JP5193964B2 - Image forming apparatus and starting method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a starting method thereof, and more particularly to an electrophotographic system using toner as an image forming method.

  In the case of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the toner for image formation, the developing unit of the image forming unit is in a toner low state (the toner cartridge has no toner, but the toner remaining in the developing unit does not print a predetermined sheet. When the remaining toner level is determined by the toner remaining amount determining means, a warning or the like is issued to the user or service person via the display panel or the host computer. In response to the warning or the like, when the user or service person replaces the toner cartridge, the toner is supplied from the toner cartridge to the developing device, and the toner density of the developing device is restored to a predetermined concentration. The process is to be performed. When the replenishment operation ends normally, the toner low state is released.

  On the other hand, since the image forming apparatus consumes a large amount of power, according to the trend of energy saving, as a standby mode during a period when image formation is not being performed, a normal mode that is a standby mode in which image formation can be performed immediately and a temperature of the fixing device An image forming apparatus having at least a power saving mode capable of reducing power consumption, although image formation cannot be performed immediately by reducing the power consumption, etc. is widely used. Then, immediately after power-on or after image formation, it becomes a normal mode, and when there is no user operation or actual image formation for a predetermined time, the mode is switched to the power saving mode. The predetermined time is shortened and the power saving mode is easily entered.

  However, once the mode is switched to the power saving mode, it is necessary to start up (warm up) the image forming unit when returning to the normal mode due to a panel operation of the user or generation of a print job. The process adjustment process such as rotating the developing roller or rotating the developing roller is performed, and the recovery process is performed when the toner low state is reached. Here, when the toner cartridge is actually replaced, such a recovery process is omitted from the next time, and the waiting time due to this is eliminated, but the toner cartridge has not been replaced and the toner cartridge is still replaced next time. When the state continues, the recovery process is similarly performed. In this recovery process, the toner is dropped from the toner cartridge to the developing device by rotating the roller, which requires a considerable time, and therefore the waiting time until the first image formation output (printout) becomes long. There is.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 includes a facsimile function and a printer function, and the image forming unit forms an image by an electrophotographic method, performs the process adjustment step and the recovery step as warm-up, and uses a normal mode as a standby mode. In a full-color image forming apparatus equipped with a power saving mode, when a facsimile print request is generated in the power saving mode and the mode is switched to the normal mode, if the remaining amount of toner is low, a black toner recovery process is performed and a printing operation is performed. After that, the process adjustment process is performed. Further, when a printer print request is generated in the power saving mode and the mode is switched to the normal mode, a toner recovery process for all colors is performed, and a process adjustment process is performed, and then a printing operation is performed. This shortens the waiting time of the user in the monochrome mode (facsimile) and obtains a high image quality in the full color mode (printer).

Japanese Patent No. 4105836

  The above-described conventional technology changes the timing of the recovery process by paying attention only to whether it is black and white or full color. However, a print job in a printer in which the user sends print data to the image forming apparatus and waits for a print output, and a print job in a facsimile in which the user receives and prints without knowing Therefore, it cannot be said that the above-described conventional technology can cope with it appropriately.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately obtaining an image forming output in accordance with a source in which a print job of a facsimile and a printer is generated, and an activation method thereof.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a facsimile communication unit, a printer unit, an image forming unit that forms an image by electrophotography in response to an image signal from at least the facsimile communication unit and the printer unit, and a standby mode. An operation control unit having at least a normal mode and a power saving mode; and a toner remaining amount determination unit that determines a remaining amount of toner in the developing device in the image forming unit. When an image signal from the facsimile communication unit is generated, if the determination result of the remaining amount of toner in the toner remaining amount determining unit is not more than a predetermined level, a process adjustment step for adjusting the image forming conditions in the image forming unit is performed. And reset the toner density of the developer in the image forming unit to a predetermined density. After the recovery process is performed, image formation is performed, and in the power saving mode, when an image signal is generated from the printer unit, the determination result of the remaining amount of toner in the toner remaining amount determination unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined level. In this case, the image forming unit is caused to perform the process adjustment step, and the recovery step is performed after the image formation.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for starting an image forming apparatus, comprising: a step of monitoring a mode of an operation control unit including at least a normal mode and a power saving mode as standby modes; and an image signal from a facsimile communication unit and a printer unit. An accepting step; a step of determining a remaining amount of toner in a developing unit in an image forming unit that forms an image by electrophotography in response to an image signal from the facsimile communication unit and the printer unit; and a determination result of each step When the image signal is generated from the facsimile communication unit when the operation control unit is in the power saving mode and the remaining amount of toner is less than a predetermined level and the image signal is generated, the image forming unit forms an image. Performing a process adjustment step for adjusting the conditions; and A step of causing the forming unit to perform a recovery process for returning the toner density of the developing device to a predetermined density and a step of causing the image forming unit to perform image formation are performed in this order, while the image signal is generated from the printer unit. In this case, the step of causing the image forming unit to perform the process adjustment step, the step of causing the image forming unit to perform image formation, and the step of causing the image forming unit to perform the recovery step are performed in this order. It is characterized by.

