JP5304332B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a power storage unit capable of charging and discharging, and an image forming method using the image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and an apparatus that combines these functions have been developed. Such an image forming apparatus usually includes an image forming unit for forming a toner image on a recording medium, and a fixing device unit for fixing the toner image by pressurizing and heating the recording medium on which the toner image is formed. Yes. The fixing device section is provided with a fixing member, for example, a fixing roller, for heating the recording medium. The fixing roller is heated to a predetermined temperature by a heater (heater heater) that generates heat by electric power from a commercial power source. Is done.

  Further, in order to maintain the transfer image quality, the image forming apparatus is provided with an image quality adjustment mode called process control (process control), and the image forming conditions are adjusted to optimize the image quality of the image to be formed. After the power is turned on, the image forming apparatus can perform a printing operation through a CPU initialization and peripheral device initial settings, a fixing reload for raising the fixing temperature to a temperature at which printing can be performed, and a computer control.

  If printing is performed without leaving the image forming unit after leaving the image forming unit for a long time, there is a problem that the image quality is deteriorated. Therefore, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the image forming unit is turned on when the power is turned on. . The time required for the process control operation is normally about 10 to several tens of seconds, and the power required for the process control operation is usually about several hundred W in a color tandem machine or the like. Therefore, if the process control is performed when the image forming apparatus is started up (when the power is turned on), there is a problem that the time required for the printing operation becomes longer by the time required for the process control. In addition, even when the control unit and fixing reload are executed in parallel, it is necessary to reduce the amount of power supply required for fixing reload in the fixing device by the amount of power required by the control unit. It takes longer time to stand up and a longer time until printing operation becomes possible.

  With respect to this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561 provides a threshold value for the operation OFF time of the image forming unit in order to shorten the time until the printing operation can be performed after the power is turned on. Discloses an image forming apparatus that executes the process control when the power is turned on only when the time is long. In this image forming apparatus, the time from the end of the operation of the image forming unit is counted. When the power is turned on, it is detected whether or not a predetermined threshold value for the operation OFF time of the image forming unit is exceeded, and Whether to execute is determined. Therefore, depending on the environmental conditions, it is not necessary to perform a process control when the power is turned on, and it is possible to shorten the time until the printing operation becomes possible.

  However, in Patent Document 1, the threshold setting for the operation OFF time of the image forming unit is set to several hours. For this reason, when the power is turned on in the morning, the computer control is almost always executed, and there is a problem that the time until the printing operation can be performed cannot be shortened.

  On the other hand, if the threshold setting for the operation OFF time of the image forming unit is lengthened, the ratio of executing the computer control at the first power-on in the morning decreases, and the time until the printing operation becomes possible can be shortened. . However, there is a possibility that the image quality deteriorates instead. Generally, the threshold value of the operation OFF time of the image forming unit can be set to only about several hours.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and even when the power is turned on after a long time has passed since the power supply of No. 1 in the morning is turned off, the process control is not performed for a short time. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of performing a printing operation.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention includes a detection unit that detects the presence or absence of power supply from a power source, a measurement unit that measures an elapsed time after the end of an image forming operation, and charge / discharge. Monitoring the status of the possible power storage means, process control control means for controlling the execution of process control for adjusting the image quality of the image to be formed, the detecting means and the measuring means, and determining that there is no power supply; and And a process control factor monitoring means for outputting the stored power of the power storage means to the process control control means when it is determined that the elapsed time after the completion of the image forming operation exceeds a predetermined time, the power storage means The stored power is output to the process control factor monitoring means .

Further, the present invention provides an image forming method executed in the image forming apparatus, a detection step for detecting the presence or absence of power supply from the power source, a measuring step of measuring an elapsed time after the image forming operation is completed, the power storage A storage step for charging the means ; a process control control step for controlling execution of a process control for adjusting the image quality of the image to be formed; and a process control factor monitoring means for supplying stored power from the storage means. And when the measurement step determines that the elapsed time has exceeded a predetermined time, the stored power use step for using the stored power of the power storage means in the process control control step. , Including.

