JP2002333807A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device where the most appropriate first print time and low consumption of energy are realized by providing a draft mode to limit the used environment of the imaging device, so that total output time of a few prints which are the same as the top high speed model and lower consumption of energy than that of the top high speed model are realized, when printing in the draft mode. SOLUTION: In the device, a draft mode setting means is provided and when the draft mode is selected by the means, the time from a print signal from an outside device 26 to the starting of paper feeding is shorter than that in the normal printing mode and printing operation is carried out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the time required for transition from a print stop state to a print operation state by a print start signal and feeding of recording paper is determined by a heat fixing means in a low-temperature environment, a low input voltage, heavy media, or the like. The setting is made on the assumption that the time until the target temperature is reached is the longest and the polygon mirror reaches the number of revolutions required for the main scanning density specified by the product.

When an image is formed in accordance with the above settings, the time from when the printer engine receives a print start signal to when the print operation is completed (hereinafter, referred to as first print time) is long.

[0004]

However, among users, there is a potential need for a quick printout even if the original print quality such as WEB print, draft print, and memo equivalent print cannot be satisfied as a draft print. Existing.

[0005] Most users also use standard media in a standard environment.

Therefore, as a draft print, WEB
Even if the original print quality is not satisfied, such as print, draft print, and memo equivalent print, for the user who wants to print out quickly, the waiting time is a disadvantage from the viewpoint of usability, and each time, In consideration of all conditions, excessive power is required to generate electric power required for the heat fixing means and the polygon mirror.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and realizes an optimal first print time and low power consumption by providing a draft mode to limit the use environment of an image forming apparatus. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of realizing lower power consumption than a high-speed high-speed model in a total output time of several prints equivalent to a high-speed high-speed model when printing in a draft mode.

[0008]

Therefore, in the present invention, the above object is achieved by providing an image forming apparatus described in any one of the following items (1) to (4). It is.

(1) Image signal processing means for analyzing code data of input image data to form image data of an image and outputting a print start signal, and converting the image data formed by the image signal processing means into a polygon. A printing unit that scans a photosensitive member with a mirror to form a latent image, develops the latent image, and transfers the latent image to recording paper; a process control unit that manages the operation of the printing unit; and a thermal fixing unit that fixes the development In the image forming apparatus provided with the means, a draft mode setting means is provided, and when the draft mode is selected by the means, a time from a print signal from an external device to a start of sheet feeding is shortened compared to the normal print mode. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a printing operation is performed.

(2) When the draft mode is selected, appropriate fixing control is performed for a standard input voltage, a standard environmental temperature, and a standard medium, and the rise time of the thermal fixing unit is compared with a normal print mode. The image forming apparatus according to the above (1), wherein the image forming apparatus is shortened.

(3) When the draft mode is selected, the number of revolutions and the main scanning density of the polygon mirror are set lower than those in the normal print mode to shorten the start-up and control time. The image forming apparatus according to the above (1).

(4) When the draft mode is selected, appropriate fixing control is performed for a standard input voltage, a standard environmental temperature, and a standard medium, and the rotation speed and the main scanning density of the polygon mirror are set to normal. (1) The image forming apparatus according to (1), wherein at least one of start-up and control time is shortened by lowering the print mode than in the print mode.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a data processing configuration of a printer according to the present invention.

16 is a CPU, 17 is an external interface, 18 is a ROM, 19 is a RAM, 20 is an image processing unit,
21 is a RAM, 22 is a ROM, 23 is a frame memory,
Reference numeral 24 denotes a video interface; 25, a printer engine unit; and 26, an external device such as a host computer having means for selecting a draft mode.

CPU 16, external interface 1
7, ROM 18, RAM 19, image processing unit 20, RAM
The video controller unit CONT, which is an image signal processing unit, is configured by the ROM 21, the frame memory 23, the video interface 24, and the like.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a CPU, a ROM 18 storing a control program, and an RA used as a register or the like.
It has M19, receives coded image information (code data) from an external device 26 such as a host computer via the external interface 17, and sends out the code data to the image processing unit 20.

The image processing unit 20 converts the code data into RA
In addition to storing the data in M21, the code data is analyzed, and data is read from the character font stored in the ROM 22 as necessary, and the code data is converted into dot image data (video data) and stored in the frame memory 23. I do.

