JP5397758B2 - Image forming apparatus and control program for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control program for the image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as printers have become widespread, and opportunities for use in offices and the like are increasing.

  In a general office, the image forming apparatus is often turned off at the end of work, and the power is turned on at the start of work or when the first attendee goes to work. Even if the power supply is not shut off at the end of work, the image forming apparatus often stands by in a state close to the state where the power supply is shut off by its power saving function and operates after the start of work.

  In addition, as with the image forming apparatus, facilities such as air conditioning are generally stopped at the end of work and are operated at the start of work or when the first attendee goes to work.

  By the way, in the low temperature season such as winter, as a matter of course, the room temperature of the office or the like is also lowered, and the room temperature is rapidly increased by operating the heating.

  On the other hand, the temperature inside the apparatus of the image forming apparatus is substantially the same as the room temperature during the night, and when heating is activated, the temperature rises following the room temperature. There can be large differences in the temperature inside.

  If there is a large difference between the room temperature and the temperature in the apparatus, condensation may occur in the image forming apparatus. If condensation occurs, it may adversely affect image formation.

  As a technique for preventing dew condensation in the image forming apparatus, there is proposed a technique in which air containing water vapor is exhausted and the guide plate of the sheet conveyance path is heated by the heat of the fixing device (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

JP-A-8-211819

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that suppresses the occurrence of condensation in the apparatus and a control program for the image forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above-described object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a latent image is generated based on image information, and a developing unit that develops the image on a transfer body based on the generated latent image, and an image are formed. A transport unit that transports the output medium, a transfer unit that transfers the image developed on the transfer body to the output medium transported by the transport unit, and an output that is clogged when the output medium is clogged. A guide unit that can be opened away from the medium and that guides the output medium transported by the transport unit to a reference position when transporting the output medium to the transfer unit; and in conjunction with the opening of the guide unit A cover that opens; a fixing unit that fixes the image transferred to the output medium by the transfer unit; and a heating unit that is disposed in the guide unit. Contact with media A free surface, characterized in that said guide means is disposed in the deployed state a position between the cover and the guide means when it is opened.

The invention of claim 2 further comprises, in the invention of claim 1, further comprising a temperature acquisition means for acquiring the temperature in the apparatus and a heating control means for controlling the heating means, wherein the heating control means comprises a power supply The heating means is operated for a predetermined time when the temperature in the apparatus acquired by the temperature acquisition means at the time of charging is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.

Further, the invention of claim 3 is the invention of claim 2 , further comprising power saving control means for controlling transition to a power saving state including stopping of power supply means for supplying power to the heating means, and the heating control. When the temperature in the apparatus acquired by the temperature acquisition unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature when the unit returns to the normal state from the transition to the power saving state by the power saving control unit, the heating unit is previously set. It is characterized by operating for a predetermined time.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3 , wherein the heating control means causes the power saving control means to stop shifting to the power saving state while the heating means is in operation. .

The invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 2 , the heating control means stops the heating means when image formation is started.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the temperature acquisition process for acquiring the temperature in the image forming apparatus and the temperature in the apparatus acquired in the temperature acquisition process when the image forming apparatus is turned on are equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. When the output medium is clogged , the output medium can be released so as to be separated from the clogged output medium, and the output medium provided in the image forming apparatus and conveyed by the conveying means is transferred to the transfer means. Guide means for guiding to a reference position when transporting to the guide , and is a surface that does not come into contact with the output medium among the guide means whose cover is opened in conjunction with the opening of the guide means. JP said that to perform the guide means and the predetermined heating control process for the time running heating means disposed on the arranged state a position between the cover to the computer when it was opened To.

The invention of claim 7 is the invention of claim 6 , further causing the computer to execute power saving control for controlling transition to a power saving state including stopping of power supply means for supplying power to the heating means, The heating control process is performed when the temperature in the apparatus acquired by the temperature acquisition process is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature when the image forming apparatus returns to the normal state from the transition to the power saving state by the power saving control process. Further, the heating means is operated for a predetermined time.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 7 , wherein the heating control process stops the transition to the power saving state by the power saving control process while operating the heating means. .

