Switch and image forming apparatus

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multifunctional and energy saving typed image forming apparatus which even a physically handicapped person having a visual disorder can operate easily, and a special switch used in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus.

Due to the multifunctional operation of the image forming apparatus, concerning a power switch, used are two kinds of such switches, one is used on the assumption that it will not be used for normal condition, while the other is used on the assumption that it will be used frequently. An example of the former is a main power switch, and an example of the latter is an operational power supply switch.

When the main power switch is ON, and the operational power switch is OFF, the image forming apparatus is under energy saving condition, and therefore the energy consumption is lower, though the image forming apparatus remains multifunctional.

When the main power switch is ON, and the operational power switch is also ON, and when the image forming apparatus has not been operated for a predetermined time, the apparatus turns itself OFF automatically, by which energy saving can be performed, which is preferable from the point of view of global environmental conservation.

FIG. 5

is a perspective view of a conventional image forming apparatus. Image forming apparatus

51

is composed of document feeding device

52

which feeds the documents to a unillustrated glass platen, operational section

53

, by which a user designates operations to image forming apparatus

51

, image forming section

54

which forms images on a transfer sheet, and sheet trays

55

which convey paper sheets, one by one, to image forming section

54

.

Operational power supply switch

56

is a push-type switch, provided on operational section

53

. The push-type switch is structured so that the power supply is turned on and off by each push, and the button of a push-type switch returns to the original position, accordingly it is impossible to show the condition of ON or OFF by the appearance of the switch.

Main power switch

57

is a seesaw switch. The seesaw switch is structured so that a push to one side is the ON position, and a push to the other side is the OFF position, accordingly a push on the seesaw switch shows whether it is ON or OFF.

FIG. 6

is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus. Condition control section

61

is composed of an unillustrated CPU, a control program of image processing means

62

, and a memory device to memorize the control program, and page memory

63

which temporally stores readout images. Control section

53

and document feeding device

52

, both of which are also shown in

FIG. 5

, FAX control section

64

, printer control section

65

, network interface

66

, and image output section

67

, are connected to condition control section

61

, and all of them function based on instructions from condition control section

61

.

FAX control section

64

is a device which sends or receives images through a telephone circuit, and printer control section

65

controls image forming section

54

as well as sheet tray

55

, also shown in

FIG. 5

, and forms the images stored in page memory

63

on the transfer sheet. Condition control section

61

is connected to network interface

66

, which is used for forming the images on the transfer sheet by the printing instruction from a computer on a LAN, and is used for sending the image data in page memory

63

to the computer on the LAN.

Image forming apparatus

51

uses a switch for activating or deactivating the primary side voltage, and a switch for activating or deactivating a secondary side voltage. Total control of the power supply of image forming apparatus

51

is realized by activating or deactivating the primary side voltage, while the control of the power supply of the sections, except condition control section

61

, FAX control section

64

and network interface

66

is performed by activating or deactivating the secondary side voltage. Main power supply switch

57

is used for turning on and off the primary side voltage, while operational power supply switch

56

is used for turning on or off the secondary side voltage.

ON/OFF operation of operational power supply switch

56

can be directly controlled by condition control section

61

. When a FAX or instruction for printing from a computer arrives, while operational power supply switch

56

is off, condition control section

61

can automatically turn on operational power supply switch

56

, to printout the received images onto a transfer sheet. Further, when the printing is completed, power is automatically turned off.

If main power switch

57

is turned off, it is impossible to receive a FAX or instruction for printing from the computer, and accordingly, main power switch

57

normally remains in the ON position, and it is not turned off except in special cases, such as when image forming apparatus

51

is transported.

If a switch is used which does not show the on-off condition, such as commonly used operational power supply switch

56

, it is almost impossible to recognize the operating condition of image forming apparatus

51

for a physically handicapped person having a visual disorder. A switch that can show the condition of ON/OFF, such as a seesaw switch used in main power supply switch

57

should be used from the point of view of universal design.

When a switch, such as a conventional seesaw switch that shows the ON/OFF condition is used, it is still impossible to control the ON/OFF switch condition by condition control section

61

. For its countermeasure, the image data received by FAX control section

64

and network interface

66

is memorized in page memory

63

, whereby, when the amount of the data is very large, there is a risk that the memorized data will overflow.

