JP2010091871A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of reducing a time required to recover from a power-saving state. <P>SOLUTION: The printer includes: a print processing unit 70 for forming an image on a recording medium, and requiring a warm-up operation thereof when recovering from the power-saving state; a power-saving control unit 91a for shifting the print processing unit 70 to the power-saving state; and a power-saving state releasing unit 91b for releasing the print processing unit 70 from the power-saving state after the print processing unit 70 is shifted to the power-saving state upon a lapse of recovery time that means the time required to reduce the temperature of the print processing unit 70 to a predetermined temperature. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus capable of reducing power consumption by shifting to a power saving state.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus that shifts to a power saving state when not operating is known in order to reduce power consumption. The power saving state shifts when the printing apparatus is not operated for a predetermined period or according to an operation from the user. Further, when the printing apparatus shifts to the power saving state, power consumption is reduced by stopping driving of each unit.

  Usually, a predetermined waiting time is required for the printing apparatus to recover from the power saving state. For example, since a print processing unit that forms an image on a recording medium requires a predetermined warm-up when returning from the power-saving state, the return from the power-saving state is completed when the warm-up is completed. Therefore, when the printing apparatus is in the power saving state, the printing apparatus may not be able to start the printing process promptly even if the user tries to cause the printing apparatus to execute the printing process or the like.

A printing device that patterns the usage state from the usage history of the printing device so that the user does not enter the power saving state during the time when the user uses the printing device, and sets the power saving transition time and the power saving return time using this pattern Is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2007-168295 A

  The time required to return from the power saving state depends on the state of each part at the time of power saving return. That is, in a part that requires a certain warm-up at the time of return, the time required for the warm-up depends on the temperature of the part and the temperature at which the warm-up is completed. For this reason, there are cases where the time for returning from the power saving state cannot be shortened by simply patterning the power saving transition time and the power saving return time in consideration of the user's usage history.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a printing apparatus capable of reducing the time required for returning from a power saving state.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a print processing unit that forms an image on a recording medium and requires warm-up to return from the power saving state, and the print processing unit is shifted to the power saving state. And a power saving control unit that cancels the power saving state of the print processing unit when a return time indicating a time during which the temperature of the print processing unit decreases to a predetermined temperature has elapsed after the print processing unit has entered the power saving state. It has a configuration having a release unit.

In the invention configured as described above, a print processing unit that forms an image on a recording medium and requires warm-up in order to return from the power saving state, and a power saving unit that shifts the print processing unit to the power saving state. In the printing apparatus having the control unit, the power saving canceling unit, after the print processing unit shifts to the power saving state, when a return time indicating a time during which the temperature of the print processing unit decreases to a predetermined temperature has elapsed, Release the state.
For this reason, since the printing apparatus performs a recovery from the power saving state when the time for the temperature of the print processing unit to fall to a predetermined temperature has elapsed, the time required for the warm-up that the print processing unit performs when returning to the power saving is shortened. Can do. That is, by preventing the temperature of the print processing unit from being lowered to a predetermined temperature when the print processing unit is warmed up, the time required to complete the warm-up is shortened. In addition, when the printing apparatus enters the power saving state, when the print command is input to return from the power saving state, the temperature of the print processing unit is maintained at a predetermined temperature. There is no need to warm, and no load is applied to the print processing unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a print processing unit that forms an image on a recording medium and requires warm-up in order to return from the power saving state, and a power saving unit that shifts the print processing unit to the power saving state. After the control unit, the temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the print processing unit, and the print processing unit shifts to a power saving state, if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit falls below a certain temperature, the print processing And a power saving canceling unit that cancels the power saving state of the unit.
In the invention configured as described above, the temperature state of the print processing unit is detected by the temperature detection unit.

As another aspect of the present invention, in order to form an image on a recording medium and return from the power saving state, the print processing unit that requires warm-up and the print processing unit are shifted to the power saving state. A power-saving control unit, a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the print processing unit, and an elapse of a return time that represents a time during which the temperature of the print processing unit decreases to a predetermined temperature after the print processing unit has entered the power-saving state After that, or when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit drops below a predetermined temperature, the print processing unit has a power saving canceling unit that cancels the power saving state.
When the installation location of the printing apparatus changes, it may not be possible to cope with the temperature change of the print processing unit only by the return time. In other words, since the return time is determined by predicting the temperature change of the print processing unit in advance, if the ambient temperature or the like changes due to the change of the installation location of the printing device, the print processing unit It is conceivable that the temperature change does not correspond to the recovery time. Therefore, in the invention configured as described above, it is possible to cope with a change in the installation location of the print processing unit by using the detection of the temperature detection unit in addition to the presence or absence of the elapse of the recovery time.

As another aspect of the present invention, the print processing unit includes a transfer unit and a fixing unit, and the temperature detection unit detects the temperature of either the transfer unit or the fixing unit.
In the invention configured as described above, the present invention can be applied to a printing apparatus including the transfer unit and the fixing unit.

