Abstract:
There is provided an image processing apparatus including: an image scanner that scans in an image of an original, the image scanner including an opening and closing member capable of moving between an open position and a closed position, a closing operation detection unit that detects closing operation of the opening and closing member, and a determination unit that determines a size and orientation of the original; an image forming unit that forms an image on recording paper based on scanned image data; a switching unit that independently switches between power supply or supply interruption for the image scanner and the image forming unit; and a notification unit that, after power supply has been resumed to the image scanner, executes notification to urge selection of either manual input of the size and the orientation of the original or opening and closing operation of the opening and closing member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-130065 filed on Jun. 7, 2010. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and to a computer readable storage medium stored with a power supply control program. 
     2. Related Art 
     There is a conventional technology in which power is independently supplied to functional units of an image processing apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     An image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an image scanner that executes image processing to scan in an image of an original when there has been an image scanning instruction, the image scanner including an original platen on which the original is placed, an opening and closing member capable of moving between two positions that are an open position for placing an original on the original platen, and a closed position in which the original is disposed between the original platen and the opening and closing member, a closing operation detection unit that detects closing operation of the opening and closing member from the open position to the closed position, and a determination unit that determines a size and orientation of the original placed on the original platen when closing operation has been detected by the closing operation detection unit; an image forming unit that forms an image on recording paper based on either image data scanned by the image scanner or image data received from outside of the image scanner; a switching unit that independently switches between power supply or supply interruption for a plural respective image processors at least including the image scanner and the image forming unit; a notification unit that, when there has been a power save release instruction with the image scanner in a power interrupted state, after power supply has been resumed the notification unit executes notification to urge selection of either manual input of the size and the orientation of the original or opening and closing operation of the opening and closing member; and an image scanning processing control unit that executes image scanning processing of the image scanner at time when the size and the orientation of the original have been confirmed based on operation according to notification of the notification unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an image processing apparatus according to a present exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic configuration diagram of a main controller and a power source device according to the present exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an image processing apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of functions for identifying the size and orientation of an original that has been placed on an original platen of an image scanning section according to the present exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing control for identifying the size and orientation of an original that has been placed on an original platen of an image scanning section according to the present exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing control for identifying the size and orientation of an original that has been placed on an original platen of an image scanning section according to the present exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An image processing apparatus  10  according to a present exemplary embodiment is shown in  FIG. 1 . The image processing apparatus  10  includes an image forming section  240  that forms an image on recording paper, an image scanning section  238  that scans an original image, and a facsimile communication control circuit  236 . The image processing apparatus  10  includes a main controller  200  that controls the image forming section  240 , the image scanning section  238  and the facsimile communication control circuit  236 , temporarily stores image data of an original image scanned by the image scanning section  238 , and transmits scanned image data to the image forming section  240  or the facsimile communication control circuit  236 . 
     A communication line network  20 , such as, for example, the Internet, is connected to the main controller  200 , and a telecommunication line network  22  is connected to the facsimile communication control circuit  236 . The main controller  200  is, for example, connected through the communication line network  20  to a host computer. The main controller  200  receives image data and executes facsimile reception and facsimile transmission through the facsimile communication control circuit  236  using the telecommunication line network  22 . 
     The image forming section  240  includes a photoreceptor and is provided around the periphery of the photoreceptor with a charging device for uniformly charging the photoreceptor, a scanning light exposing section that scans a light beam based on image data, an image developing section that develops an electrostatic latent image formed by scanning exposure with the scanning light exposing section, a transfer section that transfers a developed image on the photoreceptor onto the recording paper, and a cleaning section that cleans the surface of the photoreceptor after transfer. The image forming section  240  also includes a fixing section disposed on the conveying path of the recording paper for fixing images onto the recording paper after transfer. 
     The image scanning section  238  includes an original platen for positioning the original, a scanning driving system that scans and illuminates light onto the image of the original placed on the original platen, and a photoelectric converter element, such as, for example, a CDD or the like, that receives light reflected and transmitted by scanning with the scanning driving system and converts the received light into an electrical signal. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic configuration diagram mainly focused on the devices controlled by the main controller  200  and the power source lines of a power source device  202  for supplying power to the main controller  200  and each of the devices. 
     Main Controller  200   
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the main controller  200  includes a CPU  204 , RAM  206 , ROM  208 , an input-output (I/O) section  210 , and a bus  212 , such as a data bus, control bus or the like, connecting together these components. A UI touch panel  216  is connected to the I/O section  210  through a UI control circuit  214 . A Hard Disk Drive (HDD)  218  and power save button  219  are connected to the I/O section  210 . The functionality of the main controller  200  is executed by operation of the CPU  204  according to program(s) stored on, for example, the ROM  208 , the HDD  218  or the like. Note that configuration may be made in which such a program(s) is/are stored on a storage medium (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or the like) then installed therefrom, with the image processing function executed by operation of the CPU  204  according to the installed program. 