  According to the present invention, when the process control factor monitoring unit determines that there is no power supply from the power source and determines that the elapsed time after the end of the image forming operation has exceeded a predetermined time, the stored power of the power storage unit Can be output to the process control control means, so that the process control can be performed by using the stored power of the power storage means while the power is off, and the power input is turned off for a long time, etc. Since it is not necessary to perform process control even when the power input is turned on, there is an effect that it is possible to shorten the time until the printing operation becomes possible.

FIG. 1 is a functional diagram showing power supply of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an image forming method of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a control sequence by the image forming apparatus control unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a difference in operation flow after the AC switch is turned on between the conventional image forming apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a functional diagram illustrating power supply of the image forming apparatus according to the first modification. FIG. 6 is a functional diagram illustrating power supply of the image forming apparatus according to the second modification. FIG. 7 is a functional diagram illustrating power supply of the image forming apparatus according to the third modification.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image forming apparatus and an image forming method according to the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional diagram showing power supply of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. First, a part that is converted into a DC voltage required by the image forming apparatus after commercial AC power is supplied and a part to which the DC voltage is supplied will be described.

  The AC switch 1 is a switch that connects the commercial AC power supply 2 and the image forming apparatus. When the AC switch 1 is OFF, power is not supplied to circuits other than the RTC 13 and the process control factor monitoring unit 14, so that the function is stopped.

  The voltage detection circuit 3 is provided in the subsequent stage of the AC switch 1 in order to detect the input of power (voltage) from the commercial AC power supply 2. The voltage detection circuit 3 detects the voltage from the commercial AC power supply 2 when the AC switch 1 is ON, but does not detect the voltage from the commercial AC power supply 2 when the AC switch 1 is OFF. . The voltage detection circuit 3 corresponds to detection means in the claims.

  The rectifying / smoothing circuit 4 is provided in the subsequent stage of the voltage detection circuit 3 in order to rectify and smooth the AC voltage from the commercial AC power supply 2. The converter 5 is provided in the subsequent stage of the rectifying / smoothing circuit 4 in order to convert the rectified voltage from the rectifying / smoothing circuit 4 into a predetermined DC voltage, stabilize it, and supply it to the subsequent load. Here, in the figure, the latter stage load refers to the process control system load 6, the process control drive system load 7, the engine control system load 8, the engine drive system load 9, the image forming apparatus control unit 10, and the charge control circuit 20. is there.

  The process control control system load 6 is a sensor required for executing a process control such as a P sensor for detecting the toner density on the transfer belt, and is a load to which a control system power supply such as 5 V is supplied. The process control drive system load 7 is a drive system necessary for executing a process control such as a drum motor for driving the photosensitive member, and is a load to which a drive system power supply such as 24V is supplied.

  The engine control system load 8 is an engine control system load other than the process control, such as fixing, paper feed, and paper discharge. The engine drive system load 9 is an engine drive system load other than the process control, such as fixing, paper feed, and paper discharge.

  Next, the part which mainly controls the image forming apparatus will be described. The image forming apparatus control unit 10 includes a controller unit 11, an engine control unit 12, an RTC 13, and a process control factor monitoring unit 14.

  The controller unit 11 controls the entire image forming apparatus, and includes an ASIC for controlling the CPU periphery, such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, frame memory control, and FIFO, and an interface circuit thereof.

  The engine control unit 12 controls the process control system load 6, the process control drive system load 7, the engine control system load 8, and the engine drive system load 9 in order to perform an image forming operation. The engine control unit 12 includes a CPU, an input / output port, an A / D converter, an interrupt control circuit, a ROM, a RAM, a timer, and the like.

  The engine control unit 12 includes a process control control unit 15. The process control unit 15 controls the process control control system load 6 and the process control drive system load 7 in order to perform process control.

  An RTC (Real Time Clock) 13 is a chip dedicated to timekeeping, and measures an elapsed time after the end of the image forming operation. Since the RTC 13 operates by supplying power from the built-in battery, the time can be measured even when the AC switch 1 is OFF.

