JP3332490B2 - Image forming apparatus and control method of the apparatus - 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 and a method for controlling the apparatus .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the power supply of this type of image forming apparatus is controlled by a timer capable of setting a time to turn on or off the power supply or the like as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-203449. Was configured to do.

[0003] However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since the power ON / OFF time of the apparatus must be input by the operator in advance, the operator turns ON / SLEE the power of the apparatus.
There are complications that it is necessary to predict and input the optimum switching time of P and that the operator has to reset the ON / SLEEP switching time every time the use time of the apparatus changes.

[0004] The heat fixing means of this type of image forming apparatus generally holds a heating element in the fixing means at a predetermined temperature in a state where no image forming operation is performed (hereinafter referred to as a "standby state"). Let me. This is so that the printing operation can be started immediately upon receiving a printing operation command from the host computer to which the image forming apparatus is connected.

In such an image forming apparatus, power consumption by a heating element in a standby state can be suppressed.
In some cases, the operator can instruct the hibernation state so as not to energize the heating element in the standby state.

In such an image forming apparatus, an operator must always stabilize the apparatus in a rest state.
Furthermore, it is necessary to set individually for all the image forming apparatuses on the floor of the office.

Further, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus which can select a quick mode (also called a normal mode) in which an image forming speed is relatively high or an energy saving mode in which the image forming speed is relatively low. In this energy saving mode, the temperature of the fixing unit in the standby state is set lower than that in the quick mode.
If the energy-saving mode is set, the effect of literally saving the environment and reducing operating costs through energy saving is produced.

However, the mode switching procedure is troublesome for an operator who forgets to set the energy saving mode or requests an urgent print, and intentionally saves energy.
Since the mode may not be set, there is a problem that the energy saving effect cannot be exhibited.

[0009]

As described above, the conventional apparatus has a problem that even if an attempt is made to save power, the effect cannot be exhibited depending on the operation of the operator.

[0010] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, without Rukoto multiplied by the excessive burden on the operator
Image forming apparatus and the apparatus can be relocated mode
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a control method .

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

To achieve the above object, according to the Invention The, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, the rate of formation of the temperature control by fixing the toner on a recording medium images of the heater is the ratio
In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image in a relatively fast first mode or a relatively slow second mode,
Clocking means for clocking a predetermined time from power-on of the device
Wherein the image forming means, when there is a request to perform formation of the image, when the predetermined time during which the Ru clocked has not elapsed so as to form an image in said first mode, Ru is the time counter After a predetermined time has passed, the second
It is characterized in that an image can be formed in a mode .

[0014] The control method of an image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the relatively fast first mode or comparative rate of formation of by fixing the toner on a recording medium images that the temperature control of the heater
Forming an image in the second mode, which is slow
In the method for controlling an image forming apparatus having a time counting step of counting a predetermined time from power-on of the apparatus,
In the image forming step, when there is a request to perform formation of the image, along with when the predetermined time during which the Ru clocked has not elapsed to form an image in said first mode, a predetermined time during which the Ru timed After the lapse of time , formation of an image in the second mode is permitted . The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, in the image forming apparatus for forming an image by fixing toner on the recording medium by temperature control of the heater, comparing the rate of formation of images
An image forming an image forming means target fast first mode or a relatively slow second mode, and a select means for selecting one of said first mode and said second mode, said selection means the first mode selection time for selecting the pre-Symbol first mode after power-on of the apparatus is provided with, when there is a request for pre-Symbol image forming, said selection means, said first mode selection Select the first mode when it is time
And, permitting the selection of the second mode when a after power-on of the apparatus is after the lapse of the first mode selection time
The to Rukoto those characterized. The control method of an image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, in the image forming apparatus for forming an image by fixing toner on the recording medium by temperature control of the heating body, a first relatively fast rate of formation of images Mode or
Has an image forming step capable of forming an image in a relatively slow second mode, and a selecting step of selecting one of the first mode and the second mode, wherein the selecting step includes :
There is a first mode selection time for selecting the pre-Symbol first mode after power-on of the apparatus, when there is a request for pre-Symbol image forming, in said selection step, said first mode selection
Select the first mode when within between択時, characterized that you permit selection of the second mode when a after power-on of the apparatus is after the lapse of the first mode selection time It is assumed that .