     The power save button  219  is a so-called hard switch (physically operated switch), such that power save and power save release are alternately instructed to the apparatus for each press operation. Further explanation relating to power save is given below. 
     The main controller  200  of the present exemplary embodiment instructs the devices it is connected to with three types of mode, these being standby mode, a power save mode and a sleep mode. The standby mode is a power supplied state, and sleep mode is a power interrupted state. The power save mode is a mode instructing to power some of the devices that require power in order to truncate the duration from reception of a job to execution start. 
     The main controller  200  instructs one or other of the three types of mode, however sometimes transition is made to the sleep mode or the standby mode in response to a power save mode instruction for devices without a power save mode. 
     A timer circuit  220  and a communication circuit I/F  222  are connected to the I/O section  210 . A device selection I/F  234  is also connected to the I/O section  210 . 
     The device selection I/F  234  is connected to each of devices of the facsimile communication control circuit (modem)  236 , the image scanning section  238  and the image forming section  240 . The UI touch panel  216  is sometimes recognized as a device. 
     Note that the timer circuit  220  performs timing of the initial setting duration, as the trigger for setting the power save state (power non-supply state) of the facsimile communication control circuit  236 , the image scanning section  238 , the image forming section  240 , and the UI touch panel  216 . 
     The main controller  200  and each device (the facsimile communication control circuit  236 , the image scanning section  238 , and the image forming section  240 ) are supplied with power from the power source device  202  (see the broken lines in  FIG. 2 ). Note that while power lines of a single strand are shown by broken lines in  FIG. 2 , in reality they are actually configured with 2 or 2 strands of wiring. While not shown in the figures, the UI touch panel  216  receives power from a power supply separate to that of the main controller  200 , so as to receive control for power supply and interruption from a power supply control circuit  252 . 
     Power Source Device  202   
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , an input power source line  244  that leads out from a commercial power source  242  is connected to a main switch  246 . Power supply to a first power source section  248  and a second power source section  250  is enabled by the main switch  246  being in the ON state. 
     The first power source section  248  includes a control power source  248 A and is connected to a power supply control circuit  252  of the main controller  200 . The power supply control circuit  252  supplies power to the main controller  200 , performs switching control for transmitting/interrupting transmission along power supply lines to each of the devices (the facsimile communication control circuit  236 , the image scanning section  238 , the image forming section  240  and the UI touch panel  216 ) according to a control program of the main controller  200 . 
     A first sub-power source switch  256  is inserted in a power source line  254  connecting to the second power source section  250  (sometimes referred to below as “SW- 1 ”). The SW- 1  is ON-OFF controlled by the power supply control circuit  252 . 
     The second power source section  250  includes a high voltage power source (mainly employed as a heater power source used in the fixing section of the image forming section  240 )  250 H, and a low voltage power source (LVPS)  250 L. The high voltage power source  250 H is a power source mainly employed for the charging section, the developing section, the transfer section and the like of the image forming section  240 . 
     The high voltage power source  250 H and the low voltage power source (LVPS)  250 L of the second power source section  250  are selectively connected to an image scanning function power supply  258 , an image forming function power supply  260 , an image transfer function power supply  262 , a facsimile reception function power supply  264 , and a facsimile transmission function power supply  266 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, in addition to the above functionally separate power supply system, a dedicated image forming section power supply  267  is also connected to the high voltage power source  250 H and the low voltage power source (LVPS)  250 L of the second power source section  250 . 
     In the image forming section  240 , in temperature management of the fixing section, there are occasions in which a temperature is maintained that is lower than the temperature during the standby mode enabled for immediate image forming processing execution, this being a temperature capable of comparatively rapid raising of temperature to the temperature at which image forming processing is enabled (in the power save mode). 
     Accordingly, the image forming section  240  during power saving the power supply thereto is interrupted, as a sleep mode, to suppress power consumption. In the image forming section  240 , the power save mode state is temporarily held during a period before entering the sleep mode, and the dedicated image forming section power supply  267  is provided for subsequently transitioning to the sleep mode. 
     The image scanning function power supply  258  is connected to the image scanning section  238  via a second sub-power source switch  268  (sometimes referred to below as “SW- 2 ”) for inputting as a power source the low voltage power source (LVPS)  250 L. 
