JP2004328171A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus provided with a power-saving mode control means capable of accurately discriminating the case wherein it is required to be truly restored from a power-saving mode so that wasteful power consumption can be suppressed. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is configured to include: a power-saving mode control means for reducing the power consumption in a standby state; an image reader having a freely openable / closable pressing plate for pressing an original placed on an original platen; a pressing plate opening / closing detection means for detecting an opening / closing state of the pressing plate; and an original detection means for detecting the presence / absence of an original on the original platen, and the power-saving mode control means is restored from the power-saving mode when the pressing plate opening / closing detection means detects a state transition from the opening state into the closing state of the pressing plate and thereafter the original detection means detects an original during execution of the power-saving mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a power saving mode control unit for reducing power consumption in a standby state and an image reading apparatus having an openable and closable pressure plate for pressing a document placed on a document table.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus provided with this kind of power saving mode control means, for example, as applied to a facsimile, a pressure plate is opened by a pressure plate opening / closing detection means during execution of a power saving mode by the power saving mode control means. There have been proposed ones that are configured to return from the power saving mode upon detecting that the operation has been performed, and those configured to return from the power saving mode when a document is detected at that time.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-164292 (page 2)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, even when a document is not set on the platen, the power saving mode is returned to the normal operable mode when the release of the pressure plate is detected. During this time, even when there is no need to read an image, for example, when the user opens the pressure plate to remove a document left behind on the platen, the system returns from the power saving mode, and wasteful power is consumed. There was a problem of doing it. Further, even in the case of detecting that the pressure plate is closed and returning from the power saving mode, if the mode shifts to the power saving mode with the pressure plate being opened, the closing operation of the pressure plate is simply performed. There is also a problem that the power is restored from the power saving mode, and wasteful power is similarly consumed.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image having a power saving mode control unit capable of accurately determining when it is necessary to truly return from a power saving mode and suppressing wasteful power consumption in view of the above-described conventional problems. It is to provide a forming apparatus.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a first characteristic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is a power saving mode control unit that reduces power consumption during standby as described in claim 1 of the claims. And an image forming apparatus having an image reading device having an openable and closable pressure plate for pressing a document placed on a platen, comprising: a pressure plate opening / closing detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of the pressure plate; The power saving mode control means, during execution of the power saving mode, after detecting the state transition of the pressure plate from the open state to the closed state by the pressure plate open / close detection means, It is configured to return from the power saving mode when a document is detected by the document detection unit.
[0007]
That is, when the user operates the pressure plate in expectation of a certain job with respect to the image forming apparatus, the user always always performs the operation of placing a document on the document table. Therefore, on the condition that the state transition from the open state to the closed state of the pressure plate is detected by the pressure plate open / close detection means, the intention of the user is clearly determined when the document is detected by the document detection means. . The power saving mode control means performs control to return from the power saving mode to a normal operable mode when such a determination is made.
[0008]
The second feature configuration, as described in claim 2 in the same column, in addition to the first feature configuration described above, a first control unit having a main CPU that executes at least input / output conversion processing for image data; A second control unit having a system CPU for executing a key input and an image forming process, wherein the power saving mode control unit starts up the second control unit when returning from the power saving mode. Thus, the first control unit is configured to start up when the key input operation is performed.
[0009]
A second control unit having a system CPU for executing key input and image forming process processing controls a complicated image forming process such as a paper feeding process, a photoconductor process, and a fixing process, and returns from a power saving mode. However, the first control unit having the main CPU for executing the input / output conversion processing on the image data does not require a significant rise time. However, a memory for image processing, which is a component of the first control unit, consumes a considerable amount of power. Further, even if the user places a document and closes the pressure plate, it is not necessary to immediately start the execution of any job. For example, the user operates an input key for some operation of the operation unit. Sometimes, the start of job execution is requested. Therefore, the power saving mode control means starts up the second control unit when returning from the power saving mode, and then starts up the first control unit when any key input operation is performed. In addition, it is possible to suppress unnecessary power consumption as much as possible without giving unnecessary discomfort to the user.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus includes an illumination optical system and an image sensor for reading a document image under a document cover 3 on which a document table 1 made of transparent glass and a document scale 2 are installed on a top surface of a housing. And an image forming process such as charging, exposing, and developing the photoreceptor with respect to a sheet cassette 5 and a photoreceptor inside the housing and below the image reading device 4. An image forming unit including an image forming process unit and a fixing unit for fixing a sheet conveyed from the sheet cassette 5 and onto which the toner image formed by the image forming process unit is transferred; And a multi-function printer realizing the FAX function.
