JP2011059273A - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that does not absorb heat needed to heat a recording material and a toner, and has high efficiency of saving energy. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming means of forming an image on the recording medium, a heat generating means for heating and fixing the formed image, a thermoelectric converting means of converting heat energy of the heat generating means into electric energy, an electric storage means of charging the electric energy converted by the thermoelectric converting means, an electric discharging means of discharging the electric energy charged in the electric storage means, a thermal energy amount control means of controlling the amount of heat energy generated by the heat generating means, a monitoring means of monitoring the state of the image forming means, and an electric storage indicating means of indicating timing of charging of the electric energy in the electric storage means. When the monitoring means determines that the thermal energy amount control means is controlling the amount of thermal energy when the image forming means does not perform an image forming operation, the thermoelectric converting means converts the thermal energy into the electric energy and the electric storage means charges the electric energy. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus with high energy saving efficiency that recovers heat generated in the apparatus and can be reused as electric energy.

  2. Description of the Related Art An energy saving technique is known that uses a thermoelectric element to recover heat generated in an image forming apparatus and reuse it as electric energy.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like, and an image forming apparatus with high energy saving that can recover waste heat generated in an accessory device of the image forming apparatus and reuse it as electric energy. In order to provide the above, there has been disclosed an invention in which a thermoelectric conversion device is provided adjacent to a heat generating portion.

  However, the thermoelectric conversion device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the energy required for heating the recording material and the toner is reused as electric energy, resulting in poor energy saving efficiency.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program having high energy saving efficiency without taking away heat necessary for the image forming apparatus to heat the recording material and the toner. And it aims at providing a recording medium.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a heating unit that heat-fixes the formed image, and heat energy of the heating unit as electrical energy. A thermoelectric conversion means for converting to electric power, an electric storage means for charging electric energy converted by the thermoelectric conversion means, a discharge means for discharging electric energy charged in the electric storage means, and an amount of heat energy generated by the heating means. A thermal energy amount control unit; a monitoring unit that monitors the state of the image forming unit; and a storage instruction unit that instructs the storage unit to charge electric energy. The monitoring unit controls the image forming unit to perform an image forming operation. If it is determined that the thermal energy control means is controlling the heat energy amount when the Converted into energy, power storage means, characterized in that the charging electric energy.

  The image forming method according to the present invention includes an image forming process for forming an image on a recording medium, a heat generating process for heating and fixing the formed image, and a discharging process for discharging electrical energy charged in the storage process. A heat energy amount control step for controlling the amount of heat energy generated in the heat generation step, a monitoring step for monitoring the state of the image forming step, a power storage instruction step for instructing the timing for charging the electric energy in the power storage step, and a monitoring step If it is determined that the thermal energy control process controls the amount of heat energy when the image forming process is not performing an image forming operation, a thermoelectric conversion process and a thermoelectric conversion that convert the heat energy of the heat generation process into electrical energy And a power storage process for charging the electrical energy converted by the process.

  The program according to the present invention includes an image forming process for forming an image on a recording medium, a heat generation process for heating and fixing the formed image, a discharge process for discharging electric energy charged in a power storage process, and a heat generation. Heat energy control processing for controlling the amount of heat energy generated by the processing, monitoring processing for monitoring the state of the image forming processing, power storage instruction processing for instructing the timing for charging the electrical energy to the power storage processing, and image processing by the monitoring processing If it is determined that the thermal energy control process controls the thermal energy amount when the image forming operation is not performed, the thermoelectric conversion process and the thermoelectric conversion process convert the heat energy of the heat generation process into electrical energy. A power storage process for charging the converted electric energy is executed by a computer.

