JP5115192B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming system, program, and control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, images forming device, an image forming system, a program and a control method, and more particularly, a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected images forming device, an image forming system, a program, and a control method.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, there has been a problem that flickering occurs in a fluorescent lamp connected to the same power supply system as the image forming apparatus due to an inrush current generated when the heater of the fixing unit is turned on. As a method for solving such a problem, through-up control for gradually increasing the current at the start of energization has been performed.

  Here, the through-up control will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a waveform diagram of an AC voltage, a zero cross signal, a heater lighting signal, and a heater current when driving the heater of the fixing unit.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the through-up control gradually increases a period during which an alternating current (hereinafter referred to as a heater current) is supplied to the heater at the start of energization of the heater. Specifically, the heater current is supplied to the heater after a predetermined waiting time (T1 to T40) from the falling edge of the zero cross signal. The standby times T1 to T40 are gradually reduced.

  Through the through-up control as described above, the occurrence of a large inrush current at the start of energization of the heater is suppressed. As a result, the fluctuation of the voltage supplied to the fluorescent lamp is suppressed, and the problem that the fluorescent lamp flickers is solved.

  Incidentally, a plurality of image forming apparatuses may be connected to the same power supply system. In such a case, for example, when a plurality of image forming apparatuses simultaneously drive the heaters, there is a problem that even if the through-up control is performed, the fluorescent lamp flickers.

  In order to solve the problem, an image forming system described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. In the image forming system, energization of the other heat fixing device is performed only when one heat fixing device is not energized. As a result, two or more heat fixing devices are not driven at the same time, so that a large inrush current is suppressed. As a result, the fluctuation of the voltage supplied to the fluorescent lamp is suppressed, and the problem that the fluorescent lamp flickers is solved.

However, the image forming system described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that two or more heaters cannot be turned on simultaneously.
JP 2005-84550 A

An object of the present invention is to provide suppresses the flickering of a fluorescent lamp, a plurality of heaters are simultaneously images forming apparatus is Ru can be turned, an image forming system, a program and a control method.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a management apparatus, the management apparatus sets a priority order for the plurality of image forming apparatuses, First notification means for notifying the plurality of image forming apparatuses of the priority order, wherein the plurality of image forming apparatuses include a heat fixing means, a supply means for supplying current to the heat fixing means, Determining means for determining the increase rate so that the increase rate at the start of supply of the current supplied from the supply unit to the heat fixing unit is smaller as the priority order notified from the management device is lower. It is characterized by being.

  According to the first aspect, since the management apparatus sets the priority order to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus can determine the rate of increase in current based on the priority order.

In the first invention, the management device further includes a second setting unit that sets a first current value, and the image forming apparatus is configured to supply current to the heating and fixing unit. And a measuring means for measuring a second current value flowing through the image forming apparatus, and a second notifying means for notifying the management apparatus of the second current value. Instructing means for instructing the image forming apparatus to adjust the increase speed when the total of the second current values notified from the image forming apparatus is larger than the first current value. May be further included.

In the first invention, the instruction unit may instruct to adjust the increase rate in order from the image forming apparatus having the lowest priority.

In the first invention, the determination means may decrease the increase rate when receiving an instruction from the instruction means.

In the first invention, the first setting unit may determine the priority order based on a current consumption of the heat fixing unit of each image forming apparatus or an operating rate of each image forming apparatus.

In the first invention, the first setting means sets the priority of the image forming apparatus during printing higher than the priority of the image forming apparatus not in printing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus communicable with the management device, the heating and fixing unit, the supply unit that supplies current to the heating and fixing unit, and the lower the priority order notified from the management device, Determining means for determining the increasing speed so that the increasing speed at the start of supply of the current supplied by the means to the heat fixing means is reduced.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the apparatus may further include a detection unit that detects the intensity of ambient light, and the determination unit may change the increase rate based on the intensity of ambient light detected by the detection unit. .

In the second invention, the determining means may change the increase rate based on the intensity of the ambient light at the start of the supply.

In the second invention, the supply means intermittently supplies current to the heat fixing means, and the determination means synchronizes the change in intensity of the ambient light and the intermittent change in current. If it is, the increase rate may be decreased.

In the second invention, when the supply unit supplies a current to the heat fixing unit, a measurement unit that measures a second current value flowing through the image forming apparatus, and the second current value is the management device. And a second notifying unit for notifying, wherein the determining unit is configured such that a sum of the second current values notified by the second notifying unit of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is a first current value. If the management device determines that the speed is greater than, the increase rate may be decreased.

A third invention is a program executed in an image forming apparatus communicable with a management apparatus, and based on the priority order notified to the image forming apparatus from the management apparatus, the lower the priority order, And a step of determining the increase rate so that the increase rate at the start of supply of the current supplied to the heat fixing unit is reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the control method performed in an image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a management apparatus, the management apparatus sets priorities for the plurality of image forming apparatuses; The management apparatus notifying the plurality of image forming apparatuses of the priority order, and the lower the priority order of the image forming apparatus, the increase at the start of supply of the current supplied to the heat fixing unit. And a step of determining the increasing speed so as to reduce the speed.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment engagement Ru images forming device in the form of the present invention, an image forming system, the program and a control method will be described.