  According to the above configuration, the image is realized as a digital multi-function peripheral having at least a facsimile function and a printer function, the image forming unit forms an image by an electrophotographic method, and has at least a normal mode and a power saving mode as a standby mode. In the forming apparatus, in the image forming unit, the remaining toner amount of the developing device is determined by the toner remaining amount determining unit. When the toner remaining amount is reduced, the operation control unit drops the toner from the cartridge to the developing unit and sets the toner concentration to a predetermined concentration. A recovery process for returning is performed. The image forming unit is not in the normal mode, which is a standby mode in which image formation is immediately possible, and in the power saving mode in which the image formation conditions are not satisfied and image formation is not immediately possible. When the image signal from the unit or the printer unit is generated, if the remaining amount of toner is below a predetermined level, conventionally, the operation control means adjusts the image forming conditions, for example, the voltage of the charger, in the image forming unit. The process adjustment process is performed, and after the recovery process is performed, the process proceeds to image formation. On the other hand, in the present invention, when the operation control unit receives an image signal to be imaged in the power saving mode, the image forming unit is started up (warm-up) while paying attention to the source of the image signal. Controls the timing of forming output (printout). Specifically, when the source of the image signal is a facsimile communication unit, the operation control unit causes the image forming unit to perform a startup operation by the conventional process adjustment process and recovery process as described above. Then, while the image is formed, in the case of the printer unit, the image forming unit is caused to perform only the process adjustment step, and the recovery step is performed after the image is formed.

  Therefore, when starting up from the standby mode with a small amount of toner, the toner is dropped from the cartridge to the developing device and the recovery process for returning the toner density to the predetermined density is performed. By changing the timing after image formation, there is a possibility that the image quality may be slightly reduced with a small amount of toner, but the print output is performed quickly and the waiting time of the user who generated the print job is shortened. Can do. On the other hand, in the case of a print job from the facsimile communication unit, the user often does not recognize the print job, and it is difficult for the user to print again. The print output can be obtained with good image quality that can be realized at that time. In this way, an image forming output can be appropriately obtained from the facsimile communication unit and the printer unit according to the source in which the print job is generated.

  Furthermore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention further includes mode change determination means for determining whether the switching to the normal mode is due to power-on or panel operation, and the operation control means includes the toner remaining amount. In response to the determination results of the amount determination unit and the mode change determination unit, when the remaining amount of toner is switched to the normal mode when the remaining amount of toner is equal to or less than a predetermined level, if the switching is due to the power-on, the image forming condition is set in the image forming unit A process adjustment step is performed, and a recovery step for returning the toner density of the developing device in the image forming unit to a predetermined density is performed. Then, image formation is performed. The process adjustment step is performed by a portion, and the recovery step is performed after image formation.

  According to the above configuration, in addition to the generation of the print job as described above, the mode change determination unit for determining the mode switching of the operation control unit is further provided, and when the switching to the normal mode is performed by turning on the power, the facsimile As in the case of the print job from the communication unit, the image forming is performed after the start-up operation by the conventional process adjustment process and the recovery process is performed, while in the case of the panel operation, the image forming unit Only the process adjustment step is performed, and the recovery step is performed after image formation.

  Therefore, when performing the recovery process even when the mode is changed, if the panel operation is used, the timing may be changed after image formation. It can be done quickly and waiting time can be reduced. On the other hand, when power is turned on, the user recognizes that it takes a certain amount of time to start up, and performs the recovery process to form an image with good image quality that can be realized at that time. Output can be obtained. In this way, it is possible to appropriately obtain an image forming output according to the situation when switching to the normal mode from the panel operation and the power-on.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the operation control unit is relatively energized with the first microprocessor that consumes a relatively large amount of power to stop the operation in the power saving mode. A second microprocessor that is small and controls energization of the first microprocessor and activates the first microprocessor in response to image signals from the facsimile communication unit and the printer unit. It is characterized by being configured.

