JP6037967B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) capable of reducing standby power. The MFP turns on power supply from the main power supply unit to the image processing control unit in response to a restart request from the image processing unit, an operation panel unit including a second CPU for controlling the operation panel, and the second CPU. And a switching unit. The operation panel unit has an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays from a human body or a camera for detecting human motion (motion) as a human sensor for detecting a person in the vicinity of the operation panel. Outputs a restart request based on the detection result of the infrared sensor or the digital camera.

JP 2010-157789 A

  By the way, when the camera is used as a human sensor in the above-described prior art, it is necessary to always detect the user's operation. In other words, the above-described prior art has a problem that the power consumption increases because the digital camera cannot be activated in the power saving mode.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to reduce power consumption by enabling a camera that detects a user's operation to shift to a power saving mode.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, as a first solving means, a camera for photographing a user, and a control means for executing a control process based on an operation of the user photographed by the camera, An image forming apparatus comprising: a human sensor for detecting a user provided in the vicinity of the camera, wherein the control means does not detect the user by the human sensor The camera employs means for operating the camera in a power saving mode and canceling the power saving mode of the camera when a user is detected by the human sensor.

  In the present invention, as the second solution means, in the first solution means, the control means executes a different control process for each pattern of the user's action photographed by the camera. .

  In the present invention, as the third solving means, in the second solving means, an image reading unit for reading a document is provided, and the control means moves the user's hand in the direction of the image reading unit by the camera. When the image is photographed, means for canceling the power saving mode of the image reading unit is employed.

  In the present invention, as the fourth solution means, in the second or third solution means described above, a discharge tray for discharging the recording paper on which the image is printed is provided, and the control means is controlled by the camera by the user. When the movement of the hand in the direction of the paper discharge tray is photographed, a means is adopted in which the power saving mode is not canceled.

  In the present invention, as a fifth solving means, in any one of the second to fourth solving means, a USB communication having a card reader for reading a card and a USB port to which a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device is connected. And when the movement of the user's hand in the direction of the card reader is photographed by the camera, the control means cancels the power saving mode of the card reader and the USB communication unit. Adopt the means.

  According to the present invention, when the user is not detected by the human sensor, the camera is operated in the power saving mode. When the user is detected by the human sensor, the power saving mode of the camera is set. By canceling, it is possible to shift the camera to the power saving mode and reduce power consumption.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the machine structure of the image forming part 4 in one Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the user's operation example in which a different control process is performed by one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The multifunction peripheral A according to the present embodiment is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet based on an electrophotographic method. As illustrated in FIG. 1, an operation display unit 1, an image reading unit 2, an image data storage unit 3, an image forming unit 4, a communication unit 5, a human sensor 6, a camera 7, a card reader 8, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) communication unit 9, and an arithmetic control unit 10 (control means). Note that solid arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the flow of data, and dotted arrows indicate the flow of control signals and detection signals.

The operation display unit 1 includes an operation display control unit 11, an operation key 12 that is a hardware key, a software key, and a touch panel 13 that displays various images. The operation display unit 1 functions as a man-machine interface that associates the user with the multifunction device A. To do.
The operation display control unit 11 is a control device that controls the operation keys 12 and the touch panel 13 under the control of the operation control unit 10, and includes an operation processing device, an internal memory, and electrically connected operation keys 12 and The touch panel 13 includes an interface circuit that transmits and receives signals, and controls the overall operation of the operation display unit 1 based on an operation display control program stored in an internal memory.

  For example, the operation display control unit 11 displays operation buttons and various images on the touch panel 13 by outputting a display signal to the touch panel 13. Further, the operation display control unit 11 determines which operation key 12 or the operation button displayed on the touch panel 13 is operated based on an operation signal input from the operation key 12 or the touch panel 13, and based on the determination result. The operation result signal is output to the arithmetic control unit 10.

  The operation keys 12 are physically provided in the operation display unit 1 as hardware keys, and include, for example, a power key, a start key, a stop / clear key, a numeric keypad (numerical value input key), and the like. In the operation key 12, when each key described above is pressed by the user, an operation signal is output from each key to the operation display control unit 11.

