JP2023105344A - Image forming apparatus and method for driving sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus and a method for driving a sensor that can reduce the power consumption in the sensor and reduce the time during which execution of image forming processing is restricted at start-up.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 comprises: an optical sensor 15 that detects an abnormality in an image forming unit 13; an acquisition processing unit 51 that acquires characteristic data related to input/output characteristics of the optical sensor 15 at the start-up of the apparatus; a first supply processing unit 52 that, after the acquisition of the characteristic data, supplies first power based on the data to the optical sensor 15; a second supply processing unit 53 that supplies predetermined second power to the optical sensor 15 before the characteristic data is acquired by the acquisition processing unit 51 at the start-up of the apparatus; and a restriction processing unit 54 that restricts execution of image forming processing until it is determined that there is no abnormality at the start-up of the apparatus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a sensor driving method.

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a printer includes a sensor that detects an abnormality in an image forming section that forms an image. For example, an image forming apparatus is known that includes an optical sensor that detects a full state of a waste toner storage container that stores waste toner generated by driving the image forming unit (see Patent Document 1). In this type of image forming apparatus, the presence or absence of the abnormality is determined using the sensor when the apparatus is started. Further, in order to avoid forming an image using the image forming unit in which the abnormality has occurred, the image forming process using the image forming unit is continued until it is determined that there is no abnormality. execution is restricted.

Further, there is known an image forming apparatus that drives the sensor, acquires input/output characteristics of the sensor, and determines power to be supplied to the sensor based on the acquired input/output characteristics. In this image forming apparatus, it is possible to suppress the power supplied to the sensor to the necessary minimum. Therefore, power consumption in the sensor can be reduced.

JP 2008-216445 A

By the way, in an image forming apparatus that determines power to be supplied to the sensor based on the input/output characteristics of the sensor, characteristic data relating to the input/output characteristics of the sensor is read when the device is started. Here, in this image forming apparatus, if the power to be supplied to the sensor is determined based on the characteristic data even when the apparatus is started, the determined power is supplied without being based on the characteristic data. Compared to the configuration, the driving of the sensor is delayed by the readout time of the characteristic data. Therefore, the time until it is determined that there is no abnormality, that is, the time during which the execution of the image forming process is restricted is prolonged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing power consumption in the sensor and shortening the time during which the execution of image forming processing is restricted at startup, and a method of driving the sensor.

An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an image forming section, a sensor, an acquisition processing section, a first supply processing section, a second supply processing section, and a restriction processing section. The image forming section forms an image. The sensor detects an abnormality of the image forming section according to power supply. The acquisition processing unit acquires characteristic data related to input/output characteristics of the sensor stored in advance from a predetermined storage unit when power supply to the device is started. The first supply processing unit supplies first power based on the characteristic data to the sensor after the characteristic data is acquired by the acquisition processing unit. The second supply processing unit supplies predetermined second power to the sensor before the characteristic data is acquired by the acquisition processing unit when power supply to the device is started. The restriction processing unit performs image forming processing for forming an image using the image forming unit until it is determined that there is no abnormality based on the detection result of the sensor when power supply to the device is started. restrict execution.

A method for driving a sensor according to another aspect of the present invention is executed in an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image and a sensor that detects an abnormality in the image forming unit in response to power supply. , a first supply step, a second supply step, and a limiting step. In the acquisition step, when power supply to the image forming apparatus is started, characteristic data relating to input/output characteristics of the sensor stored in advance in a predetermined storage unit is acquired from the storage unit. In the first supplying step, after the characteristic data is acquired by the acquiring step, first power based on the characteristic data is supplied to the sensor. In the second supplying step, predetermined second power is supplied to the sensor before the characteristic data is acquired by the acquiring step when power supply to the image forming apparatus is started. In the limiting step, when power supply to the image forming apparatus is started, image forming processing for forming an image using the image forming unit until it is determined that there is no abnormality based on the detection result of the sensor. execution is restricted.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce power consumption in the sensor and shorten the time during which the execution of the image forming process is restricted at startup.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming system according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the waste toner container and the optical sensor of the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of input/output characteristics of the optical sensor of the image forming system according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of sensor drive processing executed by the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiment is an example that embodies the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Configuration of Image Forming System 100]
First, the configuration of an image forming system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

