JP2858603B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus for transmitting various information required for maintenance and management of electronic equipment such as a facsimile apparatus and a copying machine installed in an office or the like using a general public line. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile apparatuses capable of forming an image on plain paper by using a copying process are becoming widespread, and a mechanism using such a copying process causes a high rate of occurrence of troubles. Due to the need for regular overhauls to maintain performance, it is desirable to enhance the maintenance and management service system, and in particular, quick and accurate measures are required so that recovery from troubles can be made early. .

As a conventional maintenance management method, in general, the facsimile machine itself detects its own state, and displays on a display or the like, the contents of the trouble or the imminent replacement of a specific part, or the use of consumables. If a near-empty display (display indicating that consumables are almost exhausted) is given to the user and the user recognizes the fact and determines that it is necessary to call a so-called service person, the facsimile is concerned. It is customary to contact a maintenance service bureau, which is in charge of the maintenance of the device, by telephone or other means.

[0004] However, such contact by telephone or the like causes the following problems.

[0005] (1) The user cannot perform his / her own work to explain the contents of the trouble, and is forced to lose time.

(2) The user may erroneously recognize the contents of the trouble display and inform the maintenance service bureau of contents different from the actual trouble contents.

(3) Even if there is a trouble display on the display, the user may be left unnoticed without notice.
In such a case, the minor trouble may progress to a severe trouble.

(4) The maintenance service bureau prepares necessary parts based on the contents of the trouble after receiving the communication from the user and goes to the user.
Quick response is not possible.

Therefore, in recent years, a facsimile machine on the user side detects its own operation state, converts the detected contents into communication information, and transmits the communication information automatically or in response to a transmission request from a maintenance service station. A method has been proposed in which a station receives transmitted communication information, converts the received communication information into, for example, character information, and prints out the information, thereby recognizing the operation state of the facsimile apparatus on the user side and performing maintenance management ( Japanese Patent Application No. 1-302749).

When implementing the above-mentioned maintenance management method,
First, it is necessary for a user to install a facsimile apparatus having a function of transmitting information on the operation state described above. Thereafter, a so-called service person goes to the office of the user who intends to make a contract and consults with the user about the contents of the contract for maintenance management of the facsimile machine. When the contract is concluded, the serviceman sets the opening information for activating the function in the facsimile apparatus having the function of automatically transmitting the information on the operation state described above.

The establishment information includes what kind of maintenance function is to be selected, that is, what kind of information is to be transmitted to the maintenance service bureau, and information on the facsimile machine to be contracted, for example, model name, contractor And the contract number, and the telephone number of the maintenance service bureau to which the information is transmitted.

[0012]

In the facsimile apparatus described above, only the information on the operation state of the apparatus detected by the set function is automatically transmitted to the maintenance service station. For this reason, if a trouble that is not detected by the set functions, that is, a trouble that is not covered by the maintenance management service, occurs, the operator contacts the maintenance service bureau by telephone or other means as in the past. Need to be taken, which causes the problem described above.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting information about an operation state to a management apparatus even when the operation state is not detected.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a facsimile communication means for transmitting and receiving image data via a public line, a recording means for recording image data on a recording paper, and a method for optically reading a document to read image data. A facsimile communication means, an abnormal state detecting means for detecting an abnormal state of the recording means and the reading means, and an abnormal state managing means responsive to an output indicating the abnormal state from the abnormal state detecting means. A determination unit that determines whether the information indicating the detected abnormal state is to be automatically transmitted, and responds to the output of the determination unit to determine whether the information indicating the detected abnormal state is automatic. An abnormal state transmitting means for automatically transmitting what is to be transmitted to the management apparatus, and information to be transmitted to the management apparatus, which are detected and managed by the abnormal state detecting means. Key input means for instructing transmission of information indicating an abnormal state which is not automatically transmitted to the device, transmitting information to be transmitted to the management device input by the key input means, and indicating an abnormal state from the abnormal state detecting means Means for transmitting, to the management device, information indicating an abnormal state which is not automatically transmitted by an input operation output of the key input means when the determination means determines that the automatic transmission should not be performed in response to the output. A facsimile machine characterized by the following.

