JP5106879B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus including a post-sheet forming apparatus.

  In recent years, office devices such as copiers, scanners, facsimiles, and printers have become multifunctional, high-speed, and low-priced, etc., as stand-alone dedicated machines. On the other hand, complex devices that combine these functions into one are becoming common. In the image forming apparatus of the composite apparatus, a post-sheet forming apparatus can be attached as an option. The post-sheet forming apparatus can sequentially take in recording sheets and the like conveyed from the image forming apparatus, and can perform post-processing such as folding processing, bookbinding processing, punching, and binding processing.

  The image forming apparatus to which the post-sheet forming apparatus is connected automatically shuts off the power supply between the apparatus and the post-sheet forming apparatus when the non-operation time of the image forming apparatus has elapsed for a predetermined time. The state where the power supply is interrupted is called a sleep state. In the sleep state, relatively small power that drives a circuit board such as a CPU is supplied, but power that drives each driving unit such as a motor is cut off. When the user touches any key on the operation board or image data is transmitted from the personal computer to the image forming apparatus in the sleep state, the sleep state of the image forming apparatus and the post-sheet forming apparatus is released. When the sleep state of the image forming apparatus is released, power can be supplied only to a driving unit such as the motor provided in the image forming apparatus, and each driving unit does not start driving. When the user presses the start key attached to the operation board, each drive unit of the image forming apparatus starts driving for the first time, and image formation of a document is executed. On the other hand, when the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is released, a driving unit such as the motor provided in the post-sheet forming apparatus in advance starts driving, and post-processing can be executed. As described above, the image forming apparatus and the post-sheet forming apparatus transition to the sleep state, thereby reducing the power cost supplied to the drive units of the image forming apparatus and the post-sheet forming apparatus.

In order to further reduce power costs, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that includes an image formation maintenance mode that waits for reception of image data and a power saving mode that reduces power consumption of the image forming apparatus. . A technique for further reducing the power cost by limiting the image formation maintenance mode and the power saving mode in accordance with the frequency of use by the user is disclosed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses an image forming apparatus including a unit that discriminates an instruction not to form an image and an instruction to form an image. When an instruction not to form an image is issued, a non-operation mode signal that does not require the driving units of the image forming apparatus to start driving is transmitted, and the driving of the driving unit is reliably stopped. A technique for reducing the cost of electric power supplied to each drive unit by the determining means and preventing the durability deterioration of each member and the like accompanying the drive is disclosed.
JP 2004-230605 A JP 2002-57827 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, since the image forming apparatus is in the power saving mode in accordance with the frequency of use by the user, even when an abnormal situation such as JAM (paper clogging) ends, the image forming apparatus transitions to a sleep state. was there. In Patent Document 2, since the image forming apparatus is assumed, when the sleep state of the image forming apparatus is canceled, the sleep state of the post sheet forming apparatus is canceled at the same time. There was a problem of increasing. Further, in Patent Document 2, since the image forming apparatus is in the power saving mode corresponding to the frequency of use by the user, even when an abnormal situation such as JAM (paper clogging) ends, the image forming apparatus transitions to a sleep state. was there.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the power cost of the image forming apparatus and the sheet post-forming apparatus is reduced by changing the procedure for canceling the sleep state of the sheet post-forming apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing a decrease in durability due to wear and minimizing mechanical drive noise generated by starting driving.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following means.

The comparison means sets the first copy time, which is the time from when the start key is pressed until the sheet is conveyed to the post-sheet forming apparatus, and the state in which post-processing can be executed after the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is released. The initial time, which is As a result of the comparison , when the first copy time is longer than the initial time , the sleep state cancellation changing unit cancels the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus when the start key is pressed, and When the first copy time is short, the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is canceled when the sleep state of the own apparatus is canceled. This reduces the power cost of the image forming apparatus and the post-sheet forming apparatus, prevents a decrease in durability due to wear of parts of the post-sheet forming apparatus, and minimizes the mechanical driving sound generated by starting driving. be able to. Further, the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is canceled by a procedure suitable for the post-sheet forming apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus.

The sleep state cancellation changing unit cancels the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus when the start key is pressed when the first copy time and the initial time are equal.