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

[Action] The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 and 3 wherein, as well as according to claims 2 and 4 control method, wherein in case there is a request to perform image formation, timed Ru predetermined time or the first mode selection Image formation when time has not elapsed
With the speed to select a relatively fast first mode, image after a predetermined time or the first mode selection time that will be timed has passed
The second mode in which the image formation speed is relatively slow is allowed to be selected.
Because the volume, it is possible to change the mode that rather than subjecting an excessive burden on the operator.

[0018]

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, for example, in the case of a laser beam printer.

The apparatus 1A has an apparatus main body 1, which includes a cassette 2 for storing 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, A cassette size sensor 4 (comprising a plurality of micro switches) for detecting the size of the recording paper S in the cassette 2 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. An image forming unit 8 that forms a toner image on the recording paper S based on the laser beam from the laser scanner unit 7 is disposed downstream of the registration roller pair 6.

Further, a fixing unit 9 for thermally fixing the toner image formed on the recording paper S is disposed downstream of the image forming unit 8. A paper discharge sensor 10 for detecting the state, a paper discharge roller 11 for discharging the recording paper S, and a loading tray 12 for loading the recording paper S on which recording is completed are arranged.

The laser scanner unit 7 includes a laser unit 13 that emits a laser beam modulated based on an image signal sent from an external device 28, which will be described later.
It comprises a polygon motor 14 for scanning the laser beam from the laser unit 13 onto the light emitting drum 17, an imaging lens group 15, a folding mirror 16, and the like.

The image forming section 8 includes a photosensitive drum 17 and a pre-exposure lamp 1 necessary for a known electrophotographic process.
8, a primary charger 19, a developing unit 20, a transfer charger 21, and a cleaner 22 having a cleaner blade 22a.

The main motor 23 applies a driving force to the sheet supply roller 5 via a sheet supply roller clutch 24 and a registration roller pair 6 via a registration roller clutch 25. A driving force is also applied to each unit fixing device 9 and the paper discharge roller 11 of the image forming section 8 including.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a printer control device that controls the apparatus main body 1 and is connected to an external device 28 via an interface 27 so as to be able to transmit and receive data. Reference numeral 40 denotes an operation panel.

Reference numeral 29 denotes an apparatus state detecting unit. In this embodiment, the learning result of the image forming time is considered as the device state. The state management CPU 62A is provided inside the apparatus state detection unit 29. The state management CPU 62A learns the image forming time, corrects the reliability data, and detects the detected state.
The ON / SLEEP switching based on the reliability data is performed.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a power supply unit, in which SLEE
A power supply unit 31 for P, a power supply unit 32 for NORMAL, and an AC input unit 33 are provided.

Cables for connection include an AC input line 34, a power supply line 35 for a device state detection unit, and a power supply line 36 for NORMAL.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a connection line connecting the operation panel and the printer control device 26. 37 indicates that the device state detection unit 29 is ON / OF of the NORMAL power supply unit 32
An ON / SLEEP switching signal line for controlling F. 42
Is a serial communication line for performing data communication between the printer control device 26 and the device status detection unit 29. Reference numeral 38 denotes a main switch for turning ON / OFF the AC power supply to the apparatus main body 1.

The relationship between the communication control CPU 51, the printer control CPU 54, the status management CPU 62A and the input / output elements will be described with reference to FIG.

In the printer control device 26, a communication control I.D. for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external device 28 via an interface 27 is provided. C. 50. Communication control I.
C. Reference numeral 50 is connected to the communication control CPU 51 via a bus. The communication control CPU 51 is connected to the printer control CPU 54 via a buffer 52 via a serial communication line 53. 56 and 58 are pull-up resistors.
The printer control CPU 54 is connected to the status management CPU 62A via the buffer 61 via the serial communication line 42. State management CPU 6 inside device state detection unit 29
2A is connected to a solid state relay 64 via an ON / SLEEP switching signal line 37 via a buffer 63. A solid state relay 64 is provided inside the NORMAL power supply unit 32, and this relay 64 is turned on / off.
By turning on the FF, the NORMAL power supply 66 is turned ON / O.
FF can be done.