  The process control factor monitoring unit 14 monitors the states of the voltage detection circuit 3, the RTC 13, and the charging voltage detection circuit 18. When it is determined that the process control is necessary, the process control unit 15 is instructed to perform the process control. When the AC switch 1 is ON, the process control factor monitoring unit 14 merely notifies the process control control unit 15 that the process control is necessary because the process control control unit 15 is operating.

  On the other hand, when the AC switch 1 is OFF, the control unit control unit 15 is not operating, so the power storage means 17 is necessary for the control unit (the control unit control system load 6, the control unit drive system load 7, and the image formation). It instructs the storage output discharging unit 22 to discharge the stored power to the device control unit 10). Specifically, the process control factor monitoring unit 14 transmits the output discharge instruction signal 16 to the power storage output discharging unit 22. Note that, even when the AC switch 1 is OFF, the process control factor monitoring unit 14 can continue to operate because it is supplied from the stored power from the power storage means 17.

  Next, a portion for storing a DC voltage converted from commercial AC power as DC power and a portion to which the stored DC power is supplied will be described.

  The power storage means 17 stores electricity (electric power) and discharges the stored electricity (electric power). The power storage means 17 uses a capacitor bank in which a plurality of electric double layer capacitors are connected in series. Here, each electric double layer capacitor is called a cell. The capacitor bank supplies power to the process control factor monitoring unit 14 when the AC switch 1 is OFF, the process control control system load 6, the process control drive system load 7, and the image forming apparatus control unit for executing the process control. 10 has a capacity of a cell configuration that can sufficiently cope with power supply to 10. The electric storage means 17 includes a bypass circuit that bypasses charging when each cell of the electric double layer capacitor is fully charged, a circuit that generates a single cell full charge signal when any of the cells is fully charged, and all An equalization circuit having a circuit for generating a full charge signal for all cells when the electric double layer capacitor is fully charged is provided.

  The charging voltage detection circuit 18 detects the voltage charged in the capacitor bank of the power storage means 17. The charging voltage detection circuit 18 is constituted by a divided circuit constituted by resistors, and detects a voltage between terminals of the capacitor bank. The output of the charging voltage detection circuit 18 is input to the charging control circuit 20. Further, the output of the charging voltage detection circuit 18 is input to the process control factor monitoring unit 14.

  The charging current detection circuit 19 detects a current when charging the capacitor bank. The charging current detection circuit 19 detects a current flowing through a resistor connected in series with the capacitor bank as an inter-terminal voltage. The output of the charging current detection circuit 19 is input to the charging control circuit 20.

  The charge control circuit 20 charges the power storage means 17 with the DC power converted by the converter 5. Specifically, the charging control circuit 20 detects the output of the charging voltage detection circuit 18 and the output of the charging current detection circuit 19 so that the power storage unit 17 is subjected to constant current charging, constant power charging, and Perform constant voltage charging. The charging control circuit 20 includes a circuit that generates a DC voltage for charging the power storage unit 17 and an output voltage control circuit that controls the output voltage.

  Charging of the power storage means 17 by the charge control circuit 20 is performed as follows. First, the charge control circuit 20 detects the voltage between the terminals of the capacitor bank based on the output of the charge voltage detection circuit 18, and if the voltage between the terminals of the capacitor bank is lower than a preset voltage value, the charge voltage detection is performed. The voltage of the circuit 18 is sequentially detected, and constant current charging is performed with a preset current value corresponding to the detected charging voltage.

  Next, when the voltage between the terminals of the capacitor bank becomes equal to or higher than a preset voltage value, the charging control circuit 20 detects the charging current of the capacitor bank and performs the detection of the voltage between the terminals of the capacitor bank in order to perform constant power charging. Detection is sequentially performed, and constant power charging is performed with a preset power value corresponding to the detected charging current and charging voltage.

  Next, when the charge control circuit 20 detects any single cell full charge signal output from the equalization circuit, the charge control circuit 20 performs constant current charging again with a preset current value. The constant current charging is performed at a lower current than the above-described constant current charging. Finally, when the charge control circuit 20 detects the full charge signals of all the capacitor cells, the charge control circuit 20 performs constant voltage charge or intermittent constant current charge at a preset voltage value for a certain period, and then stops the charge operation.

