JPH09275461A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device provided with a resume function and having satisfactory operability by reproducing a state before the stop of power supply based on the data of image formation stored in a memory. SOLUTION: In the case of turning off a power source through the operation of an auto-power-off function, the data of image formation such as copy conditions stored in a RAM 302 and image data stored in an image memory 304 are transferred to a non-volatile memory 303 for backup and stored by a CPU 300. After the lapse of fixed time from the next power-on, the CPU 300 is provided with the resume function for reproducing the state j just before the OFF of the power source based on the data stored in the non-volatile memory 303. In order to apply timing for performing new copy, the resume function is operated after the lapse of fixed time from the ON of the power source. Namely, within the fixed time from the ON of the power source, the timing for executing new processing is secured.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, OA equipment, electronic equipment and the like have been required to be improved to reduce energy consumption due to environmental problems. Therefore, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, if an unused state in which no operation is performed continues for a certain time or more, in order to reduce power consumption, a part of the apparatus (operation panel or the like), or A device having an automatic power-off function for turning off the power of the entire device is known. A device equipped with an auto power-off function that shuts off the power to the entire device, e.g., when the user is not in front of the device, even if a problem such as running out of paper such that the image forming process cannot continue continues for a certain period of time After that, the power of the entire device is turned off. In a normal image forming apparatus, when the power is turned on, image forming conditions (size of a sheet on which an image is formed and output, the number of sheets, density of an image to be printed on the sheet, etc.) are initialized. Therefore, when the power of the device is turned off by the operation of the auto power-off function, the user who returns to the front of the device turns on the power of the device again, and, for example, when the paper is out, replenishes the paper. It is inconvenient because the image forming condition must be set again after the trouble is resolved. In order to deal with such a problem, when the power of the device is turned off by the function of the auto power off function, the data regarding the image formation at that time is stored in the backup memory and the next time the power is turned on. It is known that a resume function is provided for reproducing the state immediately before the power is turned off based on the data stored in the memory.

[0003]

The person who next uses the image forming apparatus whose power is turned off by the function of the auto power-off function is not always the same as the previous user. For example, suppose that the user is not in front of the device, a problem such as running out of paper such that the image forming process cannot be continued occurs, and the device is powered off by the operation of the auto power-off function after a certain period of time. When the same user subsequently turns on the power of the apparatus again, the resume function that reproduces the state immediately before the power is turned off is effective because the image forming operation can be continued immediately after the above trouble is resolved. However, when another user turns on the power of the apparatus, the resume function causes the image forming conditions (image formation by the other user) different from the one set by the previous user and desired by the other user. Output paper size, number of sheets,
Also, the density of the image printed on the paper) is reproduced.
Therefore, the other user must reset all the image forming conditions set by the previous user and then set the image forming condition desired by himself again, which is rather inconvenient.

An object of the present invention is to provide a resume function,
An object is to provide an image forming apparatus having excellent operability.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has a backup means for storing set data relating to image formation in a memory and a power supply to the inside of the apparatus is restarted. After waiting for a while, wait for a certain period of time to continue for a certain period of time,
And a control unit for reproducing the state before the power supply is stopped, based on the image formation data stored in the memory by the backup unit. In this way, the timing for validating the contents stored in the backup memory such as the non-volatile memory after the power is turned on is assumed to be the case where the user does not perform any operation for a certain period of time or longer. This ensures the timing for starting a new image forming operation immediately after the power is turned on.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A copying machine as an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. (1) Configuration of Copying Machine FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the copying machine. The copying machine is an image reader unit 100 that reads image data of a document placed on the platen glass 2, and a printer that outputs an image on a sheet based on the image data of the document read by the image reader unit 100. It is roughly divided into a part 200. The automatic document feeder 1 provided on the image reader unit 100 is
The originals placed on the original tray 1a are sequentially placed on the original glass 2
Convey up. The document may be placed directly on the platen glass 2 by lifting the automatic document feeder 1. The automatic document feeder 1 includes a sensor 1b for detecting the presence or absence of a document placed on the document tray 1a, and a sensor (not shown) for detecting opening and closing of the automatic document feeder 2.

