JP2004220514A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of minimizing unnecessary power consumption.
A controller unit includes a job type detection circuit unit for detecting a job type, and a functional unit of a printer unit, a reader unit, a document processing unit, an output paper processing unit, and an operation unit. A job status detection circuit unit 112 for detecting the status of a functional unit used for a job, and a job for determining whether to cut off the power supply to the functional unit based on the processing status of the job by the functional unit used for the job It has a determination unit 113 and an energization control circuit unit 114 that performs control to cut off energization to each functional unit based on the determination result of the job determination unit 113.
[Selection] Fig. 2

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of processing units and processing one job using at least one of the plurality of processing units.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a multifunction peripheral in which a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, and a facsimile function are combined, a plurality of processing units for realizing each function are provided. In this multifunction peripheral, control for reducing power consumption is automatically started when a job is not performed for a predetermined time, which is called an energy saving mode. In addition, control is performed to select a unit to be operated according to the type of job, and to maintain a non-energized state without activating other units not required for execution of the job. For example, when a print job is input from a personal computer, only the means for executing the printer function is activated, and other means not required for the execution of the printer function, such as a scanner and an operation unit, are not activated, and It is kept in the energized state.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional control for reducing power consumption, a certain period of time is required before shifting to the energy saving mode. Is consumed. In addition, in the control for selecting the device to be operated according to the type of job, a certain time is required to shift to the energy saving mode after the operation. For example, as described above, the scanner and the operation unit are not activated for a print job from a personal computer. Therefore, since the power supply to the printer is continued, unnecessary power continues to be consumed for a certain period of time after the job is completed.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of minimizing unnecessary power consumption.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an image forming apparatus that has a plurality of processing units and processes one job using at least one of the plurality of processing units. Job type detection means for detecting the type of job, and job status detection means for detecting the processing status of the job by the processing means used for the job based on the job type detected by the job type detection means, A job determining unit that determines whether to cut off the power supply to the processing unit based on a processing status of the job by the processing unit used for the job detected by the job status detecting unit; And an energization control unit for performing control for interrupting energization to the corresponding processing unit based on the determination result.
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0007]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a network connection example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a multifunction peripheral having at least two or more functions among a copy function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus.
[0008]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of clients 101, 102, and 103, a plurality of multifunction peripherals 104, 105, and 106, and a file server 107 are connected via a network. Each of the clients 101, 102, and 103 is formed of a personal computer, and each of the clients 101, 102, and 103 is mounted with a plurality of application programs so as to be executable. The image data created by each of the clients 101, 102, and 103 is once sent to the file server 107 and stored in a print queue. Each of the MFPs 104, 105, and 106 accesses the print queue of the file server 107 at predetermined intervals. Here, when there is image data addressed to itself, each of the multifunction peripherals 104, 105, and 106 takes out the corresponding image data from the print queue, saves it on the hard disk in the own machine, and takes out this image data from the print queue. Print out in order. In addition to the printer function, each of the multifunction peripherals 104, 105, and 106 has a copy function, and a post-processing function of performing post-processing on output sheets by the printer function and the copy function.
[0009]
Next, the internal configuration of each of the MFPs 104, 105, and 106 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the multifunction peripheral of FIG.
[0010]
Each of the MFPs 104, 105, and 106 includes a controller unit 110 as shown in FIG. The controller unit 110 has a general image processing function and a network-compatible function. In addition, the controller unit 110 includes a printer unit 120, a reader unit 130, and a document processing unit 140 to realize each function (printer function, copy function, and post-processing function). , And exchanges data with the output paper processing unit 150, the operation unit 160, and the power supply unit 170, and controls them.
[0011]
Here, the printer unit 120 forms an image input by electrophotography on paper. The document processing unit 140 feeds a document to the reader unit 130. The reader unit 130 reads an image on the document fed from the document processing unit 140, and sends the read image to the printer unit 120. Is entered. The output paper processing unit 150 performs post-processing such as stapling and sorting on the paper discharged from the printer unit 120. The operation unit 160 is for inputting the contents of the job and displaying the setting contents. The power supply unit 170 supplies power to the printer unit 120, the reader unit 130, the document processing unit 140, the output paper processing unit 150, and the operation unit 160. The power supply unit 170 is provided with an energization switching circuit unit 171 that controls on / off of energization to each unit, and controls whether or not to energize each unit for which a job has been completed.
