Image formation apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image formation apparatus that reduces power consumption when an operation panel is in a stored state.SOLUTION: An operation panel storage motor 41 rotates an operation panel 11 to turn the operation panel 11 into a stored state from a usable state. The operation panel 11 is manually rotatable so as to be in the usable state from the stored state. A processor 22 controls the operation panel storage motor 41 to rotate the operation panel 11, turns the operation panel into the stored state from the usable state, and then causes a power supply device 42 to turn off power supply to the processor 22. The power supply device 42 restarts the power supply to the processor 22 on the basis of the electromotive force generated by the operation panel storage motor 41 when the operation panel is manually turned into the usable state from the stored state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] In one image forming apparatus, when a CPU detects that use of an operation unit has ended, the operation unit is automatically stored, and thereafter, when a predetermined key operation is detected, the operation unit is automatically exposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-114491 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned image forming device, when the operation unit is stored, the CPU needs to continuously monitor whether or not the above-mentioned key operations are detected, so the CPU continues to operate and consumes power even when the operation unit is not in use.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide an image forming apparatus that consumes less power when the operation panel is in the stored state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a processor, a rotatable operation panel, an operation panel storage motor that rotates the operation panel to change the operation panel from a usable state to a stored state, and a power supply device that supplies power to the processor. Here, the operation panel is rotatable so that it can be manually changed from the stored state to the usable state. The processor controls the operation panel storage motor to rotate the operation panel to change the operation panel from the usable state to the stored state, and then causes the power supply device to turn off the power supply to the processor. Then, the power supply device resumes the power supply to the processor based on the electromotive force generated by the operation panel storage motor when the operation panel is manually changed from the stored state to the usable state. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus that consumes less power when the operation panel is in the stored state can be obtained.

[0008] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the configuration of the power supply device 42 in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the power supply device 42 in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1(A) is a front view, Fig. 1(B) is a side view when the operation panel is in a stored state, and Fig. 1(C) is a side view when the operation panel is in a usable state.

[0012] 1 is a device with a printing function such as a printer or a multifunction device, and includes a main body 1a and an operation panel 11 that is rotatably held relative to the main body 1a. Here, the operation panel 11 has a substantially rectangular shape and is rotatable about a rotation axis 11a that is substantially parallel to one side of the substantially rectangular shape. The image forming device 1 also includes an ejection tray 1b onto which printed sheets 101 are ejected and stacked after printing.

[0013] The operation panel 11 is rotatable so that it can be manually changed from a stored state (when not in use) (FIG. 1(B)) to a usable state (FIG. 1(C)). Furthermore, the operation panel 11 is disposed on the front side of the housing of the image forming apparatus 1, and is disposed in a position that prevents the print sheet 101 from being removed from the discharge tray 1b when in the stored state (FIG. 1(B)), and is disposed in a position that allows the print sheet 101 to be removed from the discharge tray 1b when in the usable state (FIG. 1(C)).

[0014] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, in addition to the above-mentioned operation panel 11, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a storage device 21, a processor 22, a printing device 23, an image reading device 24, a facsimile device 25, a communication device 26, and the like.

[0015] The storage device 21 is a non-volatile rewritable storage device such as a flash memory. The processor 22 is a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and loads programs from the storage device 21 or the ROM into the RAM and executes them to perform various processes.

[0016] The printing device 23 prints an image specified by the print job request on a print sheet 101 in accordance with the print job request based on a user operation, and discharges the printed print sheet 101 to the discharge tray 1b. The image reading device 24 optically reads an original image from an original in accordance with a copy job request based on a user operation, and generates image data of the original image. The facsimile device 25 generates and transmits a facsimile signal of an image specified by the facsimile transmission job request in accordance with a facsimile transmission job request based on a user operation, and also receives a facsimile signal from an external device and generates image data from the facsimile signal. The communication device 26 is a wireless or wired network interface or the like, and performs data communication with external devices.

[0017] The processor 22 controls internal devices such as the printing device 23, the image reading device 24, the facsimile device 25, and the communication device 26 to execute a job specified in a job request as described above. For example, when the processor 22 receives a print job request, it causes the printing device 23 to print an image specified in the print job request, and when the processor 22 receives a copy job request, it causes the image reading device 24 to scan an original image with the scan settings specified in the copy job request, and causes the printing device 23 to print the original image with the print settings specified in the copy job request.

[0018] The operation panel 11 also includes a display device 31 such as a liquid crystal display, and an input device 32 such as hard keys and a touch panel. The display device 31 displays various screens to the user. Soft keys are realized by the key images and the touch panel displayed on the display device 31. The input device 32 accepts user operations on the hard keys or soft keys input by the user.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 further includes an operation panel retracting motor 41 and a power supply device .

