JP2010266557A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducng power consumption during image forming preparation operation. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 100 includes a plurality of detection parts 132, a power supply part 140 and a CPU 200. The detection part 132 detects recording paper in a paper conveyance path 101 for conveying the recording paper fed by a paper feeding part 80 to a paper ejection part 90. The power supply part 140 supplies power to the detection part 132. The CPU 200 controls power supply from the power supply part 140 to the detection part 132. The CPU 200 allows the power supply from the power supply part 140 to the detection part 132 during the image forming preparation operation, and stops the power supply from the power supply part 140 to the detection part 132, at least, after finishing detecting operation by the detection part 132 until completing the image forming preparation operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a detection unit for jam detection.

  Some image forming apparatuses have an energy saving mode in order to reduce power consumption while an image forming operation is not performed. During the energy saving mode, the power supply to the fixing unit and other unnecessary parts is reduced, and the power consumption of the entire image forming apparatus is reduced. The energy saving mode is employed in, for example, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1.

JP 2004-012962 A

  The image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a return sensor that serves as a trigger for returning from the energy saving mode. During the energy saving mode, power supply to the sensors other than the return sensor is turned off. Have reduced.

  However, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 reduces power consumption as described above during the energy saving mode. However, during the return operation from the energy saving mode, detection of a paper jam in the conveyance path is possible. Therefore, power consumption to be supplied to the detection sensor is not reduced. In other words, if the energization to the detection sensor is turned on to detect paper jam in the conveyance path during the return operation from the energy saving mode, the energization to the detection sensor remains on until the energy saving mode is entered again. is there. The same applies not only during the return operation from the energy saving mode but also during an image formation preparation operation such as a preparation operation when the image forming apparatus body is powered on.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing power consumption during an image forming preparation operation.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of detection units, a power supply unit, and a control unit. The detection unit detects the recording paper in the conveyance path for conveying the recording paper fed by the paper feeding unit to the paper discharge unit. The power supply unit energizes the detection unit. The control unit controls energization from the power supply unit to the detection unit. The control unit executes energization from the power supply unit to the detection unit during the image formation preparation operation, and stops energization from the power supply unit to the detection unit at least from the end of the detection operation of the detection unit to the completion of the image formation preparation operation. . The image formation preparation operation refers to, for example, a preparation operation when power is supplied to the image forming apparatus main body and a return operation from the energy saving mode.

  In this configuration, during the image formation preparation operation, the paper detection operation is performed by energizing the plurality of detection units for detecting the paper on the conveyance path. With this detection operation, it is possible to detect the paper during the image formation preparation operation, so that printing can be performed immediately after the image formation preparation operation is completed.

  Then, power supply from the power supply unit to the detection unit is stopped at least from the end of the detection operation of the detection unit to the completion of the image formation preparation operation. During this time, even if a printing instruction is given to the image forming apparatus, printing is not started immediately, so there is no problem even if the energization to the detection unit is stopped.

  Accordingly, it is possible to detect the paper on the conveyance path during the image formation preparation operation, and it is possible to reduce power consumption during the image formation preparation operation.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention can reduce power consumption during the image forming preparation operation.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating components connected to a power supply unit of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing control contents of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of a detection unit corresponding to a return operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of a detection unit corresponding to a return operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing control contents of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing control contents of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the state of the detection part corresponding to the return operation | movement of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state of the detection part corresponding to the return operation | movement of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a sheet conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

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

  The image forming apparatus 100 forms a multi-color or single-color image on a predetermined sheet (recording paper) in accordance with image data transmitted from the outside. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a document processing apparatus 120, a paper feeding unit 80, an image forming unit 110, a paper discharge unit 90, and a conveyance unit 130.

  The document processing device 120 includes a document placement table 121, a document transport device 122, a document reading unit 123, and a plurality of detection units 126. The document placing table 121 is made of transparent glass and is configured to be able to place a document. The document transport device 122 transports the documents stacked on the document tray one by one. Further, the document conveying device 122 is configured to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow 124, and the document can be placed on the document placing table 121 by opening the document placing table 121. The document reading unit 123 reads a document being transported by the document transport device 121 or a document placed on the document placing table 122. The detection unit 126 is provided to detect a document on the transport path of the document transport device 122.

  The paper feed unit 80 is provided with a paper feed cassette 81, a manual paper feed cassette 82, a pickup roller 83, and a pickup roller 84. The paper feed cassette 81 is a tray for storing regular sheets. The manual paper feed cassette 82 is a tray on which an irregular sheet can be placed. The pickup roller 83 is provided near the end of the paper feed cassette 81, picks up sheets one by one from the paper feed cassette 81, and supplies them to the paper transport path 101. Similarly, the pickup roller 84 is provided in the vicinity of the end of the manual paper feed cassette 82, picks up sheets one by one from the manual paper feed cassette 82, and supplies them to the paper transport path 101.

