JP5495894B2 - Power supply device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply device that raises and lowers an overcurrent point by key input and an image forming apparatus including the power supply device.

  Image forming apparatuses sold at stores are classified into general models equipped with additional devices and inexpensive models not equipped with additional devices. The inexpensive model can exhibit the same function as the general model if an additional device is added later.

  However, some users have added a non-genuine additional device to the low-priced model so that the low-priced model has the same function as the general model.

  In view of this, a technique is disclosed in which when an additional device that is not a genuine product is attached to a low-cost model, the additional device that is not a genuine product cannot be used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-307813 A

  However, if the additional device that is not a genuine product is a counterfeit product that has been increased in speed and functionality based on the genuine product, the technology of Patent Document 1 can identify whether it is a genuine product or a counterfeit product. could not.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to prevent an image forming apparatus from operating unless a predetermined condition is satisfied even when a forged additional device based on a genuine product is attached to the image forming apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a power supply device that can perform the above.

  The power supply apparatus of the present invention supplies power to the image forming apparatus main body and an additional device that can be attached to the image forming apparatus main body.

The power supply device of the present invention includes an upper limit value selection unit and a storage unit. The upper limit value selection unit can set the power supply output upper limit value to the first upper limit value or the second upper limit value exceeding the first upper limit value, and the first key is input from the input unit of the image forming apparatus main body. Then, the second upper limit value corresponding to this is selected. The storage unit stores a unique ID for each individual power supply device main body and a second key that is uniquely assigned to the power supply device main body corresponding to the ID and used for comparison with the first key.

  The first upper limit value is set to a value that can supply power consumption of the image forming apparatus main body and cannot supply power consumption of the image forming apparatus main body and the additional apparatus. The second upper limit value is set to a value that can supply power consumption between the image forming apparatus main body and the additional apparatus. When the first key is input to the input unit, the upper limit value selection unit determines whether or not there is a second key that matches the first key. The corresponding second upper limit value is selected, and if there is no matching second key, the first upper limit value is selected.

  The power supply apparatus in this configuration can supply power consumption between the image forming apparatus main body and the additional apparatus only when there is a second key that matches the first key input from the input unit. Since the second key is uniquely assigned to the power supply device main body, even if the first key corresponding to the second key stored in another power supply device main body is input, the image forming apparatus main body and the additional device There is no possibility of supplying power consumption.

  Therefore, when a genuine additional device is purchased, if the first key corresponding to the second key stored in the power supply main body is transmitted to the purchaser, the genuine additional device is purchased. Unless you do this, you will not be able to obtain a valid primary key. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an additional device that is not a regular product from being attached to the image forming apparatus main body.

  The power supply apparatus according to the present invention can prevent the image forming apparatus from operating unless a predetermined condition is satisfied even when an additional device forged based on a genuine product is attached to the image forming apparatus.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a power supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the power supply device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the power supply controller with which the power supply device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is equipped. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of CPU in the power supply device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the transition of the power supply output upper limit of the power supply device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the power supply controller with which the power supply device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention is equipped. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of CPU in the power supply device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the power supply controller with which the power supply device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention is equipped. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of CPU in the power supply device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the power supply controller with which the power supply device which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention is equipped. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of CPU in the power supply device which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the transition of the power supply output upper limit of the power supply device which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus provided with the power supply device which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention. 10 is a flowchart showing the control contents of a CPU in an image forming apparatus including a power supply device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 including a power supply apparatus 400 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes an image reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a paper feeding unit 4, and a post-processing device 5. The image reading unit 2, the post-processing device 5, and a large-capacity cassette 34 described later correspond to the additional device of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the plurality of additional apparatuses are attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 (hereinafter, an image forming apparatus to which no additional apparatus is attached).

  The image reading unit 2 is placed on a document placing table 11 made of transparent glass, a double-sided automatic document feeder (RADF) 12 for automatically feeding a document onto the document placing table 11, and the document placing table 11. A document image reading unit for scanning and reading an image of a placed document, that is, a scanner unit 13 is configured.

  The RADF 12 is a device that sets a plurality of documents at once on a predetermined document tray and automatically feeds the set documents one by one onto the document placement table 11 of the scanner unit 13. The RADF 12 includes a conveyance path for a single-sided document, a conveyance path for a double-sided document, a conveyance path switching unit, and the like so that the scanner unit 13 can read one or both sides of the document according to a user's selection. Has been.

