JP2022039352A - Image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To avoid the wasteful consumption of power by returning a specific device from an idle state when an entering person is detected by a human sensor.SOLUTION: An idle control unit 8c shifts a human interface device 800 to an idle state that has the smaller power consumption than a normal state when an idle condition is established. A human sensor control unit 8e executes the first sensor control of temporarily lowering the sensitivity of a human sensor 7 or the second sensor control of temporarily suspending the human sensor when a communication device 83 receives entry information indicating that an entering person is detected by an entry management device 6y. A return control unit 8d shifts the human interface device 800 from the idle state to the normal state when the human sensor 7 detects a person in such a situation that the human interface device 800 is in the idle state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a motion sensor.

The image forming apparatus receives print data from the host apparatus and executes a print process based on the print data.

Further, the image forming apparatus shifts a specific device such as a man-machine interface device and a printing device to a hibernation state when a predetermined hibernation condition is satisfied. The state in which the specific device shifts to the hibernation state is referred to as a power saving state or a sleep state.

The pause condition is that the power saving key is operated, or that the state in which the print data is not received continues for a predetermined time.

In addition, the image forming apparatus may include a motion sensor. In this case, the image forming apparatus automatically shifts the specific device from the hibernate state to a predetermined return state when the motion sensor detects a person while the specific device is in the hibernate state. Let me.

Further, when the power supply control unit of the image forming apparatus shifts the image forming apparatus to the power saving state in response to the operation to the power saving key, the saving until the human sensor stops detecting a person. It is known to limit the transition from the power state to the normal power state (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-05930

By the way, the motion sensor of the image forming apparatus may detect a person passing near the image forming apparatus. For example, when the image forming apparatus is arranged near the entrance of the room, a situation often occurs in which a person entering the room passing near the image forming apparatus is detected by the motion sensor.

When the specific device is returned from the hibernation state when the occupant is detected by the motion sensor, the image forming apparatus wastes power.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of avoiding wasteful consumption of electric power by returning a specific device from a hibernation state when a occupant is detected by a motion sensor.

The image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a human interface device, a motion sensor, a communication device, a pause control unit, a motion sensor control unit, and a return control unit. The human interface device includes an operation unit that accepts human operations and a display unit that displays information. The motion sensor detects a person. The communication device can communicate with other devices. The hibernation control unit shifts the human interface device to a hibernation state in which power consumption is smaller than that of a predetermined standard state when a predetermined hibernation condition is satisfied. The motion sensor control unit temporarily lowers the sensitivity of the motion sensor when it receives entry information indicating that a occupant has been detected from the entry management device by the communication device. Alternatively, the second sensor control that temporarily suspends the motion sensor is executed. The return control unit shifts the human interface device from the hibernation state to the standard state when a person is detected by the motion sensor while the human interface device is in the hibernation state.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of avoiding wasteful consumption of electric power by returning a specific device from a hibernation state when a occupant is detected by a motion sensor.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device in the image forming device according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for controlling a motion sensor in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for limiting reception / return in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are examples that embody the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Structure of image forming apparatus 10]
The image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment includes a printing apparatus 2 that executes a printing process. The printing process is a process of forming an image on paper. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 can communicate with other devices such as the host device 6x through the network 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a control device 8, a human interface device 800, and a motion sensor 7 in addition to the printing device 2. The human interface device 800 includes an operation unit 801 and a display unit 802.

Further, the image forming apparatus 10 also includes an image reading apparatus 1 that executes a scanning process for reading an image from a document. For example, the image forming apparatus 10 is a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a multifunction device, or the like.

The image to be printed is an image read from the original by the image reading device 1 or an image represented by print data received from the host device 6x.

The process including the reading process of the image reading device 1 and the printing process of the printing device 2 based on the image obtained by the reading process is a copy process. In the following description, the print process based on the print data received from the host device 6x is referred to as a receive print process.

The control device 8 executes various data processes related to the print process or the read process, and further controls various electric devices.

