Image forming device

Abstract

To provide an image forming device, which can return from a stop mode to a normal mode, without consuming electric power in the stop mode.SOLUTION: A conversion circuit 51 converts an AC voltage to a DC first reference voltage. An input switch element 52 is connected to a switch driving line to which the first reference voltage is applied, and conducts an AC input line when switch driving currents flow into the switch driving line. A switch control circuit 53 conducts a first driving line L21 including the switch driving line until a stop condition is satisfied after the circuit is activated. A battery 54 applies a DC second reference voltage to the switch driving line in parallel with the first reference voltage. An operation switch 55 is connected to the switch driving line in parallel with the switch control circuit 53 and conducts a second driving line L22 including the switch driving line during operation thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming device that does not consume power in a sleep mode. [Background technology]

[0002] The image forming apparatus includes a printing device and a control device. The printing device forms an image on a sheet. The control device controls the printing device. The control device has a function of transitioning the printing device from a normal mode in which the printing device can be controlled to a pause mode.

[0003] In the image forming apparatus, the control device may include a storage battery that is used in the pause mode. For example, it is known that the control device switches the power supply source from a power supply circuit to a storage battery when the image forming apparatus transitions from the normal mode to a power saving mode (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The power saving mode is an example of the pause mode.

[0004] In the above case, in the power saving mode, the power supply circuit does not consume power from the commercial power supply, and the control device operates on the power of the storage battery to detect a return event and execute a return process, thereby returning from the power saving mode to the normal mode. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-225765 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, when the control device consumes power from the storage battery in the sleep mode, if the sleep mode continues for a long period of time, the battery may run out, and the control device may not be able to return to the normal mode.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which does not consume power in the pause mode and can return to the normal mode from the pause mode. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a printing device that forms an image on a sheet, and a control device that controls the printing device. The control device includes a conversion circuit, an input switch element, a switch control circuit, a battery, and an operation switch. The conversion circuit is supplied with an AC voltage through an AC input line and converts the AC voltage into a first reference voltage of DC. The input switch element is connected to a switch drive line to which the first reference voltage is applied, and conducts the AC input line when a switch drive current flows through the switch drive line, and electrically cuts off the AC input line when the switch drive current does not flow through the switch drive line. The switch control circuit operates when the first reference voltage is applied, conducts a first drive line including the switch drive line from when the apparatus is started until a pause condition is satisfied, and electrically cuts off the first drive line when the pause condition is satisfied. The battery applies a second reference voltage of DC to the switch drive line in parallel with the first reference voltage. The operation switch has an operation unit that is connected to the switch drive line in parallel with the switch control circuit and is operated, and conducts a second drive line including the switch drive line when the operation unit is operated, and electrically cuts off the second drive line when the operation unit is not operated. When at least one of the first drive line and the second drive line is in a conductive state under a condition in which at least one of the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage is applied to the switch drive line, the switch drive current flows in the switch drive line. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that does not consume power in the pause mode and can return to the normal mode from the pause mode. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a power supply device in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a time chart showing state changes of a plurality of devices when the power supply device starts up in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a time chart showing state changes of a plurality of devices when the power supply device stops in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an operation switch and a battery according to an application example that can be applied to the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiment is an example of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0012] [Configuration of image forming apparatus 10] An image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment includes a printing device 1 that executes a printing process. The printing process is a process of forming an image on a sheet 9. For example, the image forming apparatus 10 is a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine.

[0013] When the image forming apparatus 10 receives a print request from the host device 8, it executes the print process.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 10 includes a printing device 1, a user interface device 2, a communication device 3, a secondary storage device 4, and a control device 5.

[0015] The printing apparatus 1 executes the printing process. For example, the printing apparatus 1 executes the printing process by an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. The printing apparatus 1 conveys a sheet 9 and forms an image on the sheet 9 being conveyed.

[0016] The user interface device 2 is a human interface device such as a touch panel unit. The user interface device 2 includes an operation unit 2a and a display unit 2b. The operation unit 2a is a device that accepts operations by a person. The display unit 2b is a panel display device that can display information.

[0017] The communication device 3 communicates with one or more host devices 8 via a network 80. The control device 5 receives processing requests from the host devices 8 and transmits responses to the host devices 8 via the communication device 3.

[0018] The secondary storage device 4 is a computer-readable non-volatile storage device. For example, a flash memory or a hard disk drive or both may be used as the secondary storage device 4.