The present invention is characterized in that when the abnormal state of the recording means is not detected by the abnormal state detecting means, the recording means records the information inputted by the key input means on a recording paper. .

The present invention further provides a memory for storing information input by the key input means when an abnormal state of the recording means is detected by the abnormal state detecting means, and a display means for displaying the stored contents of the memory. Including
Further, the recording means records the contents stored in the memory on recording paper when no abnormal state is detected.

[0017]

According to the present invention, at least an abnormal state of the facsimile communication means, the recording means and the reading means is detected by the abnormal state detecting means, and it is determined whether or not the detected abnormal states should be automatically transmitted to the management device. If it is judged by the judgment means and the abnormal state to be automatically transmitted,
If the information indicates an abnormal state that is transmitted to the management apparatus via the public line by the abnormal state transmission means and is not automatically transmitted to the management apparatus by the determination means, the information is not automatically transmitted in accordance with an input instruction of the key input means. Information indicating an abnormal state can be transmitted to the management device. Further, information input by the key input means can be transmitted to the management device, that is, information indicating an abnormal state that is not detected by the abnormal state detection means can be transmitted to the management apparatus. Therefore, for example, even when a trouble not covered by the maintenance management service occurs, information on the trouble can be transmitted to a so-called maintenance service station by, for example, a key input operation by the operator.

According to the invention, the information inputted by the key input means is recorded on the recording paper by the recording means. Therefore, the user of the facsimile machine can easily confirm the information transmitted to the management device.

According to the present invention, the information input by the key input means is stored in the memory. Therefore, in the facsimile apparatus having the display means, even when the recording by the recording means cannot be performed, the stored information can be displayed on the display means. Further, by reading the information stored in the memory as necessary, the information can be recorded on the recording paper after the recording by the recording means can be performed.

[0020]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a facsimile apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile device 1 is connected to the telephone line 2 and transmits and receives image data to and from another facsimile device.
Various information can be transmitted / received to / from a management device 3 described later via the telephone line 2. Facsimile machine 1
Executes an electrostatic copying process of forming a charged image and recording (transferring) it on recording paper.

The facsimile apparatus 1 includes a control unit 11 realized by a microcomputer or the like. The control unit 11 includes a communication control unit 12, a reading unit 13, a recording unit 14,
Operation unit 15, display unit 16, detection unit 17, memory 1
8 is connected. The communication control unit 12 includes an incoming call detection circuit, a modem, and the like, demodulates received image data and provides the demodulated image data to the control unit 11, and modulates image data to be transmitted to output to the telephone line 2. The reading unit 13 includes a CCD described later.
(Charge-coupled device), a lens, an exposure device, and the like. When a document is transmitted, the document is optically read, converted into an electric signal (image data), and provided to the control unit 11. When copying a document, the document is exposed to form a document image on the surface of a photoconductor provided in a recording unit 14 described later.

The recording section 14 includes a photosensitive member, a developing device, a charger, a fixing device, and the like, and transfers an image to recording paper by the above-described electrostatic copying process.

The operation unit 15 is provided with a numeric key and various function setting keys, which will be described later. The display unit 16 is realized by a liquid crystal display device or the like, and receives input data from the operation unit 15,
The operating state of the facsimile machine 1, such as error information and information indicating that the consumables are out of use, is displayed.

The detecting section 17 detects an operation state of the facsimile machine 1, specifically, an abnormal state, and gives information on the detected operation state to the control section 11. In the control unit 11,
A trouble content discriminating unit, a trouble type discriminating unit, and a communication information converting unit (not shown) are provided, and these units operate under the control of the detecting unit 17.

