JP5919822B2 - Image forming apparatus and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an electronic apparatus .

Conventionally, an image in which the power is turned on or off by the user manually pressing a power button or the like while the power plug of the image forming apparatus is inserted into an outlet and power is supplied from an external power source. Forming devices are widespread.
When the power supply of such an image forming apparatus is ON, for example, when the power plug is unexpectedly disconnected from the outlet, or when a power failure occurs, the internal power supply is temporarily interrupted. A technology for backing up settings using a power source or the like is already known.

In addition to the power supply as described above, the network power supplied via the communication line from the hub device HUB receives and stores a print command from a PC or the like even when the power plug is removed. An image forming apparatus that can be stored is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228707.
In this Patent Document 1, when the power supply is resumed while the power plug is inserted into the outlet during the low power consumption mode setting by the network power, the normal mode is restored only when the print command is received. The print processing is executed above, and when the print command is not received, the low power consumption mode is maintained.

By the way, in the case of an image forming apparatus in which a power plug is inserted into an outlet and power is supplied from an external power source, the power cannot be supplied due to a power failure or the like as described above while the power of the image forming apparatus is on. When it occurs, the operation is stopped if there is no appropriate backup power source.
On the other hand, even if the power supply from the power plug is started with the operation stopped, the power switch is used to prevent the system from starting up simply by inserting the power plug into the outlet when installing the device. Until the device is operated, the apparatus is prevented from shifting to the normal operation state.
Therefore, when such a configuration is adopted, when the device stops operating due to a power failure as described above, when the user uses the device again after power supply is resumed due to recovery from a power failure, There is a problem that it is necessary to operate the switch to turn on the power, which is troublesome.
Patent Document 1 does not describe a technique for solving the above problem.

  The present invention solves such a problem, and reduces an operation burden on the user when the operation is resumed after a state in which power cannot be temporarily supplied occurs in an image forming apparatus in which power is supplied from an external power source. With the goal.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit including an image forming unit that receives power from an external power source and forms an image on a recording sheet based on image data. In this state, the power supply is switched from the power button that switches the power of the image forming apparatus ON or OFF by pressing the button, the control unit, and the power supply from the external power supply. When detecting that, the control means includes power supply control means for starting power supply .
When the power supply control unit detects a power-on instruction by pressing the power button, the power supply control unit starts to supply power to the control unit and sends instruction information indicating that the power-on instruction has been made to the control unit. provide.
When the control means detects a power-off instruction to turn off the power by pressing the power button, after storing stop information indicating that the power-off instruction has been stopped in response to the power-off instruction in the nonvolatile storage means When power supply is started by the power cut-off unit that stops power supply to the control unit and the power supply control unit, it is determined whether or not the stop information is stored in the storage unit. When it is determined that the image forming apparatus is not stored, the image forming apparatus is activated. When it is determined that the image forming apparatus is stored, the image forming apparatus includes an activation control unit that does not perform the activation process.
When the activation control unit determines that the stop information is stored in the storage unit, the activation control unit causes the power supply control unit to stop power supply to the control unit, and when the instruction information is detected, The image forming apparatus is activated regardless of whether the stop information is stored in the storage unit .

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention as described above, in the image forming apparatus in which power is supplied from an external power source, the user's operation burden is reduced when the operation is resumed after a state where power cannot be temporarily supplied occurs. can do.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart of processing executed when the CPU of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 detects a power-off instruction. Similarly, it is a flowchart of processing executed when power supply to the CPU is started. It is a flowchart which shows the other example. It is a flowchart which shows the further another example. It is a flowchart which shows the further another example.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, FIG. 1 shows a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a CPU 10, an operation unit 20, a power button 21, a ROM 30, a RAM 40, a plotter engine 50, an external storage medium IF unit 60, and an internal storage medium 70. A host IF unit 80, a power supply unit 90, and a power plug 91.

Among these, the CPU 10 is a control unit that performs overall control of the entire image forming apparatus 100. The CPU 10 includes a power-off unit 11 and an activation control unit 12 as functional units related to the features of this embodiment. The functions of the power disconnection unit 11 and the activation control unit 12 will be described later. Further, the power-off unit 11 and the activation control unit 12 correspond to a stopping unit and an activation control unit, respectively.
The operation unit 20 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display and an input unit such as a touch panel and a numeric keypad. The state of the image forming apparatus 100 is notified to the user by a screen display, or a print execution instruction is issued from the user. Or accept operations.