  Of course, the first copy time is stored in the first storage means provided in the image processing apparatus. The initial time is transferred from the sheet post-processing apparatus to the second storage means included in the image processing apparatus at a stage prior to the comparison process of the comparison unit, and the comparison unit performs the comparison process. The first storage unit and the second storage unit may be referred to. Alternatively, the initial time is stored in a storage unit included in the sheet post-processing apparatus, and the storage unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus is directly referred to together with the first storage unit when the comparison unit performs a comparison process. You may make it do.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, by changing the procedure for canceling the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus, the power cost of the image forming apparatus and the post-sheet forming apparatus is reduced, and the post-sheet forming is performed. It was possible to prevent a decrease in durability due to wear of equipment parts, and to minimize mechanical drive noise generated by starting driving.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention.

  A case where a single image forming apparatus to which a single post-sheet forming apparatus is connected is an embodiment of the present invention and a folding apparatus is used as the post-sheet forming apparatus will be described below as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of a single image forming apparatus 100 to which a single folding device 122 is connected. When the user uses the image forming apparatus 100, the document is placed on the document table 103. Image forming conditions and folding processing conditions are input by an operation board provided near the document table 103, and a start key is pressed. When the start key is pressed, driving units (each unit shown below) provided in the image forming apparatus start driving, and image forming processing is executed.

  In the image reading unit 101, which is one of the driving units, light emitted from the light source 104 is reflected by the document placed on the document table 103. The reflected light is guided to the image sensor 108 by the mirrors 105, 106 and 107. The image sensor 108 generates image data of a document by photoelectrically converting the received light. Through the above processing, the image data of the original is read by the image reading unit 101.

  The drive unit that transfers the image data as a toner image is an image forming unit 102. The image forming unit 102 includes a photosensitive drum 109. The photosensitive drum 109 rotates in a predetermined direction at a constant speed, and a charger 110, an exposure unit 111, a developing unit 112, a transfer unit 113, and the like are disposed around the photosensitive drum 109 sequentially from the upstream side in the rotation direction. Yes. The charger 110 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 109. The exposure device 111 irradiates light according to the image data read by the image reading unit 101 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 109. The developing unit 112 attaches toner to the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure unit 111 to form a toner image on the photosensitive drum 109. The transfer unit 113 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 109 to a sheet. The series of processes is performed in the image forming unit 102 by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 109.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 114, and when performing image forming processing, one sheet is pulled out from any one of the paper feed cassettes 114 to the conveyance path using the pickup roller 115. Each paper feed cassette 114 contains sheets of different paper types, and the paper of the paper type selected by the user is fed. The sheet pulled out on the conveyance path is fed between the photosensitive drum 109 and the transfer unit 113 by the conveyance roller 116 and the registration roller 117. The sheet on which the electrostatic latent image has been transferred by the transfer device 113 is conveyed to the fixing device 118.

  In the fixing device 118, when the sheet passes between the heating roller 119 and the pressure roller 120, the visible image is fixed to the sheet by heat and a pressing force to the sheet. In order to perform the fixing appropriately, the heat amount of the heating roller is optimally set according to the paper type. The sheet on which the image is formed is conveyed to the folding device 122 by the image forming unit 102.

  The conveyed sheet is subjected to folding processing by the folding device 122. Specifically, when a condition for folding in the Z shape with an A3 size sheet is input, the A3 size sheet passes through the folding device 122 and is folded into the Z shape. When the folding process condition is not input, the sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus 100 passes only the folding apparatus 122 and is not folded into a Z shape.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of control system hardware in the image forming apparatus 100 and the post-sheet forming apparatus 201. However, details of each part not directly related to the present invention are omitted. An example in which a single image forming apparatus and a single sheet post-forming apparatus are connected is shown. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment of FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is connected to the circuit of the post-sheet forming apparatus 201. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 202, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 203, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 204, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 205, an operation board 206, and a driver 207 corresponding to each driving unit. The internal interface 209 is connected by an internal bus 207. The CPU 202 uses, for example, the RAM 204 as a work area, executes a program stored in the ROM 203, the HDD 205, and the like, and exchanges data and instructions with the driver based on the execution result. The operation of each of the illustrated driving units is controlled. Further, each means (shown in FIG. 3) described later other than the above-described driving unit is realized by the CPU 202 executing a program.