  A recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable medium on which the program described above is recorded.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, a program, and a recording medium with high energy saving efficiency without taking away heat necessary for the image forming apparatus to heat the recording material and the toner.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the principle of the thermoelectric element using a Seebeck effect. It is a figure explaining the temperature control state transition in a fixing device. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control which makes a battery charge the electrical energy generated with the thermoelectric element. It is a flowchart figure of the control which makes a battery charge the electrical energy generated with the thermoelectric element. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control which moves a thermal energy and charges the battery with the electrical energy generated by the thermoelectric element. It is a flowchart figure of control which moves a thermal energy and charges the battery with the electrical energy generated by the thermoelectric element. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control which moves a thermoelectric element to the heat source vicinity, and charges the battery with the electrical energy generated by the thermoelectric element. It is a flowchart of the control which moves a thermoelectric element to the heat source vicinity, and charges the battery with the electrical energy generated by the thermoelectric element. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control which supplies the electrical energy by a thermoelectric element to a fixing device. It is a flowchart figure of control which supplies the electrical energy by a thermoelectric element to a fixing device.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below. Specifically, in order to reuse the heat generated in the image forming apparatus as electric energy, the following characteristics are provided at the timing of recovering the heat.

  The present invention relates to heat generated in an image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus does not require heat to heat a recording material or toner (from a printing state to a standby state or from a standby state to a sleep state). Can be recovered.

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

  The overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the left side.

  An image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a paper feed cassette 101, a paper feed roller 102, a conveyance path 103, an intermediate transfer belt 104, and a development unit 105 (K, C, M, Y). , Photoreceptor 106 (K, C, M, Y), thermoelectric element 107, tension roller 108, drive roller 109, secondary transfer roller 110, fixing device 111, heater 112, and control unit 113. The battery 114 and the arithmetic processing unit 115 are provided.

  The paper feed cassette 101 stacks paper before printing. The paper feed roller 102 feeds the paper stacked in the paper feed cassette 101 to the transport path 103 in order from the topmost paper.

  The sheets that are separated and fed one by one are conveyed to the secondary transfer roller 110 in accordance with the timing at which the image on the intermediate transfer belt 104 is transferred.

  The intermediate transfer belt 104 is a belt wound around a driving roller 109 and a tension roller 108. The intermediate transfer belt 104 is driven by a driving roller 109, and slack is prevented by a tension roller 108.

  The image forming apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 is a so-called tandem type having a configuration in which development units (105K, 105M, 105C, 105Y) of complementary colors are arranged along the intermediate transfer belt 104. .

  K represents black, M represents magenta, C represents cyan, and Y represents yellow. Each developing unit (105K, 105M, 105C, 105Y) has a photoconductor (106K, 106M) capable of carrying a toner image of each color toner. 106C, 106Y).

  In FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer belt 104 rotates counterclockwise, and a plurality of developing units 105K, 105M, 105C, and 105Y are arranged in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction.

  The plurality of developing units 105K, 105M, 105C, and 105Y have the same internal configuration except that the color of the toner image to be formed is different.

  In the following description, the contents common to all the development units or all the photoconductors are represented as the development unit 105 or the photoconductor 106.

  In FIG. 1, the developing unit 105 including the photoconductor 106 is configured to be detachable from a developing unit housing (not shown) in the image forming apparatus 100.

  When forming an image, the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 106 is uniformly charged in the dark. Then, the outer peripheral surface of the uniformly charged photoreceptor 106 is exposed by irradiating laser light corresponding to each color image.

  Thereby, an electrostatic latent image is formed. By making this electrostatic latent image visible, a toner image of each color is formed on the photoreceptor 106.

  This toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 104 by a primary transfer roller (not shown) at a position (primary transfer position) where the photosensitive member 106 and the intermediate transfer belt 104 are in contact with each other.

  By this transfer, an image of toner is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 104.

  As described above, the intermediate transfer belt 104 to which the black toner image is transferred by the developing unit 105K is conveyed to the next developing unit 105M when a color printing request is made.

  In the developing unit 105M, a magenta toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 106M by a process similar to the image forming process in the developing unit 105K, and the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 104 and formed on the photoreceptor 106C. The cyan toner image and the yellow toner image formed on the photoreceptor 106Y are transferred and conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer roller 110, and the full-color image on the intermediate transfer belt 104 is transferred to the sheet. Transcribed.