  The scanner unit 13 includes a lamp reflector assembly that exposes the surface of the document and a first reflection mirror that guides a reflected light image from the document to a photoelectric conversion element (CCD) 17 that converts an image of the reflected light into an electrical image signal. The scanning unit 14 includes a second scanning unit 15 on which second and third reflecting mirrors are mounted, and an optical lens body 16 for forming a reflected light image on the CCD 17. The first scanning unit 14 travels along the document placement table 11 from left to right at a constant speed V, and the second scanning unit 15 is controlled to travel in the same direction at a speed of V / 2.

  Thus, the image reading unit 2 moves the scanner unit 13 along the lower surface of the document table 11 while sequentially placing the documents to be read on the document table 11 by operations related to the RADF 12 and the scanner unit 13. Thus, the image of the document placed on the document placement table 11 is sequentially formed on the CCD 17 line by line to read the document image.

  The image data obtained by reading the document image with the scanner unit 13 is subjected to various processes and then temporarily stored in the memory. The image data is output from the memory to the image forming unit 3 according to the output instruction. After reproduction as a visible image on the photosensitive drum 22, the image is transferred onto a sheet to form a toner image.

  The image forming unit 3 includes a laser writing unit (LSU) 21 and an electrophotographic process unit 20 for forming an image. The laser writing unit 21 includes a semiconductor laser that emits laser light in accordance with image data read from a memory or image data transferred from an external device such as a personal computer, a polygon mirror that deflects the laser light at a constant angular velocity, and a constant angular velocity. It has an f-θ lens that corrects the deflected laser light so that it scans the photosensitive drum 22 of the electrophotographic process unit 20 at a constant speed. The electrophotographic process unit 20 has a charging device 23, a developing device 24, a transfer device 25, a peeling device 26, a cleaning device 27, and a charge eliminating device arranged around the photosensitive drum 22 in accordance with a well-known mode. The fixing device 28 is arranged on the downstream side.

  The paper feed unit 4 includes first to third cassettes 31 to 33, a manual feed tray 35, and a large-capacity cassette 34 as an option. The first cassette 31 is a tandem tray that accommodates the first tray and the second tray, and both trays can be pulled out from the apparatus main body at the same time. The second cassette 32 and the third cassette 33 accommodate a third tray and a fourth tray, respectively. That is, four trays are accommodated in three cassettes (31 to 33). Since the large-capacity cassette 34 is a large-capacity tray, it can accommodate standard paper that is most frequently used, for example, A4 size. The sheet feeding / conveying units 37 and 38 include a sheet feeding roller, a conveying roller, and a registration roller for conveying a sheet from the sheet feeding unit 4 to a transfer position between the photosensitive drum 22 and the transfer device 25.

  The four trays in the first to third cassettes 31 to 33 and the large-capacity cassette 34 in the sheet feeding unit 4 store sheets stacked for each size, and store sheets of a size desired by the user. When a cassette or tray is selected, the sheets are fed one by one from the top of the sheet bundle in the tray, and are sequentially conveyed toward the electrophotographic process unit 20 via the conveyance paths of the sheet conveyance units 37 and 38. .

  In the laser writing unit 21 and the electrophotographic processing unit 20, the image data read from the memory is formed as an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 22 by scanning the laser beam with the laser writing unit 21. The toner image visualized by the toner of the developing device 24 is electrostatically transferred by the transfer device 25 onto the surface of the sheet conveyed from the paper feeding unit 4 and fixed by the fixing device 28.

  A sheet discharge path 29 is provided downstream of the fixing device 28 in the sheet conveyance direction. The sheet discharge path 29 is a conveyance path to the sheet discharge tray 51 between the image reading unit 2 and the image forming unit 3. The paper is branched into a paper discharge conveyance path 41 of the post-processing apparatus 5 and a conveyance unit 42 for double-sided copying. The sheet sent to the duplex copying conveyance unit 42 is reversed here and conveyed to the electrophotographic process unit 20 again, and after an image is formed on the back side of the sheet, the sheet is discharged.

  The sheet on which the image is formed in this manner is sent to the paper discharge tray 51 between the image reading unit 2 and the image forming unit 3 or the post-processing device 5 and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 52, the paper discharge tray 53, the discharge. The paper is discharged to the paper tray 54 or the paper discharge tray 55.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is connected to a PC or a FAX via a network line (LAN, telephone line, etc.) not shown.

  The sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus 100 to the post-processing apparatus 5 are selectively stacked on the discharge tray 52, the discharge tray 53, the discharge tray 54, or the discharge tray 55.