  The ROM 203 and the HDD 205 store programs and data for realizing a first copy time (described later) of the image forming apparatus, an acquisition unit, a comparison unit, and a sleep state cancellation change unit described below.

  The first copy time is the time from when the start key is pressed until the sheet is conveyed to the post-sheet forming apparatus. That is, when the start key is pressed, each drive unit of the image forming apparatus starts driving to form an image on the sheet, and the image-formed sheet is conveyed to the post-sheet forming apparatus. The processing requires the first copy time. The first copy time depends on the type of the drive unit, the length of the conveyance path, the size of the apparatus itself, and the like.

  The initial time is a time period after which the post-processing can be executed after the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is released. That is, when the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is released, each drive unit of the post-sheet forming apparatus starts driving and can perform post-processing. The series of processes includes the initial time described above. Cost. The same applies to bookbinding processing, binding processing, punching, and the like. The initial time depends on the type of post-processing.

  From the operation board 206, image forming conditions and post-processing conditions are input by the user, and then the start key is pressed. For inputting the image forming conditions, keys corresponding to sheet size, single-sided printing, double-sided printing, density, and color printing provided on the operation board 206 are used. For input of post-processing conditions, keys corresponding to the size of the sheet to be post-processed provided on the operation board 206, folding processing for folding the sheet into a Z shape, bookbinding processing, binding processing, and punching are used. The operation board 206 may be a display panel.

  An internal interface 209 is also connected to the internal bus 208 of the image forming apparatus 100. An internal interface 209 connects the image forming apparatus 100 and the post-sheet forming apparatus 201. The CPU 202 exchanges data and instructions with the post-sheet forming apparatus 201 through the internal interface 209 and controls the operation of each driving unit.

  The post-sheet forming apparatus 201 has a CPU 210, a ROM 211, a RAM 212, a driver 213 corresponding to each drive unit, and an internal interface 215 connected by an internal bus 214. The CPU 210 uses, for example, the RAM 211 as a work area, executes a program stored in the ROM 211, etc., and exchanges data and instructions with the driver 213 based on the execution result, and controls each drive unit. To do. The ROM 211 stores the initial time of the post-sheet forming apparatus. The internal interface 215 connects the image forming apparatus 100 and the post-sheet forming apparatus 201 to exchange data and instructions. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the post-sheet forming apparatus may include an HDD.

  Next, a processing procedure for executing a function of canceling the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is connected to the post-sheet forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. . FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure in which the sleep state cancellation function is executed. FIG. 5 is a time chart showing operation procedures of the image forming apparatus and the post-sheet forming apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 5A shows a specific example when the first copy time is longer than the initial time. FIG. 5B shows a specific example in the case where the first copy time is shorter than the initial time and the time when the sheet is conveyed from the image forming apparatus is later than the time when the post-processing of the post-sheet forming apparatus can be performed. FIG. 5C shows a specific example in which the first copy time is shorter than the initial time and the time when the sheet is conveyed from the image forming apparatus is earlier than the time when the post-sheet forming apparatus can be post-processed.

  The first storage unit 300 provided in the image forming apparatus stores the first copy time of the apparatus itself. In order to perform post-processing, the user connects the post-sheet forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus, and turns on the power of the post-sheet forming apparatus (S1). When the post-sheet forming apparatus is connected, the acquisition unit 301 provided in the image forming apparatus causes the initial time stored in the storage unit provided in the post-sheet forming apparatus via the internal interface of the post-sheet forming apparatus. Obtained in the second storage means 302 (S2).

  The first copy time stored in the first storage unit 300 and the initial time stored in the second storage unit 302 are acquired and compared by the comparison unit 303 provided in the image forming apparatus (S3). ).

  When the first copy time is longer than the initial time, when the start key is pressed, the sleep state cancellation changing unit 304 provided in the image forming apparatus releases the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus. After the image forming apparatus is released from the sleep state as described above, when the non-operation time of the image forming apparatus elapses for a predetermined time, the apparatus and the post-sheet forming apparatus transition to the sleep state (S4).