  The image forming unit 110 includes image forming stations 31, 32, 33, 34, an exposure unit 30, an intermediate transfer belt unit 50, and a fixing unit 70. Each of the image forming stations 31, 32, 33, and 34 is provided with a photosensitive drum 10, a charger 20, a developing device 40, and a cleaner unit 60. Black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and magenta (M) are provided. This corresponds to a color image using each color of yellow (Y). In the present embodiment, the image forming station 31 will be described.

  The photoconductor drum 10 is rotated when an image is formed and carries a developer image. Around the photosensitive drum 10, the charger 20, the exposure unit 30, the developing device 40, the intermediate transfer belt unit 50, and the cleaner unit 60 are arranged in this order from the upstream in the rotation direction. The fixing unit 70 is positioned on the most downstream side of the image forming unit 110 on the conveyance path 101.

  The charger 20 is a charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 to a predetermined potential. In addition to the charger type as shown in FIG. 1, a contact type roller type or brush type charger is used. Sometimes used.

  The exposure unit 30 has a function of forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data on the surface thereof by exposing the charged photosensitive drum 10 according to the input image data. The exposure unit 30 is configured as a laser scanning unit (LSU) provided with a laser emitting portion, a reflection mirror, and the like. The exposure unit 30 includes a polygon mirror that scans the laser beam and optical elements such as a lens and a mirror that guide the laser beam reflected by the polygon mirror to the photosensitive drum 10. As the exposure unit 30, for example, a method using an EL or LED writing head in which other light emitting elements are arranged in an array can also be adopted.

  The developing device 40 visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 with toner.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 50 includes an intermediate transfer belt 51, an intermediate transfer belt drive roller 52, an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 53, an intermediate transfer roller 54, and an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 55.

  The intermediate transfer belt driving roller 52, the intermediate transfer belt driven roller 53, and the intermediate transfer roller 54 are driven to rotate while the intermediate transfer belt 51 is stretched. Further, the intermediate transfer roller 54 gives a transfer bias for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 10 onto the intermediate transfer belt 51.

  The intermediate transfer belt 51 is provided in contact with the photosensitive drum 10. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 51, thereby forming a toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 51. The intermediate transfer belt 51 is formed in an endless shape using, for example, a film having a thickness of about 100 μm to 150 μm.

  Transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 10 to the intermediate transfer belt 51 is performed by an intermediate transfer roller 54 that is in contact with the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 51. A high voltage transfer bias (a high voltage having a polarity (+) opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)) is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 54 in order to transfer the toner image. The intermediate transfer roller 54 is a roller whose base is a metal (for example, stainless steel) shaft having a diameter of 8 mm to 10 mm, and whose surface is covered with a conductive elastic material (for example, EPDM, urethane foam, or the like). With this conductive elastic material, a high voltage can be uniformly applied to the intermediate transfer belt 51. In this embodiment, a roller shape is used as the transfer electrode, but a brush or the like can also be used.

  The electrostatic images visualized on the photosensitive drum 10 as described above are stacked on the intermediate transfer belt 51. Thus, the laminated image information is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 56 disposed at the contact position between the sheet and the intermediate transfer belt 51 by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 51.

  At this time, the intermediate transfer belt 51 and the transfer roller 56 are pressed against each other at a predetermined nip, and a voltage for transferring the toner onto the paper is applied to the transfer roller 56 (the polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)). (+) High voltage). Further, in order to obtain the nip constantly, the transfer roller 56 uses either the transfer roller 56 or the intermediate transfer belt drive roller 52 as a hard material (metal or the like) and the other as a soft material such as an elastic roller (elastic rubber roller). Or a foaming resin roller or the like.

  Further, as described above, the toner adhered to the intermediate transfer belt 51 by contacting the photosensitive drum 10 or the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 51 without being transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 56 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 51. It is set to be removed and collected by the cleaning unit 55. The intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 55 is provided with, for example, a cleaning blade that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 51 as a cleaning member. The intermediate transfer belt 51 that contacts the cleaning blade is supported by an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 53 from the back side. ing.

  The cleaner unit 60 removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 after development and image transfer.

  The fixing unit 70 includes a heating roller 71 and a pressure roller 72, and the heating roller 71 and the pressure roller 72 rotate with the sheet interposed therebetween. The heating roller 71 is set so as to reach a predetermined fixing temperature by a control unit based on a signal from a temperature detector (not shown), and the toner is thermocompression bonded to the sheet together with the pressure roller 72. It has a function of fusing, mixing, and pressing the transferred toner image and thermally fixing the sheet. An external heating belt 73 is provided for heating the heating roller 71 from the outside.