When one page of image data (video data) is stored in the frame memory 23, the CPU 16 sends a print command to the engine control unit 25 via the video interface 24, and outputs the print command to the printer engine unit 25.
Frame memory 23 in synchronization with the main / sub-scanning synchronization signal from
Are sequentially transmitted to the printer engine unit 25.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the printer engine unit.

In this embodiment, a case of a laser beam printer is shown.

2 is a photosensitive drum, 3 is an optical unit, 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a paper feed roller, 12 denotes a paper feed sensor, 13 denotes a fixing unit, 14 denotes a paper discharge sensor, and 15 denotes a paper discharge tray.

The printing means I is constituted by the photosensitive drum 2, the optical unit 3, and the like.

S indicates a sheet feeding position, and P indicates a transfer position.

The optical unit 3 modulates a laser beam with image data (video data) transmitted via the video interface 24 and scans the photosensitive drum 2 with a polygon mirror to form a latent image.

The latent image is developed by attaching toner to it and transferred to recording paper for printing.

The paper feed roller 10 feeds the stacked paper.

The paper feed sensor 12 detects the presence or absence of the fed paper and determines the timing for sending a sub-scanning synchronization signal for notifying the video controller unit CONT of the start of printing.

The fixing unit 13, which is a heat fixing means,
The toner image transferred to the paper is fixed by heating.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a paper ejection sensor, and the fixing unit 13
The presence or absence of paper discharged from the printer.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a paper discharge tray.

FIG. 3 shows a video controller CO of the present invention.
It is a flowchart of NT.

The video controller CONT waits until image code data is transmitted from the external device 26 such as a host computer in step S101, and proceeds to step S102 when the code data is received.

In step S102, the image processing section 20 expands the code data into image data (video data).

In step S103, it is determined whether or not the development into image data (video data) has been completed for one page. If not completed, the process proceeds to step S102, and if completed, the process proceeds to step S104.

In step S104, a print start signal, which is a signal of the video interface 24, is set to "L" in order to instruct the printer engine unit 25 to start printing.

In step S105, the printer engine unit 25 starts a paper feeding operation to start a printing operation,
The polygon mirror driving is started, and pre-processing such as uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is performed. The video controller CONT waits for a sub-scan synchronization signal to be transmitted via the video interface 24. When the sub-scanning synchronization signal is received, the process proceeds to step S106.

In step S106, the print start signal is set to "H", and one page is printed in step S107, and the flow advances to step S101.

Next, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the printer engine unit according to the present invention.

25a is a DC controller, 25b is a paper feed solenoid, 25c is a paper presence / absence sensor, and 25d is a TOP sensor.

As shown in FIG. 4, the DC controller 25
a is all the sequence control means of the engine, is the process control means, is the fixing control means, and is the print control means.

The video controller 24 is connected to the video controller CONT via a video interface 24, and transmits and receives a print start signal and the like from the video interface 24.

Here, the DC controller 25a is connected to the MPU
FIG. 5 shows the operation of the printer engine unit 25 in the case of
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In the printer engine unit 25, when the power is turned on, the DC controller 25a executes internal initialization, and in step S201, the video controller unit CON
It waits for a print start signal transmitted from T via the video interface 24.

If TRUE, the process transits to S2000 to check the print mode specified by the external device 26 such as a host computer.

If the draft mode is specified, go to S2001.
If the normal print mode is designated, the process proceeds to S202 (if the DC controller 25a is an MPU, the DC controller 25a also serves as a draft mode setting unit).

In S202, a data table as shown in Table 1 is stored in advance in a ROM (not shown) connected to the DC controller 25a, and the normal print mode setting, 2.4 sec. A fixing target temperature of 190 ° C. is set, and a paper feed standby is performed in S203.
After 2.4 seconds have elapsed, the paper feeding operation is started in S204.

[0047]

[Table 1] In step S2001, the paper feed standby and the fixing target temperature of 170 ° C., which are the draft mode settings shown in Table 1, are set in the same manner as described above, and the paper feed standby in step S203 is not performed.

In step S205, when the discharge sensor 14 detects that the recording / transporting sheet has been discharged, the process proceeds to step S201.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the fixing temperature and the rise time in the normal print mode and the draft mode.

Fixing target temperature 170 ° C. in draft mode
For example, when Japan is assumed, the standard input voltage is 100 V input, the room temperature is about 20 ° C. as the standard environment temperature, the standard environment is the same as Xerox 75 g as the standard medium, and the use conditions are used, and the fixing property can be secured. Temperature.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the printer engine unit 2
In step 5, when the power is turned on, the DC controller executes internal initialization and waits for a print start signal transmitted from the video controller unit CONT via the video interface 24 in step S201.

