Electrophotography apparatus

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electrophotography apparatus such as an electrophotography printer including a laser printer and an electrophotography coping machine etc. and, more particularly, relates to an optional unit construction of an electrophotography apparatus having a transferring device.

In general, in a formation method of a color picture image in an electrophotography apparatus having an intermediate transferring body, an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductive body is developed according to respective developing devices and a developed toner image is transferred once on the intermediate transferring body and on the above that a color overlapping is carried out, after that to a paper sheet which has transported by a transporting device a color toner image on the intermediate transferring body is transferred in the lump and is formed.

As stated in above, in the color electrophotography apparatus having the intermediate transferring body, the toner image on the photoconductive body is transferred once to the intermediate transferring body from the photoconductive body, and further from the intermediate transferring body to the paper sheet two times transfer is carried out and then the picture image is formed. After that according to a fixing device the color toner image on the paper sheet is heated and fixed and the paper sheet is discharged outside of the color electrophotography apparatus.

Further, in a color electrophotography apparatus having a duplexer printing unit which enables duplex printing, it is common that after a first color toner image on a paper sheet surface (A face) is heated and fixed once by the fixing device, this paper sheet is reversed in the duplexer printing unit, and a rear face (B face) of the paper sheet is transported as a next printing face to a transporting device of the color electrophotography apparatus, and in a manner similar to the printing of the A face, the B face is printed.

Further, recently from a consideration of the environment, there is a tendency to provide for energy saving and when a standard for regulating the power saving (for example an energizer: it differs from the devices, for example, under a condition (a sleeping time) in which the device is not operated and provides for consumption electric power which is less than 45 W) is not obtained, then such device is not accepted in a market.

Up to now, in the color electrophotography apparatus, to drive a control device (mainly, a control board), an optical sensor, a display element etc., a voltage power source having 5 V is used, further, to the actuators such as a motor, a fan, a clutch, a solenoid, in a relation of a construction efficiency, a voltage power source of 25 V which is higher than 5 V is used, and in many cases the electrophotography apparatus has these different power sources.

In general, during the electric power saving time, since it is unnecessary to operate the apparatus, all actuators and the heater are presented to an “off” state, the electric power consumption is reduced. Further, a 24 V power source is presented to an “off” state.

However, in the power source having 5 V for driving the controlling device (including CPU), such a 5 V electric power source cannot be presented to an “off” state. However, the components of the sensors, which in many cases are constituted by the above stated 5 V power source, are operated and further nevertheless during the electric power saving mode time it is required to leave the displaying device operational for informing the condition of an operator from aspects to a safety performance and a function performance.

Further, when the duplexer printing unit and a sorting device etc. which are optional units are added to the color electrophotography apparatus which is a main body, it is a rare case in which there is not an increase in the consumption energy having each optional unit part, but it is necessary to obey a regulated electric power saving standard as a system including the optional units.

On the other hand, when with only the color printing to the electrophotography apparatus main body there is afford for opportunities to achieve the electric power saving regulation value, it is devised to improve the consumption electric power reduction of the electrophotography apparatus main body. However, there is a case in which only the optional units themselves consumes much energy, there is a limitation to connect all optional units and to obey the electric power saving standard.

As stated above, in the conventional color electrophotography apparatus, there is a problem in which the electric power saving regulation is not satisfied fully.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention to provide an electrophotography apparatus wherein when an operation of an added or coupled duplexer printing unit is unnecessary such as in an electric power saving mode during, an “off” state of a power source of the duplexer printing unit is effected, and a consumption of electric power can be reduced.

Another object of the present invention to provide an electrophotography apparatus wherein when an operation of an added or coupled duplexer printing unit is unnecessary such as an electric power saving mode during, an “off” state of a power source of the duplexer printing unit is effected, and an electric power saving regulation can be satisfied.

To attain the above stated objects according to the present invention, an essential feature according to the present invention resides in that a duplexer printing unit which is added or coupled to an electrophotography apparatus is provided with a unit exclusive use power source device. The unit exclusive use power source has a circuit for presenting an “on” state and an “off” state of a supply of an electric power to respective constituting components of the duplexer printing unit in accordance with an indication of the controlling device.

