JPS5840573A - Copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively save average electric power consumption by keeping a fixing heater in a fixing part at a fixing temperature usually and, when copying operation is not carried out for a prescribed period, controlling the fixing heater at a power saving temperature. CONSTITUTION:A copying device is permitted to control a fixing temperature mode for keeping a fixing heater at a fixing temperature and a power saving temperature mode for keeping the fixing heater at a power saving temperature. After completing a series of copying operation (T0-T1) for example, a power saving timer counts up the time during copying operation is stopped end, after passing a prescribed period, a power saving signal is outputted to turn to a power saving mode and a power saving lamp lights up. The time of keying (time T2), the power saving signal is stopped and a power saving lamp driving signal is outputted like a pulse. When a copy start key is inputted (time T3), prerotation is started as cleaning start and when a heater reaches a fixing temperature, copying is started.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a copying apparatus that exposes a photoconductor to a recorded image and transfers a recorded image to a suitable material, and particularly relates to a copying apparatus that exposes a photoreceptor to a recorded image and transfers a recorded image to a suitable material. This relates to temperature control of the fixing heater installed in the.

In a conventional copying apparatus of this type, an electrostatic latent image of the original to be copied is formed on the photoreceptor surface TM, this electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by a developing device, and the toner image is transferred to a transfer paper. be done. The transferred toner image is fixed on the transfer paper by applying pressure and heat in a fixing device, and copying is completed. Further, prior to such a copy cycle, there is a row 5 pre-rotation process which is a cleaning rotation for erasing residual charges on the surface of the photoreceptor and memory.

In recent years, in order to increase the speed of copying by this type of copying device,
When used in a fuser, the output capacity is increased overnight, etc.
This is intended to shorten the time it takes to fix the toner image transferred to the transfer paper. However, for this reason, the power consumption of this heater has come to account for more than % of the power consumption of the entire copying apparatus. Therefore, maintaining the heater at a predetermined temperature, that is, the fixing temperature even when the copying operation is stopped, requires a large amount of power consumption, and the electricity bill becomes a large burden on the user. Therefore, a copying apparatus has been proposed which is equipped with a power saving means which lowers the temperature of the heater during the stoppage of the copying operation to reduce the average power consumption by the user's key operation. However, the woodcutter's power saving means was configured to be controlled by the user's key operations, so if the user forgets to operate the keys, the power saving means will not operate and the power saving effect cannot be achieved. There were problems such as forgetting the key operation to cancel the operation and not being able to perform the normal copying operation. In addition, in a copying machine having this type of power saving means, after power saving is canceled, copying is prohibited until the fixing device reaches a predetermined fixing temperature, and after reaching the predetermined temperature, the above-mentioned 41 km will be started. In such a copying device,
photoreceptor.

In many cases, the copying operation is performed immediately by simply turning around a. However, with the cleaning rotation of the %'IJ circle, it is difficult to completely erase residual charges on the photoreceptor, and there is a fear that desired copies may not be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve these conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to normally maintain the fixing temperature of the fixing heater in the fixing unit, and to turn off the fixing heater when the % value '411h operation is not performed for a predetermined period of time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying apparatus that can effectively reduce average power consumption by controlling the temperature to a power-saving temperature.

The present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a copying apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

A drum (1/If) consisting of a photoconductor with a three-layer structure using a CdB photoconductor on the surface is rotatably supported on an axis (1), and the drum (If) starts rotating in the direction of arrow /J in response to a copy command. let When the drum l/ rotates in the fixed position, the original placed on the original platen glass l is irradiated with the Jl [light tsunpu 14 which is integrated with the two tS] during the first scanning, and the reflected light is The lsl scan line is scanned by I and the Jth scan line by I. The first scanning part ij and the first scanning part I7 move at a speed ratio of 1:M, so that the original is scanned while the optical path length in front of the lens is always kept constant. The above-mentioned reflected light passes through the lens lz, the Jt light, and then the drum l at the exposure section.
/Image is formed on top.