The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 6 , wherein the heating control process stops the heating unit when image formation by the image forming apparatus is started.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of dew condensation in the image forming apparatus even when the room temperature rapidly increases due to heating or the like , and the user can touch the heating unit. It becomes possible to make it impossible.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a cross section of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a guide plate 4. It is sectional drawing when the vicinity part of the guide plate 4 of this sectional view shown in FIG. 1 and this vicinity part are open | released. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control unit 101. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control unit 101. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a condensation suppression process.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus control program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cross section of the image forming apparatus. Here, each unit will be described along a conveyance path such as a sheet serving as a medium for forming an image or an OHP (verhead projector) sheet.

  As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus 1 has a plurality of paper feed trays 2 (2-1 to 2-4). The paper feed tray 2 is a tray for supplying paper, and the paper is transported from the paper feed tray to the guide plate 4 by the operation of the transport roller 3 and the like. For example, the sheet supplied from the sheet feeding tray 2-1 is conveyed to the guide plate 4 via the conveying roller 3-1, the conveying roller 3-2, the conveying roller 3-3, and the conveying roller 3-4 to be fed. The paper supplied from the tray 2-2 is transported to the guide plate 4 via the transport roller 3-2, the transport roller 3-3, and the transport roller 3-4, and the paper supplied from the paper feed tray 2-3 is The sheet fed from the paper feed tray 2-4 is conveyed to the guide plate 4 via the conveyance roller 3-4. . Further, a medium such as an OHP sheet is conveyed from the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 to the guide plate 4 via the conveyance roller 3-5.

  The guide plate 4 guides the paper and the like conveyed by the conveyance roller 3 to the conveyance roller 5 for performing registration. The guide plate 4 is provided with a heater 6. Details of the heater 6 will be described later.

  The conveyance roller 5 temporarily stops the conveyance of the sheet guided by the guide plate 4 and resumes the conveyance of the sheet or the like in accordance with the image transfer timing which is a subsequent process.

  On the other hand, an image transferred onto a sheet or the like is developed by the developing unit 7-Y, the developing unit 7-M, the developing unit 7-C, and the developing unit 7-K based on the image data input to the image forming apparatus 1. A toner image is generated on the transfer body 8. The developing unit 7-Y, the developing unit 7-M, the developing unit 7-C, and the developing unit 7-K generate images of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black on the transfer body 8, respectively.

  The toner image generated on the transfer body 8 is transferred by the transfer unit 9 onto a sheet or the like that is transferred with the transfer timing adjusted by the transfer roller 5. The toner image transferred to the paper or the like is then subjected to a fixing process by heat in the fixing unit 10, and the paper or the like on which the image is fixed is discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 by the transport roller 11.

  Since the image forming apparatus 1 has the same configuration as that of the conventional image forming apparatus except that the heater 6 is provided on the guide plate 4, detailed description of the configuration is omitted.

  In addition, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is an example, and the configuration is adopted if the heater 6 can be provided in the configuration corresponding to the guide plate 4 even in other configurations. May be.

  Next, the heater 6 will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the guide plate 4. In addition, the guide plate 4 shown in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the guide plate 4 is provided with a through-hole 4 ′ for bringing the conveying roller 5 into contact with the paper and a heater 6. As described above, the position where the heater 6 is provided is a surface that does not come into contact with the sheet or the like. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, even if a sheet jam occurs in the vicinity of the guide plate 4, the image forming apparatus. It is a position where one user does not touch.

  3A is a diagram showing only the vicinity of the guide plate 4 in the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a case where a paper jam occurs in the vicinity of the guide plate 4. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when the vicinity of the guide plate 4 is opened, and corresponds to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, even when the vicinity of the guide plate 4 of the image forming apparatus 1 is opened in the direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure, the heater 6 covers the guide plate 4 and the image forming apparatus 1. 12 and the user of the image forming apparatus 1 is not in contact.

  The heater 6 increases the temperature in the image forming apparatus 1 and suppresses the occurrence of condensation in the image forming apparatus 1. However, when the heater 6 is operated, the guide plate 4 Also, it acts as a heat sink and efficiently heats the inside of the image forming apparatus 1.

