JP4926501B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus characterized by control of its power supply.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a power supply mode of a conventional image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 601 denotes a commercial AC power source. A low-voltage power supply 602 connected to a commercial AC power supply outputs a total of three voltages Vcc1, Vcc2, and Vcc3 as various voltages necessary for the image forming apparatus. A CPU 606 controls the power supply, and the Vcc1 output of the low-voltage power supply 602 is directly connected to control connection / disconnection of the switches 603 to 605 according to the use state of the apparatus. That is, the CPU 606 outputs DRIVE 1 to 3 signals as control signals to the switches 603 to 605. Further, the CPU 606 outputs a CONTROL signal so as to control the low voltage power source 602 with appropriate power consumption in each state.

  The switch 603 turns on and off the supply of low-voltage power to the sensor or the like. The switch 604 turns on and off the supply of low-voltage power to a laser or the like. The switch 605 turns on / off the supply of low-voltage power to a motor, a relay, or the like.

  The switch 607 is for the user to set a power saving mode that is a low power consumption mode. When the switch 607 is operated to instruct the power saving mode, the CPU 606 performs control to turn off the switches 603 to 605 while referring to the operation state of the apparatus. At this time, when the image forming apparatus is performing some operation, if the mode is shifted to the power saving mode, it is understood that the operation of the image forming apparatus is stopped and the power saving mode is entered. However, when the image forming apparatus shifts to the power saving mode when the image forming apparatus is not operating, it is difficult for the outside to know that the power saving mode has been set. In order to overcome this situation, as shown in FIG. 6, in response to the user instructing the power saving mode using the switch 607, a notification means such as an LED or a buzzer that is activated by a signal from the CPU 606 is installed. Measures are taken. Alternatively, a measure is taken such as using a part that can easily recognize the on / off state as the switch 607.

  Patent Document 1 shows one example in which a method such as sounding a buzzer when a user presses a software switch is generally performed. Patent Document 2 shows one example of controlling a power supply at an appropriate timing.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-212676 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-229003

  However, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, particularly a small product, notifying means such as a buzzer or LED as described in Patent Document 1 is not always necessary except for the above countermeasures. That is, mounting for notifying the state of the above-mentioned power supply causes an increase in parts and wiring, which is disadvantageous from the viewpoint of cost and miniaturization. In addition, the switch that can be seen at a glance, the so-called alternate type switch has a more complicated structure than a switch that does not have a mechanical or electrical mechanism, which is disadvantageous in terms of cost. It becomes a state. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 merely discloses a method for reducing power consumption during standby or the like, and is not intended to notify the user of the off state of the apparatus.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that solves the above-described problems.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the apparatus shifts to the power saving mode from the state where the apparatus is not performing the printing operation, the change in the state is notified to the user by driving a component provided in the apparatus in advance. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing the above.

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by heat-fixing a recording material on a recording medium, and that instructs a power saving mode to stop power supply to at least some components. And power connection control means for cutting or connecting the power supply line to the means for performing heating according to the operating state of the image forming apparatus when an instruction is issued from the power saving mode instruction means And an operation control means for starting or stopping at least one of the driving means for conveying the recording medium.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can notify a change in the state of the apparatus without using extra parts or wiring and without using expensive parts.

(Example)
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the exchange of signals between the components constituting the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment based on the present invention. A solid line indicates a power supply path, and a dotted line indicates a signal path. 201 is an AC commercial power source, which is a power source used in the apparatus. The low-voltage power source 202 converts the voltage supplied from the commercial power source 201 into DC voltages Vcc1, Vcc2, and Vcc3 used in the apparatus. The low-voltage power source 202 is controlled by a CONTROL signal from the CPU 206 so as to operate in an appropriate state according to the use state of the power source. The CPU 206 controls the operation of each component of the image forming apparatus. The CPU 206 stores a control program (including a program for executing sequences shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 to be described later) and a work area. And a RAM for providing

  Vcc1 is supplied to the CPU 206 as a power source. The switches 203 to 205 are turned on (closed) in response to the DRIVE 1 to 3 signals from the CPU 206 being turned on (High) and turned off (opened) in response to being turned off (Low).

  The switch 203 connects or disconnects the supply line of the voltage Vcc1 to the sensors 208 in accordance with the DRIVE1 signal from the CPU 206. Here, the sensors 208 are one or more jam sensors, a paper presence sensor, a temperature sensor, a cassette sensor, and the like that are generally used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Detection information from each sensor constituting the sensor group 208 is output to the CPU 206 as a SENSOROUT signal. The switch 204 connects or disconnects the supply line of the voltage Vcc2 to the laser 209 in accordance with the DRIVE2 signal from the CPU 206. Information on the laser 209 is output to the CPU 206 as a LASEROUT signal. The switch 205 connects or disconnects the supply line of the voltage Vcc3 to the scanner motor 210, the main motor 211, the relay 212, and the high voltage power supply 213 according to the DRIVE3 signal from the CPU 206. Specific voltages of Vcc1 to Vcc3 include combinations of Vcc1 = + 3.3V, Vcc2 = 5V, Vcc3 = 24V, for example.