As another aspect of the present invention, the power saving cancel unit causes the print processing unit to execute calibration when the print processing unit cancels power saving.
In the invention configured as described above, when performing power saving cancellation of the print processing unit, calibration is performed at the time of execution of printing, so in the time until the printing process is executed after returning the printing apparatus from the power saving state, Processing time can be shortened.

As another aspect of the present invention, the calibration detects the density of toner included in the print processing unit.
In the invention configured as described above, the toner density detection included in the print processing unit can be processed in parallel without being related to the warm-up of the print processing unit. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the processing time without delaying the warm-up of the print processing unit and in the time until the printing process is executed after the printing apparatus is returned from the power saving state.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in the following order with reference to the drawings.
1. First embodiment:
2. Second embodiment:
3. Third embodiment:
4). Other embodiments:

1. First embodiment:
(1) Configuration of printing apparatus:
FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram illustrating the printing apparatus 100. A main part of the printing apparatus 100 includes a main control unit 90 that performs main control, an operation panel 80 that receives an operation input from a user, and a print engine (print processing unit) 70.

  The main part of the main control unit 90 includes a CPU 91 that performs predetermined calculation processing, a ROM 92 that stores programs for the CPU 91 to perform calculations, a RAM 93, a timer 94 for the CPU 91 to measure time, and a control of the CPU 91. And an IO control unit 95 for controlling each unit based on the above. Each unit constituting the main control unit 90 is connected using a bus 96. The ROM 92 stores various programs for the CPU 91 to execute each process when the printing apparatus 100 is in the power saving state. The CPU 91 executes the program under a predetermined operating system, thereby performing main control. The unit 90 is caused to function as a power saving control unit 91a and a power saving canceling unit 91b.

  The power saving control unit 91a is for shifting the printing apparatus 100 to the power saving state. The power saving control unit 91a shifts the printing apparatus 100 to the power saving state when the user inputs an operation using the operation panel 80 and the printing apparatus 100 does not operate for a predetermined period. In the present embodiment, the case where the power saving control unit 91a shifts the print engine 70 to the power saving state will be mainly described.

  The power saving canceling unit 91b is for returning the printing apparatus 100 from the power saving state. The power saving canceling unit 91b restores each part of the printing apparatus 100 from the power saving state when an input is made to the CPU 91 via the IO control unit 95 when the printing apparatus 100 is in the power saving state. In addition, the power saving canceling unit 91b returns the printing apparatus 100 from the power saving state after a time set in advance by the user from the power saving transition time.

  The IO control unit 95 controls each unit connected to the main control unit 90 based on the control of the CPU 91. The IO control unit 95 is connected to the operation panel 80 and the print engine 70, and controls driving of each unit based on the control of the CPU 91.

  The print engine 70 is for forming an image on a recording medium using the print data output from the main control unit 90. The main parts of the print engine 70 are a transfer unit 71 for transferring the toner image to the recording medium, a fixing unit 72 for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium, and a photosensitive roller of the transfer unit 71 to charge the latent image. Development having an exposure unit 73 for forming an image and toners of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), and developing the latent image formed on the transfer unit 71 using the toner A unit 74, a transfer unit 71, a fixing unit 72, an exposure unit 73, and a mechanical controller 75 for controlling the developing unit 74 are configured.

  The transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 warm up for a predetermined time when returning from power saving. In this warm-up, the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 are warmed to a predetermined temperature by a heater provided therein.

  The developing unit 74 performs calibration before starting printing under certain conditions. In this calibration, the toner density of each toner of CMYK is automatically detected, and the optimum toner density is maintained using the detection result.

(2) About recovery from the power saving state:
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a temperature decrease of the print engine 70 in a conventional power saving state and a temperature decrease of the print engine 70 according to the present embodiment. In this figure, the vertical axis represents temperature in the print engine 70: H, and the horizontal axis represents time: T. Further, a change in the temperature of the print engine 70 in the conventional power saving state is indicated by a dotted line, and a change in the temperature of the print engine 70 according to the present embodiment is indicated by a solid line.

  In the figure, in the conventional power saving state, the temperature of the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 decreases to the lowest temperature: H3 while the power saving start time: T1 elapses from the power saving release time: T4. Therefore, it takes time T5 to T4 until the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 are warmed up to reach the warm-up end temperature: H1. At this time, T5-T4 is the time required to recover from the power saving state due to warm-up in the print engine 70.