[0012]
In addition, the controller unit 110 has a job type detection circuit unit 111 that detects the type of the job. Here, the job type detected by the job type detection circuit unit 111 is any one of a copy job, a printer job, a job combining a copy function and a post-processing function, and a job combining a printer function and a post-processing function. Or one-sided or two-sided, output paper size such as A4, number of continuous output sheets, and the like.
[0013]
The job type detected by the job type detection circuit unit 111 is input to the job status detection circuit unit 112, and the job status detection circuit unit 112 uses a job (printer unit) based on the input job type. 120, a reader unit 130, a document processing unit 140, an output paper processing unit 150, and an operation unit 160). Here, it is detected whether or not the processing of the job by each unit is completed. For example, the document processing unit 140 detects whether or not the feeding of the final document has been completed in accordance with the output of a document detection sensor (not shown) provided therein, so that the document processing unit 140 It is detected whether the processing of the job has been completed. In the case of the reader unit 130, whether or not the processing of the job has been completed is detected in accordance with whether or not the reading of the last document has been completed. Similarly, with respect to the printer unit 120 and the output paper processing unit 150, whether or not the processing has been completed is detected in accordance with whether or not the processing of the final paper has been completed.
[0014]
The processing status of the job detected by the job status informing circuit unit 112 is input to the job determining circuit unit 113, and the job determining circuit unit 113 cuts off the power to the corresponding unit based on the input processing status of the job. It is determined whether or not.
[0015]
The determination result of the job determination circuit unit 113 is input to the energization control circuit unit 114, and the energization control circuit unit 114 outputs a control signal for controlling energization to each unit according to the determination result.
[0016]
Next, the internal configuration of the printer unit 120 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer unit of FIG.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 3, the printer unit 120 has a control circuit unit 121 that exchanges data and control signals with the controller unit 110. The control circuit section 121 is provided with an operation state monitoring circuit section 122. Upon receiving a control signal from the energization control circuit 114, the operation state monitoring circuit 122 is driven by a high-voltage power supply circuit 126 for supplying high-voltage power such as a developing bias and a transfer bias, and a drive for performing paper feeding and paper conveyance. The operation state of the circuit section 125 is monitored, and when those operations are stopped, a control signal is sent to the energization switching circuit section 123. The energization switching circuit unit 123 that has received the control signal from the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122 interrupts energization to the high-voltage power supply circuit unit 126 and the drive circuit unit 125. In addition, the control circuit unit 121 performs control to cut off the power supply from the low-voltage power supply circuit unit 124 to the control circuit unit 121 and cut off the connection to other units via the power supply switching circuit unit 123.
[0018]
The printer unit 120 forms an image by an electrophotographic method as described above. In this image forming process, the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged by a primary charger, and is then exposed to a laser beam. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum, and this electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by development. Then, the toner image is transferred onto a sheet fed through a registration roller by multi-manual sheet feeding or cassette sheet feeding, and the sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum and sent to a fixing device. Can be In the fixing device, the toner image on the paper is heated and pressed, and the toner image is fixed on the paper. The sheet on which the toner image has been fixed is discharged outside the apparatus.
[0019]
When an image is formed on both sides of a sheet, after the toner image on the front side of the sheet is fixed, the sheet is again sent to the photosensitive drum via a two-sided pass, and the toner image is transferred to the back side.
[0020]
After the transfer of the toner image, the surface of the photosensitive drum is cleaned by a cleaning unit, and the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum is removed. Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum is charged to a predetermined potential by the primary charger.
[0021]
Next, control when the printer unit 120 in the multifunction peripheral operates alone, that is, in the case of a print job, will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure when the printer unit 120 of FIG. 3 operates alone (in the case of a print job). The procedure shown in this flowchart is executed by the controller 110 and the control circuit 121 of the printer 120.