[0019] The control device 5 controls the printing device 1. The control device 5 includes a power supply device 5a, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 5b, and a signal interface 5c.

[0020] The power supply device 5a includes a power supply circuit that converts an AC voltage supplied from a commercial power supply 100 into a DC voltage, and a circuit that controls the power supply circuit.

[0021] The CPU 5b executes various controls and data processing by executing computer programs stored in the secondary storage device 4. For example, the CPU 5b controls the printing device 1 and the display unit 2b.

[0022] The signal interface 5c converts detection signals from various sensors included in the image forming apparatus 10 into digital detection data and transmits the detection data to the CPU 5b. Furthermore, the signal interface 5c converts various control commands output from the CPU 5b into analog control signals and transmits the control signals to various electrical devices.

[0023] The control device 5 operates in a normal mode or a pause mode. When the control device 5 operates in the normal mode, it is capable of controlling the printing device 1. It is desirable that the power consumption of the control device 5 in the pause mode be as small as possible.

[0024] However, when the control device 5 consumes power from a storage battery in the sleep mode, if the sleep mode continues for a long period of time, the battery may run out, and the control device 5 may not be able to return to the normal mode.

[0025] In this embodiment, the power supply device 5a of the control device 5 has a configuration for not consuming power in the sleep mode and for returning from the sleep mode to the normal mode. The configuration will be described below.

[0026] [Configuration of power supply unit 5a] As shown in FIG. 2, the power supply device 5a includes a conversion circuit 51, an input switch element 52, a switch control circuit 53, a battery 54, and an operation switch 55.

[0027] The conversion circuit 51 is an AC-DC conversion circuit that receives an AC voltage through an AC input line L1 and converts the AC voltage into a DC first reference voltage V1. The conversion circuit 51 receives the AC voltage of a commercial power supply 100 through the AC input line L1.

[0028] The input switch element 52 is disposed on the AC input line L1 and is connected to a switch drive line L2. In this embodiment, the input switch element 52 is a relay switch.

[0029] The input switch element 52 conducts the AC input line L1 when a switch drive current flows through the switch drive line L2, whereas the input switch element 52 electrically cuts off the AC input line L1 when the switch drive current does not flow through the switch drive line L2.

[0030] The AC voltage is supplied to the conversion circuit 51 when the input switch element 52 conducts the AC input line L1. A first reference voltage V1 output from the conversion circuit 51 is applied to a switch control circuit 53 and a switch drive line L2.

[0031] In this embodiment, the first reference voltage V1 is applied to the switch drive line L2 through a diode 56. The diode 56 prevents a reverse current flow from the switch drive line L2 to the conversion circuit 51.

[0032] The switch control circuit 53 is operated by application of the first reference voltage V1. The switch control circuit 53 includes a power supply control IC 531 and an input control switch 532.

[0033] The power supply control IC 531 can output a switch control signal SC1 to the input control switch 532. The power supply control IC 531 controls whether to output the switch control signal SC1 or not depending on the situation.

[0034] The input control switch 532 is disposed on the first drive line L21 including the switch drive line L2. For example, the input control switch 532 is a transistor.

[0035] The input control switch 532 makes the first drive line L21 conductive when the switch control signal SC1 is input, and electrically cuts off the first drive line L21 when the switch control signal SC1 is not input.

[0036] The battery 54 outputs a second reference voltage V2, which is a DC voltage. The battery 54 applies the second reference voltage V2 to the switch drive line L2 in parallel with the first reference voltage V1.

[0037] The operation switch 55 is connected to a switch drive line L2 in parallel with the switch control circuit 53. The operation switch 55 has an operation portion 55a that is operated by a person.

[0038] The operation unit 55a is a part that receives mechanical energy through a human operation. For example, the operation unit 55a is a push button, a slide lever, etc. The operation switch 55 can also be said to be a part of the operation unit 2a of the user interface device 2.

[0039] The operation switch 55 electrically connects the second drive line L22 including the switch drive line L2 when the operation unit 55a is operated, whereas the operation switch 55 electrically disconnects the second drive line L22 when the operation unit 55a is not operated.

[0040] The power supply control IC 531 is activated when supplied with the first reference voltage V1. The power supply control IC 531 outputs a switch control signal SC1 to the input control switch 532 from when it is activated until a predetermined pause condition is satisfied.

