JP2020024241A - Image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To detect an environment for dew condensation determination by returning from a state where the power consumption is reduced to a state where the power is not supplied to fixation means.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus 1 includes control means 221 which switches the image formation apparatus among the first state, the second state and the third state. In the first state, the power is supplied to each part of the image formation apparatus. In the second state, the power is supplied to the control means, but the power is not supplied to image formation means 2, fixation means 20, temperature detection means 246 and dew condensation determination means 241. In the third state, the power is supplied to the control means, the temperature detection means and the dew condensation determination means, but the power is not supplied to the image formation means and the fixation means. The control means returns the image formation apparatus from the second state to the third state when execution of dew condensation determination with the selection information stored in a storage part 248 is selected. The dew condensation determination means executes the dew condensation determination on the basis of the temperature acquired from the temperature detection means receiving the power supply.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that determines condensation.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus installed in a cold room such as in the morning of winter, when the temperature of the room suddenly rises due to a heating device or the like, the difference between the inside temperature and the outside temperature increases, and dew condensation inside the machine occurs. This causes a problem that image defects occur. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses that a main control unit and a sub control unit are provided, and the sub control unit repeatedly detects the outside temperature during the power saving mode (sleep mode). When the power saving mode is switched from the power saving mode to the normal mode when the amount of change in the outside temperature exceeds a predetermined range, the familiarity of each part is improved and the characteristics of the apparatus are stabilized in a predetermined state prior to the image forming operation. An aging operation for operating for a predetermined time is performed.

Japanese Patent No. 5096995

  In order to save power of the image forming apparatus, further reduction in power consumption in a power saving state (sleep state) is required. On the other hand, for an image forming apparatus used in an environment where dew condensation easily occurs, it is required to take measures against dew condensation.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that returns from a state where power consumption is reduced to a state where power is not supplied to a fixing unit and detects an environment for determining dew condensation.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:
Image forming means for forming a toner image on the recording medium;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image formed on the recording medium;
Temperature detection means for detecting an external temperature of the image forming apparatus;
A dew-condensation determining unit that performs a dew-condensation determination as to whether or not dew has occurred inside the image forming apparatus;
Control means for switching the state of the image forming apparatus to a first state, a second state and a third state,
A storage unit configured to store selection information as to whether or not to execute the condensation determination set based on a user instruction;
With
In the first state, power is supplied to the control unit, the image forming unit, the fixing unit, the temperature detecting unit, and the condensation determining unit,
In the second state, power is supplied to the control unit, but no power is supplied to the image forming unit, the fixing unit, the temperature detection unit, and the dew condensation determination unit,
In the third state, power is supplied to the control unit, the temperature detection unit, and the dew condensation determination unit, but power is not supplied to the image forming unit and the fixing unit,
When the control unit determines that the execution of the condensation determination is selected based on the selection information stored in the storage unit, the state of the image forming apparatus is changed from the second state to the third state. Return to the state,
The dew-condensation determining unit performs the dew-condensation determination based on detection information obtained from the temperature detecting unit that has been supplied with power by returning from the second state to the third state. .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to return from a state where power consumption is reduced to a state where power is not supplied to the fixing unit and detect an environment for determining dew condensation.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is an electric block diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a state transition diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a table of a method for returning from a power saving state. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a return operation of the image forming apparatus executed by the CPU.

(Image forming device)
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1. The operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is a multifunction peripheral (MFP) including a printer unit 2, a reading unit 251, and a facsimile unit (hereinafter, referred to as a FAX unit) 237. Note that the image forming apparatus 1 may not have the reading unit 251 or the FAX unit 237. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to an apparatus that forms a monochrome image using an electrophotographic method, and may be a color image forming apparatus that forms a color image. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a cassette 11, a feed roller 12, a transport roller 13, a photoconductor 14, a charging unit 15, a developing unit 16, a transfer unit 17, and a laser scanner unit 19. The cassette 11 stores a recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as a recording material) 10. The recording material 10 may be made of any material such as plain paper and cardboard, special paper such as coated paper, plastic film and cloth for an overhead projector, and any shape such as an envelope and an index sheet. Includes what you have. The feed roller 12 feeds the recording material 10 stored in the cassette 11. The recording material 10 fed by the feeding roller 12 is conveyed to the photoconductor 14 by the conveying roller 13.