  The fixing device 111 heat-fuses the toner image transferred to the paper and fixes the toner image to the paper. The heater 112 is used as the heat source.

  In the image formation, in the case of black-only printing (monochrome printing), the photoreceptor 106M, the photoreceptor 106C, and the photoreceptor 106Y are retracted to positions separated from the intermediate transfer belt 104, and the above-described image formation process is performed in black. Only if you do.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the principle of a thermoelectric element using the Seebeck effect.

  The thermoelectric element 107 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The thermoelectric element shown in FIG. 2 is a thermoelectric element utilizing the Seebeck effect. When the connecting portion 201 is on the high temperature side and the electrodes 202P and 202N are on the low temperature side and a temperature difference is given to both ends, the Seebeck effect causes charge movement in the P-type / N-type semiconductor as shown in FIG. Since current flows in the direction of the arrow in the figure, electric power is generated at both ends of the load resistor 203 joined between the positive and negative electrodes (202P, 202N).

  A wide variety of materials and combinations are currently proposed as materials and combinations of P-type and N-type semiconductors constituting the thermoelectric element 107.

  As long as a thermoelectric conversion effect can be obtained, materials and combinations are not particularly limited as long as they can be applied to the present embodiment. Accordingly, a thermoelectric element using a combination of known materials can be applied.

  In addition, as a thermoelectric conversion device, there may be a case where only one element having the configuration as shown in FIG. 2 has a small electric power, and a plurality of elements may be used in combination.

  The number applicable to the present embodiment is not particularly limited as long as the thermoelectric conversion effect can be obtained.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a temperature control state transition in a specific fixing device.

  A temperature control state in the fixing device 111 applicable to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

(S301 Warm-up state)
This is a state in which one of the following three controls is performed. When the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on and the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print request, the toner image transferred to the sheet is thermally fused and fixed to a temperature for fixing the toner image to the sheet. The temperature of the vessel 111 is raised. After rising to a predetermined temperature, the process transits to the printing state S302.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on and the image forming apparatus 100 has not received a print request, the temperature of the fixing device 111 is raised to a necessary temperature in the standby state S304. After rising to a predetermined temperature, the state transitions to the standby state S304.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print request in the standby state S304, the toner image transferred to the sheet is thermally fused, and the temperature of the fixing device 111 is increased to a temperature for fixing the toner image to the sheet. After rising to a predetermined temperature, the process transits to the printing state S302.

(S032 printing status)
When the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print request, the toner image transferred to the paper is thermally fused until all the printing is completed, and the temperature for fixing the toner image to the paper is maintained. After printing is completed, the process proceeds to the pre-standby state S303.

(S303 state before standby)
This is a state from the temperature required in the printing state S302 until the fixing device 111 reaches the temperature required in the standby state S304.

(S304 standby state)
When the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print request, a predetermined temperature is set so that the toner image transferred to the sheet can be heat-sealed immediately and the temperature can be increased to fix the toner image on the sheet. It is in a state of continuing to maintain. If the image forming apparatus receives a print request, the process proceeds to the warm-up state S301. If the image forming apparatus does not receive a print request for a predetermined time, the process proceeds to the pre-sleep state S305.

(S305 Pre-sleep state)
This is a state from when the fixing device 111 reaches the temperature required in the sleep state S306 to the temperature required in the standby state S304.

(S306 Sleep state)
From the viewpoint of energy saving, when the image forming apparatus 100 does not receive a print request for a predetermined time or more, the temperature of the fixing device 111 is lowered to the ambient temperature.

  Note that the control in the above state is all performed by the arithmetic processing unit 115.

(Q301 Heat quantity subject to electrical energy conversion)
This is thermal energy generated in the pre-standby state S303 and the pre-sleep state S305. In the image forming apparatus 100, the thermal energy is not required to perform printing, and therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 is an object to be converted into electric energy.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a control configuration for charging a battery with electrical energy generated by a specific thermoelectric element.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart illustrating an example of control for charging a battery with electrical energy generated by a specific thermoelectric element.