In the image reader section 100, the original conveyed onto the original platen glass 2 by the automatic original conveying device 1 is irradiated by a lamp 3 provided in the scanner 10.
Light reflected from the original surface forms an image on a three-line full-color CCD sensor 8 by a lens 7 via mirrors 4, 5, and 6. The full-color CCD sensor 8 converts the reflected light from the original into R, G, and B electric signals, and
Output to 1. The scanner 10 scans the entire document by moving in the direction of the arrow (sub-scanning direction) at the speed of V. With the movement of the scanner 10, the mirror box 9 in which the mirrors 5 and 6 are stored moves in the direction of the arrow at a speed of V / 2. The signal processing unit 11 converts the R, G, and B image data input from the CCD sensor 8 into cyan, magenta, yellow, and black color components, and converts the converted data of each color component into the image memory 304 (FIG. 3). (See)
It outputs to the laser control unit 12 in order for each copy.

In the printer section 200, the laser control section 12 generates a laser diode drive signal in accordance with an input signal, and the laser diode 1
2a emits light. The laser light emitted from the laser diode 12a is transmitted to a polygon mirror 13, an f-θ lens 14,
Photoreceptor drum 17 via folding mirrors 15 and 16
Scan the surface of. The surface of the photoreceptor drum 17 is irradiated with an eraser lamp 23 before receiving exposure for each copy,
It is uniformly charged by the charging charger 22. When exposure is performed in this state, the surface of the photosensitive drum 17
An electrostatic latent image of the document is formed. Toner developing units 18 to 2 for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, respectively
First, the cyan toner developing unit 18 is selected, and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 17 is developed. Appropriate paper is transported from the paper feed cassettes 30 to 32, and is attracted to the transfer drum 24 by an electrostatic attraction charger 27 provided opposite to the transport roller 28. The cyan toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 17 is transferred to a transfer charger 26.
Is transferred onto the copy paper wound around the transfer drum 24. Subsequent to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toner developing units are sequentially selected, and charging, exposure, and toner development of the photosensitive drum 17 are performed. The toner images of each color developed on the photosensitive drum 17 are sequentially transferred onto the copy paper wound around the transfer drum 24 in a superimposed manner. The copy paper on which the toner images of the four colors have been transferred is separated from the surface of the transfer drum 24 by the charge elimination by the separation charge elimination charger 25, and is fixed on the tray 31 after passing through the fixing device 29. Is discharged.

(2) Operation Panel FIG. 2 is a front view of the operation panel 40. The liquid crystal touch panel 41 displays an operation mode, a message such as a paper jam or a paper shortage, and a touch key for setting the operation mode according to the message. Numeric keypad 42
Is a key for setting the number of copies. Clear key 43
Is a key for resetting the number of copies to 1. The start key 44 is a key for starting copying. The stop key 45 is a key for stopping a copy operation. The panel reset key 46 is a key for returning copy conditions such as density and copy magnification to standard values. The power key 47 is a key for turning on / off the power of the copying machine main body.

(3) Control Block FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control unit of the copying machine. The central processing unit (hereinafter, CPU) 300 includes an operation panel 4
0, image reader unit 100, printer unit 200, ROM 301 storing control programs, operation panel 4
A RAM 302 for storing data of copy conditions such as the number of copies and a copy mode set via 0, a non-volatile memory 303 for backup, an image memory 304 for temporarily storing image data of an original read by an image reader unit, It is connected to the power supply unit 305, the timer 306 that counts the timing at which the resume function and the auto power off function are activated, and the other control unit 307. The operation panel 40, the image reader unit 100, and the printer unit 200 each include a CPU and operate independently, and each performs serial communication with the CPU 300 via a communication driver to exchange data and commands.
The image data of the original read by the image reader unit 100 is temporarily stored in the image memory 304 and output to the printer unit 200 as necessary. The image memory 30
4 has a sufficient capacity and can store image data of a plurality of originals. When the power is turned off by the operation of the auto power-off function, the CPU 300 stores the copy conditions stored in the RAM 302 and the image forming data such as the image data 304 stored in the image memory 304 in a nonvolatile manner for backup. Memory 303
Transfer to and store. After a lapse of a certain time from the next power-on, the CPU 300 reproduces the state immediately before the power is turned off, based on the data stored in the nonvolatile memory 303. In this example, when the user directly switches the power switch (not shown) of the device to turn off the power, the data stored in the RAM 302 and the image memory 304 is transferred to the non-volatile memory 303. Absent. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the power of the copying machine is turned off by the function of the auto power-off function or when the power switch is switched, the data may be backed up.