Further, by such a seesaw switch, it is impossible to perform remote control of the power supply of image forming apparatus

51

which is connected to a network environment, and a person must take the trouble to go to image forming apparatus

51

to turn on the power supply, which is rather inconvenient.

Still further, a conventional power supply switch having an electromagnetic reset function, can work only for cutting off the circuit, which cannot be used for the operational power supply switch.

In order to avoid this problem, considered is a method that only ON/OFF switching of control section

53

is performed by operational power supply switch

56

, and that the apparatus is activated while operating section

53

is off, whichever the condition of operational power supply switch

56

may be. However this is still not a preferable operating method, because the countermeasure of an abnormal event such as a paper jam can become quite complicated.

Among conventional switches, a switch exists having one directional electromagnet and a permanent magnet, by which the circuit is turned off not only by an electric signal but also by a manual push. However such a switch can be turned from on to off, but cannot be turned from off to on. Accordingly, when information such as a FAX message enters during the energy saving mode (that is, the operational switch is off), it is necessary to save the information in a memory means, or to allow the image forming apparatus to function, though the operational switch is off. In the former case, an enormous volume of memory is necessary, and in the latter case, it is not logical that the machine works though the switch is off.

According to the present invention, the switch can be turned on to off, and off to on, by electrical signals or manual operation. Therefore, for changing to energy saving mode, the operational switch is turned off by manual operation or electrical signals, and when communication information enters from the outside, the operational switch is turned on by the electrical signals to receive the communication information, and when receiving is completed, the operational switch is turned off by electrical signals to be in the energy saving mode. That is, a multifunctional operation is established for the image forming apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a switch that can be activated or disactivated at the condition control section, though it is a switch whose operational condition can be identified and to provide the image forming apparatus employing the switch.

In order to attain the above-mentioned object, a switch of the present invention is featured as one employing:

a contact to make and break an electrical circuit, and

an electromagnet, both of which are installed in a case, and

a handle to make and break the contact by operation from outside of the case,

wherein a permanent magnet is installed with one of its poles facing the electromagnet inside of the handle, and wherein

the direction of the current passing through the electromagnet is changed so that the permanent magnets are attracted to or released from the electromagnet, and thereby the contact is opened or closed.

It is also possible to constitute the switch to be the seesaw type switch, and further, to attach permanent magnets with the same pole facing the electromagnet at both ends of the handle.

In order to attain the above-mentioned objective, an image forming apparatus of the present invention is featured as one employing:

an image forming section for forming images on a transfer sheet,

an operational section by which the user activates the image forming apparatus,

a condition control section for controlling the image forming section and the operational section,

a main power supply switch for directly turning on or off a primary side voltage of the image forming apparatus, and

an operational power supply switch that is able to detect the switch condition of a secondary side voltage being turned on or off by the condition control section,

wherein the operational power supply switch is the switch of the present invention.

Further, it is possible to feature an image forming apparatus in that, when the image forming apparatus is not operated for more than a predetermined time interval, though both the main power supply switch and the operational power supply switch are in the ON condition, electrical signals are given to the operational power supply switch so that the switching condition is turned OFF, after which the electric wattage of the image forming apparatus is shifted to a lower consumption condition,

still further, when the image forming apparatus receives operational instructions from the outside, electrical signals are given to the operational power supply switch so that the switch is turned ON, then the electrical wattage of the image forming apparatus is shifted to a higher consumption condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS.

1

(

a

) and

1

(

b

) are drawings showing the functional principles of a switch of the present invention.

FIG. 2

is a circuit diagram describing reversing of the electric current.

FIG. 3

is a circuit diagram showing a switch of the present invention.

FIG. 4

is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5

is a perspective view of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6

is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus.

FIGS.

7

(

a

),

7

(

b

), and

7

(

c

) are drawings showing a spring and a handle of the present invention.

FIG.

8

(

a

) shows the electrical and mechanical structure of switch

11

of the present invention, wherein contacts 11C and 11C2 are connected.

FIG.

8

(

b

) shows the electrical and mechanical structure of switch

11

of the present invention, wherein contacts 11C and 11C

2 are disconnected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments of this invention will be described referring to the drawings.

FIGS.

