KR20000056600A - Printer and method of controlling power supply to the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A printer and a power control method thereof are provided to save power consumption by a proper power mode manipulation of a user with a power mode selecting element when non-using time period is elongated. CONSTITUTION: A printer(10) includes a printing engine(20) for printing a toner image to a printing paper, a power supply(14) for generating electric power, a power supply control part(15) for supplying electric power amount from the power supply to the printing engine according to printing standby mode or a power saving mode, a control part(11) for controlling the printing engine and the power supply control part for maintaining a power mode corresponding to a received power mode selection data, and a power mode selecting element(12) for outputting a power mode selection data for the printing standby mode or the power saving mode selected by the user to the control part, wherein the printer is converted into the power saving mode if the power saving mode is selected or no printing data is input for a predetermined time period after the printing standby mode is set, while the power is supplied to the printing engine if the printing standby mode is selected or a printing data is received during the power saving mode.

Description

Printer and method of controlling power supply to the same}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing press and a power control method thereof, and more particularly, to a printing press and a power control method capable of suppressing power waste when not in use by allowing a user to selectively control the amount of power to be supplied to a printing press.

In general, a printing machine is provided with a control unit for controlling the processing of the received print data and the overall system, an input device for providing a function operation key and the like to output an operation result signal by the user's operation to the control unit, and the control unit to control the actual paper to the paper. It has a printing engine in charge of printing and a power supply for supplying power.

The printing engine includes apparatuses in which heat generation is to be maintained at a predetermined temperature in order to enable normal printing. For example, there is a transfer apparatus for transferring and fixing a toner image formed on a photosensitive medium to paper. Therefore, in order to wait for the printing engine in a state where printing is possible, the transfer device must be supplied with continuous power necessary for heat generation.

On the other hand, when the printer is not turned on for a long time, such continuous supply of power causes unnecessary power consumption. Therefore, most printers adopt a power saving mode in order to reduce power consumption when the printer is not used for a certain time. In the power saving mode, power is supplied to the print engine less than the power required to enable the print job without completely interrupting power supply to the print engine. For example, when the heat generating temperature of the fixing device is 100 ° C. in the print standby mode in which printing is possible, power is supplied so that the heat generating temperature of the fixing device is maintained at 50 ° C. in the power saving mode.

However, conventionally, it is set to switch to the power saving mode only when print data is not received for a set time, and the user cannot directly control the switching operation from the print standby mode to the power saving mode. As a result, even if it is obvious that the printer will not be used before the time set for the transition to the power saving mode for the non-receipt period of the print data, the print standby mode is maintained until the power saving mode is switched. Cause waste.

The present invention has been made to improve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing press and a power control method capable of controlling the amount of power supplied to the printing press by the user who can predict the use of the printing press.

1 is a block diagram showing a printing press according to the present invention,

2 is a flowchart illustrating a power control process according to the present invention.

<Description of reference numerals for the main parts of the drawings>

10: printing press 11: control unit

12: input device 12a: power mode setting key

13: Display 14: Power supply

15: power supply control unit 16: power switch

20: printing engine 21: photosensitive belt

22: optical scanning device 23: developing machine

24: drying apparatus 25: transfer apparatus

26: reset device 27: paper

30: Computer 40: Communication Interface

50: external power

In order to achieve the above object, a printing machine according to the present invention includes a printing engine for printing a toner image on a paper; A power supply for generating power; A print standby mode for supplying power to the print engine to wait for the print engine in a state where print jobs are possible, and to supply the set power to the print engine by lowering the power supplied to the print engine in the print standby mode. A power supply control unit supplying an amount of power corresponding to one of the power modes selected from the power saving modes to the printing engine from the power supply device; A control unit for controlling the printing engine and controlling the power supply control unit to maintain a power mode corresponding to the received power mode selection information; And a power mode selection means configured to output one of the power mode selection information selected by the user among the print standby mode and the power saving mode to the controller.

Preferably, the power mode selecting means is provided with a power mode setting key for allowing a user to select one of the power mode, the print standby mode and the power saving mode, and an input device for outputting a selected power mode signal to the controller. And / or a computer configured to output the power mode selection information to the control unit via a communication interface.

After the control unit is selected as the print standby mode, if the print data is not received from the outside and the print standby mode state is maintained for the first time set, the control unit controls the power supply control unit to enter the power saving mode. When received, it is preferable to control the power supply control unit to switch to the print standby mode, and to control the display device to display the currently set power mode information.

