1. A heater controller of a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator is provided with a dispenser connected to a water tank by means of a water supply pipe, comprising:
a heater mounted at a side of the water tank in order to generate heat;
a first temperature sensor mounted on an outer surface of the water tank in order to sense an outer surface temperature of the water tank;
a second temperature sensor for sensing an ambient temperature at a position of the refrigerator; and
a microcontroller in which ranges of a water temperature in the water tank estimated based on the outer surface temperature of the water tank and the ambient temperature of the refrigerator are set, the microcontroller controlling the heater to be turned onoff based on the water temperature in the water tank and the ambient temperature of the refrigerator.
2. A heater control method of a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator is provided with a dispenser connected to a water tank by means of a water supply pipe, comprising:
a first temperature sensing step for sensing an outer surface temperature of the water tank;
a temperature estimation step for estimating a water temperature in the water tank based on the outer surface temperature of the water tank sensed in the first temperature sensing step;
a heater control step for controlling a heater to be turned onoff by comparing the water temperature in the water tank estimated in the temperature estimation step with reference values;
a second temperature sensing step for sensing an ambient temperature at a position of the refrigerator;
a first heat energy output step for controlling the heater to be turned onoff at intervals of a first predetermined time if the ambient temperature sensed in the second temperature sensing step is over a predetermined temperature (E \xb0 C.); and
a second heat energy output step for controlling the heater to be turned onoff so that the heater is turned on for a longer time than while the heater is turned off if the ambient temperature sensed in the second temperature sensing step is below a certain temperature (F \xb0 C.) (wherein E>F).
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein in the first heat energy output step, the predetermined temperature (E \xb0 C.) is about 25\xb0 C., and the heater is turned onoff at the intervals of the first predetermined time of 30 minutes.
4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein in the second heat energy output step, the certain temperature (F \xb0 C.) is about 15\xb0 C., and the heater is controlled to be turned on for 50 minutes and turned off for 10 minutes.
5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein in the heater control step, the reference value for turning on the heater is 7\xb0 C., and the reference value for turning off the heater is 3\xb0 C.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A sheet process device comprising:
first stack means for stacking thereon sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus;
second stack means for stacking thereon the sheets transferred from said first stack means;
a transfer unit for transferring the sheets as a sheaf of sheets from said first stack means to said second stack means; and
transfer control means for controlling, in a case where a size of the sheet discharged to said first stack means is equal to or smaller than a predetermined size, said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first stack means to said second stack means every time a first predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first stack means, and for controlling, in a case where the size of the sheet discharged to said first stack means is larger than the predetermined size, said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first stack means to said second stack means in response to that a second predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first stack means,
wherein the second predetermined number is smaller than the first predetermined number.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said transfer control means controls said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first stack means to said second stack means in response to that a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first stack means.
3. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:
adjustment means for adjusting the sheets on said first stack means at either one of a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position; and
adjustment control means for changing the adjustment position of said adjustment means in response to that a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first stack means.
4. A sheet process device comprising:
a first tray for stacking thereon sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus;
a second tray for stacking thereon the sheets transferred from said first tray;
a transfer unit for transferring the sheets as a sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray; and
a controller for controlling, in a case where a size of the sheet discharged to said first tray is equal to or smaller than a predetermined size, said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray every time a first predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray, and for controlling, in a case where the size of the sheet discharged to said first tray is larger than the predetermined size, said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray in response to that a second predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray,
wherein the second predetermined number is smaller than the first predetermined number.
5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said controller controls said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray in response to that a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray.
6. A device according to claim 4, further comprising:
an adjuster for adjusting the sheets on said first tray at either one of a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position;
wherein said controller changes the adjustment position of said adjuster in accordance with that a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray.
7. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
a first tray for stacking thereon sheets transferred from said image forming unit;
a second tray for stacking thereon the sheets transferred from said first tray;
a transfer unit for transferring the sheets as a sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray; and
a controller for controlling, in a case where a size of the sheet discharged to said first tray is equal to or smaller than a predetermined size, said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray every time a first predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray, and for controlling, in a case where the size of the sheet discharged to said first tray is larger than the predetermined size, said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray in response to that a second predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray,
wherein the second predetermined number is smaller than the first predetermined number.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said controller controls said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray in response to that a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray.
9. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:
an adjuster for adjusting the sheets on said first tray at either one of a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position,
wherein said controller changes the adjustment position of said adjuster in accordance with stacking of a last sheet of one group on said first tray.
10. A sheet process device comprising:
stagnation means for temporarily stagnating received sheets;
first stack means for stacking thereon the sheets;
carrier means for carrying the sheets to said first stack means without stagnating them in said stagnation means, and carrying at least one stagnated sheet together with a newly received sheet to said first stack means after stagnating at least one of the sheets in said stagnation means;
second stack means for stacking thereon the sheets transferred from said first stack means;
a transfer unit for transferring the sheets as a sheaf of sheets from said first stack means to said second stack means;
transfer control means for controlling said transfer unit to transfer the sheets when a predetermined number of sheets as the sheaf of sheets are stacked on said first stack means andor when a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first stack means; and
carrier control means for controlling said carrier means to cause said stagnation means to stagnate the succeeding sheets in a case where the predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first stack means, and for controlling said carrier means to cause said stagnation means to stagnate the sheets of a next group even if the predetermined number of sheets are not stacked on said first stack means, in a case where the last sheet of one group is stacked on said first stack means,
wherein said carrier control means controls said carrier means not to cause said stagnation means to stagnate the last sheet of the one group.
11. A sheet process device comprising:
a stagnator for temporarily stagnating received sheets;
a first tray for stacking thereon the sheets;
a carrier for carrying the sheets to said first tray without stagnating them in said stagnator, and carrying the stagnated sheets together with a newly received sheet to said first tray after stagnating at least one of the sheets in said stagnator;
a second tray for stacking thereon the sheets transferred from said first tray;
a transfer unit for transferring the sheets as a sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray;
a transfer controller for controlling said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets when a predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray andor when a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray; and
a carrier controller for controlling said carrier to cause said stagnator to stagnate the succeeding sheets in a case where the predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray, and for controlling said carrier to cause said stagnator to stagnate the sheets of a next group even if the predetermined number of sheets are not stacked on said first tray, in a case where the last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray,
wherein said carrier controller controls said carrier not to cause said stagnator to stagnate the last sheet of the one group.
12. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
a stagnator for temporarily stagnating sheets transferred from said image forming unit;
a first tray for stacking thereon the sheets;
a carrier for carrying the sheets to said first tray without stagnating them in said stagnator, and carrying the stagnated sheets together with a newly received sheet to said first tray after stagnating at least one of the sheets in said stagnator;
a second tray for stacking thereon the sheets transferred from said first tray;
a transfer unit for transferring the sheets as a sheaf of sheets from said first tray to said second tray;
a transfer controller for controlling said transfer unit to transfer the sheets as the sheaf of sheets when a predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray andor when a last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray; and
a carrier controller for controlling said carrier to cause said stagnator to stagnate the succeeding sheets in a case where the predetermined number of sheets are stacked on said first tray, and for controlling said carrier to cause said stagnator to stagnate the sheets of a next group even if the predetermined number of sheets are not stacked on said first tray, in a case where the last sheet of one group is stacked on said first tray,
wherein said carrier controller controls said carrier not to cause said stagnator to stagnate the last sheet of the one group.