JP2024010929A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that, even if lighting is in an OFF state, energizes only a FAX function that should at least be activated to reduce the power consumption to minimum necessary.

SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 comprises an illuminance sensor 41 and a control unit 5. The illuminance sensor 41 measures the illuminance of lighting in the room and outputs illuminance information. When the illuminance information indicates that the illuminance is OFF, the control unit 5 sets the image forming apparatus to a first energy-saving mode for energizing only a FAX function that should at least be activated.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

COPYRIGHT: (C)2024,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that reduces power consumption as much as possible in a standby state and operates when necessary.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-226815

However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose an image forming apparatus that minimizes power consumption to the necessary minimum depending on the ON/OFF state of lighting in a room.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that energizes only the FAX function that must be operated at the minimum level even when the lighting is off, thereby reducing power consumption to the minimum necessary level.

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an illuminance sensor and a control section. The illuminance sensor measures the illuminance of lighting in a room and outputs illuminance information. When the illuminance information indicates that the illuminance is OFF, the control unit sets a first energy saving mode in which only the FAX function that must be operated at a minimum is energized.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, even when the lighting is off, the image forming apparatus 1 enters the first energy saving mode in which only the FAX function that must be operated at a minimum is energized, thereby minimizing power consumption. can be suppressed to

1 is a diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing constituent elements that implement each function of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing control of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of mode switching based on the positional relationship between the image forming apparatus and the illumination. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of mode switching based on the positional relationship between the image forming apparatus and the illumination. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of mode switching based on the positional relationship between the image forming apparatus and the illumination. 7 is a flowchart showing the control in FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding parts in the figures, and the description will not be repeated.

Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image reading apparatus 2, an image forming apparatus main body 3, and a control panel 4. In the image forming apparatus 1, the image reading device 2 is not an essential component. The image forming apparatus 1 may include only the image forming apparatus main body 3 and the control panel 4. Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus 1, the control panel 4 is also not an essential component. The functions realized by the control panel 4 may be realized by other members or other configurations.

The control panel 4 includes an operation section 40, an illuminance sensor 41, and a power generation section 42. Although the operation unit 40, the illuminance sensor 41, and the power generation unit 42 are arranged on the control panel 4 as an example, the gist of the present embodiment is not limited thereto.

The control panel 4 will be further described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus that combines an image reading function by an image reading apparatus 2 and an image forming function by an image forming apparatus main body 3. The image forming apparatus 1 has functions such as a scanner, a printer, a copy machine, a telephone, a printing machine, and a facsimile, for example.

The image reading device 2 includes a document tray, a document conveyance device, a document reading device, and a document discharge tray.

The image reading device 2 reads an image written on a document and outputs image information. An example of the image reading device 2 is a scanner. The image reading device 2 can be attached with a document conveying device. An example of a document feeding device is an ADF (Auto Document Feeder).

The document tray stores documents.

The document reading device reads an image from a document conveyed from a document tray.

The document reading device generates image data from the read image. Document reading devices include a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) system and a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) system.

The document discharge tray accommodates documents whose images have been read.

Next, the image forming apparatus main body 3 shown in FIG. 1 will be explained. The image forming apparatus main body 3 forms an image on a sheet.

The image forming apparatus main body 3 includes a sheet feeding device, a sheet conveying device, an image forming section, a fixing device, and a sheet discharging device.

The sheet feeding device includes a sheet tray and a pickup roller. The sheet tray stores sheets. The pickup roller picks up the sheets stored in the sheet tray one by one and feeds them to the sheet conveying device.

The image forming section forms an image on the sheet using toner or ink. When the image forming apparatus main body 3 is an electrophotographic type, the image forming apparatus main body 3 includes a photoreceptor, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, and a static eliminator.

The photoreceptor is, for example, a photoreceptor drum. The photosensitive drum rotates around a rotation axis. The photosensitive drum has a photosensitive layer on its outer peripheral surface. An example of the photosensitive drum is a selenium drum or OPC (Organic Photoconductor).

The charging device charges the photosensitive layer of the photoreceptor to a predetermined potential. An example of a charging device is a corona discharger.

The exposure device exposes the photosensitive layer of the photoreceptor by irradiating it with laser light. The exposure device exposes the photosensitive layer of the photoreceptor based on image data. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor. An example of an exposure device is an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

The developing device contains, for example, a two-component developer containing a carrier made of a magnetic material and a toner. The developing device then develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor with the toner, thereby forming a toner image on the photoreceptor. The transfer device transfers the toner image on the photoreceptor to a sheet. The cleaning device removes residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor after transfer. The static eliminator removes static electricity from the photoreceptor.