After the drum ii is charged (for example, +) by a negative charger 1, an image irradiated by an illumination lamp 16 is slit-exposed at an exposure section λ. At the same time, use a static eliminator N with a polarity opposite to that of the primary (for example, -).
Thereafter, the entire surface is exposed using a full-surface exposure lamp to form a high-contrast electrostatic latent image on the drum. Next, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is visualized as a toner image by a developing device.

Transfer paper in cassette b-/or knee 1! ? -/ Or is Cocuco fed into the machine by the paper feed μmm Coco - or Coco and is sent to the first register roller? -! Or is it the switch J that takes the rough tie setting in revision 1 and detects the specific passing position of the optical system? Accurate tie-setting is achieved with the first Rurgisters movement (J1), and the photosensitive drum is sent upward to align the edges of the transfer paper and the toner image.Then, the transfer is charged aa
While the transfer paper passes between i and drum//, the toner image on drum l/ is transferred onto this transfer UJt.

After the transfer is completed, the transfer paper is guided to three conveyor belts,
Furthermore, the fixation of 1 constant 9i1NaJJ a-5 vs. J, 7-/,
It is guided to JJ-2, pressurized, heated and fixed, and then discharged to tray 3. Also, the drum 7 after transfer
The surface of the paper is cleaned by a cleaning blade JjK composed of an elastic blade, and the process proceeds to the next copying cycle. In addition, in order to control the above-mentioned image forming speed at each point in time, the clock point of the clock plate 111//Ik, which rotates with the rotation of the drum //a, and the clock point of this clock plate //a are optically detected. Generates drum clock pass DCK by setting:/f Hb.

Furthermore, as a cycle to execute the above copy cycle [after turning on the power switch W, turn the drum// and pre-exposure Rambler 2J'? Front mu C static eliminator JJ
Erasing the residual charge on the drum// by cleaning the drum surface with a leaning ruler, cleaning blade a, etc.
There is a cleaning process using S, which is called pre-rotation. The purpose of this one-turn step is to make the sensitivity of the drum l/proper and to form an image in a clear direction.

Note that it is also possible to automatically change the time (number) of pre-rotations depending on various conditions. Yet again. Numeric keypad (
After completing the set number of copy cycles (not shown), the drum // is rotated several times.
There is a step of removing residual charge from the drum using a COW device or the like and cleaning the drum surface, which is hereinafter referred to as post-rotation. This is to electrostatically and physically clean the drum l/ before leaving it.

Next, #11# of the copying apparatus of the present invention configured as described above.
The structure of the heater temperature control section of the unit and fixing section is shown.

In Figure 1, COM is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) as a copying control unit that controls each part shown in Figure 1, and HCON is a fixing unit (Figure 1).
This is a temperature control section for the fixing heater H provided in the sail. The fixing heater HK is connected to a commercial AC power source via a switch 8WA.
t* Subsequently, power can be supplied, and the semiconductor power control element 88R is connected, and the power supply to the heater H is controlled by turning on and off the blades of this control element 88. Also, TM
is a sensor that detects the temperature of the heater H.

Here, the microcomputer C'OM is composed of, for example, a one-teg microcomputer, and includes a fixed storage device ROM that stores a control program, and a random access memory device that temporarily stores data and the like. It has an accumulator CC, etc.

Ti and TJ are kakunta, the force 9 meter T/ starts counting the stitches after initial reset, and the force 9 meter T2 counts a predetermined time after the key is pressed once.

IP/~IPJ are input ports, and OP/~OPtei are output ports. IPt K is double V
Temperature control 11H, which will be described later, is carried out to capture detection signals from each sensor (not shown) of the machine, and to detect whether or not the temperature of the heater R has reached a fixing temperature of tto °C.
The output from the COH comparator Q/ is included. Output capo) OF/ outputs a power saving lamp drive signal PL8 and a power saving signal BS. 8W is a switch that opens and closes in conjunction with Ji! This is a power saving release switch with W/, ffJ, normally in the closed state IIK, and when the power saving release button provided on the operation section of the copying machine is pressed, the switch gwl,
GW Co. will be held.

