Abstract:
An image forming apparatus is provided including a power supply that supplies an electric power equal to or less than a predetermined amount of the electric power, a first function that is a process before a printed paper is obtained and uses a first electric power, a second function that is a process performed after the printed paper is obtained and uses a second electric power, and a controller. When the first function and the second function are instructed to be processed in parallel, the controller compares a sum of the first electric power and the second electric power with the predetermined amount of the electric power. When the sum of the first electric power and the second electric power exceeds the predetermined amount of the electric power, the controller delays one of the first function and the second function.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, which records images on a recording paper, such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer and a multifunctional machine, which integrates functions of these apparatuses. 
     2. Description of Background Information 
     Conventionally, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer and a multifunctional machine, which is a copying machine to which a facsimile function and/or a printer function are/is added (hereinafter, referred to as “image forming apparatus” in general) are provided with a power supply having a predetermined electric capacity, and an electric power used by each function is determined so that various functions can be executed within the predetermined electric power capacity of the power supply. 
     However, in the conventional technology, there are problems as described below. Recently, the number of functions requested for the image forming apparatus mentioned above is increased. In addition, it is often required that plural functions are processed in parallel. 
     For example, in a copying machine, a sophisticated (multifunctional) copying machine is realized, in which an automatic document feeding function (hereinafter, referred to as “ADF operation”), which feeds an original from an original document holder, passes the original over a platen glass and conducts the original toward a dispatcher, a double-sided recording paper feeding function (hereinafter, referred to as “ADU operation”), which feeds a recording paper automatically turned over to perform double-sided recording, and a staple function, which automatically staples recorded papers in the apparatus. 
     In a facsimile machine, an ADF function, a broadcast function, a time programmed transmission/reception function and an Internet function are added in addition to a transmission/reception function. 
     In a printer, a high speed (acceleration) function, a USB function and a wireless driving function are added. 
     In a multifunctional machine, all of the above-described functions are integrated or selectively added. Further, a color recording function is added to all the above-described image forming apparatuses. 
     Thus, the progress of multifunctionality and sophistication of functions increase an electric power required for the image forming apparatus. Further, when simultaneous use of plural functions are requested, the electric power larger than the predetermined capacity of the electric power supply of the machine is required. Accordingly, to respond to the requirement, the capacity of the electric power supply of the machine is usually increased. 
     However, an electric power supplied by an electrical outlet provided at an office or a usual home has an upper limit. Therefore, there is a limit to increase an electric capacity of the power supply of the machine. When the electric capacity of the machine exceeds the limit, a separately provided special power supply is required to fulfill the requirement. In this case, a user must purchase a dedicated power supply in addition to the machine itself. As a result, it becomes a problem that the user is forced to have more than necessary economic burden and to prepare a space for installation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can realize a priority process and a parallel (concurrent) process of requested plural functions without increasing an electric source capacity of the apparatus, and without increasing user&#39;s economic burden, even when the requested functions are increased and plural functions are requested to be processed in parallel (concurrently). 
     Image forming equipment of the present invention comprises a power supply with preset upper limit of electric energy that supplies electric power to the equipment, the first function that operates on the first electric energy, and the second function that operates on the second electric energy wherein, at the request of parallel processing of the first function and the second function, either the first function or the second function is processed in priority when total of the electric energy required by the first function and the second function exceeds the upper limit capacity of the power supply and they are processed in parallel when the total energy does not exceed the upper limit capacity. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing entire configuration of an image forming apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIGS.  2 ( a ) and  2 ( b ) are diagrams showing waveforms of electric power used in functions/operations of the image forming apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a main body section of the image forming equipment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an electric power control section of the main body section of the image forming apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a status generating operation of a finisher section in the image forming apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a status generating operation of the main body section status in the image forming apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of control of the finisher section of the image forming apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of electric power control of the finisher section of the image forming apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a time chart for describing an operation of the image forming apparatus of the present invention; and 
     FIGS.  10 ( a ) and ( b ) are diagrams of waveform for illustrating effects of a priority process function of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments are described in detail using drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of image forming apparatus of the present invention. The image forming apparatus includes a main body section  10  that forms an image and a finisher section  30  that processes a recording medium, such as a recording paper, on which an image is formed. 
     The main body section  10  includes an operating panel  11  through which an operation of the apparatus is instructed/input, a scanner control section  12  that scans an original to be copied or transmitted, an ADF control section  13  that controls an ADF operation unit, which automatically feeds (conveys) originals, an ADU control section  14  that controls an ADU operation unit that conveys a (double-sided) recording paper for double-sided coping, an engine control section  15  that controls each part (component) of the main body section  10  according to an operation on the operating panel  11 , a power supply control section  16  that controls an operation mode of the power supply of the main body section  10 , a printer controller  17  that controls a printer section, a CPU  18  that controls entire the operation, and a finisher communication control section  19  that communicates information with the finisher  30 . 