     The image forming function power supply  260  is connected, as input power source of the high voltage power source  250 H and the low voltage power source (LVPS)  250 L, to the image forming section  240  via a third sub-power source switch  270  (sometimes referred to below as “SW- 3 ”). 
     The image transfer function power supply  262  is connected, as input power source of the high voltage power source  250 H and the low voltage power source (LVPS)  250 L, to the image scanning section  238  and the image forming section  240  via a fourth sub-power source switch  272  (sometimes referred to below as “SW- 4 ”). 
     The facsimile reception function power supply  264  is connected, as input power source of the high voltage power source  250 H and the low voltage power source (LVPS)  250 L, to the facsimile communication control circuit  236  and the image forming section  240  via a fifth sub-power source switch  274  (sometimes referred to below as “SW- 5 ”). 
     The facsimile transmission function power supply  266  is (except for in output of communication reports and the like) connected, as input power source of the low voltage power source (LVPS)  250 L, to the facsimile communication control circuit  236  and the image scanning section  238  via a sixth sub-power source switch  276  (sometimes referred to below as “SW- 6 ”). 
     The dedicated image forming section power supply  267  is connected, as input power source of the high voltage power source  250 H and the low voltage power source (LVPS)  250 L, to the image forming section  240  via a seventh sub-power source switch  277  (sometimes referred to below as “SW- 7 ”). 
     The second sub-power source switch  268 , the third sub-power source switch  270 , the fourth sub-power source switch  272 , the fifth sub-power source switch  274 , the sixth sub-power source switch  276 , and the seventh sub-power source switch  277  are, in a similar manner to the first sub-power source switch  256 , respectively ON-OFF controlled based on power supply selection signals from the power supply control circuit  252  of the main controller  200 . 
     In the above configuration, due to functionally separate supply of the selected power supply to each of the devices (the facsimile communication control circuit  236 , the image scanning section  238 , and the image forming section  240 ), only the minimum amount of power is used since power is not supplied to devices of functions not instructed. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the main controller  2000 N-OFF controls the SW- 1  to SW- 7  switches using the power supply control circuit  252 , selects the devices according to each of the processing functions, supplies power at only the minimum number of devices (standby mode). As well as this, in the present exemplary embodiment there is also capability for interrupting power supply to devices not required (sleep mode), so-called “partial power save”). 
     For example, the image forming section  240  is not utilized in the image scanning function and the facsimile transmission function (except for in the output of communication report and the like). Accordingly, from the perspective of “partial power save”, the image forming section  240  is a device to which power supply could be interrupted. However, the image forming section  240  includes the fixing section requiring temperature control of a heating medium (such as, for example a halogen lamp, heater or the like), and the ability to control the temperature would be completely lost were power supply to be interrupted. Therefore, configuration is made such that the temperature of the heating medium of the fixing section in the image forming section  240  is maintained in a “low power” state (power save mode), a lower temperature to that during standby mode. 
     Configuration is made such that when each of the devices has entered the power save state and a processing function is instructed by operation of the power save button  219 , operation of the UI touch panel or hard key, or when a remote job is received (including printing and facsimile), the devices required for that particular processing function are selected and reactivated from the partial power save state. In other words, devices that are not required for execution of that particular processing function are maintained in the power save state. 
     However, in the image scanning section  238 , there are two types of mounting modes for when an original is scanned. Namely, as shown in  FIG. 3 , there is: a scanning mode in which an opening and closing member  24  attached to the top face of the image scanning section  238  is opened, originals are placed one sheet at a time on a transparent plate shaped (for example glass plate) original platen  26  and the opening and closing member  24  is closed (referred to below as “platen scanning”); and a scanning mode in which plural sheets of original are placed in a bundled state on a reception tray  28 A of an automatic feeding mechanism  28  provided to the opening and closing member  24 , and the originals are fed out automatically one sheet at a time (referred to below as “DADF scanning”). 
     For DADF scanning, there is an original detection sensor (not shown in the figures) provided at the position where the bundle of originals are placed. The image scanning section  238  that is in power save mode is restored (to the power supplied state) on detecting originals using the original detection sensor. In addition, in order to feed the originals, the size and orientation of the originals is determined during the feeding operation. Consequently, with regard to the DADF scanning, configuration is made such that the image scanning section  238  in power save mode is capable of being reactivated from the power save mode simply by placing the originals, without any particular prior operation to instruct a processing function. 
     For platen scanning, configuration is made such that when the image scanning section  238  is in the normal state (power supplied state), closing operation of the opening and closing member  24  is detected, and the size and orientation of the original is identified. 