(Overall configuration of image forming system)
First, the configuration of the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system includes MFPs (multi-function peripheral) 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 that are communicably connected. MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 have a scanner function for reading an original and obtaining image data, a print function for printing an image based on print data, a facsimile function for transmitting and receiving facsimile data, and the like. Multifunctional peripheral device. The four MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 basically have the same configuration, but in this embodiment, the MFP 10-1 functions as a management device, and the MFP 10 -2, 10-3, and 10-4 function as image forming apparatuses. Hereinafter, when the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 are collectively referred to as MPF 10, the individual MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 are indicated. Are described as MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4.

(Schematic configuration of MFP)
The configuration of the MFP 10 will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the MFP 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The MFP 10 is an electrophotographic copying machine and is configured to synthesize four color images in a so-called tandem manner.

  In brief, the print head 20 that forms magenta, cyan, yellow, and black images including the photosensitive drum 21, the laser scanning optical device 22, the developing device 23, and the like is juxtaposed directly below the transfer belt 11. The process of forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum 21 in each print head 20 is well known, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The transfer belt 11 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow A by the support rollers 12 and 13, and a transfer roller 15 is disposed at a portion (secondary transfer portion 14) facing the support roller 13 with the transfer belt 11 interposed therebetween.

  In the lower part of the MFP 10, an automatic paper feeding unit 30 that feeds stacked recording materials one by one and a manual paper feeding unit 31 that feeds recording materials one by one are installed. In addition, a fixing unit 35 including a fixing roller 36 and a pressure roller 37 and functioning as a heating fixing unit is provided immediately above the secondary transfer unit 14. Inside the fixing roller 36, a heater 36a for heating the fixing roller 36 is provided. An illuminance sensor 40 that detects ambient illuminance is provided on the upper surface of the MFP 10.

  The toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 21 are sequentially primary-transferred sequentially onto the transfer belt 11 that is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow A, and four color images are synthesized. On the other hand, the recording materials are fed one by one from the automatic paper feeding unit 30 or the manual paper feeding unit 31 and are sandwiched between the transfer belt 11 and the transfer roller 15 by the secondary transfer unit 14 so that the composite image is secondary. Transcribed. Thereafter, the recording material is conveyed to the fixing unit 35 where the toner is heated and fixed, and discharged from the discharge roller 38 onto the tray 39.

(Configuration of heater control device)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part and its peripheral part of the heater control device 42 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram of an AC voltage, a zero cross signal, a heater lighting signal, and a heater current in the initial stage of energization of the heater 36a. FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the alternating current supplied to the heater 36a (hereinafter referred to as heater current) and time when each through-up table is executed. In FIG. 5, the vertical axis indicates the heater current, and the horizontal axis indicates the time.

  The heater control device 42 performs through-up control for gradually increasing the period during which the heater current is supplied to the heater 36a every half cycle of the AC voltage at the initial stage of energization of the heater 36a. In order to realize such an operation, the heater control device 42 includes an illuminance sensor 40, a power supply unit 50, and a control unit 60.

  The power supply unit 50 generates a heater current based on a 50 Hz or 60 Hz AC voltage supplied from the AC power supply 70, and plays a role of supplying the heater current to the fixing unit 35. The zero cross detection circuit 51 and the heater lighting circuit 52. The control unit 60 controls the supply of heater current to the fixing unit 35 of the power supply unit 50 and includes a CPU 61 and a storage unit 62. The heater 36 a constitutes a part of the fixing unit 35 and heats the fixing roller 36 by the heater current from the heater lighting circuit 52.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the zero-cross detection circuit 51 detects a zero-cross point of the AC voltage supplied from the AC power supply 70, and generates a zero-cross signal including a pulse wave that is at a low level near the zero-cross point. At the time of generating the zero cross signal, the zero cross detection circuit 51 outputs a low level voltage when the AC voltage is equal to or lower than a positive threshold voltage when the AC voltage is positive, and a negative threshold when the AC voltage is negative. Outputs a low-level voltage when the voltage exceeds the voltage. Thereby, the center of the low level period of the zero cross signal becomes the zero cross point.

  The memory | storage part 62 memorize | stores the time information regarding the period which supplies a heater electric current in each half cycle of an alternating voltage in several patterns. Specifically, the storage unit 62 stores a plurality of types of through-up tables as shown in Tables 1 to 3 as time information of a plurality of patterns. Tables 1 to 3 are examples of through-up tables executed in the heater control device 42 during through-up control. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 62 stores eight through-up tables including the through-up tables in Tables 1 to 3. However, the illustration of the remaining five through-up tables is omitted.

  The through-up tables shown in Tables 1 to 3 show the standby time Tn (n = 1 to 40) from the falling edge of the pulse wave of the zero cross signal to the start of supplying the heater current to the heater 36a every half cycle of the AC voltage. It is a table which shows. The standby time Tn decreases as n increases in order to gradually increase the heater current. Further, the waiting time Tn (n = 1 to 40) in Table 1 and the waiting time Tn (n = 1 to 40) in Table 2 are set so that the increase rate of the heater current varies depending on each through-up table. The time increases in the order of the standby time Tn (n = 1 to 40). Hereinafter, the through-up control by the through-up table of Table 1 is referred to as control C (1), the through-up control by the through-up table of Table 2 is referred to as control C (2), and the through-up control by the through-up table of Table 3 is referred to as control C (1). Is referred to as control C (3).

  Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the gradient (increase rate) of the heater current increases in the order of control C (1), control C (2), and control C (3). The detailed description of the control C (4) to control C (8) is the same as that of the control C (1) to control C (3), and therefore will be omitted. In the following, when individual control C (1) to control C (8) are indicated, they are described as control C (1) to control C (8), and control C (1) to C (8) When collectively called, it is described as control C.

  The CPU 61 plays a role of controlling a period during which the heater current is supplied to the heater 36a based on the zero cross signal and the through-up table during the through-up control. In order to realize such control, the CPU 61 generates a heater lighting signal shown in FIG. The heater lighting signal indicates that the supply of the heater current is started at the timing of rising from the low level to the high level.

  The heater lighting circuit 52 supplies a heater current to the heater 36a based on the control of the CPU 61. Specifically, the heater lighting circuit 52 supplies the heater current to the heater 36a only from the rising timing of the heater lighting signal as shown in FIG. 4D until the current value becomes zero. .

  The communication unit 43 is connected to the CPU 61 and is a communication interface for performing information communication with other MFPs 10.

(About operation of image forming system)
The outline of the operation of the image forming system according to this embodiment will be described below. The operation of the image forming system is roughly composed of the following four operations.
(First Operation) An operation in which the MFP 10-1 collects MFP information related to the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 from the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, 10-4.
(Second Operation) An operation in which the MFP 10-1 sets a priority P for causing each MFP 10 to determine the control C based on the MFP information.
(Third Operation) An operation in which the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 determine the control C based on the priority order P.
(Fourth Operation) An operation in which the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 adjust the control C so that the fluorescent lamp does not flicker.

  The first operation to the fourth operation may be periodically performed as a series of operations, for example, or may be performed each time the MFP 10-1 as the management apparatus is turned on.

  In order to realize the first to fourth operations, the storage unit 62 of the MFP 10 stores the MFP information table shown in Table 4. Table 4 is an MFP information table of the MFP 10-2. MFP information is recorded in the MFP information table. More specifically, as shown in Table 4, the power consumption of the heater 36a, the status regarding whether or not the MFP 10 is printing, the priority order P, and the control C Information about is recorded.

  Further, the storage unit 62 of the MFP 10-1 stores an MFP information management table shown in Table 5 in order to give the priority P. In the MFP information management table, MFP information transmitted from the MFP 10 is recorded, and more specifically, information on the power consumption of the heater 36a, whether the MFP 10 is printing, and information on the priority P. It is recorded.

  Further, the storage unit 62 of the MFP 10 stores a control determination table shown in Table 6 in order for the MFP 10 to determine the control C based on the priority order P. In the control decision table, the control C and the priority order P are recorded in association with each other.

  Hereinafter, the first operation will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 shows operations performed by the CPU 61 of the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 when the MFP 10-1 acquires MFP information from the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, 10-4. It is a flowchart.

  First, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 causes the MFP 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 to send a request for MFP information to the communication unit 43 (step S1). In response, the CPU 61 of the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 receives the request via the communication unit 43 (step S2).

  Next, the CPU 61 of each of the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 refers to the MFP information table shown in Table 4, acquires the MFP information of the own machine, and communicates the MFP information to the MFP 10-1. It is made to transmit to the part 43 (step S3). In the present embodiment, the CPU 61 of the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 causes the communication unit 43 to transmit information about power consumption and state in the MFP information table shown in Table 4 as MFP information. In response, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 receives the MFP information of the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 via the communication unit 43 (step S4). Finally, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 records the received MFP information in the MFP information management table shown in Table 5 (step S5). At this time, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 records the MFP information of its own device in the MFP information management table with reference to the MFP information table of its own device. Thus, the first operation is completed.

  Next, the second operation will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 shows the case where the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 sets the priority order P for the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 based on the MFP information. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement to perform.

  The CPU 61 refers to the MFP information management table shown in Table 5 to determine whether there is an MFP 10 that is printing (step S11). For example, in the MFP information management table shown in Table 5, since the MFPs 10-1 and 10-2 are printing, the CPU 61 determines that the MFP 10 being printed exists. If there is an MFP 10 that is printing, the process proceeds to step S16. On the other hand, if there is no MFP 10 that is printing, the process proceeds to step S12.

  If there is no MFP 10 that is printing, the CPU 61 sets n to 1 (step S12). n is a parameter for counting the number of MFPs 10. Next, the CPU 61 refers to the MFP information management table and sets the priority order P of the MFP 10 for which the nth largest power consumption is set to n (step S13). Next, the CPU 61 determines whether or not n = N (step S14). N is the number of MFPs 10. Therefore, N is 4 in the MFP information management table shown in Table 5. That is, in step S <b> 14, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the priority order P has been assigned to all the MFPs 10. If n ≠ N, the process proceeds to step S15. On the other hand, if n = N, this process ends.

