JP2009279842A - Image forming system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology able to reduce the size and cost of an apparatus by achieving, without providing a secondary battery, supply of power to means needed to inform that supply of power from a commercial power source has stopped. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: a LAN connecting section 110 which is connected to a LAN cable C1 for transmitting data and power; an image output section 101 to which power is supplied from the commercial power source and which performs an output process for data received via the LAN cable C1; a power detecting section 107 which detects power supplied from the commercial power source; an informing section 108 for informing a user of information about supply of power from the commercial power source; and an informing control section 109 which controls the informing section 108 based on the detection result of the power detecting section 107. The power detecting section 107, informing section 108, and informing control section 109 are electrically connected to the LAN connecting section 110 so that power is supplied via the LAN cable C1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming apparatus.

  In a device having a standby state, when an input from an electric power supply source (AC input) is interrupted during standby, a technology is known that visually or audibly informs the user that the AC input is interrupted (for example, , See Patent Document 1). In the facsimile apparatus described in Patent Document 1, main power supply means for supplying power to each part of the apparatus main body, main power supply control means for controlling the main power supply means, and power supply to the main power supply control means Secondary battery means. Further, a power supply detecting means for monitoring the power supply state from the power supply source to the main power supply means, and a sound output means such as a piezoelectric buzzer are provided. Then, when it is detected by the power supply detection means that the AC input has been interrupted, the sound output means is activated to inform the user that the AC input has been interrupted.

JP-A-8-88715

  In order to notify the outside that the power supply from the commercial power supply has been interrupted, a power detection means for detecting the power supply from the commercial power supply or a notification means for notifying the user that the power supply from the commercial power supply has been interrupted In addition, notification control means for controlling the notification means is required. Even when the power supply from the commercial power supply is interrupted, a means for supplying power to these means for notifying that the power supply has been interrupted is necessary. However, in order to reduce the size and cost of the apparatus, it is possible to realize the power supply to the means necessary for notifying that the power supply from the commercial power supply has been interrupted without providing a secondary battery. desired.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided image output means for performing output processing of data received through a LAN cable and supplied with power from a commercial power supply, and power detection means for detecting power supplied from the commercial power supply. A notification means for notifying a user of information relating to power supply from the commercial power supply, and a notification control means for controlling the notification means based on a detection result of the power detection means, the power detection means and the The notification unit and the notification control unit are image forming systems in which power is supplied via the LAN cable.
The invention according to claim 2 includes a power switch that permits power supply from the commercial power supply by a switching operation, and the notification control unit controls the notification unit based on an on / off state of the power switch. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming system is controlled.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the power detection unit detects that power is not supplied from the commercial power source, the notification control unit determines an on / off state of the power switch. 3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the notification unit is controlled based on the determination result.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the notification control unit determines that the power switch is on, the notification control unit controls the notification unit to notify the user of information related to power supply, and the power switch The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the notification unit is controlled so as not to notify the user of the information when it is determined that the information is off.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a LAN connection unit connected to a LAN cable for flowing data and power, and an image output unit for supplying data from a commercial power source and performing processing for outputting data received via the LAN cable. A power detection unit that detects power supplied from the commercial power source, a notification unit that notifies a user of information related to power supply from the commercial power source, and the notification unit based on a detection result of the power detection unit. A notification control unit that controls the power detection unit, the notification unit, and the notification control unit are electrically connected to the LAN connection unit so that power is supplied via the LAN cable. An image forming apparatus.
The invention according to claim 6 includes a power switch that permits power supply from the commercial power supply by a switching operation, and the notification control unit controls the notification unit based on an on / off state of the power switch. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the power detection unit detects that power is not supplied from the commercial power source, the notification control unit determines an on / off state of the power switch. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the notification unit is controlled based on the determination result.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, when the notification control unit determines that the power switch is on, the notification control unit controls the notification unit to notify the user of information regarding power supply, and the power switch The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the notification unit is controlled so as not to notify the user of the information when it is determined that the information is off.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted, for example, it is not necessary to provide a secondary battery, so that the system can be reduced in size and cost.
According to claim 2 of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately notify the user of information relating to power supply.
According to claim 3 of the present invention, it is possible to accurately notify that power is not supplied from a commercial power source.
According to claim 4 of the present invention, it is possible to notify the user only when a real abnormality has occurred.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted, for example, it is not necessary to provide a secondary battery, so that the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost.
According to claim 6 of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately notify the user of information relating to power supply.
According to claim 7 of the present invention, it is possible to accurately notify that power is not supplied from a commercial power source.
According to claim 8 of the present invention, it is possible to notify the user only when a real abnormality has occurred.