1

(

a

) and

1

(

b

) are drawings showing the functional principles of the switch of the present invention. Switch

11

is a seesaw switch. Concerning switch

11

, electromagnet

13

and unillustrated electrical contacts for turning ON an electric circuit are housed in resin case

12

, and handle

14

for making or breaking the electrical contacts is integrated on top of case

12

The left side of handle

14

is first push-section

14

a

, and the right side of handle

14

is push-section

14

b

, as shown in FIGS.

7

(

a

),

7

(

b

) and

7

(

c

). As shown in

FIGS. 3

,

8

(

a

) and

8

(

b

) electrical contacts 11C2 and 11C1 are provided for switching the electrical circuit on and off. The electrical contact 11C2 moves in an interlocking manner with the handle

14

, as seen in FIGS.

8

(

a

) and

8

(

b

).

Electromagnet

13

is one in which a copper wire is formed into a coil and an iron core is inserted into the coil. The iron core is U-shaped, with both ends facing upward. Handle

14

is formed of resin, housing permanent magnet

15

inside it. Permanent magnets

15

are attached on both ends of handle

14

, and N poles of both permanent magnets

15

face electromagnet

13

. It is also possible to structure S poles to face electromagnet

13

, because it is necessary that the same poles of permanent magnet

15

face electromagnet

13

. Further, it is necessary that permanent magnet

15

is installed on at least one end of handle

14

. Spring

100

, for supporting handle

14

is installed in switch

11

. The spring helps ON/OFF movement of handle

14

, and there are cases that the spring is not necessary, based on the magnetic power of electromagnet

13

.

When electric current “i” flows in the arrowed direction shown in FIG.

1

(

a

) in switch

11

, the left end of the iron core of electromagnet

13

is the S pole, while the right end is the N pole. Permanent magnet

15

attached on the left end of handle

14

, is attracted by the S pole of electromagnet

13

, while permanent magnet

15

on the right end is repelled by the N pole of electromagnet

13

. Accordingly, the handle

14

is slanted as shown in FIG.

1

(

a

), and the contacts 11C1 and 11C2 are connected (see FIG.

8

(

a

).

When electric current “i′” flows in the opposite direction shown in FIG.

1

(

b

), S pole and N pole of electromagnet

13

are reversed, and the handle

14

is slanted in the direction opposite that shown in FIG.

1

(

a

), and the contacts 11C1 and 11C2 are disconnected (see FIG.

8

(

b

). In the above-cited explanation, FIG.

1

(

a

) shows a closed contact, while FIG.

1

(

b

) shows an opened contact, however, it is possible to design a switch so that FIG.

1

(

a

) shows the opened contact, while FIG.

1

(

b

) shows the closed contact.

In order to change the direction and flow of the electric currents as shown in FIG.

1

(

a

) and FIG.

1

(

b

), a circuit shown in

FIG. 2

is used. The circuit shown in

FIG. 2

is composed of electric power supply

21

, and transistors T

1

, T

2

, T

3

, and T

4

which are connected to electric power supply

21

. The coil of electromagnet

13

, shown in

FIG. 1

, is connected between “A” and “B” shown in FIG.

2

.

FIG. 3

shows the coil representing electromagnet

13

and the contacts 11C1 and 11C2 of switch

11

. The contacts 11C1 and 11C2 of switch

11

are connected to a circuit for making and breaking the operation power supply of image forming apparatus

51

. There is no need to flow electrical currents “i” and “i′” for a long time, the time is set so that the electromagnet attracts and repels the permanent magnets, and the attracted and repelled condition is kept by spring

100

shown in FIGS.

7

(

a

),

7

(

b

), and

7

(

c

).

Among the transistors shown in the circuit diagram in

FIG. 2

, to turn on transistors T

1

and T

4

results in an electric current flow from A to B in the dotted-arrow direction. This corresponds to the condition shown in FIG.

1

(

a

). Further, to turn on transistors T

2

and T

3

results in the electric current flow from B to A in the solid-arrow direction. This corresponds to the condition shown in FIG.

1

(

b

). Switch

11

, shown in

FIG. 3

, has a contact, however it is not limited to this, and the principles of the present invention can be applied to a switch having two contacts.

