JP3210472B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process, as a power supply device used for the apparatus,
For example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-203559, the power supply or the like is turned on by a timer capable of setting a time, or SLEEP control is performed.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional power supply device, since the time of power-on and SLEEP control must be input by an operator in advance, there are the following problems. That is, (1) there is the complexity that the operator has to predict and input the optimum time of the ON / SLEEP switching of the power supply of the apparatus.

(2) Every time the use time of the apparatus changes, there is a complication that the operator must reset the ON / SLEEP switching time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of switching the operation state of the apparatus without setting the time.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a power supply capable of arbitrarily switching between an active state and an inactive state under predetermined conditions. Detecting means for detecting a change in the volume of the image, a first power supply means for supplying power to the detection means, a second power supply means for supplying power to the image forming means, and a detection result of the detection means. And a control unit for controlling the power supply by the second power supply unit, and the image forming apparatus is in a state where an image can be formed by the power supply from the second power supply unit.

[0006]

In the above configuration, the function of switching the operation state of the apparatus is performed in accordance with the change in the external sound volume .

[0007]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a case where a laser beam printer is used as the image forming apparatus is shown.

Therefore, the configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. In FIG.
The laser beam printer main body 1 (hereinafter referred to as the main body) includes a cassette 2 for storing the recording paper S, a cassette paper presence / absence sensor 3 for detecting the presence or absence of the recording paper S in the cassette 2, and a size of the recording paper S of the cassette 2. A cassette size sensor 4 (constituted by a plurality of microswitches) for detection and a paper feed roller 5 for feeding out the recording paper S from the cassette 2 are provided. A registration roller pair 6 for synchronously transporting the recording paper S is disposed downstream of the paper feed roller 5, and downstream of the registration roller pair 6, a recording paper S based on a laser beam from the laser scanner unit 7. An image forming unit 8 for forming a toner image is disposed thereon.

Downstream of the image forming section 8, a fixing device 9 for thermally fixing the toner image formed on the recording paper S is disposed. Paper discharge sensor 10 for detecting paper discharge, paper discharge roller 1 for discharging recording paper S
1. Loading tray 12 for loading recording paper S on which recording has been completed
Is arranged. The laser scanner unit 7 includes a laser unit 13 that emits a laser beam modulated based on an image signal transmitted from an external device 28 described later, and a polygon for scanning the laser beam from the laser unit 13 onto the photosensitive drum 17. It comprises a motor 14, an imaging lens 15, a return mirror 16, and the like. Then, the image forming unit 8 includes a photosensitive drum 1 necessary for a known electrophotographic process.
7, pre-exposure lamp 18, primary charger 19, developing unit 20,
The transfer charger 21 includes a cleaner 22 having a cleaner blade 22a.

The main motor 23 is connected to the paper feed roller 5.
, A driving force is applied to the registration roller pair 6 via a registration roller clutch 25, and further, each unit fixing unit 9 of the image forming unit 8 including the photosensitive drum 17 is provided. Also, a driving force is applied to the discharge roller 11. Then, the printer control device 26
It is connected so as to control the main body 1 and to be able to transmit and receive to and from an external device 28 via an interface 27.
Reference numeral 40 denotes an operation panel.

The image forming apparatus further includes an environment change detecting unit 29 and a power supply unit 30, and includes a SLEEP power supply unit 31, a NORMAL power supply unit 32, and an AC input unit 33.
There is. And as a cable for connection, AC
Input line 34, environment change detection unit feed line 35, NORMAL
Power supply line 36. The operation panel 40 and the printer control device 26 are connected by a connection line 41, and the environment sensor 43 and the environment change detection unit 29 are connected by a connection line 44. The main switch 38 is a switch for turning on / off the power supply of the AC power supply to the main body 1, and the reference numeral 37 is an on / off switch for controlling the on / off of the normal power supply unit 32 by the environment change detection unit 29. SLEEP
This is a switching signal.

Next, the relationship between the main control unit (CPU) and output elements in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. In the figure, the printer control device 2
The communication control I.6 for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device 28 (not shown) via the interface 27 is provided inside the communication device I.6.
C. There are 50. Further, a bus is connected to the communication control CPU 51, and the communication control CPU 51 is connected to the printer control CPU 51 by a serial communication line 53 via a buffer 52.
54.

In the operation panel 40, L
An ED 59 and a switch 60 are provided, and are connected to the printer control CPU 54 via buffers 55 and 57. Reference numerals 56 and 58 are pull-up resistors. The environment change detection unit 29 includes an environment detection CPU 62.
The environment sensor 43 includes a phototransistor 77 that detects brightness outside the main body 1.