  The scanner motor 210 and the laser 209 are controlled by an LS signal from the CPU 206, and are controlled so that appropriate scanning is performed during a printing operation. The main motor 211 operates at an appropriate speed according to the MOTOR signal from the CPU 206. The relay 212 includes a secondary side (winding side) 212a and a primary side (contact side) 212b. The primary side 212b connects or disconnects the power supply to the heater 214 when the RELAY signal supplied from the CPU 206 to the secondary side 212a is on (High) or off (Low). The heater 214 used in the fixing device is driven based on the HEAT signal from the CPU 206 when the primary side 212b of the relay 212 is in a connected state, and is not driven when the primary side 212b of the relay 212 is in a disconnected state. ing. The CPU 206 receives a TEMP signal that is temperature information from the heater 214 and controls the HEAT signal so that the heater 214 reaches a predetermined temperature.

  The high voltage power supply 213 responds to the HVT signal that is a control signal from the CPU 206, and generates a high voltage for charging, development, transfer and the like necessary for the electrophotographic system based on the voltage Vcc3. Of the output information of the high-voltage power supply 213, necessary information is fed back to the CPU 206 by the HVTOUT signal. The switch 207 is a switch for the user to instruct a power saving mode. When this switch is pressed by the user, the SWITCH signal is turned on (High). The CPU 206 changes the operation mode in response to the SWITCH signal being turned on. For example, the CPU 206 changes the operation mode to the standby mode when the switch 207 is pressed during the power saving mode, and to the power saving mode when the switch 207 is pressed during the standby mode.

  Here, the power saving mode is a mode in which power is supplied to the apparatus but printing cannot be started immediately. Instead, it is a mode in which power consumption is lower than that in standby. The standby mode is a mode in which printing can be started immediately in accordance with a user instruction. In addition, when shifting from the power saving mode to the standby mode, it is necessary to perform a predetermined initialization operation during the transition. Therefore, the operation modes of the image forming apparatus are the power saving mode, the initialization mode, the standby mode, and the printing mode. There are four main types. The initialization operation here refers to heating the heater 214 to a predetermined temperature, leveling the surface potential of a photosensitive drum (not shown) by controlling the high-voltage power supply 213, checking the presence of paper in the machine, etc. The procedure is included.

  FIG. 3 is a table showing the state of the DRIVE 1 to 3 signals in each mode. DRIVE1 to DRIVE3 are all off in power saving mode, DRIVE1 to DRIVE3 are all on in initialization mode and printing mode, only DRIVE1 is on in standby mode, and DRIVE2 and DRIVE3 are off.

  FIG. 1 shows how the DRIVE1, DRIVE2, DRIVE3, and RELAY signals are controlled by the CPU 206 according to the SWITCH signal in each mode. While the user presses the switch 207, the SWITCH signal is ON. Since the time ta during which the user is pressing the switch 207 is different each time, the CPU 206 determines that the switch has been pressed when the SWITCH signal is ON continuously for a predetermined time t0.

  FIG. 1A shows the operation of each signal when the switch 207 is pressed during the power saving mode. When CPU 206 determines that switch 207 has been pressed, it turns on DRIVE1, DRIVE2, and DRIVE3 (time point c). Then, after a time t1 when it is determined that power is supplied to the relay 212, the RELAY signal is turned on and the relay 212 is connected (time point d).

  FIG. 1B shows the operation of each signal when the switch 207 is pressed during the initialization mode. When CPU 206 determines that switch 207 has been pressed, it turns off DRIVE1, DRIVE2, DRIVE3, and RELAY (time point g).

  FIG. 1C shows the operation of each signal when the switch 207 is pressed during the standby mode. When the CPU 206 determines that the switch 207 has been pressed, it turns off the DRIVE1 signal and turns on the DRIVE3 signal. The DRIVE2 signal remains off (time point j). Then, after a time t1 when it is determined that power is supplied to the relay 212, the RELAY signal is turned on and the relay 212 is connected (time point k). Further, the relay 212 is operated and the RELAY signal is stopped after a time t2 longer than the time when it is determined that the relay 212 is completely connected, and the relay 212 is disconnected (time l).

  FIG. 1D shows the operation of each signal when the switch 207 is pressed during the print mode. When the CPU 206 determines that the switch 207 has been pressed, it turns off DRIVE1, DRIVE2, DRIVE3, and RELAY (time o).

  In any of the above four cases, after the user presses the switch 207, either or both of whether the relay 212 is switched from on to off or from off to on is included. Accordingly, the user can confirm whether or not the CPU 206 has recognized that the switch has been pressed by the operation sound of the relay 212 (when the relay 212 is turned off or on).