  The paper discharge conveyance path 41 of the post-processing device 5 branches into a paper discharge tray 52, a paper discharge tray 54, or a paper discharge path 55 that is discharged to the paper discharge tray 55 and a conveyance path 44 that is discharged to the paper discharge tray 53.

  There are three types of paper discharge methods to the paper discharge tray 52. The first is simple stacking, and the paper is discharged directly to the paper discharge tray 52. The second is a bundle job offset, once stacked in the staple tray, the first copy is discharged as it is, and the second copy is shifted to the front side of the image forming apparatus 100 by a shift means (not shown), and then the discharge tray. To 52. That is, the discharge and the shift discharge are alternately performed as they are. The third is a staple, which is once stacked in the staple tray, stapled, and then discharged to the discharge tray 52.

  The paper discharge tray 52, the paper discharge tray 54, and the paper discharge tray 55 are integrally raised and lowered by the same tray lifting / lowering motor (not shown). The discharge tray 53 is raised and lowered by a motor (not shown) different from the tray lifting / lowering motor for the discharge tray 52, the discharge tray 54, and the discharge tray 55.

  The paper discharge tray 52 is lowered according to the amount of sheets discharged onto the paper discharge tray 52, and when it is full, the descent is stopped. Further, the discharge tray 53 descends according to the amount of sheets discharged onto the discharge tray 53, and stops when it is full.

  The image forming apparatus 100 further includes a power supply device 400. Hereinafter, the power supply apparatus 400 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the power supply apparatus 400 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The power supply device 400 includes a power supply controller 200 and a digital power supply 300. The configuration of the power supply controller 200 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When AC is input, the digital power supply 300 has a function of converting it into DC and outputting it. The digital power source 300 includes a DC / DC converter 310. The DC / DC converter 310 determines a DC value to be output based on the duty ratio of the PWM signal from the power supply controller 200.

  In addition, the power supply apparatus 400 receives an input signal from the input unit 160 of the image forming apparatus 100. The input unit 160 is a member for inputting a first key corresponding to a second key 244 described later.

  In the present embodiment, the digital power supply 300 is provided as the power supply provided in the power supply apparatus 400, but an analog power supply may be used. Since the digital power supply 300 can realize various controls by software, there is an advantage that the design can be easily changed compared to the analog power supply.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the power supply controller 200 provided in the power supply apparatus 400 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The power supply controller 200 includes a CPU 210, a ROM 220, a RAM 230, a flash memory 240, a PWM controller 250, and an overcurrent setting unit 260. The CPU 210 corresponds to an upper limit selection unit of the present invention. The flash memory 240 corresponds to the storage unit of the present invention.

  The CPU 210 reads a predetermined control program from the ROM 220 and comprehensively controls each unit. The RAM 230 is used as a working area for the CPU 210. The flash memory 240 stores an ID 242 and a second key 244. The PWM controller 250 transmits a PWM signal to the DC / DC converter 310 of the digital power supply 300. The overcurrent setting unit 260 sets an upper limit value of the duty ratio of the PWM signal transmitted from the PWM controller 250 to the DC / DC converter 310 in response to a command from the CPU 210, that is, a power supply output upper limit value.

  The ID 242 is uniquely assigned to the power supply apparatus 400. The second key 244 is uniquely assigned to the power supply apparatus 400 corresponding to the ID 242 and is used for comparison with the first key.

  The CPU 210 can set the power output upper limit value to the first upper limit value or the second upper limit value exceeding the first upper limit value, and when the first key is input from the input unit 160 of the image forming apparatus 100. A second upper limit value corresponding to this is selected. The first upper limit value is a value that can supply power consumption of the image forming apparatus 100 main body and cannot supply power consumption of the image forming apparatus 100 main body and the additional apparatus. The second upper limit value is a value that can supply power consumption between the image forming apparatus 100 main body and the additional apparatus.

  When the first key is input to the input unit 160, the CPU 210 determines whether or not there is a second key 244 that matches the first key. If there is a second key 244 that matches, the CPU 210 sets the first key. The corresponding second upper limit value is selected, and if there is no matching second key 244, the first upper limit value is selected. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the function of the CPU 210 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the CPU 210 in the power supply apparatus 400 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a transition of the power supply output upper limit value of the power supply apparatus 400 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The flowchart of FIG. 4 starts when the power supply device 400 is turned on. In a state where the power supply device 400 is turned on, the power supply output upper limit value of the power supply device 400 is the first upper limit value, which corresponds to P _max1 in FIG.

