JP2017075974A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain a lowest humidity state with less power while a power supply is turned off or in a standby time, and reduce a burden on humidity management after the power supply is turned on or the standby state is released.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 comprises: dehumidification means including temperature adjustment fans F1 and F2, exhaust fans F3 and F4, and a heater 36, which reduce humidity; a temperature and humidity sensor 34 that detects the humidity of a portion to be dehumidified in the image forming apparatus 1; and a control part 41 that sets the humidity to be maintained while a power supply is in a power-off state or its use state is a standby state from the humidity detected by the temperature and humidity sensor 34, the humidity required during image formation, and the amount of humidity to be reduced from the energization until the start of image formation, selects at least one of the dehumidification means while the power supply is turned off or in the standby state according to the humidity detected by the temperature and humidity sensor 34, and operates the selected dehumidification means until the temperature detected by the temperature and humidity sensor 34 becomes the temperature to be maintained.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral that forms a toner image on a sheet is known. While the main body of the image forming apparatus is turned on, there is also a flow of air in the machine, and since it has a fixing unit that fixes the toner image to the paper by heating and pressurization, the humidity in the machine maintains a state close to ideal. Is able to.

  On the other hand, if the main unit is turned off and there is no air flow inside the machine, the humidity inside the machine tends to increase.If left for a long time, it is difficult to reduce the humidity during the time from the power on until the start of printing. Become. For example, if the humidity of the paper, the transfer belt, or the like increases due to the fact that the humidity does not decrease from when the power is turned on until the start of printing, there is an effect on the ease of paper jamming. Therefore, there is a problem that the humidity in the airframe must be controlled so as not to become higher than a certain level while the power source (sub power source) is turned off or during sleep (standby). Sub power off means that the display on the display unit and the energization of the image forming unit (image forming engine) are stopped for power saving by pressing the sub power button off. In the sleep mode, when there is no operation or an image formation instruction for a predetermined time, the display on the display unit and the energization to the image forming unit are stopped for power saving.

  In view of this, an image forming apparatus that controls the temperature and humidity in the body during power-off or sleep is known (see Patent Document 1). This image forming apparatus determines the possibility of condensation and the state based on the temperature and humidity inside the apparatus during power-off or sleep mode, and turns on the fixing unit itself and a small heater as a condensation prevention heater. As a dew condensation prevention heater that can control the temperature and humidity inside the machine while the sub power is off or in sleep mode, it is possible to avoid the dew condensation state in a short time when the fixing is turned on.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-81989

  However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is not necessary to turn on a plurality of heaters and consume a large amount of power when the sub power source is turned off such as midnight. Therefore, after taking into account the temperature rise of the main body of the image forming apparatus itself and the decrease in humidity due to air conditioning control in the main body when the power is turned on or released from sleep again, it should be maintained with less energy during power-on or standby. A minimum humidity must be maintained.

  An object of the present invention is to maintain humidity at a minimum level with a small amount of power during power-off or standby (sleeping), and to reduce the humidity management burden after power-on or standby release.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention provides:
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on paper,
At least one dehumidifying means for reducing the humidity;
First detection means for detecting the humidity of the dehumidifying target portion of the image forming apparatus;
Based on the humidity detected by the first detection means, the humidity required at the time of image formation, and the amount of humidity that can be lowered from the time of energization to the time from the start of image formation, the power state of the image forming apparatus is being turned off or Humidity setting means for setting the maintenance humidity that should be maintained during use, and
During the power-off or standby, at least one of the dehumidifying means is selected according to the humidity detected by the first detecting means, and the humidity detected by the first detecting means is maintained. And control means for operating until humidity is reached.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect,
The control means uses the first table having a dehumidifying strength corresponding to the humidity condition of the dehumidifying target location, and uses the first dehumidifying strength according to the dehumidifying strength corresponding to the humidity detected by the first detecting means. Select a means to operate.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect,
A second detecting means for detecting the humidity around the dehumidifying target location;
The first table has dehumidification strength corresponding to humidity conditions around the dehumidification target location and the dehumidification target location,
The control means uses the first table during the power-off or standby and uses the first table according to the dehumidification strength corresponding to the humidity detected by the first and second detection means. Select a means to operate.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect,
The first detection means detects the temperature and humidity of the dehumidification target location,
The second detection means detects the temperature and humidity around the dehumidification target location,
The first table has a dehumidifying strength corresponding to a temperature and humidity condition around the dehumidifying target location and the dehumidifying target location,
The control means uses the first table during the power-off or standby, according to the dehumidification strength corresponding to the temperature and humidity detected by the first and second detection means, The dehumidifying means is selected and operated.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects,
The dehumidifying means includes
Heater means for increasing the temperature of the dehumidification target location;
First air-conditioning means for circulating the air in the dehumidifying target location;
And second air conditioning means for discharging the air at the dehumidifying target location.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect,
The heater means performs dehumidification with a plurality of dehumidifying strengths according to the duty ratio,
The control means operates the heater means at a duty ratio corresponding to the dehumidifying strength when the heater means corresponding to an arbitrary dehumidifying strength is selected.

