JP5417362B2 - Image forming apparatus and method of controlling image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus control method that reduce power consumption while maintaining a standby state according to a current use state.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus is provided with a low power mode because power consumption cannot be reduced if the printer is in a standby state so that printing can be performed whenever a print instruction is issued. A technique for realizing low power by reducing power consumption is known.

Japanese Patent No. 3472187

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when the sensor of the portion that conveys the printed medium is detected when entering the low power mode, the low power mode cannot be entered and the power to the optical sensor is not supplied. The supply cannot be stopped. In addition, if the medium is detected and the low power mode is entered and the power supply to the optical sensor is stopped uniformly, it cannot be recognized that the medium exists or has been removed. is there.

One embodiment to solve the problem is:
A communication unit that communicates with the outside;
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium on a conveyance path based on communication of the communication unit;
A sensor unit provided on the conveyance path;
When the communication unit is not communicating with the outside , a non-communication flag indicating that communication is not being performed is turned on , and when no error has occurred in the communication unit or the image forming unit, there is no error. Flag processing means for turning on a no-error flag indicating that , and when the mechanical configuration of the image forming unit or the transport path is not in operation, a flag processing unit that turns on a flag indicating that the machine is stopped ,
A normal power mode that waits for a print instruction in a standby state and a low power that turns off the power supply to the sensor unit by a combination of the on / off state of the non-communication flag, the error-free flag, and the machine stop flag A setting means for setting the mode,
Based on the on / off states of the non-communication flag, the error-free flag, and the machine stop flag, the predetermined area of the conveyance path is set when the low power mode is set with reference to the setting by the setting means wherein when the recording medium is determined whether or not the present, when present to continue the supply of power to the sensor of the sensor unit that exists in the predetermined area, not present in A control unit for stopping the supply of power to the sensor of the sensor unit present in the predetermined region ;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

1 is an external view showing an example of an external appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a mechanical configuration in the image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining conditions for setting a low power mode in the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of low power processing in the image forming apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
An image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a control box 6 that stores a printer engine, a cover 7 that is rotatably connected to the control box 6 by a hinge, and a cover. 7, a discharge port 3 for discharging a printed recording medium, an operation unit 4 provided in front of the control box 6, and a display unit using a liquid crystal screen for displaying operation information and an operation menu 5

  In FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention further opens a cover 7, and when the cover 7 is opened, a paper holding portion 57 that holds the paper roll A rotatably, and an ink ribbon roll B that holds the ink ribbon roll B. A ribbon supply shaft 55 for supplying R; a ribbon take-up shaft 56 for winding and holding the ink ribbon R supplied from the ribbon supply shaft 55; a pinch roller 50 provided in the transport path 12 for transporting the paper D; A paper detection sensor 17 provided in the conveyance path 12 for detecting the paper D, a conveyance path 19 to which the ink ribbon R is supplied from the ribbon supply shaft 55, a platen roller 13 for conveying the ink ribbon R and the paper D, and the paper D The printed paper D is discharged from the discharge port 3. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 has a paper sensor 61 in the vicinity of the paper holding unit 57. Further, a ribbon sensor 62 for detecting how much ink ribbon R of the ink ribbon roll B remains is provided in the vicinity of the ribbon supply shaft 55. In addition, the paper sensor 61 and the ribbon sensor 62 include, for example, a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and the presence or absence of the subject is detected by detecting the intensity of reflected light from the subject or the intensity of transmitted light from the subject. Judging.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is further described with reference to a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of FIG. A FROM 32 (Floating Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 33 that are connected and store operation information, setting information, operation programs, and the like, a display control circuit 34 that controls the operation of the display unit, and a display control circuit 34, a display unit 5 such as a liquid crystal screen, a communication unit 16 that communicates with an externally provided host computer H or the like that is handled by a user, the operation unit 4, the conveyance roller 10, and the platen described above. Stepping motor 36 for driving roller 13, pinch roller 50, etc., motor control circuit 35 for controlling stepping motor 36, and ribbon winding shaft 56 described above are driven. A ribbon motor 38, a motor control circuit 37 which controls the ribbon motor 38, and a head control circuit 39 for controlling the thermal head 28 described above. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a top sensor 63 provided on the conveyance path 12, a black mark sensor 64, a cutter sensor 65 that detects the position of the cutter, a transformer It has a first transport sensor 66 and a second transport sensor 67 provided in the port section, and a captac bin sensor 68 for detecting a recording medium in the recovery path. As an example, each sensor includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and the light receiving unit detects the intensity of reflected light from the subject or the intensity of transmitted light from the subject, thereby determining the presence or absence of the subject.

  As an example, the image forming apparatus 1 having such a configuration prints on a sheet D as a recording medium by a thermal head 28 in accordance with an operation from the operation unit 4 or the host computer H under the control of the control unit 31. The paper D is transported by the transport roller 10, the platen roller 13, the pinch roller 50, etc., and discharged to the discharge port 3.

