JP4155556B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

【００７５】
【表２】

【００７６】
表２上の「送，受信」はＦＣＵの、プリントアウトを伴なわないファクシミリ送，受信であり、データ保持は、ＭＥＭの蓄積画像データの保持である。
【００７７】
ＤＣ／ＡＣ制御板８０は、スイッチ８５がオンのときに現れる＋５Ｖを、プロセスコントローラ１３１，操作ボード２０，ＡＣＰおよびＦＣＵに直接に、待機時および動作時の制御電圧として与える。しかし、スキャナ１０，フィニッシャ３４，大容量給紙トレイ３６および給紙バンク３５には、ＦＥＴを主体とするスイッチング回路である制御電圧オン／オフスイッチｓｗａ〜ｓｗｄのそれぞれを介して、プロセスコントローラ１３１が該スイッチを選択的にオン（スイッチ閉）にすることにより、制御電圧として与える。同様に、プリンタ１００内の、動作電圧＋２４Ｖを必要とする電気回路（ドライバ：通電回路）には、スイッチ８４がオンのときに現れる＋２４Ｖを直接に動力電圧として与えるが、スキャナ１０，フィニッシャ３４，大容量給紙トレイ３６および給紙バンク３５の、動作電圧＋２４Ｖを必要とするドライバには、ＦＥＴを主体とするスイッチング回路である動力電圧オン／オフスイッチｓｗＡ〜ｓｗＤのそれぞれを介して、プロセスコントローラ１３１が該スイッチを選択的にオンにすることにより、動力電圧として与える。
【００７８】
すなわち、スキャナ１０，フィニッシャ３４，大容量給紙トレイ３６および給紙バンク３５の各ユニットへの制御電圧＋５Ｖ，動力電圧＋２４Ｖの供給／停止は、プロセスコントローラ１３１が、プリンタ１００にあるスイッチｓｗａ〜ｓｗｄ，ｓｗＡ〜ｓｗＤをオン／オフすることにより行う。
【００７９】
図６に、システムコントローラ１の、操作ボード２０のＣＰＵと共同して実行する、スタンバイモード／低電力モード／休止モード間の切換え制御、および、図４に示す画像処理システムの画像入出力制御、を示す。
【００８０】
図６を参照すると、図５に示すＤＣ電源／ＡＣ制御板８０と商用交流電源（コンセント）との間の元電源スイッチ７９が閉じてＤＣ電源／ＡＣ制御板８０が動作電圧を与えると、システムコントローラ１は、電源オン応答の初期化処理（ステップ１）をして、そこでスタンバイモードを設定する（ステップ２，３）。すなわちスイッチ８３〜８５をオンする。次に、スタンバイモードから低電力モードへの切換え待ち時間Ｔｄ１を時限値とするタイマＴｄ１をスタートし（ステップ４）、入力読み取り（ステップ５）を行う。
【００８１】
なお、以下においては、カッコ内にはステップと言う語を省略してステップ番号数字のみを記す。
【００８２】
初期化処理（１）においては、操作ボード２０のＣＰＵがシステムコントローラ１の指示に応じて、操作ボード２０のＮＶＲＡＭにある標準処理モードのコピー条件を読み出して操作ボード２０の液晶ディスプレイに表示する。
【００８３】
入力読み取り（５）では、操作ボード２０のＣＰＵが操作ボード２０に対するユーザの操作（入力）を読み込んでシステムコントローラ１に報知し、また、システムコントローラ１が、パソコンＰＣおよびＦＣＵからのコマンドを解読する。操作ボード２０のＣＰＵは、操作ボード２０に対するユーザの操作に対応して、置数キーの押下の読込みと入力数字データの生成，スタートキーの押下の読込みと、スタート指示のシステムコントローラ１への転送，用紙サイズの切換え入力の読取りなど、通常の複写機の操作読取りおよび表示出力の制御を行う。
【００８４】
スタンバイモードから低電力モードへの切換えの待ち時間Ｔｄ１および低電力モードから休止モードへの切換えの待ち時間Ｔｄ２は、操作部２０から入力できるものであり、入力値が操作ボード２０のＮＶＲＡＭに格納（登録）されているものである。
【００８５】
「入力読み取り」（５）で、指示入力、例えば、操作ボード２０に対するユーザの操作（置数キーの押下，スタートキーの押下，用紙サイズの切換え，その他），原稿スキャナ１０の原稿押えスイッチの閉（押え位置）から開（開き位置）への変化，ＡＤＦ３０での原稿検知，パソコンＰＣ又はＦＣＵからのプリントコマンド、を受けるとシステムコントローラ１は、指示入力に対応した処理に進む（７−２０）。
【００８６】
しかし指示入力がないと、タイマＴｄ１がタイムオーバしたかをチエックする（２１，２２）。指示入力が無くタイマＴｄ１がタイムオーバすると、システムコントローラ１は、モードレジスタＦＴに低電力モードであることを示す「１」を書き込んで（２３）、Ｔｄ２時限のタイマＴｄ２をスタートして（２４）、低電力モードに移行する（２５）。すなわち、スイッチ８３をオフにする。スイッチ８４，８５はオンを継続する。そしてその後、入力が無くタイマＴｄ２がタイムオーバすると（６，２１，２６，２７）、システムコントローラ１は、操作ボード２０の液晶ディスプレイに表示中の画像処理モードを操作ボード２０のＮＶＲＡＭに前回モードとして書込み、モードレジスタＦＴに休止モードであることを示す「２」を書き込んで（２８）、休止モードに移行する（２９）。すなわち、スイッチ８３，８４および８５をオフにする。
【００８７】
スタンバイモードを設定しているときに操作ボード２０の、省エネ関係のモード切換えを指示するための電源キーがオンすると、システムコントローラ１は、ユーザが休止モードへの切換えを指示したとみなして、操作ボード２０の液晶ディスプレイに表示中の画像処理モードを、操作ボード２０のＮＶＲＡＭに前回モードとして書込み、休止モードに移行する。低電力モード又は休止モードを設定しているときに操作ボード２０の電源キーがオンするとシステムコントローラ１は、ユーザがスタンバイモードへの切換えを指示したとみなして、スタンバイモードを設定し、操作ボード２０のＮＶＲＡＭに書き込んでいる前回画像処理モードを読出して操作ボード２０の液晶ディスプレイに表示する。
【００８８】
「入力読み取り」（５）で指示入力を認知するとシステムコントローラ１は、指示入力が、操作ボード２０に対するユーザの操作，原稿スキャナ１０の原稿押えスイッチの閉から開への変化，ＡＤＦ３０での原稿検知など、複写使用を伺わせるものであると、或いは、パソコンＰＣ又はＦＣＵからのプリントコマンドであったときには、現在がスタンバイモードである場合には、オペレータ或いはＰＣ又はＦＣＵの複写モード設定入力又はプリントモード設定を読込み、プロセスコントローラ１３１を介して、複写又はプリントアウトをする（７，８，９）。そしてタイマＴｄ１をスタートする（１０）。
【００８９】
現在が低電力モード又は休止モードの場合には、モードレジスタＦＴにスタンバイモードであることを示す「０」を書き込んで（２）、スタンバイモードに移行しタイマＴｄ１をスタートする（３，４）。すなわち、スイッチ８３，８４および８５をオンにする。そしてプロセスコントローラ１３１を介して、複写またはプリントアウトを行う（５〜９）。
【００９０】
ＰＣによる原稿画像読込又はＦＣＵによるファクシミリ送信のための原稿画像読込のときには、システムコントローラ１は、現在がスタンバイモードである場合には、プロセスコントローラ１３１を介して、原稿スキャナ１０による画像読み取りを行って画像データをＭＥＭに格納し、そしてＰＣ又はＦＣＵへの画像データの転送を行う（１２，１８）。これを終えるとタイマＴｄ１をスタートする（１９）。現在が低電力モードである場合には、同様に画像読み取りと転送を行うが（１３，１６）、それを終えるとタイマＴｄ２をスタートする（１７）。現在が休止モードである場合には、モードレジスタＦＴに低電力モードであることを示す「１」を書き込んで（１４）、低電力モードに移行し（１５）すなわちスイッチ８４，８５をオンにして、同様に画像読み取りと転送を行い（１６）、それを終えるとタイマＴｄ２をスタートする（１７）。
【００９１】
上述の複写，プリントアウト又は画像読み取りを直接に指示しない入力、例えば、操作ボード２０の電源キーのオン，ドア開閉，初期設定キー入力，管理用キー入力、があると、それを読み込んで入力対応の処理を行う（２０）。
【００９２】
上述の「スタンバイモード」が設定されるときにはスイッチ８３，８４および８５がオンになるので、ＡＣ回路８６内の、交流電源スイッチである図示しない電源リレーにスイッチ８４の出力＋２４Ｖが加わり、ＡＣ回路８６内の、定着ヒータ（本実施例ではハロゲンヒータ）８７に通電するトライアック回路（位相制御による交流通電回路）および８６内直流電源回路に商用交流電圧が加わり、該直流電源回路が、ＡＣ回路８６内の、ＡＳＩＣ(Application Specific IC)である通電コントローラに動作電圧を与える。
【００９３】
プロセスコントローラ１３１は、システムコントローラ１が与えるコマンドに従って、その内容（処理モード）の複写，プリント，画像読取、のプロセス制御を行うが、その実行のために、スキャナ１０および周辺ユニット３４〜３６への電源投入およびそれらの状態の読み取りを行う。その内容を図７〜図９に示す。
【００９４】
まず図７を参照する。システムコントローラ１が、スタンバイモードを設定するためにスイッチ８５をオンにすると、スイッチ８５を通して、ＤＣ／ＤＣコンバータ８２が出力する＋５Ｖがプロセスコントローラ１３１に加わり、プロセスコントローラ１３１は、電源オン応答の初期化処理（３１）を行う。そして、プリンタ１００内各部の状態信号（用紙搬送路の残紙有無，給紙カセットの有無，カセット内用紙有無（サイズ検知兼用），ヒータ温度，トナー有無（不足）等々）を取得する（３２）。なお、スタンバイモードおよび低電力モードでは、スイッチ８５がオンであるので、スイッチ８５を通して、ＤＣ／ＤＣコンバータ８２が出力する＋５Ｖがプリンタ１００内の全ての制御電圧ラインに加わっているので、プロセスコントローラ１３１はプリンタ１００内の全箇所の状態信号を収集し、状態レジスタ（プロセッサコントローラ１３１の内部メモリの１領域：状態メモリ）に書込む。
【００９５】
次にプロセスコントローラ１３１は、スイッチｓｗａをオンにして（３３）、シリアルバスＳｂを介してスキャナ１０がレディ信号を送ってくるのを待ち、レディ信号を送ってくると、シリアルバスＳｂを介してスキャナ１０にその内部の状態を表す状態情報を要求して（転送を指示して）収集し状態レジスタに書込む（３４）。スイッチｓｗａをオンにしてから所定時間内にレディ信号が到来しないと、プロセスコントローラ１３１は、スキャナ１０が接続されていないこと（スキャナなし）を表わす状態情報を状態レジスタに書込み、スイッチｓｗａをオフに戻す（３４）。
【００９６】
次にプロセスコントローラ１３１は、スイッチｓｗｂをオンにして（３５）、シリアルバスＳｂを介してフィニッシャ３４がレディ信号を送ってくるのを待ち、レディ信号を送ってくると、シリアルバスＳｂを介してフィニッシャ３４にその内部の状態（ケースドアの開，閉、残紙の有無，機構の状態等々）を表す状態情報を要求して収集し状態レジスタに書込む（３６）。スイッチｓｗｂをオンにしてから所定時間内にレディ信号が到来しないと、プロセスコントローラ１３１は、フィニッシャ３４が接続されていないこと（フィニッシャなし）を表わす状態情報を状態レジスタに書込み、スイッチｓｗｂをオフに戻す（３６）。
【００９７】
次にプロセスコントローラ１３１は、スイッチｓｗｃをオンにして（３７）、シリアルバスＳｂを介して大容量給紙トレイ３６がレディ信号を送ってくるのを待ち、レディ信号を送ってくると、シリアルバスＳｂを介して大容量給紙トレイ３６にその内部の状態（ケースドアの開，閉、用紙の有無およびサイズ，用紙昇降台の位置，機構状態等々）を表す状態情報を要求して収集し、状態レジスタに書込む（３８）。スイッチｓｗｃをオンにしてから所定時間内にレディ信号が到来しないと、プロセスコントローラ１３１は、大容量給紙トレイ３６が接続されていないこと（大容量給紙トレイなし）を表わす状態情報を状態レジスタに書込み、スイッチｓｗｃをオフに戻す（３８）。
【００９８】
次にプロセスコントローラ１３１は、スイッチｓｗｄをオンにして（３９）、シリアルバスＳｂを介して給紙バンク３５がレディ信号を送ってくるのを待ち、レディ信号を送ってくると、シリアルバスＳｂを介して給紙バンク３５にその内部の状態（ケースドアの開，閉、カセットの有無，用紙の有無およびサイズ，用紙ジャム，機構状態等々）を表す状態情報を要求して収集し、状態レジスタに書込む（４０）。スイッチｓｗｂをオンにしてから所定時間内にレディ信号が到来しないと、プロセスコントローラ１３１は、給紙バンク３５が接続されていないこと（給紙バンクなし）を表わす状態情報を状態レジスタに書込み、スイッチｓｗｄをオフに戻す（４０）。
【００９９】
次にプロセスコントローラ１３１は、収集した状態情報をシステムコントローラ１に転送する。システムコントローラ１は状態情報を自己の状態レジスタに保存すると共に、状態情報に対応して、装備しているユニットの組み合せ（システム構成）に対応する、オペレータ入力画面を操作ボード２０の液晶ディスプレイに表示する。異常があればそれも表示する（４１ａ）。
【０１００】
プロセスコントローラ１３１は、自己の状態レジスタに保持する状態情報に、プリント（画像形成）が不可になるプリンタ異常情報があると、ステップ３２に戻る。すなわち、正常に修復されるのを待つ（４１ｂ−３２）。プリンタ１００が正常であると、ステップ４２に進む（４１ｂ−４２）。
【０１０１】
次に、図８および図９も参照する。ステップ４２に進むと、プロセスコントローラ１３１は、システムコントローラ１から、「複写」，「プリント」あるいは「画像読取」のコマンドがあるのを待ち（４２〜４４−４９，５０−４２）、待っている間に、スタンバイモードから低電力モードに切換わると、低電力モードではプリンタ１００のみならず周辺ユニット３４，３５，３６は使用しないので、スイッチｓｗｂ〜ｓｗｄをオフにして（５３）、「画像読取」のコマンドがあるのを待つ（５３−８０−４２−５２−８０）。
【０１０２】
低電力モードからスタンバイモードに変わると、「画像読取」のみならず「複写」又は「プリント」のコマンドを受ける可能性があるので、プロセスコントローラ１３１は、ステップ４２−４３−３５の経路でステップ３５以下に進んで、ｓｗｂ〜ｓｗｄを順次にオンにして、各周辺ユニット３４，３６，３５の状態情報を収集する（３５〜４１ｂ）。
【０１０３】