The invention according to claim 7 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 5 or 6,
The dehumidifying target portion has a transfer belt, and is a transfer unit that transfers and conveys a toner image onto a sheet by the transfer belt,
The heater means warms the transfer belt.

The invention according to claim 8 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 7,
Drive means for driving a transport roller for rotating the transfer belt;
The control unit operates the selected dehumidifying unit while the power is off or in standby, and after the humidity of the transfer unit reaches the maintenance humidity, drives the driving unit to rotate the transfer belt. .

The invention according to claim 9 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8,
The control means operates the selected dehumidifying means while the power is off or on standby, and after the humidity of the dehumidifying target location becomes the maintenance humidity, at least one of the first and second air conditioning means Make one work.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects,
The control means selects and operates the dehumidifying means according to the remaining life of the dehumidifying means using the second table having the remaining life corresponding to the operation history of the dehumidifying means.

The invention according to claim 11 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
It has time measuring means to keep current time information,
The humidity setting means sets the maintenance humidity according to the usage frequency of the image forming apparatus for each time of the user,
The control means selects and operates the dehumidifying means according to the use frequency and the timed current time information.

The invention according to claim 12 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
It has time measuring means to keep current time information,
The control unit sets a time interval between selection and operation of the dehumidifying unit according to the usage frequency of the image forming apparatus for each time of the user and the current time information measured.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a humidity can be maintained in the minimum state with little electric power during power-off or standby, and the humidity management burden after power-on or standby cancellation can be reduced.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to humidity management of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of a temperature / humidity condition table. It is a figure which shows the structure of a lifetime management table. It is a flowchart which shows a humidity management process. It is a figure which shows an example of the selection pattern of the dehumidification means with respect to a coefficient.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.

  First, the apparatus configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. With reference to FIG. 1, a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral that forms an image on a sheet. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, a document reading unit 15, an image forming unit 21, a transfer unit 30, a fixing unit 24, a paper feeding unit 25, a reversing unit 26, and a paper discharge. A tray T and the like are provided.

  The operation unit 13 and the display unit 14 are provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus 1 as a user interface. The operation unit 13 generates an operation signal corresponding to a user operation and outputs the operation signal to the control unit 41 (see FIG. 2). As the operation unit 13, a keypad, a touch panel configured integrally with the display unit 14, or the like can be used. The display unit 14 displays an operation screen or the like in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 41. As the display unit 14, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an OELD (Organic Electro Luminescence Display), or the like can be used.

  The document reading unit 15 is a scanner or the like provided for copying, reads the document surface set on the document table in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 41, and R (red), G (green) and An original image in a bitmap format having a color value of B (blue) is generated. An original image having R, G, and B color values generated by the document reading unit 15 is color-converted to an original image having C, M, Y, and K color values by a color conversion unit (not shown), and then illustrated. Not stored in the image memory.

  An image processing unit (not shown) is necessary for image data stored in an image memory, image data obtained by reading an image from a document by the document reading unit 15, and image data input from an external device via a communication unit (not shown). Image processing is performed, and the image data after the image processing is output to the image forming unit 21. Image processing includes gradation processing, halftone processing, color conversion processing, and the like. The gradation processing is processing for converting the gradation value of each pixel of the image data into a gradation value corrected so that the density characteristic of the image formed on the paper matches the target density characteristic. The halftone processing includes error diffusion processing, screen processing using a systematic dither method, and the like. The color conversion process is a process of converting RGB gradation values into CMYK gradation values.

  The paper feed unit 25 includes a plurality of paper feed trays, and supplies paper to the image forming unit 21 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 41. Each paper feed tray stores paper of a predetermined paper type and size.

  The image forming unit 21 is arranged along the belt surface of the transfer belt 31 and forms a black image on a sheet based on the original image data image-processed by the image processing unit in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 41. The transfer unit 30 includes a transfer belt 31 and transport rollers 32 and 33.

