Abstract: In an image processing apparatus of the present invention, an image storage device stores a plurality of image data. A status holding unit holds a status table having respective status descriptors, corresponding to the plurality of image data stored in the image storage device, each status descriptor indicating a status of execution of a series of image processing steps of the image data related to the status descriptor, and being updated every time one of the image processing steps of the related image data is performed.

Abstract: A multi-function printer (MFP) has a main control circuit for setting the operation mode of the apparatus to either a normal operation mode or a power-saving operation mode. There are provided a main power supply circuit and an auxiliary power supply circuit for supplying power to the main control circuit in the normal operation mode and in the power-saving operation mode, respectively. The MFP also has a power detection circuit for detecting a state of power supply from the main power supply circuit to the main control circuit. If a power-save request is followed by a start-up request, when an amount of power detected by the power detection circuit is greater than a predetermined value, the main control circuit stops an operation relating to the power-save request and initiates an operation according to a start-up request.

Abstract: A power supply control device for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a shutoff detector for monitoring the state of a power switch. In response to the output signal of the shutoff detector representative of the turn-off of the power switch, a shutoff processing section executes processing for avoiding accidental error detection and protecting a memory before the output voltage of a DC power supply drops to a preselected level.

Abstract: A printer (image forming device) (10), which includes AC loads driven by an AC power, is connected to an external device (30) via a single power line for a logic operation and a signal line. More specifically, a printer driver (11) and an engine controller (13) operate on a 5V power supply voltage obtained via a USB cable (20). When a standby state is entered, a relay (17) is turned off, an AC power supply to a drive power supply (19) is disconnected, and a power supply to the AC loads is disconnected. When the standby state is released by a signal received from the PC (30), an ON signal is generated for the relay (17) to supply the AC power. In this way, the standby power is reduced to improve energy saving.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus is disclosed. The image-forming apparatus includes a fixing unit. The fixing unit includes: a heating part including a heating element; a power storage unit including a chargeable and dischargeable capacitor and supplying power to the heating part so that the heating element of the heating part generates heat; and a controller controlling the operation of the power storage unit. When the image-forming operation of the image-forming apparatus is suspended by an abnormality, the controller performs control such that the capacitor is charged in accordance with its remaining amount of stored energy.

Abstract: An image forming device according to the present invention has an architecture including a control unit producing power-on and power-off signals to control individual power supply to functional units activated by supplied power, the power-on signal being an instruction to apply electric power to the functional units while the power-off signal is an instruction to interrupt power supply to the functional units; and a power supply unit adapted to supply each functional unit with electric power upon receiving the power-on signal and interrupt power supply to each functional unit upon receiving the power-off signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a fixing unit in which electric power is supplied from the power supply unit to a heater thereof, and the formed image is fixed by heating the recording medium on which the image has been formed, a detecting unit which detects an electric power consumption of the forming unit and an electric power consumption of the fixing unit, and a control unit which controls the power supply unit so as to increase the electric power consumption of the fixing unit when the electric power consumption of the forming unit detected by the detecting unit is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, and the image forming apparatus increases the electric power consumption of the fixing unit in a case where there is surplus electric power of the entire apparatus.

Abstract: An embodiment of a digital recording apparatus real-time clock is disclosed. In particular, a real-time clock to mark when each recording is taken is described. The embodiment comprises a digital recording apparatus that contains a real-time clock powered by the main battery of the digital recording apparatus. The real-time clock resets when the digital recording apparatus's batteries are removed. When a recording is made, the digital recording apparatus marks the recording with the current value of the real-time clock, e.g., seconds since the batteries were changed. A computer then reads the media recorded by the digital recording apparatus and provides a date and time reference to which to relate the digital recording apparatus's real-time clock.

Abstract: A power source control chip which is a high voltage controlling portion is added to an ASIC for sequence control constituting a sequence control unit. A PWM signal is sent from the high voltage controlling portion to a high voltage producing portion constituting a high voltage unit, and an output detection signal is sent from the high voltage producing portion to the high voltage controlling portion, thereby effecting feedback control. At that time, a modulated wave PWM/detection signal amplitude-modulated with the PWM signal as a carrier wave and with the output detection signal as a modulating wave is produced and is transmitted onto a signal line, whereby the number of signal lines can be decreased.