  The paper discharge unit 90 has a paper discharge tray 91. The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 70 is discharged to a discharge tray 91 via a discharge roller 92. The paper discharge tray 91 is a tray for collecting printed sheets.

  The conveyance unit 130 includes a paper conveyance path 101, a plurality of detection units 132, and a plurality of conveyance rollers on the paper conveyance path 101. The detection unit 132 is provided to detect the paper on the paper transport path 101.

  When double-sided printing is requested, when the trailing edge of the sheet that has finished single-sided printing and has passed through the fixing unit 70 is gripped by the paper discharge roller 92 as described above, the paper discharge roller 92 rotates in the reverse direction. Guided to the transport rollers 102 and 103. Then, after printing is performed on the back side of the sheet through the registration roller 104, the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 91.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The CPU 200 is connected to the ROM 210, the RAM 220, the paper feed unit 80, the image forming unit 110, the document processing apparatus 120, the transport unit 130, and the power supply unit 140. The CPU 200 corresponds to the control unit of the present invention.

  The CPU 200 reads out and executes a program from the ROM 210, and controls each unit collectively. The RAM 220 is used as a working area for the CPU 200.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the power supply unit 140 transforms the voltage from the commercial power supply 141 to 24 V, 12 V, and 5 V using a transformer 142, and supplies power to each unit of the image forming apparatus 100. Among them, the voltage transformed to 5 V is supplied to the detection unit 132 and the detection unit 126. The image forming apparatus 100 has a normal mode and an energy saving mode. The normal mode is a mode in which power is supplied to each unit of the image forming apparatus 100 and preparation for printing is completed. The energy saving mode is a mode in which the power supply to the fixing unit 70 or the like can be reduced and the power consumption can be reduced when a printing instruction is not given for a predetermined time in the normal mode.

  The power supply unit 140 includes a power supply system 144 that supplies power to the detection unit 132 and a power supply system 145 that supplies power to the detection unit 126. A power supply system 144 that energizes the detection unit 132 is connected to the detection unit 132 via a switch 143. The CPU 200 is connected to the switch 143 to switch the switch 143 on / off, and controls energization to the detection unit 132. Therefore, the timing at which the detection unit 132 is energized by the CPU 200 is controlled. On the other hand, since the detection unit 126 is not connected via a switch, the detection unit 126 is always energized.

  As described above, since the power supply unit 140 includes the power supply system that supplies power to the detection unit 132 and the power supply system that supplies power to the detection unit 126, the power supply to the detection unit 132 and the detection unit 126 can be controlled separately. .

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the control contents when the image forming apparatus 100 is powered off or in the energy saving mode are shown. 5 and 6 show the surface temperature of the heating roller 71 and the state of the detection unit 112 when the image forming apparatus 100 returns from the energy saving mode. FIG. 5 illustrates a case where the CPU 200 determines that no paper is detected in S60, and FIG. 6 illustrates a case where the CPU 200 determines that a paper is detected in S60. 4 to 6 can also be applied when the main power supply of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on.

  The CPU 200 waits until a return trigger is pulled (N in S10). The return trigger indicates, for example, a case where the main power source is turned on when the main power source of the image forming apparatus 100 is off, and a case where the touch panel is touched by the user in the energy saving mode. When the CPU 200 determines that the return trigger has been pulled (Y in S10), the CPU 200 starts the return operation of the image forming apparatus 100 (S20), and switches on the switch 143 to execute the energization of the detection unit 132 (S30). ). In FIG. 5, the time 310 corresponds to S20, and the time 320 corresponds to S30. In FIG. 6, time 410 corresponds to S20, and time 420 corresponds to S30.

  Then, the CPU 200 waits until the paper detection operation by the detection unit 132 is completed (N in S40). When the CPU 200 determines that the paper detection operation by the detection unit 132 has been completed (Y in S40), the CPU 200 switches the switch 143 to off in order to stop energization of the detection unit 132 (S50). The CPU 200 stores in the RAM 220 whether or not a sheet is detected in S40. In FIG. 5, time 330 corresponds to S50. In FIG. 6, time 430 corresponds to S50.

  Then, the CPU 200 refers to the RAM 220 and determines whether or not a sheet is detected in S40 (S60). If the CPU 200 determines that a sheet is detected in S40 (Y in S60), the CPU 200 notifies the user that the sheet remains on the sheet conveyance path 101 (S70). Then, the CPU 200 waits until the door of the image forming apparatus 100 is opened (N in S80). When CPU 200 determines that the door of image forming apparatus 100 has been opened (Y in S80), CPU 200 waits until the door of image forming apparatus 100 is closed (N in S90). When the CPU 200 determines that the door of the image forming apparatus 100 is closed (Y in S90), the CPU 200 returns to the process of S30. In FIG. 6, time 440 corresponds to S30 after the sheet is detected, and time 450 corresponds to S50 thereafter.