The AC power from the AC input section 33 is transmitted to a NORMAL power supply 66 through a transformer 65.
The NORMAL power supply 66 sends power for driving the printer control device 26 through the NORMAL power supply line 36. Further, in the apparatus main body 1, power is supplied to each unit requiring a power supply through the NORMAL power supply line 36.

Power is supplied to the apparatus main body 1 through an AC input line 34. When the main switch 38 is turned on, AC
When power is supplied to the input unit 33 and the main switch 38 is turned off, the AC power supply to the apparatus main body 1 is stopped.

The SLEEP power supply section 31 is connected to the AC input section 3.
3 to generate power for driving the device state detection unit 29. Through the power supply line 35 for SLEEP,
Power is supplied to the state detection unit 29.

The state management CPU 62A recognizes the printing state of the apparatus 1A through the serial communication line 42, and can grasp the time and the number of sheets. Therefore, the state management CPU
62A can perform learning of the image forming time. The reliability data can be corrected by calculating the correlation between the learning result of the image forming time up to the previous day and the actual image forming time of the day.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described according to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the operation of the printer control CPU 54 will be described.

After the start (S101), when the operator turns on the main switch 38, the apparatus main body 1 is put into a use state (S102). At this point, the state management CPU 62A turns on the NORMAL power supply unit 32, so that the printer control CPU 54 is energized and enters the normal use state (S103). In this state, the NORMAL power supply unit 32
Continues while is ON.

The printer control CPU 54 is connected to the external device 28
Wait for a print command from (S104). When the print command is issued, the start of the printing process is notified to the state management CPU 62A (S105), and the printing process is performed (S106).

Next, the operation of the state management CPU 62A will be described.

After the start (S101). When the operator turns on the main switch 38, the apparatus main body 1 is brought into a use state (S102). Next, the NORMAL power supply unit 32 is
N, and printing is enabled (S107). Then, it waits for the start of the printing process from the printer control CPU 54 (S10).
8). When the printing process start is notified, the number of printed sheets at that time is calculated (S109).

The state management CPU 62A operates once a day.
If the current time is 0:00:00 (S110), reliability data is calculated from the learning result of the printing time up to the previous day and the actual printing time of the current day (S111). Next, the result of the day is added to the learning result up to the previous day, and the data of the learning result is updated (S112).

The state management CPU 62A operates 24 times a day.
When the time becomes 0 minutes and 0 seconds every hour (S113), the learning result of the printing time up to the previous day is multiplied by the reliability. It can be processed. If the above value is 1 or less (S114), the NORMAL power supply unit 3
2 is turned off (S116), and a sleep state is set.

Next, variables used in FIGS. 6 to 9 will be described with reference to FIG.

The TOD (24) is an array for storing the actual number of prints at each time of the day. As an example, T
OD (13) indicates the number of prints made in one hour from 13:00 to 14:00.

YES (24) is an array for storing the number of print learning results at each time up to the previous day.

TTOD is changed from TOD (0) to TOD (2
This is the total up to 3), and indicates the total number of prints on the day.

TYES is from YES (0) to YES (2
This is the total sum up to 3), and indicates the total number of prints of the learning result up to the previous day.

NORD (24) is equal to TOD (N) /
This is calculated by TTOD, and the actual number of prints of the day is standardized by the total number of prints. Therefore, NORDOD
The total sum from (0) to NORTOD (23) is 1.

NORYES (24) is YES (N) /
This is calculated by TYES, and the number of print learning results up to the previous day is normalized by the total number. Therefore, N
The total sum from ORYES (0) to NORYES (23) is 1.

COR is (NORTOD (0) × NOR
From (YES (0)), (NORTOD (23) × NOR)
This is the total sum up to YES (23), and is a correlation value between the print state indicated by the learning result up to the previous day and the print state of the current day. The fact that the correlation value is high means that the accuracy is high when the print state of the current day is predicted from the learning result up to the previous day.

