Printer Engine Power-Off Control for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the timer power-off function can lead to incomplete printer engine protection processes during high-speed start-up, causing unnecessary separation processes and prolonged initialization times, while also failing to prevent software from entering unexpected states due to bugs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a control method that issues a canceling instruction for ongoing processes and an engine protecting instruction for the printer engine without waiting for process completion, followed by shutdown, to ensure incomplete process cancellation and engine protection before power shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the timer power-off function is used to turn off power after a predetermined time, then power-off is ensured even when software falls into an unexpected state, but the printer engine protection process may be incomplete causing unnecessary separation processes and prolonged initialization times
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by issuing a canceling instruction to the controller and an engine protecting instruction to the printer engine before the timer power-off occurs. This allows the printer engine to complete protection operations (such as separating the developing device from the photosensitive drum) before power is cut, avoiding unnecessary separation processes during subsequent startup and reducing initialization time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary timing mechanism where the canceling instruction and engine protecting instruction are issued as intermediate steps between the software power-off detection and the actual timer power-off execution. This intermediary action ensures the printer engine is properly protected before power cutoff without waiting for the full timer duration.
2Ease of operation
If power is turned off by software control in response to power-supply switch operation, then the developing device and photosensitive drum are separated when power is off, but a separation process must be performed again when power is turned on
Solution Approach 1:
When the power-supply switch is turned off, the system issues an engine protecting instruction to the printer engine as a preliminary action, causing the developing device to be separated from the photosensitive drum before power cutoff. When power is turned on again, the system detects this protected state and skips the separation process, directly reducing start-up time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by having the controller communicate the separation state to the main control unit. When power is restored, the main control unit receives feedback about the existing separation state and adjusts its behavior to skip unnecessary separation processes, thereby reducing start-up time.
3Speed
If a print job is deleted before shifting into high-speed start-up standby state, then high-speed start-up can be achieved, but the deletion process may take too long causing time-out and incomplete processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the print job deletion process from the mandatory sequence before entering high-speed start-up standby state. Instead of requiring deletion to complete, the system allows the deletion process to be canceled or left incomplete, extracting only the essential function of clearing job data while accepting that the deletion may not fully complete, thus avoiding time-out errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by performing only the essential part of the print job deletion (clearing necessary data) rather than completing the entire deletion process. This partial deletion is sufficient for high-speed start-up purposes and avoids the time-consuming completion of all deletion operations, preventing time-out errors.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus which, to the extent possible, prevents an operation for protecting a printer engine from being uncompleted before power to the printer engine is shut down due to cancellation of a process that should be carried out by the printer engine. When a predetermined time period has elapsed since an instruction to reduce power consumption was detected, power to the printer engine is shut down. When the instruction is detected, a canceling instruction for canceling the process that should be carried out by the printer engine is issued to the printer engine. Responsive to this, a cancellation process for the process is started, and an engine protecting instruction for protecting the printer engine without waiting for completion of the cancellation process is issued to the printer engine. After the operation for protecting the printer engine is carried out, power to the printer engine is shut down.