  If n ≠ N, the CPU 61 increases n by 1 (step S15). Thereafter, the process returns to step S13. As described above, in steps S12 to S15, the CPU 61 assigns the priority P in order from the MFP 10 with the highest power consumption to the MFP 10 with the lower power consumption.

  If there is an MFP 10 that is printing in step S11, the CPU 61 refers to the MFP information management table shown in Table 5 and identifies the MFP 10 that is printing (step S16). For example, in the MFP information management table shown in Table 5, it is specified that the MFPs 10-1 and 10-2 are printing.

  Next, the CPU 61 specifies the number m of MFPs 10 that are printing (step S17). For example, in the MFP information management table shown in Table 5, m = 2 is specified.

  Next, the CPU 61 sets n to 1 (step S18). n is a parameter for counting the number of MFPs 10. Next, the CPU 61 refers to the MFP information management table of Table 5 and sets the priority order P of the MFP 10 for which the nth largest power consumption is set among the MFPs 10 during printing to n (step S19). Next, the CPU 61 determines whether or not n = m (step S20). As described above, m is the number of MFPs 10 that are printing. That is, in step S20, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the priority order P is assigned to all the MFPs 10 that are printing. If n ≠ m, the process proceeds to step S21. On the other hand, if n = m, the process proceeds to step S22.

  If n ≠ m, the CPU 61 increases n by 1 (step S21). Thereafter, the process returns to step S19. As described above, in steps S18 to S21, the CPU 61 assigns the priority P in order from the MFP 10 that is printing with large power consumption to the MFP 10 that is printing with low power consumption.

  On the other hand, if n = m, the CPU 61 resets n to 1 (step S22). Next, the CPU 61 refers to the MFP information management table of Table 5 and sets the priority order P of the MFP 10 in which the nth largest power consumption is set among the MFPs 10 not printing to m + n (step S23). . In step S23, the MFP 10 that is not printing is assigned a priority P in order lower than the MFP 10 that is printing.

  Next, the CPU 61 determines whether or not n = N−m (step S24). N−m is the number of MFPs 10 that are not printing. That is, in step S24, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the priority order P is assigned to all the MFPs 10 that are not printing. If n ≠ N−m, the process proceeds to step S25. On the other hand, if n = N−m, the process ends.

  If n ≠ m, the CPU 61 increases n by 1 (step S25). Thereafter, the process returns to step S23. As described above, in steps S22 to S25, the CPU 61 assigns the priority P in order from the MFP 10 that is not printing with high power consumption to the MFP 10 that is not printing with low power consumption.

  As described above, in the second operation, the CPU 61 sets the priority order P based on the power consumption of the heater 36a of the MFP 10. At this time, the CPU 61 sets the priority order P of the MFP 10 that is printing higher than the priority order P of the MFP 10 that is not printing.

  Next, the third operation will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 8, the MFP 10-1 notifies the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 of the priority order P, and the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 have priority orders. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the CPU 61 of the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 when determining an increasing speed based on P.

  First, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 causes the MFP 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 to transmit the priority P set in the flowchart of FIG. 7 to the communication unit 43 (step S31). In response, the CPU 61 of the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 receives the priority order P via the communication unit 43 (step S32).

  Next, the CPU 61 of the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 determines the control C based on the priority order P (step S33). More specifically, the CPU 61 determines the control C based on the control determination table shown in Table 6. In the control determination table, when the priority P is high, the control C having a large heater current gradient is set, and when the priority P is low, the control C having a small heater current gradient is set. For example, in the MFP information management table shown in Table 5, the priority order P of the MFP 10-1 is 2, the priority order P of the MFP 10-2 is 1, the priority order P of the MFP 10-3 is 3, and the MFP 10- The priority order P of 4 is 4. Therefore, the control C (2) is set for the MFP 10-1, the control C (1) is set for the MFP 10-2, the control C (3) is set for the MFP 10-3, and the control is set for the MFP 10-4. C (4) is set.

  Note that the MFP 10-1 itself holds the priority order P, and therefore performs only the operation of step S33 without performing the operations of step S31 and step S32. Thus, the third operation ends.

  Next, the fourth operation will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 when the MFP 10 performs the operation of adjusting the control C. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the CPU 61 of the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 when the MFP 10 adjusts the control C. FIG. 11 is a waveform diagram showing the heater current from the heater lighting circuit 52 and the detection signal from the illuminance sensor 40.

  In the fourth operation, the MFP 10 determines whether or not flickering occurs in the fluorescent lamp when the heater current is supplied by the control C determined in the third operation. If flickering occurs, the MFP 10 resets the set control C to a control C having a smaller heater current gradient. In the fourth operation, such an operation is sequentially performed from the MFP 10 with the lower priority P to the MFP 10 with the higher priority P.

  First, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 sets the priority order P to N (step S41). N is the number of MFPs 10 as described above, and is four in this embodiment. That is, the priority P is set to the lowest priority. Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 determines whether or not the power of the MFP 10 having the priority order P is ON (step S42). If the power of the MFP 10 with the priority P is ON, the process proceeds to step S43. On the other hand, if the power of the MFP 10 having the priority P is OFF, the process proceeds to step S44.

