JPH1117863A - Picture forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picture forming device which makes a stable operation possible without causing an operation defect by a shortage of electric power and also can make the capacity of a power source small. SOLUTION: When an output voltage monitor circuit 525 detects lowering of the output voltage of a power source 510 for a feeder and sorter, a switch element Q2 is turned on and an electric power is supplied to the power source 510 for the feeder and sorter from a power course 509 for copying machine. When an output voltage monitor circuit 524, which monitors the output voltage of the power course 509 for copying machine detects a voltage lowering, a switch element Q1 is turned on and the electric power is supplied to the power course 509 for a copying machine from the output voltage of the power source 510 for a feeder and sorter. Moreover, when an output voltage monitor circuit 526 detects a voltage drop, a switch element Q3 is turned on, a power is supplied to a central control circuit 501 from a DC-DC converter 527 for 5 V.

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 connected to a peripheral device, and more particularly, to an image forming device in which a power supply of the peripheral device can be used as an auxiliary power supply of a power supply of the image forming device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, copiers are often used together with an automatic paper feeder (hereinafter, referred to as "feeder") and an automatic paper sorter (hereinafter, referred to as "sorter") because of their usage. Especially in high-speed copying machines, they are indispensable.

In a multifunction copier having not only a copying function but also a facsimile function and a printer function, a sorter and a feeder are indispensable devices as peripheral devices.

When a peripheral device such as a sorter or a feeder is mounted, a configuration in which a power supply for the peripheral device is mounted separately from a power source for the main body in the copying machine main body is adopted in most cases. The power capacity of the power supply for the main unit and the power supply for peripheral devices is specified by the maximum power consumption of each,
Each is used as a dedicated power supply.

[0005]

However, since the power supply for the peripheral device is mounted separately from the power supply for the main body in the main body of the copier, if an abnormality occurs in one of the power supplies, the copier is not used. There was a problem that the whole stopped and a paper jam occurred.

Further, as described above, separately defining the power capacities of the power supply for the main body and the power supply for the peripheral device with the maximum power consumption has a problem that the power capacity of the power supply increases, and also the resource saving. There is also room for improvement in terms of energy saving, cost, etc.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, a first object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which does not cause an operation failure due to insufficient power and enables a stable operation.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the power capacity of a power supply.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus connected to a peripheral device, wherein a power supply of the peripheral device is controlled by the power supply of the image forming apparatus. It is characterized in that it is configured to be used as an auxiliary power supply of a power supply.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the power supply of the image forming apparatus can be used as an auxiliary power supply for the power supply of the peripheral device. And

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the image forming apparatus is further provided independently of a power supply of the image forming apparatus and a power supply of the peripheral device. A power supply capable of directly supplying power to the control means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, a power supply of the image forming apparatus, a power supply of the peripheral device, and the image forming apparatus are provided. And an output monitoring means for monitoring the output of any one of the power supplies capable of directly supplying power to the control means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, power is directly supplied to a power supply of the image forming apparatus, a power supply of the peripheral device, and a control unit provided in the image forming apparatus. Characterized in that it comprises three output monitoring means for monitoring the power supplies capable of supplying the power.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, further comprising communication means for connecting to at least one of a computer, a telephone line, and a network. It is characterized by being.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the peripheral device is a feeder or a sorter.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(1) First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a copying machine 100 and a feeder 200.

The copying machine 100 includes a lamp 102 for illuminating the original at the time of copying, a light amount control circuit 103 for controlling the light amount of the lamp 102, a heater 104 used for fixing toner on recording paper, and adjusting the temperature of the heater 104. Heater temperature control circuit 105, an optical drive system 107 including a scanner motor for driving a scanner (not shown) for reading a document, and a main motor for transporting recording paper, a feed motor, a discharge motor, and the like. And a drive system 108.

Further, the copying machine 100 includes an optical drive system 107.
A motor driver 106 for controlling the operation of the main drive system 108, a copier power supply 109 for supplying power to each component of the copier 100, and a feeder power supply 110 for supplying power to each component of the feeder 200. , Feeder 200
Controller 111, a solenoid 112, a microswitch 113, a light amount control circuit 103, a heater temperature control circuit 105, a motor driver 106, a communication controller 111, a solenoid 11
2 and a central control circuit 101 for controlling the microswitch 113. The central control circuit 101 constitutes the control means described in the claims.