The present invention provides in an electrophotography apparatus having an electrophotography apparatus main body which comprises a photoconductive body, a developing device for a toner developing an electrostatic latent image which is formed on the photoconductive body, a device for receiving a paper sheet which transfers the toner image, a transporting device for transporting the paper sheet, a transferring device for transferring the toner image on the photoconductive body to the paper sheet, a fixing device for heat fixing the toner image on the paper sheet to the paper sheet, and a controlling device for controlling each device, and a duplexer printing unit coupled to the electrophotography apparatus main body and for reversing the paper sheet in which the toner image is heat fixed and transporting the reversed paper sheet to the transporting device, wherein the duplexer printing unit has a unit exclusive use power source device which has a circuit for presenting an “on” state and an “off” state of a supply of an electric power to the constituting components of the duplexer printing unit in accordance with an indication of the controlling device.

Preferably, when the electrophotography apparatus main body is in an electric power saving mode and after a release of the electric power saving mode, an immediate duplex printing is unnecessary, the controlling device controls a power source of the unit exclusive use power source device to be at the “off” state.

Preferably, the duplexer printing unit has a circuit for selecting the supply of the electric power to specific constituting components in each constituting components whether receiving electric power from the unit exclusive use electric power device or a power source of the electrophotography apparatus main body.

Preferably, when the specific constituting components require the supply of the electric power at ordinary times, the supply of the electric power is received from the power source of the electrophotography apparatus main body.

Preferably, the unit exclusive use power source is constituted so that the “on” state and the “off” state of the supply of the electric power in an AC input section at a primary side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a block diagram showing a construction of a laser color printer having a duplexer printing unit of one embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2

is a block diagram showing a construction of an unit controlling device which is arranged in the duplexer printing unit of

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

is a view showing a construction of a duplexer power source which is an “on” and an “off” circuit;

FIG. 4

is a block diagram showing a construction of another embodiment according to the present invention of the unit controlling device of

FIG. 2

;

FIG. 5

is a flow chart showing an operation of the control device of

FIG. 1

; and

FIG. 6

is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view showing a laser color printer having a duplexer printing unit of another embodiment according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an electrophotography apparatus of one embodiment according to the present invention will be explained referring to the drawings.

FIG. 6

is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view showing a laser color printer having a duplexer printing unit of one embodiment according to the present invention.

As shown in

FIG. 6

, a color laser printer having a duplexer printing unit is constituted by a color laser printer main body

700

, a paper feeding cassette

30

, and a duplexer printing unit

600

.

Although not described in detail, when a construction of the duplexer printing unit

600

is connected to the color electrophotography apparatus main body

700

, there are cases in which the color laser printer main body

700

is not altered and a case in which a part of the color laser printer main body

700

is altered.

FIG. 4

shows a construction in which the duplexer printing unit

600

is connected. In particular, a minute connection method is not described with respect to the connection of the color laser printer main body

700

to the duplexer printing unit

600

regardless of the necessity of the addition is defined. Accordingly, herein, as the addition of the duplexer printing unit

600

is exemplified, and hereinafter it will be explained in detail. As another example, the addition may be in the form of an optional unit which is added to the color laser printer main body

700

.

First of all, an operation in which printing is carried out to only one side (A face) of a paper sheet

8

without use of the duplexer printing unit

600

according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

6

.

A photoconductive belt

1

which is a photoconductive body is rotated around guide rollers

2

a,

2

b

and

2

c

with a constant speed and electricity is charged uniformly using an electric charger

3

. After that, an electrostatic latent image which corresponds to each color is formed in turn by exposing according to a laser light

4

a

which is generated from an exposing device

4

according to respective color picture image signals. The electrostatic latent image is developed in turn using the respective developers which uses developing agents of the color corresponding to four developing devices

5

Y,

5

M,

5

C and

5

K and each color toner image is formed.

Each color toner image on a surface of the photoconductive belt

1

is transferred on a surface of a transferring drum

6

, which is an intermediate transferring body and is rotated synchronously by contacting to the surface of the photoconductive belt

1

, and the color toner image becomes a color toner image on the surface of the transferring drum

6

.

The paper sheet

8

, which is a recording medium and is received and accumulated in a first paper cassette

7

, is extracted and transported by a paper sheet feed roller

9

and is sent to a resist roller

10

. After a transportation timing between the paper sheet order and the color toner image on the surface of the transferring drum

6

is adjusted and controlled, the paper sheet

8

is sent toward a transferring roller

11

.

