JPH04185388A - Image forming device with book-binding function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the power capacity by a method wherein an image forming device is controlled so as to reduce the power consumption when the image forming device is brought in operation while a controller is in action. CONSTITUTION:When a copy commence instruction is issued, a manuscript on a manuscript stand a is scanned by a light exposure device 7, and the obtained image information is transferred on a sheet of paper, which is sent from a paper feed tray 4 or a paper feed cassette 5, at an image forming device 8. The paper on which the image is transferred is discharged on to a paper delivery tray 6 after undergoing fixing treatment at a fixing device 17. The set temperature of a heater 17b is kept at a normal value during copy process. On the other hand, while the book-binding device is in heating step, the set temperature of the heater 17b is lowered and also the rotating speed of a fixing roller 17a is lowered. As the transfer speed of paper at the fixing device is reduced, image forming process at the image forming device 8 is delayed correspondingly. Thereby, the power consumption during image forming process is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and particularly to an image forming apparatus with a bookbinding function that includes a bookbinding means.

[Prior Art] Japanese Utility Model Application No. 61-41261 discloses a copying machine having a bookbinding device provided adjacent to a heating roller of a fixing device. This copying machine performs bookbinding using heat from a fixing device.

Furthermore, Japanese Utility Model Application No. 61-121456 discloses a copying machine in which a bookbinding device is incorporated in a sorter provided adjacent to the main body of the copying machine. In this copying machine, a bookbinding device receives copy paper discharged from the main body and performs bookbinding.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional configuration that utilizes the heat of the fixing device, the heating operation is unstable and insufficient, and good bookbinding cannot be performed.

In the conventional configuration in which a bookbinding device is incorporated in the sorter,
Since it has a dedicated heater, the above-mentioned problem can be solved. However, with this configuration, when the bookbinding device is used to bind another sheet of paper rather than the copied sheets obtained by the copying machine itself, the bookbinding device operates independently of the copying machine itself. I will do it. In this independent work,
If the copying device and the bookbinding device operate at the same time, excessive power will be consumed. Furthermore, in order to cope with this, it becomes necessary to equip a power transformer with a large power capacity, which increases manufacturing costs.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus with a bookbinding function that does not consume excessive power at once and requires a small power capacity.

[Means to solve the problem]

An image forming apparatus with a bookbinding function according to the present invention includes an image forming means for forming an image on paper, a bookbinding means provided adjacent to the image forming means, and an image forming means that operates while the bookbinding means is in operation. In some cases, the image forming apparatus is provided with a control means for controlling the image forming means so as to reduce power consumption.

[Effect]

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the image forming means forms an image on a sheet of paper. Further, the bookbinding means performs a bookbinding operation.

Here, when the image forming means is operated while the bookbinding means is operating, the image forming means is controlled so as to reduce power consumption. In this case, since the power consumed by the image forming means is small, even if the image forming operation and the bookbinding operation are performed simultaneously, the power consumption will not be excessive. Therefore, the power capacity of the power supply is small.

(Embodiment) FIGS. 2 and 3 show a copying machine as an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a document table 2 is fixed to the upper surface of a copying machine main body 1, and a document presser 3 is arranged on the document table 2 so as to be openable and closable. On the right side of the copying machine body 1 is a paper feed tray 4.
And a paper feed cassette 5 is detachably attached. On the left side of the copying machine main body 1, there is installed a paper discharge tray 6 from which copying paper is discharged.

Inside the copying machine main body 1, an exposure device 7 for reading a document is provided at the top thereof.

This exposure device 7 is composed of a light source, a mirror, and the like. Further, an image forming section 8 is provided in the center of the copying machine main body 1. A photosensitive drum 9 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed is arranged at the center of the image forming section 8 . Around the photosensitive drum 9, there are a main charger 10, a developing device 11, a transfer charger 12, a separation charger 13, and a cleaning device 14.
etc. are arranged. Paper feed tray 4 and paper feed cassette 5
A paper feed conveyance path 15 including a plurality of conveyance rollers is provided between the image forming section 8 and the image forming section 8 . Furthermore, a paper discharge conveyance device 16 and a fixing device 17 are arranged between the image forming section 8 and the paper discharge tray 6. The fixing device F17 includes a pair of rollers 1.7a rotated at a predetermined speed by a drive motor (not shown), and a heater 17b disposed within the negative roller 17a.

