JP2015174269A - Image forming apparatus, control method for the same and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten recovery processing time by starting a prescribed recovery processing before transferring to a first power state when recovering from a second power state to a first power state without impairing a power-saving state.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: first power source means for supplying power to each device in the first power state; second power source means for supplying power to each section in the second power state; and third power source means for supplying power stored in the second power state to each section, and shifts to the second power state which saves more power than the first power state. When a factor to recover to the first power state from the second power state is detected, whether the state is in a state that power can be supplied from the first power source means is determined. At the time, power is supplied to each device from the second power source means and the third power source means until it is determined that power can be supplied from the first power source means.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method for the image forming apparatus, and a program.

  In recent years, the power consumption of image forming apparatuses has been increasing, and it is required not only to reduce the power consumption during operation, but also to reduce the overall power consumption by reducing the power consumption as much as possible even in the power saving mode. Yes.

The power saving mode is realized by preparing a power supply for the power saving mode, supplying power only to the main memory, and keeping only the main program and necessary data in the main memory. ing. The power source for the power saving mode employs a power source that can efficiently change a small amount of power used so as to suppress power consumption in the power saving mode. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2)
In addition, a method has been proposed in which an auxiliary power supply is arranged in parallel with the power supply for the power saving mode, and power is reduced by supplying power from the auxiliary power supply during the power saving mode. (For example, see Patent Document 3)

  On the other hand, the power required for standby and operation of the image forming apparatus is increasing due to the increase in functions and the speeding up of semiconductors. The power source that normally operates the image forming apparatus is composed of a main power source that is different from the power source for the power saving mode, and employs a power source that can maintain high power consumption.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-78197 JP 2007-25882 A JP 2004-294554 A

However, in the above-described conventional technology, when returning from the power saving mode to standby, it is necessary to turn on another power supply device for operation. Therefore, there is a problem of waiting for the power supply device to rise and extending the recovery time. is there.
In addition, if the power required for recovery is covered by the power saving mode power supply, there is a problem that the efficiency at the time of low power consumption is deteriorated and the power at the power saving mode is increased.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a first power state when returning from the second power state to the first power state without impairing the power saving state. It is to provide a mechanism capable of shortening the recovery processing time by starting a predetermined recovery process before shifting to the power state.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object has the following configuration.
An image forming apparatus that makes a transition to a second power state that saves more power than the first power state, the first power supply unit supplying power to each device in the first power state, and the second power state Second power supply means for supplying power to each part in the power state; third power supply means for supplying power stored in the second power state to each part; and from the second power state to the first power supply Detecting means for detecting a factor for returning to the power state; and when the detecting means detects a factor for returning to the first power state from the second power state, power can be supplied from the first power source means Each of the devices from the second power supply means and the third power supply means until it is determined by the determination means that power can be supplied from the first power supply means. Control means for supplying power to And wherein the Rukoto.

  According to the present invention, when returning from the second power state to the first power state without impairing the power saving state, the predetermined return process is started before the transition to the first power state. The return processing time can be shortened.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a control unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a power supply unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a controller control part. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a power supply state in a power saving mode of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the power supply system in a controller control part. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Description of system configuration>
[First Embodiment]

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. The image forming apparatus shown in this example includes an image forming apparatus main body including an image reader 200 and a printer unit 300, a folding device 500, and a finisher 600. A document conveying device 100 is mounted on the upper part of the image reader 200. In the present exemplary embodiment, an image forming apparatus that performs power control to shift to a power saving second power state rather than the first power state in which image formation is possible is taken as an example.

  The document conveying device 100 feeds documents set on the document tray 105 one by one from the first page in order, and conveys them onto the document table glass 205 through a curved path. As a method for reading a single-sided document, a document fixed reading mode in which a document is read by conveying and stopping the trailing edge of the document to a reading position R1 on the document table glass 205 and moving the scanner unit 206 from left to right. There is. In addition, there is a document flow reading mode in which the document is conveyed to the reading position R1 at a certain reading speed and the document is read while the scanner unit 206 is fixed at the reading position R1. Thereafter, in any mode, the read original is discharged to the discharge tray 106.

  As a method of reading a double-sided document, there is a method of reading the front surface by the scanner unit 206 and reading the back surface by using the optical unit 110 arranged in the document conveying apparatus 100. An image sensor 200 and a light source (not shown) are arranged in the optical unit 110.