スタンバイモードであるときに、「複写」のコマンドを受けるとプロセスコントローラ１３１は、動力電圧オン／オフスイッチｓｗＡをオンにし（４５）、そしてシリアルバスＳｂを介してスキャナ１０にその内部の状態を表す状態情報を要求して（転送を指示して）収集する（４６）。このときにはスキャナ１０は、プロセスコントローラ１３１の要求に応答して、照明灯を点灯し、走査機構をホームポジションに位置決めし、各部の状態信号（ＡＤＦの情報例えばＡＤＦ有無，原稿有無を含む）を取得して、正常であると、状態情報とスタートレディをプロセスコントローラ１３１に報知する。異常であるとそれを表す情報を含む状態情報を報知する。プロセスコントローラ１３１は、その内部の状態レジスタのデータを、今回受信した状態情報に更新する（４７）。異常情報があると、スイッチｓｗＡをオフに戻し、システムコントローラ１にスキャナ異常を報知し（４８）、システムコントローラ１から新たにコマンドが到来するのを待つ。システムコントローラ１はスキャナ異常を、操作ボード２０の液晶ディスプレイに表示する。
【０１０４】
スキャナ１０が正常であるとプロセスコントローラ１３１は、プリンタ１００内各部の状態信号（用紙搬送路の残紙有無，給紙カセットの有無，カセット内用紙有無（サイズ検知兼用），ヒータ温度，トナー有無（不足）等々）を取得する（３２）。なお、「複写」および「プリント」を開始可能なスタンバイモードでは、スイッチ８３〜８５の全てがオンであるので、定着ヒータ８７が通電されている。
【０１０５】
プリンタ１００に、プリント（画像形成）が不可になる異常情報があると、それをシステムコントローラ１に報知して、ステップ４４に戻って、正常に修復されてシステムコントローラ１が新たにコマンドを与えるのを待つ。システムコントローラ１はプリンタ異常を、操作ボード２０の液晶ディスプレイに表示する。
【０１０６】
プリンタ１００が正常であるとプロセスコントローラ１３１は、インターバルタイマをスタートして（５７）、それがタイムオーバするのを待つ（５８）。すなわち、先にスイッチｓｗＡをオンにしてスキャナ１０に動力電圧＋２４Ｖを印加してから、所定時間が経過するのを待つ。
【０１０７】
低電力モードからスタンバイモードに切換わった直後は、定着ヒータ８７への通電が始まってＤＣ／ＡＣ制御板８０の電力消費が大きい可能性があり、全ユニット１０，３４〜３６に同時に動力電圧を印加すると、各ユニットの突入電流により一時的に電力消費が増大して、交流電源に電圧変動をもたらす可能性がある。また、スタンバイモードに切り換わってからの経過時間が比較的に長く定着ヒータ８７の温度が高く、その消費電力が小さい場合でも、全ユニット１０，３４〜３６に同時に動力電圧を印加すると、各ユニットの突入電流が重なって、ＤＣ／ＤＣコンバータ８２の負荷が１時的に過大になって、ＤＣ／ＤＣコンバータ８２に不具合が発生するとか、ＤＣ／ＤＣコンバータ８２が出力する＋５ＶＥが一時的に低下して、制御電圧＋５ＶＥ，＋５Ｖを受けて動作する各箇所のコントローラ（制御装置）が誤ったリセット動作（電源オンリセット）をしてしまうなどの不具合が発生する場合もあるため、＋５ＶＥ系の電圧安定化のためのコンデンサの容量を大きくするなどの対策を必要とすることがある。そこで本実施例では、スイッチｓｗＡ〜ｓｗＤの同時のオン切換えを避け、１つづつ所定の時間間隔で順次にオンにして行くようにしている。この時間間隔を、前記インターバルタイマで定める。
【０１０８】
インターバルタイマがタイムオーバ（タイムアップ）すると、プロセスコントローラ１３１は、システムコントローラ１が与えた「複写」又は「プリント」のコマンドの内容（複写モード又はプリントモード）に対応して、それがフィニッシャ３４を使用するものであると、動力電圧オン／オフスイッチｓｗＢをオンにし（５９−６０）、そしてシリアルバスＳｂを介してフィニッシャ３４にその内部の状態を表す状態情報を要求して収集する（６１）。このときにはフィニッシャ３４は、プロセスコントローラ１３１の要求に応答して、内部機構の位置を初期化し、すなわちホームポジションに位置決めし、各部の状態信号を取得して、正常であると、状態情報とスタートレディをプロセスコントローラ１３１に報知する。異常であるとそれを表す情報を含む状態情報を報知する。プロセスコントローラ１３１は、その内部の状態レジスタのデータを、今回受信した状態情報に更新する（６１）。異常情報があると、スイッチｓｗＢをオフに戻し、システムコントローラ１にフィニッシャ異常を報知し（６３）、システムコントローラ１から新たにコマンドが到来するのを待つ。システムコントローラ１はフィニッシャ異常を、操作ボード２０の液晶ディスプレイに表示する。
【０１０９】
フィニッシャ３４が正常であるとプロセスコントローラ１３１は、インターバルタイマをスタートして（６４）、それがタイムオーバするのを待ち（６５）、タイムオーバすると、システムコントローラ１が指示した複写モード又はプリントモードに対応して、それが大容量給紙トレイ３６を使用するものであると、動力電圧オン／オフスイッチｓｗＣをオンにし（６６−６７）、そしてシリアルバスＳｂを介して大容量給紙トレイ３６にその内部の状態を表す状態情報を要求して収集する（６８）。このときには大容量給紙トレイ３６は、プロセスコントローラ１３１の要求に応答して、各部の状態信号を取得して、正常であると、状態情報とスタートレディをプロセスコントローラ１３１に報知する。異常であるとそれを表す情報を含む状態情報を報知する。プロセスコントローラ１３１は、その内部の状態レジスタのデータを、今回受信した状態情報に更新する（６８）。異常情報があると、スイッチｓｗＣをオフに戻し、システムコントローラ１に大容量給紙トレイ異常を報知し（６９−７０）、システムコントローラ１から新たにコマンドが到来するのを待つ。システムコントローラ１は大容量給紙トレイ異常を、操作ボード２０の液晶ディスプレイに表示する。
【０１１０】
大容量給紙トレイ３６が正常であるとプロセスコントローラ１３１は、インターバルタイマをスタートして（７１）、それがタイムオーバするのを待ち（７２）、タイムオーバすると、システムコントローラ１が指示した複写モード又はプリントモードに対応して、それが給紙バンク３５を使用するものであると、動力電圧オン／オフスイッチｓｗＤをオンにし（７３−７４）、そしてシリアルバスＳｂを介して給紙バンク３５にその内部の状態を表す状態情報を要求して収集する（７５）。このときには給紙バンク３５は、プロセスコントローラ１３１の要求に応答して、各部の状態信号を取得して、正常であると、状態情報とスタートレディをプロセスコントローラ１３１に報知する。異常であるとそれを表す情報を含む状態情報を報知する。プロセスコントローラ１３１は、その内部の状態レジスタのデータを、今回受信した状態情報に更新する（７５）。異常情報があると、スイッチｓｗＤをオフに戻し、システムコントローラ１に給紙バンク異常を報知し（７６−７７）、システムコントローラ１から新たにコマンドが到来するのを待つ。システムコントローラ１は給紙バンク異常を、操作ボード２０の液晶ディスプレイに表示する。
【０１１１】
給紙バンク３５が正常であるとプロセスコントローラ１３１は、システムコントローラ１が指示した複写モード又はプリントモードの画像形成を行う（７７）。これを完了するとプロセスコントローラ１３１は、駆動電圧オン／オフスイッチｓｗＡ〜ｓｗＤをオフにして（７９）、新たにシステムコントローラ１がコマンドを与えるのを待つ（７９−４４−４９−５０）。
【０１１２】
「プリント」のコマンドが与えられたときには、プロセスコントローラ１３１は、「プリンタ１００の状態チェック」（５４）に進んで、それ以降の処理を前述の「複写」の場合と同様に行う（４９−５４〜７９）。スキャナ１０には駆動電圧＋２４Ｖは印加しない。
【０１１３】
「画像読取」のコマンドが与えられたときには、図９のステップ８１に進んでスイッチｓｗＡをオンにして、そしてシリアルバスＳｂを介してスキャナ１０にその内部の状態を表す状態情報を要求して収集する（８２）。このときにはスキャナ１０は、プロセスコントローラ１３１の要求に応答して、照明灯を点灯し、走査機構をホームポジションに位置決めし、各部の状態信号を取得して、正常であると、状態情報とスタートレディをプロセスコントローラ１３１に報知する。異常であるとそれを表す情報を含む状態情報を報知する。プロセスコントローラ１３１は、その内部の状態レジスタのデータを、今回受信した状態情報に更新する（８２）。異常情報があると、スイッチｓｗＡをオフに戻し、システムコントローラ１にスキャナ異常を報知し（８４）、システムコントローラ１から新たにコマンドが到来するのを待つ（８４−４４）。システムコントローラ１はスキャナ異常を、操作ボード２０の液晶ディスプレイに表示する。
【０１１４】
スキャナ１０が正常であるとプロセスコントローラ１３１は、画像読取スタートをスキャナ１０に与えて、スキャナ１０がこれに応答してビジィを報知し、そして画像読取（ＡＤＦに原稿があったときには、全原稿の画像読み取り。ＡＤＦに原稿が無かったときには、コンタクトガラス板上の原稿の読み取り）を終了してレディを報知してくるのを待つ（８５）。このレディの報知があると、プロセスコントローラ１３１は、スイッチｓｗＡをオフにして（８６）、新たにシステムコントローラ１がコマンドを与えるのを待つ（８６−８０−４２−４３−４４：スタンバイモードの場合。８６−８０−４２−５２−８０：低電力モードの場合）。
【０１１５】
なお、休止モード（スイッチ８４オフ）からスタンバイモード又は低電力モード（スイッチ８４オン）に切換わったときに、制御電圧＋５Ｖを各ユニット１０，３４〜３６に印加してそれら並びにプリンタ１００の状態情報をプロセスコントローラ１３１で収集してシステムコントローラ１に転送して（３２〜４１ｂ）、システムコントローラ１がシステム構成と各部異常（あれば）を操作ボード２０の液晶ディスプレイに表示するので、ユーザおよびシステムコントローラ１は、実行可能な複写モード，プリントモード或いは画像読取を設定できる。この場合、各ユニット１０，３４〜３６には動力電圧＋２４Ｖは印加しないので、各ユニットにおいて電力消費は少ない。周辺ユニット１０，３４〜３６を使用する可能性が無い低電力モードでは、それらへの制御電圧＋５Ｖも遮断するので（５３）、電力消費が更に少ない。
【０１１６】
フローチャートには示していないが、制御電圧＋５Ｖが印加されているユニットは、その状態の変化を定常的に監視しており、例えばユーザが用紙の補充，取換え，原稿の装填などを行っ場合には、変化した状態情報をプロセスコントローラ１３１に報知する。これに応じてプロセスコントローラ１３１は状態レジスタのデータを更新し、また、システムコントローラ１に報知する。プロセスコントローラ１３１はプリンタ１００内の状態を監視しており、状態変化があると状態レジスタの情報を更新し、システムコントローラ１に報知する。したがってユーザおよびシステムコントローラ１は、プリンタ１００および各ユニットの現状状態に対応した処理モード（複写モード，プリントモード，画像読取）を選択し設定できる。
【０１１７】
コマンド（処理モード）が与えられるとプロセスコントローラ１３１が、その実施に必要なユニットに選択的に動力電圧＋２４Ｖを印加して更に状態情報の取得をするので、動力機構，電気系統の異常の有無も認識することができ、ユーザおよびシステムコントローラ１はこの段階で、あるユニットに異常が見つかれば、それを使用しない処理モードを更新設定できる。
【０１１８】
−第２実施例−
図１０に、本発明の第２実施例の複合機能がある複写機の、プリンタ１００にある、ＤＣ／ＡＣ制御板８０に装備した電源回路の概要と、該電源回路から周辺ユニットに給電する電源ラインを示す。この第２実施例では、動力電圧＋２４Ｖのスイッチングを行うスイッチｓｗＡ〜ｓｗＤを、スキャナ１０および周辺ユニット３４〜３６の制御ボードに配置して、スキャナ１０および周辺ユニット３４〜３６側で動力電圧＋２４Ｖの供給／遮断を制御する。プリンタ１００のプロセスコントローラ１３１が、スキャナ１０および周辺ユニット３４〜３６の制御ボード上の制御回路のＣＰＵと、シリアルバスＳｂを介するシリアル通信をして、スキャナおよび周辺ユニットから状態情報を取得し、また、スイッチｓｗＡ〜ｓｗＤのオン，オフを指示する。第２実施例のその他のハードウエアおよび電源投入制御は、前述の、第１実施例のものと同様である。
【０１１９】
この第２実施例では、プリンタ１００には動力電圧オン／オフスイッチｓｗＡ〜ｓｗＤがなく、プロセスコントローラ１３１はシリアル通信によってコマンドを与えてそれらのスイッチのオン，オフを制御するので、プロセスコントローラ１３１の制御出力線が少なく、プロセスコントローラ１３１周りのハードウエアが簡素になる。
【０１２０】
【発明の効果】
待機モード（スタンバイモード）のとき制御電圧オン／オフスイッチ(swb〜swd)をオンにして、周辺ユニット(34〜36)の状態情報を取得し、状態に対応した画像処理モードを設定できる。このときは動力電圧オン／オフスイッチ(swB〜swD)はオフに留めて、周辺ユニットの電力消費を少なく維持できる。指示された画像形成モードによる周辺ユニットの使用／不使用に対応して、使用のときに動力電圧オン／オフスイッチ(swB〜swD)をオンにするので、周辺ユニットの使用は妨げられない。画像形成を速やかに進めることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】 本発明の第１実施例の複合機能がある複写機の外観を示す正面図である。
【図２】 図１に示すプリンタ１００の作像機構の概要を示す拡大縦断面図である。
【図３】 図１に示す原稿スキャナ１０の読取り機構の概要を示す拡大縦断面図である。
【図４】 図１に示す複写機の画像処理システムの概要を示すブロック図である。
【図５】 図１および図４に示すプリンタ１００にある、ＤＣ／ＡＣ制御板８０に装備した電源回路の概要と、該電源回路から周辺ユニットに給電する電源ラインを示すブロック図である。
【図６】 図４に示すシステムコントローラ１の、スタンバイモード／低電力モード／休止モード間の切換え処理の概要を示すフローチャートである。
【図７】 図４に示すプロセスコントローラ１３１の、周辺ユニットの状態読み取りおよび周辺ユニットの電源投入制御の概要を示すフローチャート、の一部である。
【図８】 図４に示すプロセスコントローラ１３１の、周辺ユニットの状態読み取りおよび周辺ユニットの電源投入制御の概要を示すフローチャート、の他の一部である。
【図９】 図４に示すプロセスコントローラ１３１の、周辺ユニットの状態読み取りおよび周辺ユニットの電源投入制御の概要を示すフローチャート、の更に他の一部である。