[0022]
In the case where the printer unit 120 operates alone, that is, in the case of a print job, when the job is started, the controller unit 110 energizes according to whether or not the currently passed paper is the last paper of the present job. Control for shutting off. Here, the job type detection circuit unit 111 in the controller unit 110 detects information such as the type of this job, for example, one-sided, A4, continuous 10-sheet printing, and the like, and the job state detection circuit unit 112 detects the information. Based on the type of the job, the progress of the unit (here, the printer unit 120) used for the current job is detected. That is, it is detected whether the currently passed paper is the last paper of the present job. Then, based on the detection information of the job state detection circuit unit 112, the job determination circuit unit 113 determines whether to cut off the power supply to the printer unit 120 based on the processing status of the job. Here, when it is detected that the currently passed paper is the last paper of the present job, it is determined that the power supply to the printer unit 120 is cut off. If the job determination circuit unit 113 determines that the power supply to the printer unit 120 should be cut off, the power supply control circuit unit 114 outputs a control signal for cutting off the power supply to the printer unit 120 based on the above determination result.
[0023]
In response to the control signal from the energization control circuit 114, the operation state monitoring circuit 122 determines whether or not the last sheet has been fed, as shown in FIG. 4 (step S1). When it is determined that the paper feeding has been completed, the power supply to the paper feed drive unit (not shown) of the drive circuit unit 125 is cut off by the power supply switching circuit unit 123 (step S2). Specifically, the control signal from the energization control circuit 114 is sent to the operation state monitoring circuit 122 in the control circuit 121 of the printer 120. When receiving the control signal from the energization control circuit unit 114, the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122 monitors the operation states of the high voltage power supply circuit unit 126 and the drive circuit unit 125 in the printer unit 120. As a result, when the sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding driving unit of the driving circuit unit 125 is stopped, the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122 determines that the sheet feeding of the last sheet is completed, and A control signal for instructing the energization cutoff is transmitted to the energization switching circuit unit 123. The energization switching circuit unit 123 interrupts energization to the sheet feeding drive unit of the drive circuit unit 125 based on the control signal.
[0024]
Even after that, the monitoring by the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122 is continued, and as a result, when the conveyance operation of the final paper by the other conveyance unit (not shown) in the drive circuit unit 125 is stopped, that is, the final paper is stopped. If the conveyance has been completed (step S3), a control signal instructing to cut off the current supply to the conveyance unit is sent to the current supply switching circuit unit 123, and the current supply switching circuit unit 123 performs a driving circuit operation based on the control signal. The power supply to the other transport units in the unit 125 is cut off (step S4).
[0025]
Further, as a result of monitoring by the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122, when the operation of the high voltage power supply circuit unit 126 is stopped, that is, when the image formation is completed (step S5), the power supply to the high voltage power supply circuit unit 126 is cut off. Is transmitted to the energization switching circuit unit 123, and the energization switching circuit unit 123 interrupts energization to the high-voltage power supply circuit unit 126 based on the control signal (step S6).
[0026]
When the print job is completed, a control signal is output from the power supply control circuit 114 to the power supply switching circuit 171 of the power supply unit 170, and the power supply control circuit 171 cuts off power supply to the printer unit 120.
[0027]
By the above control, unnecessary power consumption during the period from the end of the print job to the transition to the standby state can be suppressed to a necessary minimum, and further energy saving can be realized. That is, power consumption during the period from the end of the print job to the transition to the standby state can be reduced as compared with the power consumption in the conventional case.
[0028]
Next, control in a case where output paper by the printer function is post-processed by the output paper processing unit 150, that is, in a case of a job in which the printer unit 120 and the output paper processing unit 150 are combined will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for a job in which the printer unit 120 and the output paper processing unit 150 are combined. The procedure shown in this flowchart is executed by the controller 110 and the control circuit 121 of the printer 120.