[0041] The power supply control IC 531 stops outputting the switch control signal SC1 when the pause condition is satisfied during operation.

[0042] That is, the switch control circuit 53 keeps the first drive line L21 conductive from the time of startup until the pause condition is satisfied, and electrically cuts off the first drive line L21 when the pause condition is satisfied.

[0043] The power supply device 5a further includes an operation detection circuit 57 that operates when the first reference voltage V1 is applied. The operation detection circuit 57 detects an operation on the operation switch 55. The operation detection circuit 57 outputs an operation detection signal DS1 to the power supply control IC 531 when the operation switch 55 is being operated.

[0044] In this embodiment, the pause condition includes a condition that the operation detection signal DS1 is input to the power supply control IC 531 of the switch control circuit 53 under a condition in which the first drive line L21 is in a conductive state.

[0045] The hibernation condition may include a time condition that the current time has passed a preset hibernation time. For example, the power supply control IC 531 measures the time and determines the time condition.

[0046] Alternatively, the CPU 5b may measure the time and determine whether the time condition is satisfied. In this case, when the time condition is satisfied, the CPU 5b outputs a pause command to the power supply control IC 531. The power supply control IC 531 outputs an operation detection signal DS1 in response to the input of the pause command.

[0047] When at least one of the first reference voltage V1 and the second reference voltage V2 is applied to the switch drive line L2 and at least one of the first drive line L21 and the second drive line L22 is in a conductive state, the switch drive current flows through the switch drive line L2.

[0048] In this embodiment, when the input control switch 532 is in the ON state, the switch drive current flows through the first drive line L21. When the operation switch 55 is in the ON state, the switch drive current flows through the second drive line L22.

[0049] In this embodiment, the second reference voltage V2 is lower than the first reference voltage V1. For example, when the first reference voltage V1 is 5 V, the second reference voltage V2 is about 4 to 4.5 V. As a result, when the first reference voltage V1 is applied to the switch drive line L2, the power of the battery 54 is not consumed.

[0050] A line interruption circuit may be disposed in the battery voltage supply line between the battery 54 and the switch drive line L2. The line interruption circuit electrically interrupts the battery voltage supply line when the first reference voltage V1 is applied, and electrically connects the battery voltage supply line when the first reference voltage V1 is not applied.

[0051] When the line interruption circuit is employed, no power is consumed from the battery 54 when the first reference voltage V1 is applied to the switch drive line L2 and the line interruption circuit.

[0052] In the control device 5, the state in which the AC input line L1 is electrically disconnected is the pause mode, and the state in which the AC input line L1 is in a conductive state and the CPU 5b can control the printing device 1 is the normal mode.

[0053] When the control device 5 is in the sleep mode, the entire image forming apparatus 10 including the control device 5 does not consume power.

[0054] The control device 5 may have a function of operating in a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode. For example, in the power saving mode, the AC input line L1 is in a conductive state, and the CPU 5b operates in a sleep mode that consumes less power than the normal mode.

[0055] When the CPU 5b is operating in the sleep mode, the CPU 5b returns from the sleep mode to the normal mode in response to the occurrence of a return event, for example, the return event being reception of data by the communication device 3 or detection of an operation on the operation unit 2a.

[0056] Fig. 3 is a time chart showing the change in state of a plurality of devices when the power supply device 5a starts up. Fig. 4 is a time chart showing the change in state of a plurality of devices when the power supply device 5a stops.

[0057] The states of the plurality of devices include an operation switch state SW1, an output state of a switch control signal SC1, an input switch state SW2, an AC input voltage VX1, and a DC output voltage VY1 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0058] The ON state of the operation switch status SW1 represents a state in which the operation switch 55 is operated, and the OFF state of the operation switch status SW1 represents a state in which the operation switch 55 is not operated (see FIG. 2).

[0059] The high voltage V3 of the switch control signal SC1 represents a state in which the switch control signal SC1 is being output, and the zero voltage of the switch control signal SC1 represents a state in which the switch control signal SC1 is not being output.

[0060] The ON state of the input switch state SW2 is a state in which the input switch element 52 conducts the AC input line L1 (see FIG. 2). The OFF state of the input switch state SW2 is a state in which the input switch element 52 electrically cuts off the AC input line L1.

[0061] The AC input voltage VX1 is an input voltage of the conversion circuit 51, and the DC output voltage VY1 is an output voltage of the conversion circuit 51 (see FIG. 2).