A bookbinding device 30 is provided to the right of the image forming section 8 in the copying machine main body 1 . As shown in FIG. 1, the bookbinding device 30 has a case-shaped loading section 31. As shown in FIG. The loading section 31 opens in the side wall 1a of the copying machine main body 1, and
It extends diagonally downward. In the opening of the loading section 31,
A lid 32 is provided. The lid 32 has a hinge part 3 at the upper end.
3, it can be opened and closed freely. An electrode 34 is provided on the lower end surface of the loading section 31 for supplying power to a binder, which will be described later.

Furthermore, this bookbinding device 30 includes a control circuit 3 shown in FIG.
5. In FIG. 5, a +24-inch power source is connected to one of the pair of electrodes 34. In FIG. An oscillation circuit 41 is connected between the +24V power source and the electrode 34 via a capacitor 40, and a capacitor 42 for storing electricity is also connected. A collector of a power transistor 43 is connected to the other electrode 34 .

The emitter of the power transistor 43 is grounded via a resistor 44. The output terminal of the comparator 45 is connected to the base of the power transistor 430. A remote terminal 46 is connected to a child terminal of the comparator 45 . A resistor 47 is connected to one terminal of the comparator 45.
The emitter of the power transistor 43 is connected through the .

An abnormality detection circuit 47 and a star detection circuit 48 are provided branching off from between the power transistor 43 and the electrode 34 . The abnormality detection circuit 47 has a pair of comparators 49 and 50, and outputs a high level output from the NG terminal 51 only when the collector voltage of the power transistor 43 is within a predetermined normal range. On the other hand, the start detection circuit 48 includes one comparator 52, and when an increase in the collector voltage of the power transistor 43 is detected, the start terminal 53 outputs a high level output.

As shown in FIG. 2, an operation panel 20 is arranged on the front side of the upper surface of the copying machine main body 11. As shown in FIG.

The operation panel 20 is provided with an LCD 21 for displaying operating status (number of copies, operating time, etc.). Further, the operation panel 20 includes a print key 22 for instructing the start of copying operation, a numeric keypad 23 for specifying the number of copies, a heating indicator lamp 24 for displaying the heating operation status of the bookbinding device 30, and a cooling A cooling indicator lamp 25 and the like are provided to indicate the status.

Furthermore, this copying machine has a control section 60 as shown in FIG.
have. The control unit 60 is a CPU.

It includes a microcomputer consisting of ROM, RA, M, etc. The J10 boat 61 of the control unit 60 includes an image forming unit 8. Fixing device 17. LCD2+.

Heating indicator lamp 24. A cooling indicator lamp 25 and other input/output sections are connected. Furthermore, in this example,
The I10 boat 61 has a remote terminal 46 .of the control circuit 35 of the bookbinding device 30 . NG terminal 51 and start terminal 53
is connected.

During the bookbinding operation in this embodiment, a binder 70 shown in FIG. 7 is used. No. 1 Inter 70 includes an electric heating element 72 on the inner side of the spine 71 and an adhesive 7 covering it.
It has 3. The adhesive 73 is made of thermoplastic resin, for example. Furthermore, a pair of electrodes 74 are provided at both ends of the electric heating element 72. Electric pjA74 has spine 71
exposed on the outer side (bottom side of the figure).

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained according to the control flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6A to 6F.

When the program starts, initial setting operations such as heating the fixing device 17 to a predetermined temperature are performed. In this initial setting operation, various flags are set to the OFF state.