[0029]
When the job is started, the controller unit 110 performs control to cut off the power supply according to whether or not the currently passed paper is the last paper of the present job. Here, the job type detection circuit unit 111 in the controller unit 110 detects the type of this job, for example, information such as single-sided, A4, 10-sheet print, sort, stapling, and the like. Based on the detected job type, the progress status of the unit (here, the printer unit 120 and the output paper processing unit 150) used for the current job is detected. That is, it is detected whether the currently passed paper is the last paper of the present job. Then, based on the detection information of the job status detection circuit unit 112, the job determination circuit unit 113 determines whether to cut off the power supply to the printer unit 120 and the output processing unit 150 based on the processing status of the job. Here, when it is detected that the currently passed paper is the last paper of the present job, it is determined that the power supply to the printer unit 120 and the output paper processing unit 150 is cut off. When the job determination circuit unit 113 determines that the power supply to the printer unit 120 and the output paper processing unit 150 is to be cut off, the power supply control circuit unit 114 sends a signal to the printer unit 120 and the output paper processing unit 150 based on the determination result. A control signal for cutting off the current is output.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 5, the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122 that has received the control signal from the energization control circuit unit 114 determines whether or not the last sheet has been fed (step S11). When it is determined that the paper feeding has been completed, the power supply to the paper feed drive unit (not shown) of the drive circuit unit 125 is cut off by the power supply switching circuit unit 123 (step S12). Specifically, the control signal from the energization control circuit 114 is sent to the operation state monitoring circuit 122 in the control circuit 121 of the printer 120. When receiving the control signal from the energization control circuit unit 114, the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122 monitors the operation states of the high voltage power supply circuit unit 126 and the drive circuit unit 125 in the printer unit 120. As a result, when the sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding driving unit of the driving circuit unit 125 is stopped, the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122 determines that the sheet feeding of the last sheet is completed, and A control signal for instructing the energization cutoff is transmitted to the energization switching circuit unit 123. The energization switching circuit unit 123 interrupts energization to the sheet feeding drive unit of the drive circuit unit 125 based on the control signal.
[0031]
Even after that, the monitoring by the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122 is continued, and as a result, when the conveyance operation of the last sheet by the other conveyance unit (not shown) in the drive circuit unit 125 is stopped, that is, the last sheet is stopped. If the conveyance has been completed (step S13), a control signal for instructing to cut off the power supply to the conveyance unit is sent to the power supply switching circuit unit 123, and the power supply switching circuit unit 123 receives the control signal based on the control signal. The energization of the drive circuit unit 125 to the other transport units is cut off (step S14).
[0032]
Next, the job determination circuit unit 113 determines whether or not the job in the output paper processing unit 150 has been completed based on the information of the job state detection circuit unit 112 (step S15). Here, when the job in the output paper processing unit 150 has been completed, the power supply control circuit unit 114 instructs the output paper processing unit 150 to cut off the power supply based on the determination result of the job determination circuit unit 113. Control signal to the energization switching circuit unit 171. The power supply switching circuit 171 cuts off the power supply to the output paper processing unit 150 based on the control signal (step S16).
[0033]
Further, as a result of the monitoring by the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122, if the operation of the high voltage power supply circuit unit 126 is stopped, that is, if the image formation is completed (step S17), the power supply to the high voltage power supply circuit unit 126 is cut off. Is transmitted to the energization switching circuit unit 123, and the energization switching circuit unit 123 interrupts energization to the high-voltage power supply circuit unit 126 based on the control signal (step S18).
[0034]
When all the processes in the printer unit 120 are completed, a control signal is output from the power supply control circuit unit 114 to the power supply switching circuit unit 171 of the power supply unit 170, and the power supply control circuit unit 171 turns off the power supply to the printer unit 120. Cut off.
[0035]
As described above, in the case of a job in which the printer unit 120 and the output paper processing unit 150 are combined, it is possible to minimize unnecessary power consumption during the transition from the end of the job to the standby state. It is possible to realize further energy saving. That is, similarly to the case of the print job, even in the case of the job in which the printer unit 120 and the output paper processing unit 150 are combined, the power consumption during the transition from the end of the job to the standby state is smaller than in the conventional case. Can be reduced.
[0036]
Next, when copying is performed by the copy function and the output paper is post-processed by the output paper processing unit 150, that is, in the case of a job in which the original processing unit 140, the reader unit 130, the printer unit 120, and the output paper processing unit 150 are combined. The control will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure when copying is performed by the copy function and the output paper is post-processed by the output paper processing unit 150. The procedure shown in this flowchart is executed by the controller unit 110.
[0037]
When a job is started, the job type detection circuit unit 111 in the controller unit 110 detects the type of this job, for example, information such as one-sided, A4, 10-sheet print, and staple, and the job state detection circuit unit 112 Based on the information of the job type detection circuit 111, the progress of the current job is detected. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, based on the information of the job state detection circuit 112, the job determination circuit 113 feeds the final document in the document processing unit 140 (feeds the final document to the reader unit 130). It is determined whether or not the transmission process has been completed (step S21). Here, when the feeding process of the final document in the document processing unit 140 has been completed, the power supply control circuit unit 114 cuts off the power supply to the document processing unit 140 based on the determination result of the job determination circuit unit 113. A control signal for instructing is sent to the energization switching circuit unit 171. The power supply switching circuit 171 cuts off power supply to the document processing unit 140 based on the control signal (step S22).