An image of a document read by the image sensor 208 via the lens 207 is subjected to image processing and stored in a hard disk 407 (hereinafter referred to as HDD) of the controller control unit 400, and at the same time, the exposure control unit 305 via the printer control unit 301. Sent to. The exposure control unit 305 outputs laser light corresponding to the image signal.
When this laser light is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 306, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 306. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 306 is developed by the developing device 307. The developer on the photosensitive drum 306 is transferred by the transfer unit 312 to a sheet fed from any of the cassettes 308 and 309, the manual sheet feeding unit 310, and the duplex conveyance path 311.

When the developer-transferred sheet is guided to the fixing unit 313, the developer is fixed. The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 313 is once guided from the path 315 to the path 314 by a flapper (not shown), and after the trailing end of the sheet has passed through the path 315, the sheet is switched back and guided from the path 316 to the discharge roller 317. .
As a result, the surface onto which the developer has been transferred can be turned downward (face down) and discharged from the printer unit 300 by the discharge roller 317. This is called reverse paper discharge. Thus, by discharging face down, it is possible to form an image in the correct page order from the first page, such as when printing an image obtained by reading a plurality of documents using the document feeder 100.

  When an image is formed on the hard sheet such as an OHP sheet from the manual sheet feeding unit 310, the surface onto which the developer has been transferred is faced up (face-up) without being guided to the pass 315, and is discharged from the discharge roller 317. Discharge.

  In addition, when forming an image on both sides of a sheet, the sheet is guided from the fixing unit 313 to pass 315 and pass 314, the sheet is switched back immediately after the rear end of the sheet passes through the path 315, and is conveyed by a flapper (not shown). Guide to path 311. The electrostatic latent image is transferred again to the sheet guided to the duplex conveyance path 311 by the transfer unit 312 and subjected to fixing processing by the fixing unit 313.

  In this way, the transfer unit 312 can be transported even in a state where five half-size sheets such as A4 and B5 are included in a single pass that returns to the transfer unit 312 via the duplex transport path 311. The path length, roller arrangement, and drive system are divided. Note that the discharge page order by these processes is discharged so that the odd-numbered pages face down, so that the page order during double-sided copying can be matched.

The sheet discharged from the discharge roller 317 is sent to the folding device 500. The folding device 500 performs a process of folding the sheet into Z-folds. When the folding process is specified for the A3 size sheet or the B4 size sheet, the folding apparatus 500 performs the folding process, and then the sheet is sent to the finisher 600. However, sheets of other sizes are sent to the finisher 600 as they are. The finisher 600 performs bookbinding processing, binding processing, punching processing, and the like. In addition, an inserter 700 is provided on the upper portion of the finisher 600 and feeds a cover sheet, a slip sheet, and the like to the finisher 600.
The controller control unit 400 communicates with the image reader 200, the printer unit 300 folding apparatus 500, and the finisher 600 to control the entire image forming apparatus.

  The power supply unit 350 constitutes a power supply for the entire image forming apparatus, and the controller control unit 400 supplies power to the image reader 200, the printer unit 300 folding device 500, and the finisher 600. Note that the folding device 500 and the finisher 600 may be independently powered.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the control unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. The controller control unit 400 controls the entire image forming apparatus.

  In FIG. 2, the controller control unit 400 includes a document conveyance device control unit 101 that controls the document conveyance device 100 based on the setting of the operation unit 800 and an instruction from the external computer 453. Then, it communicates with the image reader control unit 201 that controls the image reader 200 to acquire input image data of the original. Further, it communicates with a printer control unit 301 that controls the printer unit 300 to print image data on a sheet. Communication is performed with a folding device control unit 501 that controls the folding device 500 and a finisher control unit 601 that controls the finisher 600, thereby realizing a desired output such as stapling or punching on a printed sheet.

The external I / F 451 is an interface 4 for connecting to an external computer 453. For example, the external I / F 451 is connected by an external bus 452 such as a network or USB, and prints data from the external computer 453 into an image and outputs the image. Further, the image data in the HDD 407 is transmitted to the external computer 453.
The controller control unit 400 performs power control of the power supply unit 350 in order to realize each power saving mode.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the power supply unit 350 of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.
In FIG. 3, a power supply unit 350 generates a DC power supply from an AC power supply 351 and supplies power to each control unit. The energy-saving power source 352 supplies power necessary for the image forming apparatus to the controller control unit 400 mainly when the image forming apparatus is in the power-saving mode.