  The control for charging the battery with the electric energy generated by the thermoelectric element applicable to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 4 and the flowchart of FIG.

(Processing S501)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 determines whether the temperature control state of the fixing device 111 is the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 shown in FIG. 3 (step S501). If the temperature control state is not the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 (step S501, NO), the determination is repeated. If the temperature control state is the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 (step S501, YES), the process proceeds to step S502.

(Processing S502)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 turns on the charging switch S401. When the charging switch S401 is turned on, the heat generated from the fixing device 111 is converted into electric energy by the heat transfer element 107, and the battery 114 is charged.

(Processing S503)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 determines whether the temperature control state of the fixing device 111 is the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 shown in FIG. 3 (step S503). If the temperature control state is not the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 (step S503, NO), the process returns to step S502. When the temperature control state is the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 (step S503, YES), the process proceeds to step S504.

(Processing S504)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 turns off the charging switch S401. When the electric switch S401 is turned off, the heat generated from the fixing device 111 is converted into electric energy by the heat transfer element 107, and the battery 114 is not charged. The heat generated by the fixing device 111 is transferred to the paper. The toner image is used for heat-sealing and fixing the toner image to the paper.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a control configuration for transferring specific heat energy and charging the battery with the electric energy generated by the thermoelectric element.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart illustrating an example of control for transferring specific heat energy and charging the battery with the electric energy generated by the thermoelectric element.

Control for transferring the thermal energy applicable to the present embodiment and charging the battery with the electric energy generated by the thermoelectric element will be described in detail with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 6 and the flowchart of FIG.
(Processing S701)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 determines whether the temperature control state of the fixing device 111 is the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 shown in FIG. 3 (step S701). If the temperature control state is not the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 (step S701, NO), the process returns to step S701. When the temperature control state is the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 (step S701, YES), the process proceeds to step S702.

(Processing S702)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 turns on the fan motor 601. When the fan motor 601 is turned on, the heat generated from the fixing device 111 is sent to the heat transfer element 107. Accordingly, the heat transfer element 107 converts heat into electric energy, and the converted electric energy is charged in the battery 114.

(Processing S703)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 determines whether the temperature control state of the fixing device 111 is the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 shown in FIG. 3 (step S703). When the temperature control state is not the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 (step S703, NO), the process returns to step S702. When the temperature control state is the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 (step S703, YES), the process proceeds to step S704.

(Processing S704)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 turns off the fan motor 601. When the fan motor 601 is turned off, the heat generated from the fixing device 111 is not sent to the heat transfer element 107, and the heat generated by the fixing device 111 heat-fuses the toner image transferred onto the paper, and the toner Used to fix the image to the paper.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a control configuration in which a specific thermoelectric element is moved to the vicinity of the heat source and the battery is charged with electric energy generated by the thermoelectric element.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart illustrating an example of control for moving a specific thermoelectric element to the vicinity of the heat source and charging the battery with electric energy generated by the thermoelectric element.

  Control for moving the thermoelectric element applicable to the present embodiment to the vicinity of the heat source and charging the battery with the electric energy generated by the thermoelectric element will be described in detail with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 8 and the flowchart of FIG. 9.

(Processing S901)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 determines whether the temperature control state of the fixing device 111 is the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 shown in FIG. 3 (step S901). If the temperature control state is not the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 (step S901, NO), the process returns to step S901. When the temperature control state is the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 (step S901, YES), the process proceeds to step S902.

(Processing S902)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 turns on the drive source 801. When the drive source 801 is turned on, the heat transfer element 107 moves to the vicinity of the fixing device 111. As a result, the heat transfer element 107 converts the heat generated from the fixing device 111 into electric energy, and the converted electric energy is charged in the battery 114.

(Processing S903)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 determines whether the temperature control state of the fixing device 111 is the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 shown in FIG. 3 (step S903). If the temperature control state is not the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 (step S903, NO), the process returns to step S902. When the temperature control state is the pre-standby state S303 or the pre-sleep state S305 (step S903, YES), the process proceeds to step S904.