Further, a reference numeral

30

denotes a second paper cassette and in a similar manner, a paper sheet

31

in the second paper cassette

30

is extracted and transported by a second paper roller

32

and is sent to the resist roller

10

.

The transferring roller

11

constitutes a part of a transferring device and the transferring roller

11

provides a mechanical pressing force and a transferring electric field from a back face by contacting the paper sheet to the transferring drum

6

and transfers the color toner image formed on the surface of the transferring drum

6

to one side face (A face) of the paper sheet

8

.

Further, the transferring roller

11

transfers each color toner image of the photoconductive belt

1

to the surface of the transferring drum

6

and is pulled by a transferring roller transferring device

12

so as to not function during a process for forming the color toner image. Further, the transferring roller

11

is pushed toward the transferring drum

6

so as to function during a process for completing the color toner image and for transfer to the paper sheet

8

. A transferring voltage is supplied to the transferring roller

11

so as to generate the transferring voltage is provided by a high voltage power source

13

(not shown).

An AC discharger

14

is a discharging device which enables generation of an alternating current corona and the AC discharger

14

is given a discharge using an alternating current voltage which can alter voluntary and continuously an output voltage by a duty rate of an input signal from the high voltage power source

13

and peels off the paper sheet

8

from the transferring drum

6

by neutralizing and discharging the electric charge which remains in the rear face of the paper sheet

8

to which the color toner image is transferred.

The paper sheet

8

peeled off from the transferring drum

6

is sent to a fixing device

15

which performs a process through which the color image is heat fixed to the surface of the paper sheet

8

. The paper sheet

8

to which the color toner image is heat fixed is discharged on a paper output tray

23

through an extruding roller

22

.

A belt cleaner

25

cleans the toner which remains on the surface of the photoconductive belt I and a drum cleaner

24

cleans the toner which remains the surface of the transferring drum

6

. Further, the drum cleaner

24

transfers repeatedly a single toner image on the surface of the transferring drum

6

and is pulled away so as to not perform a cleaning function during a process for forming the color toner image. After a completed color toner image is transferred to the paper sheet

8

the drum cleaner is pressed against the drum so as to clean the surface of the transferring drum

6

.

Further, a controlling device

100

controls the devices in accordance with an input signal from an operating panel

50

(not shown) and an input signal from an information processing device

200

.

Next, an operation in which the duplexer printing unit

600

is utilized in which the rear face (the B face) of the paper sheet

8

is printed will be explained.

The duplexer printing unit

600

comprises two drive motors

601

and

602

for transporting the paper sheet

8

, a paper transportation path exchange-over device

603

for exchanging over so as to send out the paper sheet

8

which is extruded from the paper extruding roller

22

to the paper output tray

23

or to the duplexer printing unit

600

, duplexer printing unit sending rollers

604

a,

604

b

and

604

c

which are provided with a drive force by the drive motor

601

; a duplexer printing unit resist roller

605

, sending rollers

606

a,

606

b

and

606

c

which obtain a drive force from the drive motor

602

, and paper sensing devices

607

a

and

607

b

for detecting the sending of the paper sheet

8

.

The paper sheet

8

which has sent out from the paper extruding roller

22

of the color laser printer main body

700

is sent out to a side of the sending roller

604

a

according to the transportation path change-over device

603

and a tip end of the paper sheet

8

which has reached the sending roller

604

a

is discharged once to the outside of the device. After a rear end of the paper sheet

8

has passed through the transportation path exchange-over device

603

, the drive motor

601

is rotated in a reverse direction and the sending roller

604

a

is rotated in a reverse direction and then the paper sheet

8

is sent into the duplexer printing unit

600

.

In this time, the paper sheet

8

is switched back and the rear end of the paper sheet

8

becomes the tip end in the duplexer printing unit

690

and is transported. The paper sensor

607

a

monitors whether the paper sheet

8

is transported to the duplexer printing unit

600

or not. After that, the paper sheet

8

is stopped once in the duplexer printing unit resist roller

605

and after the adjustment of the paper sheet

8

the transportation of the paper sheet

8

is started and is passed through the paper sensor

607

b,

forming this point as a starting point and the sending rollers

606

a,

606

b

and

606

c

are stopped again after a predetermined time.

After that, the timing to the color laser printer main body

700

is matched and the sending roller

606

a,

606

b

and

606

c

are rotated, the paper sheet

8

is transported until the resist roller

10

and the rotations of the sending roller

606

a,

606

b

and

606

c

are stopped. After that, similarly to a method of the printing time of the A face of the former paper sheet

8

, the B face of the paper sheet

8

is printed.

