JP3346956B2 - 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 such as a laser printer and a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus, there has been developed an image forming apparatus which is in an energy saving mode for reducing consumption power when the apparatus has not been operated for a certain period of time (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei.
No. 168290), in the conventionally proposed one, when the engine of the printer or the like is in an error state, the apparatus cannot be put into the energy saving mode.

[0003]

That is, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when the engine is in an error state (for example, a paper end in which the paper runs out, a toner end in which the developing toner runs out), the apparatus enters the energy saving mode. In particular, if an error occurs at night or the like, the engine remains in the error state for a long time, and power is wasted. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can enter an energy saving mode even when an engine enters an error state and can reduce power consumption.

Further, when data is transmitted from a transmission side such as a host computer in the energy saving mode entered in an error state, data may be lost. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the engine from receiving a signal (a so-called BUSY state) by notifying the transmitting side that the engine is in a non-receivable state.

[0005] Further, when the engine enters the energy saving mode in an error state, the external (user) knows only that the engine is in the energy saving mode and does not know that it is in the error state. Therefore, the present invention can reduce the power consumption by shifting to the energy saving mode by turning on the LED of the operation panel, and can recognize that an error state occurs even in the energy saving mode, and transmit data from the host computer or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which can recognize an error state before the operation.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration. An engine for performing image formation including a laser writing unit, a sequence device group for controlling an engine sequence of a fixing system, a developing system, and a driving system, and a sensor; a main CPU for controlling the engine and a storage medium; and receiving data from outside. A sub-CPU for controlling the main CPU and a controller connected to the sub-CPU for performing image processing;
An operation panel having display means including an ED and connected to the sub CPU, wherein when the sensor detects that the engine is in an error state, the main CPU The contents of the error are written to the non-volatile memory in the storage medium, and the power consumption of the engine is reduced, the main CPU itself is controlled to be down, and the power saving mode is entered, and the sub CPU continues to be activated. At the same time, the LED of the display means of the operation panel is turned on to display an energy saving mode due to an engine error state. When data is received from the outside, the activated sub CPU activates the main CPU, and the main CPU consumes power. The power reduction engine is restarted and the error information written to the non-volatile memory is Characterized in that to the contents display the contents of the error on a display unit of the operation panel Te.

[0007]

[0008]

An image forming apparatus having an energy-saving mode for reducing power consumption and entering the energy-saving mode even when the engine is in an error state has a sub-CPU in addition to a main body control section including a main CPU. In the energy saving mode, the main body control unit including the main CPU is stopped, and only the sub CPU is driven. If there is an error in the engine, the apparatus enters the energy saving mode, and the operation of the operation panel is controlled by the sub CPU. Means for turning on the LED are provided, and the state of the engine can be identified even in the energy saving mode entered from the error state, the energy saving mode entered from the normal state, or the energy saving mode.

In addition, instead of the LED on the operation panel, L
In addition to a CD, a means for displaying error details on the LCD is provided so that the details of the engine error can be grasped in detail even in the energy saving mode.

[0011] In addition, the operation panel or the like allows the user to select whether to turn on the LED when entering the energy saving mode in an error state, display an error on the LCD, or not to shift to the energy saving mode in the error state. It is characterized in that it comprises means capable of doing so.

[0012] In addition, according to a command or the like from the transmission side such as a host computer, the LED is turned on when an energy saving mode is entered in an error state, an error is displayed on an LCD, or the energy saving mode is displayed in an error state. A means for selecting whether or not to shift to.

[0013]