  The image forming unit 21 includes an optical scanning device 2 a, a photosensitive drum 2 b, a developing unit 2 c, a charging unit 2 d, a cleaning unit 2 e, and a transfer roller 23. At the time of image formation, the image forming unit 21 charges the photosensitive drum 2b by applying a voltage to the photosensitive drum 2b by the charging unit 2d, and then the light beam emitted on the basis of the original image by the optical scanning device 2a on the photosensitive drum 2b. Scan to form an electrostatic latent image. When a color material such as toner is supplied from the developing unit 2c to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 2b, an image is formed on the photosensitive drum 2b, which is an image carrier.

  When an image is formed on the photosensitive drum 2 b, the image on the photosensitive drum 2 b is transferred to a sheet on the transfer belt 31 by the transfer roller 23 and conveyed to the fixing unit 24. The transfer belt 31 is an endless sheet carrier that is wound around and rotated by the transport rollers 32 and 33. The transport rollers 32 and 33 rotate the transfer belt 31 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 41.

  The fixing unit 24 fixes an image on a sheet on which a toner image as a color material is formed by the image forming unit 21 by heating and pressurization according to an instruction from the control unit 41.

  Each transport roller as a paper transport unit transports paper fed from the paper feed unit 25 or a manual feed tray (not shown) to the image forming unit 21 and the fixing unit 24 according to an instruction from the control unit 41. Then, the sheet on which the image has been formed and fixed is discharged to the discharge tray T. The paper discharge tray T places the discharged paper. The reversing unit 26 of the conveying unit reverses the sheet on which the image is formed on one side conveyed from the fixing unit 24 and conveys the sheet again to the image forming unit 21.

  Next, an apparatus configuration relating to humidity management of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to humidity management of the image forming apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a humidity setting unit, a control unit 41 as a control unit, a storage unit 42, a time measuring unit 43 as a time measuring unit, power supplies 44 and 45, a heater control circuit 46, and motor drive control. A circuit 47, a fan drive control circuit 48, an image forming unit 21, a transfer unit 30 as a transfer unit, an in-machine temperature / humidity sensor 49 as a second detection unit, and a high pressure generation circuit 50 are provided. The transfer unit 30 includes a transfer belt 31, transport rollers 32 and 33, a temperature / humidity sensor 34 as a first detection unit, a transfer belt motor 35, and temperature control fans F1 and F2 as dehumidification units and a first air conditioning unit. Exhaust fans F3 and F4 as dehumidifying means and second air conditioning means, and heater 36 as dehumidifying means and heater means are provided. The dehumidifying means is not limited to the type and number of these means.

  The control unit 41 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and the like, and controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 1. The ROM is a storage unit that stores various programs and various data. In the control unit 41, the CPU reads out various programs from the ROM and appropriately expands them in the RAM, and executes various processes in cooperation with the expanded programs and the CPU. For example, the control unit 41 causes the image processing unit to perform image processing on an original image in a bitmap format generated by the document reading unit 15 or received via the communication unit and held in the image memory, and performs post-image processing. Based on the original image data, the image forming unit 21 forms an image on the paper. The ROM stores a humidity management processing program.

  The storage unit 42 is a storage unit capable of writing and reading information such as a flash memory and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage unit 42 stores a temperature / humidity condition table 60 and a life management table 80.

  The clock unit 43 is a real time clock, clocks the current time, and outputs the current time information to the control unit 41. The timer unit 43 has a timer function that counts up to the time set by the control unit 41 and activates the control unit 41 when the set time is reached.

  The power source 44 is an AC high voltage (AC 200 V) power source and supplies a power source voltage for the heater 36. The power supply 45 is a DC low voltage (DC24V) power supply, and supplies power supply voltages for the temperature control fans F1 and F2 and the exhaust fans F3 and F4. The heater control circuit 46 drives the heater 36 by applying a power supply voltage supplied from the power supply 44 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 41. The motor drive control circuit 47 applies and drives the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply 45 to the transfer belt motor 35 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 41. The fan drive control circuit 48 applies and drives the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply 45 to the temperature control fans F1 and F2 and the exhaust fans F3 and F4 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 41.

  The temperature / humidity sensor 34 is a sensor that is provided in a space in the transfer belt 31 and detects the temperature and humidity in the transfer belt 31, and outputs the detection information to the control unit 41. The temperature control fans F1 and F2 are fans that are provided in the space in the transfer belt 31 and circulate the air in the transfer belt 31 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 41. The exhaust fans F3 and F4 are fans that are provided in the space in the transfer belt 31 and exhaust the air in the transfer belt 31 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 or suck in from the outside in accordance with instructions from the control unit 41.

