JP2010125726A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of informing surely a user of the presence of a paper sheet remained on a paper sheet ejection tray, when an electric power supply of a printer is disconnected. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus has a second electric power supply means different from a main electric power supply means, a notification means for notification to the user, and a detecting means for detecting the presence of the paper sheet remained on the paper sheet ejection tray, and informs the user of the presence of the paper sheet remained on the paper sheet ejection tray by the notification means, based on a detection signal from the detecting means, when the paper sheet is remained on the paper sheet ejection tray when disconnecting the main electric power supply means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of preventing printed paper from being left in a paper discharge tray even when an image forming apparatus such as a printer is turned off.

  As a means for eliminating the leaving of the printing paper, there is a method of notifying the user who printed after a certain period of time when the printing paper remains in the paper discharge tray as in Patent Document 1, but the individual user of the printing is not aware In case it has no effect.

  In addition, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, there is a method in which a notification is given by a buzzer or a lamp when printing paper remains in the paper discharge tray. There is a possibility that the user cannot be surely notified that printing paper remains on the tray.

  For example, when a plurality of printers are arranged on the office floor, the printer power supply itself is a centralized power source such as a breaker while the power switch of the printer is always turned on instead of turning on / off the power of each printer. May be managed by Under such management, it is possible to turn off the printer without approaching the printer, so that the printer located far from the user has not yet been informed for a certain period of time after discharging. When the printer is turned off by the breaker, the user cannot notice the printed paper of the printer. Also, if the breaker is located far away, such as outside the floor, the printer will be turned off if printing or paper discharge occurs while the user is moving to the breaker position to turn off the breaker power. Since the notification cannot be made later, the user who returns to the floor cannot notice the printed paper of the printer.

  Also. Patent Document 3 describes a method of notifying a user using another power source such as a battery in the sleep mode, but the driving power of the timer during this period is considered to use a battery and is set by the timer. It is possible that the power is consumed by the time and notification cannot be made. In addition, even when the notification is activated by the timer, it is possible that the power will be consumed before the user comes to work and notices. In either case, it is difficult to reliably notify the user that there is printed paper. I have anxiety about sex. Further, Patent Document 3 has a main purpose of notifying the user that there is a printed sheet at the start of business on the next day when the sleep mode is entered after FAX reception is performed at night. It is conceivable that the printed paper is left on the discharge tray from the reception of the fax to the start of business on the next day, which is different from the present invention in which security management is intended.

JP 2002-67457 A JP-A-2005-331820 JP 2007-129582 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can reliably notify the user that printing paper remains on the paper discharge tray when the printer is turned off. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first means of the present invention includes a second power supply means different from the main power supply means, a notification means for notifying the user, and a print sheet on the paper discharge tray. In an image forming apparatus having a detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of printing paper, if printing paper remains on a paper discharge tray when the main power supply means is cut off, The user is notified by the notification means.

  According to a second means of the present invention, in the first means, when the printing paper on the paper discharge tray is removed after the notification means notifies the user, the power of the second power supply means It is characterized by cutting.

  According to a third means of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a second power supply means different from the main power supply means and a notification means for notifying a user, when the main power supply means is disconnected. The power state of the second power supply means is notified by the notification means.

  According to a fourth means of the present invention, in the third means, the notification means has a time measuring function capable of setting a notification period.

  According to a fifth means of the present invention, in the fourth means, when the notification period set by the time measuring function has elapsed after the notification by the notification means, the power of the second power supply means is cut off. It is a feature.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, and can reliably notify the user that the printing paper remains on the paper discharge tray even when the printer is turned off.

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

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a notification control unit 6, a second power supply unit 7, and a main power supply unit 8. The power of the notification control unit 6 is supplied from the second power supply unit 7 as another power supply unit. The notification control unit 6 is connected to the main power supply unit 8 through a main power supply OFF detection signal line 9. The timekeeping function unit 10 is a part for measuring a notification time for the second power supply unit 7 to notify the user of normality. The notification time may be set from a printer panel or the like. Installation You may set with this. Ideally, the notification time to be set is a period sufficient for the user to confirm the warning lamp 4 of the image forming apparatus 1 after the main power supply unit 8 is disconnected.

  The second power supply unit 7 may be a dry battery or a rechargeable battery. In the case of a rechargeable battery, the second power supply unit 7 may be charged from the main power supply unit 8. In particular, when it is assumed that the reliability is increased, an AC power supply may be used, and a general uninterruptible power supply apparatus may be installed outside the image forming apparatus 1 and connected thereto.