The feeder 200 includes a communication controller 201 for communicating signals and the like with the copier 100, a paper feed motor 204 for transporting the original, a belt motor 205 used for transporting and discharging the original, and a A paper discharge motor 206 for discharging paper, a motor driver 203 for controlling the paper supply motor 204, the belt motor 205, and the paper discharge motor 206.
And the communication controller 201 and the motor driver 203
And a control circuit 202 for controlling The communication controller 111 and the communication controller 201 are connected.

The specifications of the rated currents of the copier power supply 109 and the feeder power supply 110 are determined by accumulating the respective required powers. The maximum rated current is determined by the starting current of the motor load, that is, the peak current value. Is done.

However, as shown in the characteristic diagram of the motor shown in FIG. 2, a general motor is characterized in that the required power is stable at a small value except at the start of driving the motor.
That is, when the motor is not driven, the power capacity of the power supply specified by the peak current has a surplus. In order to make effective use of the generated surplus power, it is sufficient to supply power to those requiring power.

Therefore, in the copying machine 100, as shown in FIG. 1, the surplus power of the feeder power supply 110 is supplied to the copying machine power supply 109 via the diode 120. This configuration will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 shows the operation of the optical drive system 107, main drive system 108, and various motors 204 to 206 of the feeder 200 during copying. (I) in FIG.
Indicates the startup time when the motor load is very large, and (ii)
Indicates a normal operation time during which the motor load has a normal magnitude. Further, (iii) in FIG. 3 shows a low-speed operation time when the rotation of the motor is low, and (iv) shows a reverse rotation time when the rotation of the motor is reverse.

First, after a document is set, when a copy start key (not shown) is pressed, the feeder 200 performs a document feeding process. At this time, the feed motor 204 and the belt motor 205 of the feeder 200 operate.

Next, when the feeding of the original is completed, the copying machine 1
00 performs the copying process. At this time, the main drive system 108
And the main motor, the scanner motor, and the main drive system 10 provided in the optical drive system 107.
The paper ejection motors provided in 8 operate sequentially.

Thereafter, at the end of the copying process of the copying machine 100, the feeder 200 performs a document discharging process. At this time, the belt motor 20 provided in the feeder 200 is
5. The discharge motor 206 operates.

Therefore, while the copying machine 100 is performing the copying process, the sheet feeding motor 20 provided in the feeder 200 is provided.
4. The belt motor 205 and the discharge motor 206 are in the standby state, and the power consumption is reduced.

FIG. 4 shows a copying machine 100 and a feeder 200.
5 shows a load current level and an output voltage level. As shown in FIG. 4, while the copying machine 100 is performing the copying process, the power consumption of the feeder 200 is reduced, while the power consumption of the copying machine 100 is extremely large in a steady state.
At this time, the voltage of the copier power supply 109 fluctuates for some reason, and the output voltage level of the copier power supply 109 is reduced by the forward voltage drop of the diode 120 (about 0.7 V).
If the output voltage falls further, the feeder power supply 1 is set to maintain the output voltage level of the copier power supply 109 at a constant level.
Power is supplied from 10.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the output voltage level of the copier power supply 109 falls below the forward voltage drop of the diode 120 (about 0.7 V), Since power is supplied from the feeder power supply 110 in order to maintain the output voltage level of the power supply 109 at a constant level, operation failure due to power shortage does not occur.
Enables stable operation. Also, a power supply 11 for the feeder
Since the power can be supplied to the copier power supply 109 from 0, the power capacity of the copier power supply 109 does not need to be specified by the maximum power consumption, and the power capacity of the copier power supply 109 can be reduced.

(2) Second Embodiment FIG. 5 shows the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is a multifunction peripheral connected to a computer and serving as a printer and connected to a telephone line and serving as a facsimile apparatus, and includes a copier 500, a feeder 600, and A sorter 700 is provided. Further, the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention can be connected to a network such as a LAN.

The copier 500 includes a lamp 502 for illuminating the original at the time of copying, a light amount control circuit 503 for controlling the light amount of the lamp 502, a heater 504 used for fixing toner on recording paper, and adjusting the temperature of the heater 504. A heater temperature control circuit 505, an optical drive system 507 including a scanner motor for driving a scanner for reading a document, and a main drive system 508 including a main motor for transporting recording paper, a feed motor, a discharge motor, and the like. It has.

