JP2015009465A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress a peak of consumption power with a simple construction.SOLUTION: In an image recording device, power supplied from a power generating source is distributed to a device body and two power output terminals. An external device can be connected to the power output terminal. If an operation event generated is not a direct command from a user (S103: NO) and the external device is under a short time operation mode (S105: YES), external consumption power which is consumption power of the external device is calculated (S106), and planned consumption power which is consumption power in a case that the operation event is implemented is calculated (S107). The operation event is implemented after a standby state is continued until the summation power of the external consumption power and the planned consumption power becomes a first threshold value or less (S108: YES). If the operation event generated is the direct command from the user (S103: YES) or the external device is under a continuous operation mode, operation related to the operation event is limited so that the summation power becomes equal to or less than a second threshold value which is larger than the first threshold value (S113).

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium.

  When the peak of power consumption increases in the same power system, voltage fluctuation may occur due to temporary shortage of power supply, and operation of electronic devices such as printers may become unstable. Further, when the peak of power consumption increases, it is necessary to increase the power supply capacity, resulting in an increase in power cost. Therefore, a server device is known that monitors the operating state (power consumption) of a plurality of electronic devices connected to the network and restricts the operation of the electronic device when the total load of each electronic device increases (for example, a patent) Reference 1).

JP 2012-69061 A

  However, according to the above-described technology, a configuration that can communicate with other electronic devices via a network is required, which makes the configuration complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of suppressing power consumption peaks with a simple configuration.

  An image recording apparatus of the present invention includes an apparatus main body including a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium, one or more power output terminals to which an external device is connected, the apparatus main body, and the one or more power output terminals. A power circuit for supplying power to the external device connected to the power supply, and an external power consumption that is power consumed by being supplied to the external device connected to the one or more power output terminals. And a control means for controlling the apparatus main body. The control means derives a planned power consumption that is a power consumption when the apparatus main body performs a predetermined operation. When the total power of the external power consumption and the planned power consumption obtained from the detection result exceeds a first threshold value, the apparatus main body is controlled such that the predetermined operation of the apparatus main body is limited.

  According to the present invention, since the peak of power consumption can be suppressed with a simple configuration, the operation can be stabilized and the increase in power cost can be suppressed.

1 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral (MFP) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure executed by the MFP shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing an operation mode related to an external device in an operation procedure executed by the MFP shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an MFP according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure executed by the MFP shown in FIG.

<First Embodiment>

  Hereinafter, the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a multi-function peripheral (MFP) having a printing function.

  MFP 100 has a printing function and an image reading function (scanner). The printing function may be capable of color printing or dedicated to monochrome. Also, the printing method may be an electrophotographic method or an ink jet method. The scanner may be color-ready or monochrome only.

  A schematic configuration of MFP 100 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the MFP 100 includes a device main body 101, a power circuit 102, and two power output terminals 46 to which the external device 103 is connected. The external device 103 is an arbitrary electric / electronic device such as a personal computer or a switching hub.

  The apparatus main body 101 includes a control unit 30, a printing mechanism (recording unit) 10 that prints an image on a sheet, a scanner 11 that reads an image of a document, and an operation panel 40 that displays an operation status and accepts an input operation by a user. A FAX interface 41, a LAN interface 42, an A / D conversion circuit 43, and a flash memory 44. The control unit 30 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 31, a read only memory (ROM) 32, and a random access memory (RAM) 33. The control unit 30 is electrically connected to the printing mechanism 10, the scanner 11, the operation panel 40, the FAX interface 41, the LAN interface 42, the A / D conversion circuit 43, and the flash memory 44. .

  The ROM 32 stores a control program 32a (firmware: detailed later) for controlling the MFP 100, various settings, initial values, and the like. The RAM 33 is used as a work area from which the control program 32a is read or as a storage area for temporarily storing data.

  The CPU 31 controls each component of the MFP 100 while storing the processing result in the RAM 33 according to the control program 32 a read from the ROM 32 and signals sent from various sensors.