  Note that a temperature sensor that measures the environmental temperature necessary for adjustment of image formation or the like is usually provided in the vicinity of the developing unit 8, for example, between the developing unit 8-M and the developing unit 8-C. Radiant heat when operating does not affect the temperature sensor.

  Next, control of the heater 6 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 101, an image forming unit 102, an operation / display unit 103, a communication unit 104, a storage unit 105, a power supply unit 106, and a power supply unit 107.

  The control unit 101 controls the image forming apparatus 1 and also controls the heater 6. Details of the control unit 101 will be described later.

  The image forming unit 102 is a set of units that form an image on a medium such as paper, and includes a heater 6 (not shown) that drives the heater 6 and the conveyance roller 3 shown in FIG. 1, and a temperature sensor (not shown) that measures the environmental temperature. 1), a developing unit 7-Y, a developing unit 7-M, a developing unit 7-C, a developing unit 7-K, a motor (not shown) for driving the transfer body 8, a transfer unit 9, a fixing unit 10, and the like. .

  The operation / display unit 103 operates as a user interface and includes, for example, a display device such as a display and an input device such as a keyboard.

  The communication unit 104 communicates with an information processing apparatus (not shown) that requests image formation from the image forming apparatus 1 via a network, and includes, for example, a network adapter.

  The storage unit 15 stores data for image formation and the like, and is configured by, for example, a magnetic disk.

  The power supply unit 106 supplies power to the control unit 101, the image forming unit 102, the operation / display unit 103, the communication unit 104, and the storage unit 105. For example, the power supply unit 106 performs rectification with a transformer that steps down a commercial power supply. Consists of a rectifier. The power supply from the power supply unit 106 is stopped when the image forming apparatus 1 enters a power saving state.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 enters the power saving state, the power supply unit 107 operates in order to receive an image formation request serving as a trigger for returning from the power saving state and to detect an operation input to the operation / display unit 103. Power is supplied to the display unit 103 and the communication unit 104, and includes, for example, a transformer that steps down a commercial power supply and a rectifier that performs rectification.

  Next, details of the control unit 101 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the control unit 101. As shown in the figure, the control unit 101 includes a calculation unit 111, a storage unit 112, a temporary storage unit 113, and an input / output unit 114.

  The calculation unit 111 performs calculation processing, and is realized by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), for example.

  The storage unit 112 stores programs, setting information, and the like, and is realized by a semiconductor storage element such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a nonvolatile memory (Nonvolatile Memory), for example.

  The temporary storage unit 113 is used for a work area or the like when the calculation unit 111 performs calculation processing, and temporarily stores information and the like, and is realized by a semiconductor storage element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), for example. It is.

  The input / output unit 114 inputs and outputs control signals and the like between the control unit 101 and the image forming unit 102, the operation / display unit 103, the communication unit 104, the storage unit 105, the power supply unit 106, and the like.

  The control unit 101 configures each functional unit illustrated in FIG. 6, for example, when the arithmetic unit 111 operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 112.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the control unit 101. In the figure, the portions other than the functional unit relating to the control of the heater 6 are omitted.

  As shown in the figure, the control unit 101 includes a dew condensation suppression processing unit 116, a power saving processing unit 117, and an image formation processing unit 118.

  The dew condensation suppression processing unit 116 controls the heater 6 to perform control processing for suppressing dew condensation in the apparatus of the image forming apparatus 1, and includes an in-apparatus temperature acquisition unit 1161, a setting holding unit 1162, and processing required. It has a rejection determination unit 1163, a power saving suppression request unit 1164, an image formation request acquisition unit 1165, and a heater control unit 1166.

  The power saving processing unit 117 controls the transition of the image forming apparatus 1 to the power saving state, the release of the power saving state, and the like, but details thereof are omitted here.

  The image forming processing unit 118 controls each part of the image forming unit 102 at the time of image forming processing, but details thereof are omitted here.

  The apparatus internal temperature acquisition unit 1161 acquires the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 1 from the temperature sensor of the image forming unit 102.

  The setting holding unit 1162 holds various parameter settings required for the condensation prevention process. Examples of the setting to be held include a threshold value of the temperature inside the apparatus, which is a condition for performing the dew condensation prevention process, and a time for operating the heater 6.