The auxiliary power supply 356 is configured by a device capable of storing electricity such as a battery or a capacitor, and further energy saving is realized by disconnecting the energy saving power supply 352 mainly during the power saving mode. In this embodiment, the auxiliary power source 356 can be charged by the energy saving power source 352, and the image forming apparatus can be charged during standby or during operation. However, the main power supply 353, the drive power supply 354, or the AC power supply 351 may be configured to be rechargeable, and is not limited to this.
The auxiliary power supply monitoring unit 358 monitors the charging capacity of the auxiliary power supply 356 and notifies the power supply control unit 409 in the controller control unit 400 described later of the charging capacity.

  The energy saving power source switching unit 357 performs switching for supplying power from the energy saving power source 352 and / or the auxiliary power source 356 to the controller control unit 400, and is controlled by the power source control unit 409 in the controller control unit 400.

The main power supply 353 supplies power to the controller control unit 400 when the image forming apparatus is on standby or operating. At the same time, power is supplied to the CPU, RAM, etc. that control the control of each control unit in the document conveying device control unit 101, the image reader control unit 201, the printer control unit 301, the folding device control unit 501, the finisher control unit 601, and the operation unit 800. To do.
The main power supply monitoring unit 359 monitors whether the main power supply 353 can be stably supplied and notifies the power supply control unit 409 in the controller control unit 400. The drive system power supply 354 is a power supply for supplying relatively high power such as a motor, a solenoid (not shown) of each control unit, a fixing unit 313 necessary for image formation, and the like, like the main power supply 353.

  The main power supply 353 and the drive system power supply 354 have a relay 355 so that the power supply in the power saving mode can be cut off, and ON / OFF control is performed by the power supply control unit 409 in the controller control unit 400. A power system that supplies power from the energy-saving power source 352 and the auxiliary power source 356 is referred to as a second power system, and a power system that supplies power from the main power source 353 is referred to as a first power system. Here, the second power system is configured so as to be usable as a so-called parallel power source in the same series.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the controller control unit 400 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 4, the controller control unit 400 includes a CPU 401 and a ROM 402 that stores an initial activation program for the CPU 401. A RAM 403 that temporarily holds control data of the CPU 401 and is used as a work area for computations associated with control is connected via a bus bridge 404.

The CPU 401 communicates with the device control unit 408 via the bus bridge 404. The device control unit 408 is connected to the document conveying device control unit 101, the image reader control unit 201, the printer control unit 301, the folding device control unit 501, and the finisher control unit 601, and performs control.
The CPU 401 is connected to an operation unit control unit 405 that controls the operation unit 800 and an external I / F control unit 406 that controls the network via the bus bridge 404.
The HDD 407 is used for storing the main program and application program and for storing the acquired image data and when the image is edited by the operation unit 800 described later.

The power supply control unit 409 controls the power supply of the entire image forming apparatus and is connected to the power supply unit 350. Power supply control to the document conveying device control unit 101, the image reader control unit 201, the printer control unit 301, the folding device control unit 501, and the finisher control unit 601 is performed.
Further, power control to the power saving mode of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment and power control at the time of returning from the power saving mode are realized by the power control unit 409.

The controller control unit 400 includes a power saving mode return factor detection unit 410 that detects a return factor from the power saving mode.
When the image forming apparatus is in the power saving mode, the power saving mode return factor detection unit 410 detects that the power saving mode is returned from the power saving mode due to an external return factor. For example, when a main SW key 804 of the operation unit 800 described later is pressed, a print job is input from the network. The power saving mode return factor detection unit 410 notifies the power supply control unit 409 and turns on the relay 355 in the power supply unit 350 to change the power saving mode (second power state) to the first power state in which image formation is possible. Return.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the operation unit 800 of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.
In FIG. 5, the LCD display unit 900 has a touch panel sheet pasted on the LCD, displays a system operation screen, and transmits the position information to the controller control unit 400 when a displayed key is pressed.
A numeric keypad 801 is used to input numbers such as the number of copies. A start key 802 is used to start a copying operation and a document reading operation after setting user-desired conditions. A stop key 803 is used to stop an operation in operation. The energy saving key 904 is used by the user to shift to and return to the power saving mode.