  Next, the low power mode processing of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described in detail below using the explanatory diagram of FIG. 4 and the flowchart of FIG.

  That is, the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 1 detects the current usage status of the main body, and determines whether the communication unit is in communication with an external device such as the host computer H except for the printer status monitoring command ( If it is determined in step S11) that the communication time is not set or the predetermined time has elapsed in the non-communication state, a “non-communication flag” indicating that communication is not being performed is turned on (step S12). Next, the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not an error has occurred in the entire image forming apparatus 1 (step S13), and no error has occurred or an error has occurred. If it is determined that the predetermined time has passed in the absence state, the “no error flag” is turned on (step S14). Further, the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether the mechanical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 is operating or stopped (step S15), and if it has stopped or has been stopped, a predetermined time has elapsed. If it is determined that the "machine stop flag" is turned on (step S16).

Thereafter, the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 1 illustrates, as an example, an explanatory diagram of FIG. 4 based on the on / off states of the above-described “non-communication flag”, “no error flag”, and “machine stop flag”. In order from the left of the table,
If “Non-communication flag” is on, “No error flag” is on, “Machine stop flag” is on, “Low power mode”,
If “Non-communication flag” is off, “No error flag” is on, “Machine stop flag” is on, “Low power mode”,
If “Non-communication flag” is on, “No error flag” is off, “Machine stop flag” is on, “Low power mode”,
If “Non-communication flag” is off, “No error flag” is off, “Machine stop flag” is on, “Normal power mode”,
If “Non-communication flag” is on, “No error flag” is on, “Machine stop flag” is off, “Normal power mode”,
If “Non-communication flag” is on, “No error flag” is off, “Machine stop flag” is off, “Normal power mode”,
If “Non-communication flag” is off, “No error flag” is on, “Machine stop flag” is off, “Normal power mode”,
If “Non-communication flag” is off, “No error flag” is off, “Machine stop flag” is off, “Normal power mode”,
(Step S17). However, this is only an example, and in practice it can be set in any way depending on the status of the apparatus.

  Next, the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not the first transport sensor 66 and the second transport sensor 67 (which may include the capture bin sensor 68) in the transport unit are detected. If it is determined (step S18) and detected, the power supply of only the main body sensors (that is, the paper sensor 61, the ribbon sensor 62, the top sensor 63, the black mark sensor 64, and the cutter sensor 65) is turned off. Supply of power to the first transport sensor 66 and the second transport sensor 67 (the capture bin sensor 68 may be added thereto) of the transport unit is controlled to maintain the on state (step S19).

  However, if the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 1 does not detect the medium by the first transport sensor 66 and the second transport sensor 67 (which may include the capture bin sensor 68) in the transport unit, All the sensors, in this embodiment, the paper sensor 61, the ribbon sensor 62, the top sensor 63, the black mark sensor 64, and the cutter sensor 65, as well as the first transport sensor 66 and the second transport sensor 67 in the transport section. Then, control is performed to turn off the supply of power to the capture bin sensor 68 (step S20).

  By doing so, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, even if the user forgets to remove the medium or the medium continues to remain in the transport unit, only the power supply of the sensor on the main body side is provided. Therefore, power consumption can be reduced. Even when the main unit is in the low power mode, the power supply to the sensor of the transport unit can be stopped only after the medium is removed, so that the presence of the medium and the removal of the medium can be notified.

