IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,782,648
Granted Patent B2
US 10,782,648 · App. 16/428,629 · Granted Sep 22, 2020

Image forming apparatus and control method therefor

Inventor: Ryosuke Kasahara (Tsukubamirai, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G03G21/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,782,648
App. No.
16/428,629
Granted
Sep 22, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming device configured to form an image on a sheet; a fan configured to be driven to perform ventilation; and at least one controller configured to function as: a unit configured to store flag information indicating a state where a dew condensation countermeasure is required in a non-volatile memory; a unit configured to restrict image formation by the image forming device and execute dew condensation countermeasure processing to cause the fan to perform predetermined driving; and a unit configured to delete, from the non-volatile memory, the flag information upon completion of the dew condensation countermeasure processing, wherein the controller executes the dew condensation countermeasure processing upon activation of the image forming apparatus based on at least storage of the flag information in the non-volatile memory.

Claims (62)

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming device configured to form an image on a sheet;

a fan configured to be driven to perform ventilation; and

at least one controller configured to function as:

a unit configured to store flag information indicating a state where a dew condensation countermeasure is required in a non-volatile memory;

a unit configured to restrict image formation by the image forming device and execute dew condensation countermeasure processing to cause the fan to perform predetermined driving; and

a unit configured to delete, from the non-volatile memory, the flag information upon completion of the dew condensation countermeasure processing,

wherein

the controller executes the dew condensation countermeasure processing upon activation of the image forming apparatus based on at least storage of the flag information in the non-volatile memory.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the image forming device includes an optical unit that uses a laser beam, and

the controller determines, based on a detection result of the laser beam, the state where the dew condensation countermeasure is required.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,

further comprising a sensor configured to detect an ambient temperature, wherein

the controller determines the state where the dew condensation countermeasure is required, based on temperature information acquired at a plurality of timings from the sensor.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller stores the flag information in association with time information, and

the controller executes the dew condensation countermeasure processing upon activation of the image forming apparatus based on at least storage of the flag information associated with the time information satisfying a predetermined condition in the non-volatile memory.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller deletes the flag information from the non-volatile memory based on a lapse of time.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the predetermined driving is driving for rotating the fan at a predetermined rotational speed.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the image formation restricted in dew condensation countermeasure processing is image formation based on reception of print data.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the image formation restricted in the dew condensation countermeasure processing is image formation involved in adjustment processing of the image forming device.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,

further comprising a display device configured to display information, wherein

the controller causes the display device to display a predetermined message upon determining the state where the dew condensation countermeasure is required.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein

the predetermined message is a message to prompt permission of execution of the dew condensation countermeasure processing.

11. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein

the image forming apparatus stores the flag information in association with time information, and

the image forming apparatus executes the dew condensation countermeasure processing upon activation of the image forming apparatus based on at least storage of the flag information in association with time information satisfying a predetermined condition in the non-volatile memory.

12. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein

the image forming apparatus deletes the flag information from the non-volatile memory based on a lapse of time.

13. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein

the predetermined driving is driving for rotating the fan at a predetermined rotational speed.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the image formation restricted in the dew condensation countermeasure processing is image formation based on reception of print data.

15. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein

the image formation restricted in the dew condensation countermeasure processing is image formation involved in adjustment processing of the image forming device.

16. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein

the image forming apparatus further comprises a display device configured to display information, and

a message to prompt permission of execution of the dew condensation countermeasure processing is displayed on the display device upon determining the state where the dew condensation countermeasure is required.

17. A control method for an image forming apparatus including an image forming device configured to form an image on a sheet and a fan configured to be driven to perform ventilation, the control method comprising:

determining a state where a dew condensation countermeasure is required, and storing flag information in a non-volatile memory;

restricting image formation by the image forming device, and executing dew condensation countermeasure processing to cause the fan to perform predetermined driving; and

deleting, from the non-volatile memory, the flag information upon completion of the dew condensation countermeasure processing,

wherein

the image forming apparatus executes the dew condensation countermeasure processing upon activation of the image forming apparatus based on at least storage of the flag information in the non-volatile memory.

18. The control method according to claim 17 , wherein

the image forming device includes an optical unit that uses a laser beam, and the image forming apparatus determines, based on a detection result of the laser beam, the state where the dew condensation countermeasure is required.

19. The control method apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein

the image forming apparatus further comprises a sensor configured to detect an ambient temperature, and

the image forming apparatus determines the state where the dew condensation countermeasure is required, based on temperature information acquired at a plurality of timings from the sensor.

20. A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a control method for an image forming apparatus including an image forming device configured to form an image on a sheet and a fan configured to be driven to perform ventilation, the control method comprising:

determining a state where a dew condensation countermeasure is required, and storing flag information in a non-volatile memory;

restricting image formation by the image forming device, and executing dew condensation countermeasure processing to cause the fan to perform predetermined driving; and

deleting, from the non-volatile memory, the flag information upon completion of the dew condensation countermeasure processing,

wherein

the image forming apparatus executes the dew condensation countermeasure processing upon activation of the image forming apparatus based on at least storage of the flag information in the non-volatile memory.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2019
From: KASAHARA, RYOSUKE
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 050351/0280 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-108113 · Jun 5, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190369553A1 · Dec 5, 2019