JP2003274058A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] To improve the energy saving effect and reduce the power consumption. When shifting to an energy saving mode, an energy saving control unit (31) checks whether or not a nonvolatile memory (25) is mounted. The transmission start time is read out, set to the clock 32, the transmission standby file is stored in the non-volatile memory 25, and then the main power is turned off. Then, the apparatus enters the energy saving mode. When there is no file, the apparatus immediately enters the energy saving mode in which the main power is turned off. When the nonvolatile memory 25 is not mounted, the apparatus enters the energy saving mode in which the main power is turned on.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to reduction of power consumption.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a facsimile machine, when there is no incoming call or transmission for a certain period of time, an energy saving mode is entered to reduce power consumption. In order to realize this energy saving mode, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-232540, when the power supply to the main CPU is off, the time set by the sub CPU for time designated transmission is monitored. Then, at that time, power is supplied to the main CPU to perform time designation transmission, or power is supplied to the main CPU at regular time intervals to monitor the state of the facsimile apparatus.

[0003]

However, there are cases where the facsimile apparatus must hold the image data for a certain period of time such as time-specified transmission or confidential reception, and this image data is stored and held in a volatile image memory. In that case, there is an inconvenience that the main power cannot be turned off.

On the other hand, if a non-volatile memory is used to hold image data, it is possible to enter an energy-saving mode in which the main power supply is turned off. However, when the main power supply is turned off in this way, the time designated transmission is performed. In this case, the energy saving mode cannot be restored at the designated time. In order to prevent this, a sub CPU is provided as shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-232540, and the sub C is used in the energy saving mode.
It is necessary to supply power to the PU in advance, which reduces the energy saving effect.

An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which can solve the above drawbacks and can improve the energy saving effect.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, a power source is supplied separately from a mounting unit for a non-volatile memory and a main power source to enter an energy saving mode and restore the energy saving mode. When switching to the energy-saving mode, the energy-saving control unit confirms whether the non-volatile memory is mounted in the mounting unit, and when the non-volatile memory is mounted, the main power supply is turned off to save energy. It is characterized by entering the mode and entering the energy saving mode in which the main power supply is turned on when the nonvolatile memory is not mounted.

Another facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is
It has a non-volatile memory mounting part, an energy-saving control part that is supplied with power separately from the main power supply, enters the energy-saving mode and returns from the energy-saving mode, and a clock. Confirms whether the non-volatile memory is installed in the installation section.If the non-volatile memory is installed and there is a transmission standby file, read the transmission start time of the transmission standby file, set it in the clock, and set the transmission standby file. Stored in the non-volatile memory, then the main power supply is turned off to enter the energy-saving mode, and when the non-volatile memory is installed but there is no file waiting to be sent, the main power supply is immediately turned off to enter the energy-saving mode. When the non-volatile memory is not installed, the main power supply is turned on to enter the energy saving mode.

[0008]

1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus 1 of the present invention. The facsimile apparatus 1 has a copying function and a printer function. The image forming unit 2 is provided with two paper feed trays 3a and 3b for storing recording paper and a reading unit 4 is provided above the image forming unit 2. Paper feed tray 3a,
3b has paper feed rollers 5a, 5b, and the recording papers stacked in the paper feed trays 3a, 3b are fed one by one by the paper feed rollers 5a, 5b. The vertical transport path 6 is formed by merging in the vicinity of the downstream side of the paper feed rollers 5a and 5b. The vertical transport path 6 includes transport rollers 7 and 8 and a photoconductor drum 9.
An image forming section 11 having the optical unit 10 and a fixing section 12 are arranged. A paper discharge roller 13 is provided at the downstream end of the vertical transport path 6 and transports the recording paper on which an image has been formed to the paper discharge unit 14. Further, on the outside of the vertical transport path 6, a manual feed tray 16 that can be opened and closed in the rotational direction with the support shaft 15 as a fulcrum is provided. This image forming unit 2
A paper feed port for manually feeding paper is provided in the vicinity of the upper side of the support shaft 15 on the side surface of the support shaft 15, and a common transport path 20 which is a transport path used in common with the double-sided unit 17 includes a transport roller 7 and a transport roller 8. It merges with the vertical transport path 6 between. When the manual feed tray 16 is opened horizontally, the manual feed can be performed, and the recording paper set on the manual feed tray 16 is conveyed from the common conveyance path 20 to the vertical conveyance path 6.

The recording paper fed from the paper feed units 3a, 3b or the manual feed tray 16 is conveyed to the image forming section 11. The image forming unit 11 develops the electrostatic latent image written and formed on the photoconductor drum 9 by the optical unit 10, and transfers the developed image to a recording sheet. The fixing unit 12 applies heat and pressure to the recording paper onto which the image has been transferred to fix the image. The recording paper on which the image is fixed is ejected from the paper ejection roller 13 to the paper ejection unit 14. The duplex unit 17 is the device main body 2
When the image is formed on both sides of the recording paper, which is installed on the outer side of the recording paper, the recording paper with the image formed on one surface is sent to the switchback path 19 by the conveyance roller 18 provided on the upper part of the image forming unit 2, and the switchback is performed. The recording paper is conveyed again from the path 19 to the vertical conveyance path 6 via the duplex unit 17.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the control unit 21 of the facsimile apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 22, a system memory 23, a read-only memory 24, a non-volatile memory 25, a network control unit 26, a modem 27, and an image. Memory 28
It has an encoding / decoding unit 29, an engine control unit 30, an energy saving control unit 31, and a clock 32.