  The heater 36 is a heater that is provided in the vicinity of the transfer belt 31 and warms a part of the transfer belt 31 whose heating amount can be changed according to an instruction (Duty control) of the control unit 41. The heater 36 can warm the entire transfer belt 31 as the transfer belt 31 rotates. The in-machine temperature / humidity sensor 49 is provided around the transfer unit 30 as the inside of the image forming apparatus 1 and detects the temperature and humidity in the image forming apparatus 1, and outputs the detection information to the control unit 41. The high voltage generation circuit 50 is a circuit that generates a high voltage power supply voltage, and outputs the generated power supply voltage to the transfer roller 23 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 41.

  Next, the temperature / humidity condition table 60 and the life management table 80 stored in the storage unit 42 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the temperature / humidity condition table 60. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the life management table 80.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature / humidity condition table 60 includes an internal temperature 61 and humidity 62 of the image forming apparatus 1, a temperature 63 and humidity 64 of the transfer unit 30 (in the transfer belt 31), a coefficient 65, and a temperature. It has items of a regulation fan 66, a temperature regulation fan 67, an exhaust fan 68, an exhaust fan 69, and a heater.

  The temperature 61 indicates whether the temperature inside the image forming apparatus 1 as a temperature condition is equal to or higher than a threshold (high) or low. Humidity 62 indicates whether the humidity inside the image forming apparatus 1 as a humidity condition is equal to or higher than a threshold value. The temperature 63 indicates whether the temperature of the transfer unit 30 (in the transfer belt 31) as a temperature condition is equal to or higher than a threshold value. Humidity 64 indicates whether the humidity of the transfer unit 30 as a humidity condition is equal to or higher than a threshold value. The temperature 61, the humidity 62, the temperature 63, and the humidity 64 have a value of 1 as “high” when the temperature or humidity is equal to or higher than the threshold, and a value of 0 as “low” when the temperature or humidity is lower than the threshold. (× x) is a weighting coefficient x. The threshold values of the temperature 61, the humidity 62, the temperature 63, and the humidity 64 may be based on the maintenance humidity.

  The coefficient 65 is a coefficient indicating the dehumidifying strength required for dehumidification corresponding to the temperature / humidity conditions of temperature 61, humidity 62, temperature 63, and humidity 64. The coefficient 65 is the sum of the values of temperature 61, humidity 62, temperature 63, and humidity 64 multiplied by a weighting coefficient x.

  The temperature control fan 66 is a value indicating the dehumidifying strength of the temperature control fan F1. The temperature control fan 67 is a value indicating the dehumidifying strength of the temperature control fan F2. The exhaust fan 68 is a value indicating the dehumidifying strength of the exhaust fan F3. The exhaust fan 69 is a value indicating the dehumidifying strength of the exhaust fan F4. The heater 70 is a value indicating the dehumidifying strength of the heater 36. The temperature control fan 66, the temperature control fan 67, the exhaust fan 68, and the exhaust fan 69 are controlled by turning on and off the temperature control fans F1 and F2 and the exhaust fans F3 and F4. It becomes. Since the heater 36 is duty-controlled, the heater 70 can take a variable value of 1 to 12 by changing the duty ratio.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the life management table 80 includes a life 81, a life 82, an on-time 83, an off-on count 84, an estimated remaining life 85, and a priority 86.

  The lifetime 81 is the lifetime [hour] of each dehumidifying means. The lifetime 82 is the lifetime [OFF / ON count] of each dehumidifying means. The on-time 83 is an accumulated operation time [hour] from the introduction of each dehumidifying means to the present. The number of off / on times 84 is the cumulative number of off / on times from the introduction of each dehumidifying means to the present. The estimated remaining life 85 is a ratio of the remaining time of the on-time 83 until the life 81 of each dehumidifying means. The priority 86 is a priority at which each dehumidifying means is operated, and is set according to a plurality of requirements such as an order in which the estimated remaining life 85 is large, for example.

  Further, each time the controller 41 drives the dehumidifying means of the temperature control fans F1 and F2, the exhaust fans F3 and F4, the heater 36, and the transfer belt motor 35, the controller 41 counts the number of times the dehumidifying means are turned on and off. The dehumidifying means is updated by adding to the values of the on-time 83 and the number of off-on times 84, and the estimated remaining life 85 and the priority 86 are updated according to the update.

  Further, when the transfer unit 30 of the image forming apparatus 1 is dehumidified, the dehumidifying unit corresponds to the temperature control fan 66, the temperature control fan 67, the exhaust fan 68, the exhaust fan 69, and the heater 70 within the value of the coefficient 65. The temperature control fans F1 and F2, the exhaust fans F3 and F4, and the heater 36 can be selected in any combination. For the selection, it is possible to preferentially select a dehumidifying means having a high priority 86.

