Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that does not require waiting for use due to maintenance control.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an image data acquisition device configured to acquire image data; a printer configured to print an image of the image data on a sheet; an input device configured to receive setting information; and a controller configured to control the whole of the image forming apparatus. The controller has a function of executing re-activation of the image forming apparatus, a function of executing maintenance control and a function of storing a re-activation time setting and a re-activation control setting, The control device executes the re-activation in accordance with the re-activation time setting and executes the maintenance control in accordance with the re-activation control setting.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD An embodiment of the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] The image forming apparatus periodically performs maintenance control such as image quality maintenance control and alignment control. The maintenance control is performed the next time the image forming apparatus is used after it has been left unused for a certain period of time or after it has printed a certain number of sheets.

[0003] For example, when a user uses an image forming apparatus first thing in the morning after the apparatus has been left unused for a certain period of time, maintenance control is initiated, and the user has to wait until the maintenance control is completed before using the image forming apparatus. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-78705 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that does not keep a user waiting due to maintenance control. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes an image data acquisition device that acquires image data, a printing device that prints an image of the image data on paper, an input device that accepts setting information, and a control device that controls the entire image forming apparatus. The control device has a function of restarting the image forming apparatus, a function of performing maintenance control, and a function of storing a restart time setting and a restart control setting. The control device restarts the image forming apparatus according to the restart time setting and executes maintenance control according to the restart control setting. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] (Image forming device) First, an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment. Fig. 1 also illustrates an external device 30 that communicates with the image forming apparatus 10.

[0009] The image forming device 10 is, for example, an MFP (multifunction peripheral). The image forming device 10 has a printing function, a scanning function, a copying function, a fax function, etc. The printing function is a function of printing an image of supplied image data on paper. The scanning function is a function of reading an image of a document or the like and acquiring the image data. The copying function is a function of printing an image of image data acquired from a document or the like using the scanning function on paper using the printing function. The fax function is a function of sending image data of an image read from a document or the like using the scanning function, and printing an image of received image data on paper using the printing function.

[0010] The image forming apparatus 10 includes a document feeder 11, a scanner 12, a printer 13, a paper transporter 14, a paper feeder 15, a control device 21, an operation panel 25, a communication device 26, and a system bus 27.

[0011] The document feeder 11 is, for example, an ADF (auto document feeder), etc. The document feeder 11 sends documents placed on a document tray to the scanner 12.

[0012] The scanner 12 reads an image from a document or the like and acquires the image data. The scanner 12 is one of the image data acquisition devices that acquires image data. For example, the scanner 12 has a document glass and a reading module. The reading module reads an image from a document, book, etc. placed on the document glass or from a document sent to the document glass by the document feeder 11 and acquires the image data. The reading module irradiates the document to be read with illumination light, receives the reflected light with an image sensor, and converts it into a digital signal. In this way, the reading module reads an image from the document and acquires the image data. To read an image from the back side of the document, another reading module may be provided in the document feeder 11.

[0013] The paper feeder 15 supplies paper to the paper transport device 14. For example, the paper feeder 15 has one or more paper feed cassettes that store paper on which images are to be printed. The paper feeder 15 also has a manual feed tray for manually feeding paper. The paper feeder 15 selectively takes out paper from either the paper feed cassette or the manual feed tray using a paper feed roller and supplies it to the paper transport device 14.

[0014] The paper transport device 14 transports paper sheets supplied from the paper feed device 15 through the printing device 13. The paper transport device 14 has, for example, a duplex unit that enables the printing device 13 to print on both sides of the paper sheets. The duplex unit flips the paper sheets over by switching them back, and transports them through the printing device 13. The paper transport device 14 also has a paper output tray that receives the paper sheets on which images have been printed by the printing device 13.

[0015] Based on the image data supplied, the printing device 13 prints an image on paper transported by the paper transport device 14. The image data to be printed is, for example, image data read from an original by the scanner 12. Alternatively, the image data is image data supplied to the image forming device 10 from an external device 30 separate from the image forming device 10. Alternatively, the image data is image data received by a fax function.

[0016] For example, the printing device 13 prints an image on paper by forming a toner image on a transfer belt and transferring the toner image to paper. Alternatively, the printing device 13 prints an image on paper by ejecting ink droplets onto paper using an inkjet head. However, the printing device 13 is not limited to these methods and may print an image on paper using other methods.