  As is well known, the touch panel 13 is provided with a transparent planar pressure sensor such as a resistive film type on the display surface of the display panel, and is displayed on the display panel based on a display signal input from the operation display control unit 11. When the operated button is pressed by a user's finger or the like, the planar pressure sensor outputs an operation signal indicating the pressed position (pressed coordinate) to the operation display control unit 11.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading unit 2 includes an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) 20 and a flatbed reading unit 30, and the ADF 20 is based on a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 10. The original image fed by the user or the surface image (original image) of the original placed on the flatbed reading unit 30 by the user is read and converted into original image data, and the original image data is output to the image data storage unit 3. To do.

  The image data storage unit 3 is a semiconductor memory, a hard disk device, or the like. Based on a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 10, the original image data, print image data received by the communication unit 5 from an external client computer, or communication. The unit 5 stores facsimile image data received from an external facsimile machine or the like, and reads out the image data based on a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 10 and outputs it to the image forming unit 4.

  The image forming unit 4 forms a toner image based on the image data read from the image data storage unit 3 on the recording paper R taken out from the paper feed cassette 45 based on a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 10. It is. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 4 includes a belt roller 41, an intermediate transfer belt 42, and four image forming units 43Y, 43C, 43M, and 43K corresponding to toner colors (Y, M, C, and K). Primary transfer rollers 44Y, 44C, 44M, 44K, paper feed cassette 45, pickup roller 46, transport roller 47, registration roller 48, secondary transfer roller 49, separation static elimination unit 50, fixing roller 51, paper discharge roller 52, A paper discharge tray 53, a reverse roller 54, a branch guide 55, three pairs of reverse paper transport rollers 56, and a recording paper sensor 57 are provided.

  As shown in the figure, the belt roller 41 includes three rollers that are spaced apart from each other, that is, a driving roller 41a, a driven roller 41b, and a tension roller 41c. That is, the driving roller 41a and the driven roller 41b are arranged at a certain distance in the horizontal direction, and the tension roller 41c is arranged at a position slightly displaced upward between the driving roller 41a and the driven roller 41b. ing. The intermediate transfer belt 42 is an endless belt stretched around such a belt roller 41 (drive roller 41a, driven roller 41b, tension roller 41c), and travels in a direction indicated by an arrow by the drive roller 41a.

  That is, the intermediate transfer belt 42 runs in the horizontal direction between the driving roller 41a and the driven roller 41b. The driving roller 41a described above is a roller in which a motor that generates a driving force is axially coupled, and causes the intermediate transfer belt 42 to travel in the direction of the arrow by the power of the motor. The driven roller 41b is a free roller provided so as to freely rotate, and guides the intermediate transfer belt 42 according to the power of the drive roller 41a. The tension roller 41c is a roller that is provided with a rotating shaft so as to be movable, and applies a certain tension (tension) to the intermediate transfer belt 42 by pressing the intermediate transfer belt 42 with a predetermined adjusting force.

  As shown in the figure, the image forming units 43Y, 43C, 43M, and 43K are provided at predetermined intervals in the horizontal running portion of the intermediate transfer belt 42 described above. Of these image forming units 43Y, 43C, 43M, and 43K, the image forming unit 43Y is a unit that forms a yellow (Y) toner image, and is provided at a position closest to the driven roller 41b. The image forming unit 43C is a unit that forms a cyan (C) toner image, and is provided at a position close to the driven roller 41b next to the image forming unit 43Y. The image forming unit 43M is a unit for forming a magenta (M) toner image, and is provided at a position near the driven roller 41b next to the image forming unit 43C. The image forming unit 43K is a unit that forms a black (K) toner image, and is provided at a position closest to the drive roller 41a.

  Such image forming units 43Y, 43C, 43M, and 43K each include photosensitive drums ay, ac, am, and ak, charging portions by, bc, bm, and bk, laser scanning units cy, cc, cm, and ck, and development. The units dy, dc, dm, dk and the cleaners ey, ec, em, ek are constituent elements.