【図１０】 本発明の第２実施例の複合機能がある複写機のプリンタ１００にある、ＤＣ／ＡＣ制御板８０に装備した電源回路の概要と、該電源回路から周辺ユニットに給電する電源ラインを示すブロック図である。
【符号の説明】
１０：カラー原稿スキャナ ２０：操作ボード
３０：自動原稿供給装置 ３４：フィニッシャ
３４ｈｓ：積載降下トレイ ３４ｕｄ：昇降台
３４ｓｔ：ソートトレイ群
１００：カラープリンタ ＰＣ：パソコン
ＰＢＸ：交換器 ＰＮ：通信回線
１０２：光書込みユニット １０３，１０４：給紙カセット
１０５：レジストローラ対 １０６：転写ベルトユニット
１０７：定着ユニット １０８：排紙トレイ
１１０Ｍ，１１０Ｃ，１１０Ｙ，１１０Ｋ：感光体ユニット
１１１Ｍ，１１１Ｃ，１１１Ｙ，１１１Ｋ：感光体ドラム
１２０Ｍ，１２０Ｃ，１２０Ｙ，１２０Ｋ：現像器
１６０：転写搬送ベルト ＡＣＰ：画像データ処理装置
ＣＤＩＣ：画像データインターフェース制御
ＩＭＡＣ：画像メモリアクセス制御
ＩＰＰ：画像データ処理器
２３１：原稿台ガラス ２３２：照明ランプ
２３３：第１ミラー ２３４：第２ミラー
２３５：第３ミラー ２３６：レンズ
２０７：ＣＣＤ ２３８：走行体モータ
２３９：基準白板 ２４０：ガラス
２４１：原稿トレイ ２４２：ピックアップローラ
２４３：レジストローラ対 ２４４：搬送ドラム
２４５：押さえローラ ２４６，２４７：排紙ローラ
２４８：排紙トレイ兼用の圧板
２４９：基点センサ ２５０：軸
２５１：スケール ２６０：モータ制御ユニット[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. This image forming apparatus can be used for, for example, a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  For example, printers, copiers, facsimiles, and the like that use thermal recording, thermal fixing, and thermal drying have high power during image formation. In the standby mode waiting for an image formation instruction, power consumption is lower than that during image formation, but there is power consumption of an electric circuit. Therefore, when the standby mode is entered and a predetermined time elapses, power is continuously supplied to the minimum necessary electrical elements such as a standby circuit that recognizes the arrival of the return instruction and a memory that requires data retention, and other electrical circuits or electrical elements are Energy-saving switching control that switches to a sleep mode that also cuts off standby power supply is used.
[0003]
  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-255213 reduces the power supply voltage of the CPU for communicating with the outside during print standby or lowers the CPU clock frequency in order to reduce power consumption during print standby of the image forming apparatus. A method is proposed in which power is not supplied to a circuit or power consumption during printing standby is reduced by restricting the functions of other circuits.
[0004]
  The image forming apparatus system includes a paper feeding device that stores and supplies a large amount of paper and a plurality of sizes of paper, and a reversing paper feeding device that reverses the paper printed on one side, re-feeds, and performs duplex printing. Peripheral units such as a post-processing device that sorts and staples the discharged paper are connected or incorporated, and a document output in a form desired by the user is performed through these devices. In a series of operations, not all units are necessarily used, and some units are not used.
[0005]
  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-026730 discloses a power saving system that selectively supplies power only to necessary peripheral units of an image forming apparatus. In one aspect, each peripheral unit includes a DC power source, and the image forming apparatus includes each AC switch for connecting an AC power source to the DC power source of each unit. Connect to the power supply. In another aspect, a DC power source for supplying power to the peripheral unit and switches for connecting the power source to each unit are provided, and only the peripheral unit necessary for image forming processing is connected to the DC power source. The latter aspect is also described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-65569.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  The electrical circuit of the peripheral unit is a control circuit that performs communication between the power device driver (energization circuit) that drives a power device such as a motor, that is, a power system electrical circuit, the image forming apparatus main body, sensor check, and operation control of the power device driver. That is, it is classified into a signal system electric circuit. Since the power system has a relatively high operating voltage or has a large current value and easily causes voltage fluctuations, the power system is often a separate system from the signal system.
[0007]
  In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-026730, a unit original voltage is applied to a peripheral unit via a single switch. Therefore, a power system power source and a signal system power source are generated in the peripheral unit to form two systems, or a unit source voltage is generated. The voltage is shared by both systems. Accordingly, when the switch for supplying power to the peripheral unit is turned on, standby power consumption occurs in the signal electrical circuit and the power electrical circuit even during standby when the power equipment is not driven.
[0008]
  Immediately after the main power switch of the image forming apparatus is turned on or to save energy, a minimum voltage necessary for recognition is applied to an electric circuit unit that recognizes a user operation or instruction (user access) related to image processing. However, when returning to the standby mode (standby mode / low power mode) in which image formation or image reading can be performed from the sleep mode in which the power supply to other electric circuits is cut off, the image forming apparatus main body is not limited to the respective parts. Acquires peripheral unit status information (whether it is connected, set status, normal / abnormal), configures the image forming system (usable, copy mode, print mode, read mode), and sets each part status (paper size) , Magnification, density), normal / abnormal of each part, and display the status. At this time, use / non-use of the peripheral unit is unknown, but a switch for supplying power to the peripheral unit must be turned on. During the switch-on, the power system electric circuit consumes standby power.
[0009]
  In the standby mode (standby mode / low power mode), it is assumed that there is peripheral unit user access (paper replenishment and replacement), and there is loading of a document in an ADF (automatic document feeder) ( In order to recognize a change in the status information of the peripheral unit and the ADF, it is preferable to turn on a switch that supplies power to the peripheral unit. During the switch-on in this case, the power electric circuit consumes standby power.