  According to the above configuration, when the image forming unit reduces power consumption in the power saving mode as described above, the operation control means for controlling the operation is configured in two chips, and the first chip controls each unit with a high-speed clock. The first chip is composed of a first microprocessor that consumes a relatively large amount of power to suspend operation in the power saving mode. The second chip mainly performs mode monitoring with a low-speed clock, and is always energized and has a relative power consumption. And a second micro processor for controlling energization of the first micro processor.

  Therefore, even in the control system, it is possible to reduce the power consumption in the power saving mode that occupies a large proportion (time) of the standby mode in the image forming apparatus by minimizing the configuration that is always energized.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus and the starting method thereof according to the present invention are realized as, for example, a digital multi-function peripheral, and the image forming unit performs image formation by an electrophotographic method, and a normal mode and a power saving mode are set as standby modes. In at least the image forming apparatus, when the remaining amount of toner decreases, the remaining amount of toner when a facsimile print job occurs in performing the recovery process of dropping the toner from the cartridge to the developing device and returning the toner density to a predetermined node. Is less than a predetermined level, the conventional process adjustment process and recovery process start-up operation is performed, and then image formation is performed, while the remaining amount of toner is less than the predetermined level when a printer print job occurs. Only the process adjustment step is performed, and the recovery step is performed after image formation.

  Therefore, if the printer print job occurs when performing the recovery process when starting up with a small amount of toner, the timing may be slightly changed after the image is formed. However, the image forming output can be performed quickly and the waiting time can be shortened. On the other hand, when a facsimile print job occurs, the user often does not recognize the print job, and it is difficult for the user to print again, so the recovery step is performed, A print output can be obtained with a good image quality that can be realized at that time. In this way, an image forming output can be appropriately obtained from the facsimile communication unit and the printer unit according to the source in which the print job is generated.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of one Embodiment of this invention.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a charging device 11, a laser scanning unit 12, a developing device 13, and a fixing device 14 around a photosensitive drum (not shown) in the image forming unit 10, and a paper feeding device 15. 1 is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet supplied from a printer by electrophotography. As the formed image data, a function as a copying machine is realized by using the scanned image data by the scanner unit 21, and a function as a printer is realized by using the received image data by the printer unit 22, A function as a facsimile receiver is realized by using the received image data in the facsimile communication unit 23. Further, by transmitting the scanned image data from the scanner unit 21 from the facsimile communication unit 23, a function as a facsimile transmitter is realized. Thus, the image forming apparatus 1 is configured as a so-called digital multi-function peripheral that realizes the functions of a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile.

  It should be noted that the image forming apparatus 1 includes a first microprocessor 31 for main operation control and a second microprocessor 32 for activation control as operation control means. The first microprocessor 31 of the first chip controls each part of the image forming unit 10 with a high-speed clock, consumes a relatively large amount of power, and stops operating in the power saving mode. ing. On the other hand, the second microprocessor 32 of the second chip mainly performs mode monitoring with a low-speed clock, consumes relatively little power, and is always energized.

  For this reason, when the main power switch 33 is turned on, the second microprocessor 32 is always supplied with power from the power supply 34 as described above. When the sub power switch 35 connected to the main power switch 33 is turned on by the control of the processor 32, the power is supplied to the first microprocessor 31. Further, in order to receive image data regardless of whether the sub power switch 35 is ON / OFF, the printer unit 22 and the facsimile communication unit 23 are supplied with power while the main power switch 33 is ON. At the same time, the operation panel 36 is also supplied with power when the main power switch 33 is in an ON state in order to accept the starting operation. In FIG. 1, the high-voltage power supply line to the image forming unit 10 is omitted, but each unit is in the following low power consumption state in the power saving mode in conjunction with the sub power switch 35. .

  That is, for example, the set temperature of the fixing device 14 is lowered, and the charging voltage at the charger 11 is also lowered. When the sub power switch 35 is turned off, the first microprocessor 31 is stopped and the display input by the first microprocessor 31 is stopped, whereby the display on the operation panel 36 is also turned off. In this state, when a print job is generated by a start operation touching the operation panel 36, an operation such as setting a document on the scanner unit 21, or reception of facsimile data or reception of print data, the second microprocessor. 32 turns on the sub power switch 35 to activate the first microprocessor 31 to return to the normal mode. Similarly, when the main power switch 33 changes from the OFF state to the ON state, the sub power switch 35 is turned ON to return the first microprocessor 31 to the normal mode.