When the switch armor is in the closed state, when the drive signal PLII and the power saving signal S8 are output from OP/, the signal PL8 is supplied to the transistor Tr via the switch 8W, and this transistor Tr turns on the power saving lamp. Turn on the PL. Also, at this time, the signal SS is the switch ff
/ is supplied to the control unit HCON, thereby setting the heater H in a power saving state as described later. Microcomputer CO
M input boat IP! , Use output boat OP2 [,
In addition to inputting the number of copies specified by the operation of the middle key provided on the operation section of the copying machine, the number-of-copies display section DBPK outputs a signal representing the number of copies. Output) OPJ outputs the copy number display section DIPK which is operated 11K with the copy number display drive signal.

In the display section 08P, the number of copies is displayed based on the number-of-copies signal supplied via the decoder DC and the above-mentioned drive signal. The five-output capo outputs various control signals for driving the main motor, high-voltage transformer C0, high-voltage transformer DC, etc. necessary for the copying operation.

Next, in the control unit HCON, R/~IL! /
i'! Resistor, ■/, VR is a variable resistor, CI is a capacitor, Q/~Q3 is a comparator, Tr/ x Tr41
is a transistor. Here, the controller /<lator q/ outputs a level signal when it reaches the heater ■ force (II flaw).
Comparator QJ outputs a high level signal when heater R reaches 1J47'cK, and power supply voltage Yes is applied to transistors TrJ to Trda, respectively. Further, the comparator Q3 controls the transistor 7r/, and when the output of the comparator Q3 is 61'', it drives the transistor Tr/# and energizes the power control element 88 blades to flow the heater HE current. is a thermistor whose resistance value changes depending on the temperature of the heater H. One end of the thermostat V is connected to the resistors B/ and R1, and the other end is connected to the resistors RJ and R.These thermistors 1 and the resistor IL / -R#
l), ViL/, and ■- converts the temperature change of the heater H detected by the thermistor TM into an electrical signal, and controls the output of the controller i (lator Q/IQ). The output of these comparators Q/ and Q controls the output of comparator Q3, and the output of comparator Q3 energizes and deenergizes control element SIR to control the power supply to heater H. In this example, Set the output of the comparator Qte and Qx so that the temperature of the heater H is maintained at 10°C during normal copying operation (fixing temperature mode) and at 5k during the power saving temperature mode when the operation is stopped. .

In other words, connect the "-" input terminal of comparator Q/ to resistor R
It is connected to one end of the thermistor TM via j, and the resistance change of the thermistor TM that changes with the temperature change of the heater H is expressed as
It is led as a voltage change to the "-" input terminal of comparator Q/. In addition, the voltage at the connection point between the resistors R and R is input to the "10" input terminal of the comparator Q/, and the heater H is set to tt.
The variable resistor VR/ is adjusted such that a reference voltage having a voltage value equal to the voltage introduced at the "-" input terminal when ctc is applied to the "+" input terminal. Similarly, the voltage at the connection point between the thermistor M and the resistor R/ is connected to the "-" input terminal of the comparator Q2 through the resistor.
The voltage at the connection point between the resistor R1 and the variable resistor VR is led to the input terminal. Here, a variable resistor VRJ is applied to the "+" input terminal of the comparator Q so that a voltage equal to the voltage introduced to the "-" input terminal when the heater H is at l-0°C, that is, a reference voltage, is applied. Adjust.

More specifically, after the heater H is powered on, when the resistance value of the -i mister decreases as its temperature rises, the voltage applied to the "-" input terminal of each of the comparators Q/ and QJ drops. When heater H rises to 120℃,
The voltage at the input terminal of comparator QJ and r-J becomes smaller than the reference voltage at the "+" input terminal of comparator Q,
The controller Q outputs a high level signal. Furthermore,
When the temperature of heater H rises to ``C1/IO℃, the ``-'' input terminal voltage of comparator Q/ becomes smaller than the ``+'' input terminal voltage, and comparator Q/ outputs a very high level lt4. .