  First, the CPU 210 requests the input unit 160 to input the first key (S110). Thereafter, the CPU 210 determines whether or not the first key is input to the input unit 160 (S120). When the CPU 210 determines that the first key is not input to the input unit 160 (N in S120), the CPU 210 determines whether the input of the first key has been canceled or timed out (S130). If the CPU 210 determines that the input of the first key has not been canceled and has not timed out (N of 130), the process proceeds to S120.

When the CPU 210 determines that the first key is input to the input unit 160 (Y in S120), the CPU 210 determines whether or not the input first key and the second key 244 match (S140). When CPU 210 determines that the input first key and second key 244 match (Y in S140), CPU 210 selects the second upper limit value as the power supply output upper limit value (S150). The time of S150 corresponds to the _{T 1} of the FIG. CPU210 is for selecting a second upper limit at time _{T 1,} the power output upper limit value is changed from _{P max1} to _{P max2} at the time of _{T 1.}

  If the CPU 210 determines that the input first key and second key 244 do not match (N in S140), the CPU 210 selects the first upper limit value as the power output upper limit value (S160). Further, when CPU 210 determines in S130 that cancellation or timeout has occurred (Y in S130), CPU 210 selects the first upper limit value as the power output upper limit value (Y in S160).

  In the present embodiment, the ID 242 uniquely assigned to the power supply apparatus 400 and the first key corresponding to the second key 244 are managed as a database by the vendor of the power supply apparatus 400 (image forming apparatus 100 main body). Then, when a genuine additional device is purchased, the service person at the seller checks the ID 242 of the power supply device 400 provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 and informs the seller of the ID 242. Receive a key. When the service person informs the purchaser of the additional device of the received first key, the purchaser can input an appropriate first key to the input unit 160, and set the power supply output upper limit value of the power supply device 400. The first upper limit value can be changed to the second upper limit value.

  Through this series of procedures, the purchaser of the additional device can operate the image forming apparatus 100 to which the additional device is attached.

  The series of procedures described above can also be applied when the image forming apparatus 100 main body is connected to a network. In this case, when a genuine additional device is purchased, the ID of the additional device is obtained from the vendor, and the ID is input to the input unit 160 so that the first key is obtained via the network. You can do it. Instead of obtaining the ID of the additional device from the vendor, the ID may be written on the additional device. In the procedure via the network, if the use of the ID of the additional device for acquiring the first key is limited to one time, the additional device that is not a genuine product by using the ID of the additional device is used as another image. It can prevent being attached to the main body of the forming apparatus 100 and used.

  The power supply apparatus 400 in this configuration can supply power consumption between the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 and the additional apparatus only when there is a second key 244 that matches the first key input from the input unit 160. Since the second key 244 is uniquely assigned to the power supply apparatus 400, the second key 244 is added to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 even if the first key corresponding to the second key 244 stored in the other power supply apparatus 400 is input. There is no possibility that power consumption with the apparatus can be supplied.

  Therefore, when the genuine additional device is purchased, if the first key corresponding to the second key 244 stored in the power supply device 400 is transmitted to the purchaser, the genuine additional device is obtained. Unless it is purchased, the regular first key cannot be obtained. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an additional device that is not a genuine product from being attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 and used.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following embodiments, the description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the power supply controller 200 provided in the power supply apparatus 400 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the flash memory 240 stores a plurality of second keys 244. In this configuration, the first key corresponding to the type of the additional device attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 is input, and the power output upper limit value is changed from the first upper limit value to the second upper limit value. And the power consumption of the additional device can be supplied.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the CPU 210 in the power supply apparatus 400 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  When CPU 210 determines that the first key is input to input unit 160 (Y in S120), whether or not the first key matches any second key 244 among the plurality of second keys 244 is determined. Is determined (S142). If the CPU 210 determines that the first key does not match any second key 244 (N in S142), the CPU 210 selects the first upper limit value as the power supply output upper limit value (S160). When the CPU 210 determines that the first key matches any of the second keys 244 (Y in S142), the CPU 210 selects the second upper limit value corresponding to the matched second key as the power output upper limit value (S152).