The power button 21 is a button for switching the power of the image forming apparatus 100 on or off when the user presses the button while power is supplied from the power supply unit 90. Here, the power supply ON refers to a state in which power is supplied from the power supply unit 90 to the CPU 10, and the power supply OFF refers to a state in which power is not supplied from the power supply unit 90 to the CPU 10. The power button 21 is provided with a detection circuit (not shown) for detecting the pressing of the button from the user.
When the power is on, the CPU 10 can detect the operation of the power button 21 based on the detection signal from the detection circuit. Further, even when the power supply unit 90 is in a power-off state, the power supply unit 90 can similarly detect the operation of the power button 21 as long as it receives power supply from an external power supply via the power plug 91.

The ROM 30 is a non-volatile storage unit that stores a program for the CPU 10 to realize the functions of the power-off unit 11 and the activation control unit 12, firmware of the image forming apparatus 100, and the like.
The RAM 40 is a readable / writable storage means used as a work memory when the program executed by the CPU 10 is expanded and each function is executed.

  The plotter engine 50 is image forming means for forming an image on a sheet such as recording paper based on the image data. Here, a carriage having a head for ejecting ink droplets of each color, a scanning mechanism including a guide rail for moving and scanning the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper, and the recording paper are fed and conveyed. A plotter engine 50 having an image forming unit for forming an image by an inkjet method is employed.

The CPU 10 appropriately drives and controls the drive system of the image forming unit (for example, a motor for moving and scanning the carriage and a motor for driving a roller for recording paper conveyance) based on signals from various sensors. Thus, an image is formed on the recording paper. The various sensors include, for example, a head position detection sensor for detecting the position of the head.
The CPU 10 also controls ON / OFF of power supply to a motor and a sensor that need to be driven to perform image formation.

The external storage medium IF unit 60 is an interface for the CPU 10 to write and read data to and from the nonvolatile external storage medium 61 such as a USB memory.
The internal storage medium 70 is a nonvolatile storage unit that stores various data. The various data include, for example, the time when the head of the plotter engine 50 (not shown) provided in the carriage is cleaned, and stop information indicating that the power is turned off in response to a power-off operation described later. .

  The host IF unit 80 is an interface for the CPU 10 to communicate with an external host device 81 such as a client terminal via a network or a USB cable. An appropriate interface is prepared according to the network standard, the communication protocol to be used, and the like.

  The power supply unit 90 is a power supply control unit that controls supply of power from an external power source supplied via the power plug 91 to each unit of the image forming apparatus 100 such as the CPU 10 and the plotter engine 50. Some of these controls are performed autonomously by the power supply unit 90, while others are performed in accordance with instructions from the CPU 10. In addition, the power supply unit 90 is configured to supply power to at least the detection circuit of the power button 21 in a state where the power plug 91 is inserted into a power outlet (a state where power from the external power source is supplied to the power supply unit 90). Supply.

One characteristic point of the image forming apparatus 100 as described above is that when power supply from the external power source to the power supply unit 90 is started, and when the image forming apparatus 100 shifts to the power OFF state. Is the operation. Hereinafter, this point will be described.
First, FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of processing executed when the CPU 10 of the image forming apparatus 100 detects a power-off instruction by operating the power button 21.
As described above, the CPU 10 can detect the operation of the power button 21 in the power-on state, but starts the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 when detecting the power-off instruction by the operation to turn off the power. . This process corresponds to the function of the power-off unit 11.

In this process, the CPU 10 first shifts each part including the plotter engine 50 to a state suitable for turning off the power (S11). This process includes, for example, a process of capping the head by the plotter engine 50.
When this is completed, the CPU 10 next turns off the power supply to the drive system of the image forming unit (S12). In this process, the power supply unit 90 is instructed to turn off the power supply to the drive system, and the power supply is stopped.

Next, the CPU 10 turns off the power to the various sensors of the image forming unit (S13). This process also instructs the power supply unit 90 to turn off the power supply to various sensors and stops the power supply.
In addition, although not individually illustrated, the power supply to the other units whose operation should be stopped when the power is turned off is similarly turned off.

Next, the CPU 10 stores in the internal storage medium 70 stop information indicating that the image forming apparatus 100 has been turned off and stopped in response to a power-off instruction (S14). This can be realized, for example, by setting a predetermined flag provided in the internal storage medium 70.
Then, after the processes of S11 to S14, the CPU 10 turns off the power supply to the CPU 10 itself (S15). As a result, the CPU 10 stops its operation, and the image forming apparatus 100 is in a power-off stop state.
According to the processing of FIG. 2, when the image forming apparatus 100 is stopped in response to a power-off instruction, stop information indicating that can be held in the internal storage medium 70.