  The charging described above is performed when the charging control circuit 20 receives the charging instruction signal 21 transmitted from the image forming apparatus control unit 10 when there is a power margin such as when the image forming operation is not performed. In practice, this is performed when the image forming apparatus is not performing an image forming operation and there is a margin in power.

  The power storage output discharging unit 22 discharges the stored power of the power storage unit 17 in response to an instruction from the process control factor monitoring unit 14. The power storage output discharge unit 22 is composed of a transistor, and the output of the power storage means 17 is connected to the emitter of the transistor. When the output discharge instruction signal 16 from the process control factor monitoring unit 14 is input to the base of the transistor, the transistor is turned on, and the discharge power of the storage means 17 is output from the collector of the transistor.

  The constant voltage generation circuit 23 transforms the discharge power from the power storage means 17 into a predetermined DC voltage, and via the diodes 24, 25, and 26, the process control control system load 6, the process control drive system load 7, and the image forming apparatus Each is supplied to the control unit 10. Thereby, the image forming apparatus can perform the process control.

(Image forming method)
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an image forming method of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  First, the process control factor monitoring unit 14 receives a notification from the process control control unit 15 that the image forming operation has been completed (step S1). Next, the RTC 13 starts time counting (step S2).

  Next, the process control factor monitoring unit 14 determines whether or not a notification that the image forming operation has started is received from the process control control unit 15 (step S3). When the process control factor monitoring unit 14 determines that the notification that the image forming operation has started has been received from the process control control unit 15 (step S3: Yes), the process control unit 14 returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, if the process control factor monitoring unit 14 determines that the notification that the image forming operation has started from the process control control unit 15 has not been received (step S3: No), has the time count by the RTC 13 passed a predetermined time? It is determined whether or not (step S4). Here, the predetermined time is a time set in advance, but for example, a time of about several hours is set. When determining that the time count by the RTC 13 has not passed the predetermined time (step S4: No), the process control factor monitoring unit 14 returns to step S3.

  On the other hand, if the process control factor monitoring unit 14 determines that the time count by the RTC 13 has passed a predetermined time (step S4: Yes), the AC switch 1 is turned off, that is, the commercial AC power source 2 is connected to the image forming apparatus. It is determined whether it is connected to (step S5).

  When the process control factor monitoring unit 14 determines that the AC switch 1 is not OFF (step S5: No), the process control control unit 15 executes process control by supplying power from the commercial AC power supply (step S6). Specifically, when the voltage detection circuit 3 detects a voltage, the process control factor monitoring unit 14 sends a notification that a predetermined time has elapsed to the process control control unit 15 and receives the notification, Do the procon. Then, it returns to step S2 and repeats the following steps.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the AC switch 1 is OFF, that is, when the voltage detection circuit 3 does not detect the voltage (step S5: Yes), the process control factor monitoring unit 14 can execute the process control on the power storage unit 17. It is determined whether or not the amount of electric power is stored (step S7). As described above, the amount of power that can execute the process control is the amount of power that the process control control system load 6, the process control drive system load 7, and the image forming apparatus control unit 10 can perform the process control. Then, the process control factor monitoring unit 14 determines from the charge voltage of the power storage means 17 input from the charge voltage detection circuit 18 whether or not the amount of power that can execute the process control is stored in the power storage means 17.

  When the process control factor monitoring unit 14 determines that the amount of power that can be used to execute the process control is stored in the power storage unit 17 (step S7: Yes), the process control control unit 15 receives the power storage from the power storage unit 17 to Is executed (step S8). Specifically, the process control factor monitoring unit 14 transmits an output discharge instruction signal 16 to the storage output discharging unit 22, and the storage output discharging unit 22 outputs the discharge power from the storage unit 17 to the constant voltage generation circuit 23. The predetermined DC voltage transformed by the constant voltage generation circuit 23 is supplied to the process control control system load 6, the process control drive system load 7, and the image forming apparatus control unit 10, respectively. As a result, the process control is performed. Then, it returns to step S2 and repeats the following steps.