[0020] The operation panel retraction motor 41 rotates the operation panel 11 to change the operation panel 11 from a usable state to a retracted state. Specifically, the operation panel retraction motor 41 is connected to a rotation shaft 11a, and rotates the operation panel 11 by rotating the rotation shaft 11a.

[0021] The power supply unit 42 supplies power to the processor 22 and the operation panel retraction motor 41 .

[0022] The processor 22 controls the operation panel retraction motor 41 to rotate the operation panel 11 and change the operation panel 11 from the usable state to the retracted state, and then causes the power supply device 42 to turn off the power supply to the processor 22. Thereafter, the power supply device 42 resumes the power supply to the processor 22 based on the electromotive force generated by the operation panel retraction motor 41 when the operation panel 11 is manually changed from the retracted state to the usable state.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the configuration of the power supply device 42 in FIG.

[0024] For example, as shown in FIG. 3, power supply device 42 includes an AC / DC power supply circuit 51, a DC / DC power supply circuit 52, a latch circuit 53, a switching element SW1 (here a P-type transistor) for operation panel storage motor 41, a switching element SW2 (here an N-type transistor) that is turned on / off in accordance with the output level of DC / DC power supply circuit 52, a pull-down resistor R1 at the input of latch circuit 53, a pull-up resistor R2 for switching element SW2, and a Zener diode ZD and resistor R3 as a clamp circuit.

[0025] The AC / DC power supply circuit 51 is a circuit that converts AC power from a commercial power supply into DC power of a power supply voltage V1. The DC / DC power supply circuit 52 is a conversion circuit separate from the AC / DC power supply circuit 51, and is a circuit that converts DC power of the power supply voltage V1 into DC voltage of the power supply voltage V2.

[0026] The AC / DC power supply circuit 51 supplies power to a DC / DC power supply circuit 52 , a latch circuit 53 , and the operation panel retraction motor 41 , and the DC / DC power supply circuit 52 supplies power to the processor 22 .

[0027] The DC / DC power supply circuit 52 includes an ENABLE terminal, and turns on / off the power supply to the processor 22 according to the level of an ENABLE signal input to the ENABLE terminal.

[0028] The latch circuit 53 is an SR flip-flop in this embodiment, which holds a state according to an S input value and an R input value, and generates a Q output value according to that state.

[0029] Here, the POWER_OFF signal from the processor 22 is input as the S input value, and the voltage across the operation panel retraction motor 41 (a voltage equal to or lower than the upper limit level in the clamp circuit described above) is input as the R input value.

[0030] The switching element SW2 turns on / off according to the Q output value of the latch circuit 53, and generates an ENABLE signal according to the Q output value of the latch circuit 53. As a result, the ENABLE signal has a level according to the state held by the latch circuit 53. Therefore, the DC / DC power supply circuit 52 turns on / off the power supply to the processor 22 according to the output level of the latch circuit 53.

[0031] Furthermore, the switching element SW1 is turned on / off in response to the level of a MOTOR_ON signal from the processor 22, thereby turning on / off the power supply to the operation panel retracting motor 41.

[0032] That is, the processor 22 controls the operation panel retraction motor 41 with the MOTOR_ON signal to rotate the operation panel 11 and change the operation panel 11 from the usable state to the retracted state, and then changes the state of the latch circuit 53 with the POWER_OFF signal to cut off the power supply to the processor 22. Then, the power supply device 42 changes the R input value based on the electromotive force generated in the operation panel retraction motor 41 when the operation panel 11 is manually changed from the retracted state to the usable state, thereby changing the state of the latch circuit 53 and resuming the power supply to the processor 22.

[0033] Next, a description will be given of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the power supply device 42 in Fig. 2.

[0034] (a) Main power off state

[0035] When the main power switch (not shown) is turned off and AC power from the commercial power source is not being supplied to the power supply unit 42 (AC / DC power supply circuit 51), the output of the AC / DC power supply circuit 51 and the DC / DC power supply circuit 52 is stopped, and no power is supplied to the processor 22.

[0036] (b) Main power on operation (main power on)

[0037] Thereafter, when a main power switch (not shown) is turned on and the supply of AC power from the commercial power source to the power supply device 42 (AC / DC power supply circuit 51) begins, the AC / DC power supply circuit 51 begins outputting, which causes the ENABLE signal to go to H (high) level, the DC / DC power supply circuit 52 begins outputting, and power supply to the processor 22 begins.

[0038] At this time, if the operation panel 11 is manually changed from the stored state to the usable state, the R input value becomes H level, the Q output value of the latch circuit 53 becomes L level, the switching element SW2 remains in the off state, and the ENABLE signal is maintained at H level.

[0039] (c) Power on state (processor running state)

[0040] When power supply to the processor 22 starts, the processor 22 starts operating, and this state (output of the AC / DC power supply circuit 51 and the DC / DC power supply circuit 52) ​​is maintained. In this state, the POWER_OFF signal (S input value) is at L (low) level. Also, in this state, the switching element SW1 of the operation panel retraction motor 41 is off, and the R input value is at L (low) level. In this state, the ENABLE signal is maintained at H level, and power supply to the processor 22 continues.