[0062] 3 is a time point when the operation switch 55 is operated in a state where the conversion circuit 51 is stopped. The state where the conversion circuit 51 is stopped is a state where the first drive line L21 is electrically disconnected.

[0063] At the first time point T1, the input switch state SW2 is switched from the OFF state to the ON state by the switch drive current supplied from the battery 54. As a result, the AC voltage of the commercial power supply 100 is input to the conversion circuit 51 as the AC input voltage VX1.

[0064] 3 is the time point when the DC output voltage VY1 exceeds the second reference voltage V2 as a result of activation of the conversion circuit 51. At the second time point T2, the supply source of the switch drive current to the switch drive line L2 is switched from the battery 54 to the conversion circuit 51.

[0065] Therefore, from the second time point T2 onwards, the battery 54 does not consume power until the operation switch 55 is operated in a state in which the conversion circuit 51 is not outputting the first reference voltage V1.

[0066] 3, the switch control circuit 53 is activated and starts outputting the switch control signal SC1. After the third time point T3, the second drive line L22 is in a conductive state. Therefore, even if the operation switch 55 is not operated after the third time point T3, the conversion circuit 51 continues to operate.

[0067] 3 is the time point when the operation switch 55 is no longer operated. At the fourth time point T4, the second drive line L22 is in a conductive state, and therefore the operation of the conversion circuit 51 continues.

[0068] 4 is a time point when the operation switch 55 is operated while the conversion circuit 51 is operating. The conversion circuit 51 is operating while the first drive line L21 is conductive. The time point when the operation switch 55 is operated is a time point when the operation detection signal DS1 is input to the power supply control IC 531 of the switch control circuit 53.

[0069] A sixth point in time T6 in FIG. 4 is a point in time when the operation switch 55 is no longer operated after it has been operated while the conversion circuit 51 is in operation.

[0070] In other words, the sixth point in time T6 is the point in time at which the operation detection signal DS1 is no longer input to the switch control circuit 53 after the operation detection signal DS1 is input to the switch control circuit 53 while the first drive line L21 is in a conductive state.

[0071] Hereinafter, one of the conditions that the power supply control IC 531 determines as the pause condition is referred to as a first operation detection condition. The first operation detection condition is a condition in which the operation detection signal DS1 is no longer input to the switch control circuit 53 after the operation detection signal DS1 is input to the switch control circuit 53 while the first drive line L21 is in a conductive state.

[0072] A sixth point in time T6 is a point in time when the first operation detection condition serving as the pause condition is satisfied.

[0073] When the first operation detection condition is satisfied, the power supply control IC 531 stops outputting the switch control signal SC1. The seventh time point T7 shown in Fig. 4 is the time point when the power supply control IC 531 stops outputting the switch control signal SC1 in response to the satisfaction of the first operation detection condition.

[0074] By stopping the output of the switch control signal SC1, the first drive line L21 is electrically disconnected, the supply of AC voltage to the conversion circuit 51 stops, and the AC input voltage VX1 becomes 0. This causes the operation of the conversion circuit 51 to stop.

[0075] By employing the power supply device 5a, the control device 5 does not consume power in the sleep mode. Furthermore, the control device 5 can return from the sleep mode to the normal mode in response to an operation on the operation switch 55.

[0076] In this embodiment, the battery 54 is a primary battery. Generally, primary batteries have a smaller self-discharge rate and are less expensive than secondary batteries.

[0077] In the sleep mode, battery 54 consumes only a small amount of power during the very short time that operation switch 55 is operated. Therefore, even if battery 54 is a primary battery, battery 54 does not need to be replaced or the number of times battery 54 is replaced is very small during the life cycle of image forming apparatus 10.

[0078] A second operation detection condition may be adopted as the pause condition instead of the first operation detection condition. The second operation detection condition is a condition that the operation detection signal DS1 is input to the switch control circuit 53 under a condition in which the first drive line L21 is in a conductive state.

[0079] However, when the second operation detection condition is adopted as the pause condition, there is a risk that the power of the battery 54 will be wasted due to the stop of operation of the conversion circuit 51 while the operation switch 55 is being operated.

[0080] On the other hand, by adopting the first operation detection condition as the pause condition, the above-mentioned wasteful consumption of power from the battery 54 is avoided.

[0081] [Application example] Next, a battery 54A and an operation switch 55A, which are an application example of the battery 54 and the operation switch 55, will be described with reference to FIG.