  In addition, it is assumed that the usage status information of the user is stored in the storage unit 42. The usage status information of the user is history information on the usage frequency of the image forming apparatus 1 in the user's day, January, and year (for example, distribution information of usage start time).

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the humidity management process. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a selection pattern of the dehumidifying means for the coefficient 65.

  Here, a humidity management process for dehumidifying the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. In the image forming apparatus 1, for example, when the main power switch is turned on and the image forming apparatus 1 is started, the control unit 41 cooperates with the humidity management program stored in the ROM and expanded in the RAM and the CPU. Execute the humidity management process.

  First, the control unit 41 determines whether or not the image forming unit 21 as the image forming engine is turned off by turning off the sub power supply or waiting (sleep) (step S11). When the image forming unit 21 is turned off, the image forming apparatus 1 is in a state where image formation cannot be performed immediately. When the image forming unit 21 is not turned off (step S11; NO), the process proceeds to step S11.

  When the image forming unit 21 is turned off (step S11; YES), the control unit 41 acquires humidity information detected by the temperature / humidity sensor 34, and detects the detected humidity, a humidity necessary for image formation, and energization. Based on the amount of humidity that is lowered from the time of (sub power button on or standby release) to the time from the start of image formation, the transfer unit 30 (in the transfer belt 31) as a target value to be maintained while the sub power is off or during standby. The maintenance humidity is calculated (step S12). In step S12, the control unit 41 acquires the current time information timed by the time measuring unit 43, refers to the usage status information of the user stored in the storage unit 42, and detects the detected humidity, and is necessary at the time of image formation. The maintenance temperature may be set according to the relative humidity, the amount of humidity that can be lowered to the time until the start of image formation, the current time information, and the referenced usage information. For example, when the current time information is in a time zone where the frequency of use of the user is low, in order to lengthen the time until the start of image formation, there is a high maintenance humidity corresponding to the amount of humidity that can be lowered during the time until the start of image formation. Is set.

  Then, the control unit 41 acquires the temperature information and the humidity information in the apparatus of the transfer unit 30 and the image forming apparatus 1 detected by the temperature / humidity sensor 34 and the in-machine temperature / humidity sensor 49, and the maintenance humidity calculated in step S12. A difference value between the temperature and humidity of the target value in the transfer unit 30 based on the above and the detected temperature information and humidity information of the in-machine and transfer unit 30 is calculated (step S13). The temperature and humidity of the target values in the transfer unit 30 and in the machine are threshold values of temperature 63, humidity 64, temperature 61, and humidity 62, respectively.

  And the control part 41 refers to the temperature / humidity condition table 60 memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 42, and the temperature 61, the humidity 62, the temperature 63, and humidity corresponding to the difference value with the temperature information and humidity information which were calculated by step S13. A coefficient 65 as a dehumidifying strength necessary for dehumidification is determined from 64 temperature and humidity conditions (step S14).

  Then, the control unit 41 determines whether the coefficient 65 calculated in step S14 is other than 0 and it is necessary to turn on the dehumidifying means (need to dehumidify) (step S15). When it is not necessary to turn on the dehumidifying means (step S15; NO), the control unit 41 turns off the temperature control fans F1 and F2, the exhaust fans F3 and F4, and the heater 36 as all the dehumidifying means (step S16). The process proceeds to step S13.

  When it is necessary to turn on the dehumidifying means (step S15; YES), the control unit 41 refers to the life management table 80 stored in the storage unit 42, and uses the temperature / humidity condition table 60 to drive the dehumidifying means to be driven. Select (step S17). For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the priority 86 is considered among the combinations of the temperature control fans 66 and 67, the exhaust fans 68 and 69, and the heater 70 that are equal to or less than the value of the coefficient 65 acquired in step S <b> 14. At least one dehumidifying means is selected as a dehumidifying means to be driven as a control target. For example, the dehumidifying means having a high priority 86 (low priority value) is selected with priority.

  In step S <b> 17, the control unit 41 acquires the current time information timed by the time measuring unit 43, refers to the usage status information of the user stored in the storage unit 42, the priority 86, the current time information, The dehumidifying means may be selected in accordance with the referenced usage status information. For example, when the current time information is in a time zone where the user is frequently used, in order to shorten the dehumidification time, a dehumidifying means having a dehumidifying strength with an acquired coefficient 65 or a dehumidifying means having a large dehumidifying strength is selected. Since the dehumidification time may be long when the current time information is in a time zone in which the user is less frequently used, the dehumidifying means having a dehumidifying strength less than the acquired coefficient 65 or the dehumidifying means having a small dehumidifying strength. Or is selected so that the life of the dehumidifying means is given priority.