The operation unit 801 is a device that accepts user operations. For example, the operation unit 801 includes one or both of a push button and a touch panel. The display unit 802 includes a display panel that displays information required for the user.

The motion sensor 7 is a sensor that detects a person existing in front of the image forming apparatus 10. For example, the motion sensor 7 may be an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 2 includes a paper transport mechanism 3 and an image forming unit 4. The paper transport mechanism 3 includes a paper feed mechanism 31 and a plurality of sets of paper transport roller pairs 32.

The paper delivery mechanism 31 feeds the paper from the paper storage unit 21 to the paper transport path 30. The plurality of sets of paper transport roller pairs 32 transport the paper along the paper transport path 30, and discharge the paper on which the image is formed to the paper ejection tray 22.

The image forming unit 4 executes the printing process on the paper conveyed by the paper conveying mechanism 3.

The image forming unit 4 includes an image forming unit 4x, a print engine CPU (Central Processing Unit) 40, a laser scanning unit 4y, a transfer device 44, and a fixing device 46. The image forming unit 4x includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 41, a charging roller 42, a developing device 43, and a drum cleaning device 45.

The photoconductor 41 rotates, and the charging roller 42 uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 41. Further, the laser scanning unit 4y writes an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the charged photoconductor 41.

Further, the developing device 43 develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The developing device 43 includes a developing roller 430 that supplies toner to the photoconductor 41. The transfer device 44 transfers the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 41 to the paper. The toner is an example of a developer.

The fixing device 46 heats the toner image on the paper to fix it on the paper. The fixing device 46 includes a fixing heater 46a that heats the toner image on the paper.

The printing device 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a tandem type color printing device, and can execute the printing process of a color image. Therefore, the image forming unit 4 includes four image forming units 4x corresponding to toners of different colors.

Further, in the tandem printing device 2, the transfer device 44 includes four primary transfer rollers 441 corresponding to the four photoconductors 41, an intermediate transfer belt 440, a secondary transfer roller 442, and a belt cleaning device 443.

The four image forming portions 4x form the toner images of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black on the surface of the photoconductor 41, respectively.

In each of the image forming portions 4x, the primary transfer roller 441 transfers the toner image from the photoconductor 41 to the intermediate transfer belt 440. As a result, a color image composed of the toner images of four colors is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 440.

In each of the image forming portions 4x, the drum cleaning device 45 removes and recovers the toner remaining on the photoconductor 41 without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 440 from the photoconductor 41.

The secondary transfer roller 442 transfers the toner images of the four colors on the intermediate transfer belt 440 to the paper. In the image forming apparatus 10, the intermediate transfer belt 440 of the photoconductor 41 and the transfer apparatus 44 is an example of an image carrier that carries and rotates the toner image, respectively.

The belt cleaning device 443 removes and recovers the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 440 without being transferred to the paper from the intermediate transfer belt 440.

The image forming unit 4 further includes a motor 4z. The motor 4z drives a rotating body such as a photoconductor 41, a charging roller 42, a developing roller 430, a primary transfer roller 441, an intermediate transfer belt 440, and a secondary transfer roller 442. The motor 4z is an example of a power device that drives the device related to the print process.

Further, the image forming unit 4 further includes a charging voltage output circuit 42a, a developing voltage output circuit 43a, and a transfer voltage output circuit 44a.

The charging voltage output circuit 42a outputs the charging voltage applied to the charging roller 42. The development voltage output circuit 43a outputs the development bias voltage applied to the development roller 430 of the development apparatus 43.

The transfer voltage output circuit 44a outputs a primary transfer voltage applied to the primary transfer roller 441 and a secondary transfer voltage applied to the secondary transfer roller 442. The charging voltage output circuit 42a, the developing voltage output circuit 43a, and the transfer voltage output circuit 44a are examples of voltage output circuits that output voltage to devices other than the power device.