The image forming system 100 is a multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a scanning function for reading an image of a document, a printing function for forming an image based on image data, a facsimile function, and a copying function. The present invention can be applied to image forming apparatuses or image forming systems having the print function, such as printers, facsimiles, and copiers.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 100 includes an image forming apparatus 1 and a power supply control device 2. As shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 implements the above functions of the image forming system 100 . The power supply control device 2 controls power supply to the image forming apparatus 1 . The image forming apparatus 1 is an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. Note that the image forming system 100 may be regarded as the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 11, an image reading section 12, an image forming section 13, a paper feeding section 14, an optical sensor 15, a power feeding section 16, and a first control section. 17.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the power supply control device 2 includes an operation display section 21 , a communication section 22 and a second control section 23 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming system 100 includes a housing 3. As shown in FIG. The housing 3 accommodates the image forming section 13 and the paper feeding section 14 (see FIG. 2). Further, the housing 3 accommodates the optical sensor 15 , the power feeding section 16 , the first control section 17 , the communication section 22 and the second control section 23 . An image reading unit 12 (see FIG. 2) and an operation display unit 21 are provided on the upper side of the housing 3 . An ADF 1 is provided above the image reading section 12 (see FIG. 2).

The ADF 11 conveys a document whose image is to be read by the image reading section 12 . The ADF 11 includes a document set section, a plurality of transport rollers, a document presser, and a paper discharge section.

The image reading unit 12 realizes the scanning function. The image reading unit 12 includes a platen, a light source, a plurality of mirrors, an optical lens, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). The image reading unit 12 reads an image from a document conveyed by the ADF 11 and outputs image data including the read image. Further, the image reading section 12 reads an image from a document placed on the document table, and outputs image data including the read image.

The image forming section 13 realizes the printing function. Specifically, the image forming unit 13 forms an image by electrophotography. The image forming section 13 forms an image based on the image data output by the image reading section 12 . Further, the image forming section 13 forms an image based on image data input from an external information processing device.

The paper feeding unit 14 supplies sheets to the image forming unit 13 . The paper feed unit 14 includes a paper feed cassette and a plurality of transport rollers. The image forming section 13 forms an image on a sheet supplied from the paper feeding section 14 .

The optical sensor 15 detects an abnormality of the image forming section 13 according to power supply. Optical sensor 15 is an example of the sensor of the present invention.

The power supply unit 16 supplies power to the optical sensor 15 . Specifically, the power supply unit 16 is a power supply circuit capable of varying power supplied to the optical sensor 15 according to a control instruction from the first control unit 17 . For example, the power supply unit 16 includes switching elements such as transistors. The semiconductor switch is provided in a power supply path between a power source (not shown) and the optical sensor 15 , and switches conduction and interruption of the power supply path based on a drive pulse signal input from the first control unit 17 .

The first control unit 17 controls the image forming apparatus 1 in a centralized manner. As shown in FIG. 1, the first control unit 17 includes a CPU 17A, ROM 17B, RAM 17C, and EEPROM 17D. The CPU 17A is a processor that executes various arithmetic processes. The ROM 17B is a nonvolatile storage device in which information such as control programs for causing the CPU 17A to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM 17C is a volatile or nonvolatile storage device used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for various processes executed by the CPU 17A. The EEPROM 17D is a nonvolatile storage device. In the first control unit 17, various control programs stored in advance in the ROM 17B are executed by the CPU 17A. Thereby, the first control unit 17 controls the image forming apparatus 1 in an integrated manner. Note that the first control unit 17 may be configured by an electronic circuit such as an integrated circuit (ASIC).

The operation display section 21 is a user interface of the image forming system 100 . The operation display unit 21 is a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays various information according to control instructions from the first control unit 17 or the second control unit 23, and the first control unit 17 according to user operations. , or an operation unit such as an operation key or a touch panel for inputting various kinds of information to the second control unit 23 .