     The main body section  10  further comprises a network controller  21  that controls connection between the main body section  10  and a network  25 , such as Intranet, Internet and a public service telephone network. These networks are used for transmitting image data read (scanned) by the scanner control section  12 , for storing image data transmitted (received) via the network  25  in a memory, which is not shown in the figure, and for printing the image data by the printer section. 
     The finisher section  30  includes a transfer control section  31  that conveys a recording medium, such as a recording paper, to a copy position and further to a dispatcher position, a staple control section  32  that controls stapling of recording media by a stapler, a binding control section  33  that controls folding and collating of the recording media when recording media are bound, a power supply control section  34  that controls an operation mode of the power supply of the finisher section  30 , a finisher CPU  35  that controls entire the finisher section  30 , and a communication control section  36  that controls communication with the main body section  10 . 
     The power supply control section  16  of the main body section  10  and the power supply control section  34  control (manage) electric power consumption thereof depending upon respective operations/functions and detect (determine) whether, as shown in FIGS.  2 ( a ) and  2 ( b ), the sum of the power consumption exceeds an operation limit electric power  40 , which is preset as a specification of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.  2 ( a ), it is designed that the total power consumption does not exceed the operation limit electric power  40 , when one of the power consumption  42  of the ADF operation, the power consumption  43  of the ADU operation, the power consumption  44  of paper dispatch at the finisher, the power consumption  45  of the staple operation and the power consumption  46  of folding operation is added to the power consumption  41  of the print operation. However, as shown in FIG.  2 ( b ), the total power consumption exceeds the operation limit electric power  40 , when more than two operations mentioned above are added, except for the case in which the ADF operation and the ADU operation are simultaneously added, or the ADU operation and the folding operation are simultaneously added. 
     Next, an operation of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is described. 
     First, an operation condition is input from the operation panel  11 . The CPU  18  gives the input condition to the scanner control section  12 , the ADF control section  13 , the ADU control section  14 , the engine control section  15 , the power supply control section  16 , the printer controller  17 , and the finisher communication control section  19 . 
     The engine control section  15  determines whether a print operation, such as copying, should be started or not at the step (hereinafter, referred to as “S”)  1  in the main body operation control flow shown in FIG.  3 . When the print operation is not to be started, the main body section  10  does not operate and goes to the waiting status. When the print operation is to be started, the ADF control section  13  decides whether an automatic (original) document feeding is used. In other words, it is determined whether an ADF operation is used in S 2 . When the ADF operation is used, the ADF control section  13  inquires an electric power consumption of the ADF operation in S 3 , and determines in S 4 , whether the electric power consumption is under the allowed electric power limit capacity of the apparatus, when the ADF operation is used to decide whether the ADF operation will be permitted. When the ADF operation is not used in S 2 , the control proceeds to S 5  described later. 
     In S 3 , the ADF control section  13  inquires the electric power consumption of the ADF operation in S 3  of the finisher  30  via the finisher communication control section  19 , and obtains status information of the finisher  30  from the finisher  30  in S 11  shown in FIG.  4 . 
     An operation for detecting statuses of the finisher  30  is shown in FIG.  5 . In the finisher  30 , the finisher CPU  35  determines in S 21  whether the transfer control section  31  is conveying a paper. When the paper is being conveyed, paper conveying information is output to the finisher CPU  35  in S 22 . When the paper is not conveyed in S 21 , it is determined in S 23  whether the staple control section  32  is stapling. When the stapling is performed, the stapling information is output to the finisher CPU  35  in S 24 . When stapling is not performed in S 23 , then it is determined in S 25  whether the binding control section  33  is folding papers. When folding is performed, folding operation information is output to the finisher CPU  35  in S 26 . When the folding operation is not performed in S 25 , finisher on-hold information is output to the finisher CPU  35  in S 27 . 
     In S 11  of FIG. 4, the finisher CPU  35  sends one of the paper conveying information S 22 , the stapling information S 24 , the folding operation information S 26  and the finisher on-hold information S 27  to the CPU  18  as information “A” shown in FIG. 4 via the communication control section  36  of the finisher section  30  and the finisher communication control section  19  of the main body section  10 . 