The print engine CPU 40 is an example of a processor that processes various data such as image data related to the print process. The print engine CPU 40 may be realized by another type of processor such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor).

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 8 includes a main CPU 80, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 81, a secondary storage device 82, and a communication device 83.

The main CPU 80 is a processor capable of processing received data of the communication device 83 and controlling the printing device 2. The received data may include the print data. The main CPU 80 is an example of a processor that executes data processing related to the print processing, similarly to the print engine CPU 40.

The communication device 83 is a communication interface device that communicates with another device such as the host device 6x through the network 100. The host device 6x is an information processing device such as a personal computer or a mobile information terminal. The main CPU 80 performs all transmission and reception of data to and from the external device through the communication device 83.

The secondary storage device 82 is a computer-readable non-volatile storage device. The secondary storage device 82 stores the computer program executed by the main CPU 80 and various data referenced by the main CPU 80. For example, one or both of the flash memory and the hard disk drive are adopted as the secondary storage device 82.

The RAM 81 is a computer-readable volatile storage device. The RAM 81 primarily stores the computer program executed by the main CPU 80 and the data output and referenced in the process of executing the program by the main CPU 80.

The main CPU 80 includes a plurality of processing modules realized by executing a computer program. The plurality of processing modules include a main control unit 8a, a job control unit 8b, a pause control unit 8c, a return control unit 8d, and the like.

A part or all of the plurality of processing modules may be realized by another processor such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor).

The main control unit 8a executes a job selection process according to an operation on the operation unit 801, a process of displaying information on the display unit 802, a process of setting various data, and the like. Further, the main control unit 8a also executes a process of determining the content of the received data of the communication device 83.

The job control unit 8b controls the image reading device 1 and the printing device 2. For example, the job control unit 8b causes the print device 2 to execute the received print process when the received data of the communication device 83 includes the print data.

Further, when the main control unit 8a detects a copy request operation for the operation unit 801 the job control unit 8b causes the image reading device 1 to execute the reading process and the printing device 2 to perform the reading process. The print process is executed based on the above.

The hibernation control unit 8c shifts the specific device including the human interface device 800 and the printing device 2 to a hibernation state in which the power consumption is smaller than the predetermined standard state when the predetermined hibernation condition is satisfied. To execute.

In the present embodiment, the specific device includes a printing device 2, a human interface device 800, a main CPU 80, and a secondary storage device 82.

For example, the hibernate state is a state in which the power supply to the print device 2, the print engine CPU 40, and the display unit 802 is cut off, and the main CPU 80 is operating in the sleep mode.

In the present embodiment, the pause condition is that the power saving key of the operation unit 801 is operated, or that the state in which the print data is not received continues for a predetermined time.

When the communication device 83 receives data requesting execution of a job while the specific device is in the hibernate state, the return control unit 8d sets the device corresponding to the requested job from the hibernate state to the standard. Executes reception return control to return to the state.

Further, the return control unit 8d is a sensor return that shifts at least the human interface device 800 from the hibernate state to the standard state when a person is detected by the motion sensor 7 while the specific device is in the hibernate state. Take control.

By returning the human interface device 800 to the standard state, the user who approaches the image forming device 10 can quickly operate the image forming device 10.

Further, in the sensor return control, the return control unit 8d may shift a part or all of the print device 2 from the hibernation state to the standard state in addition to the human interface device 800.

For example, the return control unit 8d shifts the human interface device 800 and the print engine CPU 40 from the hibernate state to the standard state in the sensor return control.

By the way, the motion sensor 7 may detect a person passing near the image forming apparatus 10. For example, when the image forming apparatus 10 is arranged near the entrance of the room, a situation often occurs in which a person entering the room passing near the image forming apparatus 10 is detected by the motion sensor 7.

When the specific device is returned from the hibernation state when the person entering the room is detected by the motion sensor 7, the image forming apparatus 10 wastes power.