Reference numeral 805 denotes a guide key. When the key is not understood, an explanation of the key is displayed. A copy mode key 806 is pressed when copying. Reference numeral 807 denotes a fax key which is pressed to make settings related to fax. A file key 808 is pressed to output file data. Reference numeral 809 denotes a printer key, which is used to make settings relating to print output from an external device such as a computer.
A method for shifting and returning to the power saving mode of the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a power supply state in the power saving mode of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. Hereinafter, the power state for realizing the power saving mode in the controller control unit 400 of the image forming apparatus will be described in detail.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a power supply system in the controller control unit 400 of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

When the image forming apparatus is in the power saving mode, power is supplied to the RAM 403 as the main storage device, and only the settings of the CPU 401, the main program, and necessary data are held in the RAM 403. A recovery factor necessary for shifting the image forming apparatus from the power saving mode to an operable standby state is detected and activated.
During the power saving mode of the image forming apparatus, power is supplied to the controller control unit 400 from the energy saving power source 352 or the auxiliary power source 356 via the energy saving power source switching unit 357 in the power source unit 350.

  At this time, the RAM 403, the external I / F control unit 406, the power supply control unit 409, the power saving mode return factor detection unit 410, and the main SW key 804 that is a return factor supply power in the controller control unit 400. When the main power supply shown in FIG. 3 is the first power supply means, the power-saving power supply 352 corresponds to the second power supply means, and the auxiliary power supply 356 functions as the third power supply means. The auxiliary power source 356 is configured by, for example, a capacitor that stores electric power by being charged by the energy saving power source 352.

In FIG. 6, each shaded device, for example, the CPU 401, the ROM 402, the bus bridge 404, the operation unit control unit 405, the HDD 407, and the device control unit 408 is a power saving mode (second power state) of the image forming apparatus.
Sometimes no power is supplied.

  When shifting from the power saving mode according to the present embodiment to the standby state, the power saving mode return factor detection unit 410 notifies the power supply control unit 409 and turns on the relay 355 in the power supply unit 350 to turn on the power saving mode. Return from.

  Here, until the main power supply 353 can stably supply power by turning on the relay 355, temporary power is supplied to all devices in the controller control unit 400 from both the energy-saving power supply 352 and the auxiliary power supply 356. It is configured as follows.

Specifically, the power control unit 409 supplies power from both the energy saving power source 352 and the auxiliary power source 356 to the energy saving power source switching unit 357 in the power source unit 350. The power supply selector 450 can normally be energized from the main power supply 353. Only when returning from the power saving mode of the present embodiment, the power selector 450 can be supplied from the energy saving power source 352 and the auxiliary power source 356 side.
At that time, the power control unit 409 turns off the power selector 450 so that the CPU 401, the ROM 402, the bus bridge 404, the operation unit control unit 405, the HDD 407, and the device control unit 408 are also supplied from the energy saving power source 352 and the auxiliary power source 356. To control. A detailed control flow will be described later.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is a processing example of shifting to the power saving mode of the image forming apparatus. Each step is realized by the power supply control unit 409 executing the stored control program.
First, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus is in an operable standby state. The CPU 401 monitors whether the image forming apparatus may shift to the power saving mode (S101). As the condition, for example, a case where the user presses the main SW key 804 of the operation unit 800 or an operation instruction is not given to the image forming apparatus by an internal timer and the standby state continues for a certain time is monitored.

When the CPU 401 determines that the power saving mode may be entered, the power supply control unit 409 acquires the charging capacity (remaining power capacity) of the auxiliary power supply 356 from the auxiliary power supply monitoring unit 358 in the power supply unit 350. The power supply control unit 409 determines whether the charge capacity is higher than a predetermined capacity, for example, 10% (S102). If the power supply control unit 409 determines that it is less than 10%, it is charged (accumulated) as it is, and waits until the charge capacity reaches 10%.
Next, the CPU 401 stores the settings of the CPU 401, the main program, and necessary data in the RAM 403, and instructs the power supply control unit 409 to shift to the power saving mode (S103).
On the other hand, when the power supply control unit 409 determines that the charge capacity is 10% or more, the power supply control unit 409 next determines whether the charge capacity is just 10% (S104).