In addition, in Fig. 1, the output terminal of "C" and the converter Q/ are connected to the power supply voltage VC@ through a resistor, and
Its output is connected to the base of the transistor circuit TC through the diode D, and directly to the transistor circuit TC and the human-powered board 1 of the microcomputer COM mentioned above. is connected to the power supply voltage Vat via a resistor R/J, and is also led to the base of the output transistor circuit Tr3 and to the collector of the transistor Tr3.

Here, it is connected to the base voltage #vc4I of the transistor TrJ and the anode of the diode DJ. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the transistor circuit TO is connected to a resistor RJ/
, a resistor V, and a resistor RJ/LK.
The voltage is applied to the base of the transistor circuit DA, and its collector is connected to the output port OF/ via the switch ff/.
The power saving signal 8B output from the microcomputer COM is connected to the collector. That is, when the switch gWl is closed and a power saving signal 88 is output from OP/, this signal 88 turns on the transistor Trda.

Therefore, the power supply voltage Ye@ applied to the pace of the transistor TrJ is grounded through the transistor Trl '4I:, so the transistor TrJ becomes non-conductive, and a high level signal from the comparator Q is applied to the pace of the transistor TrJ. be done. On the other hand, if the power saving signal SS is not output from the boat OP/, or if the switch ff/ is open even if it is output, the transistor Tr is in a non-conductive state, so the transistor TrJ is in a conductive state. become.

Therefore, in this case, the high level signal from the comparator Q is passed through the transistor TtJ and IIjIk, so that a low level signal is supplied to the transistor Tr. Furthermore, the output voltage of the input register TrJ is connected to the power supply voltage V@@ via the resistor R/J, and the resistor R/11,
Connect to the "+" input terminal of comparator QJ via R/4. When the "+" input terminal voltage is higher than the "-" input terminal voltage, the comparator Q, 7 outputs a high level signal to drive the transistor Tr/, and the power control element is controlled by the signal from the transistor Tr/. Drive 88K and supply power to heater H. This comparator Q3
has hysteresis &.

In this way, the control unit BOON K normally controls the power supply to the fixing heater H to bring it to the fixing temperature tto''c, and when the power saving signal SS is received from the microcomputer COM $1, It is fixed at 120℃ which is the power saving state.
Control is performed to maintain the temperature of the tank H.

Table 1 shows on/off control of the heater H depending on the presence or absence of the comparators Q/, Qco, and the power saving signal 8s.

<Table 1> Next, the operation of the multiple zero device according to the present invention configured as described above will be explained with reference to the 7 μm chart in FIG.

After turning on the power, in step 81, connect the microcomputer COM port I.
P/, -IPJ, OP/~OP are cleared, and the initial 9 set operations are performed to clear the memory such as RAM. Next, in step gJ, the number of copies is set using the numeric keypad KWK, and processing is performed to determine whether keys have been pressed manually by pressing the copy start or stop button, etc., and the display section 08P is used to display the set number of copies. In step 8J, 72g F/ is determined. As will be described later (step 8d), the flag yt is set when the copying operation is completed and the main motor (not shown) is stopped. Therefore, when ``@/'' appears in the 7th F/, it is assumed that the copy operation has finished, and ``Ygli J flow IK, G'' proceeds to step 8, and sets the power saving timer. The flag F/ is reset. The timer T/ is an output pin arranged in the random access memory 1 of the microcomputer COM K. Then, in step Sj, it is determined whether or not the timer T/ has timed up. If so, the process moves to step 84.

In the hand @sb, the power saving signal 8B and the drive signal PL
B & Poe) Output from OPt. When the power saving mode is selected and the power saving release switch is in the closed state, as described in 5 above, the power saving signal SS is used to control the power saving mode.
The power supply to heater H is cut off. Therefore, heater E
The temperature of is maintained below 120°C to reduce the average power consumption of this heater.