The phototransistor 77 includes a load resistor 78.
Is connected to the environment detection CPU 62 via the. The environment detection CPU 62 controls the ON / S
The LEEP switching signal line 37 is connected to a solid state relay (SSR) 64. The solid state relay 64 is located inside the NORMAL power supply unit 32, and turns ON / OFF this relay to thereby set the NOR state.
The MAL power supply 66 can be turned on / off.

The AC power from the AC input section 33 is transmitted to a NORMAL power supply 66 through a transformer 65. N
The ORMAL power supply 66 sends electric power for driving the printer control device 26 through the NORMAL power supply line 36. In addition, power is supplied to each unit that requires a power supply inside the main body 1 through a power supply line 36 for NORMAL. The power supply unit 31 for SLEEP is supplied with AC power from the AC input unit 33, generates power for driving the environment change detection unit 29, and supplies the power to the environment change detection unit 29 through the power supply line 35 for SLEEP. I have.

The environment detection CPU 62 recognizes the brightness of the outside of the main body 1 and sets the “ON state” according to the brightness.
And the "SLEEP state" is switched. Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG.
5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. In step S101 shown in the figure, the operator of the present apparatus turns on the main switch 38 and puts the main body 1 into a use state. At this point, both the NORMAL power supply unit 32 and the SLEEP power supply unit 31 are set to “ON”.
State ", and all CPUs are energized. That is, in this state, the apparatus is in a normal use state (step S102).

Next, the main body 1 performs a printing process in accordance with a printing command from the external device 28 (step S103). In parallel with this process, the environment detection CPU 62 determines that the outside of the device has a certain brightness or higher. Then, it is monitored whether it is (Step S104). Here, when the brightness of the outside of the main body 1 is equal to or less than a certain fixed value, the environment detection CPU 62 determines that the external environment is “dark” and turns off the NORMAL power supply unit 32 through the ON / SLEEP switching signal line 37. (Step S105). This state is the “SLEEP state”, and only the environment change detection unit 29 is operating.

On the other hand, the environment detection CPU 62 monitors whether the brightness outside the main body 1 has reached a certain value or more (step S106). Then, when the external brightness becomes a certain value or more, the environment detection CPU 62 determines that the external environment is “bright” and turns on the NORMAL power supply unit 32 through the ON / SLEEP switching signal line 37.
(Step S107). By this operation, the main body 1
Is in a normal use state, and the main body 1 performs a printing process (step S103).

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
Detects environmental changes outside the device, and
By switching between the power supply unit for ORMAL and the ON / SLEEP switching unit, the operator of the apparatus can turn on / off the power supply.
It is possible to avoid the complexity of predicting the optimal time of SLEEP switching and inputting the time based on the predicted time, and ON / SLE in response to environmental changes outside the device.
Since the EP is switched, ON / SLEEP can always be optimally switched to the use state.

The SLEEP power supply section 31 in the above embodiment may be replaced with a SLEEP battery. By doing so, when the main body 1 is in the “SLEEP state”, the consumption of the power taken in from the AC input line 34 can be reduced to zero. Further, a microphone may be used as the environment sensor 43, and the main body 1 may be switched between the “SLEEP state” and the normal use state according to the volume outside the main body 1. In other words, by using the microphone, even if the main body 1 is used in a place where the brightness does not change for 24 hours, the main body 1 is normally set to the “SLEEP state” by the operation sound of the external device 28 or the voice of the operator. Can be used.

Hereinafter, a modification of the above embodiment will be described. In the device according to the following modified example, the same components as those in the device according to the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted here. [Modification 1] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of an image forming apparatus according to Modification 1. As shown in the figure, in the device according to this modification, a NORMAL power hold signal 68 is added between the environment change detection unit 29 and the printer control device 26, and the output from the OR circuit 69 is a solid state The signal is input to the relay 64.

The device shown in FIG. 4 turns off the NORMAL power supply hold signal 68 in a normal use state. That is, in this state, the same operation as that of the device according to the above embodiment is performed. However, when the main body 1 actually starts the printing process, the NORMAL power supply hold signal 68
Is turned on, the outside of the main body 1 becomes dark, and even if the environment detection CPU 62 attempts to turn off the NORMAL power supply 66, the ON / SLEEP switching signal 37 does not change and NO
The RMAL power supply 66 remains ON.