  The processing necessity determination unit 1163 performs the dew condensation prevention process based on the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 1 acquired by the internal temperature acquisition unit 1161 and the threshold of the internal temperature held in the setting holding unit 1162. Determine if necessary. Further, the processing necessity determination unit 1163 ends the condensation suppression processing when the image formation request acquisition unit 1165 acquires information indicating that the start of the image formation processing is requested from the image formation processing unit 118. To decide.

  The power saving suppression request unit 1164 requests the power saving processing unit 117 to suppress the transition to the power saving state for a certain period of time when it is determined by the processing necessity determination unit 1163 to execute the dew condensation prevention processing. To do.

  The image formation request acquisition unit 1165 acquires information indicating that the image formation processing unit 118 has requested start of image formation processing.

  The heater control unit 1166 performs control to operate or stop the heater 6 according to the determination result by the processing necessity determination unit 1163.

  Next, the flow of the condensation prevention process by the condensation prevention processing unit 116 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the condensation suppression process.

  The condensation suppression processing by the condensation suppression processing unit 116 is performed when the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on and when the image forming apparatus 1 returns from the power saving state.

  When the dew condensation suppression process is started, first, the apparatus internal temperature acquisition unit 1161 acquires the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 1 from the temperature sensor of the image forming unit 102 (step 201).

  Subsequently, the processing necessity determination unit 1163 compares the temperature in the apparatus of the image forming apparatus 1 acquired by the in-apparatus temperature acquisition unit 1161 with the threshold value of the in-apparatus temperature held in the setting holding unit 1162, and forms an image. If the temperature in the apparatus 1 is higher than the threshold (NO in step 202), the condensation suppression process is terminated as it is. This is a determination based on the reason that the possibility of dew condensation is low if the temperature inside the image forming apparatus 1 is higher than the threshold value. In addition, the threshold value of the temperature in the apparatus is an arbitrary value set in advance, and is set to a value of about 12 degrees Celsius, for example.

  On the other hand, if the temperature in the image forming apparatus 1 is equal to or lower than the threshold (YES in step 202), the processing necessity determination unit 1163 determines that the dew condensation suppression process is necessary, and receives the power saving suppression request. The unit 1164 requests the power saving processing unit 117 to suppress the transition to the power saving state for a certain time (step 203). The time during which the transition to the power saving state is suppressed is the time held in the setting holding unit 1162, and is an arbitrary value set in advance. This time is a time in anticipation of the temperature inside the image forming apparatus 1 rising to the extent that condensation does not occur due to the operation of the heater 6, and is set to a value of about 90 minutes, for example. In addition, the power saving suppression request unit 1164 requests the power saving processing unit 117 to suppress the transition to the power saving state, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the power supply from the power source unit 106 is caused by the transition to the power saving state. This is because when stopped, power is not supplied to the image forming unit 102 including the heater 6. Therefore, when power is supplied from the power supply unit 107 that supplies power to the heater 6 even in the power saving state, it is not necessary to suppress the transition to the power saving state.

  In addition, when receiving the determination of the necessity / unnecessity determination unit 1163, the heater control unit 116 operates the heater 6 of the image forming unit 102 (step 204). Then, when a certain period of time elapses without the image formation request acquisition unit 1165 acquiring information indicating that the image formation processing unit 118 has requested the start of the image formation processing (NO in step 206, YES in step 205). The heater control unit 116 stops the heater 6 (step 207), and the dew condensation prevention processing unit 116 ends the dew condensation prevention process. This fixed time is the time held in the setting holding unit 1162 and is the same time as the time when the power saving suppression requesting unit 117 requests the power saving processing unit 117 to suppress the transition to the power saving state.

  If the image formation request acquisition unit 1165 acquires information indicating that the start of image formation processing has been requested from the image formation processing unit 118 before the predetermined time has elapsed (NO in step 205, YES in step 206). The heater control unit 116 stops the heater 6 (step 207), and the dew condensation prevention processing unit 116 ends the dew condensation prevention process. When the image formation request acquisition unit 1165 acquires information indicating that the start of the image formation processing has been requested from the image formation processing unit 118, the image formation processing unit 118 ends the condensation suppression processing. When the image forming unit 102 is operated in accordance with the start request, the power consumption is prevented from being excessive, and the fixing unit 10 of the image forming unit 102 is operated, so that the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 1 is increased. In anticipation of rising.