  That is, the image forming unit 43Y includes a photosensitive drum ay, a charging unit by, a laser scanning unit cy, a developing unit dy, and a cleaner ey. The image forming unit 43C includes a photosensitive drum ac, a charging unit bc, and a laser scanning unit. cc, a developing unit dc, and a cleaner ec. The image forming unit 43M includes a photosensitive drum am, a charging unit bm, a laser scanning unit cm, a developing unit dm, and a cleaner em. The image forming unit 43K is a photosensitive member. It comprises a drum ak, a charging unit bk, a laser scanning unit ck, a developing unit dk, and a cleaner ek.

  Each of the photosensitive drums ay, ac, am, and ak is a cylindrical member having a peripheral surface formed of a predetermined photosensitive material (for example, amorphous silicon). Each charging unit by, bc, bm, bk uniformly charges the peripheral surface (photosensitive surface) of each photosensitive drum ay, ac, am, ak. Each laser scanning unit cy, cc, cm, ck forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive surface by irradiating the charged photosensitive surface with laser light.

  Each of the developing units dy, dc, dm, and dk contains a predetermined amount of toner (positive toner) inside and supplies the toner to the photosensitive surface, thereby generating an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive surface. Develop as a toner image. Each of the cleaners ey, ec, em, and ek scrapes and removes toner (residual toner) remaining on the photosensitive surface after the toner image is transferred.

  As shown in the figure, four primary transfer rollers 44Y, 44C, 44M, and 44K are provided corresponding to the image forming units 43Y, 43C, 43M, and 43K, and each intermediate transfer belt 42 is sandwiched between each. Opposite to the photosensitive drums ay, ac, am, ak of the image forming units 43Y, 43C, 43M, 43K. A negative primary transfer bias (high voltage) is applied to each primary transfer roller 44Y, 44C, 44M, 44K, and each primary transfer roller 44Y, 44C, 44M, 44K The toner images of the respective colors respectively formed on the photosensitive drums ay, ac, am, and ak of the image forming units 43Y, 43C, 43M, and 43K are transferred (primary transfer) to the intermediate transfer belt 42 by the action of the transfer bias.

  The paper feed cassette 45 is a container for storing a plurality of recording papers R having a predetermined shape such as A4 size and B5 size. The pickup roller 46 is a roller that is provided in pressure contact with the recording paper R in the upper part of the paper feeding cassette 45, takes out the recording paper R in the paper feeding cassette 45 one by one, and sends it to the transport roller 47. The transport roller 47 is a roller that transports the recording paper R fed from the pickup roller 46 toward the registration roller 48. The registration roller 48 is a roller that supplies the recording sheet R supplied from the transport roller 47 to the secondary transfer roller 49 at a predetermined timing.

  The secondary transfer roller 49 is a roller disposed opposite to the driving roller 41a with the intermediate transfer belt 42 interposed therebetween, and transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 42 to the recording paper R (secondary transfer). A negative secondary transfer bias (high voltage) is applied to the secondary transfer roller 49, and the secondary transfer roller 49 applies the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 42 by the action of the secondary transfer bias. Transfer (secondary transfer) to the recording paper R.

  The separation charge removal unit 50 supplies a positive charge removal bias toward the recording paper R based on a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 10. This neutralizing bias is for neutralizing the charging of the recording paper R to make it non-charged, and for improving the separation of the recording paper R from the secondary transfer roller 49. The separation / neutralization unit 50 has a sawtooth electrode made of stainless steel, and forms an electric field near the tip of the sawtooth electrode to neutralize the recording paper R.

  The fixing roller 51 includes a heating roller 51a provided with a heater therein, and a pressure roller 51b that is in pressure contact with the heating roller 51a. The fixing roller 51 heats and presses the recording paper R by sandwiching the recording paper R onto which the toner image of each color is transferred by the heating roller 51a and the pressure roller 51b, and the toner image of each color is placed on the recording paper R. To settle. The heating roller 51a and the pressure roller 51b are formed of a fluorine-based material in which a contact surface (surface) that contacts the recording paper R is negatively charged by friction. That is, the surfaces of the heating roller 51a and the pressure roller 51b are negatively charged due to friction with the recording paper R.