  As described above, in the process control factor monitoring unit 14, the time count by the RTC 13 has passed a predetermined time, the AC switch 1 is turned OFF, and the power amount that can execute the process control is stored in the power storage unit 17. When it is determined, the output discharge instruction signal 16 is transmitted to the storage output discharge unit 22.

  On the other hand, if the process control factor monitoring unit 14 determines that the amount of power that can execute the process control is not stored in the power storage unit 17 (step S7: No), the process ends.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control sequence by the image forming apparatus control unit 10. In the state in which the commercial AC power supply 2 is input, the time is counted from 0 after the end of the image forming operation, and when the image forming operation is performed again after the predetermined time has not elapsed, the time is counted again from 0. Although not shown, the process control is executed by supplying power from the commercial AC power supply 2 when a predetermined time has elapsed.

  The counting continues even when the commercial AC power supply 2 is not input, that is, when the image forming apparatus is shut down. Then, when the predetermined time has passed, the process control is executed by supplying power from the power storage means 17. Although the time is counted again from 0 after the completion of the process control, in this example, since the amount of power that can be used to execute the process control is not already stored in the power storage means 17, the process control is not executed even if the next predetermined time elapses. .

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a difference in operation flow after the AC switch 1 is turned on between the conventional image forming apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The schemes A and B in the figure show the operation flow of the conventional image forming apparatus. System A is a system in which fixing start-up and process control are performed in parallel. While the process control is being executed, the power required for starting the fixing is reduced by the power required for the process control, so that the temperature rise efficiency of the fixing device is deteriorated, and the time until the fixing reload ends is increased. The system B is a system that performs a process control after fixing reload. Since the process control is executed after the fixing reload is completed, the printing operation is possible after the execution of the process control. However, the time until the printing operation is enabled is the same as that in the method A.

  On the other hand, method C in the figure shows an operation flow of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the system C, since the process control is continuously performed even when the image forming apparatus is shut down, it is not necessary to execute the process control even when the AC switch 1 is turned on. For this reason, as compared with the systems A and B, the time from when the AC switch 1 is turned on until the printing operation is possible can be shortened by the execution time of the process controller.

  As described above, when there is an amount of stored electricity that can execute the process control, since the process control can be performed by the stored power of the power storage means 17 many times even when the main power input is OFF, the power supply input is OFF for a long time. Even when the power input is turned on in the morning in the morning, etc., since it is not necessary to perform the process control, it is possible to shorten the time until the printing operation becomes possible.

  In this embodiment, the voltage detection circuit 3 is provided at the subsequent stage of the AC switch 1. However, if the specification is such that no voltage is input when the AC switch 1 is OFF, the voltage detection circuit 3 is provided at the previous stage of the AC switch 1. May be.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the process control factor monitoring unit 14 determines that the time count by the RTC 13 has passed a predetermined time, determines that the AC switch 1 is OFF, and sets the power storage means 17 to When it is determined that the amount of power that can execute the process control is stored, the storage output discharging unit 22 is controlled so that the discharge power from the storage unit 17 is output to the constant voltage generation circuit 23. On the other hand, if the process control factor monitoring unit 14 determines that the time count by the RTC 13 has passed a predetermined time and determines that the AC switch 1 is OFF, the process control factor monitoring unit 14 may check the power amount of the power storage unit 17. Instead, the storage output discharging unit 22 may be controlled so that the discharge power from the storage unit 17 is output to the constant voltage generation circuit 23.

(Modification 1)
In the present embodiment, when the process control is performed when the main power supply input is OFF, the stored power of the power storage unit is supplied to the entire image forming apparatus control unit. However, in Modification 1, the process control is performed when the main power input is OFF. In this case, the power stored in the power storage means is supplied only to the process control unit of the image forming apparatus control unit.