  In this embodiment, the printer is described as the image forming apparatus 1. However, the same dew condensation suppressing process can be performed even in a copying machine having an image reading unit, a facsimile machine having a fax modem, or the like. Is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2-1 to 2-4 Paper feed tray 3-1 to 3-5 Conveyance roller 4 Guide plate 4 'Through part 5 Conveyance roller 6 Heater 7-Y, 7-M, 7-C, 7-K Developing unit 8 Transfer body 9 Transfer unit 10 Fixing unit 11 Conveying roller 12 Cover 101 Control unit 102 Image forming unit 103 Operation / display unit 104 Communication unit 105 Storage unit 106 Power supply unit 107 Power supply unit 111 Calculation unit 112 Storage unit 113 Temporary storage unit 114 Input / Output Unit 116 Condensation Suppression Processing Unit 117 Power Saving Processing Unit 118 Image Formation Processing Unit 1161 In-Apparatus Temperature Acquisition Unit 1162 Setting Holding Unit 1163 Processing Necessity Determination Unit 1164 Power Saving Suppression Request Unit 1165 Image Formation Request Acquisition Unit 1166 Heater Control Unit

Claims (9)

Developing means for generating a latent image based on the image information, and developing the image on the transfer body based on the generated latent image;
Conveying means for conveying an output medium on which an image is formed;
Transfer means for transferring an image developed on the transfer body to an output medium conveyed by the conveyance means;
When the output medium is clogged, it can be released away from the clogged output medium, and guides the output medium conveyed by the conveying means to the reference position when conveying it to the transfer means Means,
A cover that opens in conjunction with the opening of the guide means;
Fixing means for fixing the image transferred to the output medium by the transfer means;
Heating means disposed in the guide means ;
Equipped with,
The heating means is a surface of the guide means that is not in contact with the output medium, and is disposed at a position where the heating means is disposed between the guide means and the cover when the guide means is opened. the image forming apparatus characterized by being. Temperature acquisition means for acquiring the temperature in the apparatus;
Heating control means for controlling the heating means ;
Further comprising
The heating control means operates the heating means for a predetermined time when the temperature in the apparatus acquired by the temperature acquisition means at power-on is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. The image forming apparatus described in 1. Further comprising power saving control means for controlling transition to a power saving state including stopping of power supply means for supplying power to the heating means;
When the temperature in the apparatus acquired by the temperature acquisition unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature when the heating control unit returns to the normal state from the transition to the power saving state by the power saving control unit, the heating control unit 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the means is operated for a predetermined time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the heating control unit causes the power saving control unit to stop shifting to a power saving state while the heating unit is in operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the heating control unit stops the heating unit when image formation is started. A temperature acquisition process for acquiring the temperature in the image forming apparatus;
When the temperature in the apparatus acquired by the temperature acquisition process when the image forming apparatus is turned on is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, when the output medium is clogged , the output medium is separated from the clogged output medium. can be opened, a guide means for guiding the reference position at the time of transporting the output medium conveyed by the conveying means provided in the image forming apparatus to the transfer means, that the guiding means is opened Of the guide means that the cover opens in conjunction, it is a surface that does not come into contact with the output medium, and is disposed at a position that is placed between the guide means and the cover when the guide means is opened. A control program for an image forming apparatus, characterized by causing a computer to execute a heating control process for operating a heating unit that is operated for a predetermined time. Further causing the computer to execute power saving control for controlling transition to a power saving state including stopping of power supply means for supplying power to the heating means,
In the heating control process, when the image forming apparatus returns to the normal state from the transition to the power saving state by the power saving control process, the temperature in the apparatus acquired in the temperature acquisition process is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. 7. The image forming apparatus control program according to claim 6 , wherein the heating unit is operated for a predetermined time. 8. The control program for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the heating control process stops the transition to the power saving state by the power saving control process while operating the heating unit. The image forming apparatus control program according to claim 6 , wherein the heating control process stops the heating unit when image formation by the image forming apparatus is started.

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