  When the power of the MFP 10 with the priority order P is ON, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 causes the MFP 10 with the priority order P to send an adjustment instruction to the MFP 10 with the priority order P to the communication unit 43. (Step S43). Accordingly, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P receives an adjustment instruction via the communication unit 43 as shown in FIG. 10 (step S51).

  Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P supplies heater current to the heater 36a according to the set control C (step S52). At this time, as shown in FIG. 11A or 11B, the CPU 61 intermittently supplies the heater current to the heater lighting circuit 52 so that the heater 36a repeats ON and OFF. During this time, the CPU 61 detects the intensity of ambient light by the illuminance sensor 40.

  Next, the CPU 61 determines whether or not flickering has occurred in the fluorescent lamp (step S53). More specifically, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the detection signal output from the illuminance sensor 40 has changed. If flickering occurs, the process proceeds to step S54. On the other hand, if no flicker has occurred, the process proceeds to step S58.

  When the flicker occurs, the CPU 61 determines whether the flicker and the intermittent change in the heater current are synchronized (step S54). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11A, the CPU 61 determines whether the intermittent change of the heater current is synchronized with the change of the detection signal output from the illuminance sensor 40 as shown in FIG. As shown, it is determined whether these changes are out of sync. In step S <b> 54, the CPU 61 determines whether or not flickering has occurred as a result of the heater current flowing through the MFP 10 having the priority order P. That is, the MFP 10 that causes the flicker is specified. If the two changes are synchronized, the process proceeds to step S55. On the other hand, if the two changes are not synchronized, the process proceeds to step S56.

  When the two changes are synchronized, the CPU 61 determines that the MFP 10 with the priority order P causes flickering. Therefore, the CPU 61 adjusts the control C. Specifically, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the control C is the control C (M) (step S55). M is the number of patterns of control C. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the control C has eight patterns of control C (1) to control C (8). Therefore, M is 8. In step S55, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the inclination of the heater current can be further gently inclined by determining whether or not the control C is the control C (M). When the control C is the control C (M), the process proceeds to step S56. If the control C is not the control C (M), the process proceeds to step S57.

  When the control C is not the control C (M), the CPU 61 sets the set control C to the control C in which the gradient of the one-step heater current is gentle (step S57). Thereafter, the process returns to step S52. As described above, in steps S52 to S57, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the cause of flicker is the MFP 10 having the priority order P. If the MFP 10 having the priority order P is the cause, the CPU 61 determines the slope of the heater current. The operation to change to a gentler is repeated.

  In step S56, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority order P notifies the MFP 10-1 that the flicker cannot be improved (step S56). Thereafter, this process ends.

  If the flicker does not occur in step S53, the CPU 61 performs a process of sharply tilting the heater current. More specifically, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the control C is the control C (1) (step S58). Control C (1) is control in which the slope of the heater current is the steepest. Therefore, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the inclination of the heater current can be steeply determined by determining whether or not the control C is the control C (1). When the control C is the control C (1), the CPU 61 determines that the heater current can no longer be steeper, and the process proceeds to step S63. On the other hand, if the control C is not the control C (1), the CPU 61 determines that the heater current can still be steep, and the process proceeds to step S59.

  When the control C is not the control C (1), the CPU 61 sets the set control C to the control C in which the gradient of the heater current is steep by one step (step S59). Next, the CPU 61 supplies a heater current to the heater 36a by the newly set control C (step S60). During this time, the CPU 61 detects the intensity of ambient light by the illuminance sensor 40.

  Next, the CPU 61 determines whether or not flickering has occurred in the fluorescent lamp (step S61). More specifically, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the detection signal output from the illuminance sensor 40 has changed. If flickering occurs, the process proceeds to step S62. On the other hand, if the flicker has not occurred, the present process returns to step S58 in order to change the control C to the control C having a steeper heater gradient.

  When flickering occurs, the CPU 61 resets the control C set in step S59 to control C in which the slope of the heater current is gentle by one step (step S62). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S63.

  In step S63, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority order P notifies the MFP 10-1 that the flicker has been improved (step S63). Thereafter, this process ends.

  While step S51 to step S63 in FIG. 10 are being executed, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 stands by while determining which notification of step S56 or step S63 has been transmitted (step S45). ). When a notification that flickering has been improved is transmitted, this processing is terminated. On the other hand, if a notification that flickering has not been improved has been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S44.

  When the notification that the flicker has not been improved is transmitted, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 sets the priority P one step higher (step S44). Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 determines whether or not the priority order P is 0 (step S46). In the process of step S46, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 determines whether there is still an MFP 10 that can adjust the control C. If the priority P is 0, the CPU 61 determines that there is no MFP 10 that can adjust the control C, and the process ends. On the other hand, if the priority order P is not 0, the process returns to step S42 in order to adjust the control C of the MFP 10 having the priority order P set in step S44.

(effect)
As described above, according to the image forming system according to the present embodiment, the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 are based on the priority order P set by the MFP 10-1. A control C related to the inclination is determined. More specifically, a control C with a steep heater current gradient is set for the MFP 10 with a high priority P, and a control C with a gentle heater current gradient is set for the MFP 10 with a low priority P. Therefore, in the image forming system according to the present embodiment, the flickering of the fluorescent lamp is less likely to occur as compared with the case where the control C having a steep heater current gradient is uniformly set in all the MFPs 10.