[0017] The operation panel 25 is a man-machine interface that inputs and outputs information between the image forming apparatus 10 and the operator of the image forming apparatus 10. The operation panel 25 includes, for example, a touch panel and an input device. The operation panel 25 is an input device that accepts setting information. The operation panel 25 is also an output device that presents information.

[0018] The touch panel is a stack of a display, such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and a pointing device that accepts touch input. The touch panel displays a screen that notifies the operator of the image forming apparatus 10 of various information. The touch panel also accepts touch operations by the operator. In other words, the touch panel is an input / output device.

[0019] The input device accepts operations by an operator of the image forming apparatus 10. The input device includes a keyboard, a keypad, a touchpad, and the like.

[0020] The communication device 26 includes a communication interface, such as a network interface card, and communicates with the external device 30. The communication device 26 communicates with the external device 30 via a wired or wireless network, such as a LAN (Local Area Network). For example, the communication device 26 receives image data to be printed from the external device 30. The communication device 26 may also transmit image data read by the scanner 12 to the external device 30. The communication device 26 is one of image data acquisition devices that acquire image data.

[0021] The system bus 27 is a communication path between the document feeder 11, the scanner 12, the printer 13, the paper transport device 14, the paper feeder 15, the control device 21, the operation panel 25, and the communication device 26. The document feeder 11, the scanner 12, the printer 13, the paper transport device 14, the paper feeder 15, the control device 21, the operation panel 25, and the communication device 26 are able to send and receive information, data, control signals, commands, responses, etc. via the system bus 27.

[0022] The control device 21 has a function of executing various jobs of the image forming device 10 according to instructions input via the operation panel 25 or from the external device 30 via the communication device 26. The various jobs include the execution of various functions, such as a print function, a scan function, a copy function, and a fax function.

[0023] The control device 21 controls the document feeder 11, the scanner 12, the printer 13, the paper transport device 14, the paper feeder 15, the operation panel 25, and the communication device 26 in order to execute various functions of the image forming device 10. The control device 21 has a processor 22, a main memory 23, and an auxiliary memory 24.

[0024] The processor 22 is a computing element that executes arithmetic processing. The processor 22 controls each unit to execute various functions of the image forming apparatus 10 in accordance with an operating system and application software stored in the main memory 23 and auxiliary memory 24. The processor 22 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit).

[0025] The main memory 23 includes, for example, a read-only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM).

[0026] ROM is non-volatile memory. ROM primarily stores the operating system executed by processor 22 on a non-temporary basis. ROM may also store data necessary for the execution of the operating system.

[0027] RAM is a volatile memory that mainly temporarily stores the operating system and application software executed by the processor 22, as well as data required for the execution of the operating system and application software.

[0028] The auxiliary memory 24 is, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). The auxiliary memory 24 mainly non-temporarily stores application software executed by the processor 22 and data required for executing the application software.

[0029] The processor 22 loads the application software stored in the auxiliary memory 24 and the data required to execute the application software into the RAM of the main memory 23, and executes the application software to perform various functions of the image forming device 10.

[0030] (Example of operation) Next, an example of operation of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment will be described. Prior to the description of the example of operation, the requirements of the image forming apparatus 10 in this example of operation will be described. The image forming apparatus 10 in this example of operation has the following requirements.

[0031] In addition to the function of executing various jobs for the image forming apparatus 10, the control device 21 also has the function of restarting the image forming apparatus 10 in accordance with a restart time setting in order to refresh the contents of the main memory 23. The restart time setting is stored in advance in the auxiliary memory 24 via the operation panel 25 or from the external device 30 via the communication device 26. The restart time setting includes the time interval from start-up to the start of the restart, the time interval from the previous restart to the start of the next restart, the start time of the restart, etc. For example, the start time of the restart is a time when the image forming apparatus 10 is not generally expected to be used.

[0032] The control device 21 also has a function of executing maintenance control when the image forming device 10 is restarted in accordance with the restart control settings. The restart control settings are stored in advance in the auxiliary memory 24 via the operation panel 25 or from the external device 30 via the communication device 26. The restart control settings include candidates for maintenance control that can be executed upon restart and setting information on whether or not to execute each candidate maintenance control.