[0010]
  It is an object of the present invention to further reduce power consumption by a unit that is selectively used for image formation or image reading.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  (1) Image forming means (102 to 160) for forming and discharging an image on a sheet;
  Rectifying and smoothing circuit that converts commercial AC to DC (81) From the direct currentControl voltage (+ 5V) and power voltage (+ 24V)Generated DC / DC converter (82) And the DC / DC converter (82) The control voltage of ( + 5V) And power voltage ( + 24V) Each output terminal and control voltage feed line and Control voltage energy saving switch inserted between the power voltage power supply line (85) And power voltage energy saving switch (84) ,includingPower supply (80);
  From the power source (80) to each control device in a plurality of peripheral units (34 to 36) for feeding sheets to the image forming means or carrying out sheets discharged by the image forming means,AboveControl powerPressure supplyControl voltage on / off switch (swb to swd) inserted in the power line;
  From the power supply (80) to each power equipment driver of the plurality of peripheral units (34-36),AboveA plurality of power voltage on / off switches (swB to swD) each inserted in the power voltage supply line;
  SaidControl voltage energy saving switch (85) And power voltage energy saving switch (84) If no operation or instruction continues for a set time while the power is on, the power voltage energy saving switch (84) And control voltage energy saving switch (85) Switch off ( Of FIG. 29) If there is an operation or instruction, the control voltage energy saving switch (85) Energy saving control means to switch on (1) ;and,
  Control voltage energy saving switch (85) When switching from off to on, the aboveTurn on the control voltage on / off switch (swa ~ swd),Thereby control voltage ( + 5V) Unit to which is applied (10,34 ~ 36) Get status information ( Of FIG. 32 ~ 41b) ,The power voltage on / off switches (swA to swD) for supplying power voltage to the used units (10, 34 to 36) corresponding to the use / non-use of each unit according to the designated image forming mode Turn on sequentially at time intervals (45, 60, 67, 74, 81 in Figures 7-9)Unit power supplyAn image forming apparatus (100, ACP: FIG. 5) comprising a control means (131).
[0012]
  In order to facilitate understanding, the corresponding elements of the embodiments shown in the drawings and the reference numerals or the corresponding matters of the embodiments to be described later are added for reference as examples. The same applies to the following.
[0013]
  According to this,Energy saving control means to switch between sleep mode / standby mode (standby mode, low power mode) (1) With energy saving switch means (85) Is automatically switched in response to the switching of the mode, so that the control voltage on / off switch in the sleep mode (swa ~ swd) The energy saving effect is high.
[0014]
  Unit power supply control means for turning on a power voltage on / off switch for supplying power voltage to the unit in use corresponding to use / non-use of each unit in the designated image forming mode (131) Unit status information is automatically acquired when switching to standby mode. (131) Can supply power voltage only when it is usable based on the status information, and can quickly set image formation or image reading.
[0015]
  In response to the use / non-use of the plurality of peripheral units according to the designated image forming mode, the power voltage on / off switches (swB to swD) for supplying power voltage to the used peripheral units are set at predetermined time intervals. Since the switches are sequentially turned on, it is possible to prevent the inrush currents of the respective units from overlapping, so that the instantaneous voltage fluctuation of the control unit can be minimized to reduce the occurrence of malfunctions and the addition of countermeasure parts.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  (2) Image reading unit (10) including a power device that scans and drives at least one of an original and an optical system that reads the image and converts it into an image signal, a power device driver that supplies power to the power device, and a control device that controls the operation of the power device ;
  An image data processing device (ACP) for converting the image signal into image data used by the image forming means (102 to 160) for image formation;
  A control voltage on / off switch (swa) inserted in a control voltage (+ 5V) power supply line from the power source (80) to the controller of the image reading unit (10); and
  A power voltage on / off switch (swA) inserted in a power voltage (+ 24V) feed line from the power source (80) to the power device driver of the image reading unit (10);
  SaidUnit power supplyThe control means (131) turns on the control voltage on / off switch (swa to swd) to acquire the status information of the units (10, 34 to 36), and then uses each unit according to the instructed image processing mode. In response to the non-use, the power voltage on / off switches (swA to swD) for supplying the power voltage to the units in use are sequentially turned on at predetermined time intervals; the image forming apparatus (10,100) of (1) above , ACP: Fig. 5).
[0017]
  According to this, in the standby mode (standby mode, low power mode), the control voltage on / off switch (swa) is turned on, and the status information of the image reading unit (10) can also be acquired. At this time, the power voltage on / off switch (swA) is kept off, and the power consumption of the image reading unit (10) can be kept low. Corresponding to the use / non-use of the image reading unit (10) according to the instructed image processing mode, the power voltage on / off switch (swA) is turned on during use, so the use of the image reading unit (10) Is unimpeded. Image reading can proceed promptly.
[0018]
  Corresponding to the use / non-use of each unit according to the instructed image processing mode, the power voltage on / off switches (swA to swD) for supplying the power voltage to the used units are sequentially turned on at predetermined time intervals. Therefore, since the inrush currents of the units are prevented from overlapping, the instantaneous voltage fluctuation of the control unit can be minimized to reduce the occurrence of defects and the addition of countermeasure parts.
[0019]
  (3) Image forming means (102 to 160) for forming and discharging an image on a sheet;
  Rectifying and smoothing circuit that converts commercial AC to DC (81) From the direct currentControl voltage (+ 5V) and power voltage (+ 24V)Generated DC / DC converter (82) And the DC / DC converter (82) The control voltage of ( + 5V) And power voltage ( + 24V) Control voltage energy saving switch inserted between each output terminal of the power supply and control voltage power supply line and power voltage power supply line (85) And power voltage energy saving switch (84) ,includingPower supply (80);
  A power device for feeding a sheet from the power source (80) to the image forming means or carrying out a sheet discharged by the image forming means; a power device driver for energizing the power device;AbovePower voltage (+ 24V)Power supplyA power voltage on / off switch (swB-swD) and a control device interposed between the lines to the control device in a plurality of peripheral units (34-36);AboveControl voltage on / off switch (swb to swd) inserted in the control voltage (+ 5V) feed line;
  SaidControl voltage energy saving switch (85) And power voltage energy saving switch (84) If no operation or instruction continues for a set time while the power is on, the power voltage energy saving switch (84) And control voltage energy saving switch (85) Switch off ( Of FIG. 29) If there is an operation or instruction, the control voltage energy saving switch (85) Energy saving control means to switch on (1) ;and,
  Control voltage energy saving switch (85) When switching from off to on, the aboveTurn on the control voltage on / off switch (swa ~ swd),Thereby control voltage ( + 5V) Unit to which is applied (10,34 ~ 36) Get status information ( Of FIG. 32 ~ 41b) ,The power voltage on / off switches (swA to swD) for supplying power voltage to the units (10, 34 to 36) in use corresponding to the use / non-use of the peripheral units according to the instructed image forming mode Turn on sequentially at predetermined time intervals via the peripheral unit (34-36) controllerUnit power supplyAn image forming apparatus (100, ACP: FIG. 10) comprising a control means (131).
[0020]
  This also provides the effects described in (1) above.
[0021]
  (4) A power device that scans and drives at least one of an original and an optical system that reads the image and converts it into an image signal, a power device driver that energizes the power device, and an intervenor between the driver and a power voltage (+ 24V) power receiving line An image reading unit (10) comprising a controlled power voltage on / off switch (swA) and a control device;
  An image data processing device (ACP) that converts the image signal into image data used for image formation by the image forming means (102 to 160); and
  A control voltage on / off switch (swa) inserted in a control voltage (+5 V) power supply line from the power source (80) to the control device of the image reading unit (10);
  SaidUnit power supplyControl handSteps (131)AboveTurn on the voltage on / off switch (swa to swd) to obtain the status information of the unit (34 to 36), and then use it according to the use / non-use of each unit in the specified image processing mode. The power voltage on / off switches (swA to swD) are sequentially turned on at predetermined time intervals for each unit used through the control device of the units (10, 34 to 36); Forming device (10, 100, ACP: FIG. 10).
[0022]
  This also provides the effects described in (2) above.
[0023]
  (5)Unit power supplyControl handSteps (131) obtains state information indicating the internal state from a unit powered by the power voltage on / off switch each time one power voltage on / off switch is turned on, and abnormality information is included in the state information. If there is, the power voltage on / off switch is turned off to notify the abnormality (46 to 48, 54 to 56, 61 to 63, 67 to 70, 74 to 77 in FIGS. 7 to 9); (4).
[0024]
  Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.
[0025]
【Example】
  -1st Example-
  FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of a multifunction full-color digital copying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This full-color copying machine is roughly constituted by units of an automatic document feeder (ADF) 30, an operation board 20, a color scanner 10, and a color printer 100. A finisher 34 with a tray capable of stacking a stapler and imaged paper, a double-sided drive unit 33, an additional paper feed bank 35, and a large capacity paper feed tray 36 are mounted on the printer 100. Peripheral unit separable from 100, each having a control board having a power device driver, sensor input and controller, and directly with the control board (process controller 131 of FIG. 4) of the printer 100 which is the main body of the image forming apparatus. Alternatively, communication is performed indirectly, and timing is controlled to perform sheet feeding and transport operations. The operation board 20 and the color scanner 10 with the ADF 30 are also units that can be separated from the printer 100. The color scanner 10 also has a control board having a power device driver, a sensor input, and a controller. The document image is read by controlling the timing by directly or indirectly communicating with the document.
[0026]
  A LAN (Local Area Network) connected to a personal computer PC is connected to the image data processing apparatus ACP (FIG. 4) in the apparatus, and a telephone line PN (facsimile communication line) is connected to the facsimile control unit FCU (FIG. 4). Is connected to the exchange PBX. The printed paper of the color printer 100 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 108 or the finisher 34.
[0027]
  FIG. 2 shows the mechanism of the color printer 100. The color printer 100 of this embodiment is a laser printer. In this laser printer 100, four sets of toner image forming units for forming images of each color of magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (black: K) are in the transfer paper moving direction. They are arranged in this order along (from the lower right to the upper left direction y in the figure). That is, it is a four-drum type full-color image forming apparatus.
[0028]
  These magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y) and black (K) toner image forming units are respectively photoconductor units 110M, 110C, 110Y having photoconductor drums 111M, 111C, 111Y and 111K. 110K and developing units 120M, 120C, 120Y and 120K. Also, the arrangement of each toner image forming unit is such that the rotation axes of the photosensitive drums 111M, 111C, 111Y and 111K in each photosensitive unit are parallel to the horizontal x-axis (main scanning direction), and transfer paper. It is set so as to be arranged at a predetermined pitch in the movement direction y (sub-scanning direction).
[0029]
  In addition to the toner image forming unit, the laser printer 100 carries an optical writing unit 102 by laser scanning, paper feed cassettes 103 and 104, a pair of registration rollers 105, and transfer paper to support each toner image forming unit. The image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt unit 106 having a transfer conveyance belt 160 that conveys the transfer position so as to pass through, a belt fixing type fixing unit 107, a paper discharge tray 108, a duplex drive (surface reversal) unit 33, and the like. The laser printer 100 also includes a manual feed tray, a toner supply container, a waste toner bottle, and the like (not shown).
[0030]
  The optical writing unit 102 includes a light source, a polygon mirror, an f-θ lens, a reflection mirror, and the like, and oscillates laser light in the x direction on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 111M, 111C, 111Y, and 111K based on image data. Irradiate while scanning. Also, the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2 indicates the transfer path of the transfer paper. The transfer paper fed from the paper feed cassettes 103 and 104 is transported by a transport roller while being guided by a transport guide (not shown), and is sent to the registration roller pair 105. The transfer paper sent to the transfer conveyance belt 160 at a predetermined timing by the registration roller pair 105 is carried by the transfer conveyance belt 160 and is conveyed so as to pass through the transfer position of each toner image forming unit.