  In the normal mode, the first microprocessor 31 is activated, and the temperature of the fixing device 14 is increased until the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 16 reaches a predetermined set temperature. In addition, a process adjustment step for controlling the charging voltage in the charger 11 is performed by causing the image forming unit 10 to form a toner test patch on the photosensitive drum and reading the formed image with the sensor 17. Further, the developing device 13 is provided with a toner density sensor 18 which is a toner remaining amount judging means. When the remaining amount of toner becomes low (toner low state), the toner is transferred from the cartridge to the developing device 13 to the developing device 13. And a recovery process for returning the toner density to a predetermined node is performed.

  On the other hand, if there is no operation on the operation panel 36 or no print job for a predetermined time, the first microprocessor 31 sends a request for switching to the power saving mode to the second microprocessor 32. Then, the sub power switch 35 is turned OFF to shift to the power saving mode as described above.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above, it should be noted that the first microprocessor 31 is activated by the second microprocessor 31 when a print job is generated, and changes from the power saving mode to the normal mode. When the amount of toner remaining in the developing device 13 formed by the toner density sensor 18 is equal to or lower than a predetermined level, the source of the print job is the printer unit 22 or the facsimile communication unit 23. In accordance with the determination result, the image forming unit 10 is started (warmed up) and the timing of image forming output (printout) is controlled.

  Specifically, when the sub-power switch 35 is turned on and the normal mode operation is started, the first microprocessor 31 starts with the toner density sensor 18 of the developing unit 13 as shown in FIG. The remaining amount of toner is determined. Subsequently, in step S2, the first microprocessor 31 determines whether the switching to the normal mode is by turning on the power, returning from the power saving mode, or returning from the power saving mode. Whether the print job is generated by the facsimile, the print job by the printer, or the operation on the operation panel 36 is determined by the return mode type signal input from the second microprocessor 32. When the power is turned on and a facsimile print job is generated, the process proceeds to step S3 and subsequent steps, and the image forming unit 10 is caused to perform the conventional process adjustment process and recovery process as described above.

  That is, in step S3, the image forming unit 10 is caused to perform the process adjustment process. In step S4, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of toner in step S1 is equal to or lower than a predetermined level. In step S5, after the developing unit 13 performs a recovery process in step S5, a printing operation is performed in step S6. On the other hand, if the remaining amount of toner is not less than the predetermined level in step S4, the process proceeds directly to step S6 to perform the printing operation and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the switch to the normal mode is made in step S2 due to generation of a printer print job and operation of the operation panel 36, the process proceeds to step S13, and the first microprocessor 31 reads the image. The forming unit 10 is caused to perform a process adjustment process. Subsequently, in step S14, the first microprocessor 31 causes the image forming unit 10 to perform the printing operation first, and then in step S15, the toner remaining in step S1 is performed in the same manner as in step S4. It is determined whether or not the amount is equal to or less than a predetermined level. If the amount is equal to or less than the predetermined level, the recovery unit 13 is caused to perform a recovery process in step S16, and then the process ends. On the other hand, if the remaining amount of toner is not below the predetermined level in step S15, the direct processing is terminated.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the developing device 13 is started up in a state where the remaining amount of toner is low (toner low state), the toner is dropped from the cartridge to the developing device 13 to set the toner density to a predetermined value. In performing the recovery process for returning to the concentration of the first microprocessor 31, when switching to the normal mode and the power source of the first microprocessor 31 as the operation control means is turned on, the first microprocessor 31 is in the normal mode. It is determined by the return mode type signal from the second microprocessor 32 whether the switch to is due to the occurrence of a facsimile print job or a printer print job. When the printer print job is generated, the image forming unit 10 performs only the process adjustment process and the print process is performed first, and then the recovery process is performed. However, it is possible to quickly print out and reduce the waiting time of the user who generated the print job. On the other hand, when a facsimile print job is generated, the user often does not recognize the print job, and it is difficult for the user to print again, so the recovery process is performed, A print output can be obtained with a good image quality that can be realized at that time. In this way, the print output can be appropriately obtained from the facsimile communication unit 23 and the printer unit 22 according to the source in which the print job has occurred.