  The paper discharge roller 52 is a roller that conveys the recording paper R conveyed from the fixing roller 51 and guided by the branch guide 55 toward the paper discharge tray 53. The paper discharge tray 53 is a storage unit that stores and holds the recording paper R supplied from the paper discharge roller 52. The reverse roller 54 is a roller for switchback transporting the recording paper R that is transported from the fixing roller 51 and guided by the branch guide 55. That is, the reversing roller 54 sandwiches the recording paper R supplied from the fixing roller 51 by rotating forward, and transports the recording paper R toward the reversing paper transporting roller 56 by reversing in the sandwiched state.

  The branch guide 55 selectively switches the transport destination of the recording paper R discharged from the fixing roller 51 to the paper discharge roller 52 or the reverse roller 54 based on a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 10. That is, when the recording paper R is ejected to the paper ejection tray 53, the branch guide 55 assumes the first posture (the posture of the dotted line shown in the figure), so that the recording paper R is transported to the paper ejection roller 52. On the other hand, the conveyance destination of the recording paper R is switched to the reversing roller 54 by the second posture (the solid line posture shown in the figure).

  The reversing paper transport roller 56 is a roller provided in a transport path (reversing path) for transporting the recording paper R supplied from the reversing roller 54 toward the registration roller 48. As shown in the figure, the reversing paper conveyance rollers 56 are provided at three locations separated in the reversing path. The recording paper sensor 57 is disposed between the fixing roller 51 and the branch guide 55, detects the number of recording sheets R that have passed through the fixing roller 51, and outputs a detection signal indicating the number to the arithmetic control unit 10.

  As described above, in the image forming unit 4, the double-sided image forming process for forming the toner image on the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper R is executed by the function of the reverse roller 54, the branch guide 55 and the reverse paper transport roller 56. The That is, when an image is formed on the front surface and the recording paper R passes through the fixing roller 51, the recording paper R is supplied again to the registration roller 48 in a state where the front surface and the back surface are reversed, and an image is formed on the back surface.

  The communication unit 5 communicates with an external multifunction peripheral or facsimile apparatus via a telephone line based on a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 10, or with a client computer via a LAN (Local Area Network). is there. That is, the communication unit 5 has a communication function compliant with a LAN standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark) and a communication function compliant with a facsimile standard such as G3.

  The human sensor 6 is provided on the front side of the multifunction device A and in the vicinity of the camera 7, and is, for example, a quantum type or thermal type infrared sensor, detects a user located in front of the multifunction device A, and the detection result Is output to the arithmetic control unit 10.

  The camera 7 is provided on the front side of the multifunction peripheral A and in the vicinity of the human sensor 6, and is a digital camera including, for example, a CCD (Charge-Coupled Devices) type or CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) type imaging device and lens. The user is photographed based on a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 10. As shown in FIG. 2, such a camera 7 is, for example, between the image reading unit 2 provided in the upper part of the multi-function device A and the paper discharge tray 53 provided in the central portion of the multi-function device A, that is, Further, it is provided below the image reading unit 2 and above the sheet discharge tray 53.

  The card reader 8 has an insertion port for an authentication card. When the authentication card is inserted into the insertion port, the card reader 8 reads the card information from the card under the control of the arithmetic control unit 10 and reads the card information. Information is output to the arithmetic control unit 10. The arithmetic control unit 10 executes an authentication process based on the card information, and determines whether or not login is permitted. The authentication card is a magnetic card or an IC card in which authentication card information is stored. The user logs the MFP A by causing the card reader 8 of the MFP A to read the authentication card. Such a card reader 8 is provided, for example, on the right side with respect to the camera 7 as shown in FIG.

  The USB communication unit 9 is a communication device that performs communication in accordance with the USB standard, and includes a USB port 9a. The USB port 9a is electrically connected to a dedicated terminal (for example, a notebook personal computer) via a USB cable by a user (for example, a service person), for example. As a result, the USB communication unit 9 transmits and receives signals to and from the dedicated terminal under the control of the arithmetic control unit 10.

  The arithmetic control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an interface circuit that transmits / receives various signals to / from each electrically connected unit. . The arithmetic control unit 10 controls various operations of the multifunction peripheral A by performing various arithmetic processes based on various arithmetic control programs stored in the ROM and communicating with the respective units. Although details will be described later, the arithmetic control unit 10 controls the power saving mode of the camera 7 based on the human detection signal input from the human sensor 6.