FIG. 1

is a block diagram showing the controlling device

100

of the color laser printer having the duplexer printing unit of FIG.

6

.

The controlling device

100

is constituted mainly by a CPU

101

, a ROM to which controlling programs of the CPU

101

are stored, and a RAM

103

as a work use memory necessary to carry out the controlling programs of the CPU

101

.

The CPU

101

communicates to the information processing device

200

such as the operating panel

50

(not shown), a word processor and a personal computer and transmits printing data generated from the above stated information processing device

200

to an exposure controlling section

105

. The exposure controlling section

105

generates laser light

4

a

by controlling the exposure device

4

.

A mechanism controlling section

106

(a surrounding machine controlling and driving circuit section) is a controlling section for controlling the mechanism groups of the electrophotography process and by controlled by the CPU

101

a drive indicating signal of each motor and a voltage controlling signal for controlling the generation voltage of the high voltage using the power source

13

etc. are outputted.

A clock generating section

107

supplies a drive use clock to a main motor

20

for driving the transferring roller

9

and the fixing device

15

, etc . . . A developing motor

21

drives each of the developing devices.

A paper sheet sensing section

103

shows a paper sheet detecting sensor etc. which indicates the transportation condition of the paper sheet

8

and is arranged on the paper sheet transportation path and these signals are inputted to the CPU

101

.

A fixing controlling section

110

(an electricity supply controlling circuit) is an electricity supply controlling device for carrying out the electric power supply to an exothermic body

18

which is provided in the fixing device

15

.

A low voltage power source

70

is a power source device of the color electrophotography apparatus main body supplies an electric power to the controlling device

100

and to the various kinds of surrounding machine driving components and further supplies a part of the electric power to the duplexer printing unit

600

.

A connection detecting and electric power supply detecting circuit

800

detects whether the duplexer printing unit

600

is connected to the color laser printer main body

700

or not and further is a circuit for detecting whether the duplexer printing unit

600

requires the supply of the electric power or not when the duplexer printing unit

600

is connected.

When the duplexer printing unit

600

requires the supply of the electric power, according to an indication from the CPU

101

an electric power supplying circuit

801

is operated, then the electric power is supplied to the duplexer printing unit

600

.

A duplexer power source “on” and “off” signal

500

is a signal in which according to the control signal form CPU

101

the power source in the duplexer printing unit

600

is supplied or cut off.

FIG. 2

is a block diagram showing a construction of a unit controlling device

510

which is arranged in the duplexer printing unit

600

.

The unit controlling device

510

is constituted mainly by constituting components such as an unit interior machine controlling and driving circuit section

514

and the driving motors

601

and

602

, a unit CPU

511

which is a specific constituting component being a part of the constituting components, a ROM

512

for storing the controlling programs of the unit CPU

511

, and a RAM

513

as a work use memory necessary to perform the controlling programs by the unit CPU

511

. However, the RAM

512

and RAM

513

are stored in the unit CPU

511

.

The unit CPU

511

communicates with the controlling device

100

and from an inquiry from the controlling device

100

, the unit CPU

511

transmits the information of the various kinds of driving devices of the duplexer printing unit

600

and the conditions at that time to the controlling device

100

.

As stated in this embodiment according to the present invention, during the electric power saving time when the power source of the unit CPU

511

is presented to the “off” state, it is necessary to perform an initial processing, a re-opening of the communication with the controlling device

100

every time of throw-in of the power source. Further, when the condition information of the duplexer printing unit

600

is held in the RAM

513

provided in the unit CPU

511

, the information is lost by presenting the power source to the “off” state. As a result, after the release of the electric power saving, it is possible to carry out immediately the duplexer printing in the duplexer printing unit

600

.

When such inconvenience occurs, it is desirable to have the construction in which the power source of the unit CPU

511

is not presented to the off condition. In this embodiment according the present invention, the electric power of the unit CPU

511

is constituted to receive directly the supply from the low voltage power source

70

.

The connection informing and electric power supply informing circuit

517

is a circuit in which it informs whether the duplexer printing unit

600

is connected to the controlling device

100

or not and further it informs whether the supply of the electric power is necessary or not. When the electric power is necessary for the unit CPU

511

, using this circuit it can inform that the supply of the electric power is necessary.