  In addition to this, the case where the power supply from the external power source to the power supply unit 90 is interrupted can be considered as a case where the power supply to the CPU 10 is stopped. Even in this case, when there is a certain amount of time until the power is cut off (or when a battery or the like that can continue power supply is provided for a short time), the power supply unit 90 itself cuts off the power to the CPU 10 before the power is cut off. It is conceivable to give an instruction and turn off the power in the same procedure as in FIG.

  However, if the power supply from the external power supply is suddenly interrupted due to a power failure or the like, the power supply to the CPU 10 is suddenly stopped without the CPU 10 executing the process of FIG. The same applies to drive systems and sensors. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 is in a stopped state in a state where stop information is not stored in the internal storage medium 70.

Next, processing performed by the CPU 10 when power supply to the CPU 10 is started will be described. FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of this process.
The power supply to the CPU 10 is performed by the power supply unit 90 as described above, but there are two cases where the power supply unit 90 starts supplying power to the CPU 10.
The first is a case where a power-on instruction is detected in a state where power is supplied from the external power source to the power supply unit 90 (a state where the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is OFF). This instruction is performed, for example, by an operation of turning on the power at the power button 21.

The second is a case where the power supply unit 90 is shifted from a state in which power is not supplied from an external power supply to a state in which power is supplied. For example, this is the case when the power plug 91 is inserted into a power outlet or when the power outlet is restored from a power failure state to a state where power is supplied.
In any case, the CPU 10 starts the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 when power supply is started.

  First, the CPU 10 performs a predetermined boot process (S21). In this boot process, the CPU 10 is initialized as a reset, and a program stored in the ROM 30 for performing the processes in and after step S22 is expanded in the RAM 40 so that the process can be executed. Thereafter, the CPU 10 executes the process from step S22 onward by executing this program.

  Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the current power ON is in response to the operation of the power button 21 (S22). That is, it is determined which of the above two cases was triggered by the start of power supply. For this determination, for example, a buffer for holding the operation history of the power button 21 is provided in a portion to which power is supplied even when the power is turned off (for example, the power supply unit 90). Content information can be acquired and performed based on the content. Further, when power supply is started from the power supply unit 90 to the CPU 10, information indicating whether or not it is in response to an operation of the power button 21 may be provided.

If NO in step S22, that is, if it is determined that the power is turned on with the start of power supply from the external power supply, the CPU 10 determines whether stop information is stored in the internal storage medium 70 (S23). .
If this determination is YES (stop information is stored), the power supply to the CPU 10 itself is turned off (S24).

  As a result, the CPU 10 stops its operation without performing the starting process in step S25 and subsequent steps, and the image forming apparatus 100 is in a power-off stop state. This is the same as in step S15 in FIG. In this case, the operation performed by the CPU 10 is only to confirm whether or not the image forming apparatus 100 is to be activated. Therefore, it is not necessary to clear the stop information stored in the internal storage medium 70 (stop). Information may be preserved).

On the other hand, if “YES” in the step S22, that is, if it is determined that the power is turned on in response to the power-on instruction, the stop information stored in the internal storage medium 70 is cleared (S25). Thereafter, in order to shift the image forming apparatus 100 to a state in which image formation is possible, the power supply to the drive system (S26) and various sensors (S27) of the image forming unit is turned on, and then the activation processing of each unit is continued. . The processes in steps S26 and S27 are the power supply ON processes corresponding to steps S12 and S13 in FIG. 2, and the power supply to each unit not individually illustrated is also turned on as in the case of FIG. is there.
Also, in the case of NO in step S23 (stop information is not stored), the stop information clearing and starting processing in step S25 and subsequent steps are performed as in the case of YES in step S22.

According to the above processing, in combination with the processing in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 can perform appropriate power control according to the power-off instruction, the power-on instruction, and the power supply status from the external power source.
First, when the apparatus is normally stopped (in response to the power-off instruction) and the stop information is stored and the power plug 91 is inserted / removed, or there is a power failure and recovery, the process of FIG. NO, YES in step S23. Therefore, after the power supply from the external power supply is started, the CPU 10 is energized for a short time, and then the image forming apparatus 100 is stopped. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 100 does not start in these cases.