[0082] The battery 54A and the operation switch 55A can be applied to the power supply device 5a of the image forming apparatus 10 in place of the battery 54 and the operation switch 55.

[0083] Battery 54A includes a piezoelectric element 541 and a power storage circuit 542. Piezoelectric element 541 generates power by pressure applied to operation portion 55a of operation switch 55A.

[0084] In this application example, the operation switch 55A includes a spring 55b that transmits pressure applied to an operation portion 55a to the piezoelectric element 541. The spring 55b is an example of an elastic member.

[0085] The power storage circuit 542 generates a second reference voltage V2 by storing the power generated by the piezoelectric element 541. In this application example, the power storage circuit 542 includes a full-wave rectifier circuit 542a and a capacitor 542b.

[0086] The full-wave rectifier circuit 542a rectifies the voltage generated by the piezoelectric element 541. The capacitor 542b stores the voltage rectified by the full-wave rectifier circuit 542a. The capacitor 542b stores electricity to be able to output the second reference voltage V2.

[0087] By employing the battery 54A and the operation switch 55A, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the power supply device 5a cannot return to the normal mode from the sleep mode due to exhaustion of the primary battery.

[0088] Also, the battery 54 and the battery 54A may be connected in parallel to the switch drive line L2. In this case, the battery 54 and the battery 54A can apply the second reference voltage V2 in parallel to the switch drive line L2.

[0089] When the power supply device 5a includes the battery 54 and the battery 54A, the battery 54A can back up the battery 54.

[0090] That is, when the battery 54 can output the second reference voltage V2, the control device 5 can return from the sleep mode to the normal mode by operating the operation switch 55A for a relatively short time.

[0091] On the other hand, when the battery 54 cannot output the second reference voltage V2, the battery 54A can output the second reference voltage V2 by pressing and holding the operation switch 55A for a long time.

[0092] That is, when the battery 54 cannot output the second reference voltage V2, the control device 5 can return from the sleep mode to the normal mode by pressing and holding the operation switch 55A for a long time. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 1: Printing device 2: User interface device 5: Control device 9: Sheet 10: Image forming device 51: Conversion circuit 52: Input switch element 53: Switch control circuit 54,54A:Battery 55, 55A: Operation switch 55a: Operation section 57: Operation detection circuit 532: Input control switch L1: AC input line L2: Switch drive line L21: First drive line L22: Second drive line

Claims

1. a printing device for forming an image on a sheet; a control device for controlling the printing device, The control device includes: a conversion circuit that receives an AC voltage through an AC input line and converts the AC voltage into a DC first reference voltage; an input switch element connected to a switch drive line to which the first reference voltage is applied, which turns on the AC input line when a switch drive current flows through the switch drive line and electrically cuts off the AC input line when the switch drive current does not flow through the switch drive line; a switch control circuit that operates when the first reference voltage is applied, conducts a first drive line including the switch drive line from when the switch is started until a pause condition is satisfied, and electrically cuts off the first drive line when the pause condition is satisfied; a battery for applying a second DC reference voltage to the switch drive line in parallel with the first reference voltage; an operation switch having an operation unit that is connected to the switch drive line in parallel with the switch control circuit and that is operated, and that electrically connects a second drive line including the switch drive line when the operation unit is operated, and electrically cuts off the second drive line when the operation unit is not operated, An image forming apparatus, wherein when at least one of the first drive line and the second drive line is in a conductive state under a condition in which at least one of the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage is applied to the switch drive line, the switch drive current flows through the switch drive line.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the battery is a primary battery.

3. The battery comprises: A piezoelectric element that generates power in response to pressure applied to the operation unit; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a storage circuit that generates the second reference voltage by storing power generated by the piezoelectric element.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second reference voltage is lower than the first reference voltage.

5. an operation detection circuit that is operated by application of the first reference voltage and that outputs an operation detection signal to the switch control circuit when the operation switch is operated; 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pause condition includes a condition that the operation detection signal is input to the switch control circuit under a condition in which the first drive line is in a conductive state.

6. an operation detection circuit that is operated by application of the first reference voltage and that outputs an operation detection signal to the switch control circuit when the operation switch is operated; 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pause condition includes a condition that the operation detection signal is no longer input to the switch control circuit after the operation detection signal is input to the switch control circuit while the first drive line is in a conductive state.

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