If TRUE, the flow advances to step S2002 to check the print mode specified by the external device 26 such as a host computer.

If the draft mode is designated, go to S2003.
If the normal print mode is designated, the process proceeds to S202.

In S202, a data table as shown in Table 2 is stored in advance in a ROM (not shown) connected to the DC controller 25a, and the normal print mode setting, 2.4 sec. A mirror rotation speed of 30,000 rpm is set, and a paper feeding standby is performed in S203, and after 2.4 seconds, a paper feeding operation is started in S204.

[0057]

[Table 2] In step S2003, the draft mode setting shown in Table 2 is performed in the same manner as described above.
5000 rpm is set, and the sheet feeding standby in S203 is not performed, and the sheet feeding operation is immediately started in S204.

In S205, if the discharge sensor 14 detects that the recording / transporting paper has been discharged, the flow proceeds to S201.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of rotations of the polygon mirror and the rise time in the normal print mode and the draft mode.

The polygon mirror rotation speed in the draft mode is a rotation speed for lowering the main scanning density and outputting a half resolution in the normal print mode.

(Third Embodiment) The setting of the fixing target temperature and the number of rotations of the polygon mirror in the first and second embodiments are described below.
It is also possible to perform both processes in the draft mode.

That is, assuming, for example, Japan, the fixing target temperature is set to 100 V input, the room temperature is about 20 ° C., the medium is set to 170 ° C. under the standard environment equivalent to Xerox 75 g, and the use conditions are set. The mirror rotation speed is
It is also possible to set 15000 rpm to lower the main scanning density with respect to the normal print mode and output at half the resolution.

(Evaluation of the invention)
A comparison of the print output time between the pm draft mode and the 25 ppm normal print mode is described.

[0064]

[Table 3] 2.4 sec in 25 ppm normal print mode
c Low printing speed 20
Even in the ppm draft mode, if the paper feed standby time is set to 0 sec, the same or shorter time can be output up to the fifth sheet.

Further, since the fixing target temperature or the rotation number of the polygon mirror is set low, power consumption can be suppressed.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A user who wants to print out quickly even if the original print quality is not satisfied, such as WEB print, draft print, and memo equivalent print, by setting a draft mode that limits the environment and use conditions to standard conditions In addition to satisfying the requirements of the above, the first print time is shortened, and low power consumption is realized. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of printing with lower power consumption than the high-speed high-speed model in the output time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a data processing configuration.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a printer engine unit.

FIG. 3 is a video controller sequence flowchart.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a printer engine unit.

FIG. 5 is a sequence flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sequence flowchart of a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 2 photosensitive drum 3 optical unit 10 paper feed roller 12 paper feed sensor 13 fixing device unit 14 paper discharge sensor 15 paper discharge tray 16 CPU 17 external interface 18 ROM 19 RAM 20 image processing unit 21 RAM 22 ROM 23 frame memory 24 video interface 25 Printer Engine 25a DC Controller 25b Feed Solenoid 25c Paper Presence Sensor 25d TOP Sensor 26 External Equipment CONT Video Controller P Transfer Position S Feed Position

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image signal processing means for analyzing input code data of image data to form image data of an image and outputting a print start signal, and a polygon mirror for converting the image data formed by the image signal processing means to a polygon mirror. Printing means for forming a latent image by scanning a photoreceptor, developing the latent image, and transferring the latent image to recording paper; process control means for managing the operation of the printing means; and heat fixing means for fixing the development In the image forming apparatus provided with the above, a draft mode setting means is provided, and when the draft mode is selected by the means, the time from the print signal from the external device to the start of sheet feeding is shortened compared to the normal print mode. An image forming apparatus for performing a printing operation. 2. When the draft mode is selected,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a proper fixing control is performed for a standard input voltage, a standard environmental temperature, and a standard medium, and a rise time of the heat fixing unit is shortened as compared with a normal print mode. apparatus. 3. When the draft mode is selected,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of rotations and the main scanning density of the polygon mirror are set lower than those in a normal print mode, so that start-up and control time are shortened. 4. When the draft mode is selected,
Performing appropriate fixing control for a standard input voltage, a standard environmental temperature, and a standard medium, and lowering the number of revolutions and the main scanning density of the polygon mirror as compared with the normal print mode to start up and control. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of time reduction is performed.