On the other hand, in the state where the image forming apparatus 100 is suddenly stopped due to a sudden power failure, the power plug 91 being disconnected from the outlet, or the like, stop information is not stored (even if stored previously, FIG. In step S25). Accordingly, when recovering from a power failure in this state or when the power plug 91 is inserted into an outlet, the process of FIG. 3 is NO in step S22 and NO in step S23. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 is activated even if there is no power-on instruction.
In the case of a stop other than the stop according to the power-off instruction such that the stop information is not saved, the stop is not intended by the user, and the user's intention is to form an image when the cause of the stop is resolved. It may be desirable to continue using the device 100. Therefore, it can be said that the processing according to the intention can be performed by the processing of FIGS. 2 and 3 without bothering the user.

If there is a power-on instruction, the process of FIG. 3 is YES in step S22, and the image forming apparatus 100 is activated regardless of the presence or absence of stop information. Therefore, regardless of the above control, there is no problem that the power is not turned on when the power is turned on.
Note that, in a state where there is no power supply from the external power source, the power supply unit 90 cannot detect a power-on instruction by operating the power button 21 or the like, so the image forming apparatus 100 does not start in this state. Accordingly, in a case where the image forming apparatus 100 is stopped without storing the stop information, power supply from the external power supply is started at any time prior to the power-on instruction, and at that time, the processing of FIG. The image forming apparatus 100 is activated. For this reason, it is not necessary to substantially consider the case where the power-on instruction is detected in a state where the stop information is not stored.

[Modifications: FIGS. 4 to 6]
Although the description of the embodiment has been completed above, the specific configuration of the image forming apparatus 100, the content of the activation control process performed by the CPU 10, and the like are of course not limited to those described in the above-described embodiment.
For example, when power supply to the CPU 10 is started, the CPU 10 may perform the process of FIG. 4 instead of the process of FIG.
The process of FIG. 4 differs from the process of FIG. 3 in that the head cleaning is performed when the image forming apparatus 100 is started in a state where stop information is not stored in the internal storage medium 70 (NO in step S33). This is the point that I tried to do.

  That is, in the process of FIG. 4, steps S31 to S37 are the same as steps S21 to S27 of FIG. Further, the processes in steps S38 to S40 are the same as those in steps S35 to S37. However, it differs from the case of FIG. 3 in that the head cleaning process is performed in step S41 after step S40.

  This is because when the stop information is not stored, that is, when the stop is performed without the power-off instruction at the previous stop, the process of step S11 in FIG. 2 is not performed, and the head included in the plotter engine 50 is capped. It is because it cannot be guaranteed that it is done. For this reason, it is conceivable that the ink is dried and the head is clogged. Therefore, before the start-up process, the head cleaning for maintaining the head can be executed to prevent the ejection failure of the head. it can.

It is also conceivable to perform the process of FIG. 5 instead of the process of FIG.
The process of FIG. 5 differs from the process of FIG. 4 only in the conditions (SA, SB) for performing head cleaning, and the description of other points is omitted.
In the process of FIG. 5, after step S40, the CPU 10 detects the position of the head in the plotter engine 50 (SA). When the head position is not the home position (NO at SB), head cleaning is executed (S41), and when it is the home position, it is not executed.

When the head position is the home position, it is considered that capping was performed when the image forming apparatus 100 was stopped regardless of the situation when the image forming apparatus 100 was stopped. Thus, by not performing the head cleaning until such a case, unnecessary cleaning can be avoided.
Note that it may be determined whether capping has been performed (considered) at the time of stopping based on a reference other than the head position.

Furthermore, it is conceivable to perform the process of FIG. 6 instead of the process of FIG.
The process of FIG. 6 is different from the process of FIG. 4 only in the conditions (SC, SD) for executing head cleaning, and the description of other points is omitted. However, when this process is employed, the CPU 10 includes a time measuring unit, and saves the time in the internal storage medium 70 when the head cleaning is executed during the operation of the image forming apparatus 100.

In the process of FIG. 6, after step S40, the CPU 10 reads from the internal storage medium 70 the time when the head cleaning was last performed (SC). If the difference between the current time and the last head cleaning time is equal to or greater than a threshold value (YES in SD), head cleaning is performed (S41), and if not greater than the threshold value, the head cleaning is not performed.
If the time since the last head cleaning is short, it is considered that the possibility of clogging is low even if there is a period during which capping is not performed. Thus, by not performing the head cleaning until such a case, unnecessary cleaning can be avoided.