When the initial settings are completed, interrupt processing is started based on a timer that times out every 1 to 2 msec. In FIG. 6A showing timer interrupt processing,
In step S1, which branch to execute is determined by referring to the scan table. Among the branches executed based on the determination in step S1 based on the scan table, branch B1 performs processing based on key human power. At branch B2, copying operation processing is performed.

At branch B3, processing at the start of the bookbinding operation is performed. In branch B4, a heating process of the bookbinding operation is performed. At branch B5, processing in the cooling step in the bookbinding operation is performed. Since the branches after branch 86 are common processes, their explanations will be omitted here.

In the key manual processing of the second manual processing branch B1, the control shown in FIG. 6B is executed. In FIG. 6B, in step S2, it is determined whether or not a copying operation start command has been issued through the print key 22. If the determination is No, the process moves to step S3, and it is determined whether or not a command to set the number of sheets has been issued through the numeric keypad 23. If the determination is No, other key manual processing is performed in step S4, and then the process returns to the process of FIG. 6A.

Here, if the numeric keypad 23 is pressed to set the number of copies, the program moves from step S3 to step S5, and the input value is stored as the number of copies. In step S6, the number of copies is displayed on the LCD 21. When the process in step S6 is completed, the program returns to the main routine.

Next, if the print key 22 is pressed, the program moves from step S2 to step S7. In step S7, the print flag is set to the ON state.

When the process in step S7 is completed, the program returns to the main routine.

The processing at branch B2 for processing the copying operation is shown in FIG. 6C. In FIG. 6C, in step S8, it is determined whether the print flag is in the ON state. If the print key 22 is not pressed in step 32 (FIG. 6B), the print flag is in the OFF state, and the processing at branch B2 ends as is. On the other hand, when the print flag is in the ON state, the process moves to step S9.

In step S9, it is determined whether the copying operation, which will be described later, has been completed. While the copying operation is in progress, the determination is No and the process of branch B2 ends; however, since the copying operation has not yet started at the beginning, the process moves to step SIO. Step S10
Now, it is determined whether or not a bookbinding operation, which will be described later, is being executed by checking the state of the bookbinding flag.

If bookbinding is in progress, the program moves from step S10 to step S1.5. If bookbinding is in progress, the process moves from step SIO to step S1.1.

In step Sll, the state of a heating end flag (described later) indicating that the bookbinding apparatus 30 has ended the heating operation is checked. The heating end flag is in the ON state. (i.e., when the heating step is finished), the program moves from step 311 to step SI5. If it is determined in step Sll that the heating operation is in progress, the process moves to step S12. In step S12,
Lower the set temperature of the fixing heater 17b. This reduces power consumption during copying operations. Next, step S1
3, the rotation speed of the fixing roller 1.7a is set low. As a result, the paper passes through the fixing device 17 for a correspondingly longer period of time, so that a normal fixing operation can be performed even if the fixing temperature is low. In step SL4, a predetermined lag time is provided in order to delay the start of feeding of paper from the paper feed tray 4 or the paper feed cassette 5 by the amount of the decrease in the rotational speed of the fixing roller. As a result, the repetition time of the image forming operation in the image forming section 8 is delayed in accordance with the delay in the rotation time of the fixing roller.

In step S15, it is determined whether the number of images displayed on the LCD 2L has become zero. If it is set to 0, it means that the set number of copies has not been made yet, so step S1
Move to 6. In step S16, 1 is subtracted from the number of sheets displayed on the LCD 21, and the value is displayed on the LCD 21. In step 317, a copy operation is started.

After the processing in steps 31 and 7 is completed, the program starts at the 6th step.
Return to the process in Figure A.

When the copy start command is issued in step S17,
The original on the original platen 2 is scanned by the exposure device 7, and the image information obtained is transferred to the paper conveyed from the paper feed tray 4 or the paper feed cassette 5 in the image forming section 8. The paper onto which the image has been transferred is subjected to a fixing process in the fixing device 17 and then discharged onto the paper discharge tray 6 . During this copying operation, the determination in step S9 continues to be No.