[0038]
Next, the job determination circuit unit 113 determines whether or not the reader unit 130 has finished reading the last document based on the information of the job state detection circuit unit 112 (step S23). Here, when the reading process of the last document by the reader unit 130 has been completed, the energization control circuit unit 114 instructs the reader unit 130 to shut off energization based on the determination result of the job determination circuit unit 113. Is transmitted to the energization switching circuit section 171. The energization switching circuit 171 interrupts energization of the reader unit 130 based on the control signal (step S24).
[0039]
Next, the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122 that has received the control signal from the energization control circuit unit 114 determines whether or not the last sheet has been fed (step S25), and the last sheet has been fed. If it is determined that the power supply has been performed, the power supply to the paper feed drive unit (not shown) of the drive circuit unit 125 is cut off by the power supply switching circuit unit 123 (step S26). Specifically, the control signal from the energization control circuit 114 is sent to the operation state monitoring circuit 122 in the control circuit 121 of the printer 120. When receiving the control signal from the energization control circuit unit 114, the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122 monitors the operation states of the high voltage power supply circuit unit 126 and the drive circuit unit 125 in the printer unit 120. As a result, when the sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding driving unit of the driving circuit unit 125 is stopped, the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122 determines that the sheet feeding of the last sheet is completed, and A control signal for instructing the energization cutoff is transmitted to the energization switching circuit unit 123. The energization switching circuit unit 123 interrupts energization to the sheet feeding drive unit of the drive circuit unit 125 based on the control signal.
[0040]
Even after that, the monitoring by the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122 is continued, and as a result, when the conveyance operation of the last sheet by the other conveyance unit (not shown) in the drive circuit unit 125 is stopped, that is, the last sheet Is completed (step S27), a control signal for instructing the other sections to be de-energized is sent to the energization switching circuit section 123, and the energization switching circuit section 123 receives the control signal based on the control signal. Then, the power supply to the other transport units of the drive circuit unit 125 is cut off (step S28).
[0041]
Next, the job determination circuit unit 113 determines whether or not the job in the output paper processing unit 150 has been completed based on the information of the job state detection circuit unit 112 (step S29). Here, when the job in the output paper processing unit 150 has been completed, the power supply control circuit unit 114 instructs the power supply interruption to the output paper processing unit 150 based on the determination result of the job determination circuit unit 113. Is transmitted to the energization switching circuit section 171. The energization switching circuit 171 interrupts energization to the output paper processing unit 150 based on the control signal (step S30).
[0042]
Further, as a result of monitoring by the operation state monitoring circuit unit 122, when the operation of the high voltage power supply circuit unit 126 is stopped, that is, when the image formation is completed (step S31), the power supply to the high voltage power supply circuit unit 126 is cut off. Is transmitted to the energization switching circuit unit 123, and the energization switching circuit unit 123 interrupts energization to the high-voltage power supply circuit unit 126 based on the control signal (step S32).
[0043]
Thus, in the case of a job in which the document processing unit 140, the reader unit 130, the printer unit 120, and the output paper processing unit 150 are combined, unnecessary power consumption during the transition from the end of the job to the standby state is minimized. , And further energy saving can be realized. That is, even in the case of a job in which the document processing unit 140, the reader unit 130, the printer unit 120, and the output paper processing unit 150 are combined, the power consumption during the transition from the end of the job to the standby state is smaller than in the conventional case. And can be reduced.
[0044]
An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments are recorded to a system or apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus. And MPU) read out and execute the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.
[0045]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is executed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0046]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be listed.
[0047]
[Embodiment 1] An image forming apparatus that has a plurality of processing units and processes one job using at least one of the plurality of processing units, and detects an input job type. Job type detecting means, a job status detecting means for detecting a processing status of a job by a processing means used for the job based on the job type detected by the job type detecting means, and a job status detecting means. A job determining unit that determines whether or not to energize the processing unit based on the processing status of the job by the processing unit used for the detected job; and a process that is performed based on a determination result of the job determining unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a power supply control unit that performs control for interrupting power supply to a processing unit that performs power supply.