  The FAX interface 41 is an interface that enables communication with an external device (not shown) via a public line. The MFP 100 receives data transmitted from the outside via the FAX interface 41. Furthermore, the MFP 100 transmits data to the outside via the FAX interface 41. The LAN interface 42 can be connected to a network by wired communication, and the MFP 100 can transmit and receive data to and from various devices connected to the network via the LAN interface 42. The operation panel 40 is provided with an input unit composed of various buttons for accepting user input and a screen for displaying messages and setting contents.

  The A / D conversion circuit 43 is connected to a power sensor 46a (described later), converts an analog signal output from the power sensor 46a into a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal to the control unit 30.

  The power circuit 102 outputs the power input from the external power supply source to the power input terminal 45 to the apparatus main body 101 and the two power output terminals 46. A power sensor 46 a is attached to a power line connecting the power input terminal 45 and each power output terminal 46. The power sensor 46 a is a sensor that detects external power consumption that is power consumed by being supplied to the external device 103 connected to the two power output terminals 46. In the power sensor 46a, the voltage of the output signal changes according to the magnitude of the current. The output signal of the power sensor 46 a is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 43 and then input to the control unit 30. The CPU 31 calculates the external power consumption by summing the power consumption calculated for each power sensor 46a from the input digital signal corresponding to each power sensor 46a.

  In the flash memory 44, external power consumption calculated every predetermined cycle from the detection result of the power sensor 46a is stored as the power consumption history 44a only for the latest predetermined period.

  Next, the operation of the control program 32a will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control program 32a is activated when the standby state is entered after the power is turned on. As shown in FIG. 2, when the control program 32a is activated, the CPU 31 calculates the external power consumption detected by the power sensor 46a in a predetermined cycle, and uses the calculated external power consumption as the power consumption history 44a. (S101).

  The CPU 31 determines whether an operation event has occurred (S102). The CPU 31 repeats the process of S101 until it is determined that an operation event has occurred (S102: NO). The operation event is generated by a print command received via the FAX interface 41, a print command or image read command received via the LAN interface 42, a print command or image read command input from the operation panel 40 by the user, or the like. The generation timing of the operation event is not limited to this. For example, the operation event may be automatically generated at a predetermined time reserved in advance or at a timing when predetermined conditions are met. Furthermore, the operation event is not limited to the one using the printing or image reading function. For example, the operation event may include any operation involving power consumption such as automatic maintenance of the MFP 100.

  When determining that an operation event has occurred (S102: YES), the CPU 31 determines whether the generated operation event is a direct command from the user (S103). The direct command from the user is a command expected to be immediate by the user, for example, a print command or an image reading command received via the LAN interface 42, a print command or an image input from the operation panel 40 by the user. Read command. What is not based on a direct command from the user includes a print command and a maintenance operation command received via the FAX interface 41.

When the CPU 31 determines that the generated operation event is not due to a direct command from the user (S103: NO), the CPU 31 refers to the power consumption history 44a and uses the external device 103 connected to the two power output terminals 46. The operation mode indicating the change pattern of the consumed external power is determined (S104). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the operation modes are classified into a short-time operation mode (FIG. 3A) and a continuous operation mode (FIG. 3B). In the short-time operation mode, the power consumption does not exceed a first predetermined value (a value less than a first threshold described later), for example, the power consumption changes in a pulse shape, or even if the power consumption does not exceed the first predetermined value. This is an operation mode in which it is assumed that the period during which the power consumption continuously exceeds the first predetermined value is less than the predetermined time even if the power consumption exceeds the predetermined time. On the other hand, in the continuous operation mode, for example, the power consumption changes more slowly than in the short-time operation mode. For example, the power consumption continuously exceeds a first predetermined value and is larger than a second predetermined value (a later-described first value). This is an operation mode in which a period of less than or equal to (threshold value less than 2 threshold values) is assumed to be the predetermined time or more. In one example, the CPU 31 calculates, from the power consumption history 44a, a value obtained by multiplying the integral value in the most recent predetermined period of external power consumption by a coefficient, and the peak power of the power consumption in the predetermined period is larger than the calculated value. For example, the operation mode is determined to be the short-time operation mode, and otherwise it is determined to be the continuous operation mode. Note that the operation mode determination method is not limited to this. For example, if the variance σ ² of the external power consumption is equal to or greater than a predetermined value within the predetermined period, the short-time operation mode may be determined, and otherwise, the continuous operation mode may be determined. In addition, the peak value and average value of external power consumption are calculated for the predetermined period, and if the peak value is greater than or equal to a predetermined multiple of the average value, the short-time operation mode is determined. Otherwise, the continuous operation mode is determined. May be. Further, the average power consumption may be calculated based on the power consumption history 44a, and the short-time operation mode may be set when the average power consumption is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the continuous operation mode may be set when the average power consumption is larger than the predetermined value.