  The priority order P of the MFP 10 that is printing is set higher than the priority order P of the MFP 10 that is not printing. Therefore, a high priority P is assigned to the frequently used MFP 10.

  Further, the control C is adjusted so that the gradient of the heater current becomes gentler in order from the MFP 10 having the lowest priority P. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rising of the MFP 10 having high importance from being delayed.

  Further, when the flickering of the fluorescent lamp does not occur during the adjustment of the control C, the inclination of the heater current is steeply inclined, so that the inclination of the heater current is prevented from being excessively inclined. Is done.

(Second Embodiment)
The management apparatus, image forming apparatus, image forming system, program, and control method according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The overall configuration of the image forming system in the present embodiment is the same as that of the image forming system in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

(Configuration of heater control device)
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the main part of the heater control device 42 according to the second embodiment and the configuration around it. In the heater control device 42 of FIG. 12, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those of the heater control device 42 of FIG.

  The heater control device 42 illustrated in FIG. 12 includes a current measurement circuit 53 instead of including the illuminance sensor 40 illustrated in FIG. The current measurement circuit 53 functions as a detection unit that detects a current value flowing through the MFP 10 when the heater lighting circuit 52 supplies a heater current to the heater 36a. Since the other configuration of the heater control device 42 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the heater control device 42 of the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

(About operation of image forming system)
The outline of the operation of the image forming system according to this embodiment will be described below. The operation of the image forming system is roughly composed of the following four operations.
(First Operation) An operation in which the MFP 10-1 collects MFP information related to the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 from the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, 10-4.
(Second Operation) Based on the MFP information, the MFP 10-1 sets a priority P for causing the MFP 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 to determine the control C for the MFP 10. The action to set.
(Third Operation) An operation in which the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 determine the control C based on the priority order P.
(Fourth Operation) An operation for adjusting the control C so that the sum of the current values flowing through the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 does not exceed the maximum current value.

  The first operation to the fourth operation may be periodically performed as a series of operations, for example, or may be performed each time the MFP 10-1 as the management apparatus is turned on. In addition, the first operation to the third operation of the present embodiment are the same as the first operation to the third operation of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In order to implement the fourth operation, the storage unit 62 of the MFP 10-1 stores a current value management table shown in Table 7. Table 7 is a current value management table. In the current value management table, the current value flowing through each MFP 10 and its total value are recorded. If the total value is larger than the maximum current value, the MFP 10-1 determines that the fluorescent lamp has flickered and instructs each MFP 10 to perform the control C adjustment. The maximum current value is a value set in the MFP 10-1 and indicates the upper limit of the total value of current values that can be passed through the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4. When the total value becomes larger than the maximum current value, it is considered that the fluorescent lamp flickers.

  The fourth operation will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 when the MFP 10 performs the operation of adjusting the control C. 14 and 15 are flowcharts showing operations performed by the CPU 61 of the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 when the MFP 10 performs the operation of adjusting the control C.

  In the fourth operation, when the heater 10 is supplied with the control C determined in the third operation, the MFP 10-1 determines whether or not the total value of the current values flowing through the MFPs 10 is larger than the maximum current value. judge. When the total value is larger than the maximum current value, the MFP 10-1 resets the set control C for the MFP 10 to a control C with a smaller slope of the heater current. Instruct. In response, the MFP 10 resets the control C setting. In the fourth operation, such an operation is sequentially performed from the MFP 10 with the lower priority P to the MFP 10 with the higher priority P.

  First, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 sets a maximum current value (step S70). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 sets the maximum current value to 55A.

  Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 sets the priority P to N (step S71). N is the number of MFPs 10 and is four in this embodiment. That is, the priority P is set to the lowest priority. Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 determines whether or not the power of the MFP 10 having the priority order P is in an ON state (step S72). If the power of the MFP 10 having the priority P is ON, the process proceeds to step S73. On the other hand, if the power of the MFP 10 having the priority P is OFF, the process proceeds to step S83.

  When the power of the MFP 10 with the priority P is ON, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 causes the MFP 10 with the priority P to transmit a supply instruction for causing the heater 36a to supply a heater current to the communication unit 43 (step S73). ). Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 causes all the MFPs 10 to transmit a measurement instruction for causing the MFPs 10 to measure current values to the communication unit 43 (step S74).

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 14, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P receives the supply instruction and the measurement instruction via the communication unit 43 (steps S85 and S86). Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P causes the heater 36a to supply a heater current to the heater lighting circuit 52 by the control C determined in the third operation (step S87). The CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P causes the current measurement circuit 53 to measure the value of the current flowing from the AC power supply 70 to the power supply unit 50 at this time (step S88). The CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P causes the MFP 10-1 to transmit the measured current value to the communication unit 43 (step S89). In MFPs 10 other than the priority order P, only Step S86, Step S88, and Step S89 are executed. That is, the heater current is not supplied based on the supply instruction.