(Processing S904)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 turns off the drive source 801. When the drive source 801 is turned off, the heat transfer element 107 moves away from the fixing device 111. As a result, the heat transfer element 107 does not receive the heat generated from the fixing device 111, and the heat generated by the fixing device 111 heat-fuses the toner image transferred to the paper and fixes the toner image to the paper. Used for.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of control for supplying electric energy from a specific thermoelectric element to the fixing device.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart showing an example of control for supplying electric energy to a fixing device by a specific thermoelectric element.

  The control for supplying the fixing device with the electric energy by the thermoelectric element applicable to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 10 and the flowchart of FIG.

(Processing S1101)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 determines whether or not the temperature control state of the fixing device 111 is the warm-up state S301 shown in FIG. 3 (step S1101). If the temperature control state is not the warm-up state S301 (step S1101, NO), the process returns to step S1101. When the temperature control state is the warm-up state S301 (step S1101, YES), the process proceeds to step S1102.

(Processing S1102)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 turns on the discharge switch 1001. When the discharge switch 1001 is turned on, the electric energy charged in the battery 114 is sent to the fixing device 111. As a result, the fixing device 111 can use both the electric energy obtained from the commercial power supply and the electric energy from the battery 114, and quickly raises the temperature to the temperatures required in the printing state S302 and the standby state S304. I can do it.

(Processing S1103)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 determines whether or not the temperature control state of the fixing device 111 is the warm-up state S301 shown in FIG. 3 (step S1103). When the temperature control state is not the warm-up state S301 (step S1103, NO), the process returns to step S1102. If the temperature control state is the warm-up state S301 (step S1103, YES), the process proceeds to step S1104.

(Processing S1104)
The arithmetic processing unit 115 turns off the discharge switch 1001. When the discharge switch 1001 is turned off, the electric energy charged in the battery 114 is not sent to the fixing device 111.

  According to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to heat the fixing heater more rapidly by using the power of the auxiliary power source such as an electric double layer capacitor capable of charging the converted electric energy.

  According to the above-described embodiment, image formation is performed when the image forming apparatus does not require heat to heat the recording material or toner (from the printing state to the standby state or from the standby state to the sleep state). Heat generated in the apparatus can be recovered and reused as electrical energy.

  The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment alone, and various modifications are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Implementation is possible.

  In other words, the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment operates by processing, means, and functions executed by a computer according to program instructions. The program sends a command to each component of the computer and executes predetermined processing and functions as described above.

  As described above, each process and means in the image forming apparatus of the above-described embodiment is realized by specific means in which the program and the computer cooperate.

  Then, the computer (CPU or MPU) of the image processing apparatus or the image forming apparatus stores the storage medium via the computer-readable recording medium that records the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, that is, the storage medium. The object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code.

  Further, the program can be loaded and executed directly on a computer through a communication line without going through a recording medium, and the object of the present invention can be achieved similarly.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium or loaded and executed through the communication line realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment. And the storage medium which memorize | stored the program code comprises this invention.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and a magnetic tape. Can be used.

  The power storage instructing unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by instructing charging when the image forming apparatus is in a pre-standby state.

  The power storage instructing unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by instructing charging when the image forming apparatus is in a pre-sleep state.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a circuit unit that connects the thermoelectric conversion unit and the power storage unit, and the power storage unit performs charging by switching the circuit unit.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a heat transfer unit that blows heat using a fan.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the heat transfer means supplies the thermal energy from the vicinity of the heat generation means to the thermoelectric conversion means.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes a heat sink means for supplying the thermal energy to the thermoelectric conversion means through a metal member.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes a driving unit that moves the thermoelectric conversion unit to the vicinity of the heating unit.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the image forming apparatus further includes a discharging unit that discharges the power storage unit to the heat generating unit when the image forming apparatus is in a warm-up state.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes circuit means for connecting the power storage means and the heat generating means, and the discharging means discharges by switching of the circuit means.