The communication unit 22 is a communication interface capable of performing wired or wireless data communication with an external communication device.

The second control unit 23 comprehensively controls the power supply control device 2 . As shown in FIG. 1, the second controller 23 includes a CPU 23A, a ROM 23B, and a RAM 23C. The CPU 23A is a processor similar to the CPU 17A. The ROM 23B is a non-volatile storage device similar to the ROM 17B. The RAM 23C is a volatile or non-volatile storage device similar to the RAM 17C. In the second control unit 23, various control programs pre-stored in the ROM 23B are executed by the CPU 23A. Thereby, the second control unit 23 controls the power supply control device 2 in an integrated manner. Note that the second control unit 23 may be configured by an electronic circuit such as an integrated circuit (ASIC).

Also, the second control unit 23 switches the operation mode of the image forming system 100 between the normal mode and the power saving mode.

Here, the power saving mode is the operation mode that consumes less power than the normal mode. Specifically, power supply to the image forming apparatus 1 is stopped in the power saving mode.

Specifically, when the operation mode is the normal mode, the second control unit 23 switches the operation mode from the normal mode to the power saving mode when a predetermined transition condition is satisfied.

For example, the transition conditions include a first transition condition and a second transition condition. The second control unit 23 switches the operation mode to the power saving mode when the first transition condition or the second transition condition is satisfied. The first transition condition is that a no-operation state in which no operation input is made to the image forming system 100 continues beyond a predetermined time. The second shift condition is that an instruction to shift to the power saving mode is input by a user's operation on the operation display section 21 . Note that the transition conditions may include conditions different from the conditions described above.

Further, when the operation mode is the power saving mode, the second control unit 23 switches the operation mode from the power saving mode to the normal mode when a predetermined recovery condition is satisfied.

For example, the return conditions include a first return condition and a second return condition. The second control unit 23 switches the operation mode to the normal mode when the first return condition or the second return condition is satisfied. The first return condition is to receive an image forming job transmitted from an external information processing device. The second return condition is that the operation display section 21 is operated. Note that the return conditions may include conditions different from the conditions described above.

The second control unit 23 stops power supply to the image forming apparatus 1 from a power source (not shown) when switching the operation mode from the normal mode to the power saving mode. Further, when the operation mode is switched from the power saving mode to the normal mode, the second control unit 23 restarts power supply to the image forming apparatus 1 from a power supply (not shown).

[Configuration of Image Forming Unit 13 and Optical Sensor 15]
Next, configurations of the image forming unit 13 and the optical sensor 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming section 13 includes a photosensitive drum 31, a charging roller 32, an optical scanning device 33, a developing device 34, a transfer roller 35, a cleaning device 36, a fixing device 37, a paper discharge tray 38, and a A waste toner storage container 39 is provided.

The photoreceptor drum 31 carries a toner image. The photosensitive drum 31 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2 by receiving a rotational driving force supplied from a motor (not shown).

The charging roller 32 charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 .

The optical scanning device 33 emits light based on image data toward the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 31 . Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 .

The developing device 34 uses toner to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 31 . Thereby, a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 . The developing device 34 is supplied with the toner from a toner container 34A (see FIG. 2).

The transfer roller 35 transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 31 by the developing device 34 onto a sheet supplied by the paper feeding unit 14 .

The cleaning device 36 removes the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 after the toner image has been transferred by the transfer roller 35 from the surface. The cleaning device 36 also conveys the toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 to a toner outlet (not shown) provided at the bottom of the cleaning device 36 .

The fixing device 37 fixes the toner image transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 35 onto the sheet. The fixing device 37 includes a fixing roller and a pressure roller. The fixing roller is heated to a predetermined fixing temperature. The pressure roller is provided in pressure contact with the fixing roller. The sheet conveyed to the fixing device 37 is heated and pressurized when passing through the fixing nip formed between the fixing roller and the pressure roller. As a result, the toner image transferred to the sheet is fixed on the sheet. The sheet on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 37 is discharged to the discharge tray 38 .