The controlling device

100

detects the connection condition and the requirement of the electric power supply at a condition from the signal of this circuit, for example in a case of the electric power supplying information: the supply is necessary “L”/ the supply is unnecessary “H”.

The unit interior machine controlling and driving circuit

514

is a control section for controlling the drive motors

601

and

602

and the transportation path change-over device

603

, etc. and by controlling to the unit control CPU the drive indicating signal of each motors and a signal for controlling the transportation path change-over device

603

, etc. are outputted.

A unit exclusive use power source

515

is a power source in which the electric power is supplied to each of the constituting components of the duplexer printing unit

600

such as the unit interior machine controlling and driving circuit section

514

and the driving motors

601

and

602

, etc . . .

The unit exclusive use power source

515

provides in an interior portion thereof a duplexer power source “on” and “off” circuit

516

which is operated by the electric power supplied from the control signal of the controlling device

100

and the electric power supplied from the low voltage power source

702

. Using the duplexer power source “on” and “off” circuit

516

, the supply and the cut-off of the AC input is performed. Namely, the unit exclusive use power source

515

is constituted to present to the “on” state and the “off” state of the electric power supply to the unit interior machine controlling and driving circuit

514

and the drive motors

601

and

602

by the indication from the controlling device

100

. The duplexer power source “on” and “off” circuit

516

, as shown in

FIG. 3

, for example, is constituted by a relay construction and a coil connected to 24 V power source or 5 V power source which is supplied from the low voltage power source

70

is to present to the “on”/“off” state according to the control signal from the controlling device

100

and then the AC input inputted to the unit exclusive power source

515

is carried out to present the “on” state and the “off” state.

In the above, it explained in detail, in the construction having the unit CPU

511

, the unit CPU

511

can not present an “off” state. However, in the construction of the optional unit, when the CPU is made to present an “off” state, since an immediate duplex printing after the electric power saving mode release is unnecessary, it can receive the supply of the electric power from the unit exclusive use power source

515

, and further a selection circuit can be operated from the low voltage power source

70

or the unit exclusive use power source

515

.

The electric power necessary for driving each of the construction devices in the duplexer printing unit

600

is about 2 W during a stoppage of each driving device, although it may depend on the contents. Under a condition where the duplexer printing unit

600

is used in an ordinary manner in the prior art, against the electric power saving regulation value, when there is a full margin (at least more than 1 W), it becomes a problem and under an unnecessary condition time the duplexer printing unit

600

is presented to the “off” state, it is related to the electric power saving.

In general, when the “off” state and the “on” state of the supply of the electric power is carried out at a secondary side (5 V/24 V generation section) of the power source, even when there is no supply electric power from the secondary side, as a result it can give an impact to the electric power saving regulation value which is desired.

As stated above, with respect to the electric power which is consumed at the secondary side of the power source, the consumption electric power at the primary side has a large loss etc. and further, the more that the consumption electric current value is small, the more that the loss is large and such a loss becomes a value in which the secondary side current value is divided by about 40%-70%. For example, the consumption current value at the secondary side is 24 V/40 mA (a circuit current value of 24 V driving component), 5 V/40 mA (a sensor consumption current), at the AC input part of the power source, about 2.9 W-1.6 W is consumed. It becomes a problem when the margin is small against the electric power saving regulation value in the color laser printer main body

700

.

In this embodiment according to the present invention, at the primary side the AC input section of the unit exclusive use power source, since the operations of the supply and the cut-off of the electric power is carried out, even when a minute current generates, the margin against the electric power saving regulation value can be obtained fully and as a result the electric power saving can be carried out.

FIG. 4

shows a construction of another embodiment of the unit controlling device

510

of

FIG. 2

according to the present invention. In this embodiment the CPU is not provided in the unit controlling device. Since the CPU is not provided, the connection information and electric power supply information circuit

517

can be set at a condition where the supply of the electric power is unnecessary. (the electric power information: the supply is necessary “L”/ the supply is unnecessary “H”).

Accordingly, this embodiment according to the present invention show a case in which all of the electric power supplied to each constituting components are presented to the “off” state.

Next, the operation of the controlling device

100

when the duplexer printing unit

600

is carried out the option-connection will be explained referring to FIG.

5

. Herein, the unit CPU

511

is provided in the duplexer printing unit

600

.