[0031]
  The toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 111M, 111C, 111Y, and 111K of each toner image forming unit are transferred to a transfer sheet carried and conveyed by the transfer conveyance belt 160, and the color toner images are superimposed, that is, a color image is formed. The formed transfer paper is sent to the fixing unit 107. That is, the transfer is a direct transfer method in which a toner image is directly transferred onto a transfer sheet. When passing through the fixing unit 107, the toner image is fixed on the transfer paper. The transfer sheet on which the toner image is fixed is discharged or fed to the discharge tray 108, the finisher 36, or the double-sided drive unit 33.
[0032]
  The outline of the yellow Y toner image forming unit will be described below. Other toner image forming units have the same configuration as that of yellow Y. The yellow Y toner image forming unit includes the photoconductor unit 110Y and the developing unit 120Y as described above. In addition to the photosensitive drum 111Y, the photosensitive unit 110Y includes a brush roller that applies a lubricant to the surface of the photosensitive drum, a swingable blade that cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum, and a static elimination lamp that irradiates light on the surface of the photosensitive drum. , A non-contact type charging roller for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the like.
[0033]
  Laser light modulated by the optical writing unit 102 and deflected by a polygon mirror on the surface of the photosensitive drum 111Y uniformly charged by a charging roller to which an AC voltage is applied in the photosensitive unit 110Y. When L is irradiated while scanning, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 111Y. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11IY is developed by the developing unit 20Y to become a yellow Y toner image. At the transfer position where the transfer paper on the transfer conveyance belt 160 passes, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 11IY is transferred to the transfer paper. The surface of the photosensitive drum 111Y after the toner image has been transferred is coated with a predetermined amount of lubricant with a brush roller, then cleaned with a blade, discharged with light emitted from a discharge lamp, and then subjected to the next static charge. Prepared for formation of an electrostatic latent image.
[0034]
  The developing unit 120Y contains a two-component developer including a magnetic carrier and a negatively charged toner. A developing roller, a conveying screw, a doctor blade, a toner concentration sensor, a powder pump, and the like are provided so as to be partially exposed from the opening on the photosensitive drum side of the developing case 120Y. The developer accommodated in the developing case is triboelectrically charged by being stirred and conveyed by the conveying screw. A part of the developer is carried on the surface of the developing roller. The doctor blade uniformly regulates the layer thickness of the developer on the surface of the developing roller, and the toner in the developer on the surface of the developing roller moves to the photosensitive drum, whereby the toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image becomes a photosensitive member. Appears on drum 111Y. The toner density of the developer in the developing case is detected by a toner density sensor. When the density is insufficient, the powder pump is driven to replenish the toner.
[0035]
  The transfer belt 160 of the transfer belt unit 106 is provided with four grounded stretching rollers so as to pass through the transfer positions in contact with and opposed to the photosensitive drums 111M, 111C, 111Y, and 111K of the toner image forming units. It is laid around. One of the stretching rollers is 109. Among these stretching rollers, an electrostatic attracting roller to which a predetermined voltage is applied from a power source is arranged so as to face an entrance roller on the upstream side in the transfer sheet moving direction indicated by a two-dot chain line arrow. The transfer paper that has passed between these two rollers is electrostatically attracted onto the transfer conveyance belt 160. An exit roller on the downstream side in the transfer sheet moving direction is a drive roller that frictionally drives the transfer conveyance belt, and is connected to a drive source (not shown). In addition, a bias roller to which a predetermined cleaning voltage is applied from a power source is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer conveyance belt 160. The bias roller removes foreign matters such as toner adhered on the transfer conveyance belt 160.
[0036]
  Further, a transfer bias applying member is provided so as to come into contact with the back surface of the transfer conveyance belt 160 forming a contact facing portion that contacts and faces the photosensitive drums 111M, 111C, 111Y, and 111K. These transfer bias applying members are Mylar fixed brushes, and a transfer bias is applied from each transfer bias power source. The transfer bias applied by the transfer bias applying member applies transfer charge to the transfer conveyance belt 160, and a transfer electric field having a predetermined strength is formed between the transfer conveyance belt 160 and the surface of the photosensitive drum at each transfer position. .
[0037]
  The paper that is conveyed by the transfer conveyance belt 160 and onto which the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 111M, 111C, 111Y, and 111K are transferred is sent to the fixing device 107, where the toner image is heated and pressed. Heat-fixed. After the heat fixing, the sheet is fed to the finisher 34 from the paper discharge port 34 ot to the finisher 34 on the upper side of the left side plate. Alternatively, the paper is discharged to a paper discharge tray 108 on the upper surface of the printer main body.
[0038]
  Among the four photosensitive drums, the photosensitive drums 111M, 111C, and 111Y for forming a magenta image, a cyan image, and a yellow image are each an electric motor (color drum motor; color drum) for driving a color drum (not shown). M: Driven by a one-stage reduction through a power transmission system and a speed reducer (not shown). The photosensitive drum 111K for black image formation is driven at a one-stage speed reduction by a single electric motor (K drum motor: not shown) for driving the black drum via a power transmission system and a speed reducer (not shown). The Further, the transfer conveyance belt 160 is rotated by driving of a transfer driving roller via a power transmission system by the K drum motor. Accordingly, the K drum motor drives the K photoconductor drum 11K and the transfer conveyance belt 60, and the color drum motor drives the M, C, Y photoconductor drums 11M, 11C, and 11Y.
[0039]
  The K developing device 120K is driven by an electric motor (not shown) that drives the fixing unit 107 via a power transmission system and a clutch (not shown). The M, C, and Y developing devices 120M, 120C, and 120Y are electric motors (not shown) that drive the registration rollers 105, and are driven via a power transmission system and a clutch (not shown). The developing devices 120M, 120C, 120Y, and 120K are not constantly driven, but receive drive transmission from the clutch so that they can be driven with a predetermined timing.
[0040]
  Refer to FIG. 1 again. The finisher 34 has a stacker tray, that is, a stacking / lowering tray 34hs and a sort tray group 34st. It has a sorter paper discharge mode.
[0041]
  The sheet fed from the printer 100 to the finisher 34 is transported in the upper left direction, passes through the upside down U-shaped transport path, switches the transport direction downward, and then ejects the stacker according to the set mode. In the mode, the sheet is discharged from the discharge port to the loading / lowering tray 34hs. In the sorter paper discharge mode, the paper being discharged at that time of the sorter tray group 34st is discharged to the assigned sorter tray.
[0042]
  When the sorter paper discharge mode is designated, the finisher internal paper discharge controller drives the sort tray group 34st placed at the lowermost overlapping retract position to the use position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Increase the spacing. In the sorter paper discharge mode, for a set number of copies or prints (one person), when the sorter paper discharge mode is set for copy sorting, each transfer paper on which the same document (image) is printed is sorted into the sort tray group 34st. Assorted and stored in each tray. When the sorter discharge mode is set for page sorting, each tray is assigned to each page (image), and each transfer sheet on which the same page is printed is stacked on one sort tray.
[0043]
  FIG. 3 shows a document image reading mechanism of the scanner 10 and the ADF 30 attached thereto. The original placed on the contact glass 231 of the scanner 10 is illuminated by the illumination lamp 232, and the reflected light (image light) of the original is reflected by the first mirror 233 in parallel with the sub-scanning direction y. The illumination lamp 232 and the first mirror 233 are mounted on a first carriage (not shown) that is driven at a constant speed in the sub-scanning direction y. Second and third mirrors 234 and 235 are mounted on a second carriage (not shown) driven in the same direction as the first carriage, and the image light reflected by the first mirror 233 is The light is reflected downward (z) by the second mirror 234, reflected in the sub-scanning direction y by the third mirror 235, converged by the lens 236, irradiated to the CCD 207, and converted into an electrical signal. The first and second carriages are driven forward (original scanning) and backward (return) in the y direction using the traveling body motor 238 as a drive source.
[0044]
  The scanner 10 is equipped with an automatic document feeder ADF 30. The documents stacked on the document tray 241 of the ADF 30 are fed between the conveyance drum 244 and the pressing roller 245 by the pickup roller 242 and the registration roller pair 243, and are in close contact with the conveyance drum 244 and pass over the reading glass 240. Then, the paper is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 248 serving as a pressure plate below the document tray 241 by the paper discharge rollers 246 and 247. When the original passes through the reading glass 240, the original is irradiated by the illumination lamp 232 moving immediately below the original, and the reflected light of the original is irradiated to the CCD 207 through the optical system below the first mirror 233 to be photoelectrically converted. The
[0045]
  Between the reading glass 240 and the scale 251 for positioning the document start edge,
There is a white reference plate 239 and a base point sensor 249 for detecting the first carriage. The white reference plate 239 is used for reading a document having a uniform density due to variations in individual light emission intensities of the illumination lamps 232, variations in the main scanning direction, sensitivity variations for each pixel of the CCD 207, and the like. It is prepared to correct the phenomenon that the read data varies (shading correction). In this shading correction, first, the white reference plate 239 is read for one line in the main scanning direction before scanning the document, the read white reference data is stored in the memory, and when reading the document image, for each pixel scanned in the document, The image data is divided by the corresponding white reference data on the memory.
[0046]
  FIG. 4 shows the system configuration of the image processing system of the copying machine shown in FIG. In this system, a color document scanner 10 including a reading unit 11 and an image data output I / F (Interface) 12 is connected to an image data interface control CDIC (hereinafter simply referred to as CDIC) of an image data processing apparatus ACP. Yes. A color printer 100 is also connected to the image data processing apparatus ACP. The color printer 100 receives the recorded image data from the image data processor IPP (Image Processing Processor; hereinafter simply referred to as IPP) of the image data processing apparatus ACP to the writing I / F 134 and prints it out by the image forming unit 135. . The image forming unit 135 is shown in FIG.
[0047]
  The image data processing device ACP (hereinafter simply referred to as ACP) includes a parallel bus Pb, an image memory access control IMAC (hereinafter simply referred to as IMAC), a memory module MEM (hereinafter simply referred to as MEM), which is an image memory, and a system. A controller 1, a RAM 4, a nonvolatile memory 5, a font ROM 6, a CDIC, an IPP, and the like are provided. A facsimile control unit FCU (hereinafter simply referred to as FCU) is connected to the parallel bus Pb. The operation board 20 is connected to the system controller 1.
[0048]
  A reading unit 11 for optically reading a document of the color document scanner 10 generates R, G, B image data by photoelectrically converting the reflected light of the lamp irradiation on the document by the CCD on the sensor board unit SBU. The data is converted into data, shading corrected, and sent to the CDIC via the output I / F 12.
[0049]
  The CDIC performs communication between the output I / F 12, the parallel bus Pb, and the IPP, and communication between the process controller 131 and the system controller 1 that controls the entire ACP with respect to image data. The RAM 132 is used as a work area for the process controller 131, and the nonvolatile memory 133 stores an operation program for the process controller 131.
[0050]
  Image memory access control IMAC (hereinafter simply referred to as IMAC) controls writing / reading of image data to / from MEM. The system controller 1 controls the operation of each component connected to the parallel bus Pb. The RAM 4 is used as a work area for the system controller 1, and the nonvolatile memory 5 stores an operation program for the system controller 1.
[0051]
  The operation board 20 inputs processing to be performed by the ACP. For example, the type of processing (copying, facsimile transmission, image reading, printing, etc.), the number of processings, etc. are input. Thereby, the image data control information can be input.
[0052]
  The image data read from the reading unit 11 of the scanner 10 is subjected to shading correction 210 by the SBU (sensor board unit) of the scanner 10 and then subjected to image processing for correcting reading distortion such as scanner gamma correction and filter processing by IPP. And then accumulate in MEM. When printing out MEM image data, IPP performs color conversion of RGB signals to YMCK signals, and performs image quality processing such as printer gamma conversion, gradation conversion, and gradation processing such as dither processing or error diffusion processing. The image data after the image quality processing is transferred from the IPP to the writing I / F 134. The writing I / F 134 performs laser control on the gradation processed signal by pulse width and power modulation. Thereafter, the image data is sent to the image forming unit 135, and the image forming unit 135 forms a reproduced image on the transfer paper.
[0053]
  Based on the control of the system controller 1, the IMAC is used to control access to image data and MEM, to develop print data for a personal computer PC (not shown) connected to the LAN (hereinafter simply referred to as PC), and to effectively use MEM. Compress / decompress the image data.