In the image forming apparatus 10, the communication device 83 can receive room entry information from the room entry management device 6y through the network 100. The room entry information is information indicating that a person entering the room is detected at the entrance of the room in which the image forming apparatus 10 is installed.

Further, the main CPU 80 further includes a motion sensor control unit 8e as one of the plurality of processing modules.

The motion sensor control unit 8e executes the motion sensor control according to the procedure shown in FIG. 3, for example. As a result, the image forming apparatus 10 can avoid wasting power by returning the specific device from the hibernation state when the person entering the room is detected by the motion sensor 7.

The main control unit 8a executes a process of selecting one from a plurality of return modes according to the operation for the operation unit 801. In the present embodiment, the plurality of return modes include a normal return mode and a room entry device linkage mode.

Further, the image forming apparatus 10 can communicate with the room entry management apparatus 6y through the network 100. When the room entry device linkage mode is selected, the main control unit 8a transmits data of the linkage request to the room entry management device 6y through the communication device 83.

The room entry management device 6y detects a person entering the room at the entrance of the room in which the image forming device 10 is arranged. When the room entry management device 6y receives the data of the linkage request from the image forming apparatus 10, it operates in the linkage mode.

Each time the room entry management device 6y detects a room entry person in the linkage mode, the room entry management device 6y transmits data of room entry information indicating that the room entry person has been detected to the image forming apparatus 10.

Further, when the communication device 83 receives data in a situation where the specific device is in the hibernation state, the main CPU 80 shifts from the hibernation state to the low speed operation state.

The low-speed operation state is a state in which the power consumption is larger than that in the hibernation state and the power consumption is smaller than that in the standard state. The main CPU 80 has a slower data processing speed in the low-speed operation state than in the standard state.

The motion sensor control unit 8e in the present embodiment executes the motion sensor control when the main CPU 80 shifts from the hibernation state to the low-speed operation state when the room entry correspondence mode is selected in advance. ..

[Motion sensor control]
Hereinafter, an example of the procedure for controlling the motion sensor will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, S101, S102, ... Represent the identification code of a plurality of steps in the motion sensor control.

<Process S101>
The process of step S101 is executed when the communication device 83 receives data under the situation where the specific device is in the hibernation state, and the main CPU 80 further shifts from the hibernation state to the low speed operation state.

In step S101, the motion sensor control unit 8e determines whether or not the received data of the communication device 83 is the data of the room entry information. When the motion sensor control unit 8e determines that the received data is the data of the room entry information, the process shifts to the process S102, and when not, the process shifts to the step S110.

<Process S102>
In the step S102, the motion sensor control unit 8e records the room entry frequency information D1 indicating the frequency at which the room entry information is received in the secondary storage device 82, and shifts the process to the step S103.

<Process S103>
In step S103, the motion sensor control unit 8e determines whether or not a predetermined specific abnormality that interferes with the printing process is occurring. For example, the specific abnormality is out of toner, out of paper, or jammed paper.

The main control unit 8a executes the abnormality notification process when the specific abnormality occurs when the human interface device 800 is in the standard state. The abnormality notification process is a process for displaying abnormality information on the display unit 802. The main control unit 8a that executes the abnormality notification process is an example of the abnormality notification unit.

The motion sensor control unit 8e ends the motion sensor control when it is determined that the specific abnormality is occurring. On the other hand, when the motion sensor control unit 8e determines that the specific abnormality is not occurring, the process shifts to the step S104.

<Process S104>
In step S104, the motion sensor control unit 8e determines whether or not the motion sensor restriction is disabled. In the initial state, the motion sensor restriction is enabled.

For example, the motion sensor control unit 8e determines that the motion sensor restriction is disabled when the predetermined invalid flag is set to ON, and the motion sensor control unit 8e determines that the invalid flag is turned OFF. If it is set, it is determined that the motion sensor restriction is enabled.

When the motion sensor control unit 8e determines that the motion sensor restriction is disabled, the process shifts to step S108, and the motion sensor restriction is enabled. If it is determined, the process is shifted to step S105.