     Namely, as shown in  FIG. 3 , an opening and closing operation sensor  30  is provided to the image scanning section  238  to detect opening and closing operations of the opening and closing member  24 . A scanning mechanism  33  is provided in the space below the original platen  26 . A light source section  34  and an optical system, not shown in the figures, are incorporated in the scanning mechanism  33 . A CCD line sensor  32  is provided in a lower portion of the space below the original platen  26 . 
     In image scanning operation, by the scanning mechanism  33  moving in the broken line arrow direction of  FIG. 3 , the surface of an original placed on the original platen  26  is scanned, and light that has been guided by scanning (original reflected light) is detected by the CCD line sensor  32 . 
     Configuration is also made such that when the opening and closing member  24  is opened, and closing operation of the opening and closing member  24  is detected after the original has been placed on the original platen  26 , the size and orientation of the original is detected using the image scanning mechanism. 
     Namely, when closing operation of the opening and closing member  24  is detected, the light source section  34  is illuminated, and light is detected with the CCD line sensor  32 . Due to the light source section  34  being illuminated in a state in which the opening and closing member  24  is not completely closed, there is a great difference between the detected densities in the regions where the original is present and the regions where the original is not present, and the size and orientation of the original is detectable by the detection state of the CCD line sensor  32 . 
     Note that configuration may be made such that plural original edge detection sensors are disposed at appropriate positions around the peripheral edge of the original platen  26  in order to detect the size and orientation of the original. 
     The opening and closing operation sensor  30 , the CCD line sensor  32 , the light source section  34  and the like obviously do not function when the image scanning section  238  is in the power save mode. 
     Accordingly, there is no reaction even when an original is placed on the original platen  26  and the opening and closing member  24  is closed. In order to address this, in the present exemplary embodiment, after an original has been placed and the opening and closing member  24  closed, when operation is undertaken to reactivate from power save (by operation of the power save button  219 , or selection of a processing function including the image scanning function), configuration is made such that after reactivation processing, a screen is displayed on the UI touch panel  216  for indicating the size and orientation of the original, and at the same time a message instructing opening and closing operation of the opening and closing member  24  is displayed (such as, for example, “first open then slowly close the lid of the original platen”). 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram in which control for identifying the size and orientation of the original when reactivating from the power save mode is functionally shown. 
     A size identification control section  36  is provided in the image scanning section  238 , connected to the opening and closing operation sensor  30 , the CCD line sensor  32  and the light source section  34 . Note that while not shown in the figures, the CCD line sensor  32  and the light source section  34  are also connected to an image scanning control system. 
     An identification instruction section  38  of the main controller  200  is connected to the size identification control section  36 . When reactivation from power save is triggered, the identification instruction section  38  instructs the image scanning section  238  to identify the size and orientation of the original. In response to such instruction the size identification control section  36  performs size identification operation. 
     Size identification operation refers to detecting closing operation of the opening and closing member  24 , illuminating the light source section  34 , and detecting edge portions of the original using the CCD line sensor  32 . 
     A sensor signal reception section  40  is connected to a portion of the size identification control section  36  and receives a signal from the CCD line sensor  32 . 
     The sensor signal receiver  40  is connected to a size and orientation identifier  42 , and the size and orientation is identified in the size and orientation identifier  42  based on the signal of the CCD line sensor  32 . 
     The identification result of the size and orientation identifier  42  is transmitted to an identification possibility assessment section  44 . The identification possibility assessment section  44  is configured to assess whether or not the size and orientation of the original can be identified. 
     When determined in the identification possibility assessment section  44  that the size and orientation of the original can be identified, data of the size and orientation of this original is transmitted to the image scanning control system. 
     However, when the size and orientation of the original cannot be identified in the identification possibility assessment section  44 , identification not-possible data is transmitted to a display data compiling section  46 . 
     The display data compiling section  46  compiles screen data for indicating the size and orientation of the original and message data instructing opening and closing operation of the opening and closing member  24  (for example, “first open then slowly close the lid of the original platen”), for display via the UI control circuit  214  on a display screen of the UI touch panel  216 . 
     Explanation follows of operation of the present exemplary embodiment, with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a control routine during image scanning section power save. 
     In step  100 , determination is made as to whether or not there is an identification instruction accompanying triggering of reactivation from power save, when negative determination is made the routine is ended. 
     When affirmative determination is made at step  100 , processing proceeds to step  102  and identification operation processing is executed. This identification operation processing is operation to illuminate the light source section  34  during the closing operation of the opening and closing member  24 , and to detect the edges of the original with the CCD line sensor  32 . 