(4) Control of Copying Machine The copying machine automatically turns off the power when a user does not operate any keys on the operation panel 40 for a certain period of time, and the power is automatically turned off. In addition to storing the copy conditions such as the number of copies and the density set when the power is turned off, and the image forming data such as the image data of the document already read in the backup non-volatile memory 303. Next, when the power is turned on, it has a resume function for reading the data relating to image formation such as the copy condition and the image data stored in the non-volatile memory 303 and reproducing the state when the power is turned off. Here, the resume function is operated after waiting for a certain period of time after the power of the copying machine is turned on, in order to give a timing for performing a new copy.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the timing at which the resume function operates in this copying machine. Normally, as shown in (a), when the auto power-off function is activated during the execution of a certain copying operation (hereinafter referred to as job 1) to turn off the power, and then the power is turned on again, a certain time After the lapse of time, activate the resume function and perform job 1
Reproduce the contents of. As shown in (b), even when another user turns on the power to execute a new copy operation (hereinafter, referred to as job 2), after the power is turned on again, a certain amount of Job 1 before waiting for the passage of time
In order to reproduce the contents of the above, the other user can promptly set and execute the job 2 without resetting the contents of the job 1. After the processing of the job 2 is completed, the contents of the job 1 are not reproduced by activating the jum function until a certain time elapses in order to give a timing for executing a new job.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the main routine of the control processing executed by the CPU 300. After the power is turned on, the RAM 302 and the timer 306 are initialized (step S1), and then the value of each variable is initialized (step S2). Specifically, pw that represents the power on / off status
The on flag is set to 1, the recover flag indicating whether or not to restore the copy condition and the image data when the power is turned off by operating the resume function is set to 0, and the count value used when measuring the timing to activate the resume function recover_
The cont is set to 0, and the count value pwoff_cont used when measuring the timing for activating the auto power off function is set to 0. Timer 3 controls both the timing to activate the resume function and the timing to activate the auto power off function.
06 is used. After that, an internal timer that defines the length of one routine is set (step S3), and job recovery control is performed to reproduce the copy operation status and the copy mode immediately before the power is turned off (step S4). Further, after performing timing control for operating the auto power off function (step S5), other copy processing is performed (step S6). Waiting for the end of the internal timer (YES in step S7), the process returns to step S3.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the job restoration control (FIG. 5, step S4). If the pwon flag is 1, it is determined that the power has just been turned on (YES in step S10), and it is determined whether the resume function is activated to reproduce the state immediately before the power was turned off. First, after setting the pwon flag to 0 (step S11), the nonvolatile memory 3
If the copy condition and the image data are stored in 03 (YES in step S12), the recover flag is set to 1
If the copy condition and the image data are not stored in the non-volatile memory 303 (NO in step S12), the recover flag is set to 0 (step S14). If the value of the pwon flag is 0, that is, if it is not immediately after the power is turned on (NO in step S10), the processes in steps S11 to S14 are skipped. If the recover flag is set to 1 (step S15)
YES), until the value of recover_cont (elapsed time) reaches a predetermined value, the resume function is activated to reproduce the state immediately before the power is turned off only when the unused state in which no operation is performed continues. During this time, if any key on the operation panel 40 is operated (N in step S16)
O), it is judged that this operation is in preparation for a new copy, and the value of recover_cont is once set to 0 (step S1).
9). (In this case, the resume function is activated after the new copy is completed and a certain period of time elapses.)
If the original is still set on the original tray 1a (reading) by the sensor 1b, a trouble such as a paper jam will occur last time, and the auto power off function will work during the countermeasure. It is determined that the power of the apparatus has been turned off (YES in step S17), the resume function is immediately activated, the copy condition stored in the nonvolatile memory 303 is transferred to the RAM 302, and the image data is transferred to the image memory 304. The state immediately before the power is turned off is reproduced (step S21). In this way, when the power is turned off during the previous copying, the previous state is reproduced and then the reading of the original placed on the original tray 1a is restarted. If it is in an unused state where no operation is performed by the user (YES in step S16), if the previous copying operation has ended normally (step S17).
NO), and the value of recover_cont is counted up (step S18). When the value of recover_cont (elapsed time) is less than the predetermined value (NO in step S20), the process directly returns. If the predetermined value is reached (YES in step S20), the copy condition stored in the non-volatile memory is transferred to the RAM 302, the image data is transferred to the image memory 304, and the state immediately before the power is turned off is reproduced. (Step S21). After this reproduction processing, the recover flag is set to 0 (step S22), and recover_cont is set to 0 (step S23). Then, the copy process is restarted (step S24). As described above, when the keys on the operation panel 40 are left unused for a certain period of time without any operation, the control unit waits for some operation by reproducing the previous state. In this flow, when the document is left on the document tray 1a when the power is turned on, the resume function is immediately activated to reproduce the state when the power is turned off and the document is placed on the document tray 1a. Although the reading of the original document is restarted, when the power is turned on, the drive control of the automatic document feeder 1 may be performed so that all the sheets remaining on the original tray 1a are once discharged.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the auto power off control (FIG. 5, step S5). When the key of the operation panel 40 is not operated by the user and is in an unused state (YES in step S40), the value of pwoff_cont is counted up (step S41). On the other hand, if any key on the operation panel 40 is pressed (NO in step S40), the value of pwoff_cont is set to 0 (step S42). If the value (elapsed time) of pwoff_cont reaches the predetermined value (YES in step S43), pwoff_co
After setting the value of nt to 0, the RA is stored in the nonvolatile memory 303.
Copy conditions such as the number of copies and density stored in M302,
In addition, the data regarding the image formation such as the image data of the document stored in the image memory 304 is transferred and stored (step S45). After that, after sending a predetermined control signal to the power supply unit 305 to execute termination processing of each unit,
The power is turned off (step S46). Note that pwoff_co
When the value of nt (elapsed time) is less than the predetermined value, the process of steps S44 to S46 is skipped and the process returns.