[0041] (d) Operation panel storage operation

[0042] Thereafter, when the processor 22 detects, for example, a period of no operation for a predetermined length of time or when the user explicitly performs a predetermined operation, it turns on the switching element SW1 using the MOTOR_ON signal, operates the operation panel storage motor 41, and changes the operation panel 11 from the usable state to the stored state.

[0043] During this operation, the R input value becomes H level and the Q output value of the latch circuit 53 becomes L level, but the switching element SW2 remains in the OFF state and the ENABLE signal is maintained at H level. In other words, at this point, power supply to the processor 22 continues.

[0044] (e) Automatic power off operation (power supply to processor is stopped)

[0045] After the above-mentioned operation panel storage operation, the processor 22 sets the level of the POWER_OFF signal (S input value) to H level. This changes the state of the latch circuit 53, the Q output value of the latch circuit 53 becomes H level, the switching element SW2 becomes ON, and the ENABLE signal becomes L level. Therefore, the DC / DC power supply circuit 52 stops supplying power to the processor 22.

[0046] (f) Automatic power off state (processor power supply stopped state)

[0047] When power supply to the processor 22 is stopped, the level of the POWER_OFF signal (S input value) becomes L level, but since the R input value is also L level, the state of the latch circuit 53 is maintained as it is, the level of the ENABLE signal is maintained at L level, and power supply to the processor 22 is continuously stopped.

[0048] (g) Raising the operation panel (manual rotation operation of the operation panel)

[0049] Thereafter, when the operation panel 11 is manually changed from the stored state to the usable state, an electromotive force based on the manual operation is generated in the operation panel storage motor 41, which causes the R input value to go to H level, changes the state of the latch circuit 53, the Q output value of the latch circuit 53 to L level, the switching element SW2 goes to the OFF state, and the ENABLE signal goes to H level. Therefore, the DC / DC power supply circuit 52 resumes power supply to the processor 22.

[0050] As described above, according to the embodiment, the operation panel retraction motor 41 rotates the operation panel 11 to change the operation panel 11 from the usable state to the retracted state. The operation panel 11 is rotatable so that it can be manually changed from the retracted state to the usable state. The processor 22 controls the operation panel retraction motor 41 to rotate the operation panel 11 to change the operation panel from the usable state to the retracted state, and then causes the power supply device 42 to turn off the power supply to the processor 22. Then, the power supply device 42 resumes the power supply to the processor 22 based on the electromotive force generated by the operation panel retraction motor 41 when the operation panel is manually changed from the retracted state to the usable state.

[0051] As a result, when the image forming apparatus 1 is not being used and is in a standby state, such as a sleep state, the processor 22 does not need to monitor whether or not a user operation has been performed, and power supply to the processor 22 is stopped, thereby reducing the power consumption of the processor 22. Therefore, the power consumption when the operation panel 11 is in the stored state is reduced.

[0052] It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. In other words, such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0053] The present invention is applicable to, for example, an image forming apparatus. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1. Image forming device 1a Main unit 1b Output tray 11 Operation Panel 22 processors 23 Printing device 41 Operation panel storage motor 42 Power supply 51 AC / DC power supply circuit (example of base power supply circuit) 52 DC / DC power supply circuit (an example of a power supply circuit) 53 Latch Circuit

Claims

1. A processor; A rotatable operation panel; an operation panel storage motor that rotates the operation panel to change the operation panel from a usable state to a stored state; a power supply device that supplies power to the processor; the operation panel is rotatable so that it can be manually moved from the stored state to the usable state, the processor controls the operation panel retraction motor to rotate the operation panel and change the operation panel from the usable state to the retracted state, and then causes the power supply device to turn off the power supply to the processor; the power supply device resumes power supply to the processor based on an electromotive force generated by the operation panel retraction motor when the operation panel is manually changed from the retracted state to the usable state; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. the power supply device includes a latch circuit and a power supply circuit that turns on and off a power supply to the processor in response to an output level of the latch circuit; The processor changes the state of the latch circuit to turn off power to the processor; the power supply device changes the state of the latch circuit based on an electromotive force generated in the operation panel retraction motor when the operation panel is manually changed from the retracted state to the usable state, thereby restarting the supply of power to the processor; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

3. The power supply device further includes a base power supply circuit separate from the power supply circuit, the base power supply circuit supplies power to the power supply circuit, the latch circuit, and the operation panel storage motor; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,

4. The printing apparatus further includes a printing device that prints on a print sheet and discharges the print sheet after printing onto a discharge tray, the operation panel is disposed at a position that prevents the print sheet from being removed from the discharge tray when in the stored state, and is disposed at a position that allows the print sheet to be removed from the discharge tray when in the usable state; 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

Images