     The CPU  18  determines in S 12  whether the information “A” is the paper conveying information. When it is the paper conveying information, the CPU  18  sends, in S 13 , the information indicating that the electric power consumption will exceed the limit if the ADF operation is performed in S 3  of FIG.  3 . When the paper conveying operation is not being performed in S 12 , it is determined whether stapling operation is being performed. When the stapling operation is being performed, the CPU  18  sends, in S 15 , information indicating that the electric power will exceed the limit, to S 3  of FIG.  3 . When the stapling operation is not being performed in S 14 , it is determined whether the folding operation is being performed in S 16 . When the folding operation is being performed, the CPU  18  sends, in S 17 , electric power partial overload information indicating that the ADU operation is allowed but the ADF operation is not allowed, to S 3  of FIG.  3 . When the folding operation is not being performed in S 16 , the CPU  18  sends, in S 18 , information indicating that the electric power will not exceed the limit. 
     The operation returns to FIG.  3 . When any information described above is received in S 3  of FIG. 3, the CPU  18  determines, in S 4 , whether the ADF operation is allowed or not. If the ADF operation is not allowed, the CPU  18  notifies the prohibition to the power supply control section  16  and holds the ADF operation until any of other operations finishes and the ADF operation becomes allowed. When the ADF operation is allowed, the power supply control section  16  notifies the allowance of the ADF operation to the ADF control section  13  and the ADF operation starts. Originals are scanned according to the control of the scanner control section  12  and the scanned original data are stored in the memory that is not shown in the figure. 
     Next, it is determined whether the ADU operation is used in S 5 . When the ADU operation is used, inquiry of the electric energy is performed in S 6 . The electric power inquiry is performed according to the same procedure as described in FIG.  4 . After that, it is determined whether the ADU operation is allowed, in S 7 . When the ADU operation is prohibited, the CPU  18  notifies the prohibition to the power supply control section  16  and holds the ADU operation until any of other operations finishes and the ADU operation becomes allowed. When the ADU operation is allowed in S 7 , the power supply control section  16  notifies the allowability of the ADU operation to the ADU control section  14  and the ADU operation starts. 
     Next, in S 8 , the CPU  18  controls the engine control section  15  and the printer controller  17  to start a print operation. When the ADU operation is not used in S 5 , the control immediately proceeds to S 8 . 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating information generating operation in which operation status information of the main body  10  is sent from the finisher communication control section  19  to the communication control section  36  of the finisher section  30 . In S 31 , the main body section  10  determines whether the ADF operation is being performed. When the ADF operation is being performed, the ADF in-operation information is created. When the ADF is not being performed, the main body section  10  determines whether the ADU operation is being performed or not. When the ADU operation is being performed, the ADU in-operation information is created in S 34 . 
     When the ADU operation is not being performed, it is determined whether the print operation is being performed in S 35 . When the print operation is being performed, print in-operation information is created in S 36 . When the print operation is not being performed, main body on-hold information is created in S 37 . These kinds of information described above are provided to the CPU  35  of the finisher section  30  from the finisher communication control section  36  as information “B” as shown in FIG. 8, which is described later. 
     Next, an operation of the finisher section  30  is described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart describing the operation of the finisher section  30 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a saddle stitch operation including a staple operation and a folding operation is explained. 
     First, it is determined whether there are copied papers in S 41 . When there are copied papers, the control of the finisher section  30  goes to S 42 . When there are not copied papers, the finisher section  30  stands by (holds further processes). It is determined whether the collating of copied papers is necessary in S 42 . When collating is necessary, the control proceeds to S 43  and collating operation starts. When collating is not necessary, papers are output and the finisher ends operation. 
     In S 44 , it is determined whether collation of copied papers is completed. When completed, it is determined whether the saddle stitch is necessary in S 45 . When collation is not completed in S 44 , the finisher section  30  waits until the completion. When the saddle stitch is not necessary in S 45 , the finisher section  30  ends operation. 
     When the saddle stitch is necessary in S 45 , electric power necessary for stapling is inquired in S 46 . The procedure of inquiry is shown in FIG.  8 . First, the status information of the main body section  10  is acquired in S 61 . The status information of the main body section  10  is the information described in FIG.  6  and acquired as information “B”. Based on this information “B”, it is determined whether the ADF is operating at the main body section  10  in S 62 . When the ADF operation is being performed, electric power over-limit information, in other words, information to prohibit the staple operation and the folding operation is created. 
     When the ADF is not operating in S 62 , it is determined whether the main body section is operating the ADU operation. When the ADU operation is in operation, an electric power partial over-limit information, in other words, information prohibiting the staple operation but allowing the folding operation is created in S 65 . When the ADU is not being performed in S 64 , it is determined whether the main body section  10  is performing the print operation in S 66 . When the print operation is being performed, an electric power partial over-limit information, in other words, information prohibiting the staple operation but allowing the folding operation is created in S 67 . When the print operation is not in operation in S 66 , the finisher section  30  creates an electric power under-limit information indicating that there is enough electric power to be used, in other words, information allowing the staple operation and the folding operation. 