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
In the following, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described as a laser printer, but the present invention is not limited thereto,
The present invention is also applicable to other electrophotographic image forming apparatuses.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a laser printer main body, 2 is a controller for performing image processing, 3 is an engine for forming images, 4 is an engine control board for controlling the engine 3, 5 is an operation panel, and 6 is a controller 2. And the interface of the engine 3. 7 is an input / output interface of the engine control board 4, 8 is a main CPU, and the main CPU 8 is a program ROM.
, The mode instruction from the operation panel 5 and the command from the controller 2 to control the entire engine 3. 9 is a RAM, a work memory of the main CPU 8,
It serves as an input buffer for input data, and a control program for the engine 3 is stored in the ROM 10,
M11 is a non-volatile memory for storing the error history of the engine 3, the contents of the mode instruction from the operation panel 5, and the like. Further, 12 is a dip switch for setting an engine control mode, 13 is a laser writing unit including an LD and a polygon motor, 14 is a fixing system, a developing system,
Sequence equipment group that controls the engine sequence of the drive train,
Reference numeral 15 denotes sensors for checking the paper path and the sequence status, reference numeral 17 denotes an input / output interface between the host computer 18 and the controller 2, and reference numeral 18 denotes a host computer for transmitting and receiving data.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show the operation flow of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for entering the energy saving mode. When a certain period of time has passed after the engine 3 enters the error state (step 1), the main CPU 8
Writes the contents of the error into the EEPROM 11, reduces the power consumption of the writing unit 13 and the sequence device group 14 (step 2), displays the energy saving mode on the operation panel 5 (step 3), and enters the energy saving mode (step 3). Step 4). Then, data is transmitted from the host computer 18 or the engine 3
By directly operating, the mode returns from the energy saving mode to the normal mode. At that time, the main CPU 8
Then, the user goes to the error information written in 11 and displays the details of the error on the operation panel 5 again. Therefore, even if the engine 3 enters the energy saving mode in the error state, it can be restarted in the same state (error state) as before entering the energy saving mode when returning.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when the apparatus enters the energy saving mode from the error state. At this time, when the host computer 18 attempts to transmit data,
Before transmitting data, the host computer 18 checks whether the laser printer main body 1 is in a receivable state (step 1). At that time, on the laser printer main body 1 side, the main CPU 8 checks whether error information is written in the EEPROM 11 (step 2). If an error is detected (a), the host computer 18 is notified of a non-receivable state (BUSY signal). The transmission (step 3) prevents loss of transmission data (step 4). If there is no error (b), a ready signal is transmitted to the host computer 18 (step 5), the host computer 18 transmits data, and the laser printer body 1 receives the data (step 6).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation for selecting an energy saving mode and an error display. First, whether or not to enter the energy saving mode even in an error state is set by the operation panel 5 in advance. The contents at this time may be written in the RAM 9 by the main CPU 8 or the EEPROM 11 may be used to retain the settings even when the power is turned off.
May be written. When the mode for saving energy is selected in step 1 (a), the operation is the same as that in FIG. 2, and when a certain period of time has elapsed after the engine 3 enters the error state, the contents of the error are written to the EEPROM 11 (step 2). The main CPU 8 reduces the power consumption of the writing unit 13 and the sequence device group 14 (step 3), displays the energy saving mode on the operation panel 5, and enters the energy saving mode (step 4).
If a mode that does not save energy is selected (b), an error is displayed on the operation panel 5 as it is,
The engine remains in the same state (step 5).

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of an image forming system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that, in the following, description will be made by assigning common reference numerals to elements common to the image forming system according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the input / output interface 7 and the host computer 1
8 is provided with a sub CPU 16 and a controller 2
And the operation panel 5 are connected. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows an L for displaying an error on the operation panel 5.
9 is a flowchart for entering an energy saving mode in the case of having an ED. When a certain period of time has elapsed after the engine 3 enters the error state (step 1), the main CPU
8 writes the contents of the error in the EEPROM 11 (step 2), reduces the power consumption in the engine such as the writing unit 13 and the sequence device group 14, and enters the energy saving mode by shutting down itself (step 3). The sub CPU 16 continues to be activated and turns on the LED of the operation panel 5 to display an energy saving display (step 4). Then, when data is transmitted from the host computer 18, the sub CPU 16 activates the main CPU 8. Then, the main CPU 8 restarts the devices whose power in the engine 3 has been reduced, and
Then, the user goes to the error information written in No. 1 and displays the details of the error on the operation panel 5 again. Therefore, even if the engine 3 enters the energy saving mode in an error state,
At the time of recovery, it is possible to restart in the same state (error state) as before entering the energy saving mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for entering the energy saving mode when the operation panel 5 has an LCD for displaying error contents. Sub CP in step 4
The difference from FIG. 6 is that U16 displays the error content and the energy saving mode on the LCD of the operation panel 5. The LCD for displaying error details allows you to know the details of the engine error even in the energy saving mode, and also indicates whether the error can be corrected by the user (paper end, toner end, etc.) or cannot be corrected (serviceman error). it can. For this reason, if it can be repaired, it can be repaired so that it can be transmitted from the host.If it cannot be repaired, the power can be turned off and a serviceman can be called, which can further prevent waste of power and enter in an error state. The above error handling can be performed even in the energy saving mode, and the operability is improved.