The best mode (embodiment) for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming network system 1 according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming network system 1 transmits a print instruction to an image forming apparatus 10 that is a multi-function multifunction peripheral having a copying function, a facsimile function, a scanner function, and a printer function. And an information processing apparatus 20.

  The image forming network system 1 also includes a HUB 30 that connects the image forming apparatus 10 and the information processing apparatus 20 to each other via a network. The HUB 30 is connected to the image forming apparatus 10 via a local area network (LAN) cable C1, and is connected to the information processing apparatus 20 via a LAN cable C2. The HUB 30 connects the image forming apparatus 10 and the information processing apparatus 20 to each other via a network.

The LAN cable C1 is configured by a pair of a data communication line (shown by a broken line) and a power supply line (shown by a solid line). The power supply line of the LAN cable C1 can supply a maximum of 12.95 W with an input voltage of 36 to 57 V, for example. For this reason, if it is a low power apparatus, it can operate | move, without preparing a power supply itself. As such power supply, power supply and data transmission / reception from the HUB 30 to the image forming apparatus 10 are performed through a power supply network connection such as a Power-over-Ethernet (registered trademark) connection. It is conceivable to adopt a standard called IEEE 802.3af. In such a case, the HUB 30 corresponds to Power over Ethernet (registered trademark), and is configured to be able to supply power to the image forming apparatus 10 through the LAN cable C1.
The LAN cable C1 is exemplified by a data communication line and a power supply line configured as a pair, but a data communication line and a power supply line may be integrated. .

  On the other hand, the LAN cable C2 is a data communication line. In the present embodiment, a wired connection is used in which the information processing apparatus 20 and the HUB 30 are connected to each other via a LAN cable C2. However, the information processing apparatus 20 and the HUB 30 may be connected wirelessly. Further, as the LAN cable C2, similarly to the LAN cable C1, a data communication line and a power supply line that are paired or integrated may be adopted.

  The image forming network system 1 configured as described above is a network system that prints out information from the information processing apparatus 20 to the remote image forming apparatus 10 via the network. Then, the data output from the information processing apparatus 20 via the LAN cable C2 is received by the image forming apparatus 10 via the LAN cable C1. Then, the image forming apparatus 10 performs an output process of the received data by operating an image output unit 101 (see FIG. 2) described later.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. In FIG. 2, the power supply path is indicated by a solid line, and the data communication path is indicated by a broken line.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a power plug 102 for AC power (commercial power) and a power cord 103. The image forming apparatus 10 also includes an image output unit 101 serving as an image output unit that outputs an image to a medium, an image reading unit (not shown) that reads an image of a document, and a predetermined processing program. And a control unit 104 that controls the overall operation.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a power supply unit 105 that supplies power supplied via the power plug 102 and the power cord 103 to each part such as the image output unit 101 and the control unit 104. Further, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a power switch 106 operated by a user. When the user turns on the power switch 106, the power supply unit 105 is turned on (ON), and power is supplied from the power supply unit 105 to each part such as the image output unit 101. On the other hand, when the user turns off the power switch 106, the power supply unit 105 is turned off, and power supply from the power supply unit 105 to each part such as the image output unit 101 is cut off.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a power detection unit 107 as a power detection unit that detects whether power is supplied from the power supply unit 105. For example, when power is not supplied from the power supply unit 105 due to the disconnection of the power plug 102 from the outlet or the disconnection of the power cord 103, the power detection unit 107 is not supplied with power from the power supply unit 105. And the fact is output to the notification control unit 109 described later. On the other hand, when power starts to be supplied from the state where no power is supplied from the power supply unit 105, the fact is output to the notification control unit 109 described later.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a notification unit 108 as a notification unit for notifying the user of information related to power supply, and a notification control unit 109 as a notification control unit for controlling the notification unit 108. For example, when the notification control unit 109 acquires information indicating that power is not supplied from the power supply unit 105 from the power detection unit 107, the notification control unit 109 controls the notification unit 108 to notify the user to that effect. The notification unit 108 can be exemplified as a sound generating member that generates a notification sound such as a buzzer or performs voice guidance, or a light emitting member such as a lamp. Moreover, the structure which combined the sound generation member and the light emission member may be sufficient.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a LAN connection unit 110 to which a LAN cable C1 is connected. The power detection unit 107, the notification unit 108, and the notification control unit 109 are electrically connected to the LAN connection unit 110 so that power is supplied from the power supply line of the LAN cable C1 via the LAN connection unit 110. Yes. As a result, even when power is not supplied from the power supply unit 105 due to disconnection of the power plug 102 from the outlet or disconnection of the power cord 103, the power detection unit 107, the notification unit 108, and the notification control unit 109 are connected to the LAN. Power is supplied from the power supply line of the cable C1. Therefore, even when power is not supplied from the commercial power supply, the power detection unit 107 can detect that power is not supplied from the power supply unit 105, and the notification control unit 109 can control the notification unit 108. Even when power is not supplied from the power supply unit 105, sound can be generated when the notification unit 108 is a sound generating member, and light can be emitted when the notification unit 108 is a light emitting member.
As shown in FIG. 2, the power detection unit 107, the notification unit 108, and the notification control unit 109, to which power is supplied via the LAN cable C1, are connected to the image output unit 101, the control unit 104, the power supply unit 105, and the like. It is provided inside the housing 10a to be accommodated.