REL represents reliability. The correlation value is 0.
When it is larger than 1, the REL is increased, and the correlation value is set to 0.
If it is smaller than 06, REL is reduced. Let the learning result of the correlation value be the reliability.

NOW is the current time, indicates the time of day, and takes an integer value from 0 to 23. I
Is an integer for the calculation.

Here, steps S109, S111, S112, and S114 in FIG. 4 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

In step S109 (calculation of the number of prints), according to the current time NOW, the print result T of the current day is obtained.
Increment OD (NOW) by one.

In step S111, the degree of reliability is calculated from the learning result up to the previous day and the result of the day. First, the total print number is cleared to zero in steps S121 and S122. Next, steps S123 to S12
At 6, the total is calculated, and the total number of prints is calculated. In steps S127 to S130, normalization is performed. In step S131, the correlation value COR is cleared to zero. In steps S132 to S134, a correlation value between the learning result up to the previous day and the result of the day is calculated. Step S
At 135, if the correlation value is greater than 0.1, the reliability R
Increase the value of EL by 0.1. However, the maximum value of the reliability is 1. In step S136, the correlation value is 0.06
If smaller, the value of the reliability REL is reduced by 0.1. However, the minimum value of the reliability is set to 0.1.

In step S112 (updating the learning result), in steps S141 to S143, the average of the learning result up to the previous day and the print result of the current day is set as a new learning result. In steps S144 to S146, the print result of the day is cleared to zero.

Step S114 (learning result × reliability>
Regarding 1), the above evaluation expression is (YES (NOW) * R
EL)> 1.

According to such a first embodiment, the device
When the state of the main body 1 is detected and the image forming time is learned ( apparatus state detecting means ) , the reliability correcting means, the power supply means for SLEEP, the power supply means for NORMAL, and the ON / SLEEP switching means are always required. There is an effect that the power is sometimes set to the ON state and the power is set to the SLEEP state when unnecessary, so that unnecessary power can be cut.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

This device 1B has a status management CPU 62B having a function different from that of the first embodiment, and a microphone 67 as device status detection means is connected to this status management CPU 62B. The configuration is the same as that of the embodiment. Therefore, the operation of the printer control CPU 54 is the same as that shown in FIG.

The operation of the state management CPU 62B will be described with reference to FIG.

The state management CPU 62B always inputs the volume level (S121). Here the state management CPU
In 62B, the volume is input every minute, the value is averaged ten times, and the average volume is determined every 10 minutes. The average volume every 10 minutes is averaged six more times to determine the average volume every hour.

When detecting the start of the printing process (S108), the state management CPU 62B calculates the number of prints at each time (S122). State management CPU 62B
Is once a day at 00: 00: 00: 00 (S11
0), reliability data is calculated from the actual printing time of the day and the average sound volume for each hour (S123). next,
From the results of average volume every 10 minutes and reliability data, the following 2
Determine the slice level of the volume to be used for 4 hours.

The state management CPU 62B is set to
When the time reaches 0, 20,..., 50 minutes (S125), the average volume and the slice level of the volume input every 10 minutes at that time are compared (S126).
2 is turned ON / OFF (S115), (S116).

According to the second embodiment, the power of the apparatus is turned ON / O from the data of the volume and the print result.
Since the FF is determined, the power of the printer is turned on / off according to the state of the operator, and optimal power control can be performed.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

This apparatus 1C has a state management CPU 62C having a function different from that of the first embodiment, and this state management CPU 62C has a light amount sensor 6 as an apparatus state detection means.
8 and a resistor 69 are connected so that the light amount can be detected by the state management CPU 62, and the other components are configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

According to the third embodiment, the power of the printer is turned ON / OFF by the change of the light amount.
Optimal power supply control becomes possible.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a main part of an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The device 1D includes a control unit 62D including a microprocessor, a program ROM, and a control RAM.
, A heating element 69 including a heater, and a detector (for example, a thermistor) 70 for detecting the temperature of the heating element. The temperature information of the heating element 69 obtained from the detector 70 is converted into a voltage value by the resistor 71, converted into digital information by the A / D converter 72, and input to the control unit 62D. The control unit 62D keeps the temperature of the heating element 69 constant by turning on / off the triac 73 based on the obtained information on the heating element 69. 74 is a commercial power supply. Reference numeral 75 denotes a phototransistor for detecting the brightness of the outside of the device, which is converted into a voltage by a resistor 76 and taken into the control unit 62D as digital information by an A / D converter 77.