When the image forming apparatus main body 3 is an inkjet printer, the image forming section includes an ink cartridge, an ink tank, a pump, a head, a nozzle, an electrode, and a conveyor belt.

The ink cartridge and the ink tank store, for example, water-based inks of each color: Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black).

The pump supplies ink from the ink tank to the head.

A large number of nozzles forming pixels are arranged in the head. Based on the image data, ink of a color corresponding to the image data is supplied to the head from an ink tank. Ink is ejected from the nozzle toward the sheet.

The electrode includes, for example, a charging electrode and a deflection electrode. The charging electrode charges the ink ejected from the nozzle. The deflection electrode controls the flying direction of the charged ink.

The conveyor belt is arranged to face the nozzles of the head and conveys the sheet. An image is formed on the sheet conveyed by the conveyor belt using ink ejected from the nozzles of the head.

Next, the fixing device heats and presses the toner image developed on the sheet to fix the toner image on the sheet. The fixing device includes, for example, a fixing roller, a heater, and a press roller.

The fixing roller is a hollow cylindrical roller. The fixing roller is pressed against the press roller. The press roller and the fixing roller form a nip portion. The press roller is rotationally driven by a drive unit (not shown), and forms a nip portion with the fixing roller, thereby rotating the fixing roller.

The heater is supplied with power from a power source (not shown) and heats the fixing roller. The heater is arranged close to the inner peripheral surface of the fixing roller. The sheet conveyed to the fixing device passes through a nip portion, is heated by a heater, and the toner image is fixed.

If the image forming apparatus main body 3 is an inkjet printer, no fixing device is required.

The sheet ejecting device ejects the sheet to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 3. The sheet ejection device includes a sheet ejection roller and a sheet ejection tray. The sheet discharge roller discharges the sheet conveyed by the conveyance device from the fixing device to the sheet discharge tray. The sheet ejection tray stores ejected sheets.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 in addition to FIG. 1, the components that realize each function of the image forming apparatus 1 and the operation and control of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the components that realize each function of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing control of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 includes steps S10 to S14. The operation and control of the configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes, in addition to the configuration already described in FIG. Equipped with.

The control section 5 controls the transmitting/receiving section 6, the storage section 7, the calibration execution section 8, and each functional section.

Each function includes, for example, a FAX function section, a print function section, and a scanner function section.

The FAX function unit executes a FAX function. The FAX function section transmits and receives image data using the transmitting/receiving section 6 shown in FIG. The FAX function unit may transmit and receive image data obtained by the image reading device 2 shown in FIG. 1 by reading a document (not shown) using the transmitting/receiving unit 6. The transmitter/receiver 6 may be realized by a CODEC (Coder/Decoder), for example.

The FAX function unit may further form an image on a sheet (not shown) based on the acquired image data using the image forming apparatus main body 3 shown in FIG.

The print function section is executed by the image forming apparatus main body 3 shown in FIG. Examples of print functions are print, copy, or fax.

The scanner function section is executed by the image reading device 2 shown in FIG. The image reading device 2 shown in FIG. 1 reads a document (not shown) to obtain image data.

The basic gist of the operation and control of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is to measure the illuminance around the image forming apparatus 1 and select the normal mode and the FAX function only based on the ON or OFF state of the illumination. This is used to switch between the first energy saving mode and the first energy saving mode in which electricity is supplied.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 40 receives user operations or instructions. The operation unit 40 may have the function of a display unit. The display section may be a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display may have a touch sensor.

The illuminance sensor 41 measures the illuminance of the lighting in the room and outputs illuminance information (step S10).

A specific example of the illuminance sensor 41 is a photo IC diode (IC: integrated circuit). The illuminance sensor 41 has a structure in which a light receiving element, a photodiode, a phototransistor, and a resistor are integrated into a circuit board, and converts light incident on the light receiving element into a current to detect brightness. That is, the current flowing through the phototransistor changes depending on the brightness, and a voltage corresponding to the brightness appears at both ends of the resistor, thereby detecting light.

In FIG. 3, the process proceeds to step S11.

The storage unit 7 stores the illuminance threshold.

The storage unit 7 may further store programs and data. The storage unit 7 temporarily or non-temporarily stores the processing results of the control unit 5. The storage unit 7 may include any storage device such as a semiconductor storage device and a magnetic storage device. The storage unit 7 may include multiple types of storage devices. The storage unit 7 may include a combination of a portable storage medium such as a memory card and a storage medium reading device.