  The charging unit 15 uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 14. The laser scanner unit 19 emits a laser beam modulated in accordance with image data to the uniformly charged surface of the photoconductor 14 to form a latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 14. The latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 14 is developed by a developing unit 16 with a toner to form a toner image. The toner image on the photoconductor 14 is transferred to the recording material 10 by the transfer unit 17. The recording material 10 to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing unit 20 as a fixing unit. The fixing unit 20 has a heater 40. The recording material 10 is heated and pressed by the fixing unit 20, and the toner image is fixed on the recording material 10. The recording material 10 on which the image has been formed is discharged to the stacking unit 30 by the discharging unit 21.

  In the case of single-sided printing, the recording material 10 on which the toner image has been fixed on one side by the fixing unit 20 is discharged to the stacking unit 30 by the discharge unit 21. In the case of double-sided printing, the recording material 10 is reversed by the discharge unit 21, the conveyance path is switched by the conveyance path switching flapper 22, and is conveyed to the conveyance path 23. The recording material 10 is returned to the transport roller 13 by the transport rollers 24 and 25. The formation of the image on the second side is performed by the same process as the formation of the image on the first side. The recording material 10 on which images are formed on both sides is discharged to the stacking unit 30 by the discharging unit 21.

  The user can select an operation of the image forming apparatus 1 and set a mode via the operation unit 233. The reading unit 251 includes a flat bed 252 and an automatic document feeder (hereinafter, referred to as ADF) 253. The ADF 253 is provided with a document tray 254 on which documents are stacked. The ADF 253 feeds a document from the document tray 254 to the reading unit 251, and the reading unit 251 reads an image of the document fed by the ADF 253. In addition, when a document is set on the flatbed 252 by the user, the reading unit 251 reads an image of the document set on the flatbed 252.

  FIG. 2 is an electric block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 220 and a printer unit 2. The image forming apparatus 1 is electrically connected to an external PC 3. Upon receiving a print job from the external PC 3, the image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on the recording material 10 by the printer unit 2 as an image forming unit. The system control unit 220 controls the entire image forming apparatus 1. The system control unit 220 includes an external interface (hereinafter, referred to as an IF) 223, a CPU 221, a memory 222, an image processing unit 230, an image memory 231, an operation unit IF 232, and a printer IF 226. The system control unit 220 further includes a return method selection unit 227, a reading unit IF 250, and a facsimile unit IF (hereinafter, referred to as FAX IF) 236. The print job input from the external PC 3 to the image forming apparatus 1 is stored in the memory 222 via the external IF 223. The CPU 221 acquires print information, for example, print conditions such as one-sided printing and two-sided printing from the print job stored in the memory 222. The image data included in the print job is stored in the image memory 231 via the image processing unit 230. The FAX IF 236 is electrically connected to the FAX unit 237.

  The printer unit 2 performs processing necessary for printing. The printer unit 2 includes a CPU 241, a drive control unit 242, a laser control unit 243, a high-voltage control unit 244, a memory 245, a temperature detection unit 246, a condensation determination selection unit 248, a condensation determination unit 249, a power control unit 247, a power supply unit 260, A fixing control unit 270 and a fixing unit 20 are provided. A temperature detection unit 246 as a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature outside the image forming apparatus 1 detects a temperature around the image forming apparatus 1. The system control unit 220 outputs a print instruction to the printer unit 2 via the printer IF 226. The printer unit 2 performs a printing operation based on a print instruction from the system control unit 220.

  The drive control unit 242 drives the feed roller 12 for feeding the recording material 10, drives the transport rollers 13, 24, 25, drives the discharge unit 21, and operates the photoconductor 14, the charging unit 15, the developing unit 16, The transfer unit 17 is driven. The laser control unit 243 controls the laser scanner unit 19 that emits laser light. The high voltage control unit 244 controls the high voltage applied to the charging unit 15, the developing unit 16, and the transfer unit 17, respectively. The fixing control unit 270 controls the temperature of the fixing unit 20. The power supply unit 260 includes a power supply circuit 261 that receives AC and outputs DC. The power supply control unit 247 controls the power supply circuit 261 to control the DC output. Further, the AC input to the printer unit 2 is input to the fixing control unit 270 via the power supply unit 260. A relay 271 provided in the fixing control unit 270 switches between supply and cutoff of power to the heater 40 of the fixing unit 20. When the relay 271 is turned on, the fixing control unit 270 supplies AC power to the heater 40 of the fixing unit 20.