The waste toner storage container 39 stores the waste toner generated by driving the image forming section 13 . The waste toner container 39 is an example of the waste toner container of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the waste toner storage container 39 includes a storage portion 41 and a cylindrical portion 42 . The storage unit 41 stores the waste toner. The accommodating portion 41 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape (see FIG. 3). A storage space for storing the waste toner is formed inside the storage portion 41 . The tubular portion 42 communicates the internal space of the storage portion 41 with the outside of the waste toner storage container 39 . The tubular portion 42 is provided so as to protrude upward from the upper surface of the housing portion 41 (see FIG. 3). The inside of the cylindrical portion 42 is used as a passage for the waste toner carried into the storage portion 41 and as a storage space for storing the waste toner.

The cylindrical portion 42 has translucency. For example, the housing portion 41 and the cylindrical portion 42 are integrally molded from a translucent resin material.

The waste toner container 39 is detachably attached to the housing 3 . When the waste toner container 39 is attached to the housing 3, the toner outlet of the cleaning device 36 and the tubular portion 42 of the waste toner container 39 are connected. As a result, the waste toner discharged from the cleaning device 36 is stored in the waste toner storage container 39 .

The optical sensor 15 detects a full state in which the amount of waste toner contained in the waste toner container 39 exceeds a predetermined threshold value. That is, the anomaly includes the full state.

Specifically, the optical sensor 15 is a so-called transmissive optical sensor. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the optical sensor 15 includes a light emitting section 15A and a light receiving section 15B. The light-emitting portion 15A is a light-emitting element such as a light-emitting diode that emits light in response to power supply from the power supply portion 16 . The light receiving section 15B is a light receiving element such as a phototransistor that receives the light L1 (see FIG. 3) emitted from the light emitting section 15A and outputs an electric signal according to the amount of received light.

The light emitting portion 15A is arranged so that the emitted light L1 travels along a path passing through the area corresponding to the threshold value in the waste toner storage space in the waste toner storage container 39 . Specifically, the area corresponding to the threshold is the space inside the cylindrical portion 42 . Also, the light-emitting portion 15A is provided facing the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 42 of the waste toner container 39 . Further, the light receiving portion 15B is provided facing the light emitting portion 15A with the cylindrical portion 42 of the waste toner container 39 interposed therebetween.

Light L1 emitted from the light-emitting portion 15A passes through the wall portion of the tubular portion 42 having translucency, the region corresponding to the threshold value, and the wall portion of the tubular portion 42 having translucency. The part 15B is reached. In other words, the tubular portion 42 allows the passage of the light L<b>1 along the path passing through the area corresponding to the threshold value in the waste toner storage space in the waste toner storage container 39 . The tubular portion 42 is an example of the translucent portion of the present invention.

The optical sensor 15 is driven based on characteristic data regarding input/output characteristics of the optical sensor 15 .

Specifically, the characteristic data indicates the relationship between the power (supplied power) supplied to the light emitting section 15A and the voltage (output voltage) of the electrical signal output from the light receiving section 15B, as shown in FIG. data shown. Note that "Yth" in FIG. 4 is used to determine whether or not the light L1 emitted from the light emitting section 15A has reached the light receiving section 15B without being blocked by the waste toner, that is, whether or not the light receiving section 15B is in the full state. is the decision value to be used.

For example, the first control unit 17 drives the optical sensor 15 to acquire the characteristic data when a predetermined acquisition timing arrives. Specifically, the first control unit 17 acquires the characteristic data by recording transitions in the output voltage when the supply power is gradually increased (or decreased). Then, the first control unit 17 stores the obtained characteristic data in the EEPROM 17D.

For example, the acquisition timing is the timing when attachment of the waste toner container 39 to the housing 3 is detected by a detection sensor (not shown). Further, the acquisition timing may be the timing at which a predetermined operation is performed on the operation display section 21 .