  FIG. 5 is a functional diagram illustrating power supply of the image forming apparatus according to the first modification. In the first modification, power supply from the converter 5 to the image forming apparatus control unit 10 is divided into two systems, that is, the process control unit 15 and the other units. Furthermore, the power supply from the constant voltage generation circuit 23 is not the entire image forming apparatus control unit 10 but only the control unit control unit 15. Other configurations are the same as those of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  Accordingly, the power from the commercial AC power source 2 and the power from the power storage unit 17 are supplied to the process control unit 15, but the commercial AC power source 2 is supplied to the image forming apparatus control unit 10 other than the process control unit 15. Only power from is supplied.

  By adopting such a configuration, while power is supplied from the commercial AC power supply 2 to the image forming apparatus, power is supplied to the entire image forming apparatus control unit 10, but the commercial AC power supply 2 is supplied to the image forming apparatus. In the case where the process control is performed in a state where the power is not supplied from the power source (in the case of step S8 in FIG. 2), the power from the power storage unit 17 is supplied only to the process control unit 15.

  In this way, at the time of the process control when the main power input is turned off, only the minimum power required for the process control operation can be supplied to the image forming apparatus control unit 10, thereby reducing the amount of power supplied from the power storage unit 17, It is possible to effectively use the power of the power storage means 17.

(Modification 2)
In the second modification, a switch for disabling the function of the process control factor monitoring unit 14 is further provided, and execution of the process control can be restricted according to the situation. FIG. 6 is a functional diagram illustrating power supply of the image forming apparatus according to the second modification. In the second modification, a changeover switch 27 is provided between the process control factor monitoring unit 14 and the charging voltage detection circuit 18. Other configurations are the same as those of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  When the changeover switch 27 is ON, the function of the program control factor monitoring unit 14 is valid, and the image forming apparatus according to the second modification operates exactly the same as the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. However, when the changeover switch 27 is OFF, the process control factor monitoring unit 14 cannot know the charge voltage of the power storage means 17 from the charge voltage detection circuit 18 and can always execute the power control on the power storage means 17. It is determined that the amount is not stored (it is always determined No in step S7 in FIG. 2). Accordingly, the function of the process control factor monitoring unit 14 is disabled, and the process control by the process control control unit 15 is not executed.

  Thereby, the process control operation | movement performed with the electrical storage of the electrical storage means 17 can be restrict | limited as needed. For example, when the image forming apparatus is transported, transport is performed in a state where the changeover switch 27 is turned off, so that it is possible to prevent the execution of the process control during transport, thereby ensuring safety. .

  In addition, the changeover switch 27 is provided not between the process control factor monitoring unit 14 and the charging voltage detection circuit 18 but between the process control factor monitoring unit 14 and the voltage detection circuit 3 or between the process control factor monitoring unit 14 and the RTC 13. Similarly, execution of the process control by the process control control unit 15 can be restricted.

  When the changeover switch 27 is provided between the process control factor monitoring unit 14 and the power storage output discharge unit 22, the function of the process control factor monitoring unit 14 is in an active state, but the power storage output discharge unit 22 outputs the output discharge instruction. Since the signal 16 cannot be received, the execution of the process control by the process control control unit 15 can be similarly limited.

  Further, it is possible to enable or disable the function of the process control factor monitoring unit 14 from an operation unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus, and the information is stored in the controller unit 11 of the image forming apparatus. You may make it switch 14 functions.

(Modification 3)
In the third modification, the process control factor monitoring unit 14 is further provided with a transistor that limits the power storage supply from the power storage unit 17, and the power supply to the process control factor monitoring unit 14 is limited to supply power to the program control factor monitoring unit 14. Supply can be switched.

  FIG. 7 is a functional diagram illustrating power supply of the image forming apparatus according to the third modification. In the third modification, a transistor 28 is provided between the power storage means 17 and the process control factor monitoring unit 14. The output of the storage means 17 is input to the emitter of the transistor 28, the output of the voltage detection circuit 3 is input to the base of the transistor 28, and the collector of the transistor 28 is input to the process control factor monitoring unit 14. Other configurations are the same as those of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  Therefore, while the AC switch 1 is ON and the voltage detection circuit 3 is detecting the voltage, the transistor 28 is OFF, and the stored power of the power storage means 17 is not supplied to the process control factor monitoring unit 14. However, when the AC switch 1 is turned off and the voltage detection circuit 3 no longer detects the voltage, the transistor 28 is turned on, and the power stored in the power storage means 17 is supplied from the collector of the transistor 28 to the process control factor monitoring unit 14.