The system controller 22 controls the operation of the entire apparatus and executes a facsimile transmission control procedure.
The system memory 23 stores necessary data and is used as a work area when the system control unit 22 executes a control program. The read-only memory 24 stores a control program and various control data. The non-volatile memory 25 is composed of a flash memory card or a hard disk, is removable, and stores image data such as time-specified transmission and confidential reception. The network control unit 26 has an automatic transmission function and connects to a public line network. The image memory 28 stores the transmitted image and the received image. The encoding / decoding unit 29 compresses image data and decompresses the compressed image data. The engine control unit 30 controls the operation of the image forming unit 2. The energy-saving control unit 31 shuts off the main power supply in response to a command from the system control unit 22 and is programmed with the system control unit 21 for factors for returning from energy saving. When these factors are detected, the main power source is restored. The recovery factor from energy saving is, for example, a set time signal from the clock 32, a ringing signal from the network control unit 26, or the reading unit 4. This energy saving control unit 31
The clock 32 is designed in hardware so that power is supplied separately from the main power. Further, the minimum required power is also supplied to a part of the unit that outputs the above-mentioned return factor.

The operation of the facsimile apparatus 1 when shifting to the energy saving mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The condition for the facsimile apparatus 1 to shift to the energy saving mode is when the facsimile apparatus 1 is not operated for a certain period of time or when the energy saving key is pressed on the operation display unit 33. When the condition for shifting to the energy saving mode is reached, the energy saving control unit 31 confirms whether or not the nonvolatile memory 25 is attached (step S1). As a result of this confirmation, if the non-volatile memory 25 is attached, the energy saving control unit 31 confirms whether or not there is a transmission standby file (step S2). This can be realized by searching the file management table programmed in the SRAM area of the system memory 23. As a result of this confirmation, if there is a transmission standby file with the transmission time programmed, the transmission start time programmed in the file management table of the system memory 23 is read and set in the clock 32 (step S3), and the transmission standby file is set to the nonvolatile storage. Stored in the memory 25 and enters the energy saving mode in which the main power supply is turned off (step S4).
When the energy saving mode in which the main power source is turned off is entered, the energy saving control unit 31 shuts off the main power source and restores the main power source at the transmission start time set in the clock 32. If the non-volatile memory 25 is mounted and there is no file waiting for transmission, the main power supply is immediately turned off to enter the energy saving mode (step S).
2, S4). If the non-volatile memory 25 is not installed, the main power supply is turned on to enter the energy saving mode (steps S1 and S5).

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, when shifting to the energy saving mode, it is confirmed whether or not the non-volatile memory is mounted on the mounting portion, and when the non-volatile memory is mounted, the main power supply is turned on. The energy-saving mode is turned off, and when the nonvolatile memory is not installed, the energy-saving mode is turned on so that the main power is turned on even if there is image data such as time-specified transmission or confidential reception. It is possible to enter the energy saving mode in which the power is turned off, and the power consumption can be significantly reduced.

When shifting to the energy saving mode,
Check if the non-volatile memory is installed in the installation section.If the non-volatile memory is installed and there is a file waiting to be sent, read the transmission start time of the file waiting to be sent, set the time, and send. The standby file is stored in the non-volatile memory and the main power is turned off to enter the energy saving mode. When the non-volatile memory is installed but there is no file waiting to be sent, the main power is immediately turned off to enter the energy saving mode. Since the main power supply is turned on when the non-volatile memory is not installed, the power saving mode is entered. Therefore, even if the main power supply is turned off, the standby mode file is prevented from being lost. In addition to the above, the transmission standby file can be transmitted at the transmission start time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device of a facsimile device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when shifting to an energy saving mode. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1; Facsimile apparatus, 2; Image forming unit, 3; Paper feed tray, 4; Reading unit, 11; Image forming unit, 1
2; fixing unit, 14; paper discharge unit, 17; duplex unit, 2
1; control device, 22; system control unit, 23; system memory, 24; read only memory, 25; non-volatile memory, 26; network control unit, 27; modem, 28; image memory, 29; encoding / decoding unit , 30; engine control unit, 3
1; Energy saving control unit, 32; Clock.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A non-volatile memory mounting section and an energy saving control section, which is supplied with power separately from a main power source, enters an energy saving mode and returns from the energy saving mode, and shifts to the energy saving mode, The energy-saving control unit confirms whether or not the non-volatile memory is mounted in the mounting unit. When the non-volatile memory is mounted, the main power supply is turned off to enter the energy-saving mode, and when the non-volatile memory is not mounted. A facsimile machine characterized by entering an energy-saving mode with the main power turned on. 2. A non-volatile memory mounting section and a main power source are supplied with power separately from the main power source, and an energy saving control section for entering and exiting the energy saving mode and a clock are provided, and the energy saving mode is entered. At this time, the energy saving control unit confirms whether or not the non-volatile memory is mounted in the mounting unit.If the non-volatile memory is mounted and there is a transmission standby file, the transmission start time of the transmission standby file is read and the clock is displayed. Set, store the file waiting to be sent in the non-volatile memory, and then turn off the main power supply. Enter the energy saving mode, and immediately turn off the main power when the non-volatile memory is installed but there is no file waiting to be sent. Enter the energy saving mode, and when the nonvolatile memory is not installed, enter the energy saving mode with the main power turned on. Characteristic facsimile machine.