  Generally, a relay is provided as a safety circuit in an electrophotographic system that handles a heater. In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the on / off of the switch is recognized without adding any new parts. Can be accurately conveyed to the user.

  In addition to the relay, the same effect can be obtained by using a part that clearly produces an operation sound such as a main motor.

(Example 2)
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing signal exchange in the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment based on the present invention. A solid line indicates a power supply path, and a dotted line indicates a signal path. Differences from the first embodiment are as follows. In this embodiment, only one switch 203 is used. Therefore, only the DRIVE1 signal is supplied from the CPU 206 to the switch 203. Further, a regulator 415 is provided between the switch 203 and the sensors 208 to supply Vcc3 to the sensors 208 and supply Vcc1 to the laser 209 via the switch 203. Further, Vcc2 is directly supplied to the scanner motor 210, the main motor 211, the secondary side 212a of the relay 212, and the high-voltage power supply 213 without using a switch. The above is the difference from the first embodiment, and the others are the same as in the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the power saving mode, the DRIVE1 signal is off, and power is not supplied to the sensors 408 and the laser 409. In the initialization mode, standby mode, and print mode, the DRIVE1 signal is on, and the sensors 408 transmit the necessary information to the CPU 406 via the SENSOROUT signal so that the laser 409 can emit light with a predetermined amount of light. become.

  FIG. 5 shows how the DRIVE 1 and RELAY signals are controlled by the CPU 206 in accordance with the SWITCH signal in each mode. While the user presses the switch 207, the SWITCH signal is ON. Since the time ta during which the user presses the switch 2007 is different each time, the CPU 206 determines that the switch 207 has been pressed when the SWITCH signal is ON for a predetermined time t0.

  FIG. 5A shows the operation of each signal when the switch 407 is pressed during the power saving mode. If the CPU 206 determines that the switch 407 has been pressed, it turns on the DRIVE1 signal (time point c). Then, after a time t1 when it is determined that power is supplied to the relay 212, the RELAY signal is turned on to connect the relay 212 (time point d).

  FIG. 5B shows the operation of each signal when the switch 2007 is pressed during the initialization mode. If the CPU 206 determines that the switch 207 has been pressed, it turns off the DRIVE1 and RELAY signals (time point g).

  FIG. 5C shows the operation of each signal when the switch 2007 is pressed during the standby mode. When the CPU 206 determines that the switch 207 has been pressed, it turns off the DRIVE1 signal and turns on the RELAY signal to connect the relay 212 (time point j). Further, the relay 212 is operated, and after a time t2 longer than the time when it is determined that the relay is completely connected, the RELAY signal is stopped and the relay 212 is disconnected (time point k).

  FIG. 5D shows the operation of each signal when the switch 2007 is pressed during the print mode. If the CPU 206 determines that the switch 207 has been pressed, it turns off the DRIVE1 and RELAY signals (time o).

  In the above four cases, after the user presses the switch 407, the relay 412 is turned from on to off, off from on, or both. Therefore, the user can determine whether or not the CPU 406 has recognized that the switch has been pressed based on the operation sound of the relay 412.

  Generally, a relay is provided as a safety circuit in an electrophotographic system that handles a heater. In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the on / off of the switch is recognized without adding any new parts. Can be accurately conveyed to the user.

  In addition to the relay, the same effect can be obtained by using a component that clearly produces an operation sound such as a main motor.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating signal operations according to the first embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a signal connection explanatory diagram of Embodiment 1 according to the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a power supply state of a first embodiment based on the present invention. It is signal connection explanatory drawing of Example 2 based on this invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of signal operation of the second embodiment according to the present invention. It is signal connection explanatory drawing of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

201 AC commercial power
202 Low voltage power supply
203, 204, 205, 207 switch
206 CPU
208 Sensors
209 laser
210 Scanner motor
211 Main motor
212 Relay
213 High voltage power supply
214 heater

Claims (2)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, the fixing unit fixing the image formed on the recording medium to the recording medium;
Mode instruction means for instructing an operation mode of the image forming apparatus;
In response to an instruction from the mode instruction unit , power supply to some components including a relay that turns on and off the power supply to the fixing unit is stopped among a plurality of components used for image formation. It is possible to shift to a standby mode and a power saving mode for stopping all power supply of the plurality of components ,
Oite period of transition from the standby mode to the power saving mode, the period for supplying power to the relay power supply is stopped in the plurality of components is provided and power is supplied to the relay the periods are, and control means for causing generating operating noise of the relay by turning off after turning on the relay,
An image forming apparatus comprising: The standby mode is a mode in which power consumption is larger than that in the power saving mode, and is a mode in which the time from when an image formation instruction is received until image formation is started is shorter than in the power saving mode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

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