     Thus, depending on the operation status of the main body  10 , one of the information mentioned above is sent, as a reply for the inquiry in S 46 , to the CPU  35  and the power supply control section  34 . In S 47 , it is determined whether the staple operation is allowed based upon the received information. When the stapling is allowed, the staple operation is performed in S 48 . 
     Next, electric power necessary for the folding operation is inquired in S 49 . The procedure of the inquiry is the same as that described in FIG.  8 . The status information of the main body section  10  is notified to CPU  35  and the power supply control section  34  depending on the operation status of the main body section  10 . Based on the notified information, it is determined whether the folding operation is allowed in S 50 . When the folding operation is allowed, the folding operation is executed in S 51 . When the folding operation is not allowed, the folding operation is held (stopped) until any of operations of the main body section  10  ends and the folding operation is allowed. 
     FIG. 9 is a timing chart that shows timing of the operations mentioned above. As shown in (a), a main motor of the main body section  10  is switched ON at the time t 1 . Next, as shown in (b), when the ADF operation becomes ON at the time t 2 , the electric power usage increases. Accordingly, the staple operation and folding operation are prohibited, as shown in (d) and (e). During this time, since the ADU operation is allowed, the ADU operation is switched ON at the time t 3 . When the ADF operation becomes OFF at the time t 4 , the folding operation is allowed to start. At the time T 5 , the ADF operation becomes ON again and the ADF operation becomes OFF. Then the folding operation is prohibited again. When the ADF operation becomes OFF at the time t 7 , the staple operation and the folding operation are allowed. 
     During this, the collating operation starts at the time t 6  for preparation of the saddle stitch. When the collating operation ends at the time t 8 , it is time for stapling (i.e., the stapling operation is ready). However, when the ADF operation becomes ON at t 8 , the staple operation and the folding operation become prohibited. Accordingly, the staple operation does not start even though it is the stapling timing, i.e., the stapling operation is ready, as shown in (g). The staple operation starts when the ADF operation finishes at the time t 9 , and thus, the staple operation and the folding operation are allowed. In other words, start of the staple operation is postponed from t 8  to t 9 . 
     When ADF operation is to be ON at t 10 , since the staple operation is ON, start of the ADF operation is postponed til the end of the staple operation t 11 . At the time t 11 , when the staple operation ends, it is the timing of the folding operation (i.e., the folding operation is ready). However, because the ADF operation is ON, the folding operation is postponed until the end of the ADF operation t 12 . When the ADU operation of the next copy is to be ON at t 13 , since the folding operation in ON, the ADU operation is postponed until the end of the folding operation t 14 . 
     FIG. 10 shows an example of an operation for describing the capability of suppressing the operation electric power to a small value by the above-described postponing process. In other words, when the ADF operation and the staple operation or the ADF operation are processed in parallel, the electric power usage exceeds the operation limit electric power as shown in FIG.  10 ( a ). However, by postponing the execution of the staple operation and the ADU operation, the electric power usage can be suppressed under the operation limit electric power, as shown in FIG.  10 ( b ). 
     Thus, when more than two operations/functions (processes) are instructed to be performed in parallel and the total electric power usage exceeds the upper limit electric power of the power supply, since one of the processes is given priority in execution and the remaining processes are executed after the end of the priority process, it is not necessary to increase the electric power capacity or to install extra electric power supply. 
     As described in detail above, according to the present invention, when execution of plural operations/functions(processes) are instructed to the image forming apparatus, such as a copy machine, a facsimile machine, a printer and, an integrated (multifunctional) apparatus and the total electric power usage of the processes exceeds the upper limit electric energy of the power supply, one of the processes is given priority in execution and the remaining processes are executed after the end of the priority process. As a result, it is not necessary to increase the electric power capacity of the apparatus or to install an extra electric power supply. 
     Further, processes other than the processes in which the total operations/functions use an electric power larger than the upper limit electric power capacity of the power supply are executed in parallel, so that the electric power usage is within a preset electric power based on the electric power usage of each function (operation). Accordingly, it is possible to cope with increase of requested functions, without increasing the electric power capacity or without adding a special electric power supply. Furthermore, delay of the end of the functions (processes) can be made minimum, because plural functions/operations (processes) are executed in parallel. 
     It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. 
     The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in priority Japanese Application No. 2000-381894, filed on Dec. 15, 2000, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.