At first, in a processing

301

, the controlling device

100

judges whether the duplexer printing unit

600

requires the supply of the electric power or not. When there is the requirement of the electric power supply, in a processing

401

an electric power supplying circuit

801

is presented to an “on” state.

Ordinarily, the controlling device

100

is formed for its own convenience to the electric power saving mode. However, in many cases, the electric power saving mode becomes according to the requirement from an upper rank information processing device

200

.

In a case where there is no requirement, a detailed description is not stated herein, and in a processing

402

, an ordinary processing is executed.

When the is the requirement, in a processing

303

, the controlling device

100

stops all of the motors, the fan, the clutch, the solenoid, and the heater in the fixing device. After that in a processing

304

, the controlling device

100

presents the “off” state of the unit exclusive printing unit

515

.

Next, in a processing

305

, the judgment whether the release requirement of the electric power saving is from the information processing

200

or not is carried out. When there is no release requirement of the electric power saving, other communication processing is carried out and returns to the processing

305

. This is, ordinarily, during the electric power saving the controlling device

100

does not carry out the operation of the printing etc., except for the communication processing operation to the information processing device

200

.

In the processing

305

, when there is the release requirement, in a processing

306

, the controlling device

100

presents the “on” state for the unit exclusive power source

516

of the duplexer printing unit

600

.

Next, in a processing

307

, in the processing

301

when it judges that the electric power supply is not received, the communication processing starts again in the CPU

101

in the controlling device

100

, the unit CPU

511

in the duplexer printing unit

600

and the confirmation of the completion of the “on” preparation of the operation of the duplexer printing unit

600

is carried out.

In the processing

301

, when the receiving of the electric power is judged, the communication re-opening processing to the CPU

101

in the controlling device

100

of this processing and the unit CPU

511

in the duplexer printing unit

600

can be skipped.

Successively, in a processing

308

, the controlling device

100

is made to present an “on” state for a heater fan of the color laser printer main body

700

and is prepared to present an “on” state for the motor, the clutch, and the solenoid and according to the circumstances they are made to an “on” state.

Herein not explained in detail, after the power source of the duplexer printing unit

600

is presented to the “on” state, in accordance with the indication of the unit CPU

511

in the duplexer printing unit

600

, in each constituting components in the duplexer printing unit

600

, the operation preparation processing is carried.

In this embodiment according to the present invention, the case of the electric power saving mode is explained in detail, however except for the electric power saving mode condition, as the duplexer printing unit

600

when the operation is an unnecessary condition, the similar operation can be carried out but is not limited to this.

As stated above, the unit exclusive power source

515

for the exclusive use of the duplexer printing unit

600

is constituted as a circuit in which by the control signal from the controlling device

100

the supply and the cut-off of the electric power to the respective constituting components can be selected.

Further a circuit portion of the supply and the cut-off of the electric power is made as a primary side AC input portion, as a result when the function operation of the duplexer printing unit

600

is unnecessary, for example the electric power saving mode time etc., the unit exclusive power source

515

is made to present the “on” state, and the of consumption electric power can be reduced.

Further, the color electrophotography apparatus main body is provided in the electric power saving mode, and when the immediate duplex printing after the electric power saving mode release is unnecessary, against all constituting components of the duplexer printing unit

600

including the unit CPU

511

being the specific constituting component, the power source of the unit exclusive power source

515

is presented to the “off” state, the consumption electric power can be reduced further.

In the above stated embodiment according to the present invention, the duplexer printing unit has a constitution in which with respect to the color electrophotography apparatus main body no alteration is added, for example the user optional unit, is connected. In addition to this, the duplexer printing unit can be constituted in which with respect to the color electrophotography apparatus main body, an alteration in a part thereof is added, and is connected, for example, to the user optional unit.

Further, the duplexer printing unit is not limited to this embodiment according to the present invention, but to the color electrophotography apparatus or the optional constituting components for constituting by adding to the electrophotography apparatus the exclusive use power source can be installed in an interior portion and it is possible to constitute similarly to the above constitution.

According to the present invention, at the electric power saving time, etc., when the function operation is unnecessary,, the exclusive use power source of the duplexer printing unit is made to the “off” state according to the control signal of the controlling device, then the consumption electric power of the whole electrophotography apparatus can be reduced and the electric power saving can be improved.

Number	Name	Date	Kind
6072585	Dutton et al.	Jun 2000
6134401	Yun et al.	Oct 2000

Electrophotography apparatus

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