  When the user touches any key on the operation board while the image forming apparatus and the post-sheet forming apparatus are in the sleep state as described above, the image forming apparatus is released from the sleep state. The sleep state of the post-processing device is not canceled (S5).

  When image forming conditions and post-processing conditions are input through the operation board and the start key is pressed (S6), each drive unit of the image forming apparatus starts driving and the sleep state of the sheet post-forming apparatus is released ( S7). As described above, since the first copy time is longer than the initial time of the post-sheet forming apparatus, when the image forming apparatus forms an image and the sheet on which the image is formed reaches the entrance of the post-sheet forming apparatus, Each drive unit of the forming apparatus is in a state where post-processing can be executed.

  Specifically, it is assumed that the first copy time of the image forming apparatus is 10 seconds and the initial time of the post-sheet forming apparatus is 7 seconds. FIG. 5A shows a time chart showing an operation procedure based on the above specific case. Even if the user touches any key on the operation board, the sleep state of the apparatus itself is canceled, and the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is not canceled. On the other hand, when the start key is pressed on the image forming apparatus, the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is released. At this time, it takes 10 seconds from when the start key is pressed until the sheet is image-formed and conveyed to the post-sheet forming apparatus. On the other hand, post-processing is performed after the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is released. It takes 7 seconds to get ready to run. Therefore, when the sheet on which the image is formed reaches the entrance of the post-sheet forming apparatus, the post-sheet forming apparatus is in a state where post-processing can be performed, and thus the sheet is rapidly post-processed.

  As described above, even if the sleep state of the image forming apparatus is released, the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is not released, so that the power cost of the post-sheet forming apparatus can be reduced. In addition, each drive unit of the post-sheet forming apparatus does not start driving, prevents a decrease in durability due to wear of parts of the post-sheet forming apparatus, and suppresses mechanical driving sound generated when the driving unit starts driving. be able to.

  On the other hand, when the first copy time is shorter than the initial time, the sleep state cancellation change unit 304 cancels the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus when the sleep state of the own apparatus is canceled.

  As in the case of step (S4), when the non-operation time of the image forming apparatus has elapsed for a predetermined time after the procedure has been changed, the apparatus and the post-sheet forming apparatus transition to a sleep state (S8).

  When the user touches any key on the operation board in the above state, the sleep state of the image forming apparatus is released and the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is released. (S9, S10). When the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is released, each driving unit provided in the post-sheet forming apparatus starts driving. When the start key is pressed (S11), each drive unit provided in the image forming apparatus starts driving to form an image on the sheet.

  Specifically, it is assumed that the first copy time of the image forming apparatus is 7 seconds and the initial time of the post-sheet forming apparatus is 12 seconds. If the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is released after the start key is pressed as in the case shown in FIG. 5A, when the sheet on which the image is formed reaches the entrance of the post-sheet forming apparatus. The post-sheet forming apparatus is not yet ready for post-processing.

  Therefore, in the case shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, when the user touches any key on the operation board, the sleep state of the image forming apparatus and the post-sheet forming apparatus are both canceled by the sleep state cancellation changing unit. The

  FIG. 5B shows a specific example when the first copy time is shorter than the initial time, and the time when the sheet is conveyed from the image forming apparatus is later than the time when the post-sheet forming apparatus can be post-processed. If the time when the sheet is conveyed is later than the time when the post-processing is possible, the sheet is rapidly post-processed.

  FIG. 5C shows a specific example in which the first copy time is shorter than the initial time, and the time when the sheet is conveyed from the image forming apparatus is earlier than the time when the post-sheet forming apparatus can be post-processed. . If the time when the sheet is conveyed is earlier than the time when the post-processing can be performed, a waiting time for post-processing occurs. However, since the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is released in advance, the start key is pressed. Compared to the case where the sheet is released when the sheet is released, the sheet is rapidly post-processed.

  When the first copy time and the initial time are equal, as in the case shown in FIG. 5A, when the start key is pressed, the sleep state cancellation change unit 304 changes the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus. It is a procedure to cancel. In the above procedure, since the first copy time and the initial time are equal, when the image-formed sheet is conveyed to the post-sheet forming apparatus, the sheet is rapidly post-processed.