  In this embodiment, since the second upper limit value obtained by adding the power consumption of the additional device is selected from the first upper limit value by inputting the first key corresponding to the type of the additional device, the additional device is a genuine product. Even when the power consumption of the image forming apparatus 100 main body and the additional apparatus exceeds the second upper limit value, the image forming apparatus 100 does not operate normally. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the genuine additional device from being used by being attached to another image forming apparatus 100 main body.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the power supply controller 200 provided in the power supply apparatus 400 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The flash memory 240 stores a flag 246 in addition to the ID 242 and the second key 244. The flag 246 shifts from off to on when the CPU 210 determines that there is a second key 244 that matches the first key and selects the second upper limit value. Further, the flag 246 shifts from on to off when the CPU 210 determines that there is no second key 244 that matches the first key and selects the first upper limit value. The on / off state of these flags 246 is stored in the flash memory 240.

  The flag 246 may be configured to shift from on to off when the CPU 210 selects the second upper limit value, and to shift from off to on when the CPU 210 selects the first upper limit value. This is because the on / off state of the flag 246 is relative.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the CPU 210 in the power supply apparatus 400 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  When the power supply device 400 is turned on, the CPU 210 determines whether or not the second upper limit value is selected as the power output upper limit value (S104). If the CPU 210 determines that the second upper limit value is not selected as the power output upper limit value (N in S104), the process proceeds to S110. If the CPU 210 determines that the second upper limit value is selected as the power output upper limit value (Y in S104), it determines whether an additional device is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 (S106). If the CPU 210 determines that the additional device is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 (Y in S106), the process of the present embodiment is terminated. When CPU 210 determines that the additional device is not attached (N in S106), CPU 210 selects the first upper limit value as the power output upper limit value (S108).

  In the present embodiment, after determining that there is the second key 244 that matches the first key and selecting the second upper limit value, the CPU 210 selects the second key until the additional device is removed from the image forming apparatus 100 main body. The upper limit selection state is retained.

  Therefore, while the additional device is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, it is not necessary to input the first key every time the power supply device 400 is turned on. .

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a power supply controller 200 provided in the power supply apparatus 400 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  The flash memory 240 stores a second key 244 and a plurality of flags 246 associated with the second key 244. When the first key is input to the input unit 160, the CPU 210 determines whether there is a second key 244 that matches the first key. If there is a second key 244 that matches, the first key The second upper limit value corresponding to is selected. When the second upper limit value is selected in this way, the CPU 210 shifts the flag 246 corresponding to the second key 244 from OFF to ON, and maintains the selection state of the second upper limit value.

  In this embodiment, the flag 246 is shifted from OFF to ON and the second upper limit value selection state is maintained. However, the flag 246 is shifted from ON to OFF and the second upper limit value selection state is maintained. May be. This is because the on / off state of the flag 246 is relative.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the CPU 210 in the power supply apparatus 400 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a transition of the power supply output upper limit value of the power supply apparatus 400 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  When CPU 210 determines that the first key has been input (Y in S120), CPU 210 determines whether or not this first key matches any second key 244 (S142). If the CPU 210 determines that the first key does not match any second key 244 (N in S142), the CPU 210 selects the first upper limit value as the power supply output upper limit value (S160).

When the CPU 210 determines that the first key matches any of the second keys 244 (Y in S142), the CPU 210 determines the state of the flag 246 and determines whether the second upper limit value has been selected (step S142). S144). When the CPU 210 determines that the second upper limit value has not been selected (N in S144), the CPU 210 selects the second upper limit value corresponding to the second key 244 that matches the first key (S152). When the CPU 210 determines that the second upper limit value has been selected (Y in S144), the CPU 210 determines a new second upper limit value corresponding to the second key 244 that matches the selected second upper limit value. 2 The upper limit is selected (S154). The selected second upper limit value in S154 corresponds to P _max2 in FIG. Further, the new second upper limit value in S154 corresponds to P _max3 in FIG.

  This embodiment is suitable for the case where additional devices are added little by little to the image forming apparatus 100 main body.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 including the power supply apparatus 400 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a CPU 110, a ROM 120, a RAM 130, a flash memory 140, a device information acquisition unit 150, an input unit 160, and a power supply device 400. The CPU 110 corresponds to a main body control unit of the present invention. The flash memory 140 corresponds to a main body storage unit of the present invention.

  The CPU 110 reads out a predetermined control program from the ROM 120 and controls each unit in a comprehensive manner. The RAM 130 is used as a working area for the CPU 110. The flash memory 140 stores genuine product information 142 indicating hardware and software constituting a regular product corresponding to the additional device 500. The flash memory 140 according to the present embodiment stores genuine product information 142 indicating hardware and software corresponding to the additional device 500, but the hardware or software of the genuine product corresponding to the additional device 500 is stored. It is only necessary to store genuine product information indicating at least one of them.