[0011]
A pressure plate 6 for pressing a document placed on the document table 1 is attached to the document cover 3 so as to be openable and closable by a hinge mechanism 6a, and a pressure plate open / close detection switch for detecting whether the pressure plate 6 is open or closed. 7, and a photoelectric document detection sensor 8 that detects the size of the document placed on the document table 1 and detects the presence or absence of the document.
[0012]
On the front of the image reading device 4, a mode selection key for selecting a job type such as print, copy, facsimile, etc .; a process condition selection key for selecting image forming process conditions such as a paper size, an exposure level, and the number of sheets; A key input unit 9 in which various keys such as a print key for instructing start of power saving, a power saving mode permission setting key for setting whether or not control by a power saving mode control unit described later is permitted, and a key An operation panel 11 including a display unit 10 including a liquid crystal panel for displaying an input state of the input unit 9 and the like is provided.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 20 of the image forming apparatus includes a main CPU 21 that executes an input / output conversion process on image data read by the image reading device 4 and image data input from a communication line (not shown). And a second control unit 20b having a system CPU 25 for executing key input and image forming process processing.
[0014]
The first control unit 20a inputs a ROM 22 storing an execution program of the main CPU 21, a RAM 23 storing image data for image processing, document image data read by the image reading device 4, and the like. An image input / output buffer 24 for outputting output image data processed by the CPU 21 to the image forming process processing section and the like are connected by an internal bus 21a.
[0015]
The second controller 20b includes a ROM 26 storing an execution program of the system CPU 25, a RAM 27 storing various process control data, a first input / output buffer 28, a second input / output buffer 29, and the like via an internal bus 25a. Connected and configured. The first input / output buffer 28 includes an input port for inputting operation key data from the key input unit 9 provided on the operation panel 11, the pressure plate open / close detection switch 7, the document detection switch 8, and the like. An output port for outputting display data is provided. The second input / output buffer 29 includes a feed / discharge system driving element of the image forming section, an element of an image forming process processing section such as an exposure laser / charging / polygon motor, an element of fixing processing such as a heater, An output port for outputting a drive signal for each element such as a system element, and an input port for receiving process data from each element are provided.
[0016]
The above-described image forming apparatus is provided with a power saving mode control unit that reduces power consumption during standby. More specifically, the power saving control means is constituted by the system CPU 25 and a part of the ROM 26 in which the execution program is stored, and is set when the power saving mode is set by the above-described power saving mode permission setting key. It is configured to operate.
[0017]
The power saving control unit is configured to perform the above-described first control unit when the image forming apparatus does not perform any operation for a preset predetermined time after the end of an arbitrary job such as a print process or a copy process in the power save allowable mode. The power supply to the load such as the RAM 23 and the image input / output buffer 24 connected to the 20a is stopped, and the power supply to the load connected to the second input / output buffer 29 of the second control unit 20b is stopped. In this state, the main CPU 21 enters a power saving mode in which the functions are stopped except for the data input port of the image input / output buffer 24 and the communication port for the system CPU 25, and the system CPU 25 transmits the data via the first input / output buffer 28. Only input / output can be received, thereby suppressing unnecessary power consumption more than necessary.
[0018]
Hereinafter, the return operation from the power saving mode by the power saving control unit will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The signal input from the pressure plate open / close detection switch 7 to the first input / output buffer 28 is configured to have a high level when the pressure plate 6 is open and a low level when the pressure plate 6 is closed. During execution of the power saving mode (S101), the system CPU 25 determines whether the pressure plate 6 is in the open state based on the signal level of the pressure plate open / close detection switch 7 input via the first input / output buffer 28. Then, it is determined whether or not the state has shifted from the closed state to the opened state (S102).