  The control unit 41 temporarily starts power supply (energization) to the dehumidifying means selected in step S17, although the sub power supply is off or in standby (step S18). Then, the control unit 41 turns on and drives the dehumidifying means supplied with power in Step S18 (Step S19). In driving a plurality of dehumidifying means, the temperature control fans F1 and F2 having a low coefficient contribution make the temperature and humidity around the transfer unit 30 uniform, and after confirming whether the humidity changes, an exhaust fan having a stronger dehumidifying effect It is preferable to drive F3, F4 and the heater 36.

  In step S19, when the heater 41 is driven, the controller 41 drives the transfer belt motor 35 to rotate the transfer belt 31 when the driving time (heating time) exceeds a threshold value (for example, 10 minutes). Circulate the air. The driving of the dehumidifying means in step S19 is continued until, for example, the humidity of the temperature / humidity sensor 34 becomes the maintenance humidity.

  In step S19, after the humidity of the temperature / humidity sensor 34 reaches the maintenance humidity, the control unit 41 starts driving the transfer belt motor 35 to rotate the transfer belt 31 to circulate the air or exhaust fan F3, Driving of at least one of F4 is started. The controller 41 may drive both the transfer belt motor 35 and at least one of the exhaust fans F3 and F4.

  And the control part 41 acquires the temperature information and humidity information which were detected with the temperature / humidity sensor 34 and the in-machine temperature / humidity sensor 49, and acquired the temperature information and humidity information from the temperature information and humidity information detected at step S13. It is determined whether or not the amount of change is greater than a predetermined threshold (step S20). In step S20, it is determined whether or not the control unit 41 performs sleep. When the change amount of the temperature information and the humidity information is large, it is preferable to frequently manage the temperature and the humidity, so that the control unit 41 does not sleep. When the amount of change in temperature information and humidity information is large (step S20; YES), the process proceeds to step S13.

  When the change amount of the temperature information and the humidity information is not large (step S20; NO), the control unit 41 acquires the current time information timed by the time measuring unit 43, and the user usage status information stored in the storage unit 42. , The time interval until the next humidity management is determined in accordance with the usage status information, and the management time after the time interval determined from the current time information is set in the time measuring unit 43 (step S21). . In step S21, for example, when the current time information is in a time zone that is highly likely to be used by the user, the time interval until the next humidity management is shortened to reduce the time that the user is unlikely to use. If it is in the belt, increase the time interval until the next humidity control.

  And the control part 41 makes itself a sleep state (step S22). The time measuring unit 43 activates the control unit 41 when the next management time set in step S21 is reached. And it is discriminate | determined whether the control part 41 was started by the time measuring part 43 and the sleep of step S22 was cancelled | released (step S23). When the sleep is not canceled (step S23; NO), the process proceeds to step S23. When the sleep is canceled (step S23; YES), the process proceeds to step S11.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 includes the temperature control fans F1 and F2, the exhaust fans F3 and F4 that lower the humidity, the dehumidifying means of the heater 36, the temperature of the dehumidifying target portion of the image forming apparatus 1, and The power supply state is determined by the temperature / humidity sensor 34 for detecting the humidity, the humidity detected by the temperature / humidity sensor 34, the humidity required for image formation, and the amount of humidity that can be reduced from the time of energization to the time of image formation start. The maintenance humidity to be maintained during off or in use is set, and at least one of the dehumidifying means is selected according to the temperature and humidity detected by the temperature / humidity sensor 34 during power off or standby. And a control unit 41 that operates until the humidity detected by the temperature / humidity sensor 34 becomes the maintenance humidity.

  For this reason, it is possible to maintain the humidity at the minimum level with low power by selecting the dehumidifying strength necessary for the maintenance humidity while the power is off or in standby, and the dehumidification target after power on or standby release The humidity management burden at the location can be reduced.

  Moreover, the control part 41 detected by the temperature / humidity sensor 34 using the temperature / humidity condition table 60 which has the dehumidification strength (coefficient 65) corresponding to the temperature / humidity conditions (temperature 63, humidity 64) of the dehumidification object location. The dehumidifying means is selected and operated according to the dehumidifying strength corresponding to the temperature and humidity. For this reason, the required dehumidifying strength according to the dehumidifying target location can be easily acquired, and the dehumidifying means can be easily selected.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an in-machine temperature / humidity sensor 49 that detects the temperature and humidity around the dehumidification target location (in-machine). The temperature / humidity condition table 60 has dehumidification strength (coefficient 65) corresponding to the temperature / humidity conditions (temperature 63, humidity 64) of the dehumidification target location and the temperature / humidity conditions around the dehumidification target location (temperature 61, humidity 62). The control unit 41 uses the temperature / humidity condition table 60 during power-off or standby, according to the dehumidification strength corresponding to the temperature and humidity detected by the temperature / humidity sensor 34 and the in-machine temperature / humidity sensor 49. Select and operate the dehumidifying means. For this reason, the required dehumidification strength according to the dehumidification target location and the periphery of the dehumidification target location can be acquired easily and appropriately, and the dehumidifying means can be selected easily and appropriately.