  The user selects “execute” or “do not execute” the condensation determination by using the condensation determination selection unit 248. The selection result (selection information) of “execute” or “not execute” the condensation determination set based on the user instruction is stored in the condensation determination selection unit 248 as a storage unit. The condensation determining section 249 of the CPU 241 as the condensation determining means executes the condensation determination as to whether or not the condensation has occurred inside the image forming apparatus 1 based on the detection result (detection information) by the temperature detecting section 246. For example, when performing the condensation determination, the condensation determination unit 249 reads the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 246 at predetermined time intervals. If the temperature change is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the condensation determining unit 249 determines that condensation has occurred. When it is determined that dew condensation has occurred, a dew condensation countermeasure is performed using a known technique as a dew condensation countermeasure. As a countermeasure against dew condensation, for example, a drive unit such as a motor connected to the drive control unit 242 is driven, and a warm-up operation is performed to warm the inside of the image forming apparatus 1. Alternatively, when the facsimile unit 237 is receiving a facsimile, a process of temporarily storing the content of the received facsimile in the memory 222 is performed. Alternatively, an aging operation may be performed in order to prevent or eliminate malfunction of each unit due to the occurrence of dew condensation inside the image forming apparatus 1. By selecting the execution of the condensation determination, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an image defect due to the condensation occurring inside the image forming apparatus 1.

  When the condensation determination is not performed, the condensation determination unit 249 does not read the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 246 at predetermined time intervals, and does not perform the condensation determination. In an environment in which the temperature does not rise sharply and the difference between the inside temperature and the outside temperature does not increase, the image forming apparatus 1 is returned to perform temperature detection by selecting not to perform the condensation determination. There is no need to save energy.

  FIG. 3 is a state transition diagram of the image forming apparatus 1. The state transition of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In particular, a method of returning from the power saving state (S120) (sleep state) will be described. When a power switch (hereinafter referred to as a power SW) is turned on in the power OFF state (S101), the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is changed from the power OFF state (S101) to the standby state (S112) via the pre-rotation (S111). Transition to. Here, the pre-rotation (S111) is an operation of driving each drive unit by the drive control unit 242 and confirming that the image forming apparatus 1 is in a normal state. The standby (first state) is performed by the system control unit 220 and the printer unit 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 so that a print operation or a read operation can be started immediately upon receiving a print instruction or a read instruction from the operation unit 233 or the external PC 3. Is an operation state in which power is supplied to each part. When a print job or reading job instruction is received in the standby (S112), a transition is made from the standby (S112) to a printing operation or a reading operation (S113). Upon completion of the printing operation or the reading operation (S113), the flow shifts to standby (S112). In the standby (S112), for example, when a predetermined time elapses, the state of the image forming apparatus 1 transitions from the standby (S112) to the power saving state (S120) (sleep state). The power saving state (second state) is a state in which power is supplied to a part of the system control unit 220 of the image forming apparatus 1, power is not supplied to the printer unit 2, and power consumption is suppressed. In the power saving state (second state), power is not supplied to the printer unit 2, so that the temperature around the image forming apparatus 1 cannot be detected by the temperature detection unit 246. The CPU 221 as a control unit switches between a standby state (first state) and a power saving state (second state).

  In the case of the normal return method, a transition is made from the power saving state (S120) (sleep state) to a normal return (S114), a pre-rotation (S111) is performed, and a transition is made to a standby (S112). That is, in the case of the normal return method (first return method), the CPU 221 changes the state of the image forming apparatus 1 from the power saving state (second state) via the normal return (S114) and the previous rotation (S111). Return to standby (first state). In the case of the power saving recovery method, the state transits from the power saving state (S120) (sleep state) to the power saving recovery (S115), and the pre-rotation (S111) is not performed. That is, in the case of the power saving resetting method (second resetting method), the CPU 221 changes the state of the image forming apparatus 1 from the power saving state (second state) without performing the pre-rotation (S111). To the third state). In the power saving recovery (third state), power is supplied to a part of the system control unit 220 of the image forming apparatus 1 and power is supplied to a part of the printer unit 2, but standby (first state) is performed. This is a state in which power consumption is further suppressed. In the power saving resetting method (second resetting method), the CPU 221 keeps the relay 271 OFF in order to keep the power to the heater 40 of the fixing unit 20 off, and changes the state of the image forming apparatus 1 to the power saving state. Return from (second state) to power saving return (third state).