  In the embodiment and the modification described above, the power supply unit 90 starts supplying power to the CPU 10 according to the operation of the power button 21 and turns on the power of the image forming apparatus 100. When the unit 80 and the host device 81 are connected by a USB cable and a signal is detected via the USB cable, power supply to the CPU 10 may be started and the power may be turned on. In this case, it is assumed that the power supply unit 90 and the host IF unit 80 in FIG. 1 are connected by a signal line (not shown).

If the CPU 10 cannot detect a signal via the USB cable while the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is on, the process related to power-off illustrated in FIG. 2 is executed to turn off the power of the image forming apparatus 100. You may make it do.
As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 not only accepts a power-on or power-off instruction by operating the power button, but instead of or in addition to this, accepts it using the above-described USB cable, or other methods. An instruction to turn on or off the power may be received by a technique.

In the above-described embodiment, an image forming apparatus that forms an image by ejecting ink droplets from a head has been described as an example. However, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image by transferring toner, or other methods. The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus that performs image formation. In this case, the process for maintaining the image forming unit includes, for example, cleaning of the photosensitive member and the transfer belt.
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus 100, and can be similarly applied to activation control in an arbitrary electronic apparatus such as a PC.
In addition, the configurations and modifications described above can be applied in appropriate combinations within a consistent range.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100: Image forming apparatus 10: CPU 11: Power-off part 12: Starting-up control part 20: Operation part 21: Power button 30: ROM
40: RAM 50: Plotter engine 60: External storage medium IF unit 61: External storage medium 70: Internal storage medium 80: Host IF unit 81: Host device 90: Power supply unit 91: Power plug

JP 2009-260629 A

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus having an image forming unit including an image forming unit that receives power from an external power source and forms an image on recording paper based on image data,
A power button for switching the power of the image forming apparatus on or off by pressing the button;
Control means ;
Power supply control means for starting the power supply to the control means when it is detected that the power supply from the state not receiving power supply from the external power supply has been received ,
When the power supply control means detects a power-on instruction by pressing the power button, the power supply control means starts to supply power to the control means, and provides the control means with instruction information indicating that the power-on instruction has been made. Offer to,
The control means includes
When a power-off instruction to turn off the power by detecting the power button is detected, stop information indicating that the power-off instruction has been stopped according to the power-off instruction is stored in the nonvolatile storage means, and then the control means A power-off unit that stops power supply;
When power supply is started by the power supply control unit, it is determined whether or not the stop information is stored in the storage unit. If it is determined that the stop information is not stored, the image forming apparatus is activated. And a start control unit that does not perform the start process when it is determined that it is stored,
When the start control unit determines that the stop information is stored in the storage unit, the start control unit causes the power supply control unit to stop power supply to the control unit, and when the instruction information is detected, An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is activated regardless of whether or not the stop information is stored in the storage unit . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The activation control unit causes the image forming unit to perform maintenance processing of the image forming unit when it is determined that the stop information is not stored in the storage unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,
The image forming unit forms an image by ejecting ink from an ink ejection head,
When the activation control unit determines that the stop information is not stored in the storage unit, the activation control unit causes the image forming unit to perform the maintenance process according to the position of the head when performing the activation process. An image forming apparatus that determines whether or not. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,
When the activation control unit determines that the stop information is not stored in the storage unit, the activation control unit determines the length of time from when the image forming unit last performs the maintenance process to when the activation process is performed. In response, the image forming apparatus determines whether or not to cause the image forming unit to execute the maintenance process. An electronic device that receives power from an external power source,
A power button for switching the power on or off of the electronic device by pressing the button;
Control means ;
Power supply control means for starting the power supply to the control means when it is detected that the power supply from the state not receiving power supply from the external power supply has been received ,
When the power supply control means detects a power-on instruction by pressing the power button, the power supply control means starts to supply power to the control means, and provides the control means with instruction information indicating that the power-on instruction has been made. Offer to,
The control means includes
When a power-off instruction to turn off the power by detecting the power button is detected, stop information indicating that the power-off instruction has been stopped according to the power-off instruction is stored in the nonvolatile storage means, and then the control means A power-off unit that stops power supply;
When power supply is started by the power supply control means, it is determined whether or not the stop information is stored in the storage means, and if it is determined that the storage information is not stored, the electronic device is activated. And a start control unit that does not perform the start process when it is determined that it is stored,
When the start control unit determines that the stop information is stored in the storage unit, the start control unit causes the power supply control unit to stop power supply to the control unit, and when the instruction information is detected, An electronic device characterized in that the electronic device is activated regardless of whether the stop information is stored in the storage means .

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