The copier 500 includes a motor driver 50 for controlling the operations of the optical drive system 507 and the main drive system 508.
6, a copier power supply 509 for supplying power to each component of the copier 500, and a feeder and sorter power supply 51 for supplying power to each component of the feeder 600 and the sorter 700.
0, a communication controller 511 that communicates signals and the like with the feeder 600 and the sorter 700, a solenoid 512,
The micro switch 513 and the light amount control circuit 50
3, a heater control circuit 505, a motor driver 506, a communication controller 511, a solenoid 512, and a central control circuit 501 for controlling a microswitch 513. The central control circuit 501 constitutes the control means described in the claims.

The output voltage of the power supply 509 for the copying machine and the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter is 24 V, and the DC-DC for 5 V provided in the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter.
The output voltage of converter 527 is 5V.

Further, the copying machine 500 includes a power supply 50 for the copying machine.
9, an output voltage monitoring circuit 525 for monitoring the output voltage of the feeder and sorter power supply 510, an output voltage monitoring circuit 526 for monitoring the output voltage of the central control circuit 501, and a switching element. Q1, Q2, and Q3. Output voltage monitoring circuit 524, switching element Q1, output voltage monitoring circuit 52
5, switching element Q2, and output voltage monitoring circuit 52
6 and the switching element Q3 each constitute an output monitoring means described in the claims.

The copying machine 500 includes a central control circuit 50.
1 and a communication unit for connecting to a computer or a network.

Next, the feeder 600 includes a communication controller 601 for communicating signals and the like with the copying machine 500, a paper feed motor 604 for transporting the original, and a belt motor 605 used for transporting and discharging the original. , A paper discharge motor 606 for discharging a document, a paper feed motor 604, and a belt motor 6
05 and a motor driver 6 for controlling the discharge motor 606
03, the communication controller 601 and the motor driver 6
And a control circuit 602 for controlling the control circuit 03. The communication controller 601 is connected to the communication controller 511 and a communication controller 701 described later.

The sorter 700 includes a communication controller 701 that communicates signals and the like with the copier 500, a paper feed motor 704 that conveys originals, a bin shift motor 705 that shifts the bins of the sorter 700 up and down, A motor driver 703 for controlling the motor 704 and the bin shift motor 705 and a control circuit 702 for controlling the communication controller 701 and the motor driver 703 are provided. The communication controller 701 is a communication controller 511
And a communication controller 601.

The copying machine 500 includes a lamp 502 for illuminating an original at the time of copying, a light amount control circuit 503 for controlling the amount of light of the lamp 502, a scanner (not shown) for reading the original, and a storage device for storing image data read by the scanner. (Not shown), a heater 504 used to fix toner on recording paper, a heater temperature adjustment circuit 505 for adjusting the temperature of the heater 504, and a photosensitive drum (not shown) for irradiating a laser beam to form a latent image. (Not shown), and a copying unit including a developing unit (not shown) for attaching toner to a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum performs parallel processing independently.

For example, parallel processing is performed such that the copying section copies image data of a computer or received data of a facsimile, the document reading section reads a document, and stores the data in a storage device. Further, during the sorting operation by the sorter 700, a parallel process in which the feeder 600 conveys a plurality of originals for copying or facsimile transmission to an original platen is also performed.

When such parallel processing is performed, the feeder 600 and the sorter 7
Since a situation occurs in which the processes of 00 and 00 overlap, the setting of the maximum power becomes large, and the surplus generated in the power capacity of the power supply specified by the peak current increases as described in the first embodiment. .

In the present embodiment, the surplus of the power supply capacity is used to not only cope with the instantaneous abnormality of the output voltage of the power supply as described in the first embodiment, but also to cope with the copying machine. When an abnormality occurs in the power supply 509 and the output voltage decreases, power is supplied only to the central control circuit 501, the transport motor 604, the belt motor 605, the paper discharge motor 606, the transport motor 704, and the bin shift motor 705, The central control circuit 501 displays a power supply abnormality on a display unit or communicates the fact to a computer or a network via a communication unit to prevent a paper jam or the like and notify a user of a power supply abnormality. is there.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus when an abnormality occurs in the power supply 509 for the copying machine or the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter will be described.