Abstract: A device for cutting off a power supply of a printer. The device for cutting off the power supply of the printer, wherein the printer includes a developer unit and a printer cover covering an opening provided for replacing the developer unit, includes a first unit cutting off power supply on the developer unit, and a second unit cutting off power supply on the surface of the printer cover opposite to the developer unit to correspond to the first unit. Since the volume of the device for cutting off the power supply is reduced, the size of the printer can be reduced. Also, the number of failures generated when assembling the elements of the device and problems generated when operating the device can be greatly reduced.

Abstract: An image forming device according to the present invention has an architecture including a control unit producing power-on and power-off signals to control individual power supply to functional units activated by supplied power, the power-on signal being an instruction to apply electric power to the functional units while the power-off signal is an instruction to interrupt power supply to the functional units; and a power supply unit adapted to supply each functional unit with electric power upon receiving the power-on signal and interrupt power supply to each functional unit upon receiving the power-off signal.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an image forming device, a fixing device, a cooling device and a controller. The image forming device forms an image on a recording medium on the basis of an image signal generated by an image signal generating unit. The fixing device uses heat to fix the image formed on the recording medium, and the cooling device cools the inside of the apparatus. The controller selectively executes either a first economy mode in which the cooling device is activated and the fixing device is inactivated on the basis of a command from the image signal generating unit, or a second economy mode in which both the cooling device and the fixing device are inactivated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member, a movable recording material carrying member and a transfer means for transferring the image from the image bearing member onto the recording material being carried by application of a transfer output having a predetermined level, the predetermined level being changeable, and a control for controlling start timing of a change of the transfer output in accordance with the predetermined level so that the transfer output reaches the predetermined level before the leading edge of the image formation area reaches the transfer position. The control is capable of controlling the start timing of the change of the transfer output before the leading edge of the recording material until the leading edge of the image formation area reaches the transfer position.

Abstract: A printing machine comprises a charging device that forms a variable operating voltage. A charging device pre-fault status condition is determined by sampling the charging device operating voltage, forming a slope value based on a charging device operating voltage rate of change per unit time, and determining when the slope value falls in a charging device pre-fault status range of values. When the pre-fault status determination is made, a message is formed based on a current print count value. This message is then sent to a user or operator. When the print count value falls in a charging device replacement range of values, a replacement message is sent to inform that the charging device needs to be replaced. Otherwise, when the print count value does not fall in this range of values, a cleaning message is sent to inform that the charging device needs to be cleaned.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a main controller and an engine controller. When an error occurs in an image forming engine, the engine controller sends to the main controller status information representative of original conditions set up before the error and error information representative of the error and causes a second relay to interrupt the application of an AC voltage to a heater controller. The main controller stores the received status information in its memory and turns off a first relay to thereby interrupt the application of the AC voltage to a second power supply. After recovery from the error, the main controller again turns on the first relay and thereby causes the engine controller to restore the original conditions represented by the status information.

Abstract: A power supply circuit providing voltage for operation, a motor operating powered by the output from this power supply circuit and continuing rotation powered by inertia even after loss of the output and a non-volatile memory are equipped. If the output voltage of the power supply circuit decreases, the control is continued by utilizing the voltage generated in the motor due to its inertial rotation, the data that has been used for controlling is saved on the non-volatile memory, and then access to the non-volatile memory is prohibited.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a main controller and an engine controller. When an error occurs in an image forming engine, the engine controller sends to the main controller status information representative of original conditions set up before the error and error information representative of the error and causes a second relay to interrupt the application of an AC voltage to a heater controller. The main controller stores the received status information in its memory and turns off a first relay to thereby interrupt the application of the AC voltage to a second power supply. After recovery from the error, the main controller again turns on the first relay and thereby causes the engine controller to restore the original conditions represented by the status information.

Abstract: An image forming unit detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus has an image bearing body, a charging device for charging the image bearing body, a first unit having the image bearing body and the charging device, an intermediate transferring body, a transferring device for transferring a toner image on the image bearing body to the intermediate transferring body, and a second unit having the intermediate transferring body and the transferring device. One of the first unit and the second unit is supplied with electrical power through the other unit.

Abstract: A protection circuit for an electrophotographic image-forming apparatus is disclosed. The protection circuit monitors the operational state between the power supply and scavenger plate of the electrophotographic image-forming apparatus and issues an interrupt signal whenever a de-coupled state is sensed.