Here, when the power supply control unit 409 determines that the charging capacity is higher than 10%, the power supply control unit 409 performs switching so that the energy-saving power supply switching unit 357 can be supplied from only the auxiliary power supply 356 to the controller control unit 400. (S105). Further, the power supply control unit 409 turns off the relay 355 (S106), disconnects the main power supply 353 and the drive system power supply 354, and shifts to the power saving mode A realized by energizing only the auxiliary power supply 356.
On the other hand, when the power supply control unit 409 determines that the charging capacity is 10% in S104, the power supply control unit 409 can supply the energy-saving power supply switching unit 357 to the controller control unit 400 only from the energy-saving power supply 352. Switching is performed (S107).
Further, the power supply control unit 409 turns off the relay 355 (S108), disconnects the main power supply 353 and the drive system power supply 354, and shifts to the power saving mode B realized by energization of the energy saving power supply 352.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is a processing example in the power saving mode A realized by energizing only the auxiliary power source 356 of the image forming apparatus. Each step is realized by the power supply control unit 409 executing the stored control program.
First, during the power saving mode A realized by energizing only the auxiliary power supply 356, the power supply control unit 409 monitors the charging capacity of the auxiliary power supply 356. The power controller 409 constantly monitors whether the charging capacity has dropped to 10% (S201).

When the charging capacity becomes 10%, the power supply control unit 409 performs switching so that the energy saving power supply switching unit 357 can be supplied from the energy saving power supply 352 to the controller control unit 400 (S202). And it transfers to the power saving mode B implement | achieved by electricity supply of the energy saving power supply 352. FIG. In the power saving mode B realized by energization of the energy saving power supply 352, power is supplied from the AC energy saving power supply 352, and thus monitoring or the like is not particularly performed.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is a processing example for returning from the power saving mode of the image forming apparatus. Each step is realized by the power supply control unit 409 executing the stored control program.

Hereinafter, the restoration process will be described assuming that the main SW key 804 of the operation unit 800 is pressed during the power saving mode of the image forming apparatus.
The power saving mode return factor detection unit 410 monitors whether there is an instruction to return from the power saving mode (S301), and if there is an instruction to return, notifies the power supply control unit 409 of the return from the power saving mode. .
The power control unit 409 performs switching so that the energy saving power switching unit 357 can be supplied from both the energy saving power source 352 and the auxiliary power source 356 to the controller control unit 400 (S302).

  Next, the power control unit 409 turns off the power selector 450 (S303), and the CPU 401, ROM 402, bus bridge 404, operation unit control unit 405, HDD 407, and device control unit 408 are also supplied from both the energy saving power source 352 and the auxiliary power source 356. Supply power. From here, the CPU 401 starts the return processing from the power saving mode.

  At the same time, the power supply control unit 409 turns on the relay 355 in the power supply unit 350 to activate the main power supply 353 and the drive system power supply 354 (S304). The power control unit 409 monitors until the main power supply 353 can be stably supplied from the main power supply monitoring unit 359 in the power supply unit 350 (S305).

The power supply control unit 409 turns on the power supply selector 450 when the main power supply 353 can be stably supplied (S306), and the CPU 401, the ROM 402, the bus bridge 404, the operation unit control unit 405, the HDD 407, and the device control unit 408. The power supply to is switched to the supply from the main power supply 353.
Thereafter, the CPU 401 performs a restoration process of the image forming apparatus, enters a standby state where it can operate anytime, and ends the restoration process.

  In the present embodiment, the charging capacity remaining in the auxiliary power supply 356 when returning from the power saving mode is 10%, but this is not limited to this because it depends on the capacitor and the capacitor capacity. In addition, the auxiliary power supply 356 is configured not to be charged during the power saving mode. However, when configured to be able to be charged during the power saving mode, the configuration is as in the second embodiment.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is a processing example for the image forming apparatus to shift to the power saving mode. Each step is realized by the power supply control unit 409 executing the stored control program.
First, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus is in a standby state in which it can be operated immediately. The CPU 401 monitors whether the image forming apparatus may shift to the power saving mode (S401). As the condition, for example, a case where the user presses the main SW key 804 of the operation unit 800 or an operation instruction is not given to the image forming apparatus by an internal timer and the standby state continues for a certain time is monitored.

When determining that the CPU 401 shifts to the power saving mode, the CPU 401 stores the settings of the CPU 401, the main program, and necessary data in the RAM 403, and instructs the power control unit 409 to shift to the power saving mode (S402).
The power supply control unit 409 acquires the charging capacity of the auxiliary power supply 356 from the auxiliary power supply monitoring unit 358 in the power supply unit 350. The power supply control unit 409 determines whether or not the charge capacity is higher than 10% (S403).