If the output voltage is less than the determination value Yth even if the supplied power is increased to a predetermined upper limit value during the characteristic data acquisition process, the first control unit 17 performs the acquisition process. It is only necessary to stop the operation and notify the user that the operation is in the full state. Further, the characteristic data acquisition process may be executed each time the acquisition timing arrives, or may be executed when the acquisition timing arrives while the characteristic data has not yet been acquired. Further, the acquisition subject of the characteristic data is not limited to the first control unit 17, and may be a person. For example, the characteristic data stored in the EEPROM 17</b>D may be acquired using the optical sensor 15 before being attached to the image forming apparatus 1 .

In the image forming apparatus 1 , the power to be supplied when it is determined whether or not the optical sensor 15 is full is determined based on the characteristic data different for each optical sensor 15 . As a result, compared to a configuration in which the power supply is determined based on the product specifications of the optical sensor 15 when it is determined whether or not the full state is reached, the power supply can be suppressed to a necessary minimum. is possible. Therefore, power consumption in the optical sensor 15 can be reduced.

In the image forming apparatus 1, when the apparatus is started, the optical sensor 15 is used to determine whether or not the waste toner storage container 39 is in the full state. Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, in order to prevent the waste toner from overflowing from the waste toner container 39 in the full state, the image forming section is closed until it is determined that the waste toner container 39 is not in the full state. 13 to form an image is restricted.

By the way, in the image forming apparatus 1, the characteristic data is read out from the EEPROM 17D when the apparatus is started. Here, in the image forming apparatus 1, if the power to be supplied is determined based on the characteristic data even when the apparatus is started, it is different from the configuration in which the determined power is supplied without being based on the characteristic data. As a result, the driving of the optical sensor 15 is delayed by the readout time of the characteristic data. Therefore, the time until it is determined that the state is not full, that is, the time during which the execution of the image forming process is restricted is prolonged.

On the other hand, in the image forming system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as described below, the power consumption of the optical sensor 15 is reduced, and the image forming process is executed when the image forming apparatus 1 is started. can be shortened.

[Configuration of first control unit 17]
Next, each functional unit included in the first control unit 17 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first control unit 17 includes an acquisition processing unit 51, a first supply processing unit 52, a second supply processing unit 53, a restriction processing unit 54, a notification processing unit 55, a transition processing unit 56, and A stop processing unit 57 is included.

Specifically, the ROM 17B of the first control unit 17 stores in advance a sensor drive program for causing the CPU 17A of the first control unit 17 to function as the above-described units. The CPU 17A of the first control unit 17 functions as each unit described above by executing the sensor driving program stored in the ROM 17B.

Some or all of the acquisition processing unit 51, the first supply processing unit 52, the second supply processing unit 53, the restriction processing unit 54, the notification processing unit 55, the shift processing unit 56, and the stop processing unit 57 It may be composed of an electronic circuit such as a circuit (ASIC, DSP).

The acquisition processing unit 51 acquires the characteristic data from the EEPROM 17D when power supply to the image forming apparatus 1 is started. The EEPROM 17D is an example of the storage section of the present invention. Note that the storage unit of the present invention may be a non-volatile storage device such as a flash memory.

After the property data is acquired by the acquisition processing unit 51 , the first supply processing unit 52 supplies first power based on the property data to the optical sensor 15 .

Specifically, the first power is determined based on the minimum power X1 (see FIG. 4) within the power range that allows the photosensor 15 to detect the abnormality. The minimum electric power X1 is the minimum electric power within the range of the supplied electric power in which the output voltage is equal to or higher than the judgment value Yth.

For example, the first power is power obtained by adding a specific value determined in consideration of the variation amount of the minimum power X1 until the next acquisition of the characteristic data to the minimum power X1.

For example, the first supply processing unit 52 supplies the first power to the light emitting unit 15A of the optical sensor 15 at predetermined time intervals during execution of the image forming process. Further, the first supply processing unit 52 supplies the first electric power to the light emitting unit 15A of the optical sensor 15 when the image forming process is completed.