In addition, according to the power control method of the printing machine according to the present invention, (A) an initialization step of preheating the print engine to a state capable of printing; (B) maintaining the print standby mode after the initialization step or after finishing the queued print job; (C) If the request for switching to the power saving mode is requested through the power mode selecting means or the print data is not received from the outside while the step Na is maintained, the print standby mode is maintained for the first time set, the power saving Switching to a mode; (D) While the power saving mode is maintained, when a request for switching to the print standby mode is requested through the power mode selection means or when print data is received from the outside, power corresponding to the print standby mode is input to the print engine. It includes; step.

Hereinafter, a printer and a power control method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in more detail.

1 is a block diagram showing a printing machine according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the printer 10 connected to the user computer 30 through the communication interface 40 includes a control unit 11, an input device 12, a display device 13, a printing engine 20, and a power supply. Apparatus 14 and power supply control unit 15 are provided. Here, both the input device 12 and the computer 30 capable of transmitting the power mode selection information to the control unit 11 through the communication interface 40 are used as the power mode selection means.

The control unit 11 controls the overall system, and reads information input from an external device such as the computer 30, converts the received print data into drive data suitable for driving the print engine 20, and then prints the print engine. And outputs the instruction content received from the input device 12. In addition, the control unit 11 controls the power usage mode of the print engine 20 through the power supply control unit 15 and displays the current power mode through the display device 13. When the power mode selection information is input from the computer 30, which is also used as the power mode selection means, the power supply control unit 15 is controlled to maintain the power mode corresponding to the read power mode selection information.

The print engine 20 is controlled by the control unit 11 and is in charge of actual printing. In the case of the wet laser color printer using the ink as a developer, the printing engine 20, as shown, a plurality of optical scanning device 22 for scanning the light on the photosensitive belt 21 in a circular motion to form an electrostatic latent image (22) ), A plurality of developing devices 23 for developing electrostatic latent images by color, a drying apparatus 24 for evaporating the liquid carrier element remaining on the photosensitive belt 21, and a toner developed on the photosensitive belt 21. A transfer device 25 for transferring an image to the sheet 27, and a reset device 26 for erasing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive belt 21 so as to initialize a new electrostatic latent image.

The power supply unit (SMPS) 14 receives power from an external power source 50, for example, a commercial AC power source, and generates voltage sources having a voltage level required by all the devices of the printer 10 including the print engine 20. do. A power switch 16 is provided for controlling power supply to and disconnection from the external power supply 50 to the power supply device 14.

Typically, the input device 12 installed outside the main body is provided with operation keys for selecting various printing functions provided, and the input device 12 controls an operation signal generated by the operation of the operation key. Output to The power mode setting key 12a installed in the input device 12 is for the user to select a power usage mode of the printer 10. In the present invention, the printing engine 20 is printed so that the print job is waited. In one of the power standby mode, which supplies power to the engine 20, and a power saving mode in which the power is supplied to the print engine 20 by lowering the amount of power supplied to the print engine 20 in the print standby mode. You can manipulate the selection of. The power mode setting key 12a can be configured by various methods for selecting the power mode by a user operation. For example, each time the power mode setting key 12a is pressed, the print standby mode-> power saving mode The input device 12 may be configured such that the power mode selection is changed in the order of the power standby mode. That is, when the power mode setting key 12a is pressed in the print standby mode, the power saving mode selection signal is output, and when the power mode setting key 12a is pressed again, the internal circuit of the input device 12 outputs the print standby mode selection signal. Can be configured. In addition, when the power mode selection signal can be applied to the control unit 11 from the computer 30 in addition to the input device 12 through a communication interface 40 such as a network, the control unit 11 receives the input device 12. Each time the power mode selection signal is input from the computer 30, the power supply control unit 11 is controlled to maintain the corresponding power mode, and the result is displayed on the display device 13.

The power supply control unit 15 controls the power consumption of the print engine 20 according to the power mode information instructed by the control unit 11. That is, when the print standby mode setting information is input from the control unit 11, the heaters built in the transfer device 25 to maintain the heat generated at the same temperature as the heat generated during the printing operation so that the printing operation can be performed immediately; The electric power is supplied to the heaters built in the drying apparatus 24. On the other hand, when the power saving mode setting information is input from the control unit 11, the heaters built in the transfer device 25 and the drying device 24 are built in so that heat generation is maintained at a temperature set lower than the heat generation temperature required for printing. The supplied heaters. Therefore, before switching from the power saving mode to the print standby mode, a preheating time until each heater rises to a temperature suitable for the printing operation condition is required.

Hereinafter, operation of the power mode setting key 12a and / or power mode selection information transmitted from the computer 30 through the communication interface 40 and whether print data is received from the computer 30 through the communication interface 40 The process of determining the power mode by the control unit 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when the power switch 16 is turned on and power supply from the external power source 50 to the power supply device 14 is started, the control unit 11 goes through an initialization process (step 100) of preheating the printing engine 20. The print operation is made possible in the print standby mode (step 110). The first time, which is the target value for switching to the power saving mode for the non-printing data reception period, is appropriately set to the initial value. Hereinafter, a case where the first time is set to 30 minutes will be described as an example.