  The present invention can be applied to uses such as an image forming apparatus and an image forming method.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 101 Paper feed cassette 102 Paper feed roller 103 Conveying path 104 Intermediate transfer belt 105 Development unit (K, C, M, Y)
106 photoconductor (K, C, M, Y)
107 Thermoelectric Element 108 Tension Roller 109 Drive Roller 110 Secondary Transfer Roller 111 Fixing Device 112 Heater 113 Control Unit 114 Battery 115 Arithmetic Processing Unit 201 Connection Unit 202 Electrode (P: Positive / N: Negative)
203 Load resistance S301 Warm-up state S032 Printing state S303 Pre-standby state S304 Standby state S305 Pre-sleep state S306 Sleep state Q301 Electric energy conversion target heat SW401 Charge switch 601 Fan motor 801 Drive source SW1001 Discharge switch

JP 2004-133340 A

Claims (13)

Image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium;
Heating means for heat-fixing the formed image;
Thermoelectric conversion means for converting thermal energy of the heat generating means into electrical energy;
Power storage means for charging the electrical energy converted by the thermoelectric conversion means;
Discharging means for discharging the electrical energy charged in the power storage means;
Thermal energy control means for controlling the amount of heat energy generated by the heating means;
Monitoring means for monitoring the state of the image forming means;
Power storage instructing means for instructing the power storage means to charge the electrical energy;
Have
When it is determined by the monitoring means that the thermal energy amount control means is controlling the thermal energy amount when the image forming means is not performing an image forming operation, the thermoelectric conversion means converts the thermal energy into the electrical energy. An image forming apparatus, wherein the power storage unit converts the energy into energy and charges the electrical energy.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power storage instructing unit instructs charging when the image forming apparatus is in a pre-standby state.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power storage instructing unit instructs charging when the image forming apparatus is in a pre-sleep state. Circuit means for connecting the thermoelectric conversion means and the power storage means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power storage unit is charged by switching of the circuit unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heat transfer unit that blows heat using a fan.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the heat transfer unit supplies the thermal energy to the thermoelectric conversion unit from the vicinity of the heat generation unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heat sink unit that supplies the thermal energy to the thermoelectric conversion unit through a metal member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a driving unit that moves the thermoelectric conversion unit to the vicinity of the heat generating unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a discharging unit that discharges the power storage unit to the heat generating unit when the image forming apparatus is in a warm-up state. Circuit means for connecting the power storage means and the heat generating means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the discharging unit discharges by switching of the circuit unit. An image forming process for forming an image on a recording medium;
A heat generation step for heat-fixing the formed image;
A discharging step of discharging the electrical energy charged in the power storage step;
A heat energy amount control step for controlling the amount of heat energy generated in the heat generation step;
A monitoring step of monitoring the state of the image forming step;
A power storage instruction step for instructing the timing of charging the electrical energy to the power storage step;
When it is determined by the monitoring step that the thermal energy amount control step controls the thermal energy amount when the image forming step is not performing an image forming operation, the thermal energy of the heat generation step is converted into electrical energy. A thermoelectric conversion step to charge and a power storage step to charge the electrical energy converted by the thermoelectric conversion step;
An image forming method comprising: An image forming process for forming an image on a recording medium;
Exothermic treatment to heat-fix the formed image;
A discharge process for discharging the electrical energy charged in the power storage process;
Thermal energy amount control processing for controlling the amount of thermal energy generated by the heat generation processing;
A monitoring process for monitoring the state of the image forming process;
A power storage instruction process for instructing the timing of charging the electrical energy to the power storage process;
When it is determined by the monitoring process that the thermal energy amount control process controls the thermal energy amount when the image forming process is not performing an image forming operation, the thermal energy of the heat generation process is converted into electrical energy. A program for causing a computer to execute a thermoelectric conversion process to perform and a power storage process to charge the electric energy converted by the thermoelectric conversion process.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 12 is recorded.

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