  A paper sensor 3 is incorporated in the paper discharge tray 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 as a means for detecting the presence or absence of paper, and is connected to the notification control unit 6. The paper sensor 3 is not particularly limited as long as it can detect the presence or absence of paper. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a warning lamp 4 and a warning buzzer 5 as notification means at the time of paper detection, and is connected to the notification control unit 6.

  Next, the control flow of the notification control unit 6 is shown in FIG.

  When the printer power supply is cut off, the main power supply unit 8 is turned off. At this time, power is supplied from the second power supply unit 7 to the notification control unit 6, so that the paper sensor 3, the warning lamp 4, and the warning buzzer 5 can be driven.

  In step (hereinafter abbreviated as “S”) 101, the notification control unit 6 determines whether or not printing paper remains in the paper discharge tray 2 by the paper sensor 3 after detecting the main power OFF by the main power OFF detection signal line 9. (S102).

  When printing paper remains, the notification control unit 6 displays the warning lamp 4 in red and turns on the warning buzzer 5 (S103) to notify the user that printing paper remains. After the notification, the notification control unit 6 monitors the user with the paper sensor 3 to remove the printing paper, and after the paper sensor 3 confirms that there is no printing paper (S104), the notification control unit 6 uses the second power supply. The power supply from the unit 7 is cut off, and the notification by the warning lamp 4 or the warning buzzer 5 is terminated (S107).

  If no printing paper remains, the notification control unit 6 displays the warning lamp 4 in blue and activates the time measuring function unit 10 (S105) to notify the user that the power supply state is normal. After the notification, the notification control unit 6 monitors the elapse of the set time of the time measuring function unit 10, and after confirming the elapse of the set time (S106), the notification control unit 6 cuts off the power supply from the second power supply unit 7 and alerts 4 or the warning buzzer 5 is terminated (S107).

  When the second power supply unit 7 is normal, when the main power supply unit 8 is turned off, the warning lamp 4 is displayed in red or blue. However, the notification control unit 6 is activated for reasons such as a voltage drop in the second power supply unit 7. If the warning lamp 4 does not function, the warning lamp 4 is not turned on. Therefore, the user can know that the printed sheet cannot be detected normally by the image forming apparatus 1 when the warning lamp 4 is not turned on.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can reliably notify the user that printing paper remains on the paper discharge tray even when the printer is turned off. This is especially effective when there are multiple printers on the office floor, the printer power switch is always on, and the printer power supply itself is managed and operated by a centralized power supply or breaker on each floor. . For example, when a warning lamp and a warning buzzer are used in combination, it is possible to reliably find a printer on which printing paper remains even by a sound and light, even on a dimly lit floor where only an emergency light is turned on after the breaker is cut.

  Each claim related to the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment will be described.

  According to another aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a second power supply unit different from the main power supply unit, a notification unit for notifying the user, and the presence / absence of printing paper on the paper discharge tray are detected. Therefore, when the printing paper remains on the paper discharge tray when the main power is turned off, the notification unit can notify the user based on the detection signal of the detection unit.

  According to another aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the printing paper on the paper discharge tray is removed after issuing the warning, the power source of the separate power supply device can be turned off.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, since the image forming apparatus includes a second power supply unit different from the main power supply unit and a notification unit for notifying the user, the main power supply of the image forming apparatus is disconnected. Sometimes, the notification means can notify the power state of the second power supply means.

  In the image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, since the power state notification has a time measuring function capable of setting the notification period of the notification means, the notification period can be set.

  6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the notification period set by the timekeeping function has elapsed after the notification to the user by the notification unit, the power of the second power supply unit is cut off. Can do.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a notification control flowchart when the main power supply of the image forming apparatus is turned off.

Explanation of symbols

1: image forming apparatus, 2: discharge tray, 3: paper sensor, 4: warning lamp, 5: warning buzzer, 6: notification control unit, 7: second power supply unit, 8: main power supply unit, 9: main power supply OFF detection signal line, 10: Timekeeping function unit.

Claims (5)

  In an image forming apparatus having a second power supply unit different from a main power supply unit, a notification unit for notifying a user, and a detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of printing paper on a paper discharge tray, An image forming apparatus characterized in that, when printing paper remains on a paper discharge tray when the main power supply means is disconnected, the notification means notifies the user based on a detection signal of the detection means.   2. The image according to claim 1, wherein when the printing sheet on the paper discharge tray is removed after the notification is given to the user by the notification unit, the power supply of the second power supply unit is turned off. Forming equipment.   In an image forming apparatus having a second power supply unit different from the main power supply unit and a notification unit for notifying a user, the second power supply unit includes: An image forming apparatus characterized in that a power state is notified by the notification means.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the notification unit has a time measuring function capable of setting a notification period.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the power supply of the second power supply unit is turned off when a notification period set by the timekeeping function elapses after the notification by the notification unit.

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