  Further, the dehumidifying means includes a heater 36 that raises the temperature of the dehumidification target location, temperature control fans F1 and F2 that circulate the air at the dehumidification target location, and exhaust fans F3 and F4 that exhaust the air at the dehumidification target location. . For this reason, dehumidification can be performed by selecting air heating, circulation, and exhaust.

  Further, the heater 36 performs dehumidification with a plurality of dehumidifying strengths according to the duty ratio. When the control unit 41 selects the heater 36 corresponding to an arbitrary dehumidifying strength, the control unit 41 operates the heater 36 at a duty ratio corresponding to the dehumidifying strength. For this reason, it can dehumidify by heating of arbitrary intensity.

  Further, the dehumidifying target portion is a transfer unit 30 that has a transfer belt 31 and transfers and conveys a toner image onto a sheet by the transfer belt 31. The heater 36 warms the transfer belt 31. For this reason, the paper can be prevented from being jammed by dehumidifying the transfer unit 30.

  The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a transfer belt motor 35 that drives conveying rollers 32 and 33 that rotate the transfer belt 31. The control unit 41 operates the selected dehumidifying means while the power is off or on standby, and after the humidity of the transfer unit 30 reaches the maintenance humidity, the transfer belt motor 35 is driven to rotate the transfer belt 31. For this reason, the air of the transfer part 30 as a dehumidification object location can be circulated to make the humidity uniform.

  Further, the control unit 41 operates the selected dehumidifying means while the power is off or on standby, and after the humidity of the dehumidifying target portion becomes the maintenance humidity, at least one of the temperature control fans F1 and F2 and the exhaust fans F3 and F4. Operate one. For this reason, the humidity of the transfer unit 30 can be made uniform by circulating and exhausting the air of the transfer unit 30 as a dehumidifying target location.

  Further, the control unit 41 uses the life management table 80 having the estimated remaining life 85 corresponding to the operation history of the dehumidifying means (on time 83, off-on frequency 84), and uses a priority 86 based on the estimated remaining life 85 of the dehumidifying means. The dehumidifying means is selected and operated accordingly. For this reason, it is possible to preferentially select the dehumidifying means having a long remaining life, and the frequency of replacement of the dehumidifying means can be reduced.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a timer unit 43 that clocks current time information. The control unit 41 sets the maintenance humidity according to the usage frequency of the image forming apparatus 1 for each time of the user, and selects and operates the dehumidifying means according to the usage frequency and the measured current time information. For this reason, a dehumidifying means with a high dehumidifying strength is selected in a time zone where the usage frequency is high, and a maintenance temperature is set high in a time zone where the usage frequency is low, a dehumidifying means with a high dehumidifying strength is selected, and the power is turned on. Alternatively, the dehumidifying time from standby release to image formation can be made appropriate.

  Further, the control unit 41 sets the time interval for selecting and operating the dehumidifying means according to the usage frequency of the image forming apparatus 1 for each time of the user and the measured current time information. For this reason, the time interval can be set short in the time zone where the usage frequency is high, and the time interval can be set long in the time zone where the usage frequency is low, so that the dehumidification time from power-on or standby release to image formation can be made appropriate.

  The description in the above embodiment is an example of a suitable image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, the image forming unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the above embodiment performs monochrome image formation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The image forming unit 21 may perform color image formation.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, when selecting the dehumidification means of the coefficient 65 or less using the temperature / humidity condition table 60, it was set as the structure which uses the information (priority 86 based on the estimated remaining lifetime 85) of the lifetime management table 80. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the power consumption of each dehumidifying means is stored in the storage unit 42, and the control unit 41 uses the temperature / humidity condition table 60 to select the dehumidifying means having a coefficient of 65 or less to determine the power consumption of each dehumidifying means. It is good also as a structure which uses and selects the dehumidification means that power consumption decreases. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which memorize | stores the priority based on the power consumption of each dehumidification means in the memory | storage part 42, and selects a dehumidification means using the said priority.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the temperature / humidity condition table 60 was set as the structure which has the coefficient 65 corresponding to the temperature / humidity conditions of the temperature 61, the humidity 62, the temperature 63, and the humidity 64, it is not limited to this. . For example, the temperature / humidity condition table has a coefficient 65 corresponding to the humidity conditions in the image forming apparatus 1 and in the transfer unit 30, and the control unit 41 uses the temperature / humidity condition table 60 during power-off or standby. The dehumidifying means may be selected and operated in accordance with the dehumidifying strength corresponding to the temperature and humidity detected by the temperature / humidity sensor 34 and the in-machine temperature / humidity sensor 49.