A plurality of the various embodiments described above can be implemented at the same time. With these descriptions, a person skilled in the art can realize the present invention. However, various modifications of these embodiments can be conceived. It is easy for a person skilled in the art and can be applied to various embodiments without inventive ability. Therefore, the present invention covers a wide range consistent with the disclosed principle and novel features, and is not limited to the above-described embodiments.
Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims of the present application will be appended.
[1] A communication unit that communicates with the outside, an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium on a conveyance path based on communication of the communication unit, a sensor unit provided on the conveyance path, and the communication unit Is communicating with the outside, whether an error has occurred in the communication unit or the image forming unit, or whether the mechanical configuration of the image forming unit or the conveyance path is in operation. On the basis of this, when the supply of power to the sensor unit is turned off and the recording medium is present in a predetermined area of the transport path, the power of the sensor of the sensor unit existing in the predetermined area is supplied. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that continues the operation.
[2] The predetermined area is a transport section that is an area of the transport path in the vicinity of the exit of the casing of the image forming apparatus, and the recording medium is present in the transport section. The image forming apparatus according to [1], wherein the control unit continues to supply power to the sensor of the sensor unit existing in the transport unit.
[3] The control unit may be an elapsed time after the communication unit is not communicating with the outside, an elapsed time after the communication unit or the image forming unit has no error, or the The image according to [1], wherein control is performed to turn off the supply of power to the sensor unit based on an elapsed time since the operation of the mechanical configuration of the image forming unit or the conveyance path is stopped. Forming equipment.
[4] The sensor unit includes at least one of a paper sensor, a ribbon sensor, a top sensor, a block mark sensor, a cutter sensor, a transport sensor, and a capture bin sensor. The image forming apparatus according to [1].
[5] The control unit determines whether the communication unit communicates with the outside, whether an error has occurred in the communication unit or the image forming unit, or whether the image forming unit or the conveyance path Based on whether the mechanical configuration is in operation or not, even when the power supply to the sensor unit is turned off, the standby state in which the image can be formed immediately if there is an instruction to form an image. The image forming apparatus according to [1], wherein the operation of the image forming unit is controlled so as to be maintained.
[6] A control method of an image forming apparatus that transports a recording medium to a transport path and forms an image using an image forming unit based on communication with the outside by a communication unit, and whether or not the communication is performed. Or provided in the transport path based on whether an error has occurred in the communication section or the image forming section, or whether a mechanical configuration of the image forming section or the transport path is in operation. If the recording medium is present in a predetermined area of the transport path, the power supply is continued for the sensors of the sensor section existing in the predetermined area. A control method for an image forming apparatus.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 4 ... Operation part, 5 ... Display part, 31 ... Control part, 28 ... Thermal head, 16 ... Communication part, H ... Host computer, 61 ... Paper sensor, 62 ... Ribbon sensor, 63 ... Top sensor 64 ... Black mark sensor, 65 ... Cutter sensor, 66 ... First transport sensor, 67 ... Second transport sensor, 68 ... Captain bin sensor.

Claims (6)

A communication unit that communicates with the outside;
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium on a conveyance path based on communication of the communication unit;
A sensor unit provided on the conveyance path;
When the communication unit is not communicating with the outside , a non-communication flag indicating that communication is not being performed is turned on , and when no error has occurred in the communication unit or the image forming unit, there is no error. Flag processing means for turning on a no-error flag indicating that , and when the mechanical configuration of the image forming unit or the transport path is not in operation, a flag processing unit that turns on a flag indicating that the machine is stopped ,
The normal power mode for waiting for an image formation instruction in the standby state and the power supply to the sensor unit are turned off by a combination of the on / off state of the non-communication flag, the error-free flag, and the machine stop flag. A setting means for setting which of the low power mode and
Based on the on / off states of the non-communication flag, the error-free flag, and the machine stop flag, the predetermined area of the conveyance path is set when the low power mode is set with reference to the setting by the setting means wherein when the recording medium is determined whether or not the present, when present to continue the supply of power to the sensor of the sensor unit that exists in the predetermined area, not present in A control unit for stopping the supply of power to the sensor of the sensor unit present in the predetermined region ;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The predetermined area is a transport section that is an area of the transport path in the vicinity of an exit of a housing of the image forming apparatus. When the recording medium is present in the transport section, the control section 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is continuously supplied to the sensor of the sensor unit existing in the transport unit. The flag processing means is an elapsed time after the communication unit is not communicating with the outside, or an elapsed time after the communication unit or the image forming unit has no error, or the image formation. 2. The non-communication flag, the no error flag, or the machine stop flag is turned on based on an elapsed time after the operation of the mechanical configuration of the section or the transport path is stopped. The image forming apparatus described.   The sensor unit includes at least one of a paper sensor, a ribbon sensor, a top sensor, a block mark sensor, a cutter sensor, a transport sensor, and a capture bin sensor. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1. The control unit refers to the setting by the setting means based on the on / off states of the non-communication flag, the no error flag, and the machine stop flag, and when the normal power mode is set , 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the image forming unit is controlled so as to maintain a standby state in which the apparatus can stand by in a state where image formation can be immediately performed if there is an instruction for formation. A control method of an image forming apparatus that transports a recording medium to a transport path and forms an image using an image forming unit based on communication with the outside by a communication unit,
When the communication unit is not communicating with the outside, turn on a non-communication flag indicating non-communication,
When no error has occurred in the communication unit or the image forming unit, turn on an error-free flag indicating no error,
When the mechanical configuration of the image forming unit or the transport path is not in operation , turn on a machine stop flag indicating that the stop is
Based on the ON / OFF states of the non-communication flag, the error-free flag, and the machine stop flag, the combination of the non-communication flag, the error-free flag, and the machine stop flag indicates a standby state. Referring to the setting of the setting means for setting either the normal power mode for waiting for a print instruction or the low power mode for turning off the power supply to the sensor unit,
When the low power mode is set , determine whether the recording medium exists in a predetermined area of the transport path ,
If present , continue to supply power to the sensor of the sensor unit existing in the predetermined area ,
If not, stop supplying power to the sensor of the sensor unit existing in the predetermined area,
A control method for an image forming apparatus.

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