  If the CPU 200 determines that no sheet is detected in S40 (N in S60), the CPU 200 waits until the return operation of the image forming apparatus 100 is completed (N in S100). When the CPU 200 determines that the return operation of the image forming apparatus 100 has been completed (Y in S100), the CPU 200 turns on the switch 143 to execute energization to the detection unit 132 (S110). In FIG. 5, time 340 corresponds to S110. In FIG. 6, time 460 corresponds to S110.

  In the present embodiment, energization to the detection unit 132 is performed during the return operation of the image forming apparatus 100 to perform the sheet detection operation, and the energization to the detection unit 132 is stopped when the detection operation ends. When the restoration operation of the image forming apparatus 100 is completed, the detection unit 132 is energized again. Therefore, it is possible to detect the paper on the paper transport path 101 during the return operation of the image forming apparatus 100 with simple control, and it is possible to reduce power consumption during the return operation of the image forming apparatus 100.

  7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the control contents of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Since S210 to S300 have the same control content as S10 to S100 of the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. 9 and 10 illustrate the surface temperature of the heating roller 71 and the state of the detection unit 112 when the image forming apparatus 100 returns from the energy saving mode. FIG. 9 shows a case where no print instruction is given, and FIG. 10 shows a case where the CPU 200 determines that a print instruction is given in S310. 7 to 10 are also applicable when the main power supply of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on.

  If the CPU 200 determines in S300 that the return operation of the image forming apparatus 100 has been completed (Y in S300), it determines whether a print instruction has been issued (S310). When the CPU 200 determines that a print instruction has been issued (Y in S310), the CPU 200 switches on the switch 143 to execute energization of the detection unit 132 (S320). In FIG. 10, time 650 corresponds to S320.

  Then, the CPU 200 stands by until the printing process is completed (N in S330). When the CPU 200 determines that the printing process is completed (Y in S330), the switch 143 is turned off to stop energizing the detection unit 132 (S340), and the process returns to S310. In FIG. 10, time 660 corresponds to S340.

  If the CPU 200 determines that a print instruction has not been issued in S310 (N in S310), it determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the completion of the return operation of the image forming apparatus 100 in S300 (S350). The predetermined time may be any time. If the CPU 200 determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed in S350 (N of S350), the CPU 200 returns to the process of S310. If the CPU 200 determines that a predetermined time has elapsed in S350 (Y in S350), the CPU 200 shifts the image forming apparatus 100 to the energy saving mode (S360), and returns to the process in S210. If the print instruction is not issued until a predetermined time has elapsed after the return operation of the image forming apparatus 100 is completed, the detection unit 132 remains off as shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the sheet detection operation is performed during the return operation of the image forming apparatus 100, and the energization to the detection unit 132 is stopped when the detection operation ends. When the printing instruction is issued, the energization to the detection unit 132 is executed again, and the energization to the detection unit 132 is stopped when the printing process ends. Accordingly, it is possible to detect the paper on the paper transport path 101 during the return operation of the image forming apparatus 100, and it is possible to reduce power consumption during the return operation of the image forming apparatus 100. In addition, since power is supplied to the detection unit 132 only during printing after the return, power consumption can be reduced even after the return.

  Finally, the description of the above-described embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

80-paper feed unit 90-paper discharge unit 100-image forming apparatus 101-paper transport path 132-detection unit 140-power supply unit 200-CPU

Claims (5)

A plurality of detection units for detecting recording paper in a conveyance path for conveying the recording paper fed by the paper feeding unit to the paper discharge unit;
A power supply unit for energizing the detection unit;
A control unit for controlling energization from the power supply unit to the detection unit;
With
The control unit performs energization from the power supply unit to the detection unit during an image formation preparation operation, and from the power supply unit to the detection unit at least from the end of the detection operation of the detection unit to the completion of the image formation preparation operation. An image forming apparatus that stops energization.   The control unit stops energization from the power supply unit to the detection unit from the completion of the image formation preparation operation to the start of printing, executes energization from the power supply unit to the detection unit at the start of printing, and at the end of printing The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to stop energization from the power supply unit to the detection unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit includes a power supply system for energizing the detection unit, and a power supply system for energizing the detection unit for detecting a document in a conveyance path of the document conveyance device. An image forming apparatus having an energy saving mode for reducing energization to each part,
The control unit performs energization from the power source unit to the detection unit during a return operation from the energy saving mode, and at least from the power source unit to the detection unit from the end of the detection operation of the detection unit to the completion of the image formation preparation operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply to the power supply is stopped.   The control unit performs energization from the power supply unit to the detection unit during a preparatory operation at power-on, and from the power supply unit to the detection unit at least from the end of the detection operation of the detection unit to the completion of an image formation preparation operation The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply to the power supply is stopped.

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