[0033] Maintenance control includes either image maintenance control or alignment control. For example, image maintenance control is control that adjusts various settings to obtain optimal printing results. For example, alignment control is control that adjusts the relative position between the printing device 13 and the paper transport device 14. Maintenance control is not limited to image maintenance control and alignment control, and may include other controls.

[0034] Taking the above requirements into consideration, an example of operation of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the example of operation of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment. The example of operation described below is performed by each unit of the image forming apparatus 10 under the control of the control unit 21.

[0035] After the image forming apparatus 10 is started up, in ACT 11, the control unit 21 causes the processor 22 to acquire the restart time setting from the auxiliary memory 24 and store the restart time setting in the main memory 23.

[0036] Next, in ACT 12, the control unit 21 causes the processor 22 to acquire the restart control setting from the auxiliary memory 24 and store the restart control setting in the main memory 23.

[0037] As described above, the restart control setting is setting information for maintenance control candidates (e.g., image maintenance control and alignment control) and whether or not to execute maintenance control for each candidate. In other words, simply put, the restart control setting is information for maintenance control (e.g., image maintenance control and alignment control) to be executed upon restart. The maintenance control to be executed upon restart may be either image maintenance control or alignment control, or both. Furthermore, the restart control setting may be a setting that maintenance control is not executed upon restart.

[0038] Thereafter, in ACT13, the image forming apparatus 10 waits for a job, and the control unit 21 waits for input of instructions to execute various jobs of the image forming apparatus 10 via the operation panel 25 or from the external device 30 via the communication device 26.

[0039] While waiting for a job in ACT13, in ACT14, the control unit 21 causes the processor 22 to refer to the restart time setting in the main memory 23 and determine whether the restart condition is met.

[0040] The job waiting in ACT 13 and the restart determination in ACT 14 are executed in parallel. When an instruction to execute a job is input in ACT 13, the control unit 21 causes the image forming apparatus 10 to execute the job of the input execution instruction. The restart determination in ACT 14 is executed even while the job is being executed, without waiting for the job to end.

[0041] For example, if the job is printing, the control unit 21 causes the image forming apparatus 10 to execute a printing function. If the job is copying, the control unit 21 causes the image forming apparatus 10 to execute a scanning function and a printing function. If the job is stopping the image forming apparatus 10, the control unit 21 stops the image forming apparatus 10.

[0042] One of the restart conditions in ACT 14 is whether the current time matches the restart time setting. For example, the current time is whether the time interval from startup to the start of restart has already passed, or the restart start time has already arrived.

[0043] Another restart condition in ACT14 is that a job is not being executed. In the determination process in ACT14, the control unit 21 determines that the restart condition is not met while a job is being executed, and waits for the job to finish before making a new determination. Note that the control unit 21 determines that sleep for power saving does not correspond to job execution.

[0044] If the result of the determination in ACT14 is that the restart condition is not met, the control unit 21 returns to the processing in ACT13 and continues to execute the processing in ACT13 and ACT14 until the restart condition is met.

[0045] If the result of the determination in ACT14 is that the restart condition is met, the control unit 21 sets a control flag for maintenance control in ACT15.

[0046] Here, setting the control flag is setting information indicating that maintenance control is to be executed upon rebooting, whereas clearing the control flag is setting information indicating that maintenance control is not to be executed upon rebooting.

[0047] Generally, flags, including the control flags in this embodiment, express two states by writing binary information, for example, 0 or 1, into a 1-bit memory area.

[0048] For example, a control flag is set by writing 1 to a one-bit memory area reserved for the control flag in the main memory 23 or auxiliary memory 24, or is set by writing 0 to the same.

[0049] The control unit 21 may allocate the memory area for the control flag in the main memory 23 or in the auxiliary memory 24. However, if the memory area for the control flag is allocated in the main memory 23, the control unit 21 saves the information of the control flag in the auxiliary memory 24 at least before rebooting.

[0050] For example, when the execution of the image maintenance control and the alignment control, which are maintenance controls, at restart is controlled independently, for example, when it is permitted to execute one of the image maintenance control and the alignment control but not the other at restart, a control flag is set for each of the image maintenance control and the alignment control. That is, a control flag for the image maintenance control and a control flag for the alignment control are set separately. This allows for a wider variety of maintenance controls.