[0019]
When it is determined in step S102 that the pressure plate 6 is in the open state or has shifted from the closed state to the open state, it is then determined whether or not the pressure plate 6 has been closed (S103). When the system CPU 25 detects an edge at which the signal from the pressure plate open / close detection switch 7 changes from a high level to a low level, it determines that the pressure plate 6 has been closed, turns on the document detection sensor 8, and sets the document 3 is detected (S104).
[0020]
If a document is not detected in step S104, the power saving mode is continued as it is, and if a document is detected, power supply control for the load connected to the second input / output buffer 29 is started to return from the power saving mode. (S105). Thereafter, when a key input from the operation panel 11 is detected (S105), the system CPU 25 sends a power saving mode release signal to the main CPU 21 to restore the main CPU 21 (S107).
[0021]
As described above, when it is detected that a document is placed when the pressure plate 6 shifts from the open state to the closed state, the mode returns from the power saving mode to the normal standby mode, and the document is not detected at that time. In this case, the power saving mode is continued, but a condition for returning from the power saving mode is also set as shown in FIG. That is, even in the power saving mode (S201), if there is a key input to the operation panel 11 regardless of the presence or absence of a document (S202), the system CPU 25 detects it and stores it in the second input / output buffer 29. Control of the connected load is started (S203), and a power saving mode release signal is sent to the main CPU 21 to restore the main CPU 21 (S204).
[0022]
That is, the pressure plate open / close detection switch 7 and the system CPU 25 for detecting the state thereof constitute pressure plate open / close detection means for detecting the open / closed state of the pressure plate 7. A document detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a document is provided, and the power saving mode control means controls the document by the document detecting means after detecting the state transition of the pressure plate from the open state to the closed state by the pressure plate open / close detecting means during the power saving mode. Is configured to return from the power saving mode when is detected.
[0023]
Hereinafter, another embodiment will be described. In the above-described embodiment, the document detection sensor 8 for detecting the presence or absence of a document on the document table 1 has a function of determining the document size. However, the sensor for detecting the document size and the sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the document are described. May be configured separately.
[0024]
In the above-described embodiment, the power saving device includes a first control unit having a main CPU for executing input / output conversion processing on image data, and a second control unit having a system CPU for executing key input and image forming process processing. The mode control unit is configured to start up the first control unit when the key input operation is performed after starting up the second control unit when returning from the power saving mode. However, the configuration of the CPU is not limited to the configuration described in the above-described embodiment. For example, the CPU operates as a slave of the system CPU and controls the operation panel exclusively. May be provided, or a CPU that executes image processing depending on the main CPU may be provided.
[0025]
In the above-described embodiment, a printer, a copier, and a multifunction printer that implements a FAX function are described as image forming apparatuses. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a single function as a copier or a FAX is described. The same applies to an image forming apparatus provided with.
[0026]
It should be noted that the shapes, types, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in the above-described embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified. Not just.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an image including a power saving mode control unit capable of accurately determining when it is necessary to truly return from the power saving mode and suppressing wasteful power consumption. A forming apparatus can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a control block illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.
1: Document table 2: Document scale 3: Document cover 4: Image reading device 5: Paper cassette 6: Press plate 6a: Hinge mechanism 7: Press plate open / close detection switch 8: Document detection sensor 9: Key input unit 10: Display unit 20: control unit 20a: first control unit 20b: second control unit 21: main CPU
25: System CPU

Claims (2)

An image forming apparatus comprising: a power saving mode control unit configured to reduce power consumption in a standby state; and an image reading device including an openable and closable pressure plate that presses a document placed on a document table.
A power platen open / close detection unit that detects the open / closed state of the pressure plate; and a document detection unit that detects the presence / absence of a document on the platen. An image forming apparatus configured to return from the power saving mode when a document is detected by the document detection unit after a state transition from an open state to a closed state of the pressure plate is detected by a detection unit. At least a first control unit having a main CPU for executing input / output conversion processing for image data, and a second control unit having a system CPU for executing key input and image forming process processing, wherein the power saving mode control means, 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein when returning from the power saving mode, after the second control unit is started, the first control unit is started when the key input operation is performed. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.

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