Further, the power saving lamp PL is turned on by the signal PLB.

By lighting this lamp PL, the heater H is now in the power saving mode M.
E Inform the operator that there is.

Next, the process proceeds to step 87, where it is determined whether or not the numeric keypad KEY has been pressed. If the key is powered on, proceed to step 81K. In step St, 7 lag F is checked. FJ is 7 lags to judge whether or not there was key manpower. Initially, the 7-lag F is set, so the process proceeds to step 893, where the timer Tt is reset and the 7-lag F is set, and then, at step sll, the timer T- is set. The timer lever is a timer for returning to the power saving state if no copy operation is performed for a predetermined period of time after a key is pressed. Here, if it is determined in step St that the flag F2 is set, the process proceeds to step sio, where 79/F; t is set to y* and the tie iTλ is reset, and the process proceeds to step 81/. Next, in step Ji/J, the power saving signal 8& is turned off to cancel the power saving state, and the power saving lamp PL 7?
Set the 7-lug F3 to turn on the second light.

Next, in step 8/J, it is determined whether or not the timer lever has timed up. If the time has expired, the process returns to step 84 to maintain the power saving state, and if not, the process proceeds to the next step B/da. Flag F3 at Step Sl-tei
If it is set, step 8/! KA mi,
A drive signal PL8 is intermittently output from the boat OP/, and control is performed to flash the power saving 2 lamp PL. When flag FJ is in the reset state, step 8/
Jump from step 44 to step 8/4. Step S/
In step 4, determine copy prohibition conditions such as the presence or absence of transfer paper and toner, and then return to step S- if it is YKIS J.
If NOJ, the process advances to step 8 and it is determined whether the copy start button has been pressed. If the start button has not been pressed, the process returns to step S2, and if the start button has been pressed, the process moves to step six.

The output signal from the OPJ turns on the main motor, II 6-pressure transm C, etc., and in step 8 the heater H reaches the fixing temperature (71 in this example).
Determine whether the temperature has reached 0℃). If the fixing temperature has not yet been reached, the process proceeds to step 81D, and the lamp PL
While maintaining the flash lighting state, the drum/l is rotated for cleaning until the fixing temperature is reached. When the fixing temperature is reached, the process proceeds to step S-/, where the 7-lag FJ is reset, the drive signal PLS from the output capo OP/ is stopped, and the lamp PL is turned off. Subsequently, in step 8- it is determined whether the forward rotation has ended. When the pre-rotation is completed, in step 8JJ, the image forming high voltage transformer (not shown) is turned on by the output signal from the output port op4I.
Move to copy cycle. In step 82#, controls necessary for a well-known copying operation are performed. And step SZ
<> to determine whether copy stop has been instructed.

If it is instructed, proceed to step 8. If not instructed, proceed to step 8JA to determine whether the initial set number of copies has been reached, and if the predetermined number of copies is reached, perform post-rotation processing. Proceed to Hori step 8-7 and subsequent steps. Step SJ? Then, carry out the well-known post-rotation escape, turn off the main motor and high-voltage transm C, and set the flag F/ indicating that the copy operation has been completed at step S. conduct.

FIG. 1 shows each copying machine 814 operating as described above.
As shown in the timing chart No. 1, when the series of copying operations is completed (time TO - T/), the power saving timer T/ starts to reach the 9th mark, and when the time is up, the power saving signal 8B and the drive signal PL8 are activated. The power is output and the power saving temperature mode is entered (step 86 in FIG. 3). Then, when the key is pressed manually (time lever), the power saving signal aS is stopped, the drive signal PLS is output in pulse form, and the lamp P
L starts flashing (Jl, step E in Figure 7)
ye, 5ir).