  In the power saving recovery (third state), power is supplied to the CPU 241, the temperature detection unit 246, and the condensation determination unit 249 of the printer unit 2. It is possible to detect the temperature around the image forming apparatus 1 by the temperature detecting unit 246 that receives the power supply, and to execute the dew condensation determination by the dew condensation determining unit 249. When a print job is input in power saving recovery (S115), pre-rotation (S111) is performed, and the printer enters a standby state (S112). Immediately thereafter, a transition is made to the printing operation (S113). When the reading job is input in the power saving recovery (S115), the reading operation (S113) is performed without performing the pre-rotation (S111), and after the reading operation is completed, the process transits to the power saving recovery (S115). In the power saving recovery (S115), for example, when a predetermined time elapses without any recovery factor, the state of the image forming apparatus 1 transitions from the power saving recovery (S115) to the power saving state (S120) (sleep state). . When the power switch is turned off in the power saving state (S120) (sleep state), the state of the image forming apparatus 1 changes from the power saving state (S120) (sleep state) to the power off state (S101).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a table of a method of returning from the power saving state. The user can perform “selection of condensation determination” and “selection of return method”. In “selection of condensation determination”, the user can select “execute” or “do not execute”. In “selection of the return method”, the user can select “power-saving return” or “normal return”. When "do not execute" is selected in "selection of dew condensation determination" and "power saving return" is selected in "selection of return method", power saving return (no pre-rotation) is performed (<A in FIG. 4). >). When "Not execute" is selected in "Selection of dew condensation" and "Normal return" is selected in "Selection of return method", normal return (pre-rotation) is performed without temperature detection (Fig. 4 <B>). When "execute" is selected in "selection of condensation determination" and "power saving return" is selected in "selection of return method", power saving return (no pre-rotation) is performed (<C in FIG. 4). >). When "execute" is selected in "selection of condensation determination" and "normal return" is selected in "selection of return method", normal return (pre-rotation) is performed except at the time of temperature detection (FIG. 4). <D>). When "execute" is selected in "selection of condensation determination" and "normal return" is selected in "selection of return method", power saving recovery (no pre-rotation) is performed at the time of temperature detection (FIG. 4). <E>).

  The difference between the normal recovery method and the power saving recovery method will be described. The normal return method is a return method in which electric power is relatively large. For example, a relay 271 provided in the fixing control unit 270 for supplying electric power to the heater 40 of the fixing unit 20 is turned on to perform pre-rotation. The power saving recovery method is a recovery method with relatively low power, for example, does not turn on the relay 271 provided in the fixing control unit 270 and does not perform the pre-rotation.

  When the power saving recovery method is selected, for example, when the operation mainly used is only the reading operation, since the pre-rotation of the printer unit 2 is not performed, the processing can be performed quietly and no power is consumed. However, when a print job is input as an operation after the return, the relay 271 of the fixing control unit 270 is turned on after the print job is input, and pre-rotation is performed. Therefore, the time (First Print Out Time, hereinafter referred to as FPOT) from when a print job is input to when the first recording material 10 on which an image is formed is output is increased. On the other hand, when the normal recovery method is selected, the relay 271 provided in the fixing control unit 270 is turned on and pre-rotation is performed, so that a drive sound is generated every recovery and power is consumed. However, since the relay 271 is turned on and the pre-rotation is performed every return, the FPOT becomes shorter.

  The user selects a return method to the return method selection unit 227 as a return method selection unit by operating the operation unit 233. The return method selection unit 227 is, for example, a memory, and is determined by setting a bit. The return method selection unit 227 may be replaced by a program.

  Hereinafter, the selection between the normal return and the power saving return will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the return operation of the image forming apparatus 1 executed by the CPU 221. The CPU 221 performs a return operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to a program stored in the memory 222. When the power is turned on while the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is off, the return operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is started. The image forming apparatus 1 performs a pre-rotation. The state of the image forming apparatus 1 changes from the power-off state to the standby state via the pre-rotation. The user selects “execute” or “do not execute” the condensation determination via the operation unit 233. The CPU 221 stores the result of the selection of “execute” or “not execute” the condensation determination via the printer IF 226 and the CPU 241 in the condensation determination selection unit 248 (S201). The user selects the normal mode or the power-saving mode via the operation unit 233. The CPU 221 stores the selection result of the return method in the return method selection unit 227 (S202). Note that, in order to shorten the FPOT, the normal return method is set in the return method selection unit 227 as an initial value of the return method selection result.