  In this way, the power supply to the process control factor monitoring unit 14 is supplied from the commercial AC power source 2 when the commercial AC power source 2 is input, or from the power storage means 17 when the commercial AC power source 2 is not input. Since it can be switched to supply, it is possible to reduce wasteful consumption of the stored power of the power storage means 17 and to effectively use the stored power.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the process control factor monitoring unit determines that there is no power supply from the commercial AC power source, and the elapsed time after the end of the image forming operation is a predetermined time. If it is determined that the power storage means has exceeded, the stored power of the power storage means can be output to the process control control means. Even when the power input is turned on in the morning, etc. from the state of being off, it is not necessary to perform the process control, so that it is possible to reduce the time until the printing operation becomes possible.

  In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described by taking an example in which the image forming apparatus is applied to a multifunction machine having at least two functions among a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The present invention can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a printer, a scanner apparatus, and a facsimile apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 AC switch 2 Commercial AC power supply 3 Voltage detection circuit 4 Rectification smoothing circuit 5 Converter 6 Procon control system load 7 Procon drive system load 8 Engine control system load 9 Engine drive system load 10 Image forming apparatus control unit 11 Controller unit 12 Engine control unit 13 RTC (Real Time Clock)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Procon factor monitoring part 15 Procon control part 16 Output discharge instruction | indication signal 17 Power storage means 18 Charge voltage detection circuit 19 Charge current detection circuit 20 Charge control circuit 21 Charge instruction | indication signal 22 Storage output discharge part 23 Constant voltage generation circuit 24, 25, 26 Diode 27 changeover switch 28 transistor

Patent No. 4091243

Claims (9)

Detection means for detecting the presence or absence of power supply from the power source;
A measuring means for measuring an elapsed time after completion of the image forming operation;
Power storage means capable of charging and discharging;
Process control control means for controlling execution of process control for adjusting the image quality of the image to be formed;
When the states of the detection unit and the measurement unit are monitored, it is determined that the power supply is not present, and it is determined that the elapsed time after the end of the image forming operation has exceeded a predetermined time, Process control factor monitoring means for outputting to the process control control means ,
The power storage means outputs the stored power to the process control factor monitoring means;
An image forming apparatus. A storage amount detecting means for detecting a storage amount of the storage means;
The process control factor monitoring means further monitors the state of the charged amount detection means, determines that there is no power supply, and determines that the elapsed time after the end of the image forming operation has exceeded a predetermined time, And when it is determined that the amount of stored electricity is an amount capable of executing the process control, the stored power of the power storage unit is output to the process control control unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The measuring means further measures an elapsed time after the end of the process control;
The process control factor monitoring means determines that the power supply is not present, determines that the elapsed time after the end of the process control has exceeded the predetermined time, and allows the stored power to execute the process control If it is determined that the amount is a small amount, the stored power of the power storage means is output to the process control control means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The accumulator unit, when there is no power supply from the power supply, the process control factors to the monitoring means to output the stored power, the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein . The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, further, provided with a supply control means for controlling the supply of the stored power to the process control factor monitoring unit. Said storage means is further comprising a capacitor, an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the. The process control factor monitoring means further comprises execution means for executing process control, causing the execution means to further output the stored power of the power storage means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein, further, provided with a switching means switching between valid and invalid of the function of the process control control unit. An image forming method executed by an image forming apparatus,
A detection step for detecting the presence or absence of power supply from the power source;
A measuring step for measuring an elapsed time after the image forming operation is completed;
A power storage step of charging the power storage means ;
A process control control step for controlling execution of a process control for adjusting an image quality of an image to be formed;
When the process control factor monitoring means to which the stored power is supplied from the power storage means determines that the power supply is not present in the detection step and determines that the elapsed time has exceeded a predetermined time in the measurement step, A stored power use step for causing the stored power of the power storage means to be used in the process control control step,
An image forming method.

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