  On the other hand, in the power saving state according to the present invention, the return time (T2-T1) is set in advance. When the return time elapses, the print engine 70 is returned from the power saving state. At this time, since the temperatures of the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 are H2, the temperature is higher than the lowest temperature: H3. Therefore, the time required for the return is T3-T2, and the time until the warm-up end temperature: H1 is reached as the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 warm up as compared with the conventional power saving state. Hereinafter, the flow of power saving cancellation executed by the printing apparatus 100 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the transition from the power saving state to the power saving return in the printing apparatus 100 as an example. The power saving control unit 91a and the power saving cancellation unit 91b return the printing apparatus 100 that has entered the power saving state according to the flow illustrated in FIG. First, when the user operates the operation panel 80 to turn on the printing apparatus 100, the CPU 91 performs initial setting and shifts to a printable state (step S110).

  When there is an input for shifting the printing apparatus 100 to the power saving state (step S120), the power saving control unit 91a shifts the printing apparatus 100 to the power saving state (step S130). Specifically, the power saving control unit 91a causes the IO control unit 95 to shift the print engine 70 to the power saving state. At this time, the heaters that warm the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 stop driving, and the temperatures of the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 are lowered.

  The power saving cancellation unit 91b counts the elapse of a preset return time from the time when the power saving state is entered (step S140). Specifically, the power saving canceling unit 91b uses the timer 94 to count the elapse of the return time from the transition to the power saving state.

  At this time, the preset recovery time is a time required for the temperatures of the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 to be lowered to the threshold temperature from the time of transition to the power saving state. The threshold temperature is determined based on the time required for the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 to reach a temperature at which warm-up is completed. That is, when the threshold temperature is low, the time required for the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 to warm up becomes long, and when the threshold temperature is high, the time until the power saving state is canceled from the power saving state becomes short.

  When the return time has elapsed (step S150), the power saving cancellation unit 91b returns the printing apparatus 100 from the power saving state (step S170). Specifically, the power saving canceling unit 91 b drives the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 with respect to the IO control unit 95. For this reason, the heaters of the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 start to drive, and promptly end the warm-up. As a result, the printing apparatus 100 quickly returns from the power saving state.

  Further, the power saving canceling unit 91b executes calibration for the print engine 70 (step S180). The power saving canceling unit 91b causes the IO control unit 95 to execute calibration for the print engine 70. Specifically, the IO control unit 95 causes the mechanical controller 75 to automatically detect the density of each CMYK toner of the developing unit 74. Here, if the printing apparatus 100 executes the calibration when returning from the power saving state, the calibration executed when the print execution command is input can be omitted, and from the input of the print execution command to the end of the printing process. It is possible to reduce the time required for the operation. Further, the toner density detection is not related to the warm-up of the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 and can be processed in parallel. Therefore, the warm-up of the print engine 70 is not delayed.

  Even when the return time does not elapse, if there is an input prompting the user to return to power saving (step S160), the power saving canceling unit 91b cancels the power saving state of the printing apparatus 100 (step S170). The first embodiment has been described above.

2. Second embodiment:
As a configuration for shortening the time for returning the printing apparatus 100 from the power saving state, the temperature of the print engine 70 may be directly detected. That is, the temperature of the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 that are a part of the print engine 70 may be detected by the temperature sensor, and the timing for returning the printing apparatus 100 from the power saving state may be determined using the detected temperature.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the printing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment. The printing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment includes a temperature sensor (temperature detection unit) 60 in addition to the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The temperature sensor 60 detects the temperatures of the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 constituting the print engine 70, and outputs the detected temperatures to the CPU 91 via the IO control unit 95. The temperatures of the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 output from the temperature sensor 60 are used as conditions for the power saving canceling unit 91 b to cancel the power saving state of the printing apparatus 100. It should be noted that the temperature sensor may detect the temperature of the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 that has a gentler temperature change.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the process from the transition to the power saving state to the power saving return in the printing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment as an example. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the processing from step S210 to S230 is the same as the processing from step S110 to S130 in FIG.

  After the printing apparatus 100 shifts to the power saving state in step S230, the power saving cancellation unit 91b monitors the temperature of the transfer unit 71 or the fixing unit 72 input from the temperature sensor 60 (step S240). In this state, when the temperature input from the temperature sensor 60 becomes lower than the threshold temperature (step S250), the power saving canceling unit 91b returns the printing apparatus 100 from the power saving state (step S270).

  The threshold temperature used as a condition for the power saving canceling unit 91b to return the printing apparatus 100 from the power saving state in step S250 is the time required for the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 to finish the warm-up, as in the first embodiment. It is determined on the basis.

  Further, the power saving canceling unit 91b executes calibration for the print engine 70 (step S280). Further, even when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 60 is higher than the threshold temperature, if there is an input for prompting power saving recovery (step S260), the power saving canceling unit 91b cancels the power saving state of the printing apparatus 100. (Step S270). The second embodiment has been described above.