When the print engine 20 is in the print standby mode in which the print job is available, time counting is started (step 120). If print data is received after step 110, that is, 30 minutes have elapsed since the print standby mode was entered (step 140). When the print job is finished, time counting resumes, returning to print standby. While maintaining the print standby mode, it is determined whether there is a power mode switching request (step 160), and if there is a power mode switching request, the power supply control unit 15 instructs the user to switch to the power mode selected by the user. In other words, if a power saving mode selection request is made by the operation of the power mode setting key 12a or from the computer 30, the power supply control unit 15 is controlled to enter the power saving mode (step 170).

On the other hand, after the print standby mode is initiated, the printer receives the power mode switching request by the user through the computer 30 and the input device 12 through step 130 and step 150, and receives the received 30-minute set time period. If there is no data, it instructs the power supply control unit 15 to switch to the power saving mode (step 170).

After the power saving mode is maintained, through the determination process of step 180 and / or step 190, print data is received, a user's operation of the power mode setting key 12a or a request for switching from the computer 30 to the print standby mode is requested. If so, the flow returns to step 110 to switch the power mode to the print standby mode. If print data is received, the print job is executed from the power save mode through the print standby mode.

According to such a power control method, after the print data reception is completed, the printer is set to the power mode selection means so that the user who intends not to print for the first time is switched to the power saving mode before the set first time elapses. It can be controlled through the input device 12 or the computer 30, it is possible to advance the transition from the print standby mode to the power saving mode as needed, thereby reducing the supply of unnecessary power. In addition, if a user who intends to transmit print data is operated through the power mode selection means to first switch the printer in the power saving mode to the print standby mode before instructing the transfer of the print data from the computer 30, the print ready. You can press time.

According to the printer and the power control method according to the present invention as described so far, the power consumption can be reduced by appropriate power mode operation by the user when the non-use time is prolonged.

Claims (9)

A printing engine for printing a toner image on paper; A power supply for generating power; A print standby mode for supplying power to the print engine to wait for the print engine in a state where print jobs are possible, and to supply the set power to the print engine by lowering the power supplied to the print engine in the print standby mode. A power supply control unit supplying an amount of power corresponding to one of the power modes selected from the power saving modes to the printing engine from the power supply device; A control unit for controlling the printing engine and controlling the power supply control unit to maintain a power mode corresponding to the received power mode selection information; And power mode selection means adapted to output to the controller any one of the power mode selection information selected by the user among the print standby mode and the power saving mode. The method of claim 1, The power mode selection means And a power mode setting key for allowing a user to select one of the power mode, the print standby mode and the power saving mode, and outputting the selected power mode signal to the controller. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The power mode selection means And a computer configured to output the power mode selection information to the control unit via a communication interface. The method of claim 1, And the control unit controls the power supply control unit to enter the power saving mode after the print standby mode is selected and the print standby mode state is maintained for the first time set after the print standby mode is selected. The method of claim 1, And the control unit controls the power supply control unit to switch to the print standby mode when print data is received from the outside. The method of claim 1, And the controller controls the currently set power mode to be displayed on the display device. A printing engine for printing a toner image on paper, a power supply for generating power, a power supply controller for controlling the amount of power supplied from the power supply to the printing engine, and controlling the print engine and the power supply controller. A print standby mode for supplying power to the print engine to wait for the print engine in a state in which a print job is possible, and a power set to be lower than power supplied to the print engine in the print standby mode. In the power control method of the printer comprising a power mode selection means for outputting the power mode selection information selected by the user of the power saving mode supplied to the control unit, An initializing step of preheating the print engine to a state in which a print job is possible; (B) maintaining the print standby mode after the initialization step or after finishing the queued print job; (C) If the request for switching to the power saving mode is requested through the power mode selecting means or the print data is not received from the outside while the step Na is maintained, the print standby mode is maintained for the first time set, the power saving Switching to a mode; (D) While the power saving mode is maintained, when a request for switching to the print standby mode is requested through the power mode selection means or when print data is received from the outside, power corresponding to the print standby mode is input to the print engine. Power control method for a printing press comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein The power mode selection means The power control method of the printer, characterized in that the power mode setting key is provided to allow the user to select any one of the power standby mode, the print standby mode, and outputs the selected power mode signal to the control unit. . The method according to claim 7 or 8, The power mode selection means And a computer configured to output the power mode selection information to the control unit via a communication interface.