Next, the operation of the control section 62D will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the brightness outside the control device is determined (S
200), if it is bright, it is determined whether or not the printing state is present (S201). If it is during printing, the control temperature of the heating element 69 is set to Tp and the temperature is adjusted (S202). However, if it is not the printing state but the standby state in step S201, the control temperature is set to Ts and the temperature is adjusted (S20).
3).

If it is determined in step S100 that the external brightness is low, it is determined whether or not the apparatus is in a print state (S204). If the apparatus is in a print state, the temperature of the previous state, that is, the temperature of Tp is adjusted. Wait until the print status ends. When the printing operation is completed, the control temperature is set to TL (S205). In the present invention, TL stops the power supply to the room temperature, that is, the heating element 69.

According to the fourth embodiment, by detecting the environment of the apparatus 1D, it is possible to perform a control for suppressing the power supply to the heating element 69 in the standby state. When it is not present (when the office is dark), all the image forming apparatuses 1D installed in the office can be set to the energy saving mode without adding a special interface or the like. In particular, the effect is large for an image forming apparatus 1D having a halogen heater or the like that does not use a ceramic heater.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the main parts of an image forming apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus 1E has a control unit 62E, and an image controller 79 is connected to the control unit 62E via a video interface 78. This image controller 79 has a host computer (external to the image forming apparatus) via an interface 80.
81 is connected, and the image controller 79
The print data from the host computer 81 is adapted to the image forming apparatus to generate image information. On the other hand, the image controller 79 is connected to an operation panel 83 via another interface 82. On the operation panel 83, in addition to a detector 83a for detecting light and dark of an external environment, switches for the operator to access ( Multiple) 83b
And display LEDs 83c.

It is easy to arrange the detector 83a on the operation panel 83 because the operation panel 83 is usually attached to the exterior, because of the configuration of the present apparatus 1E. External light / dark information obtained by the detector 83a is taken into the image controller 78 via the interface 81, and is sent to the control unit 62.
Sent to D. When the information becomes “dark”, the control unit 62D performs the operation shown in FIG.

At this time, the image controller 78
The energization of the LEDs 83c of the operation panel 83 also stops. If a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, LCD) (not shown) is provided on the operation panel 83 and light emitting means for the LCD is provided, the light emission is also stopped. However, about one of the LEDs 83c may be turned on for monitoring. Further, a switch or the like may be provided on the control unit 62D or the operation panel 83 in FIG. 13 so that the operator can specify whether or not to enable the operation according to the present invention.

Although the embodiment has been described in which the external environment of the image forming apparatus 1E is determined based on brightness and the apparatus enters the energy saving mode, other conditions may be used to determine the external environment. For example, noise may be detected. Further, although the purpose is to lower the temperature of the heating element 69, it is also effective for energy saving measures to stop the driving of another heat generating member, for example, a motor at a predetermined timing.

FIG. 16 is a schematic structural view of an image forming apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus 1F includes a control section 62F for controlling the entire apparatus 1F, a main motor 84, a sheet supply / conveyance control section 85 for a sheet supply / conveyance system, a laser exposure section 86, and a uniform charging of the photosensitive drum. A high-voltage control unit 87 for performing toner development and transfer of a toner image onto a sheet, a fixing unit 88 for thermally fixing the toner on the sheet, an operation / display unit 89 serving as an interface with an operator, and an external device. And an interface circuit unit 90 that handles the interface of the first embodiment.