[0054]
  The image data sent to the IMAC is stored in the MEM after data compression, and the stored image data is read out as necessary. The read image data is decompressed, returned to the original image data, and returned from the IMAC to the CDIC via the parallel bus Pb. After the transfer from the CDIC to the IPP, image quality processing is performed and the image is output to the writing I / F 134, and a reproduced image is formed on the transfer paper in the image forming unit 135.
[0055]
  In the flow of image data, the functions of the digital multi-function peripheral are realized by the bus control by the parallel bus Pb and the CDIC. Facsimile transmission is performed by performing image processing on the image data read by the scanner 10 using the IPP and transferring it to the FCU via the CDIC and the parallel bus Pb. The FCU performs data conversion to the communication network and transmits it as facsimile data to the public line PN. Facsimile reception is performed by converting line data from the public line PN into image data by the FCU and transferring it to the IPP via the parallel bus Pb and CDIC. In this case, no special image quality processing is performed, and the image is output from the writing I / F 134 and a reproduced image is formed on the transfer paper in the image forming unit 135.
[0056]
  In a situation where a plurality of jobs, for example, a copy function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and a printer output function operate in parallel, the usage rights of the reading unit 11, the image forming unit 135, and the parallel bus Pb are allocated to the system controller 1 and the process. Control is performed by the controller 131. The process controller 131 controls the flow of image data, and the system controller 1 controls the entire system and manages the activation of each resource. The function selection of the digital multi-function peripheral is performed on the operation board 20, and processing contents such as a copy function and a facsimile function are set by a selection input of the operation board 20.
[0057]
  The system controller 1 and the process controller 131 communicate with each other via the parallel bus Pb, CDIC, and serial bus Sb. Specifically, communication between the system controller 1 and the process controller 131 is performed by performing data format conversion for data and interface between the parallel bus Pb and the serial bus Sb in the CDIC.
[0058]
  Various bus interfaces, such as a parallel bus I / F 7, a serial bus I / F 9, a local bus I / F 3, and a network I / F 8, are connected to the IMAC. The controller unit 1 is connected to related units via a plurality of types of buses in order to maintain independence in the entire ACP.
[0059]
  The system controller 1 controls other functional units via the parallel bus Pb. The parallel bus Pb is used for transferring image data. The system controller 1 issues an operation control command for storing image data in the MEM to the IMAC. This operation control command is sent via IMAC, parallel bus I / F 7, and parallel bus Pb.
[0060]
  In response to this operation control command, the image data is sent from the CDIC to the IMAC via the parallel bus Pb and the parallel bus I / F 7. Then, the image data is stored in the MEM under the control of the IMAC.
[0061]
  On the other hand, the ACP system controller 1 functions as a printer controller, network control, and serial bus control in the case of a call from the PC as a printer function. In the case of via the network, the IMAC receives print output request data via the network I / F 8.
[0062]
  In the case of a general-purpose serial bus connection, the IMAC receives print output request data via the serial bus I / F 9. The general-purpose serial bus I / F 9 corresponds to a plurality of types of standards, for example, a standard interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), 1284 or 1394.
[0063]
  Print output request data from the PC is developed into image data by the system controller 1. The development destination is an area in MEM. Font data necessary for expansion is obtained by referring to the font ROM 6 via the local bus I / F 3 and the local bus Rb. The local bus Rb connects the controller 1 to the nonvolatile memory 5 and the RAM 4.
[0064]
  Regarding the serial bus Sb, in addition to the external serial port 2 for connection with the PC, there is also an interface for transfer with the operation board 20 which is an operation unit of the ACP. This is not print development data, but communicates with the system controller 1 via the IMAC, accepts processing procedures, displays the system status, and the like.
[0065]
  Data transmission / reception between the system controller 1 and the MEM and various buses is performed via the IMAC. Jobs that use MEM are centrally managed in the entire ACP.
[0066]
  FIG. 5 shows a power supply system that applies operating voltages to the printer 100, the operation board 20, the image data processing devices ACP and FCU, the scanner 10, the finisher 34, the large-capacity paper feed tray 36, and the paper feed bank 35 shown in FIG. An overview is shown. When the main power switch 79 as the main power switch is closed, commercial AC 100V is applied to the rectifying and smoothing circuit 81 and the AC circuit 86 of the DC power / AC control board 80. The direct current output of the rectifying / smoothing circuit 81 is applied to the DC / DC converter 82. In this example, the DC / DC converter 82 generates two systems of DC voltages + 24VE and + 5VE, which are stabilized + 24V and + 5V. In this example, + 5V is used for a control system such as a CPU and a signal system, and + 24V is used for a power system such as a motor, a solenoid, and a clutch.
[0067]
  In the DC power supply / AC control board 80, switches 84 and 85 are connected to the converter outputs + 24VE (+ 24V voltage) and + 5VE (+ 5V voltage), respectively. The ACP system controller 1 is supplied with + 5VE which is in the energized state even in the sleep mode. The process controller 131 of the printer 100 is supplied with +5 V that is turned off in the sleep mode.
[0068]
  The AC circuit 86 that energizes the heater 87 of the fixing device includes a power relay that is closed by + 24V given through the switch 83. When this power relay is closed, the AC energization circuit that energizes the fixing heater 87 of the AC circuit 86. A commercial AC AC is applied to. This AC energization circuit is a phase-controlled AC energization circuit that uses a triac (phase control switching element) and refers to the temperature detection signal of the fixing temperature sensor 88 so that the fixing temperature becomes the target temperature. Control the phase.
[0069]
  A control signal for turning on / off the above-described switches 83, 84, 85 is supplied from the system controller 1 to the switches 83, 84, 85. The target temperature of the fixing device is set as the fixing operation temperature determined in the fixing process of the transfer paper on which the toner image is transferred, and the temperature of the fixing roller is maintained. The image is formed substantially without delay in response to the copy start or print command. In the “standby mode” (operation mode; normal mode), the system controller 1 turns on the switches 83, 84, and 85 with the control signal.
[0070]
  In the “low power mode”, the system controller 1 switches off the switch 83 that applies the ON instruction voltage +24 V to the power supply relay of the AC circuit 86 that energizes the heater 87 of the fixing device. That is, in the “low power mode”, the operations of the scanner 10 and the ADF 30 for reading an image stored in the MEM, reading an image for facsimile transmission, and reading an image sent to a personal computer PC without print output. Therefore, the switch 84 for supplying + 24V to the power system and the switch 85 for supplying + 5V to the control system and the communication system are kept on, and only the energization to the fixing heater 87 is cut off.
[0071]
  In the “pause mode”, the system controller 1 turns off both the switch 84 that supplies + 24V and the switch 85 that supplies + 5V. That is, all the switches 83 to 85 are turned off.
[0072]
  However, in the sleep mode, the switches 83 to 85 are turned off, but the system controller 1 and the operation board 20 detect an operator's action that indicates the possibility of using the copying machine, and a print command of the personal computer PC. + 5VE is continuously applied to the electric circuit and the facsimile reception detection circuit of the facsimile control unit FCU. In the system controller 1, + 5VE is continuously applied to the circuit that waits for the detection and turns on the switches 83, 84, 85 in response thereto and the memory that stores the data that needs to be stored in a nonvolatile manner.
[0073]
  Table 1 below shows the above-described energy saving switching modes and the ON / OFF relationship of the power supply switches 83 to 85, and Table 2 summarizes information processing that can be performed in each of the above modes.
[0074]
[Table 1]

[0075]
[Table 2]

[0076]
“Send / Receive” in Table 2 is FCU facsimile transmission / reception without printout, and data retention is retention of MEM accumulated image data.
[0077]
  The DC / AC control board 80 supplies + 5V, which appears when the switch 85 is turned on, directly to the process controller 131, the operation board 20, the ACP and the FCU as a control voltage during standby and operation. However, the process controller 131 is connected to the scanner 10, the finisher 34, the large-capacity paper feed tray 36, and the paper feed bank 35 via control voltage on / off switches swa to swd that are switching circuits mainly composed of FETs. The switch is selectively turned on (switch closed) to provide a control voltage. Similarly, an electric circuit (driver: energization circuit) that requires an operating voltage of +24 V in the printer 100 is directly supplied with +24 V that appears when the switch 84 is turned on as a power voltage, but the scanner 10, the finisher 34, A driver that requires an operating voltage of +24 V for the large capacity paper feed tray 36 and the paper feed bank 35 is supplied with a process controller via each of power voltage on / off switches swA to swD which are switching circuits mainly composed of FETs. 131 selectively supplies the power voltage by turning on the switch.
[0078]
  That is, the supply / stop of the control voltage + 5V and the power voltage + 24V to each unit of the scanner 10, the finisher 34, the large-capacity paper feed tray 36 and the paper feed bank 35 is performed by the process controller 131 using the switches swa to swd in the printer 100. , SwA to swD are turned on / off.
[0079]
  6, switching control between standby mode / low power mode / hibernation mode and image input / output control of the image processing system shown in FIG. 4, executed in cooperation with the CPU of the operation board 20 of the system controller 1. Indicates.
[0080]
  Referring to FIG. 6, when the original power switch 79 between the DC power / AC control board 80 and the commercial AC power supply (outlet) shown in FIG. 5 is closed and the DC power / AC control board 80 gives an operating voltage, the system The controller 1 initializes the power-on response (step 1) and sets the standby mode there (steps 2 and 3). That is, the switches 83 to 85 are turned on. Next, a timer Td1 having a time limit value Td1 for switching from the standby mode to the low power mode is started (step 4), and input reading (step 5) is performed.
[0081]
  In the following, the word step is omitted in parentheses and only the step number is written.
[0082]
  In the initialization process (1), the CPU of the operation board 20 reads the standard process mode copy conditions in the NVRAM of the operation board 20 and displays them on the liquid crystal display of the operation board 20 in accordance with an instruction from the system controller 1.
[0083]
  In the input reading (5), the CPU of the operation board 20 reads a user operation (input) on the operation board 20 to notify the system controller 1, and the system controller 1 decodes commands from the personal computer PC and the FCU. . The CPU of the operation board 20 reads the press of the numeric key, generates the input numeric data, reads the press of the start key, and transfers the start instruction to the system controller 1 in response to a user operation on the operation board 20. , Normal copying machine operation reading and display output control, such as reading paper size switching input.
[0084]
  The waiting time Td1 for switching from the standby mode to the low power mode and the waiting time Td2 for switching from the low power mode to the hibernation mode can be input from the operation unit 20, and the input values are stored in the NVRAM of the operation board 20 ( Registered).
[0085]
  In “input reading” (5), an instruction is input, for example, a user operation on the operation board 20 (pressing a numeric key, pressing a start key, switching a paper size, etc.), closing a document pressing switch of the document scanner 10 Upon receiving a change from (presser position) to open (open position), document detection by the ADF 30, print command from the personal computer PC or FCU, the system controller 1 proceeds to processing corresponding to the instruction input (7-20). .
[0086]
  However, if there is no instruction input, it is checked whether the timer Td1 has timed out (21, 22). When there is no instruction input and the timer Td1 times out, the system controller 1 writes “1” indicating the low power mode in the mode register FT (23), and starts the timer Td2 with a Td2 time limit (24). Then, the low power mode is entered (25). That is, the switch 83 is turned off. The switches 84 and 85 are kept on. After that, when there is no input and the timer Td2 expires (6, 21, 26, 27), the system controller 1 sets the image processing mode being displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation board 20 to the NVRAM of the operation board 20 as the previous mode. Write “2” indicating the pause mode in the mode register FT (28), and shift to the pause mode (29). That is, the switches 83, 84 and 85 are turned off.
[0087]
  If the power key for instructing the mode switching related to energy saving is turned on while the standby mode is set, the system controller 1 assumes that the user has instructed switching to the sleep mode, and operates The image processing mode being displayed on the liquid crystal display of the board 20 is written in the NVRAM of the operation board 20 as the previous mode, and the mode is shifted to the pause mode. When the power key of the operation board 20 is turned on while the low power mode or the hibernation mode is set, the system controller 1 considers that the user has instructed switching to the standby mode, sets the standby mode, and sets the operation board 20 The previous image processing mode written in the NVRAM is read out and displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation board 20.