  The CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 receives the current value transmitted from each MFP 10 (step S75). The CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 records the received current value in the current value management table shown in Table 7. Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 determines whether or not the total value of the current values transmitted from each MFP 10 is larger than the maximum current value set in step S70 (step S76). If the total value is greater than the maximum current value, the process proceeds to step S77. On the other hand, if the total value is not greater than the maximum current value, the process proceeds to step S83.

  When the total value is larger than the maximum current value, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 causes the communication unit 43 to transmit an adjustment instruction for causing the MFP 10 having the priority order P to adjust the control C to the MFP 10 having the priority order P ( Step S77). Furthermore, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 causes all the MFPs 10 to transmit a measurement instruction for causing the MFPs 10 to measure current values to the communication unit 43 (step S78). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 15, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P receives the adjustment instruction and the measurement instruction via the communication unit 43 (steps S90 and S91).

  Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P adjusts the control C. Specifically, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority order P determines whether or not the control C is the control C (M) (step S92). M is the number of patterns of control C. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the control C has eight patterns of control C (1) to control C (8). Therefore, M is 8. In step S92, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P determines whether or not the heater current can be inclined more gently by determining whether or not the control C is the control C (M). ing. When the control C is the control C (M), the process proceeds to step S97. If the control C is not the control C (M), the process proceeds to step S93.

  When the control C is not the control C (M), the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority order P sets the set control C to the control C in which the gradient of the one-step heater current is gentle (step S93). Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P supplies heater current to the heater 36a by the control C set in step S93 (step S94). During this time, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P measures the current value supplied from the AC power supply 70 to the power supply unit 50 by the current measurement circuit 53 (step S95).

  Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P causes the MFP 10-1 to transmit the current value measured by the current measurement circuit 53 to the communication unit 43 (step S96). Further, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P causes the MFP 10-1 to transmit the control C to the communication unit 43 (step S97). Thus, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 with the priority order P ends the operation of this processing. The MFPs 10 other than the priority order P execute only steps S91, S95, and S96 in the flowchart of FIG.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 13, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 receives the current value transmitted from each MFP 10 via the communication unit 43 (step S79). At this time, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 records the received current value in the current value management table of Table 7. Further, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 receives the control C transmitted from the MFP 10 having the priority order P via the communication unit 43 (step S80).

  Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 determines whether or not the total value of the current values in the current value management table of Table 7 is larger than the maximum current value set in step S70 (step S81). If the total value is greater than the maximum current value, the process proceeds to step S82. On the other hand, if the total value is not greater than the maximum current value, the process proceeds to step S83.

  Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P determines whether or not the control C received in step S80 is the control C (M) (step S82). In step S82, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10 having the priority P determines whether or not the heater current can be inclined more gently by determining whether or not the control C is the control C (M). ing. When the control C is the control C (M), the process proceeds to step S83. If the control C is not the control C (M), the process returns to step S77.

  In step S83, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 sets the priority P one step higher (step S83). Next, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 determines whether or not the priority order P is 0 (step S84). In the process of step S84, the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 determines whether there is still an MFP 10 that can adjust the control C. When the priority P is 0, the CPU 61 determines that there is no MFP 10 that can adjust the control C, and the process ends. On the other hand, if the priority order P is not 0, the process returns to step S72 in order to adjust the control C of the MFP 10 having the priority order P set in step S83.

(effect)
As described above, in the image forming system according to the present embodiment, similarly to the image forming system according to the first embodiment, the control C having a steep heater current gradient is uniformly set in all the MFPs 10. Compared with the case, the flickering of the fluorescent lamp is less likely to occur.

  Further, as in the image system according to the present embodiment, whether or not the flickering occurs in the fluorescent lamp is also determined by determining whether or not the total value of the current values flowing through the power supply unit 50 of each MFP 10 exceeds the maximum current value. A determination of whether or not can be made.

(Other embodiments)
The image forming system configured as described above is not limited to that described in the embodiment. The image forming system may be changed as appropriate.

  Note that the processing in each flowchart may be realized by executing software stored in the storage unit 62 in the CPU 61 or may be realized by using a dedicated hardware circuit that performs each processing. Good.

  Moreover, although the priority P is set by the power consumption of the heater 36a, the setting method of the priority P is not restricted to this. The priority P may be set according to the operation rate of the MFP 10. The operation rate of the MFP 10 is obtained, for example, by dividing the time during which the MFP 10 is printing by the time during which the MFP 10 is turned on. Further, the priority order P of the MFP 10 with high productivity may be set higher than the priority order P of the MFP 10 with low productivity. Productivity is the number of sheets that the MFP 10 can print per minute. Further, the priority order P of the MFP 10 that prints thick paper may be set higher than the priority order P of the MFP 10 that prints plain paper. Further, the priority order P of the MFP 10 that prints a large-size sheet may be set higher than the priority order P of the MFP 10 that prints a small-size sheet. The priority order P may be set by the user of the MFP 10.

  In the image forming system according to the first embodiment and the image forming system according to the second embodiment, the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 are managed by the MFP 10-1 that is a management apparatus. However, the configuration of the image forming system is not limited to this. For example, a server as a management apparatus may be provided separately from the MFP 10-1.

  In the image forming system according to the second embodiment, only the case where the heater current is gently inclined has been described. However, in the image forming system according to the second embodiment, the heater current may be steeply inclined as in the image forming system according to the first embodiment.