  As described above, by changing the procedure for canceling the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus, the power cost of the image forming apparatus and the post-sheet forming apparatus is reduced, and the durability due to wear of parts of the post-sheet forming apparatus is reduced. It is possible to prevent the reduction and to minimize the mechanical driving sound generated by starting driving.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present embodiment is applied to a case where a single post-sheet forming apparatus is connected to a single post-sheet forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 6, the present invention can also be applied to a case where the post-sheet forming apparatus a to the post-sheet forming apparatus n are connected in series to a single image forming apparatus a. Specifically, this is a case where the present invention is embodied as a post-sheet forming apparatus a as a folding apparatus and a post-sheet forming apparatus b as a bookbinding apparatus. The folding device and the bookbinding device are connected in series to the image forming apparatus a, and the power is turned on. By the acquisition means provided in the image forming apparatus a, the initial time that is the longest among the initial time stored in the storage means provided in the folding apparatus and the initial time stored in the storage means provided in the bookbinding apparatus. The time is acquired in the second storage unit provided in the image forming apparatus a. The first copy time stored in the first storage means and the initial time stored in the second storage means are acquired and compared by the comparison means provided in the image forming apparatus a. Based on the result of the comparison, the procedure for releasing the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is changed by the sleep state release changing unit. The effects of the present invention are achieved by changing the above procedure. In addition, when the sleep state of the folding device and the bookbinding device is canceled after the above procedure is changed, the initial time of the initial time of the folding device and the bookbinding device is acquired in advance, so that it was transported. The sheet is quickly folded and bound.

  In the embodiment described above, the first copy time is of course stored in the first storage means provided in the image processing apparatus. The initial time is transferred from the sheet post-processing apparatus to the second storage means included in the image processing apparatus at a stage prior to the comparison process of the comparison unit, and the comparison unit performs the comparison process. The first storage unit and the second storage unit may be referred to.

  Alternatively, the initial time is stored in a storage unit included in the sheet post-processing apparatus, and the storage unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus is directly referred to together with the first storage unit when the comparison unit performs a comparison process. Even if it does, there exists an effect of this invention.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the power cost of the image forming apparatus and the sheet post-forming apparatus is reduced by changing the procedure for canceling the sleep state of the sheet post-forming apparatus. It is possible to prevent a decrease in durability due to wear and to minimize mechanical drive noise generated by starting driving. The image forming apparatus of the present invention is useful as a facsimile machine, a printer, a copying machine, a multifunction machine, or the like.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of control system hardware in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. 6 is a time chart showing the operation procedure of the image forming apparatus and post-sheet forming apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in a case where a plurality of post-sheet forming apparatuses are connected in series to a single image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 101 Image reading part 102 Image forming part 103 Original stand 104 Light source 105,106,107 Mirror 108 Image pick-up element 109 Photosensitive drum 110 Charger 111 Exposure device 112 Developing device 113 Transfer device 114 Paper feed cassette 115 Pickup roller 116 Conveying roller 117 Registration roller 118 Fixing device 119 Heating roller 120 Pressure roller 121 Cleaning unit 122 Folding device 201 Post-sheet forming device 300 First storage unit 301 Acquisition unit 302 Second storage unit 303 Comparison unit 304 Sleep state cancellation change unit

Claims (4)

The first copy time, which is the time from when the start key is pressed until the sheet is conveyed to the post-sheet forming apparatus, and the time from when the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is released to the state where post-processing can be executed. A comparison means for comparing initial times;
As a result of the comparison , when the first copy time is longer than the initial time, the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is canceled when the start key is pressed, and the first copy time is shorter than the initial time. In addition, the sleep state release changing means for releasing the sleep state of the post-sheet forming device when the sleep state of the own device is released ,
An image forming apparatus comprising: The sleep state cancellation changing means is
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the first copy time is equal to the initial time, the sleep state of the post-sheet forming apparatus is canceled when the start key is pressed . further,
The first copy time is stored in the first storage means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the initial time is stored in a second storage unit. The first copy time is stored in the first storage means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the initial time is stored in a storage unit provided in the post-sheet forming apparatus.

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