[0088]
  When the instruction input is recognized by “input reading” (5), the system controller 1 detects that the instruction input is a user operation on the operation board 20, a change from closing to opening of the document pressing switch of the document scanner 10, and document detection by the ADF 30. If it is something that asks for copy use, or if it is a print command from a personal computer PC or FCU, and if it is currently in standby mode, the operator or PC or FCU copy mode setting input or print mode The setting is read and copied or printed out via the process controller 131 (7, 8, 9). Then, the timer Td1 is started (10).
[0089]
  When the current state is the low power mode or the hibernation mode, “0” indicating the standby mode is written in the mode register FT (2), the standby mode is entered, and the timer Td1 is started (3, 4). That is, the switches 83, 84 and 85 are turned on. Then, copying or printing out is performed via the process controller 131 (5 to 9).
[0090]
  When reading a document image by a PC or a document image for facsimile transmission by an FCU, the system controller 1 reads an image by the document scanner 10 via the process controller 131 when the current mode is the standby mode. The image data is stored in the MEM, and the image data is transferred to the PC or FCU (12, 18). When this is finished, the timer Td1 is started (19). If the current mode is the low power mode, image reading and transfer are performed in the same manner (13, 16), but upon completion, the timer Td2 is started (17). When the current mode is the sleep mode, “1” indicating the low power mode is written in the mode register FT (14), the mode is shifted to the low power mode (15), that is, the switches 84 and 85 are turned on. Similarly, image reading and transfer are performed (16), and when this is completed, the timer Td2 is started (17).
[0091]
  If there is an input that does not directly instruct the above-mentioned copying, printout or image reading, for example, turning on the power key of the operation board 20, opening / closing the door, initial setting key input, management key input, read it and respond to input (20).
[0092]
  Since the switches 83, 84 and 85 are turned on when the “standby mode” described above is set, the output + 24V of the switch 84 is applied to a power relay (not shown) which is an AC power switch in the AC circuit 86, and the AC circuit 86. A commercial AC voltage is applied to the TRIAC circuit (AC energization circuit by phase control) for energizing the fixing heater (halogen heater in this embodiment) and the DC power circuit in 86, and the DC power circuit is connected to the AC circuit 86. An operating voltage is applied to an energization controller which is an ASIC (Application Specific IC).
[0093]
  The process controller 131 performs process control of copying, printing, and image reading of the contents (processing mode) in accordance with a command given by the system controller 1, and in order to execute the process controller 131, the scanner 10 and the peripheral units 34 to 36 are controlled. Turn on the power and read the status. The contents are shown in FIGS.
[0094]
  Reference is first made to FIG. When the system controller 1 turns on the switch 85 to set the standby mode, + 5V output from the DC / DC converter 82 is applied to the process controller 131 through the switch 85, and the process controller 131 initializes the power-on response. Process (31) is performed. Then, a status signal of each part in the printer 100 (remaining paper on the paper conveyance path, presence / absence of the paper feeding cassette, presence / absence of paper in the cassette (size detection), heater temperature, presence / absence of toner (insufficient), etc.) is acquired (32). . Since the switch 85 is on in the standby mode and the low power mode, +5 V output from the DC / DC converter 82 is applied to all control voltage lines in the printer 100 through the switch 85, and thus the process controller 131. Collects the status signals of all locations in the printer 100 and writes them in the status register (one area of the internal memory of the processor controller 131: status memory).
[0095]
  Next, the process controller 131 turns on the switch swa (33), waits for the scanner 10 to send a ready signal via the serial bus Sb, and sends the ready signal via the serial bus Sb. The scanner 10 is requested (instructed to transfer) status information indicating its internal status, collected, and written into the status register (34). If a ready signal does not arrive within a predetermined time after turning on the switch swa, the process controller 131 writes state information indicating that the scanner 10 is not connected (no scanner) to the state register, and turns off the switch swa. Return (34).
[0096]
  Next, the process controller 131 turns on the switch swb (35), waits for the finisher 34 to send a ready signal via the serial bus Sb, and sends a ready signal via the serial bus Sb. The finisher 34 is requested to collect status information indicating its internal status (open / closed of the case door, presence / absence of remaining paper, status of the mechanism, etc.), and is written into the status register (36). If a ready signal does not arrive within a predetermined time after turning on the switch swb, the process controller 131 writes state information indicating that the finisher 34 is not connected (no finisher) to the state register, and turns off the switch swb. Return (36).
[0097]
  Next, the process controller 131 turns on the switch swc (37), waits for the large capacity sheet feeding tray 36 to send a ready signal via the serial bus Sb, and sends the ready signal to the serial bus Sb. Request and collect status information indicating the internal status (open / close of case door, presence / absence and size of paper, position of paper lift, mechanism status, etc.) to the large capacity paper feed tray 36 via Sb; Write to status register (38). If the ready signal does not arrive within a predetermined time after the switch swc is turned on, the process controller 131 displays status information indicating that the large capacity sheet feeding tray 36 is not connected (no large capacity sheet feeding tray). And switch SWC is turned off (38).
[0098]
  Next, the process controller 131 turns on the switch swd (39), waits for the paper feed bank 35 to send a ready signal via the serial bus Sb, and sends the ready signal to the serial bus Sb. Status information indicating the internal status (open / closed of the case door, presence / absence of cassette, presence / absence and size of paper, paper jam, mechanism status, etc.) is requested and collected via the paper feed bank 35 and stored in the status register. Write (40). If the ready signal does not arrive within a predetermined time after turning on the switch swb, the process controller 131 writes status information indicating that the paper feed bank 35 is not connected (no paper feed bank) to the status register, and the switch Turn swd back off (40).
[0099]
  Next, the process controller 131 transfers the collected status information to the system controller 1. The system controller 1 stores the state information in its own state register, and displays an operator input screen corresponding to the combination of units equipped (system configuration) on the liquid crystal display of the operation board 20 corresponding to the state information. To do. If there is an abnormality, it is also displayed (41a).
[0100]
  The process controller 131 returns to step 32 when there is printer abnormality information that disables printing (image formation) in the status information held in its status register. That is, it waits for normal restoration (41b-32). If the printer 100 is normal, the process proceeds to step 42 (41b-42).
[0101]
  Reference is now also made to FIGS. In step 42, the process controller 131 waits for a “copy”, “print”, or “image read” command from the system controller 1 (42 to 44-49, 50-42) and waits. In the meantime, when the standby mode is switched to the low power mode, not only the printer 100 but also the peripheral units 34, 35 and 36 are not used in the low power mode, so the switches swb to swd are turned off (53), ”Command (53-80-42-52-80).
[0102]
  When changing from the low power mode to the standby mode, there is a possibility that not only “image reading” but also “copy” or “print” command may be received, so that the process controller 131 follows the path of step 42-43-35. Proceeding below, swb to swd are sequentially turned on to collect state information of the peripheral units 34, 36, and 35 (35 to 41b).
[0103]
  In the standby mode, upon receiving a “copy” command, the process controller 131 turns on the power voltage on / off switch swA (45), and indicates the internal state to the scanner 10 via the serial bus Sb. Request and collect status information (instruct transfer) (46). At this time, in response to a request from the process controller 131, the scanner 10 turns on the illuminating lamp, positions the scanning mechanism at the home position, and obtains status signals (including ADF information such as ADF presence / absence of document) of each part. If it is normal, the process controller 131 is notified of the status information and the start ready. If it is abnormal, status information including information indicating it is notified. The process controller 131 updates the data in the internal status register to the status information received this time (47). If there is abnormality information, the switch swA is turned off, the scanner abnormality is notified to the system controller 1 (48), and a new command is received from the system controller 1. The system controller 1 displays the scanner abnormality on the liquid crystal display of the operation board 20.
[0104]
  When the scanner 10 is normal, the process controller 131 displays status signals of each part in the printer 100 (remaining paper on the paper conveyance path, presence of paper cassette, presence of paper in the cassette (also used for size detection), heater temperature, presence of toner ( (Insufficient), etc.) (32). In the standby mode in which “copying” and “printing” can be started, all of the switches 83 to 85 are on, so the fixing heater 87 is energized.
[0105]
  If the printer 100 has abnormal information that disables printing (image formation), it notifies the system controller 1 of the abnormal information, returns to step 44, is restored normally, and the system controller 1 gives a new command. Wait for. The system controller 1 displays the printer abnormality on the liquid crystal display of the operation board 20.
[0106]
  If the printer 100 is normal, the process controller 131 starts an interval timer (57) and waits for it to time out (58). That is, the switch swA is first turned on and the power voltage + 24V is applied to the scanner 10 and then waits for a predetermined time to elapse.
[0107]
  Immediately after switching from the low power mode to the standby mode, the energization of the fixing heater 87 may start and the power consumption of the DC / AC control plate 80 may be large, and the power voltage is applied to all the units 10, 34 to 36 simultaneously. When applied, the power consumption temporarily increases due to the inrush current of each unit, which may cause voltage fluctuations in the AC power supply. In addition, even if the elapsed time after switching to the standby mode is relatively long and the temperature of the fixing heater 87 is high and the power consumption is small, if the power voltage is applied to all the units 10 and 34 to 36 at the same time, Inrush currents overlap, the load on the DC / DC converter 82 becomes temporarily excessive, and the DC / DC converter 82 malfunctions or + 5VE output from the DC / DC converter 82 temporarily decreases. Then, the controller (control device) at each location that operates by receiving the control voltages + 5VE and + 5V may cause a malfunction such as an erroneous reset operation (power-on reset). It may be necessary to take measures such as increasing the capacitance of the capacitor for stabilization. Therefore, in this embodiment, the switches swA to swD are not turned on at the same time, and are sequentially turned on one by one at predetermined time intervals. This time interval is determined by the interval timer.
[0108]
  When the interval timer expires (time up), the process controller 131 corresponds to the content of the “copy” or “print” command (copy mode or print mode) given by the system controller 1, and the process controller 131 sets the finisher 34. If it is to be used, the power voltage on / off switch swB is turned on (59-60), and the finisher 34 is requested to collect state information representing its internal state via the serial bus Sb (61). . At this time, in response to a request from the process controller 131, the finisher 34 initializes the position of the internal mechanism, that is, positions it at the home position, acquires the status signal of each part, and if it is normal, the status information and start ready Is notified to the process controller 131. If it is abnormal, status information including information indicating it is notified. The process controller 131 updates the data in the internal status register to the status information received this time (61). If there is abnormality information, the switch swB is turned off, the finisher abnormality is notified to the system controller 1 (63), and a new command is received from the system controller 1. The system controller 1 displays the finisher abnormality on the liquid crystal display of the operation board 20.
[0109]
  If the finisher 34 is normal, the process controller 131 starts the interval timer (64), waits for it to time out (65), and when the time is over, the process controller 131 enters the copy mode or print mode designated by the system controller 1. Correspondingly, if it uses the large capacity sheet feeding tray 36, the power voltage on / off switch swC is turned on (66-67), and the large capacity sheet feeding tray 36 is connected via the serial bus Sb. Request and collect status information representing the internal status (68). At this time, in response to a request from the process controller 131, the large-capacity paper feed tray 36 acquires the status signal of each unit and notifies the process controller 131 of the status information and start ready when it is normal. If it is abnormal, status information including information indicating it is notified. The process controller 131 updates the data in the internal status register to the status information received this time (68). If there is abnormality information, the switch swC is turned off, a large capacity paper feed tray abnormality is notified to the system controller 1 (69-70), and a new command from the system controller 1 is awaited. The system controller 1 displays the large capacity paper feed tray abnormality on the liquid crystal display of the operation board 20.