[0051] The control unit 21 executes the restart process in the next ACT16 while maintaining the control flag set in the process of ACT15.

[0052] In ACT 16, the control device 21 restarts the image forming apparatus 10 according to the restart time setting. The restart refreshes the contents of the main memory 23.

[0053] After the restart, in ACT17, the control device 21 acquires the control setting from the control flag from the auxiliary memory 24. That is, the control device 21 acquires information on whether or not to execute maintenance control after the restart, more specifically, for example, information on whether or not to execute image maintenance control after the restart and information on whether or not to execute alignment control.

[0054] In ACT 18, the control device 21 determines whether or not to perform maintenance control based on the control settings acquired in ACT 17. More specifically, for example, the control device 21 determines whether or not to perform image maintenance control and whether or not to perform alignment control.

[0055] If the result of the determination in ACT 18 is that maintenance control is to be performed, the control device 21 performs the maintenance control in ACT 19. For example, if one of image maintenance control and alignment control is to be performed, the control device 21 performs the image maintenance control and alignment control that are to be performed, and does not perform the image maintenance control and alignment control that are not to be performed.

[0056] In parallel with the execution of maintenance control in ACT 19, it is determined in ACT 20 whether an error that prevents maintenance control from being executed while the control flag is set is detected. For example, the determination of whether an error is detected is made by acquiring information from various sensors incorporated in the document feeder 11, scanner 12, printer 13, paper transporter 14, paper feeder 15, etc.

[0057] If it is determined in ACT20 that an error has been detected, the control unit 21 clears the control flag in ACT21 and then executes the restart process in ACT16.

[0058] If the result of the determination in ACT 20 is that no error is detected, the control unit 21 determines whether the execution of maintenance control has been completed in ACT 22. If the result of the determination is that the execution of maintenance control has not been completed, the process returns to ACT 19, and the processes of ACT 19, ACT 20, and ACT 22 are continuously executed until the execution of maintenance control is completed.

[0059] After performing the maintenance control in ACT19, if the result of the determination in ACT20 shows that no error has been detected and the result of the determination in ACT22 shows that the maintenance control has been completed, the control device 21 proceeds to the processing in ACT24.

[0060] If the result of the determination in ACT18 is that maintenance control is not to be performed, the control device 21 determines in ACT23 whether an error that makes it impossible to perform maintenance control has been detected while the control flag is set.

[0061] If it is determined in ACT23 that an error has been detected, the control unit 21 proceeds to the process in ACT21, clears the control flag in ACT21, and then executes the restart process in ACT16.

[0062] If the result of the determination in ACT23 is that no error is detected, the control unit 21 proceeds to the process in ACT24.

[0063] In ACT24, the control device 21 clears the control flag and then proceeds to the job waiting process in ACT13.

[0064] (effect) The image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment executes maintenance control when it is restarted. The restart is executed to avoid a job being executed or at a time when the image forming apparatus 10 is not expected to be used. Therefore, the user does not have to wait to use the image forming apparatus 10 due to the maintenance control.

[0065] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions and their equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 10...image forming device, 11...document feeder, 12...scanner, 13...printing device, 14...paper transport device, 15...paper feeder, 21...control device, 22...processor, 23...main memory, 24...auxiliary memory, 25...operation panel, 26...communication device, 27...system bus, 30...external device

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, an image data acquisition device that acquires image data; a printing device that prints an image of the image data on paper; an input device that accepts setting information; a control device that controls the entire image forming apparatus, The control device A function for restarting the image forming apparatus; The ability to perform maintenance control; It has a function to store the restart time setting and the restart control setting. Perform the reboot according to the reboot time settings, Perform maintenance control according to restart control settings, Image forming device.

2. The restart control setting includes setting information on maintenance control that may be executed upon restart and whether or not to execute the maintenance control. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. The control device For the control setting to execute maintenance control at restart, set the control flag. If the control flag is set at the time of restart, execute maintenance control, and clear the control flag after the maintenance control is executed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 .

4. When the control device is restarted, if an error that prevents maintenance control from being executed is detected while the control flag is set, the control device clears the control flag and then restarts. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 .

5. The maintenance control includes either image quality maintenance control or alignment control. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

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