the color compatible device.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, the energization control for the hard disk device is performed in the sleep mode, but this energization control is not limited to the sleep mode, but various modes for stopping the energization to the hard disk device (standby mode / low power mode, etc.) You may make it perform in.

  In the energization control process described in the embodiment, the energization control for the hard disk device is performed using the temperature of the hard disk device and the internal temperature (environment temperature) of the image forming apparatus, but only the temperature of the hard disk device. You may make it perform using.

  Further, although the hard disk device is turned on / off at regular time intervals, the method of energization control (energization / stop) is not limited to this. For example, when the hard disk device is repeatedly energized because the temperature of the hard disk device does not reach a certain temperature (18 ° C.) which is a condition for stopping energization, the second energization time is equal to the first energization time. The energization time after the second time may be shorter than the previous energization time, for example, the current energization time for the third time may be reduced to 1/3. Also, the length of the energization time is changed according to the temperature difference, such as increasing the energization time if the difference between the hard disk device temperature and the constant temperature that is the energization stop condition is large, and shortening the energization time if the difference is small. You may make it do.

  In addition, the energization control for the hard disk device is not limited to the control based on the time as described in the embodiment, but the control based on the temperature such that the temperature of the hard disk device is constantly monitored and the energization is stopped when the temperature exceeds a certain temperature. It is good.

  In the embodiment, the temperature of the hard disk device is detected by using a self-diagnosis function (SMART). However, for a hard disk device not equipped with such a self-diagnosis function, A temperature sensor may be attached to the surface or the like to detect the temperature outside the apparatus.

  In the embodiment, the hard disk device is described as an example of the image data storage device (storage unit). However, a storage device other than the hard disk device may be used as long as the data read / write speed decreases due to temperature factors.

  The present invention is not limited to the digital multi-function peripheral described in the embodiment, and can be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a digital copying machine and a digital printer.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the electricity supply control process of the hard-disk apparatus based on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the electricity supply control processing of the hard-disk apparatus based on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the electricity supply control processing of the hard-disk apparatus based on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the electricity supply control processing of the hard-disk apparatus based on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the modification of the electricity supply control process shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... LAN
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus 11 ... Overall control part 12 ... Hard disk apparatus 12C ... Hard disk apparatus 12K ... Hard disk apparatus 12M ... Hard disk apparatus 12Y ... Hard disk apparatus 13 ... External interface 14 ... Facsimile part 15 ... Scanner part 16 ... Image processing part 17 ... Process Control unit 18 ... Process control interface 19 ... Printer unit 20 ... Temperature sensor 21 ... Mode control switch 22 ... Power supply control unit 30 ... CPU
31 ... ROM
32 ... RAM
33 ... Nonvolatile memory 34 ... Hard disk device interface 50 ... Image forming apparatus

Claims (9)

An input unit for image data;
A storage unit for storing image data output from the input unit;
An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on image data read from the storage unit;
A temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the storage unit;
An operation mode switching unit that switches the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to a sleep mode or another mode;
A control unit that performs energization control of the storage unit based on a detection result of the temperature detection unit when the operation mode of the image forming apparatus is the sleep mode;
An image forming apparatus comprising: An input unit for image data;
A storage unit for storing image data output from the input unit;
An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on image data read from the storage unit;
A temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the storage unit;
An operation mode switching unit that switches the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to a first operation mode in which the storage unit is continuously energized or a second operation mode in which the energization is stopped;
A control unit that performs energization control of the storage unit based on a detection result of the temperature detection unit when the operation mode of the image forming apparatus is the second operation mode;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A plurality of the storage units;
A plurality of the temperature detection units provided corresponding to the plurality of the storage units;
With
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs the energization control for the plurality of storage units one by one. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit performs the energization control on the plurality of storage units in order from a storage unit with a high priority set in advance. An environmental temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature inside the image forming apparatus provided with the storage unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs the energization control based on a detection result of the temperature detection unit and a detection result of the environmental temperature detection unit. . The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the environmental temperature detection unit is a thermocouple. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energization control is control for turning on / off the storage unit at regular time intervals. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energization control is performed so that a temperature of the storage unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detection unit is an internal temperature detection unit provided in the storage unit.

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