The control unit 5 determines whether the illuminance is in an ON state or an OFF state based on the illuminance information (step S11).

The control unit 5 is, for example, a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 5 may be an integrated circuit such as an SoC (System-on-a-Chip) in which other components are integrated. The control unit 5 may be configured by combining a plurality of integrated circuits.

The illuminance sensor 41 outputs illuminance information indicating that the illuminance is in the ON state when the illuminance exceeds the threshold (when it is greater than or equal to the threshold).

The control unit 5 sets the image forming apparatus 1 to the normal mode (step S12) based on the illuminance information indicating that the illuminance is in the ON state (ON in step S11). In FIG. 3, the process proceeds to step S14.

The illuminance sensor 41 outputs illuminance information indicating that the illuminance is in an OFF state when the illuminance is less than the threshold (below the threshold).

When the illuminance information indicates that the illuminance is OFF, the control unit 5 sets the image forming apparatus 1 to a first energy saving mode in which power is supplied only to the FAX function that requires the minimum functionality of the image forming apparatus 1.

That is, the control unit 5 sets the image forming apparatus 1 to the first energy saving mode (step S13) based on the illuminance information indicating that the illuminance is in the OFF state (OFF in step S11). In FIG. 3, the process proceeds to step S14.

For example, when the lighting is off because no one is in the office where the image forming apparatus 1 is installed, the illuminance information output by the illumination sensor 41 indicates that the illumination is off.

When the illuminance information indicates that the illuminance is in the OFF state, the control unit 5 shifts the image forming apparatus 1 to the first energy saving mode.

However, even in the first energy saving mode, the FAX needs to be maintained in a 24-hour transmission/reception mode. Therefore, the control unit 5 controls the FAX function to function as necessary and minimally even in the first energy saving mode.

According to the present embodiment, even when the lighting is off, the image forming apparatus 1 enters the first energy saving mode in which power is supplied only to the FAX function that must be operated at a minimum, so power consumption can be kept to the minimum necessary. Can be done.

The control unit 5 may activate only the transmitting/receiving unit 6 that transmits and receives FAX image data in the first energy saving mode.

According to this embodiment, only the transmitting/receiving unit 6 necessary for operating the FAX function is activated, so that power consumption can be suppressed to the minimum necessary.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 5 determines whether to continue measuring the illuminance (step S14). If the process does not continue (No in step S14), the process ends. If continuing (Yes in step S14), the process returns to step S11.

Next, the power generation unit 42 generates solar power. The illuminance sensor 41 is driven by the power generated by the power generation section 42. A specific example of the power generation section 42 is a solar panel. A solar panel is constructed by arranging a large number of solar cells.

A solar cell is constructed by laminating an n-type semiconductor and a p-type semiconductor together. When light hits a solar cell, electrons gather in the n-type semiconductor and holes gather in the p-type semiconductor, forming a positive pole and a negative pole. By connecting the positive pole and the negative pole with a conductor, a flow of electricity can be generated.

According to this embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 1 is in the energy saving mode, the solar panel can provide the power to operate the minimum necessary functions.

Next, an embodiment of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 in addition to FIGS. 1 to 3.

4 to 6 are diagrams showing specific examples of mode switching based on the positional relationship between the image forming apparatus 1 and the illumination SH. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control in FIGS. 4 to 6. The operation and control of the configuration shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the flowchart includes steps S20 to S28.

4 to 6 depict, for example, a lighting SH and an image forming apparatus 1 in an office. The office has a department in charge and an adjacent department adjacent to the department in charge. The image forming apparatus 1 is assigned to be used by a user in the department in charge. Other assigned image forming apparatuses may be arranged in adjacent departments. In FIGS. 4 to 6, other image forming apparatuses are omitted.

Nine lights SH are arranged in the office. Three lighting SHs are installed in the department in charge. Three lights SH are arranged in each of the two adjacent departments. The lights SH that are lit are indicated by diagonal lines.

The illuminance sensor 41 (FIGS. 1 and 2) disposed in the image forming apparatus 1 can measure the illuminance within a predetermined range surrounded by two boundaries indicated by broken lines. In other words, the illuminance sensor 41 of the image forming apparatus 1 can accurately measure the illuminance within a predetermined range.