  The CPU 31 determines whether the operation mode is the short-time operation mode (S105). When the CPU 31 determines that the operation mode is the short-time operation mode (S105: YES), the CPU 31 calculates the external power consumption that is the current power consumption of the external device 103 by the power sensor 46a (S106). Further, the CPU 31 calculates a scheduled power consumption that is the power consumption when the operation event is executed (S107). The scheduled power consumption is calculated using a predetermined formula from parameters relating to operation events (for example, printing speed at the time of printing, printing resolution, reading speed at the time of image reading). Note that a table in which each operation event is associated with the planned power consumption may be stored in advance, and the CPU 31 may determine the planned power consumption with reference to this table.

  Then, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the total power of the current external power consumption and the calculated planned power consumption is equal to or less than the first threshold (S108). Here, the first threshold value is a value equal to or less than the maximum allowable power of the power supply source that supplies power to MFP 100. In the present embodiment, the first threshold is 80% of the maximum allowable power. If the CPU 31 determines that the total power is not less than or equal to the first threshold (S108: NO), the CPU 31 repeats the processing after S106 until the total power becomes less than or equal to the first threshold, and waits until the total power becomes less than or equal to the first threshold. . As described above, since the operation mode is the short-time operation mode, the total power is expected to be equal to or lower than the first threshold value in a relatively short time. When the CPU 31 determines that the total power is equal to or less than the first threshold (S108: YES), the CPU 31 controls the operation of the apparatus main body 101 so that the operation event is executed (S109). When the operation event is completed, the process proceeds to S101 and waits until the next operation event occurs.

  When it is determined that the operation mode is the continuous operation mode (S105: NO), and when it is determined that the generated operation event is a direct command from the user (S103: YES), the power sensor 46a. To calculate the external power consumption which is the current power consumption of the external device 103 (S110). Further, the CPU 31 calculates a scheduled power consumption that is a power consumption when the restricted operation event is executed (S111).

  Then, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the total power of the current external power consumption and the calculated planned power consumption is equal to or less than the second threshold (S112). Here, the second threshold value is a value greater than the first threshold value and less than or equal to the maximum allowable power. In the present embodiment, the second threshold value is 90% of the maximum allowable power. If the CPU 31 determines that the total power is not less than or equal to the second threshold (S112: NO), it limits the operation event so that the total power is less than or equal to the second threshold (S113). Specifically, the CPU 31 limits the operation event by reducing the parameters related to the operation event, for example, the printing speed at the time of printing, the printing resolution, and the reading speed at the time of image reading. Thereby, power consumption at the time of execution can be suppressed. Then, the CPU 31 controls the operation of the apparatus main body 101 so that the operation event is executed (S109). When the CPU 31 determines that the total power is equal to or less than the second threshold (S112: YES), the CPU 31 controls the operation of the apparatus main body 101 so that the operation event is executed (S109). When the operation event is completed, the process proceeds to S101 and waits until the next operation event occurs.

  As described above in detail, according to the MFP 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the peak of the overall power consumption including the MFP 100 and the external device with a simple configuration in which the content of the operation event is limited according to the external power consumption. it can. As a result, the power supply from the power supply source can be stabilized, the operation of MFP 100 can be stabilized, and the power cost can be suppressed from increasing because the capacity of the power supply source need not be increased. .