The conditions under which the motion sensor restriction is invalidated will be described later.

<Process S105>
In step S105, the motion sensor control unit 8e executes the motion sensor limiting process. After that, the motion sensor control unit 8e shifts the process to step S106.

The motion sensor limiting process is a sensor sensitivity reducing process that lowers the sensitivity of the motion sensor 7, or a sensor pause process that suspends the motion sensor 7.

For example, when the motion sensor control unit 8e executes the sensor sensitivity reduction process as the motion sensor limiting process, the motion sensor 7 e changes the sensitivity reduction range of the motion sensor 7 according to the frequency represented by the room entry frequency information D1. ..

Specifically, the motion sensor control unit 8e increases the degree of decrease in the sensitivity of the motion sensor 7 when the frequency represented by the room entry frequency information D1 is high and when it is low. As a result, the higher the frequency with which the room entry information is received, the more difficult it is for the motion sensor 7 to detect the person entering the room.

<Step S106>
In step S106, the motion sensor control unit 8e maintains the result of the motion sensor limiting process until the predetermined sensor return condition is satisfied.

In the present embodiment, the sensor return condition includes a first sensor return condition and a second sensor return condition. The motion sensor control unit 8e determines that the sensor return condition is satisfied when at least one of the first sensor return condition and the second sensor return condition is satisfied.

The first sensor return condition is a condition that a predetermined dead time has elapsed since the motion sensor limiting process was executed. The dead time is the time required for a person entering the room to move to a position outside the detection range of the person of the motion sensor 7 after being detected by the room entry management device 6y.

Further, the motion sensor control unit 8e may change the dead time according to the frequency represented by the room entry frequency information D1. Specifically, the motion sensor control unit 8e sets the dead time to a longer time than when the frequency represented by the room entry frequency information D1 is high and low.

When the sensor sensitivity reduction process is executed as the motion sensor limiting process, the dead time is a time for reducing the sensitivity of the motion sensor 7. Further, when the sensor pause process is executed as the motion sensor limiting process, the dead time is the time for suspending the motion sensor 7.

The second sensor return condition is a condition that the motion sensor 7 detects a person after the motion sensor limiting process is executed.

When the sensor return condition is satisfied, the motion sensor control unit 8e shifts the process to step S107.

<Process S107>
In step S107, the motion sensor control unit 8e executes the motion sensor restriction release process and ends the motion sensor control. The motion sensor restriction release process is a process of operating the motion sensor 7 with a predetermined standard sensitivity.

<Process S108>
In step S108, the motion sensor control unit 8e maintains the motion sensor restriction in an invalid state until a predetermined invalid end condition is satisfied. The invalid termination condition includes one or both of the first invalid termination condition and the second invalid termination condition.

The first invalidation end condition is a condition that a predetermined time has elapsed since the communication device 83 received the execution request of the specific job described later. The second invalid end condition is a condition that a person is detected by the motion sensor 7 after the communication device 83 receives the execution request of the specific job.

The motion sensor control unit 8e shifts the process to step S109 when the invalid end condition is satisfied.

<Process S109>
In step S109, the motion sensor control unit 8e enables the motion sensor limitation and shifts the process to step S105. For example, the motion sensor control unit 8e enables the motion sensor limitation by setting the invalid flag to OFF.

<Process S110>
In step S110, the return control unit 8d executes the reception / return control according to the procedure shown in FIG. 4 and ends the motion sensor control.

[Reception / return control]
Hereinafter, an example of the reception / return control procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, S201, S202, ... Represent an identification code for a plurality of steps in the reception / return control.

<Process S201>
The process of step S201 is executed when the communication device 83 receives data requesting execution of a job while the specific device is in the hibernation state.

In step S201, the return control unit 8d shifts the main CPU 80 from the low-speed operation state to the standard state, and shifts the process to step S202.