Abstract: An apparatus having a power supply section capable of outputting plural power supply voltages is provided with a sleep mode (energy-saving mode) for inhibiting at least one of the outputs from the power supply section in a wait state. Furthermore, an image forming apparatus such a printer is provided with a cut-off function for inhibiting at least one of the outputs from the power supply section supplied to a heater of a fixing device if an abnormality is detected, so that by relating the operation of this cut-off function and the operation of inhibiting at least one output at the power supply section to each other, these operations may be more easily controlled and also the number of components required can be reached.

Abstract: A power supply device and a voltage resonance method are provided, which are free from a reduced switching loss, as well as from the situation in which soft switching operations for generating an alternating magnetic field cannot be executed. A first charging device is connected in series with a first switching device, a second switching device is connected in series with the first charging device, and a magnetic field generating device is connected between a power supply line and a node between the first charging device and the second switching device. A second charging device is connected in parallel with the second switching device, a first rectifying device is connected in parallel with the first switching device, and a second rectifying device connected in parallel with the second switching device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, an intermediate transfer member, a charging member, a transfer mechanism, a discharging member, a direct current voltage source, and a direct current voltage controller. The intermediate transfer member is deposited at a position facing and in contact with the image carrying member rotatably carrying a toner image on a rotating surface, and receives the toner image therefrom during a first transfer operation. The charging member applies a charge to the intermediate transfer member to cause an electric field around a region where the image carrying member and the intermediate transfer member contact with each other, where the electric field generates a force for initiating the first transfer operation. The transfer mechanism performs a second transfer operation for transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer sheet.

Abstract: An electrical component including: a plurality of long fibers and a matrix, wherein at least one of the fibers is electrically conductive, wherein the plurality of long fibers includes a first fiber group extending in a manner generally parallel to a first axis, and a second fiber group extending in a manner generally parallel to a different second axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides image forming devices, image forming methods, and methods of supplying power to an image forming device. According to one aspect of the invention, an image forming device includes an input adapted to couple with an external power source; electrical circuitry configured to provide images; a first power supply coupled with the input and configured to supply electricity from the input to the electrical circuitry; and a second power supply coupled with the input and configured to supply electricity from the input to the electrical circuitry; wherein the electrical circuitry is configured to control the supply of electricity from the first power supply and the second power supply.

Abstract: A method of controlling a power supply to heat sources of a printer and an apparatus for controlling power supply to heat sources of a printer include: a heat generating portion having a plurality of heat sources; a power supply unit; a switching portion having a plurality of switches installed so as to connect or disconnect the power supply from the power supply unit to the individual heat sources; thermal sensors for sensing the temperatures of heat-supplied objects corresponding to the heat sources and generating corresponding temperature signals; and a power supply controller for adjusting the on times of the heat sources so that all periods of power supply to the heat sources do not overlap. Output signals from the thermal sensors for the respective heat sources are used to control the switching portion so that the temperatures of the heat-supplied objects are maintained within the respective preset temperature ranges.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a load control device which includes a load that executes a job, a relay that selectively connects the load with a power supply, and a central processing unit that outputs a plurality of control signals. Also included is an application specific integrated circuit that outputs a load driving signal to the load in response to a control signal sent from the central processing unit, an output condition observing device that observes an output condition of the application specific integrated circuit and a timer that counts pulses when the output condition is active and does not count pulses when the output condition is not active. In addition, the load stops driving when the timer has counted the prescribed number of pulses.