For example, the illuminance sensor 41 can measure illuminance divided into a plurality of areas, and determines whether the illumination is close to the image forming apparatus 1 and whether the illumination is far from the image forming apparatus 1. May be measurable.

The illuminance sensor 41 of the image forming apparatus 1 cannot measure illuminance outside the predetermined range, which is outside the range surrounded by the two boundaries indicated by broken lines. In other words, the illuminance sensor 41 of the image forming apparatus 1 does not need to be able to accurately measure the illuminance outside the predetermined range.

In FIG. 4, only the nearest light SH1 is lit. That is, only the nearest light SH1 within the predetermined range and closest to the image forming apparatus 1 is on, and the other lights SH are off.

The illuminance sensor 41 measures the illuminance of the illumination SH (step S20). The process proceeds to step S21. The control unit 5 determines whether the illuminance of the nearest lighting SH1 is in the ON state (step S21). The control unit 5 may determine whether the illuminance exceeds a threshold value.

The illuminance sensor 41 detects that the illuminance of the nearest lighting SH1 is in the ON state, and outputs illuminance information (Yes in step S21). The illuminance information indicates that the illuminance of the nearest lighting SH1 is in the ON state.

When the illuminance information of the nearest lighting SH1 closest to the image forming apparatus 1 indicates that the illuminance is in the ON state, the control unit 5 sets the image forming apparatus 1 to a normal mode in which the image forming apparatus 1 is energized for multiple functions including the FAX function. (step S22). The process advances to step S28.

That is, when the illuminance information of the nearest lighting SH1 indicates that the illuminance is in the ON state, there is a high possibility that the image forming apparatus 1 will be used even if the illuminance of the other lights SH is in the OFF state.

Therefore, when the illuminance sensor 41 outputs illuminance information indicating that the illuminance of the nearest illumination SH1 is in the ON state, the control unit 5 determines that the illuminance exceeds the threshold and sets the image forming apparatus 1 to the normal mode.

According to the present embodiment, when the illuminance of the nearest illumination SH1 is in the ON state, the image forming apparatus 1 is set to the normal mode, so that jobs can be processed efficiently.

Next, the storage unit 7 may store a pattern in which the illuminance of the illumination SH changes. That is, the storage unit 7 may store, for example, a pattern in which the illuminance of the illumination SH changes from an ON state to an OFF state at 23:00. The storage unit 7 may also store a pattern in which the illuminance of the illumination SH changes from an OFF state to an ON state at 7 o'clock.

The calibration execution unit 8 may read the pattern from the storage unit 7, start the calibration from a retroactive time that is a predetermined time back from the time when the normal mode is entered, and complete the calibration by the operating time when the normal mode is entered.

The calibration execution unit 8 may be realized by an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

According to this embodiment, the time when the user enters the office or the time when the user leaves the office is stored as data, and the control unit 5 can suitably switch the mode of the image forming apparatus 1.

According to this embodiment, the calibration of the image forming apparatus 1 can be completed by the time the user enters the office, so the image forming apparatus 1 can be operated efficiently.

Next, the control unit 5 determines whether the illuminance of the within-range illumination SH other than the nearest illumination SH1 placed within the predetermined range is ON (step S23). The control unit 5 may determine whether the illuminance exceeds a threshold value.

The illuminance sensor 41 measures the in-range illumination SH within a predetermined range and outputs illuminance information.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the illuminance of the lighting SH2 near the manager's seat in the department in charge is ON, the image forming apparatus 1 is not used even if the illuminance of other lights SH in the department in charge are OFF. There is a high possibility that

When the illuminance information of the within-range illumination SH2, which is arranged within a predetermined range with respect to the front of the image forming apparatus 1 and excluding the nearest illumination SH1, indicates that the illuminance is ON, the control unit 5 controls the image forming apparatus. 1 to normal mode.

That is, even if the illumination information of the nearest lighting SH1 closest to the image forming apparatus 1 does not indicate that the illuminance is ON, the control unit 5 may cause the illuminance information to indicate that the illuminance SH1 is located within a predetermined range relative to the front of the image forming apparatus 1. When the illuminance information of the within-range illumination SH2 excluding the nearest illumination SH1 indicates that the illuminance is ON (Yes in step S23), the image forming apparatus 1 is set to the normal mode (step S24). The process advances to step S28.

However, in FIG. 7, after step S20 is processed, step S23 and step S24 may be processed without step S21 being processed.