FIG. 4

is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. Since a document feeding device, an operational section, an image forming section, a sheet storage tray and a main power supply switch, which are employed in image forming apparatus

41

of the present invention, are the same which are employed in the conventional image forming apparatus

51

respectively, they are given the same numerical symbols. Main power supply switch

57

is a switch for making or breaking the primary side voltage, and operational power supply switch

42

is a switch for making or breaking the secondary side voltage. Further, switch

11

shown in

FIG. 1

is used for operational power supply switch

42

.

The followings are preferable embodiments of the present invention.

Under the ON condition of the power supply switch and the OFF condition of the operational power supply switch, when a signal to operate the image forming apparatus is entered, the operational power supply switch is turned on by the electric signal to prepare an output of images as described above. However, when the operational power switch is turned off manually before the output of the images, it may be preferable that the image forming apparatus outputs the images after a predetermined time interval. In this case, it may be preferable that the predetermined time is changeable.

Further, when an amount of backup memory for memorizing facsimile data is insufficient, it may be preferable that a warning is displayed on an operational section, even when the operational power supply switch has been turned off manually.

Image forming apparatus

41

features an electric power saving mode. When both operational power supply switch

42

and main power supply switch

57

have been activated, and when image forming apparatus

41

has not been operated for a predetermined time interval, condition control section

61

activates transistors T

2

and T

3

shown in

FIG. 2

, to turn off operational power supply switch

42

. Due to this, the secondary voltage is turned off, and image forming apparatus

41

enters a stand-by mode in which the electric power consumption is lowered.

When image forming apparatus

41

is in the stand-by mode, and when image data are received through a FAX or a network interface, condition control section

61

activates transistors T

2

and T

3

in the circuit shown in

FIG. 2

to turn on operational power supply switch

42

, and thereby, image forming apparatus

41

enters a functional mode, in which the electric power consumption is higher, so that it can form the received images on the transfer sheet. When the printing is completed, condition control section

61

activates transistors T

1

and T

4

to turn off operational power supply switch

42

.

As explained above, though the control is performed by condition control section

61

, a slanting direction of handle

14

can be changed, and thereby, even physically handicapped person having visual disorders can recognize the condition of image forming apparatus

41

by touching the handle section of operational power supply switch

42

.

The switch of the present invention is not limited to the seesaw switch, the switch of the present invention allows application of a sliding type switch. However, from the point of view of the universal design, in order to satisfy the desired condition of recognition by touching, or operation by a single hand with light power, the seesaw switch is preferable.

As mentioned above, according to the switch of the present invention, a switch of the present invention is featured as one employing a contact to make and break an electrical circuit, and an electromagnet, both of which are installed in a case, and a handle to make and break the contact by operation from outside of the case, wherein a permanent magnet is installed with one of its poles facing the electromagnet inside of the handle, and wherein the direction of the current passing through the electromagnet is changed so that the permanent magnets are attracted to or repelled from control the handle, and thereby, the contact is opened or closed, and accordingly, the power supply can be automatically turned on or off, and thereby, even a physically handicapped person having a visual disorder can easily recognize the on/off condition of the power supply.

The above-mentioned switch is the seesaw type switch so that the operation can be performed with less power, which even physically handicapped person can easily operate.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an image forming apparatus of the present invention is featured as one employing an image forming section for forming images on a transfer sheets, an operational section by which the user establishes the image forming apparatus, a condition control section for controlling the image forming section and the operational section, a main power supply switch for directly turning on or off a primary side voltage of the image forming apparatus, and an operational power supply switch that is able to detect the switched condition of a secondary side voltage being turned on or off by the condition control section, wherein the operational power supply switch is the switch of the present invention, and thereby, even physically handicapped persons having a visual disorder can easily identify the on/off condition of the image forming apparatus.

Since the image forming apparatus is structured in such a manner that when the image forming apparatus has not been operated for more than a predetermined time, though both the main power supply switch and the operational power supply switch are in the ON condition, an electrical signal is given to the operational power supply switch so that the switching condition is turned off, then the electric wattage of the image forming apparatus is shifted to a lower consumption mode, still further, when the image forming apparatus receives an operating instruction from outside, the electrical signal is given to the operational power supply switch so that the switching condition is turned ON, then the electric wattage of the image forming apparatus is shifted to a higher consumption mode, even physically handicapped persons having a visual disorder can easily use the image forming apparatus, and at the same time, lower energy consumption is effected for the image forming apparatus.