Note that when steps 312 and 31.3 are not executed (that is, when the bookbinding operation is not performed), the rotational speed of the fixing roller 17a of the fixing device 17 corresponds to the paper conveyance speed in the image forming section 8. are doing. Further, the set temperature of the heater 17b is a steady value. On the other hand, bookbinding device 3
0 is in the heating process, the set temperature of the heater 17b is lowered and the rotational speed of the fixing roller 17a is set low through execution of step SL2.313. Further, in step S14, the image forming operation in the image forming section 8 is delayed by the amount that the paper conveyance speed in the fixing device 17 has decreased. This reduces power consumed during image forming operations.

When the series of copy operations is completed, the process moves from step S9 to step SIO. At this stage, the fixing device 30
If the heating process is not in progress, steps S12 to S14
is not executed, and the process moves to step S15. Then, until the copying operation for the set number of stitches is executed, step S15
Then, the process moves to steps S16 and S17, and the copying operation is restarted. If the determination is Yes in step 315,
The process moves to step 31B, and the print flag is set to the OFF state. As a result, the determination in step S8 of FIG. 6C becomes No, so that the copying operation is not repeated. When the process in step S18 is completed, the control returns to FIG. 6A.

When binding a book using the bookbinding apparatus 30, as shown in FIGS. contact with. Then, fold the binder 70 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the lid 32 is pushed open and stored in the loading section 31. When the binder 70 reaches the bottom of the loading section 31 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the binder 70
a pair of electrodes 3 via the electrode 74 and the electric heating element 72
4 becomes electrically conductive.

When the pair of electrodes 34 are electrically connected, the start detection circuit 4 is activated in the control circuit 35 (FIG. 5) of the bookbinding device 30.
The potential of the ten terminal of the comparator 52 of No. 8 increases, and a high level signal is output from the start terminal 53. This high level signal is detected by the control unit 60 (FIG. 4), and as a result, the determination in step S19 of FIG. 6D is Yes.
It becomes s.

FIG. 6D shows specific control of branch B3 in FIG. 6A. In step S19, it is determined based on the increase in the potential of the start terminal 53 whether or not a command to start the bookbinding operation has been issued. If the command to start the bookbinding operation has not been issued, the process shown in FIG. 6D ends as is. Step S
If the determination in step S19 is Yes, the process moves to step S20.

In step 520, it is determined whether the bookbinding flag is set to the ON state. Since this flag is set to the OFF state at the beginning of bookbinding, the program proceeds to step S21! This transition will take place. In step S21, it is determined whether the error flag is set to the ON state. Regarding this error flag, OF
Since it has been sent to the F state, the program moves to step S22.

In step S22, the bookbinding flag is set to ON state. Next, in step S23, a timer is started. In step S24, the LCD 21 starts displaying the remaining time required until the bookbinding operation is completed. In step S25, the heating indicator lamp 24 is turned on. In step S26, a high level signal is output to the remote terminal 46.

As a result, the power transistor 43 of the bookbinding device 30 is turned on, the electric heating element 72 of the binder 70 generates heat, and the adhesive 73 is melted. When the process in step S26 is completed, the control returns to FIG. 6A.

In the heating process in the old bookbinding device 30, the process of branch B4 is performed.

In FIG. 6E showing the specific processing of branch B4, in step S27 it is determined whether the bookbinding flag is in the ON state. If the bookbinding flag is in the OFF state, it means that the bookbinding operation has not been started, so the process in FIG. 6E ends as is.

If the determination in step 327 is Yes, the process moves to step 32B. In step S28, it is determined whether a predetermined heating time has elapsed.

If the heating by the bookbinding device 30 has not been completed, the program moves from step 32B to step S29.