When the optical sensor 15 is driven by the first supply processing unit 52, the first control unit 17 determines that the output voltage output from the light receiving unit 15B of the optical sensor 15 in response to the driving is less than the determination value Yth. Determine whether or not When determining that the output voltage is less than the determination value Yth, the first control section 17 interrupts the execution of the image forming process and notifies the user of the full state.

The second supply processing unit 53 supplies predetermined second power to the optical sensor 15 before the characteristic data is acquired by the acquisition processing unit 51 when power supply to the image forming apparatus 1 is started. do.

Specifically, the second power is the power that can realize the detection of the full state regardless of individual differences in the performance of the optical sensor 15 . For example, the second power is the maximum power that can be supplied to the light emitting section 15A. The second power is predetermined in the sensor driving program.

For example, the second supply processing unit 53 supplies the second power to the optical sensor 15 when the acquisition processing unit 51 starts acquiring the characteristic data. The second supply processing unit 53 may supply the second electric power to the optical sensor 15 by the time the acquisition processing unit 51 acquires the characteristic data at the latest.

The characteristic data may be data indicating one power that is lower than the second power and the output voltage is equal to or higher than the judgment value Yth. For example, the first control unit 17 supplies arbitrary power smaller than the second power to the light emitting unit 15A, and when the output voltage equal to or higher than the determination value Yth is output from the light receiving unit 15B in response to the supply, , the data indicating the arbitrary power may be stored in the EEPROM 17D as the characteristic data. In this case, the first supply processing unit 52 may supply the power indicated by the characteristic data to the optical sensor 15 as the first power. That is, the first power may be power determined without being based on the minimum power X1.

The restriction processor 54 restricts execution of the image forming process until it is determined that there is no abnormality based on the detection result of the optical sensor 15 when power supply to the image forming apparatus 1 is started.

For example, the restriction processing unit 54 restricts execution of the image forming process when power supply to the image forming apparatus 1 is started. Further, when the output voltage output from the light receiving unit 15B of the optical sensor 15 in response to the driving of the optical sensor 15 by the second supply processing unit 53 is equal to or higher than the determination value Yth, the restriction processing unit 54 performs the image formation. Release the processing execution restriction. Note that the restriction processing unit 54 starts accepting an input of an instruction to execute the image forming process after the timing at which it is determined that there is no abnormality based on the detection result of the optical sensor 15, so that the image can be processed until the timing. Execution of the forming process may be restricted.

When the power supply to the image forming apparatus 1 is started and it is determined that there is an abnormality based on the detection result of the optical sensor 15, the notification processing unit 55 notifies that effect.

For example, the notification processing unit 55 causes the operation display unit 21 to display an error display screen indicating that the waste toner container 39 is full, and notifies that the abnormality has been determined. Note that the notification processing unit 55 may notify that the abnormality has been determined by sounding a predetermined warning sound or lighting a predetermined warning lamp.

The transition processing unit 56 executes transition processing for transitioning the image forming unit 13 from the stop state to a standby state in which image formation is possible when power supply to the image forming apparatus 1 is started.

Specifically, the transition processing includes heat processing for heating the fixing roller of the fixing device 37 to the fixing temperature. Further, the transition processing includes motor driving processing for increasing the rotation speed of the motor used for driving the image forming section 13 to a predetermined speed.

The stop processing unit 57 stops the transition process when it is determined that there is an abnormality based on the detection result of the optical sensor 15 during execution of the transition process.

Note that the first control unit 17 does not have to include the stop processing unit 57 .

[Sensor drive processing]
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 5, the sensor driving method of the present invention will be described together with an example of the procedure of the sensor driving process executed by the first control unit 17 in the image forming system 100. FIG. Here, steps S11, S12, . The sensor driving process is executed when the image forming system 100 is powered on or power supply to the first control unit 17 is started when the power saving mode is switched to the normal mode.

<Step S11>
First, in step S11, the first control unit 17 restricts execution of the image forming process. Here, the process of step S<b>11 is an example of the restriction step of the present invention, and is executed by the restriction processing section 54 of the first control section 17 .