[0110]
  If the large capacity tray 36 is normal, the process controller 131 starts an interval timer (71), waits for the time to expire (72), and when the time is over, the copy mode designated by the system controller 1 Alternatively, if it corresponds to the print mode and uses the paper bank 35, the power voltage on / off switch swD is turned on (73-74), and the paper bank 35 is connected via the serial bus Sb. Request and collect state information representing the internal state (75). At this time, in response to a request from the process controller 131, the paper feed bank 35 obtains status signals of the respective units, and informs the process controller 131 of status information and start ready if normal. If it is abnormal, status information including information indicating it is notified. The process controller 131 updates the data in the internal status register to the status information received this time (75). If there is abnormality information, the switch swD is turned off, the paper bank abnormality is notified to the system controller 1 (76-77), and a new command from the system controller 1 is awaited. The system controller 1 displays the paper bank abnormality on the liquid crystal display of the operation board 20.
[0111]
  If the paper supply bank 35 is normal, the process controller 131 forms an image in the copy mode or print mode instructed by the system controller 1 (77). When this is completed, the process controller 131 turns off the drive voltage on / off switches swA to swD (79) and waits for a new command from the system controller 1 (79-44-49-50).
[0112]
  When the “print” command is given, the process controller 131 proceeds to “check the status of the printer 100” (54), and performs the subsequent processing in the same manner as in the case of “copy” (49-54). ~ 79). The drive voltage + 24V is not applied to the scanner 10.
[0113]
  When an “image reading” command is given, the process proceeds to step 81 in FIG. 9 to turn on the switch swA, and requests and collects status information indicating the internal status from the scanner 10 via the serial bus Sb. (82). At this time, in response to a request from the process controller 131, the scanner 10 turns on the illuminating lamp, positions the scanning mechanism at the home position, acquires the status signal of each part, and if it is normal, status information and start ready Is notified to the process controller 131. If it is abnormal, status information including information indicating it is notified. The process controller 131 updates the data in the internal status register to the status information received this time (82). If there is abnormality information, the switch swA is turned off, the scanner abnormality is notified to the system controller 1 (84), and a new command is received from the system controller 1 (84-44). The system controller 1 displays the scanner abnormality on the liquid crystal display of the operation board 20.
[0114]
  If the scanner 10 is normal, the process controller 131 gives an image reading start to the scanner 10, the scanner 10 responds to this by notifying the busy, and image reading (when there is an original in the ADF, all the originals are read out). When there is no document in the ADF, the process waits until the ready is informed (85). When this ready is notified, the process controller 131 turns off the switch swA (86) and waits for a new command from the system controller 1 (86-80-42-43-44: in the standby mode) 86-80-42-52-80: in the low power mode).
[0115]
  When the sleep mode (switch 84 off) is switched to the standby mode or the low power mode (switch 84 on), the control voltage +5 V is applied to each unit 10, 34 to 36 and the status information of the printer 100. Are collected by the process controller 131 and transferred to the system controller 1 (32 to 41b), and the system controller 1 displays the system configuration and each part abnormality (if any) on the liquid crystal display of the operation board 20. 1 can set an executable copy mode, print mode, or image reading. In this case, since the power voltage + 24V is not applied to each unit 10, 34 to 36, power consumption is small in each unit. In the low power mode in which there is no possibility of using the peripheral units 10, 34 to 36, the control voltage + 5V to them is also cut off (53), so that the power consumption is further reduced.
[0116]
  Although not shown in the flowchart, the unit to which the control voltage + 5V is applied constantly monitors the change in the state. For example, when the user performs replenishment of paper, replacement, loading of a document, etc. Notifies the process controller 131 of the changed state information. In response to this, the process controller 131 updates the data in the status register and notifies the system controller 1 of it. The process controller 131 monitors the state in the printer 100. When there is a state change, the information in the state register is updated and notified to the system controller 1. Therefore, the user and the system controller 1 can select and set a processing mode (copy mode, print mode, image reading) corresponding to the current state of the printer 100 and each unit.
[0117]
  When a command (processing mode) is given, the process controller 131 selectively applies a power voltage + 24V to a unit necessary for the execution and further acquires state information. The user and the system controller 1 can update the processing mode that does not use it if an abnormality is found in a certain unit at this stage.
[0118]
  -Second Example-
  FIG. 10 shows an outline of a power supply circuit mounted on the DC / AC control board 80 in the printer 100 of the copier having the composite function of the second embodiment of the present invention, and a power supply for supplying power to the peripheral unit from the power supply circuit. Show the line. In the second embodiment, switches swA to swD for switching the power voltage + 24V are arranged on the control board of the scanner 10 and the peripheral units 34 to 36, and the power voltage + 24V is set on the scanner 10 and the peripheral units 34 to 36 side. Control supply / cutoff. The process controller 131 of the printer 100 obtains status information from the scanner and the peripheral unit through serial communication via the serial bus Sb with the CPU of the control circuit on the control board of the scanner 10 and the peripheral units 34 to 36. The switches swA to swD are instructed to be turned on / off. Other hardware and power-on control of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.
[0119]
  In this second embodiment, the printer 100 does not have the power voltage on / off switches swA to swD, and the process controller 131 gives commands by serial communication to control the on / off of these switches. There are few control output lines, and the hardware around the process controller 131 is simplified.
[0120]
【The invention's effect】
  In the standby mode (standby mode), the control voltage on / off switches (swb to swd) are turned on to obtain the status information of the peripheral units (34 to 36), and the image processing mode corresponding to the status can be set. At this time, the power voltage on / off switches (swB to swD) are kept off, and the power consumption of the peripheral units can be kept low. Corresponding to the use / non-use of the peripheral unit according to the instructed image forming mode, the power voltage on / off switch (swB to swD) is turned on at the time of use, so that the use of the peripheral unit is not hindered. Image formation can proceed promptly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a copier having a composite function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing an outline of an image forming mechanism of the printer 100 shown in FIG.
3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing an outline of a reading mechanism of the document scanner 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a block diagram showing an outline of an image processing system of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
5 is a block diagram showing an outline of a power supply circuit provided in a DC / AC control board 80 in the printer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 and a power supply line for supplying power from the power supply circuit to a peripheral unit. FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing an outline of a switching process between a standby mode / a low power mode / a sleep mode in the system controller 1 shown in FIG. 4; FIG.
7 is a part of a flowchart showing an outline of peripheral unit status reading and peripheral unit power-on control of the process controller 131 shown in FIG. 4; FIG.
8 is another part of a flowchart showing an outline of peripheral unit state reading and peripheral unit power-on control of the process controller 131 shown in FIG. 4; FIG.
FIG. 9 is still another part of a flowchart showing an outline of peripheral unit status reading and peripheral unit power-on control of the process controller 131 shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 10 shows an outline of a power supply circuit provided on a DC / AC control board 80 in a printer 100 of a copier having a composite function according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and a power supply line for supplying power from the power supply circuit to peripheral units. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10: Color document scanner 20: Operation board
30: Automatic document feeder 34: Finisher
34hs: Loading and lowering tray 34ud: Lift platform
34st: Sort tray group
100: Color printer PC: Personal computer
PBX: Switch PN: Communication line
102: Optical writing unit 103, 104: Paper feed cassette
105: Registration roller pair 106: Transfer belt unit
107: fixing unit 108: discharge tray
110M, 110C, 110Y, 110K: photoconductor unit
111M, 111C, 111Y, 111K: photosensitive drum
120M, 120C, 120Y, 120K: Developer
160: Transfer conveyance belt ACP: Image data processing device
CDIC: Image data interface control
IMAC: Image memory access control
IPP: Image data processor
231: Platen glass 232: Illumination lamp
233: First mirror 234: Second mirror
235: Third mirror 236: Lens
207: CCD 238: traveling body motor
239: Reference white plate 240: Glass
241: Document tray 242: Pickup roller
243: Registration roller pair 244: Conveying drum
245: Pressing roller 246, 247: Paper discharge roller
248: Pressure plate also serving as a discharge tray
249: Base point sensor 250: Axis
251: Scale 260: Motor control unit

Claims (5)

Image forming means for forming and discharging an image on a sheet;
A rectifying / smoothing circuit for converting commercial alternating current to direct current, a DC / DC converter for generating control voltage and power voltage from the direct current , and each output terminal and control voltage power supply line of the control voltage and power voltage of the DC / DC converter And a power supply including a control voltage energy saving switch and a power voltage energy saving switch inserted between the power voltage supply line and the power voltage supply line ;
From the power source, interposed said to deliver a sheet to the image forming means or to the control units in a plurality of peripheral units said image forming means carries out the sheet to be discharged, the control electric pressure feed collecting lines Controlled voltage on / off switch;
From said power source, said plurality of each mover driver peripheral units, the power voltage supply more power voltages on / off switch, each interposed in line;
If the operation or instruction is not continued for a set time while the control voltage energy saving switch and the power voltage energy saving switch are turned on, the power voltage energy saving switch and the control voltage energy saving switch are turned off. Energy saving control means for switching on the control voltage energy saving switch; and
When the control voltage energy saving switch is switched from off to on, the control voltage on / off switch is turned on, thereby obtaining the state information of the unit to which the control voltage is applied, and each of the instructed image forming modes. An image forming apparatus comprising: unit power supply control means for sequentially turning on the power voltage on / off switch for supplying power voltage to a unit in use at predetermined time intervals in response to use / non-use of the unit. An image reading unit including a power device that scans and drives at least one of an original and an optical system that reads the image and converts it into an image signal, a power device driver that supplies power to the power device, and a control device that controls the operation of the power device;
An image data processing device for converting the image signal into image data used by the image forming means for image formation;
A control voltage on / off switch interposed in a control voltage feed line from the power source to the control device of the image reading unit; and
A power voltage on / off switch interposed in a power voltage supply line from the power source to a power device driver of the image reading unit;
The unit power supply control means turns on the control voltage on / off switch to acquire the unit status information, and then responds to use / non-use of each unit according to the instructed image processing mode. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a power voltage on / off switch that supplies power voltage is sequentially turned on at predetermined time intervals. Image forming means for forming and discharging an image on a sheet;
A rectifying / smoothing circuit for converting commercial alternating current to direct current, a DC / DC converter for generating control voltage and power voltage from the direct current , and each output terminal and control voltage power supply line of the control voltage and power voltage of the DC / DC converter And a power supply including a control voltage energy saving switch and a power voltage energy saving switch inserted between the power voltage supply line and the power voltage supply line ;
From the power source, said to deliver a sheet to the image forming means or mover for unloading the sheet to which the image forming means discharges, power equipment driver for energizing it, through between said said driver power voltage supply line interpolated power voltage oN / oFF with a switch and a control device, to control devices in a plurality of peripheral units, a control voltage on / off switch that is interposed in the control voltage supply line;
Switched off the operation or instruction is not to continue the set time the power voltage energy saving switch and the control voltage Ministry Enesu switch while turning on the control voltage energy-saving switch and the power voltage energy saving switch, when there is an operation or instruction Energy saving control means for turning on the control voltage energy saving switch; and
When the control voltage energy saving switch is switched from off to on, the control voltage on / off switch is turned on, thereby obtaining the state information of the unit to which the control voltage is applied, and according to the instructed image forming mode. the use of peripheral units / corresponds to the non-use, the power voltage on / off switch for feeding a power voltage to the unit of use via the control device of the peripheral unit in sequence unit to turn on power supply at a predetermined time interval An image forming apparatus. A power device that scans and drives at least one of an original and an optical system that reads the image and converts it into an image signal, a power device driver that energizes the power device, and a power voltage on / off inserted between the driver and the power voltage receiving line An image reading unit comprising an off switch and a control device;
An image data processing device that converts the image signal into image data used by the image forming means for image formation; and
A control voltage on / off switch interposed in a control voltage power supply line from the power source to the control device of the image reading unit;
Said unit feeding control hand stage, turn on the voltage on / off switch, after obtaining the status information of the unit, in response to the use / non-use of each unit by the designated image processing mode, the use 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the power voltage on / off switch is sequentially turned on at predetermined time intervals for each unit used through the unit control device. Said unit feeding control Hand stage, each time the on the one of the power voltage on / off switch, by obtaining the state information indicating the state of the internal of the unit is powered by the animal forces the voltage on / off switch, the status information abnormality information to notify the abnormality back off the animal forces the voltage on / off switch if there; image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images