Then, when the copy start key is pressed manually at @TJ, the pre-rotation as cleaning rotation starts immediately (#
! Steps 84 to SW in Figure J, when it is detected at time T that the heater 2 has reached the fixing temperature (Step 8 & in Figure 3), a copy cycle is started (Step BS in Figure 3).

Diagram M4 shows an example of the average power consumption of the fixing and printer H controlled in this manner. In the figure, when Jff's fixing heater H is used, the average power consumption in the power-saving temperature mode that controls the temperature at 1-0°C is 10 OW, compared to the average power consumption of 300 W in a normal copying machine that does not use the power-saving temperature mode. It can be seen that the power consumption is significantly reduced by maintaining the heater H in the power saving temperature mode.

As explained above, in the present invention, when a copying operation is not performed within a predetermined period of time when the copying apparatus is in the power-on state, that is, when no manual operation key is pressed, the fixing heater is set to the power-saving temperature. Since the fixing heater can be maintained at a constant temperature, wasteful power consumption in the fixing heater can be efficiently reduced.

In addition, if the power saving temperature mode can be canceled by manual operation of the operating keys and can also be canceled by manual operation as needed, the operator can efficiently perform copying work.

Further, in the present invention, a power saving lamp is provided as a display means for indicating that the fixing heater is in the power saving state S, and the display state is maintained both when the power saving state is stopped and until the heater reaches the fixing temperature after the power saving state is released. By pressing K to change the temperature, the operator can recognize the temperature state of the fusing heater of the copying machine by looking at the display state, and can perform appropriate key operations.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a copying apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a copy control section and a heater temperature control section thereof, FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram showing a part thereof, and FIG. 7 is a chart 7o showing the operating procedure of the copying apparatus of the present invention, FIG. l/...drum, edge...exposure section, -...
...-Next Teidenki, n...MuC static eliminator, Koda...
・Happy lamp, ko...current glazing device, ko2...transfer paper, 3/...transfer charger, 3J...fusing unit, 3.3-/, JJ Nico...roller pair , Ko22...
AC static eliminator, -23...Pre-exposure 2 ring, COM
Riverma computer, HCON...Temperature control section, 8WA, BW, Armor/, Uco...Switch, MuC
...Commercial AC power supply, 88R...Control element, TM
...Thermistor, ROM-Fixed storage device, RAM
...Random access memory, CC...accumulator, IP/~IP code, OP/~opda...boat, Q/
~QJ... Comparator. PL8, 8B...signal, Tr, Tr/~Trl...) transistor,
TC...transistor circuit, PL...lamp, 0Y...numeric keypad,
DC...decoder, R/~shi, 'IIJO, RJ/...resistance, VR/
,■Co...variable resistor, CI...capacitor, D/~D3...diode. Patent applicant Nakayanon Co., Ltd. 511

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A copying apparatus configured to expose a photoreceptor to a recorded image, transfer the recorded image to a recording material, and fix the transferred recording #* by a fixing heater, a fusing heater control unit that controls the heater to a fusing temperature mode in which the heater is held at the fusing temperature and a power saving temperature mode in which the heater is held at the power saving temperature;
a timer for timing a period during which a copying operation is stopped; and a power-saving signal sent to the fixing heater controller so that the fixing heater maintains the power-saving temperature when the timer measures a predetermined period. A copying apparatus comprising: a power saving instruction means for supplying a power saving instruction means; 2. The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power saving temperature mode is canceled by manual operation of an operation key of the copying apparatus. 3) Percentage allowance The copying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a power saving indicator lamp, wherein the copying apparatus is operated after the power saving temperature mode and the roaring mosquito power saving temperature mode are released. 1. A copying apparatus characterized in that the power saving indicator lamp is used to display a difference between when the fixing temperature is reached and when the fixing temperature is reached. (i) The copying apparatus according to claim 1, 1 or 3, further comprising a power saving canceling means for canceling the power saving temperature mode by manual operation, and canceling the power saving temperature mode as necessary. A copying machine that is characterized by a 5K capacity.