The paper feed / transport control unit 85 includes the main motor 8
The print paper is fed and conveyed by controlling the clutches and solenoids of each unit while the printer 4 is driven.

The laser exposure section 86 forms a latent image on the photosensitive drum inside the apparatus 1F. In addition, laser
The scanning is based on the rotation of the polygon mirror.

FIG. 17 is a detailed diagram of the operation / display unit 89. 89a to 89f are LEDs, and 89g is a key.
Each function will be described below.

The LED 89a, when lit, indicates that the printer is powered on. LED8
9b indicates that the printer is warming up by blinking, and indicates that the printer is ready by lighting. The LED 89c blinks to indicate that paper is not set in the printer. The LED 89d blinks to indicate that the remaining amount of toner is small. The LED 89e indicates occurrence of a jam by blinking. LED89f is
Lighting indicates that the operation mode of the printer is designated as the quick mode. The quick key 89g is for switching the operation mode of the printer between the quick mode and the energy saving mode.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a part of the RAM in the control unit 62F. Reference numeral 62a denotes a memory for storing an operation mode (quick or energy saving mode) of the printer. Reference numerals 62b and 62c denote RAMs for general-purpose timers used for printer control.

Here, the quick mode will be described in comparison with the energy saving mode. The quick mode is an operation mode for increasing the print speed. For this purpose, first, the rotation speed of the main motor 84 is increased. Therefore, the paper transport speed increases, and the transport direction timing control for image formation and jam detection is also different from the energy saving mode. Also, to achieve the same image resolution as in the quick mode, the polygon mirror motor is also rotated at a higher speed. Therefore, the timing control in the scanning direction is also different. In the fixing device 88, the speed of passing the sheet is high, so that the temperature control is high. Also, the temperature during standby is controlled to be higher so that the fixing device reaches the temperature for printing earlier from the start of the printing operation. The standby state is a state of waiting for a print operation instruction from an external device after the warm-up is completed.

As described above, the quick mode requires more energy than the energy saving mode.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the control in this embodiment. The program shown in this chart is stored in a ROM (not shown) in the control unit 62F.
This program is started when the power is turned on. When the power is turned on, the printer operation mode is the energy saving mode (S401). In the standby state, it is checked whether the quick key 89g has been pressed (S40).
2, S403). If pressed, the operation mode is switched from the currently specified operation mode to the other mode (S4).
04 to S406).

According to the sixth embodiment, in the image forming apparatus capable of selecting either the energy saving mode or the quick mode, the operation mode at the time of turning on the power is changed as in the sixth embodiment. The energy saving mode facilitates energy saving of the printer.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the operation of the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

In the sixth embodiment, it is possible to return from the quick mode to the energy saving mode by operating the quick key 89g by the operator. Therefore, in the seventh embodiment, a function of automatically returning to the energy saving mode under a predetermined condition is added.
This is more preferable for energy saving.

The operation of the seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The program shown in this chart is basically a program obtained by adding a function to that shown in FIG. 19, and the same processing is given the same step number. Explaining only the additional points is as follows.

When the quick mode is designated (S40)
5) Start mode timer 0 (not shown) (S503). The timer value is stored in the RAM 62b and is rewritten each time it is counted. This timer value is checked when the current mode is the quick mode in the standby state (S402) (S50).
1). At that time, if the timer 0 has finished counting, the operation mode of the printer is returned to the energy saving mode (S
502).

According to the seventh embodiment, the setting period of the quick mode is limited by automatically switching to the energy saving mode when the quick mode is designated, so that the energy saving mode is forgotten to be designated. Can be dealt with.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the operation of the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

An eighth embodiment will be described on the assumption that an emergency print immediately after power-on is requested in a printer based on the quick mode. In particular,
If the printing operation is to be started before a predetermined time elapses after the power is turned on, a quick mode is set.

The operation of the eighth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The program shown in this chart is basically a program obtained by adding a function to the program shown in FIG. 20, and the same processes are denoted by the same step numbers. The following description will focus on the added points.