  The first microprocessor 31 further determines whether the switching to the normal mode is due to power-on or an operation on the operation panel 36 based on the return mode type signal. In the case of the operation, the image forming unit 10 performs only the process adjustment process and the recovery process is performed after the printing operation is performed first, so that the waiting time of the user who performed the panel operation can be shortened. it can. On the other hand, when the mode is switched by turning on the power, the user recognizes that it takes a certain amount of time to start up, and the first microprocessor 31 causes the image forming unit 10 to perform a recovery process. Since the printing operation is performed after performing the above, it is possible to obtain a print output with good image quality that can be realized at that time. In this way, it is possible to appropriately obtain a print output depending on the situation when switching to the normal mode, whether from panel operation or power-on.

  Further, when the image forming unit 10 reduces power consumption in the power saving mode as described above, the operation control means for controlling the operation has a two-chip configuration, and the first chip controls each unit with a high-speed clock. The power consumption mode is composed of the first microprocessor 31 that consumes a relatively large amount of power to pause the operation. The second chip mainly performs mode monitoring with a low-speed clock, and is always energized and consumes relatively little power. By including the second microprocessor 32, the power consumption in the power saving mode, which occupies a large proportion (time) of the standby mode in the image forming apparatus 1, is minimized even in the control system. Can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Image forming part 11 Charger 12 Laser scanning unit 13 Developing device 14 Fixing device 15 Paper feeding device 16 Temperature sensor 17 Sensor 18 Toner density sensor 21 Scanner unit 22 Printer unit 23 Facsimile communication unit 31 First micro-pro Sessa 32 Second microprocessor 33 Main power switch 34 Power source 35 Sub power switch 36 Operation panel

Claims (4)

A facsimile communication unit;
A printer unit;
An image forming unit that forms an image by electrophotography in response to image signals from at least the facsimile communication unit and the printer unit;
An operation control means comprising at least a normal mode and a power saving mode as a standby mode;
Toner remaining amount determining means for determining the toner remaining amount of the developing device in the image forming unit,
In the power saving mode, when the image signal from the facsimile communication unit is generated, the operation control unit determines whether the toner remaining amount determining unit determines whether the toner remaining amount is equal to or lower than a predetermined level. The image forming condition is adjusted, and the recovery step of returning the toner density of the developing device in the image forming unit to a predetermined density is performed. When the image signal from the printer unit is generated, if the determination result of the remaining toner amount in the toner remaining amount determining means is below a predetermined level, the image forming unit is caused to perform the process adjustment step, An image forming apparatus, wherein the recovery step is performed after image formation. A mode change determining means for determining whether the switching to the normal mode is due to power-on or panel operation;
The operation control means responds to the determination results of the toner remaining amount determining means and the mode change determining means, and when the remaining amount of toner is switched to the normal mode at a predetermined level or less, the switching is due to the power-on. Causing the image forming unit to perform a process adjustment step of adjusting image forming conditions, and performing a recovery step of returning the toner density of the developer in the image forming unit to a predetermined density, and then performing image formation; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the panel operation is performed, the image forming unit performs the process adjustment step and performs the recovery step after image formation.   The operation control means includes: a first microprocessor that consumes a relatively large amount of power to suspend operation in the power saving mode; and a relatively small amount of consumed power that is always energized. And a second microprocessor that controls energization and activates the first microprocessor in response to image signals from the facsimile communication unit and the printer unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to 1 or 2. Monitoring a mode of an operation control unit comprising at least a normal mode and a power saving mode as a standby mode;
Receiving image signals from the facsimile communication unit and the printer unit;
In response to image signals from the facsimile communication unit and the printer unit, determining the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit in an image forming unit that forms an image by electrophotography;
In response to the determination result of each step, when the operation control unit is in a power saving mode and an image signal is generated in a state where the remaining amount of toner is below a predetermined level,
When the image signal is generated from a facsimile communication unit,
Causing the image forming unit to perform a process adjustment step of adjusting image forming conditions;
Causing the image forming unit to perform a recovery step of returning the toner density of the developing device to a predetermined density;
While letting the image forming unit perform image formation in this order,
When the image signal is generated from the printer unit,
Causing the image forming unit to perform the process adjustment step;
Causing the image forming unit to perform image formation;
And a step of causing the image forming unit to perform the recovery step in this order.

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