[0048]
[Second Embodiment] The plurality of processing units are units that can be independently driven, and can cooperate with each other to realize a plurality of different functions. Image forming device.
[0049]
Embodiment 3 The plurality of processing units cooperate with each other to realize a printer function, a copy function, and a post-processing function of performing post-processing on output paper by the printer function and the copy function. The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, which is characterized in that:
[0050]
[Embodiment 4] Among the plurality of processing units, at least one processing unit includes a plurality of modules that can operate independently, and the at least one processing unit interrupts energization by the energization control unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when receiving the control, the power supply to one of the plurality of modules is cut off in accordance with an operation state of a module used for the job.
[0051]
[Embodiment 5] A power saving method for an image forming apparatus that has a plurality of processing units and processes at least one job using at least one of the plurality of processing units, the method comprising: A job type detecting step of detecting a type, a job status detecting step of detecting a processing status of a job by a processing unit used for the job based on the type of the job detected in the job type detecting step, and the job status A job determining step of determining whether to shut off the power supply to the processing unit based on a processing state of the job by the processing unit used for the job detected in the detecting step; and a determination result of the job determining step. And a power supply control step of performing control to cut off power supply to a corresponding processing unit based on the power supply control method.
[0052]
[Sixth Embodiment] The fifth embodiment according to the fifth embodiment, characterized in that the plurality of processing units are each configured to be independently drivable, and are capable of realizing a plurality of different functions in cooperation with each other. A power saving method for an image forming apparatus.
[0053]
[Embodiment 7] The plurality of processing units cooperate with each other to realize a printer function, a copy function, and a post-processing function of performing post-processing on output paper by the printer function and the copy function. A power saving method for an image forming apparatus according to a fifth embodiment.
[0054]
[Eighth Embodiment] Among the plurality of processing units, at least one processing unit includes a plurality of modules that can operate independently of each other, and the at least one processing unit interrupts energization by the energization control unit. 6. The power saving method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein upon receiving the control, the power supply to the module among the plurality of modules is cut off in accordance with the operation status of the module used for the job.
[0055]
[Embodiment 9] A program executable on an image forming apparatus that has a plurality of processing units and processes one job using at least one of the plurality of processing units. A job type detecting step of detecting the type of the job, and a job status detecting step of detecting a processing status of the job by a processing unit used for the job based on the type of the job detected by the job type detecting step; A job determining step of determining whether to cut off the power supply to the processing unit based on a processing status of the job by the processing unit used for the job detected by the job status detecting step; And an energization control step of performing control for interrupting energization of the corresponding processing means based on the determination result. The program to sign.
[0056]
[Embodiment 10] A storage medium storing the program according to Embodiment 9 in a computer-readable manner.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the processing status of a job by the processing unit used for the job is detected based on the type of the input job, and the processing status of the job by the processing unit used for the job is detected. It is determined whether or not the power supply to the processing means is to be interrupted based on the result, and control for cutting off the power supply to the corresponding processing means is performed based on the determination result, so that unnecessary power consumption is minimized. It can be kept low.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a network connection example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the multifunction peripheral shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a printer unit in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure when the printer unit 120 of FIG. 3 operates alone (printer function).
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure when the printer unit 120 and the output paper processing unit 150 are combined.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure when copying is performed by a copy function and the output paper is post-processed by an output paper processing unit 150;
[Explanation of symbols]
104, 105, 106 MFP
110 Controller
111 Job type detection circuit
112 Job status detection circuit
113 Job judgment circuit
114 Energization control circuit
120 Printer section
121 control circuit
122 Operation state monitoring circuit
123 energization switching circuit
124 Low voltage power supply circuit
125 drive circuit
126 High voltage power supply circuit
130 Reader unit
140 Document processing unit
150 Output paper processing unit
160 operation unit
170 power supply
171 Energization switching circuit

Claims (1)

An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of processing units, wherein at least one of the plurality of processing units processes one job.
A job type detecting means for detecting the type of the input job;
A job status detection unit for detecting a processing status of the job by a processing unit used for the job based on the type of the job detected by the job type detection unit; and a job status detection unit for detecting the job status detected by the job status detection unit. A job determining unit that determines whether to cut off the power supply to the processing unit based on a processing state of the job by the processing unit to be performed;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a power supply control unit configured to perform control for cutting off power supply to a corresponding processing unit based on a determination result of the job determination unit.

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