I) When the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter is abnormal The output voltage monitoring circuit 525 detects the power supply 5 for the feeder and the sorter.
10 is detected, the central control circuit 50
1 is notified of the abnormality of the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter, and the switch element Q2 is turned on to turn on the power supply 5 for the copying machine.
09 to be able to receive power supply.

When the central control circuit 501 receives the notification of the abnormality of the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter, the processing of the feeder 600 and the copying section is stopped so that each processing can be completed in accordance with the operation state of the copying machine 500. .

For example, when an error occurs in the feeder and sorter power supply 510 while the original is being conveyed to the original platen by the feeder 600 and the paper is being fed to the copying unit, the scanning by the original reading unit is performed. The start of the process is stopped, and the start of the copy process in the copy unit is stopped. The reason for this is that the recording paper can be prevented from jamming inside the apparatus by stopping before the scanning process in the document reading unit and before the copying process in the copying unit. If an error occurs in the feeder and sorter power supply 510 after the start of the scanning process in the document reading unit and after the start of the copy process in the copying unit,
Since the amount of current used is small, it is not necessary to stop the scanning process in the document reading unit and the copying process in the copying unit.

Thereafter, the central control circuit 501 enables power to be supplied from the copier power supply 509 to the feeder and sorter power supply 510, and when the discharge processing of the copier 500 is completed, the display unit indicates that power is abnormal. Is displayed or the fact is communicated to a computer or a network via a communication unit to notify the user of the abnormality of the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter.

Ii) When the copier power supply 509 is abnormal When the output voltage monitoring circuit 524 monitoring the output voltage of the copier power supply 509 detects a voltage drop, the switch element Q1
Is turned on, and power is supplied from the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter to the power supply 509 for the copying machine. At this time, the central control circuit 501 displays the power supply abnormality on the display unit or communicates the fact to the computer or the network via the communication unit to notify the user of the abnormality of the copier power supply 509.

When the output voltage monitoring circuit 526 for monitoring the output voltage of the central control circuit 501 detects a voltage drop, the switching element Q3 is turned on and the 5V DC-
Power is supplied from the DC converter 527 to the central control circuit 501. At this time, the central control circuit 501 displays the power supply abnormality on the display unit or communicates the fact to a computer or a network via the communication unit, and notifies the user of the power supply 5 for the copying machine.
09 is notified.

FIG. 6 shows a document reading section, a copying section, and a feeder 6.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a change in the current consumption level of the sorter 700.

First, when the image forming apparatus is turned on and enters a copy standby state, the copying section, the feeder 600,
And the sorter 700 are supplied with electric power. When the copy start key is depressed by the user, the current consumption level of the feeder 600 increases in order to convey the document onto the platen, and the current consumption level of the copying section also temporarily increases in order to feed the recording paper. Rise. At this time, since the original reading section and the sorter 700 are not used, the current consumption level of both is stabilized at a low level.

Thereafter, when the scanning process is started in the document reading section, the current consumption level of the document reading section temporarily rises, and since the feeder 600 is not used, the current consumption level becomes steady at a low level. Further, when the scanning process is started in the document reading unit, the copying process is started, so that the current consumption level of the copying unit is increased, and the consumption of the sorter 700 in preparation for discharging the recording paper copied in the copying unit is increased. The current level increases immediately before the end of the copying process.

Next, when the discharge of the recording sheet copied by the copying unit is started, the current consumption level of the copying unit is stabilized at a high level after the copying process. Becomes steady at a low level. At this time, the current consumption level of the sorter 700 also becomes steady at a high level immediately before the end of the copying process, and the current consumption level becomes steady at a low level when the process performed by the sorter 700 ends. Further, the current consumption level of feeder 600 increases because the original conveyed on the original platen is restored. Since the document reading section is not used, the current consumption level is steady at a low level.

The timing at which the power consumption of the copier power supply 509 becomes large, that is, the timing at which the output voltage monitoring circuit 524 detects the largest voltage drop, is determined when the image reading unit and the copying unit are simultaneously processing. However, at the start of the operation of the image reading unit, the power supply to the feeder 700 has settled down to a steady state, and the current consumption level is low. Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs in the copier power supply 509 at this time, Since the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter has a sufficient power capacity, the power can be supplied to the power supply 509 for the copying machine without any problem.