When the power supply control unit 409 determines that the charging capacity is higher than 10%, the power supply control unit 409 performs switching so that the energy saving power supply switching unit 357 can be supplied from only the auxiliary power supply 356 to the controller control unit 400 (S404). .
Further, the power supply control unit 409 turns off the relay 355 (S405), disconnects the main power supply 353 and the drive system power supply 354, and shifts to the power saving mode A realized by energizing only the auxiliary power supply 356.

On the other hand, when the charging capacity is less than 10% in S403, the power supply control unit 409 performs switching so that the energy saving power supply switching unit 357 can be supplied from only the energy saving power supply 352 to the controller control unit 400 (S406).
Further, the power control unit 409 turns off the relay 355 (S407), disconnects the main power supply 353 and the drive system power supply 354, and shifts to the power saving mode C realized by energization of the energy saving power supply 352.
In the present embodiment, the flow in the power saving mode A realized by energizing only the auxiliary power source 356 is the same as that in FIG. 9 described above.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is a processing example in the power saving mode C realized by energization of the energy saving power source 352. Each step is realized by the power supply control unit 409 executing the stored control program.
During the power saving mode B realized by energization of the energy saving power supply 352, the power supply control unit 409 charges the auxiliary power supply 356 via the auxiliary power supply monitoring unit 358 (S501).
The power supply control unit 409 monitors whether the charging capacity is less than 10% (S502). If the charging capacity is smaller than 10%, the auxiliary power supply 356 is continuously charged.
When the charging capacity reaches 10%, the power supply control unit 409 terminates the charging of the auxiliary power supply 356 via the auxiliary power supply monitoring unit 358.
The flow for returning from the power saving mode of the image forming apparatus is the same as in FIG. 10 of the first embodiment.
In this embodiment, the charging capacity remaining in the auxiliary power source 356 when returning from the power saving mode is 10%. However, this is not limited to this because it depends on the capacitor and the capacitor capacity.
According to the present embodiment, when returning from the power saving mode to the standby mode, the recovery process is performed by the energy saving power source and the auxiliary power source until the main power source stably starts up, so that the recovery time can be shortened. Also, by preparing an auxiliary power source, it is possible to maintain the efficiency of the energy saving power source and keep the power in the power saving mode low.

  Each process of the present invention can also be realized by executing software (program) acquired via a network or various storage media by a processing device (CPU, processor) such as a personal computer (computer).

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.

409 Power control unit 352 Energy saving power source 353 Main power source 356 Auxiliary power source

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus that makes a transition to a second power state that saves power rather than a first power state,
First power supply means for supplying power to each device in the first power state;
Second power supply means for supplying power to each part in the second power state;
Third power supply means for supplying power stored in the second power state to each unit;
Detecting means for detecting a factor for returning from the second power state to the first power state;
A determination unit that determines whether or not power can be supplied from the first power supply unit when the detection unit detects a factor for returning from the second power state to the first power state;
Control means for supplying power from the second power supply means and the third power supply means to each device until it is determined by the determination means that power can be supplied from the first power supply means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The control means includes a first power control for supplying power to each device by the second power supply means in accordance with a charge capacity stored in the third power supply means, the second power supply means, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second power control for supplying power to each device is switched by a third power supply unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third power supply unit is configured by a capacitor capable of storing electricity.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power system supplied by the third power supply unit is in the same series as the power system supplied by the second power supply unit. 5. .   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a monitoring unit configured to monitor whether or not a power capacity remaining in the third power source unit exceeds a predetermined capacity.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each device includes a CPU, a RAM, and a RAM. A first power supply means for supplying power to each device in a first power state; a second power supply means for supplying power to each part in a second power state; and power stored in the second power state And a third power supply unit that supplies power to each unit, and a method for controlling the image forming apparatus that makes a transition to a second power state that saves power rather than the first power state,
A detection step of detecting a factor for returning from the second power state to the first power state;
A determination step of determining whether power can be supplied from the first power supply means when the detection step detects a factor for returning from the second power state to the first power state;
A control step of supplying power to each device from the second power supply means and the third power supply means until it is determined by the determination step that power can be supplied from the first power supply means;
An image forming apparatus control method comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7.

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