Next, the operation of the MFP A configured as described above will be described.
First, the overall operation of the multifunction machine A will be described. For example, when the user sets a document on the ADF 20 and instructs the copying of the document on one side of the recording paper R by operating the operation display unit 1, an instruction signal related to the instruction is arithmetically controlled from the operation display unit 1. Input to the unit 10. As a result, the arithmetic control unit 10 causes the image reading unit 2 to sequentially read the document image for each page of the document and stores the document image data of the document image in the image data storage unit 3. The arithmetic control unit 10 generates bitmap image data corresponding to each toner color based on the document image data, and performs image formation processing of the document image on the image forming unit 4 based on the bitmap image data. Let it run.

  That is, the arithmetic control unit 10 drives the pickup roller 46 to take out the recording paper R in the paper feed cassette 45 one by one and sends it to the transport roller 47 and drives the transport roller 47 to register the recording paper R. It is conveyed toward the roller 48. Further, the arithmetic control unit 10 drives the driving roller 41a to bring the intermediate transfer belt 42 into a running state, and drives each of the image forming units 43Y, 43C, 43M, 43K, based on the above-described bitmap image data. Thus, a toner image composed of positive-polarity toner of each color is formed on the photosensitive surface (peripheral surface) of each photosensitive drum ay, ac, am, ak. Then, the arithmetic control unit 10 applies the negative primary transfer bias to the primary transfer rollers 44Y, 44C, 44M, and 44K, thereby intermediateizing the toner images on the photosensitive drums ay, ac, am, and ak. Primary transfer is performed on the transfer belt 42.

  Then, the arithmetic control unit 10 drives the registration roller 48 in accordance with the image formation processing timing of each color in the image forming units 43Y, 43C, 43M, and 43K, and applies a negative secondary transfer bias to the secondary transfer roller 49. By applying the toner image, the toner image (original image) on the intermediate transfer belt 42 is secondarily transferred to a desired position on the recording paper R. Then, the arithmetic control unit 10 drives the fixing roller 51 while discharging the recording paper R by using the positive charge removal bias in the separation charge removal unit 50 and moves the branch guide 55 in the first posture (the dotted line shown in the figure). ), The recording paper R is conveyed toward the paper discharge roller 52. Then, the arithmetic control unit 10 drives the paper discharge roller 52 to discharge the recording paper R to the paper discharge tray 53.

  On the other hand, when the user gives an instruction to copy (copy) the original on both sides of the recording paper R, the arithmetic control unit 10 proceeds with the process until the fixing roller 51 is driven, and thereafter Different processing. That is, the arithmetic control unit 10 drives the fixing roller 51 and also causes the recording paper R to be conveyed toward the reversing roller 54 by switching the branch guide 55 to the second posture (the solid line posture shown in the drawing). Then, the arithmetic control unit 10 rotates the reversing roller 54 forward for a predetermined time and then switches the branch guide 55 to the first posture and reversely rotates the reversing roller 54 so that the recording paper R is reversed. Transport toward Then, the arithmetic control unit 10 drives the reversal paper conveyance roller 56 to convey the recording paper R toward the registration roller 48.

  In addition, the arithmetic control unit 10 forms toner images made of the positive polarity toners of the respective colors on the photosensitive surfaces of the photosensitive drum drums ay, ac, am, and ak. Then, the arithmetic control unit 10 applies the negative primary transfer bias to the primary transfer rollers 44Y, 44C, 44M, and 44K, so that the toner images on the photosensitive drum drums ay, ac, am, and ak are displayed. Primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 42. Then, the arithmetic control unit 10 applies the negative primary transfer bias to the primary transfer rollers 44Y, 44C, 44M, and 44K, so that the toner images on the photosensitive drum drums ay, ac, am, and ak are displayed. Primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 42.

