Energy saving image-forming apparatus and control method therefor

An energy saving image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a primary energy saving circuit portion that is turned off in response to said image forming apparatus failing to receive an input within a predetermined period of time;
• a secondary energy saving circuit portion that is turned off in response to a user's input of an energy saving signal and turned on in response to the user's input of a reactivation signal, said secondary energy saving circuit portion consuming less energy than said primary energy saving circuit portion;
• secondary energy saving key input means for enabling the user's input of said energy saving signal and said reactivation signal;
• and
• energy saving control means for turning off power applied to said secondary energy saving circuit portion in response to said energy saving signal and supplying power to said secondary energy saving circuit portion in response to said reactivation signal.

An energy saving image forming apparatus for performing an image printing operation, comprising:

• rectifying means for rectifying an alternating electrical current and converting the alternating electrical current into a direct electrical current;
• an energy saving circuit portion for performing said image printing operation, said energy saving circuit portion receiving said direct electrical current at first and second electrical potentials;
• energy saving key input means having a plurality of keys, for outputting an energy saving signal in response to a user's key input;
• latch means for outputting an energy saving control signal to synchronize the image-forming apparatus;
• first switching means connected between said rectifying means and said energy saving circuit portion, for enabling transmission of said direct electrical current at said first electrical potential from said rectifying means to said energy saving circuit portion;
• second switching means connected between said rectifying means and said energy saving circuit portion, for enabling transmission of said direct electrical current at said second electrical potential from said rectifying means to said energy saving circuit portion;
• and
• switching control means for controlling switching of said first and second switching means in response to said energy saving control signal from said latch means.

An energy saving image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a primary energy saving circuit portion turned electrically off in response to activation of a primary energy saving mode, said primary energy saving mode being activated when said image forming apparatus fails to receive within a predetermined period of time an input instruction requesting formation of images upon record media;
• a secondary energy saving circuit portion turned electrically off in response to activation of a secondary energy saving mode and turned on in response to de-activation of said secondary energy saving mode, said secondary energy saving mode being activated in response to reception of an energy saving signal and de-activated in response to an input of a reactivation signal by a user of said apparatus, said secondary energy saving circuit portion consuming less energy than said primary energy saving circuit portion during said formation;
• secondary energy saving key input means for enabling the user's input of said energy saving signal and said reactivation signal;
• and
• secondary energy saving control means for controlling activation of said secondary energy saving mode in response to said energy saving signal and said reactivation signal, said secondary energy saving control means comprising:
• first gating means for logically combining said energy saving signal with a first input signal;
• second gating means for logically combining said reactivation signal with said first input signal;
• third gating means for logically combining an output signal from said first gating means with a second input signal;
• fourth gating means for logically combining an output signal from said third gating means with a third input signal;
• and
• a flip-flop for outputting a secondary energy saving control signal to control activation of said secondary energy saving mode in response to output signals from said fourth gating means and said second gating means.

A method for controlling an energy saving image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• performing a primary warm-up operation by supplying operating power to a secondary energy saving circuit portion of said image forming apparatus;
• performing a secondary warm-up operation by supplying operating power to a primary energy saving circuit portion of said image forming apparatus, said secondary warm-up operation performed after said primary warm-up operation;
• establishing a print ready state when it is determined that said image forming apparatus is capable of performing a print operation;
• making a first determination as to whether a secondary energy saving key has been input;
• establishing a secondary energy saving mode when said first determination indicates that said secondary energy saving key has been input, said primary and secondary energy saving circuit portions being turned off during said secondary energy saving mode;
• determining whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed without a user input when said first determination indicates that said secondary energy saving key has not been input and when the imaging forming apparatus is not in an operating state;
• establishing a primary energy saving mode when said predetermined period of time has elapsed without the user input, said primary energy saving circuit being turned off during said primary energy saving mode;
• making a second determination as to whether said secondary energy saving key has been input after said primary energy saving mode has been established;
• establishing said secondary energy saving mode when said second determination indicates that said secondary energy saving key has been input;
• determining whether a wake-up operation for warming-up the image forming apparatus has been initiated when said second determination indicates that said secondary energy saving key has not been input;
• performing said secondary warm-up operation when said wake-up operation has been initiated;
• during said secondary energy saving mode, determining whether a reactivation key for warming-up the image forming apparatus has been input;
• and
• sequentially performing said primary warm-up operation and said secondary warm-up operation when said reactivation key has been input.

An energy saving image forming apparatus, comprising:

• primary circuit means consuming a first quantity of electrical energy during formation by the apparatus of images upon record media, for converting said electrical energy into thermal energy applied to the record media during said formation;
• secondary circuit means consuming a second quantity of said electrical energy while coupled to a first node and receiving said second quantity of said electrical energy at said first node during said formation while said first quantity of said electrical energy is supplied to said primary circuit means and during a primary energy saving mode while said first quantity of said electrical energy is not supplied to said primary circuit means, said secondary circuit means for responding to reception of input data defining said images by controlling operations performed by moving components of said apparatus conveying the record media through the apparatus during said formation of images upon the record media;
• tertiary circuit means consuming a third quantity of said electrical energy while coupled to a second node during said formation, during said primary energy saving mode and during a secondary energy saving mode, for controlling application of said second quantity of said electrical energy to said secondary circuit means by accommodating supply of said second quantity of said electrical energy to said secondary circuit means during said formation and during said primary energy saving mode, for controlling interruption of said application of said second quantity of said electrical energy to said secondary circuit means to establish said secondary energy saving mode, and for controlling restoration of said application of said second quantity of said electrical energy to said secondary circuit means in response to initiation of a reactivation mode;
• first switching means for providing distribution and interruption of said electrical energy to said secondary circuit means in response to control by said tertiary circuit means;
• and
• second switching means for providing distribution and interruption of said electrical energy via said first switching means to said secondary circuit means, and for providing distribution and interruption of said electrical energy to said tertiary circuit means independently of said first switching means.