Abstract: A printer and a power controlling method therefor are disclosed. The disclosed printer has a print engine for printing a toner image on a sheet of paper; a power supply unit for supplying power; a power supply controller for supplying the print engine from the power supply unit with power corresponding to any one power mode selected from power modes of different power levels, including a ready-to-print mode in which the print engine is supplied with power so that the print engine can be ready for printing, a power saving mode in which the print engine is supplied with a level of power set below the level of power supplied to the print engine in the ready-to-print mode, and a power off mode in which power supply to the print engine is cut off; and a controller which controls the power mode setting of the print engine and the power supply controller so that an image corresponding to received print data can be printed on a sheet of paper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of preventing the return of a power supply switch from being forgotten and eliminating the troubles due to the forgetting of this return and having a sheet processing device attached to the main body thereof. The sheet processing device includes a driving source for actuating the sheet processing device, a power supply for supplying the power to the driving source and a switch for the switching of the power supply to ON/OFF, wherein the switch becomes switchable to ON condition on detaching the outer cover of the sheet processing device and is switched to OFF condition on attaching the outer cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus suppresses a thermal deterioration of toner. The image forming apparatus has a toner box containing toner for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum, and at least one electric circuit, for example, a drive circuit for a polygon motor or a toner sensor, disposed near the toner box. The image forming apparatus judges, based on predetermined conditions, whether supplying electric power to the electric circuit is necessary. If the judgment is affirmative, electric power is supplied to the at least one electric circuit. Alternatively, if the judgment is negative, electric power is not supplied to the at least one electric circuit. By so doing, it is possible to suppress the rise in temperature of the toner, which deteriorates the toner quality. Thus, the image forming apparatus obviates a negative influence that degrades the image quality.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an automatic power-off function for automatically shutting off a power source of the image forming apparatus when it is not operated for a predetermined time. A time until the automatic power-off function operates is made different in an ordinary standby mode and an interruption mode. The interruption mode is caused by an abnormality such as no paper. The time period in the interruption mode is made longer than the time period in the standby mode. The time period in the interruption mode is also made variable depending on the type of detected abnormality. The power-off time periods may be extended when an instruction is inputted via an operator. In addition, in an image forming apparatus having an original feeding device, a image forming mode is stored in memory and all the originals which have not been imaged will be ejected before the power is shut off in the interrupt mode.

Abstract: A power supply controller for use in an image formation apparatus includes a first control circuit for controlling the image formation apparatus to form an image, a second control circuit for controlling electric power supplied to the image formation apparatus, a first power supply for supplying electric power to the first control circuit, a second power supply for supplying electric power to the second control circuit, and a third power supply for supplying electric power to a load in the image formation apparatus. The apparatus further includes a dew protection switch operable in an on-state and an off-state. The on-state sets an operation mode of the image formation apparatus to prevent dew condensation inside the image formation apparatus. Finally, the apparatus includes a low power consumption mode setting device for setting a low power consumption mode of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an image forming device, a fixing device, a cooling device and a controller. The image forming device forms an image on a recording medium on the basis of an image signal generated by an image signal generating unit. The fixing device uses heat to fix the image formed on the recording medium, and the cooling device cools the inside of the apparatus. The controller selectively executes either a first economy mode in which the cooling device is activated and the fixing device is inactivated on the basis of a command from the image signal generating unit, or a second economy mode in which both the cooling device and the fixing device are inactivated.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus in which, when the apparatus has not been not used for a prescribed period of time, control is performed so as to halt feed of current not only to a display unit and fixing heater but also to other components not required to operate when the apparatus is not in use, and in which on/off control of the power supply also can be performed through a more compact and less expensive arrangement. When a manually operated switch is being pressed by an operator, a transistor is turned on via the contacts of the switch so that power from a smoothing unit is applied to a regulator. The regulator supplies operating power to a microcomputer, which subsequently controls the status of the apparatus power supply depending upon the on/off state of an output port of the microcomputer. Supply of driving power to other components of the apparatus is achieved by opening and closing contacts through control of a relay in response to an output from another output port of the microcomputer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus in which, when the apparatus has not been not used for a prescribed period of time, control is performed so as to halt feed of current not only to a display unit and fixing heater but also to other components not required to operate when the apparatus is not in use, and in which on/off control of the power supply also can be performed through a more compact and less expensive arrangement. When a manually operated switch is being pressed by an operator, a transistor is turned on via the contacts of the switch so that power from a smoothing unit is applied to a regulator. The regulator supplies operating power to a microcomputer, which subsequently controls the status of the apparatus power supply depending upon the on/off state of an output port of the microcomputer. Supply of driving power to other components of the apparatus is achieved by opening and closing contacts through control of a relay in response to an output from another output port of the microcomputer.

Abstract: A contact type image transferring system and method incorporated in an image forming apparatus for cleaning residual toner on a transfer roller. The transfer roller is in contact with a photoconductive drum and forms a nip between the roller and the drum. A sheet of paper passes through the nip and a toner image on the drum is transferred to the sheet of paper at the nip. When the sheet of paper is not at the nip, a first transfer voltage is applied to the transfer roller for 3 to 20 seconds after a paper feed jam is corrected. The polarity of the voltage causes the toner on the transfer roller to be removed. Then a second transfer voltage is applied to the transfer roller which has a polarity which is opposite to the polarity of the first transfer voltage. The voltage difference between the transfer roller and photoconductive drum may be formed by applying bias voltages to both the photoconductive drum and the transfer roller.