  The CPU 221 determines whether there is a job (S203). If there is a job when the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is standby (YES in S203), the CPU 221 performs an operation according to the job content (S212). If the job content is a reading job, the CPU 221 executes a reading operation of reading an image of a document by the reading unit 251 as reading means via the reading unit IF 250. If the job content is a print job, the CPU 221 outputs a print instruction to the CPU 241 of the printer unit 2 via the printer IF. Upon receiving the print instruction, the CPU 241 performs a print operation according to a program stored in the memory 245. The CPU 221 ends the return operation of the image forming apparatus 1.

  If there is no job within a predetermined time when the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is standby (NO in S203), the CPU 221 changes the state of the image forming apparatus 1 from standby to a power saving state (S204). The CPU 221 determines whether or not to execute the condensation determination based on the selection result stored in the condensation determination selection unit 248 (S205). When the condensation determination is not performed (NO in S205), the CPU 221 determines whether or not there is a return factor (S209). Here, the return factor is an operation of the operation unit 233 by a user, an input of a print job, or an input of a read job. When there is no return factor (NO in S209), the CPU 221 returns the process to S205. The CPU 221 does not return to the state of the image forming apparatus 1 and waits for a return factor in the power saving state.

  If there is a return factor (YES in S209), the CPU 221 returns the state of the image forming apparatus 1 from the power saving state to the standby mode or the power saving mode based on the selection result stored in the return method selection unit 227 (S210). . Here, since the condensation determination is not executed (NO in S205), for example, when the result of the selection of the return method is the power saving return, the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is changed to the power saving without performing the pre-rotation. The state is returned to the power saving return (<A> in FIG. 4). When the return method selection result is the normal return, the pre-rotation is performed, and the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is returned from the power saving state to the standby state (<B> in FIG. 4). The CPU 221 determines whether there is a job (S211). When there is a job (YES in S211), the CPU 221 performs an operation according to the job content (S212). For example, when there is a print job when the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is the power saving return, the pre-rotation is executed, and then the printing operation is executed via the standby. The CPU 221 ends the return operation of the image forming apparatus 1. If there is no job within the predetermined time (NO in S211), the CPU 221 returns the process to S204, and changes the state of the image forming apparatus 1 from standby or power saving to power saving (S204).

  When the condensation determination is performed (YES in S205), the CPU 221 determines whether or not it is time to detect the temperature by the temperature detection unit 246 (S206). If it is not time for temperature detection (NO in S206), CPU 221 proceeds with the process to S209. The process waits for a return factor (NO in S209), and if there is a return factor (YES in S209), the process returns using the selected return method (S210). Here, since the condensation determination is performed (YES in S205), for example, when the result of the selection of the return method is the power saving return, the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is changed to the power saving without performing the pre-rotation. The state is returned to the power saving state (<C> in FIG. 4). When the return method selection result is the normal return, the pre-rotation is performed, and the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is returned from the power saving state to the standby state (<D> in FIG. 4). The CPU 221 determines whether or not there is a job (S211). If there is a job (YES in S211), the CPU 221 performs an operation according to the job content (S212). The CPU 221 ends the return operation of the image forming apparatus 1. If there is no job within the predetermined time (NO in S211), the CPU 221 returns the processing to S204.

  When the temperature is detected (YES in S206), the CPU 221 returns the image forming apparatus 1 by the power saving return method (S207) (<E> in FIG. 4). That is, the CPU 221 returns the state of the image forming apparatus 1 from the power saving state to the power saving return without performing the pre-rotation. The CPU 221 causes the temperature detection unit 246 to detect the temperature in the power saving return (S208). The CPU 221 returns the process to S204, and transitions the state of the image forming apparatus 1 from the power saving return to the power saving state (S204).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the temperature is detected, the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is changed from the power saving state to the power saving state by the power saving method. Since the temperature detection unit 246 detects the temperature in the power saving return, the power consumption of the image forming apparatus 1 can be reduced as compared with the case where the temperature is detected in the standby mode. Further, since there is no need to turn on the relay 271 for supplying power to the heater 40 at the time of temperature detection, it is possible to execute the condensation determination without consuming the life of the relay 271.