In step S29, it is determined whether an abnormality has occurred in the bookbinding device 30. Here, when an abnormality such as an abnormal resistance value of the electric heating element 72 or a poor contact between the binder 70 and the electrode 34 occurs, the abnormality detection circuit 47 detects the abnormality. That is, when the potential of the collector of the power transistor 43 deviates from the normal potential range defined by the pair of comparators 49 and 50, the output from the NG terminal 51 becomes low level. This change in the output from the NG terminal 51 is detected in step S29. If an abnormality is detected, the program moves to step S30. In step S30, a low level signal is output to the remote terminal 46, and the power supply to the binder 70 is stopped. In step S31, an error is displayed on the LCD 21. Subsequently, in step S32, the error flag is turned ON.
Set to state. When the process in step S32 is completed, the process returns to the process in FIG. 6A. Note that when the error flag is in the ON state, the determination in step S21 of FIG. 6D is Yes.
Therefore, the heating process will not be restarted.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S328 that the heating process has ended, the process moves to step S33. In step S33, the heating end flag is set to the ON state. In step S34, a low level signal is output to the remote terminal 46, and the power supply to the bookbinding apparatus 30 is stopped. In step S35, the heating indicator lamp 24 is turned off. When the process in step S35 is completed, the program returns to the process in FIG. 6A.

Heat treatment in the bookbinding apparatus 30 is started in step S26 in FIG. 6D, and when the heat treatment is stopped in step S34 in FIG. 6E, the bookbinding apparatus 30 enters a cooling process.

The processing in the cooling step is executed at branch B5 in FIG. 6A. In FIG. 6F showing the specific process of branch B5, in step S36, it is determined whether the heating process in the bookbinding apparatus 30 has been completed. This determination is made based on whether or not the heating end flag (step 533 in FIG. 6E) is in the ON state. Until the heating process is completed, the determination in step S36 is No, and the sixth
The process of diagram F ends immediately.

If the determination in step S36 is Yes, the process moves to step S37. In step S37, cooling display is performed by lighting the cooling display lamp 25. Next, the step tube 33B determines whether a predetermined cooling time has elapsed. Until the predetermined cooling time has elapsed, the determination in step S38 becomes No, and the process returns to the process of FIG. 6A.

If the determination in step S38 is Yes, step S
39. In step S39, the bookbinding flag and the heating end flag are turned off. Step S
At step 40, the display of the time since the start of bookbinding is erased from the LCD 21, and the cooling indicator lamp 25 is turned off. In step S41, the display on the LCD 21 is returned to displaying the number of sheets. When the process in step S41 is completed, the program returns to the process in FIG. 6A.

As explained above, in this embodiment, the power consumed in the copying operation is kept low while the heating process of the copying operation and the bookbinding operation are executed simultaneously, so the copying operation and the bookbinding operation are executed simultaneously. Excessive power will not be consumed at once even if the

[Other Examples]

(a) A bookbinding mode key may be provided on the operation panel 20, and the bookbinding operation of the bookbinding device 30 may be started based on a command via the bookbinding mode. In this case, the start detection circuit 48 shown in FIG. 5 can be omitted.

(b) In the above-described embodiment, the present invention was implemented with a configuration that reduces the power consumption in the fixing device 17, but the present invention can be similarly implemented with a configuration that reduces the power consumption of the entire copying operation group including the image forming section 8. can.

[Effects of the Invention] In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the power consumption of the image forming means is reduced while the bookbinding means is in operation.

Therefore, according to the present invention, even when image forming operation and bookbinding operation are executed at the same time, excessive power is not consumed at once, and a small power capacity is required, resulting in low-cost manufacturing. An image forming apparatus with a bookbinding function can be realized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the entire structure, FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view thereof, FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the control section, and FIG. 6A to 6F are control flowcharts, FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the binder, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are circuit diagrams of the bookbinding device.
The figure and the first construction drawing are longitudinal cross-sectional partial views showing how the bookbinding device is used. 1... Copying machine main body, 8... Image forming section, 17...
Fixing device, 17a... Fixing roller, 17b... Fixing heater, 30... Bookbinding device, 60... Control unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) an image forming means for forming an image on paper; a bookbinding means provided adjacent to the image forming means; and when the image forming means is operated during the operation of the bookbinding means, the image forming means An image forming apparatus with a bookbinding function, comprising: a control means for controlling the power consumption of the image forming apparatus to reduce power consumption;