3. Third embodiment:
The condition for the power saving canceling unit 91b to cancel the power saving state of the printing apparatus 100 may be a combination of a preset recovery time and a detected temperature. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process from the transition to the power saving state to the power saving return in the printing apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment as an example. In FIG. 6, the power saving canceling unit 91b counts the elapse of the return time in step S340, and the temperature of the transfer unit 71 or the fixing unit 72 input from the temperature sensor 60 in step S360 even when the return time does not elapse. Using the status, it is determined whether or not to return the printing apparatus 100 from the power saving state.

  If the place where the printing apparatus 100 is installed changes, there is a high possibility that the time for the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 to fall below the threshold temperature will change. That is, as the ambient temperature decreases due to a change in the location where the printing apparatus 100 is installed, the time during which the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 are below the threshold temperature is faster. Therefore, if the temperature state of the transfer unit 71 and the fixing unit 72 is directly detected in accordance with whether or not the return time has elapsed, even if the environment in which the printing apparatus 100 is installed changes, the power saving state is restored. Can be shortened.

4). Other Embodiments The present invention has various modifications.
The determination material for returning from the power saving state may be other than the temperature of the transfer unit 71 or the fixing unit 72. That is, it can be applied to anything that requires warm-up when returning from the power saving state.

  The return time may be set a plurality of times. That is, the printing apparatus 100 may repeat the transition from the power saving state to the printable state a plurality of times during a certain period.

  As described above, since the printing apparatus 100 recovers from the power saving state when the time during which the temperature of the print engine 70 decreases to a predetermined temperature has elapsed, it is necessary for the warming up that the printing engine 70 executes when returning to power saving. Time can be shortened. That is, by preventing the temperature of the print engine 70 from being lowered to a predetermined temperature when the print engine 70 is warmed up, the time required to complete the warm-up is shortened. In addition, when the printing command is input after the printing apparatus 100 shifts to the power saving state and returns from the power saving state, the temperature of the print engine 70 is maintained at a predetermined temperature. Therefore, it is not necessary to warm the print engine 70 and the load applied to the print engine 70 can be reduced.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. In other words, the mutually replaceable members and configurations disclosed in the above embodiments are applied by changing their combinations as appropriate. Substantially replace members and configurations that are mutually interchangeable with the members and configurations disclosed in the above, and change and apply combinations thereof, although not disclosed in the examples, but based on known techniques It is an example of the present invention that a person skilled in the art appropriately replaces the members and structures that can be assumed as substitutes for the members and structures disclosed in the above-described embodiments, and modifies and applies combinations thereof. It is disclosed.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a printing apparatus 100. FIG. It is a figure explaining the fall of the temperature of the print engine 70 in the conventional power saving state, and the fall of the temperature of the print engine 70 which concerns on this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process from a transition to a power saving state to a power saving return in the printing apparatus 100 as an example. It is a block diagram of the printing apparatus 100 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process from a transition to a power saving state to a power saving return in the printing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment as an example. 10 is a flowchart showing a process from a transition to a power saving state to a power saving return in the printing apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment as an example.

Explanation of symbols

60 ... temperature sensor, 70 ... print engine, 71 ... transfer unit, 72 ... fixing unit, 73 ... exposure unit, 74 ... developing unit, 75 ... mechanical controller, 80 ... operation panel, 90 ... main control unit, 91 ... CPU, 91a ... Power saving control unit, 91b ... Power saving canceling unit, 92 ... ROM, 93 ... RAM, 94 ... Timer, 95 ... IO control unit, 96 ... Bus, 100 ... Printing device

Claims (6)

A print processing unit that forms an image on a recording medium and requires warm-up to recover from a power-saving state;
A power saving control unit that shifts the print processing unit to a power saving state;
A power-saving canceling unit that cancels the power-saving state of the print processing unit after a return time has elapsed after the print processing unit has shifted to the power-saving state; A printing apparatus characterized by that. A print processing unit that forms an image on a recording medium and requires warm-up to recover from a power-saving state;
A power saving control unit that shifts the print processing unit to a power saving state;
A temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the print processing unit;
A power-saving canceling unit that cancels the power-saving state of the print processing unit when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit drops below a predetermined temperature after the print processing unit shifts to the power-saving state. Printing device. A print processing unit that forms an image on a recording medium and requires warm-up to recover from a power-saving state;
A power saving control unit that shifts the print processing unit to a power saving state;
A temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the print processing unit;
After the print processing unit transitions to the power saving state, after the elapse of a return time indicating the time when the temperature of the print processing unit decreases to a predetermined temperature, or when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit decreases below a predetermined temperature, A printing apparatus comprising: a power saving canceling unit that cancels a power saving state of the print processing unit. The print processing unit includes a transfer unit and a fixing unit,
The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the temperature detection unit detects a temperature of either the transfer unit or the fixing unit.   5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power saving cancel unit causes the print processing unit to perform calibration when the print processing unit cancels power saving. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the calibration detects a density of toner included in the print processing unit.

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