Here, even when power is not supplied from the power supply unit 105, if the power switch 106 is off (OFF), it is normal, so that the power is not supplied from the commercial power supply via the notification unit 108. Users should not be notified.
Therefore, the notification control unit 109 executes notification control processing described below.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of notification control processing performed by the notification control unit 109.
The notification control unit 109 starts executing the notification control process with the information that the power is not supplied from the power supply unit 105 acquired from the power detection unit 107 as a trigger.
Here, the notification control unit 109 includes a CPU that performs arithmetic processing, a RAM that is used as a working memory of the CPU, a ROM that stores a processing program executed by the CPU, and the like. A processing program for the notification control process is stored in the ROM.

  First, the notification control unit 109 determines whether or not the power switch 106 is off (OFF) (step 11). The on / off state of the power switch 106 is input to the notification control unit 109, and is determined based on the state of the power switch 106 at that time. If an affirmative determination is made, it is normal that power is not supplied from the power supply unit 105, and thus the execution of this process ends. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made, it is abnormal that power is not supplied from the power supply unit 105, and there are possible causes such as disconnection of the power plug 102 from the outlet and disconnection of the power cord 103. The notification unit 108 is controlled to notify the user of the occurrence (step 12). That is, the notification unit 108 is controlled to emit sound when the notification unit 108 is a sound generating member, and to emit light when the notification unit 108 is a light emitting member.

  After controlling the notification unit 108 to notify the user that an abnormality has occurred in step 12, the notification control unit 109 determines whether power supply from the power supply unit 105 has been started (step 13). . This is to determine whether or not information indicating that power supply has been started from the power supply unit 105 is acquired from the power detection unit 107. If the determination is affirmative, the supply of power from the power supply unit 105 is started and the operation is normal, so the notification to the user is terminated (step 14). That is, the notification unit 108 is controlled to end the generation of sound when the notification unit 108 is a sound generating member, and to end the light emission when the notification unit 108 is a light emitting member. Thereafter, the execution of this process is terminated. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 13, the processes in and after step 13 are executed until power supply from the power supply unit 105 is started (until an affirmative determination is made in step 13).

  As described above, when the notification control unit 109 executes the above-described notification control process, when power is not supplied from the power supply unit 105 and the power switch 106 is turned on, an abnormality has occurred. When the notification unit 108 is controlled to notify the user and it is determined that the power switch 106 is not turned on, the notification unit 108 does not generate sound or the like because it is normal. Thereby, the notification control unit 109 can notify the user that an abnormality has occurred appropriately.

  In the above-described notification control process, the notification control unit 109 starts executing the notification control process triggered by the acquisition of information that power is no longer supplied from the power supply unit 105 from the power detection unit 107. However, the present invention is not limited to such a mode. For example, the notification control unit 109 may periodically start executing the notification control process. In such a case, it is determined whether or not power is supplied from the power supply unit 105 before the process of step 11 described above. If an affirmative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 11 described above, and a negative determination is made. In such a case, the execution of the process may be terminated. Here, as an aspect for determining whether or not power is supplied from the power supply unit 105, whether or not power is supplied from the power supply unit 105 based on the latest information input from the power detection unit 107 is determined. The determination can be exemplified.