FIG. 8 shows an LE for displaying an error on the operation panel 5.
9 is a flowchart of an operation for selecting an energy saving mode and an error display in a case where a D and an LCD for displaying an error content are provided. First, the operation panel 5 is set to enter an energy saving mode, an LED lighting mode, or an LCD error display mode even in an error state (step 1). The contents at this time are stored in RAM by the main CPU 8.
9 is written. When a certain period of time has elapsed since the error state (step 2), the main CPU 8 checks the mode of energy saving at the time of error (step 3). If the LED lighting mode is selected in step 4 (a), The LED lighting mode processing operation of Steps 2 to 4 in FIG. 6 is performed (Step 5), and when the LCD error display mode is selected (b), Step 2 in FIG.
The LCD error display mode processing operations (1) to (4) are performed (step 6). If a mode that does not enter energy saving is selected in step 4 (c), an error is displayed on the operation panel 5 as it is, and the engine 3 remains in the same state (step 7). That is, the operation panel 5 determines in advance whether or not to enter the energy saving mode even in an error state.
By selecting whether to display an error on D, the priority can be switched between reduction of power consumption and maintenance of an error display at the time of an error, depending on the user's request at that time. Is improved.

FIG. 9 has almost the same contents as the flowchart of FIG. 8, but it is determined in advance by a command from the host computer 18 whether to enter the energy saving mode, the LED lighting mode, or the LCD error display mode even in an error state. Is different.

[0023]

According to the present invention, it is possible to enter the energy saving mode even when the engine enters an error state, thereby reducing power consumption. In the mode, there is an effect that data can be prevented from being lost due to transmission of data from the host computer,
Further, there is an effect that the operability can be improved by switching the priority according to the reduction of the power consumption or the priority of maintaining the error display at the time of error, or according to the user's request at that time.

[0024]

[0025]

Further, even when the engine is in an error state, the mode can be shifted to the energy saving mode to reduce the power consumption.
Even in the energy saving mode, it is possible to know that the engine is in an error state, and it is possible to prevent the host from transmitting data and data unnecessarily. In addition, it is possible to understand the error content of the engine even in the energy saving mode, and to cope with the error even in the energy saving mode entered in the error state, so that there is an effect that power consumption can be further prevented and operability can be improved. In addition, there is an effect that the operability can be improved by switching the priority according to the reduction of the power consumption or the priority of maintaining the error display at the time of error, or according to the user's request at that time. Further, there is an effect that operability can be improved by being switched according to a user's request by a command from the host computer.

[0027]

[0028]

[0029]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for entering an energy saving mode in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when the system in FIG. 1 enters an energy saving mode from an error state.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation of selecting an energy saving mode and an error display in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for entering an energy saving mode when the operation panel has an LED for error display in the system of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for entering an energy saving mode when the operation panel has an LCD for displaying error content in the system of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an operation for selecting an energy saving mode and an error display when the operation panel has an LED for error display and an LCD for error content display in the system of FIG. 5;

9 is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. 8 in a case where the host computer sets and selects an energy saving mode and an error display in the system of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 laser printer body 2 controller 3 engine 4 engine control board 5 operation panel 6, 7, 17 input / output interface 8 main CPU 9 RAM 10 ROM 11 EEPROM 12 dip switch 13 laser writing unit 14 sequence equipment group 15 sensors 16 sub CPU 18 Host computer

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI G03G 21/00 500 G03G 21/00 500 G06F 1/32 G06F 3/12 K 3/12 1/00 332Z (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 29/38 B41J 29/42 B41J 29/46 G03G 21/00 G06F 1/32 G06F 3/12

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An engine for performing image formation including a laser writing unit, a sequence device group for controlling an engine sequence of a fixing system, a developing system, and a driving system, and a sensor; a main CPU for controlling the engine and a storage medium; From the main CPU
An image forming apparatus comprising: a sub-CPU for controlling image processing; a controller connected to the sub-CPU for performing image processing; and an operation panel having display means including an LED and connected to the sub-CPU. When the sensor detects that the engine is in an error state, the main CPU writes the content of the error to a nonvolatile memory in the storage medium,
The power consumption of the engine is reduced, the main CPU itself is controlled to be down, and an energy saving mode is entered.The sub CPU keeps starting up and turns on the LED of the display means of the operation panel to enter an engine error state. The power saving mode is displayed when the external CPU receives data from the outside, the activated sub CPU activates the main CPU, the main CPU restarts the engine for reducing power consumption, and the data is written into the nonvolatile memory. An image forming apparatus for displaying the content of the error on a display unit of the operation panel by viewing the error information. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an error is displayed in an energy saving mode caused by an engine error state by using an LCD instead of the LED of the display means of the operation panel. apparatus.