<Step S12>
In step S12, the first control section 17 starts reading the characteristic data from the EEPROM 17D. Here, the process of step S<b>12 is an example of the acquisition step of the present invention, and is executed by the acquisition processing section 51 of the first control section 17 .

<Step S13>
In step S13, the first control unit 17 starts the transition process. Here, the process of step S<b>13 is executed by the transition processing section 56 of the first control section 17 .

Specifically, the first control unit 17 starts the migration process at the same time as the reading of the characteristic data is started.

<Step S14>
In step S14, the first control section 17 supplies the second power to the light emitting section 15A of the optical sensor 15 before the characteristic data is read. Here, the process of step S14 is an example of the second supply step of the present invention, and is executed by the second supply processing section 53 of the first control section 17. FIG.

Specifically, the first control unit 17 supplies the second electric power to the light emitting unit 15A of the optical sensor 15 at the same time as the reading of the characteristic data is started. That is, in the sensor driving process, the processes of steps S12, S13, and S14 are executed simultaneously.

<Step S15>
In step S<b>15 , the first control unit 17 determines the presence or absence of the abnormality based on the detection result of the optical sensor 15 .

Specifically, when the output voltage output from the optical sensor 15 is equal to or higher than the determination value Yth in response to the execution of the process of step S14, the first control unit 17 controls the waste toner storage container 39 to judge not. Further, the first control unit 17 determines that the waste toner container 39 is in the full state when the output voltage output from the optical sensor 15 is less than the determination value Yth in response to execution of step S14. .

Then, the first control unit 17 branches the processing according to the determination result of the presence or absence of the abnormality. Specifically, when the first control unit 17 determines that there is an abnormality (Yes in S15), the process proceeds to step S16. When the first control unit 17 determines that there is no abnormality (No side of S15), the first control unit 17 shifts the process to step S21.

<Step S16>
In step S16, the first control unit 17 stops the transition process started in step S13. This avoids unnecessary continuation of the migration process. Here, the process of step S<b>16 is executed by the stop processing section 57 of the first control section 17 .

<Step S17>
In step S17, the first control unit 17 notifies that it is determined that there is an abnormality. Here, the process of step S<b>17 is executed by the notification processing section 55 of the first control section 17 .

<Step S18>
In step S18, the first control unit 17 determines whether or not the detected abnormality has been resolved.

For example, when the detection sensor detects that the waste toner storage container 39 is reattached to the housing 3, the first control unit 17 controls the first Power is supplied to the photosensor 15 . This process is an example of the first supply step of the present invention, and is executed by the first supply processing section 52 of the first control section 17 .

Then, the first control unit 17 determines whether or not the abnormality has been resolved based on the output of the optical sensor 15 corresponding to the supply of the first electric power, and branches the processing according to the determination result. Specifically, when the first control unit 17 determines that the abnormality has been resolved (Yes in S18), the process proceeds to step S19. Further, when the first control unit 17 determines that the abnormality has not been resolved (No side of S18), it waits for the resolution of the abnormality in step S18. In this case, the first control unit 17 may notify that the abnormality has not been resolved.

<Step S19>
In step S19, the first control unit 17 releases the execution restriction of the image forming process. Here, the processing of step S19 is an example of the restriction step of the present invention, and is executed by the restriction processing section 54 of the first control section 17. FIG.

<Step S20>
In step S20, the first control unit 17 executes the migration process again. Then, the first control unit 17 starts accepting input of an instruction to execute the image forming process after the transition process ends. Here, the process of step S<b>20 is executed by the transition processing section 56 of the first control section 17 .

<Step S21>
In step S21, the first control unit 17 releases the execution restriction of the image forming process. Here, the processing of step S21 is an example of the limiting step of the present invention, and is executed by the limiting processing section 54 of the first control section 17. FIG.

Here, if the transition process has not been completed at the time of execution of step S21, the first control unit 17 starts accepting an input of an instruction to execute the image forming process after the transition process is completed. Further, when the transition process has been completed at the time of execution of step S21, the first control unit 17 immediately starts receiving input of an instruction to execute the image forming process.