In the above copying machine, when the auto power off is executed, the data in the RAM 302 and the image memory 304 are transferred and stored in the non-volatile memory 303.
Each of the battery 302 and the image memory 304 may be provided with a battery, and the data may be backed up independently. In this case, the data transfer process to the non-volatile memory 303 becomes unnecessary, and it is possible to cope with a case where the power supply is momentarily cut off for some reason. Further, in the above-mentioned copying machine, the resume function is activated to reproduce the state before the power is turned off, and then the copying process is automatically restarted (FIG. 6, step S24). The liquid crystal touch panel 41 may be used to request the user to select whether or not to restart the copy process.

[0017]

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, after the power is turned on, the resume function is activated after confirming that an unused state such as no operation continues for a certain period of time,
Reproduce the state just before turning off the power. That is, the timing for executing a new process is secured within a fixed time after the power is turned on. This makes it possible to quickly set new copy conditions and read image data without resetting the previous copy conditions or erasing the image data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation panel.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control unit of the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing a timing at which a resume function operates.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a main routine of control processing.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of job return control.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of automatic power-off control.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a ... Original tray 1b ... Sensor 40 ... Operation panel 100 ... Image reader section 200 ... Printer section 300 ... CPU 301 ... ROM 302 ... RAM 303 ... Non-volatile memory 304 ... Image memory 305 ... Power supply unit 306 ... Timer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A backup means for storing set image forming data in a memory, and after the power supply to the inside of the apparatus is restarted, wait for a state where no operation is performed for a certain time or more. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that reproduces a state before the power supply is stopped, based on image formation data stored in the memory by the backup unit.