  Then, the arithmetic control unit 10 drives the registration roller 48 in accordance with the image formation processing timing of each color in the image forming units 43Y, 43C, 43M, and 43K, and applies a negative secondary transfer bias to the secondary transfer roller 49. By applying the toner image, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 42 is secondarily transferred to a desired position on the back surface of the recording paper R. Then, the arithmetic control unit 10 drives the fixing roller 51 while causing the separation and neutralization unit 50 to use the positive neutralization bias to supply the recording paper R while neutralizing it, and also brings the branch guide 55 into the first posture. By switching, the recording paper R is conveyed toward the paper discharge roller 52. Then, the arithmetic control unit 10 drives the paper discharge roller 52 to discharge the recording paper R to the paper discharge tray 53.

  After that, when the operation display unit 1 is not operated by the user for a predetermined time or when the communication unit 5 does not receive image data from the outside for a predetermined time, the arithmetic control unit 10 supplies only the minimum necessary power to each unit. To shift to the power saving mode. That is, the arithmetic control unit 10 also shifts the camera 7 to the power saving mode.

  Then, the arithmetic control unit 10 performs the following characteristic processing (see FIG. 3) in the control processing of the camera 7 in the power saving mode. First, when the camera 7 is in the power saving mode, the arithmetic control unit 10 determines whether or not a user has been detected based on a human detection signal input from the human sensor 6 (step S1). When the user is present in front of the multifunction device A, the user is detected by the human sensor 6, and when no user is present in front of the multifunction device A, the user is not detected by the human sensor 6.

  If the user is not detected (NO), the arithmetic control unit 10 continues to operate the camera 7 in the power saving mode, and repeats the determination process in step S1 described above. On the other hand, when detecting the user (in the case of YES), the arithmetic control unit 10 cancels the power saving mode of the camera 7 (step S2).

  Subsequently, the arithmetic control unit 10 causes the camera 7 that has returned to the normal mode to continuously perform the shooting process, and performs a different control process for each user action pattern shot by the camera 7 using motion capture. (Step S3). That is, the arithmetic control unit 10 stores in advance a data table in which control processing is associated for each user motion pattern, and searches the data table based on the user motion pattern obtained by using motion capture. Then, the control process is determined and the control process is executed.

  For example, when the movement of the user's hand in the direction of the image reading unit 2 is photographed by the camera 7, the arithmetic control unit 10 cancels the power saving mode of the image reading unit 2. That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the arithmetic control unit 10 cancels the power saving mode of the image reading unit 2 when the camera 7 captures the upward movement of the user's hand. This is because when the user's hand moves upward, that is, toward the image reading unit 2, it is considered that the user is performing an operation of placing a document on the image reading unit 2.

  The arithmetic control unit 10 does not cancel the power saving mode of each unit when the camera 7 captures the movement of the user's hand in the direction of the paper discharge tray 53. That is, as shown in FIG. 4B, the arithmetic control unit 10 does not cancel the power saving mode of each unit when the camera 7 captures the movement of the user's hand downward. This is because when the user's hand moves downward, that is, toward the paper discharge tray 53, the user performs an operation of receiving the recording paper R on which the image has been printed and discharged to the paper discharge tray 53. Because it is considered.

  The arithmetic control unit 10 cancels the power saving mode of the card reader 8 and the USB communication unit 9 when the camera 7 has photographed the movement of the user's hand toward the card reader 8. That is, as shown in FIG. 4C, the arithmetic control unit 10, when the movement of the user's hand in the right direction is photographed by the camera 7, the power saving mode of the card reader 8 and the USB communication unit 9. Is released. The power saving mode of the card reader 8 is canceled when the user's (for example, serviceman) hand moves to the right, that is, when the card reader 8 moves toward the card reader 8. This is because it is considered that the user is doing. In addition, the power saving mode of the USB communication unit 9 is canceled after the authentication process of the authentication card is likely to be used by a user (for example, a serviceman) connected to the USB communication unit 9 with a dedicated terminal. Because.

  According to this embodiment, when the user is not detected by the human sensor 6, the camera 7 is operated in the power saving mode, and when the user is detected by the human sensor 6, By canceling the power saving mode of the sense sensor 6, it is possible to shift the camera 7 to the power saving mode and reduce the power consumption. Further, according to the present embodiment, the power saving mode can be appropriately controlled according to the user's operation by executing different control processing for each user's operation pattern photographed by the camera 7. .

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, the following modifications can be considered.
(1) In the above embodiment, the infrared sensor is used as the human sensor 6, but an optical sensor that detects visible light may be used as the human sensor 6 instead of the infrared sensor.