<Process S202>
After the main CPU 80 shifts to the standard state, the return control unit 8d executes the process of step S202.

In step S202, the return control unit 8d executes the data discrimination process. The data discrimination process is a process of determining which of a plurality of predetermined jobs the received data of the communication device 83 is required to be executed.

The plurality of jobs include a print job and a data storage job. The data for requesting the execution of the print job is the print data. The data storage job is a job for storing the data to be stored transmitted from the host device 6x in the secondary storage device 82.

Usually, the storage target data is print target data or facsimile transmission data. The print target data is data to be printed according to the print conditions specified by the user's operation on the operation unit 801. The facsimile transmission data is data that is subject to facsimile transmission to a destination designated by a user's operation on the operation unit 801.

Therefore, when the host device 6x is made to transmit the data requesting the execution of the data storage job, the user often moves to the location of the image forming apparatus 10 in order to operate the operation unit 801.

When the return control unit 8d determines that the received data of the communication device 83 is the data of the execution request of a predetermined specific job, the process shifts to the process S203 and is the data of the execution request of another job. When it is determined that, the process is shifted to step S204. In the present embodiment, the specific job is the data storage job.

<Process S203>
In step S203, the return control unit 8d invalidates the motion sensor limitation and shifts the process to step S204. For example, the return control unit 8d invalidates the motion sensor restriction by setting the invalid flag to ON.

The process of step S104 in FIG. 3 is a process of determining whether or not the motion sensor restriction is invalidated by the process of step S203.

<Process S204>
In step S204, the return control unit 8d shifts the job-compatible device, which is a device necessary for executing the requested job, from the hibernate state to the standard state, and ends the reception / return control.

For example, when the received data is data requesting execution of the print job, the process of step S204 is a process of shifting the print device 2 to the standard state. In this case, the print engine CPU 40, the fixing heater 46a, the motor 4z, the charging voltage output circuit 42a, the developing voltage output circuit 43a, and the transfer voltage output circuit 44a shift from the hibernation state to the standard state by the process of step S204.

When the received data is data requesting execution of the data storage job, the process of step S204 is a process of shifting the secondary storage device 82 to the standard state.

After the process of step S204 is completed, the job control unit 8b causes the job-compatible device to execute the requested job.

As shown above, when the motion sensor control unit 8e receives the room entry information indicating that a person has entered the room from the room entry management device 6y by the communication device 83, the human sensor control unit 8e of the steps S105 to S107. Execute the process.

The processing of steps S105 to S107 is an example of the first sensor control that temporarily lowers the sensitivity of the motion sensor 7 or the second sensor control that temporarily suspends the motion sensor 7.

That is, when the sensor sensitivity reduction process is executed in step S105, the processes of steps S105 to S107 are an example of the first sensor control. On the other hand, when the sensor pause process is executed in step S105, the process of steps S105 to S107 is an example of the second sensor control.

Therefore, it is avoided that the motion sensor 7 detects a person entering the room passing near the image forming apparatus 10. As a result, it is possible to avoid wasting power by returning the specific device from the hibernation state when a person entering the room is detected by the motion sensor 7.

When the motion sensor control unit 8e executes the first sensor control in steps S105 to S107, the motion sensor control unit 8e feels when the room entry information is received according to the frequency with which the room entry information is received. One or both of the amount of decrease in the sensitivity of the sensor 7 and the time for decreasing the sensitivity of the motion sensor 7 are changed.

Therefore, the sensitivity of the motion sensor 7 is more reliably avoided so that the motion sensor 7 erroneously detects the occupant when the occupant is frequently detected by the entry management device 6y. And one or both of the time to reduce the sensitivity can be adjusted.

Further, when the motion sensor control unit 8e executes the second sensor control in steps S105 to S107, when the room entry information is received according to the frequency with which the room entry information is received. The time for suspending the motion sensor 7 is changed.