  The additional device 500 holds software information and hardware information as device information 510. When the additional apparatus 500 is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, the apparatus information acquisition unit 150 acquires at least one of hardware information and software information from the apparatus information 510 from the additional apparatus 500. In addition, when the additional device 500 is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, the CPU 110 compares the device information 510 with the regular product information 142, and if the CPU 110 determines that the device information 510 and the regular product information 142 match, the additional device 500 can be used. If it is determined that the device information 510 and the genuine product information 142 do not match, the additional device 500 is disabled. The control contents of the CPU 110 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the CPU 110 in the image forming apparatus 100 including the power supply apparatus 400 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  This flow starts when the power supply (power supply apparatus 400) of the image forming apparatus 100 main body is turned on. In this flow, the CPU 110 may control each step from the start to the end, but the CPU 110 controls each step from the start to S50, and the CPU 210 of the power supply apparatus 400 performs each step from S110 to the end. Control is preferred. When the CPU 110 performs control (S110 to S160) related to the power supply apparatus 400, the control signal from the CPU 110 to the power supply apparatus 400 may be altered, and the use prevention function of the non-genuine additional device by the power supply apparatus 400 may be reduced. Because.

  The CPU 110 determines whether or not the additional device 500 is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 (S10). If the CPU 110 determines that the additional device 500 is not attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 (N in S10), the CPU 110 proceeds to the process of S110. If the CPU 110 determines that the additional device 500 is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 (Y of S10), the device information acquisition unit 150 acquires the device information 510 (S20). The CPU 110 compares the device information 510 and the genuine product information 142, and determines whether or not the device information 510 and the regular product information 142 match (S30).

  If the CPU 110 determines that the device information 510 and the genuine product information 142 match (Y in S30), the CPU 110 enables the additional device 500 (S40), and then proceeds to the processing of S110 by the CPU 210. If the CPU 110 determines that the device information 510 and the regular product information 142 do not match (N in S30), the CPU 110 disables the additional device 500 (S50), and then proceeds to the processing of S160 by the CPU 210.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, a double check function can be applied to an additional device attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. That is, a first check function for determining whether or not the additional device is a genuine product, and a second check function that a regular first key cannot be obtained unless a genuine additional device is purchased. And can work. Therefore, it is possible to strictly check the additional device attached to the image forming apparatus 100 main body.

  Finally, the description of the above-described embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

100-Image forming apparatus 110-CPU
140-Flash memory 142-Genuine product information 150-Device information acquisition unit 160-Input unit 210-CPU
240-Flash memory 244-Second key 400-Power supply device 500-Additional device 510-Device information

Claims (4)

In a power supply device that supplies power to an image forming apparatus main body and an additional device that can be attached to the image forming apparatus main body,
The power supply output upper limit value can be set to a first upper limit value or a second upper limit value that exceeds the first upper limit value, and when the first key is input from the input unit of the image forming apparatus main body, this is handled. An upper limit selection unit for selecting a second upper limit to be performed;
A storage unit that stores a unique ID for each individual power supply device main body, and a second key that is uniquely assigned to the power supply device main body corresponding to the ID and is used for comparison with the first key;
With
The first upper limit value is set to a value that can supply power consumption of the image forming apparatus main body and cannot supply power consumption of the image forming apparatus main body and the additional device.
The second upper limit value is set to a value capable of supplying power consumption between the image forming apparatus main body and the additional device,
When the first key is input to the input unit, the upper limit selection unit determines whether there is a second key that matches the first key. A power supply apparatus that selects a second upper limit value corresponding to a first key and selects the first upper limit value when there is no matching second key.   The power storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores a plurality of the second keys.   The upper limit value selection unit determines that there is a second key that matches the first key and selects the second upper limit value. Then, the upper limit value selection unit continues until the additional device is removed from the image forming apparatus main body. The power supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the selection state of the upper limit value is maintained. An image forming apparatus to which an additional device for realizing a predetermined function can be attached,
A device information acquisition unit for acquiring device information indicating at least one of hardware and software constituting the additional device from the additional device;
A main body storage unit that stores genuine product information indicating at least one of hardware or software constituting a genuine product corresponding to the additional device;
When the additional device is attached, the device information is compared with the genuine product information. When it is determined that the device information matches the genuine product information, the additional device can be used, and the device information and the genuine product information are A main body control unit that disables the additional device when it is determined that they do not match;
The power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An input unit for inputting a first key input to increase the output upper limit value of the power supply device;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images