Image forming apparatus having energy saving mode learning function and controller therefor

Abstract

An energy saving setting unit controls an image forming apparatus that makes a transition to a power saving state if a transition time passes without any prescribed operation in a normal state, and it includes: a unit for storing specific day information distinguishing a normal operation day and a specific day; an auto pattern updating unit determining the transition time in a normal operation day based on past operational status of the normal operation day of the image forming apparatus; a specific day pattern registering unit receiving and storing setting of the transition time of the specific day; and a switching unit, switching the state of conduction of the image forming apparatus using the transition time determined by the auto pattern updating unit and the stored transition time, on the normal operation day and on the specific day, respectively, based on the specific day information.

1 . An image forming apparatus, capable of changing state of conduction, after a lapse of a preset transition time without any prescribed operation made in a normal state, from said normal state to a power saving state of smaller power consumption, comprising:
 a storage device configured to store specific time slot information for distinguishing a normal operation time slot and a specific time slot;   a determining device configured to determine said transition time in said normal operation time slot, based on operational status of said normal operation time slot in the past of the image forming apparatus;   a setting receiving device configured to receive and store setting of said transition time in said specific time slot; and   a switching device, configured to switch the state of conduction of said image forming apparatus, using said transition time determined by said determining device and said transition time stored in said setting receiving device, in said normal operation time slot and in said specific time slot, respectively, based on said specific time slot information stored in said storage device.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said setting receiving device includes   a default transition time generating device configured to generate and present to an operator a default value of said transition time of said specific time slot, by collecting, when setting of said transition time in said specific time slot is received, information of operational status of said image forming apparatus in each said specific time slot, and   a modification receiving device configured to receive modification by the operator to said default value, and to store said default value thus modified as the setting of said transition time in said specific time slot.   
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a holiday obtaining device configured to obtain setting of a holiday of a place of business where the image forming apparatus is installed; and   a changing device configured to change, if said specific time slot set by said setting receiving device falls on the holiday obtained by said holiday obtaining device, said specific time slot to a different time slot having a prescribed relation with said specific time slot.   
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising
 a data communication device; wherein   said holiday obtaining device includes a holiday setting receiving device configured to receive setting of a holiday of the place of business where said image forming apparatus is installed, from a prescribed external device through said communication device.   
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a data communication device; wherein   said holiday obtaining device includes a holiday setting receiving device configured to receive setting of a holiday of the place of business where said image forming apparatus is installed, from a prescribed external device through said communication device.   
     
     
         6 . A controller for controlling state of conduction of an image forming apparatus, capable of changing state of conduction, after a lapse of a preset transition time without any prescribed operation made in a normal state, from said normal state to a power saving state of smaller power consumption, said controller comprising:
 a storage device configured to store specific time slot information for distinguishing a normal operation time slot and a specific time slot;   a determining device configured to determine said transition time in said normal operation time slot, based on operational status of said normal operation time slot in the past of the image forming apparatus;   a setting receiving device configured to receive and store setting of said transition time in said specific time slot; and   a switching device, configured to switch the state of conduction of said image forming apparatus, using said transition time determined by said determining device and said transition time stored in said setting receiving device, in said normal operation time slot and in said specific time slot, respectively, based on said specific time slot information stored in said storage device.   
     
     
         7 . A method of controlling power saving state in an image forming apparatus, capable of changing state of conduction, after a lapse of a preset transition time without any prescribed operation made in a normal state, from said normal state to a power saving state of smaller power consumption, said method comprising the steps of:
 storing, in a first storage device, specific time slot information for distinguishing a normal operation time slot and a specific time slot;   determining said transition time in said normal operation time slot, based on operational status of said normal operation time slot in the past of the image forming apparatus;   receiving and storing in a second storage device setting of said transition time in said specific time slot; and   switching the state of conduction of said image forming apparatus, using said transition time determined at said determining step and said transition time stored in said second storage device, in said normal operation time slot and in said specific time slot, respectively, based on said specific time slot information stored in said first storage device.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a holiday obtaining device configured to obtain setting of a holiday of a place of business where the image forming apparatus is installed; and   a changing device configured to change, if said specific time slot set by said setting receiving device falls on the holiday obtained by said holiday obtaining device, said specific time slot to a different time slot having a prescribed relation with said specific time slot.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising
 a data communication device; wherein   said holiday obtaining device includes a holiday setting receiving device configured to receive setting of a holiday of the place of business where said image forming apparatus is installed, from a prescribed external device through said communication device.