  Further, for example, if the external device 103 is in the short-time operation mode, the operation waits until the external power consumption decreases, and then the operation event is executed. As a result, the operation of the apparatus main body 101 is compared with the continuous operation mode. It can be completed in a short time.

  Furthermore, when the generated operation event is a direct command from the user, it can be preferentially executed without waiting until the external power consumption is reduced.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the member substantially the same as 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted. As shown in FIG. 4, the MFP 200 has a device main body 201, a power circuit 202, a power output terminal 46 to which the external device 103 is connected, and a power output terminal 246 to which the external device 103 or the optional device 203 is connected. (In FIG. 4, an optional device 203 is connected). The optional device 203 is a device that adds the function of the MFP 200. For example, the finisher that can distribute and bind the printed sheets by the printing mechanism 10 or the scanner 11 automatically and continuously the sheets. For example, a paper feeder to be supplied.

  The apparatus main body 201 includes a control unit 30, a printing mechanism 10, a scanner 11, an operation panel 40, a FAX interface 41, a LAN interface 42, an A / D conversion circuit 43, and an option interface 244. . The control unit 30 includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, and a RAM 33. The control unit 30 is electrically connected to the printing mechanism 10, the scanner 11, the operation panel 40, the FAX interface 41, the LAN interface 42, the A / D conversion circuit 43, and the option interface 244. .

  The ROM 32 stores a control program 232a (firmware: described in detail later), various settings, initial values, and the like for controlling the MFP 200.

  The option interface 244 is an interface for performing data communication between the option device 203 and the control unit 30. The control unit 30 can control the option device 203 to be linked to the MFP 200 by transmitting various commands to the option device 203 via the option interface 244. It can also be determined whether or not the optional device 203 is connected to the power output terminal 246.

  The power circuit 202 outputs the power input from the external power supply source to the power input terminal 45 to the apparatus main body 101 and the power output terminals 46 and 246. A relay 246 b is disposed on the power line between the power input terminal 45 and the power output terminal 246. The relay 246 b can be controlled ON / OFF by the control unit 30. When the relay 246b is ON, power is supplied to the power output terminal 246, and when it is OFF, supply of power to the force output terminal 246 is interrupted. The relay 246b is controlled only when the optional device 203 is connected to the power output terminal 246.

  Next, the operation of the control program 232a will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control program 232a is activated when the standby state is entered after the power is turned on. As shown in FIG. 5, when the control program 232a is activated, the CPU 31 determines whether or not an operation event has occurred (S201). The CPU 31 waits until it is determined that an operation event has occurred (S201: NO).

  When determining that an operation event has occurred (S201: YES), the CPU 31 calculates the current external power consumption of the power output terminals 46 and 246 from the detection result of the power sensor 46a (S202). Further, the CPU 31 calculates a scheduled power consumption that is the power consumption when the operation event is executed (S203). The CPU 31 determines whether or not to use the option device 203 connected to the power output terminal 246 for an operation event (S204). When the CPU 31 determines that the option device 203 is to be used for the operation event (S204: YES), the CPU 31 subtracts the power consumption related to the option device 203 (power output terminal 246) from the calculated external power consumption, and calculates the operation event to the calculated planned power consumption. By adding the planned power consumption of the optional device 203 when executing, the external power consumption and the planned power consumption are corrected (S205). When the CPU 31 determines that the optional device 203 is not used for the operation event (S204: NO), it does not correct the external power consumption and the scheduled power consumption.

  Then, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the total power of the current external power consumption and the calculated planned power consumption is equal to or less than the first threshold (S206). When determining that the total power is equal to or less than the first threshold (S206: YES), the CPU 31 controls the operation of the apparatus main body 201 so that the operation event is executed (S207). When the operation event is completed, the process proceeds to S201 and waits until the next operation event occurs.