     In the next step  104 , identification possibility assessment is performed. Namely, determination is made as to whether or not the size and orientation of the original can be identified by the identification operation processing at step  102 . When affirmative determination is made at step  104  (identification possible), processing proceeds to step  106 . 
     When negative determination is made at step  104  (identification not possible), processing proceeds to step  108 , size indication screen data is read out, then processing proceeds to step  110  and message data urging opening and closing operation of the opening and closing member  24  (such as, for example, “first open then slowly close the lid of the original platen”) is read out, and processing proceeds to step  112 . At step  112 , data read out at the above steps  108 ,  110  are combined, and processing proceeds to step  114 . 
     At step  114 , the above combined data is displayed on the UI touch panel  216 , then processing proceeds to step  116 . 
     At step  116 , determination is made as to whether or not there has been input operation by a user from the UI touch panel  216 , when affirmative determination is made, namely, when determined there has been an input operation according to the size indication screen, processing proceeds to step  106 . 
     When negative determination is made at step  116 , processing proceeds to step  118 , determination is made as to whether or not there has been opening operation of the opening and closing member  24 , when negative determination is made processing returns to step  116 , and steps  116  and  118  are repeated until affirmative determination is made at one or other thereof. 
     When affirmative determination is made at  118  (that there is opening operation of the opening and closing member  24 ), processing returns to step  102 , and the above processes are repeated. 
     Size and orientation data is acquired at step  106 , then processing proceeds to step  120  where the size and orientation data is transmitted to the image scanning control system of the image scanning section  238  and this routine is ended. 
     Modified Embodiment 
     In the present exemplary embodiment configuration is made such that an identification instruction is output to the size identification control section  36  of the image scanning section  238  when reactivation of the image scanning section is triggered. However, configuration may be made such that opening operation of the opening and closing member  24  is detected and reactivation operation performed. In such cases, when the original is placed on the original platen  26 , control is different for the duration up to when the opening and closing member  24  is closed, and the duration up to when the reactivation operation from power save of the image scanning section  238  is complete. 
       FIG. 6  is a control routine during image scanning section power save according to a modified example. Note that control steps here that are similar to those of the flow chart of  FIG. 5  are allocated the same reference numerals, with a suffix “A” appended thereto. 
     At step  122 , determination is made as to whether or not reactivation of the image scanning section  238  from power save has been triggered. Such triggering of reactivation from power save is, for example, operation of the power save button  219 , processing function instruction, DADF scanning or the like. When affirmative determination is made as step  122 , processing proceeds to step  124 , reactivation processing is executed according to reactivation triggering, and the routine is ended. 
     When negative determination is made at step  122 , processing proceeds to step  126 , determination is made as to whether or not opening operation of the opening and closing member  24  has been performed. When negative determination is made at step  126  this routine is ended. 
     When affirmative determination is made at step  126 , processing proceeds to step  102 A, and identification operation processing is executed. This identification operation processing is operation to illuminate the light source section  34  during the closing operation of the opening and closing member  24 , and to detect the edges of the original with the CCD line sensor  32 . 
     In the next step  104 A, identification possibility assessment is performed. Namely, determination is made as to whether or not the size and orientation of the original can be identified by identification operation processing at step  102 A. When affirmative determination is made at step  104 A (identification possible), processing proceeds to step  106 A. 
     When negative determination is made at step  104 A (identification not possible), processing proceeds to step  108 A, size indication screen data is read out, then processing proceeds to step  110 A and message data urging opening and closing operation of the opening and closing member  24  (such as, for example, “first open then slowly close the lid of the original platen”) is read out, and transition is made to step  112 A. At step  112 A, data read out at the above steps  108 A,  110 A are combined, and processing proceeds to step  114 A. 
     At step  114 A, the above combined data is displayed on the UI touch panel  216 , then processing proceeds to step  116 A. 
     At step  116 A, determination is made as to whether or not there has been input operation by a user from the UI touch panel  216 , when affirmative determination is made, namely, when determination is that there has been an input operation according to the size indication screen, processing proceeds to step  106 A. 
     When negative determination is made at step  116 A, processing proceeds to step  118 A, determination is made as to whether or not there has been opening operation of the opening and closing member  24 , when negative determination is made processing returns to step  116 A, and steps  116 A and  118 A are repeated until affirmative determination is made at one or other thereof. 
     When affirmative determination is made at  118 A (that there is opening operation of the opening and closing member  24 ), processing returns to step  102 , and the above processes are repeated. 
     At step  106 A, size and orientation data is acquired, then processing proceeds to step  120 A where the size and orientation data is transmitted to the image scanning control system of the image scanning section  238  and this routine is ended.