An abnormality occurs in a part of the copier power supply 509, and power cannot be supplied only to the central control circuit 501. When power is supplied from the 5V DC-DC converter 527 to the central control circuit 501, the processing is in progress. (Ie, a document being conveyed to the platen in the feeder 600 or a document being conveyed to the platen, and a sorter 700 that is in the process of copying in the copying unit and has not been sorted). The processing is stopped, and the DC-DC converter 527 for 5 V starts from the portion where no abnormality has occurred in the power supply 509 for the copying machine.
Supply power to In this case, there is no timing to use the maximum power capacity of the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter until the processing in the middle of the processing is completed, so that power supply is performed without any problem.

Even if the power supply capability of the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter is reduced, no problem occurs because the power is supplied from the portion where the abnormality of the power supply 509 for the copying machine has not occurred.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the output voltage monitoring circuit 525 detects a decrease in the output voltage of the feeder and sorter power supply 510, the switch element Q2 is turned on, and Power is supplied from the power supply 509 to the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter, and the output voltage monitoring circuit 524 monitors the output voltage of the power supply 509 for the copying machine.
Detects a voltage drop, the switch element Q1 is turned on, power is supplied from the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter to the power supply 509 for the copier, and the central control circuit 50
When the output voltage monitoring circuit 526 for monitoring the output voltage of No. 1 detects a voltage drop, the switching element Q3 is turned on and power is supplied from the 5V DC-DC converter 527 to the central control circuit 501. Enables stable operation without causing defects. Further, since there is no interruption of processing due to power shortage, paper jam can be prevented. Further, since the central control circuit 501 displays the power supply abnormality on the display unit or communicates the fact to the computer or the network via the communication unit, it is possible to quickly notify the user of the trouble of the image forming apparatus. It is possible.

Further, since the power can be mutually supplied between the power supply 509 for the copying machine and the power supply 510 for the feeder and the sorter, the power supply 509 for the copying machine and the power supply 5 for the feeder and the sorter are provided.
It is not necessary to specify the power capacity of the power supply 10 and the power supply 509 with the maximum power consumption.
10 can be reduced in power capacity. in addition,
Since the power capacity can be reduced, the power source 509 for the copying machine and the power source 510 for the feeder and sorter can be reduced in size and cost.

[0059]

As described above in detail, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, in the image forming apparatus connected to the peripheral device, the power supply of the peripheral device is changed to the power supply of the image forming device. Since the image forming apparatus is configured to be used as an auxiliary power source, the image forming apparatus can operate stably without causing an operation failure due to insufficient power. Also,
Since there is no interruption of processing due to power shortage, paper jam can be prevented. Further, the power capacity of the power supply of the image forming apparatus does not need to be defined by the maximum power consumption, and the power capacity can be reduced, and the power capacity can be reduced. Cost reduction can be achieved.

According to the image forming apparatus of claim 6, in the image forming apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5,
Since a communication unit for connecting to at least one of a computer, a telephone line, and a network is provided, it is possible to quickly notify a user of a malfunction of the image forming apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of characteristics of a general motor.

FIG. 3 shows an optical drive system 107 and a main drive system 10 during copying.
8 and a timing chart showing the operation of various motors provided in the feeder 200.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing load current levels and output voltage levels of the copying machine 100 and the feeder 200.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating changes in current consumption levels of a document reading unit, a copying unit, a feeder 600, and a sorter 700.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 copier 101 central control circuit 102 lamp 103 light quantity control circuit 104 heater 105 heater temperature control circuit 106 motor driver 107 optical drive system 108 main drive system 109 power supply for copier 100 110 power supply for feeder 200 111 communication controller 112 solenoid 113 micro switch 200 feeder

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus connected to a peripheral device, wherein the power of the peripheral device is configured to be used as an auxiliary power supply for the power of the image forming device. apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a power supply of the image forming apparatus is configured to be used as an auxiliary power supply of a power supply of the peripheral device. 3. A power supply capable of directly supplying power to control means of the image forming apparatus, independent of a power supply of the image forming apparatus and a power supply of the peripheral device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. An output monitor for monitoring an output of any one of a power supply of the image forming apparatus, a power supply of the peripheral device, and a power supply capable of directly supplying power to control means provided in the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit. 5. A power supply for the image forming apparatus, a power supply for the peripheral device, and three output monitoring means for monitoring a power supply capable of directly supplying power to a control means provided in the image forming apparatus. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein
The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit for connecting to at least one of a computer, a telephone line, and a network. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is a feeder or a sorter.