Therefore, when the occupants are frequently detected by the occupancy management device 6y, the motion sensor 7 is suspended so that the situation where the motion sensor 7 erroneously detects the occupants can be avoided. You can adjust the time.

Further, the motion sensor control unit 8e does not execute the processes of steps S105 to S107 when the specific abnormality occurs (Yes in step S103). As a result, there is a high possibility that the motion sensor 7 will detect a person entering the room when the specific abnormality has occurred.

Therefore, the return control unit 8d shifts the human interface device 800 from the hibernation state to the standard state, the main control unit 8a executes the abnormality notification process, and the occupant recognizes the situation where the specific abnormality has occurred. Is more likely to do. In this case, the occupants are urged to perform an operation for eliminating the specific abnormality on the image forming apparatus 10, and there is a high possibility that the specific abnormality will be eliminated at an early stage.

Further, the motion sensor control unit 8e executes the processes of steps S105 to S107 from the time when the predetermined execution request of the specific job is received by the communication device 83 until the predetermined invalidation end condition is satisfied. No (steps S202 to S203 in FIG. 4 and steps S108 to S109 in FIG. 3).

Therefore, when the requested job is a job in which the user is expected to operate the image forming apparatus 10, such as the data storage job, the motion sensor 7 is maintained in the normal state. As a result, when the user who requested the execution of the specific job approaches the image forming apparatus 10, the motion sensor 7 can detect the user, and the user interface apparatus 800 quickly returns to the standard state. ..

[Application example]
In the image forming apparatus 10 shown above, the hibernation state of the main CPU 80 may be the low-speed operation state.

1: Image reading device 2: Printing device 4: Image forming unit 6x: Host device 6y: Room entry management device 7: Human sensor 8: Control device 8a: Main control unit 8b: Job control unit 8c: Pause control unit 8d: Return Control unit 8e: Human sensor control unit 10: Image forming device 40: Print engine CPU (print processor)
80: Main CPU
83: Communication device 100: Network 430: Development roller 440: Intermediate transfer belt 441: Primary transfer roller 442: Secondary transfer roller 443: Belt cleaning device 800: Human interface device 801: Operation unit 802: Display unit D1: Room entry frequency information

Claims (7)

A human interface device including an operation unit that accepts human operations and a display unit that displays information, and
A motion sensor that detects people and
Communication devices that can communicate with other devices,
A hibernation control unit that shifts a specific device including the human interface device to a hibernation state with lower power consumption than a predetermined standard state when a predetermined hibernation condition is satisfied.
When the room entry information indicating that a person has entered the room is received from the room entry management device by the communication device, the first sensor control that temporarily lowers the sensitivity of the motion sensor, or the motion sensor temporarily. A motion sensor control unit that executes the second sensor control that suspends the sensor,
An image forming apparatus including a return control unit that shifts the specific device from the hibernation state to the standard state when a person is detected by the motion sensor under the situation where the specific device is in the hibernation state. When the motion sensor control unit executes the first sensor control, the sensitivity of the motion sensor when the entry information is received is lowered according to the frequency of receiving the entry information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the width and the time for reducing the sensitivity of the motion sensor are changed. When the second sensor control is executed, the motion sensor control unit pauses the motion sensor when the entry information is received, depending on the frequency with which the entry information is received. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Further, an abnormality notification unit for displaying abnormality information on the display unit when an abnormality that interferes with the printing process occurs when the specific device is in the standard state is provided.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the motion sensor control unit does not execute the first sensor control and the second sensor control when the abnormality occurs. .. The motion sensor control unit executes the first sensor control and the second sensor control from the time when the predetermined specific job execution request is received by the communication device until the predetermined invalidation end condition is satisfied. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The invalid end condition is a condition that a predetermined time has elapsed since the communication device received the execution request of the specific job, and the invalid end condition is the condition after the communication device receives the execution request of the specific job. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, comprising one or both of the conditions that a person is detected by a motion sensor. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the specific device further includes a processor that executes data processing related to printing processing.

Images