According to the present embodiment, when the illuminance of any of the lights SH within the predetermined range is in the ON state, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 1 is likely to be used, and the image forming apparatus 1 is set to the normal mode. Therefore, jobs by users in the department in charge can be efficiently processed.

Next, if the illuminance of the in-range illumination SH placed within the predetermined range is not ON (No in step S23), the control unit 5 controls the illumination intensity of the out-of-range illumination SH placed outside the predetermined range (out-of-range illumination SH3, It is determined whether the illuminance of the outside lighting SH4 or the outside lighting SH5) is ON (step S25). The control unit 5 may determine whether the illuminance exceeds a threshold value.

The illuminance sensor 41 may measure the in-range illumination SH within a predetermined range, measure illuminance greater than 0 and less than a threshold value, and output illuminance information.

The illuminance sensor 41 may measure out-of-range illumination SH outside the predetermined range and output illuminance information.

The control unit 5 determines that the illuminance information of the in-range illumination SH indicates that the illuminance is OFF, and that the illuminance information of the out-of-range illumination SH placed outside the predetermined range with respect to the front of the image forming apparatus 1 is , when the illuminance is ON (Yes in step S25), the image forming apparatus 1 is placed in a second energy saving mode in which the FAX function and predetermined functions other than the FAX function are energized, and non-predetermined functions are not energized. It may be set (step S26). The process advances to step S28.

However, in FIG. 7, after step S20 is processed, steps S25 to S27 may be processed without processing steps S21 and S23.

The predetermined function may be a function selected from a print function, a scanner function, a lamp lighting function, a display function, a transmission/reception function, a heater function, a calibration function, a toner stirring function, and other functions.

The non-predetermined function may be a function that is not selected as a predetermined function.

According to the present embodiment, when a user exists in an adjacent department of an office, it is possible to set a stepwise energy saving mode on the assumption that the image forming apparatus 1 will be used on a preliminary basis.

The control unit 5 determines that the illuminance information of the in-range illumination SH indicates that the illuminance is OFF, and that the illuminance information of the out-of-range illumination SH placed outside the predetermined range with respect to the front of the image forming apparatus 1 is , when the illumination intensity indicates OFF (No in step S25), the image forming apparatus 1 may be set to a first energy saving mode in which only the FAX function is energized (step S27). The process advances to step S28.

Next, in step S28, the control unit 5 determines whether or not to further measure the illuminance (step S28).

If it is determined that the illuminance should be measured (Yes in step S28), the process returns to step S21.

If it is determined not to measure the illuminance (No in step S28), the process ends.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit thereof. The drawings may mainly show each component schematically for ease of understanding. The number of each illustrated component may be different from the actual number for convenience of drawing drawings. Moreover, each component shown in the above embodiment is an example, and is not particularly limited, and various changes can be made without substantially departing from the effects of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used in the field of image forming apparatuses.

1 Image forming device 2 Image reading device 3 Image forming device main body 4 Control panel 40 Operation unit 41 Illuminance sensor 42 Power generation unit 5 Control unit 6 Transmission/reception unit 7 Storage unit 8 Calibration execution unit

Claims (8)

An illuminance sensor that measures the illuminance of the lighting in the room and outputs illuminance information;
and a control unit configured to set a first energy saving mode in which power is supplied only to a FAX function that must be operated at a minimum when the illuminance information indicates that the illuminance is OFF. The control unit sets a normal mode in which power is supplied to a plurality of functions including the FAX function when the illuminance information of the nearest lighting closest to the image forming apparatus indicates that the illuminance is ON. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a power generation unit that generates solar power, and drives the illuminance sensor with the power generated by the power generation unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control section activates only a transmitting/receiving section that transmits/receives FAX image data in the first energy saving mode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage unit that stores the pattern in which the illuminance changes. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a calibration execution unit that starts calibration from a retroactive time that is a predetermined time back from the time when the normal mode is entered, and completes the calibration by the operating time when the normal mode is entered. Device. When the illuminance information of in-range illumination excluding the nearest illumination, which is arranged within a predetermined range with respect to the front of the image forming apparatus, indicates that the illuminance is ON, the control unit controls the normal illumination. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is set to a mode. The control unit is configured to control the illuminance information of the in-range illumination indicating that the illuminance is OFF, and the illuminance of an out-of-range illumination arranged outside a predetermined range with respect to the front of the image forming apparatus. 7. When the information indicates that the illuminance is ON, a second energy saving mode is set in which the FAX function and a predetermined function other than the FAX function are energized and non-predetermined functions are not energized. The image forming apparatus described in .

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