  In the power saving mode according to the present embodiment, power is supplied to the operation unit 233 and at least the CPU 221 and the image processing unit 230 of the system control unit 220. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this. In the state of the power saving return, the power supplied to the operation unit 233 and the image processing unit 230 is reduced to further reduce the consumption of the image forming apparatus 1. The power may be reduced. In the present embodiment, the dew condensation determination is performed based on the temperature (detection information) acquired from the temperature detection unit 246. However, a humidity detecting unit for detecting the humidity outside the image forming apparatus 1 is provided, and the dew condensation determination is performed based on the temperature (detection information) obtained from the temperature detecting unit 246 and the humidity (detection information) obtained from the humidity detecting unit. May be.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to return from the state where the power consumption is reduced (the second state) to the state where the power is not supplied to the fixing unit (the third state) and detect the environment for the dew condensation determination. it can.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 2 ... Printer part (image forming means)
10 Recording material (recording medium)
20: fixing unit (fixing means)
221, CPU (control means)
241, CPU (condensation determining means)
246 ··· Temperature detector (temperature detector)
248 ・ ・ ・ Condensation determination selection unit (storage unit)

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium,
Image forming means for forming a toner image on the recording medium;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image formed on the recording medium;
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature outside the image forming apparatus;
A dew-condensation determining unit that performs a dew-condensation determination as to whether or not dew has occurred inside the image forming apparatus;
Control means for switching the state of the image forming apparatus to a first state, a second state and a third state,
A storage unit configured to store selection information as to whether or not to execute the condensation determination set based on a user instruction;
With
In the first state, power is supplied to the control unit, the image forming unit, the fixing unit, the temperature detecting unit, and the condensation determining unit,
In the second state, power is supplied to the control unit, but no power is supplied to the image forming unit, the fixing unit, the temperature detection unit, and the dew condensation determination unit,
In the third state, power is supplied to the control unit, the temperature detection unit, and the dew condensation determination unit, but power is not supplied to the image forming unit and the fixing unit. If it is determined that the execution of the condensation determination is selected by the selection information stored in the storage unit, the state of the image forming apparatus is returned from the second state to the third state,
The dew-condensation determining unit performs the dew-condensation determination based on detection information obtained from the temperature detecting unit that has been supplied with power by returning from the second state to the third state. Image forming device. A first return method for returning the state of the image forming apparatus from the second state to the first state or a second return method for returning the state of the image forming apparatus from the second state to the third state Further comprising a return method selecting means for selecting a return method of
When the control unit determines that the execution of the dew condensation determination is selected based on the selection information stored in the storage unit, the second return method is performed regardless of a selection result of the return method selection unit. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the state of the image forming apparatus is returned from the second state to the third state, and the temperature detecting unit detects the temperature of the image forming apparatus. Forming equipment. Further comprising a relay for switching between supply and cutoff of power to the fixing unit,
In the first return method, the control unit turns on the relay to supply power to the fixing unit, and returns the state of the image forming apparatus from the second state to the first state. ,
In the second return method, the control unit keeps the relay OFF in order to maintain interruption of power to the fixing unit, and changes the state of the image forming apparatus from the second state to the third state. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is returned to the state of (2). In the first return method, the control unit supplies power to the image forming unit to drive the image forming unit to confirm that the image forming device is in a normal state, and controls the image forming device. State from the second state to the first state,
In the second return method, the control unit returns the state of the image forming apparatus from the second state to the third state without driving the image forming unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to 2 or 3. Further comprising reading means for reading the image of the document,
In the first state, when the control unit receives a print instruction, the image forming unit immediately starts a printing operation, and when the control unit receives a read instruction, the reading unit starts a reading operation immediately,
In the third state, when the control unit receives the print instruction, power is supplied to the image forming unit to drive the image forming unit to confirm that the image forming apparatus is in the normal state. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the printing operation is started by the image forming unit, and the reading operation is started by the reading unit immediately after the control unit receives the reading instruction. apparatus. An operation unit operated by a user;
An image processing unit that processes image data;
Further comprising
The control unit supplies power to the operation unit and the image processing unit in the first state, and does not supply power to the operation unit and the image processing unit in the second state. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein power supply to the operation unit and the image processing unit is reduced in the third state. The image forming apparatus further includes a humidity detection unit that detects humidity outside the image forming apparatus,
The method according to claim 1, wherein the condensation determination unit performs the condensation determination based on detection information acquired from the temperature detection unit and detection information acquired from the humidity detection unit. The image forming apparatus as described in the above.

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