Patent ID: 9182718
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: G03G,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus capable of toggling between image formation mode and energy conservation mode, the image formation mode allowing image formation on a recording medium, and the energy conservation mode having power consumption lower than that of the image formation mode, the image forming apparatus comprising: a constantly-energized portion that is energized both in the image formation mode and the energy conservation mode including a control unit, the control unit including a central processing unit; a non-constantly-energized portion that is energized only in the image formation mode; a plurality of cassettes holding the recording medium, all of the plurality of cassettes being held inside a casing of the image forming apparatus, the plurality of cassettes being configured to be withdrawn from an inserted position in which all of the plurality of cassettes are held inside the casing of the image forming apparatus to add the recording medium to the plurality of cassettes, the withdrawal of the plurality of cassettes from the inserted position being completed without detaching the plurality of cassettes from the casing; a power key for toggling between the energy conservation mode and the image formation mode by operation of the power key by a user; and a plurality of detection sensors electrically connected to the control unit, each detection sensor detecting withdrawal of a respective cassette from the inserted position and insertion of the respective cassette to the inserted position and that is arranged inside the casing so as to be pressed in by a portion of a front surface of the respective cassette when the respective cassette is inserted to the inserted position and so as to protrude when the respective cassette is withdrawn from the inserted position, the portion of the front surface of the respective cassette not protruding from the remainder of the front surface of the respective cassette, the front surface of the respective cassette defining a thickness of the respective cassette between a top surface of the respective cassette and a bottom surface of the respective cassette, each detection sensor sending a first signal to the control unit indicating withdrawal of the respective cassette from the inserted position when each detection sensor moves from a pressed in state to a protruded state, and each detection sensor sending a second signal to the control unit indicating insertion of the respective cassette to the inserted position when each detection sensor moves from a protruded state to a pressed in state, wherein the central processing unit causes the image forming apparatus to automatically toggle from the energy conservation mode to the image formation mode when an insertion of the plurality of cassettes to the inserted position is detected in the energy conservation mode by the constantly-energized portion, based on detection results of the plurality of detection sensors, after a withdrawal of the plurality of cassettes from the inserted position is detected in the energy conservation mode by the constantly-energized portion, based on detection results of the plurality of detection sensors, rather than when only a withdrawal of the plurality of cassettes from the inserted position is detected in the energy conservation mode by the constantly-energized portion, based on detection results of the plurality of detection sensors, the image forming apparatus being in the energy conservation mode during the entire time between the withdrawal of the plurality of cassettes from the inserted position and the insertion of the plurality of cassettes to the inserted position.