When the power is turned on, the mode timer 1 (not shown) is started (S601). Mode timer 1
Is the same as that of the timer 0, and the timer value is stored in the RAM 62.
c. At the time of standby (S402), when a print operation request is received from an external device (S602),
The timer 1 is checked. At this time, if the counting has not been completed (S603), the operation mode of the printer is set to the quick mode (S405).

According to the eighth embodiment, when the printing operation is started within a predetermined time after the power is turned on, the operation is performed in the quick mode. Energy saving
The mode is no longer an obstacle.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0105]

According to the present invention described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0106]

[0107]

[0108] The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 and 3 wherein, as well as according to claims 2 and 4 control method, wherein in case there is a request to perform image formation, timed Ru predetermined time or the first mode selection of the image when not in elapsed time
With the formation rate to select a relatively fast first mode, the rate of formation of images after a lapse of a predetermined time or the first mode selection time that will be timed to select a relatively slow second mode
, The mode can be changed without imposing an excessive burden on the operator.

[0109]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating control of a power supply according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating control of a power supply according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a list of variables according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining details of a flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining details of a flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining details of a flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining details of a flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating electrical connection of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating control of a power supply according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a main part configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a main part configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating details of an operation / display unit according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a part of a RAM in a control unit according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the operation of the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the operation of the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A to 1F image forming apparatus 29 apparatus state detection unit 62A through 62C state management CP U 62D to 62F controller 69 heater 75 Hototoranjisu data 89 operation and display unit S recording paper (recording medium)

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page Examiner Teruaki Shimomura (56) References JP-A-58-120266 (JP, A) JP-A-4-34457 (JP, A) JP-A-4-77754 (JP, A) Kaihei 4-353887 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/00 370-540 G03G 15/00 303 G03G 15/20-15/20 302 B41J 29 / 00-29/70

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first mode a relatively high rate of formation of by fixing images the toner on the recording medium by temperature control of the heater also
Is an image forming means for forming an image in a relatively slow second mode
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a time measuring unit for measuring a predetermined time from power-on of the apparatus.
Means, in the above case where the image has been requested to carry out the formation of, along with the time the predetermined time during which the Ru clocked has not elapsed to form an image in said first mode, said timed Ru <br/> predetermined time After the time elapses, an image is formed in the second mode .
An image forming apparatus comprising a call to allow the that. 2. A first mode a relatively high rate of formation of by fixing images the toner on the recording medium by temperature control of the heater also
Is an image forming step for forming an image in the relatively slow second mode.
In the control method of the image forming apparatus having a step , a time counting step of counting a predetermined time from power-on of the apparatus is performed.
Has, in the image forming step, when there is a request to perform formation of the image, when the predetermined time during which the Ru clocked has not elapsed to form an image in said first mode <br/> Rutotomoni the control method of the image forming apparatus after a predetermined time during which the Ru timed has passed and said and this to allow to form an image in said second mode. 3. An image forming apparatus for forming an image by fixing toner on the recording medium by temperature control of the heating body, the rate of formation of image <br/> image relatively fast first mode or a relatively slow an image forming an image forming means 2 mode, and a select means for selecting one of the first mode and the second mode, the said selection means, the pre-SL after power-on of the device 1 mode first mode selection time are provided for selecting, when there is a request for pre-Symbol image forming, said selection means, before the time is within the first mode selection time <br / > SL selects the first mode, the second when it is after the lapse of a after power <br/> the first mode selection time of the device
An image forming apparatus comprising that you permit selection mode. 4. An image forming apparatus for forming an image by fixing toner on the recording medium by temperature control of the heating body, the rate of formation of image <br/> image relatively fast first mode or a relatively slow an image forming an image forming step in two modes, the first mode and and a selection step of selecting one of said second mode, said selection step, before Symbol first mode after power-on of the device there is a first mode selection time for selecting, when there is a request for pre-Symbol image forming, in said selection step, it is within the first mode selection time
Sometimes the first mode is selected and after the power of the device is turned on
Method of controlling an image forming apparatus characterized that you permit selection of the second mode when a after the elapse of the first mode selection time there is.