  In the image forming system according to the first embodiment, it is determined whether the flickering of the fluorescent lamp and the intermittent supply of the heater current are synchronized, thereby identifying the MFP 10 that causes the flickering. is doing. Similarly, in the image forming system according to the second embodiment, it is determined whether or not the timing at which the total value of the current values is larger than the maximum current value is synchronized with the intermittent supply of the heater current. It may be.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of an MFP according to a first embodiment. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the principal part of the heater control apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and its peripheral part. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram of an AC voltage, a zero-cross signal, a heater lighting signal, and a heater current in the initial stage of energizing the heater. It is a graph which shows the relationship between heater current and time when each through-up table is executed. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation performed by the CPU 61 of the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 when the MFP 10-1 acquires MFP information from the MFPs 10-2, 10-3, 10-4. . The operation performed by the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 when the MFP 10-1 sets the priority P for the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 based on the MFP information. It is a flowchart. The MFP 10-1 notifies the MFP 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 of the priority order P, and the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 are based on the priority order P. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the CPU 61 of the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 when determining an increase speed. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 when the MFP 10 performs an operation of adjusting the control C. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the CPU 61 of each of the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 when the MFP 10 performs an operation of adjusting the control C. It is the wave form diagram which showed the heater current from a heater lighting circuit, and the detection signal from an illumination intensity sensor. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the principal part of the heater control apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and its periphery. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the CPU 61 of the MFP 10-1 when the MFP 10 performs an operation of adjusting the control C. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the CPU 61 of each of the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 when the MFP 10 performs an operation of adjusting the control C. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the CPU 61 of each of the MFPs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4 when the MFP 10 performs an operation of adjusting the control C. FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram showing the relationship among an AC voltage, a zero cross signal, a heater lighting signal, and a heater current when driving the heater of the fixing unit.

61 CPU
10, 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 MFP
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 35 Fixing part 36 Fixing roller 36a Heater 37 Pressure roller 40 Illuminance sensor 42 Heater control apparatus 43 Communication part 50 Power supply part 52 Heater lighting circuit 53 Current measurement circuit 60 Control part 62 Storage part 70 AC power supply

Claims (13)

In an image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a management apparatus,
The management device
First setting means for setting priorities for the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
First notification means for notifying the priority order to the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
Including
The plurality of image forming apparatuses include:
Heat fixing means;
Supply means for supplying current to the heat fixing means;
Determining means for determining the increase rate so that the increase rate at the start of supply of the current supplied by the supply unit to the heat fixing unit decreases as the priority order notified from the management device decreases ;
Including
An image forming system. The management device
A second setting means for setting the first current value;
In addition,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Measuring means for measuring a second current value flowing through the image forming apparatus when the supplying means supplies current to the heat fixing means;
Second notification means for notifying the management device of the second current value;
Further including
The management device
When the total of the second current values notified from the image forming apparatuses is larger than the first current value, the image forming apparatus is instructed to adjust the increase speed. Instruction means
Including further,
The image forming system according to claim 1 . The instructing means instructs to adjust the increasing speed in order from the image forming apparatus having the lowest priority;
The image forming system according to claim 2 . The determining means, when receiving an instruction from the instruction means, decreases the increase rate;
The image forming system according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in. The first setting unit determines the priority order based on a current consumption of the heat fixing unit of each image forming apparatus or an operating rate of each image forming apparatus;
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein: The first setting means sets the priority of the image forming apparatus during printing to be higher than the priority of the image forming apparatus that is not printing;
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein: In an image forming apparatus that can communicate with a management apparatus,
Heat fixing means;
Supply means for supplying current to the heat fixing means;
The lower the priority notified from the management apparatus, a determination unit configured said supply means for determining a bulking acceleration so increasing rate is small at the supply start time of the current supplied to the heating fixing unit,
Having
An image forming apparatus. A detection means for detecting the intensity of ambient light,
In addition,
The determining means changes the increasing speed based on the intensity of ambient light detected by the detecting means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 . The determining means changes the increasing rate based on the intensity of the ambient light at the start of the supply;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 . The supply means intermittently supplies current to the heat fixing means,
The determining means decreases the increase rate when the ambient light intensity change and the intermittent current change are synchronized,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 . Measuring means for measuring a second current value flowing through the image forming apparatus when the supplying means supplies current to the heat fixing means;
Second notification means for notifying the management device of the second current value;
Further comprising
In the case where the determination unit determines that the total of the second current values notified by the second notification unit of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is larger than the first current value, Reducing the rate of increase;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 . A program executed in an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a management apparatus,
Determining the increase rate based on the priority order notified from the management device such that the lower the priority order, the smaller the increase rate at the start of supply of the current supplied to the heat fixing unit;
A program characterized by causing a process comprising: In a control method performed in an image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a management apparatus,
The management device setting priorities for the plurality of image forming devices;
The management device notifying the priority order to the plurality of image forming devices;
The image forming apparatus determines the increase rate so that the increase rate at the start of supply of the current supplied to the heat fixing unit is smaller as the priority is lower ;
Having
A control method characterized by the above.

Images