  If the CPU 31 determines that the total power is not less than or equal to the first threshold (S206: NO), the CPU 31 restricts the operation events in the same manner as performed in S113 so that the total power is less than or equal to the first threshold (S208). If the option device 203 is used as an operation event, the operation event restricted in this step may include an operation event of the option device 203. When the optional device 203 is connected to the power output terminal 246, the relay 246b is turned OFF when it is desired to suppress power consumption during standby of the optional device 203. Then, the CPU 31 controls the operation of the apparatus main body 201 so that the operation event is executed (S207). When the operation event is completed, the process proceeds to S201 and waits until the next operation event occurs.

  As described above in detail, according to the MFP 200 of the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the peak of the overall power consumption including the MFP 200 and the external device with a simple configuration in which the content of the operation event is limited according to the external power consumption. it can. As a result, the power supply from the power supply source can be stabilized, the operation of the MFP 200 can be stabilized, and the power cost can be suppressed from increasing because the capacity of the power supply source need not be increased. .

  In addition, since the operation of the optional device 203 can be restricted by the operation event restriction process, the degree of freedom of restriction increases.

  In addition, this embodiment is only a mere illustration and does not limit this invention at all. Therefore, the present invention can be variously improved and modified without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the first embodiment described above, the operation event is limited or the external current consumption is reduced depending on whether the generated operation event is a direct command from the user and whether the operation mode is the short-time operation mode. However, it may be configured to determine whether to limit the operation event or to wait until the external current consumption is reduced by only one of these determinations. Further, the processing of the second embodiment related to the option device 203 may be performed in the first embodiment.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to the MFPs 100 and 200 has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a single printer.

  The processing disclosed in the above-described embodiment may be executed by a single CPU, a plurality of CPUs, hardware such as an ASIC, or a combination thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing mechanism 11 ... Scanner 30 ... Control part 32 ... ROM
32a ... control program 43 ... A / D conversion circuit 44 ... flash memory 44a ... power consumption history 45 ... power input terminal 46, 246 ... power input terminal 46a ... power sensor 100, 200 ... MFP
101, 201 ... main body 102, 202 ... power circuit 103 ... external device 203 ... optional device

Claims (4)

An apparatus body including recording means for recording an image on a recording medium;
One or more power output terminals to which external devices are connected;
A power circuit that supplies power to the external device connected to the device body and the one or more power output terminals;
A detection sensor for detecting external power consumption that is power consumed by being supplied to the external device connected to the one or more power output terminals;
Control means for controlling the apparatus main body,
The control means derives a planned power consumption that is a power consumption when the apparatus main body executes a predetermined operation, and a total power of the external power consumption and the planned power consumption obtained from a detection result of the detection sensor is a first power. An image recording apparatus, wherein the apparatus main body is controlled so that the predetermined operation of the apparatus main body is restricted when one threshold is exceeded. The control means includes
Storing a history of the external power consumption supplied to the external device connected to the one or more power output terminals;
When the total power exceeds the first threshold and when the predetermined execution timing of the predetermined operation of the apparatus main body is reached, the history pattern is determined, and the total power is determined according to the determination result. The predetermined operation is performed after waiting until the total power becomes equal to or lower than the first threshold, and the total power is larger than the first threshold without waiting until the total power becomes equal to or lower than the first threshold. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus main body is controlled such that any one of the predetermined operations is performed within a range not exceeding a threshold value.   When the total power exceeds the first threshold, and when the user gives an operation instruction for the predetermined operation of the apparatus main body, the control means is configured to output a second power that is greater than the first threshold. Controlling the apparatus main body to execute the predetermined operation based on the operation instruction within a range not exceeding a threshold, and executing timing of the predetermined operation scheduled to be executed without being based on the operation instruction from a user; 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus main body is controlled to execute the predetermined operation after waiting until the total power becomes equal to or less than the first threshold. Recording device.   When the auxiliary device that assists the operation of the apparatus main body is connected to any one of the one or a plurality of power output terminals, the control means is configured to use the auxiliary device when the predetermined operation is an operation using the auxiliary device. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein power consumption of the apparatus is subtracted from the external power consumption, and power consumption of the auxiliary device is included in the scheduled power consumption.