  Further, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each part constituting the image forming apparatus 1 in the above embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 13 Operation part 14 Display part 15 Document reading part 21 Image forming part 2a Optical scanning device 2b Photosensitive drum 2c Developing part 2d Charging part 2e Cleaning part 23 Transfer roller 30 Transfer part 31 Transfer belts 32, 33 Conveying roller 34 Temperature / humidity sensor 35 Transfer belt motor F1, F2 Temperature control fan F3, F4 Exhaust fan 36 Heater 24 Fixing unit 25 Paper feed unit 41 Control unit 42 Storage unit 43 Timing unit 44, 45 Power supply 46 Heater control circuit 47 Motor drive control circuit 48 Fan drive control circuit 49 In-machine temperature / humidity sensor 50 High pressure generation circuit T Output tray

Claims (12)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on paper,
At least one dehumidifying means for reducing the humidity;
First detection means for detecting the humidity of the dehumidifying target portion of the image forming apparatus;
Based on the humidity detected by the first detection means, the humidity required at the time of image formation, and the amount of humidity that can be lowered from the time of energization to the time from the start of image formation, the power state of the image forming apparatus is being turned off or Humidity setting means for setting the maintenance humidity that should be maintained during use, and
During the power-off or standby, at least one of the dehumidifying means is selected according to the humidity detected by the first detecting means, and the humidity detected by the first detecting means is maintained. An image forming apparatus comprising: control means that operates until humidity is reached.   The control means uses the first table having a dehumidifying strength corresponding to the humidity condition of the dehumidifying target location, and uses the first dehumidifying strength according to the dehumidifying strength corresponding to the humidity detected by the first detecting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is selected and operated. A second detecting means for detecting the humidity around the dehumidifying target location;
The first table has dehumidification strength corresponding to humidity conditions around the dehumidification target location and the dehumidification target location,
The control means uses the first table during the power-off or standby and uses the first table according to the dehumidification strength corresponding to the humidity detected by the first and second detection means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is selected and operated. The first detection means detects the temperature and humidity of the dehumidification target location,
The second detection means detects the temperature and humidity around the dehumidification target location,
The first table has a dehumidifying strength corresponding to a temperature and humidity condition around the dehumidifying target location and the dehumidifying target location,
The control means uses the first table during the power-off or standby, according to the dehumidification strength corresponding to the temperature and humidity detected by the first and second detection means, The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the dehumidifying unit is selected and operated. The dehumidifying means includes
Heater means for increasing the temperature of the dehumidification target location;
First air-conditioning means for circulating the air in the dehumidifying target location;
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second air-conditioning unit that discharges air from the dehumidifying target portion. The heater means performs dehumidification with a plurality of dehumidifying strengths according to the duty ratio,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit operates the heater unit at a duty ratio corresponding to the dehumidifying strength when the heater unit corresponding to an arbitrary dehumidifying strength is selected. The dehumidifying target portion has a transfer belt, and is a transfer unit that transfers and conveys a toner image onto a sheet by the transfer belt,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the heater unit warms the transfer belt. Drive means for driving a transport roller for rotating the transfer belt;
The control unit operates the selected dehumidifying unit while the power is off or in standby, and after the humidity of the transfer unit reaches the maintenance humidity, drives the driving unit to rotate the transfer belt. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7.   The control means operates the selected dehumidifying means while the power is off or on standby, and after the humidity of the dehumidifying target location becomes the maintenance humidity, at least one of the first and second air conditioning means The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein one of the two is operated.   The control means selects and operates the dehumidifying means according to the remaining life of the dehumidifying means using a second table having a remaining life corresponding to the operation history of the dehumidifying means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. It has time measuring means to keep current time information,
The humidity setting means sets the maintenance humidity according to the usage frequency of the image forming apparatus for each time of the user,
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects and operates the dehumidifying unit according to the use frequency and the measured current time information. It has time measuring means to keep current time information,
12. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets a time interval between selection and operation of the dehumidifying unit in accordance with a usage frequency of the image forming apparatus for each time of the user and the measured current time information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

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