Note that the processing of steps S16 and S20 may be omitted.

As described above, in the image forming system 100, when power supply to the image forming apparatus 1 is started, the predetermined second power is supplied to the optical sensor 15 before the characteristic data is read from the EEPROM 17D. be. Further, in the image forming system 100, after the characteristic data is read from the EEPROM 17D, the first electric power based on the characteristic data is supplied to the optical sensor 15. FIG. As a result, it is possible to reduce power consumption in the optical sensor 15 and shorten the time during which the execution of the image forming process is restricted when the image forming apparatus 1 is started.

In addition, in the image forming apparatus 1, an ultrasonic sensor or a magnetic sensor for detecting the full state may be provided instead of the optical sensor 15. FIG. In this case, the ultrasonic sensor or the magnetic sensor is another example of the sensor of the present invention.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1 , the abnormality may be a state in which the waste toner container 39 is not attached to the housing 3 . Further, the abnormality may be a paper jam in the sheet conveying path from the paper feed cassette of the paper feed unit 14 to the discharge tray 38 .

Further, the present invention is not limited to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and may be applied to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by another image forming method such as an inkjet method.

1 image forming apparatus 2 power supply control device 3 housing 11 ADF
12 Image reading unit 13 Image forming unit 14 Paper feeding unit 15 Optical sensor 16 Power supply unit 17 First control unit 21 Operation display unit 22 Communication unit 23 Second control unit 39 Waste toner container 51 Acquisition processing unit 52 First supply processing unit 53 second supply processing unit 54 restriction processing unit 55 notification processing unit 56 shift processing unit 57 stop processing unit 100 image forming system

Claims (6)

an image forming unit that forms an image;
a sensor that detects an abnormality in the image forming unit according to power supply;
an acquisition processing unit that acquires, from a predetermined storage unit, characteristic data relating to the input/output characteristics of the sensor stored in advance in the storage unit when power supply to the device is started;
a first supply processing unit that supplies first electric power to the sensor based on the characteristic data after the characteristic data is acquired by the acquisition processing unit;
a second supply processing unit that supplies predetermined second power to the sensor before the characteristic data is acquired by the acquisition processing unit when power supply to the device is started;
Restriction processing for restricting execution of image forming processing for forming an image using the image forming unit until it is determined that there is no abnormality based on the detection result of the sensor when power supply to the device is started. Department and
An image forming apparatus comprising: The first power is determined based on the minimum power within a power range that allows the sensor to detect the abnormality.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The image forming unit includes a waste toner storage unit that stores waste toner generated by driving,
The abnormality includes a full state in which the amount of waste toner contained in the waste toner container exceeds a predetermined threshold.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The sensor includes a light-emitting portion that emits light in response to power supply, and a light-receiving portion that receives light emitted from the light-emitting portion and outputs an electric signal according to the amount of light received,
The waste toner storage unit includes a translucent unit that allows the light to pass along a path passing through the area corresponding to the threshold value in the waste toner storage space.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. a transition processing unit that executes transition processing for transitioning the image forming unit from a stopped state to a standby state in which image formation is possible when power supply to the device is started;
a stop processing unit that stops the transition process when it is determined that there is an abnormality based on the detection result of the sensor during execution of the transition process;
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising: A sensor driving method executed in an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image and a sensor that detects an abnormality in the image forming unit in response to power supply, the method comprising:
an obtaining step of obtaining, from a predetermined storage unit, characteristic data relating to the input/output characteristics of the sensor stored in advance in the storage unit when power supply to the image forming apparatus is started;
a first supply step of supplying a first power based on the characteristic data to the sensor after the characteristic data is obtained by the obtaining step;
a second supply step of supplying predetermined second power to the sensor before the characteristic data is acquired by the acquisition step when power supply to the image forming apparatus is started;
When power supply to the image forming apparatus is started, execution of image forming processing for forming an image using the image forming unit is restricted until it is determined that there is no abnormality based on a detection result of the sensor. a limiting step;
How the sensor is driven, including