  In the notification control process described above, if a negative determination is made in step 11, that is, if the power switch 106 is turned on, an abnormality occurs in the user until an affirmative determination is made in step 13, that is, the user. The notification unit 108 controls to generate a sound or the like until it is corrected. However, it is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, if step 13 is not set (regardless of whether or not the abnormality is corrected) and a negative determination is made in step 11, the notification unit 108 controls to generate a sound or the like only for a predetermined period. May be. Alternatively, the notification unit 108 may be controlled to generate sound until the power switch 106 is turned off.

In the image forming apparatus 10 according to the above-described embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the power detection unit 107, the notification unit 108, and the notification control unit 109, which are supplied with power via the LAN cable C 1, It is provided inside the apparatus housing 10a of the apparatus main body that accommodates the output unit 101, the control unit 104, the power supply unit 105, and the like. However, it is not limited to such an aspect.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of another embodiment of the image forming apparatus. As shown in FIG. 4, the power detection unit 107, the notification unit 108, and the notification control unit 109 may be provided outside the apparatus housing 10 a of the apparatus main body that houses the image output unit 101 and the like.

  It should be noted that the power source 107, the notification unit 108, and the notification control unit 109 are provided with a commercial power supply in any of the configuration provided inside the device casing 10a of the device main body and the configuration provided outside the device casing 10a. It can be regarded as an image forming system provided with means for notifying that the power supply from is not performed. That is, the image forming apparatus 10 having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 and the image forming apparatus 10 having the configuration shown in FIG. 4 can be regarded as an image forming system. Therefore, the image forming system is supplied with power from a commercial power source, and detects output power (for example, the image output unit 101) that performs output processing of data received via the LAN cable and power supplied from the commercial power source. A power detection unit (for example, the power detection unit 107), a notification unit (for example, the notification unit 108) for notifying the user of information relating to power supply from the commercial power source, and a notification unit based on the detection result of the power detection unit. A notification control unit (for example, a notification control unit 109) to control, and the power detection unit, the notification unit, and the notification control unit are supplied with power through the LAN cable C1.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming network system according to the present embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a notification control process. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of the other Example of an image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming network system, 10 ... Image forming apparatus, 10a ... Apparatus housing, 20 ... Information processing apparatus, 30 ... HUB, 101 ... Image output part, 102 ... Power supply plug, 103 ... Power cord, 104 ... Control part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 105 ... Power supply part, 106 ... Power switch, 107 ... Electric power detection part, 108 ... Notification part, 109 ... Notification control part, 110 ... LAN connection part, C1, C2 ... LAN cable

Claims (8)

Image output means for outputting data received from the commercial power supply and received via the LAN cable;
Power detection means for detecting power supplied from the commercial power source;
Notification means for notifying a user of information relating to power supply from the commercial power source;
Notification control means for controlling the notification means based on the detection result of the power detection means;
Have
The image forming system, wherein the power detection unit, the notification unit, and the notification control unit are supplied with power through the LAN cable. Having a power switch that permits power supply from the commercial power supply by a switching operation;
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the notification control unit controls the notification unit based on an on / off state of the power switch.   When the power detection unit detects that power is not supplied from the commercial power source, the notification control unit determines the on / off state of the power switch, and the notification based on the determination result 3. An image forming system according to claim 2, wherein said control means is controlled.   When the notification control unit determines that the power switch is on, the notification control unit controls the notification unit to notify the user of information regarding power supply, and when the power control switch determines that the power switch is off. 4. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the notification unit is controlled so as not to notify the user of the information. A LAN connection unit connected to a LAN cable for flowing data and power;
An image output unit which is supplied with power from a commercial power source and performs output processing of data received via the LAN cable;
A power detection unit that detects power supplied from the commercial power supply;
A notification unit for notifying a user of information related to power supply from the commercial power source;
A notification control unit that controls the notification unit based on a detection result of the power detection unit;
Have
The image forming apparatus, wherein the power detection unit, the notification unit, and the notification control unit are electrically connected to the LAN connection unit so that power is supplied via the LAN cable. Having a power switch that permits power supply from the commercial power supply by a switching operation;
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the notification control unit controls the notification unit based on an on / off state of the power switch.   When the power detection unit detects that power is not supplied from the commercial power source, the notification control unit determines an on / off state of the power switch, and the notification based on the determination result The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled.   When the notification control unit determines that the power switch is on, the notification control unit controls the notification unit to notify the user of information regarding power supply, and when the power control switch determines that the power switch is off. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the notification unit is controlled so as not to notify the user of the information.

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