(2) In the above embodiment, for example, when the camera 7 captures the upward movement of the user's hand, the power saving mode of the image reading unit 2 is canceled, and the camera 7 When the movement in the direction is photographed, the power saving mode of each unit is not canceled, and when the movement in the right direction of the user's hand is photographed by the camera 7, the card reader 8 and the USB communication unit 9 are captured. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, in the said embodiment, the said operation | movement is an example to the last, You may make it perform various control processing according to the various operation | movement of the user image | photographed with the camera 7. FIG.

  Moreover, although the said operation | movement of the said embodiment is performing the different control processing for every operation | movement of the user's hand image | photographed with the camera 7, if the positional relationship between the camera 7 and the image reading part 2 etc. changes, Since the operation of the user's hand taken by the camera 7 also changes, in that case, the correspondence between the user's operation pattern and the control process may be appropriately changed.

  A ... MFP (image forming apparatus), 1 ... operation display unit, 2 ... image reading unit, 3 ... image data storage unit, 4 ... image forming unit, 5 ... communication unit, 6 ... human sensor, 7 ... camera, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 ... Card reader, 9 ... USB communication part, 10 ... Operation control part (control means), 11 ... Operation display control part, 12 ... Operation key, 13 ... Touch panel, 20 ... ADF, 30 ... Flatbed reading part, 41 ... Belt roller, 42 ... intermediate transfer belt, 43Y, 43C, 43M, 43K ... image forming unit, 44Y, 44C, 44M, 44K ... primary transfer roller, 45 ... feed cassette, 46 ... pickup roller, 47 ... conveying roller, 48 ... Registration roller, 49 ... Secondary transfer roller, 50 ... Separation static eliminator, 51 ... Fixing roller, 52 ... Discharge roller, 53 ... Discharge tray, 54 ... Reversing roller, 5 ... Branch guide, 56 ... Reverse paper conveyance roller, 57 ... Recording paper sensor, ay, am, ac, ak ... Photosensitive drum, by, bm, bc, bk ... Charging unit, cy, cm, cc, ck ... Laser scanning Unit, dy, dm, dc, dk ... development unit, ey, em, ec, ek ... cleaner, 41a ... drive roller, 41b ... driven roller, 41c ... tension roller, 51a ... heating roller, 51b ... pressure roller, R …Recording paper

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus comprising: a camera for photographing a user; and a control unit that executes a control process based on an operation of the user photographed by the camera,
A human sensor provided in the vicinity of the camera for detecting a user ;
An image reading unit for reading a document ,
The control means operates the camera in a power saving mode when the user is not detected by the human sensor, and saves the camera when the user is detected by the human sensor. When the power mode is canceled and a different control process is executed for each pattern of the user's movement photographed by the camera, and the movement of the user's hand in the direction of the image reading unit is photographed by the camera An image forming apparatus that cancels a power saving mode of the image reading unit . An image forming apparatus comprising: a camera for photographing a user; and a control unit that executes a control process based on an operation of the user photographed by the camera,
A human sensor provided in the vicinity of the camera for detecting a user;
A paper output tray that ejects recording paper with images printed on it
Comprising
The control unit operates the camera in a power saving mode when the user is not detected by the human sensor, and saves the camera when the user is detected by the human sensor. When the power mode is canceled, a different control process is executed for each pattern of the user's action photographed by the camera, and the movement of the user's hand in the direction of the paper discharge tray is photographed by the camera Does not cancel power saving mode
An image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising: a camera for photographing a user; and a control unit that executes a control process based on an operation of the user photographed by the camera,
A human sensor provided in the vicinity of the camera for detecting a user;
A card reader to read the card,
A USB communication unit having a USB port to which a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device is connected;
Equipped with
The control unit operates the camera in a power saving mode when the user is not detected by the human sensor, and saves the camera when the user is detected by the human sensor. When the power mode is canceled, a different control process is executed for each user's movement pattern photographed by the camera, and when the movement of the user's hand in the direction of the card reader is photographed by the camera, Release the power saving mode of the card reader and the USB communication unit
An image forming apparatus.

Images