Then, when the main body 1 completes the printing process, the NORMAL power supply hold signal 68 is turned off. If the outside of the main body 1 is dark, the NORMAL power supply 66 is turned off. By doing so, even if the exterior of the main body 1 becomes dark during the printing processing of the main body 1, the ON state of the NORMAL power supply 66 is continued until the printing is completed, and the printing processing is interrupted due to a change in the external environment. Can be avoided. [Modification 2] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Modification 2. Here, the operation panel 40 and the environment detection CPU 62 are directly connected to the apparatus according to the above embodiment.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 70 denotes a switch, 71
Is a buffer, and 72 is a pull-up resistor. In the apparatus shown in the figure, the operator can operate the operation panel 4 even if the outside of the main body 1 is not darkened in a normal use state.
From 0, the NORMAL power supply 66 can be directly turned off, and the apparatus can be put into the “SLEEP state”. Also, "SL
In the "EEP state", the normal power supply 66 can be turned on directly from the operation panel 40 to return to the normal use state.

As described above, in the apparatus according to this modification, the normal use state and the "SLEEP state" can be switched by the operator's will regardless of the brightness of the outside of the apparatus main body 1, so that the operation of the apparatus can be performed. Becomes better. [Modification 3] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of an image forming apparatus according to Modification 3. As shown in the figure,
In the device according to the present modification, the printer control device 26 is separated into a communication unit 75 and a printer unit 74 other than the communication unit 75 in the device according to the above embodiment. To this communication unit 75,
Power is supplied from the environment change detection unit 29 through the communication power supply line 73. Therefore, the communication control CPU 51 can operate even in the “SLEEP state”.

The communication control CPU 51 and the environment detection CP
U62 is connected by a WAKE-UP signal line 76. That is, the communication control CPU 51 can switch from the “SLEEP state” to the normal use state using the WAKE-UP signal line 76. Thus, in this modification, even if the main body 1 is in the “SLEEP state”,
If there is a print command from the external device 28, the communication control CPU 5
1 is a NORMAL power supply 6 through the environment detection CPU 62.
6 can be turned ON to perform the printing process. Therefore, a printing error due to the “SLEEP state” does not occur.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By detecting the external volume of the device and switching between the operation state and the operation halt state according to the result, the operational complexity of time prediction and time setting for switching between operation / operation halt can be avoided, and always The device can be operated in an optimal state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection of the device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure in the device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection of an image forming apparatus according to a first modification.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second modification.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a third modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Cassette 3 Paper presence sensor 4 Cassette size sensor 5 Paper feed roller 6 Registration roller 7 Laser scanner 8 Image forming part 9 Fixing device 10 Discharge sensor 11 Discharge roller 12 Loading tray 13 Laser unit 14 Polygon motor 15 Imaging lens Group 16 folding mirror 17 photosensitive drum 18 pre-exposure lamp 19 primary charger 20 developing device 21 transfer charger 22 cleaner 23 main motor 24 paper feed clutch 25 registration roller clutch 26 printer control device 27 interface 28 external device 29 environment change detection unit 30 Power supply unit 31 Power supply unit for SLEEP 32 Power supply unit for NORMAL 33 AC input unit 34 AC input line 35 Power supply line for environment change detection unit 36 Power supply line for NORMAL 37 ON / SLEEP switching signal line 38 Main switch 40 operation panel 41 connection line 50 communication control C. Reference Signs List 51 Communication control CPU 52, 55, 57, 63, 71 Buffer 53 Serial communication line 54 Printer control CPU 56, 58, 72, 78 Resistance 59 LED 60, 70 Switch 62 Environment detection CPU 64 Solid state relay 65 Transformer 66 Power supply for NORMAL 67 SLEEP battery 68 Hold signal 69 OR circuit 73 Communication power supply line 74 Printer unit 75 Communication unit 76 WAKE-UP signal line 77 Phototransistor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/00 370-512 B41J 29/38 G03G 21/14

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An image forming apparatus comprising a power supply device capable of arbitrarily switching between an active state and an inactive state under predetermined conditions, a detecting means for detecting a change in volume outside the apparatus, and a power supply for the detecting means. A first power supply unit that supplies power, a second power supply unit that supplies power to the image forming unit, and a control unit that controls power supply by the second power supply unit based on a detection result of the detection unit. An image can be formed by power supply from the second power supply unit
An image forming apparatus characterized by being in a state . Wherein said control means, when the degree of the change in volume equal to or greater than a predetermined value, controls so power is supplied from the second feeding means, the degree of the change in volume than the predetermined value 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply from the second power supply unit is stopped when the power supply is small. 3. The control unit does not suspend the power supply from the second power supply unit when the detection unit determines that the degree of the volume change becomes smaller than a predetermined value during the image forming process. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control is performed as follows. 4. Further, even when the degree of the volume variation is a predetermined value or more, or forcibly halt the supply of power from said second power supply means, or when the degree of the change in volume is smaller than a predetermined value 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: means for forcibly canceling the suspension of power supply by the second power supply means. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit for detecting a request for the image forming process when power supply from the second power supply unit is in a pause state. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus executes the processing.