The trouble content discriminating means discriminates what kind of trouble has occurred based on the information detected by the detecting section 17. The trouble type determining means determines whether the trouble determined by the trouble content determining means is of a type requiring a so-called serviceman call. The type of trouble that does not require a serviceman call is a trouble that can be relatively easily handled by the user himself, such as a paper jam or running out of recording paper. The type of trouble that requires a serviceman call is a trouble that cannot be dealt with by the user himself, such as, for example, the end of the life of the photoconductor of the recording unit 14.

The memory 18 includes a ROM (read only memory) and a RAM (random access memory). The ROM stores programs for controlling various operations of the facsimile machine 1, and the RAM stores management programs. A registration area of the opening information transmitted from the device 3 and a work area used for the processing operation by the control unit 11 are set. The memory 18 stores information on the operation state transmitted to the management device 3 by the key input operation of the operation unit 15.

The management device 3 is a device having a basic configuration of a so-called personal computer, and transmits and receives data to and from the facsimile device 1 and other terminal devices via the telephone line 2. The management device 3 includes a control unit 31 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 31 is connected to a modem 32, a recording unit 33, a display unit 34, and an operation unit 35.

The modem 32 demodulates the received data and supplies the demodulated data to the control unit 31. The modem 32 modulates the data to be transmitted supplied from the control unit 31 and outputs the modulated data to the telephone line 2. Recorder 3
Reference numeral 3 is realized by a thermal printer or the like, and records image data and various kinds of reception information received via the telephone line 2 or information input from the operation unit 35 on recording paper such as thermal recording paper. The display unit 34 includes a liquid crystal display device or a CRT.
(Cathode ray tube) or the like, and displays various information received via the telephone line 2 and information input from the operation unit 35. The operation unit 35 includes a plurality of key switches, such as a numeric key, and various function setting keys for designating an operation state of the management device 3.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the operation unit 15 described above. The operation unit 15 includes a numeric key 15a for inputting a dial number or the like of the other party at the time of calling, and a start / copy key 15b for starting transmission of image data or printing a communication result table by the recording unit 14. , A stop key 15c for stopping transmission of image data, and a mode switching key 15d for selecting various functions.

In this embodiment, among various information other than the image data transmitted to the management device 3, information other than the information on the operation state detected by the detection unit 17, that is, the set opening information The information on the troubles other than the maintenance service based on the information is input by the operator by, for example, “*” of the mode switching key 15d and the numeric key 15a.
It is assumed that transmission can be performed arbitrarily by pressing a key.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the facsimile machine 1. The facsimile apparatus 1 generally includes a reading unit 1
3; a recording unit 14; When the document 41 is inserted into the document insertion slot 42, the document 4 is detected by a document detection sensor 43 implemented by a microswitch or the like.
It is detected that 1 has been set. Thereafter, when the operator operates a copy key (not shown) or the above-described start / copy key 15b to start transmission, the operation of transporting the document 41 is started.

At the time of document transmission, the document 41 is
And the pressing member 45, and is conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 46 to an exposure area where the transparent glass 47 is installed. Light from a light source 48 is applied to the original surface of the original 41 in the exposure area, and the reflected light is incident on the CCD 51 via a mirror 49 and a lens 50. The incident light is converted into an electric signal (image data) by the CCD 51 and supplied to the control unit 11. The exposed document 41 is conveyed by a pair of discharge rollers 52 and discharged onto a document tray 53.

An exposure head 54 is arranged below the mirror 49 in FIG. 3, and when copying the original 41, an electrostatic copying process is executed together with the above-described original conveying operation. The original image exposed by the exposure head 54 is
And an image is formed on the photosensitive drum 58 via the mirrors 56 and 57.

The photosensitive drum 58 is rotated in the direction of arrow 59. The surface of the photosensitive drum 58 is uniformly charged by the corona charger 60. Next, the exposure head 54 irradiates a portion other than the original image with light, removes the charged charges of the irradiated portion, and forms an electrostatic latent image with the charges left on the original image portion. In the developing unit 61, a toner, which is a colored fine particle charged in a polarity opposite to that of the electrostatic latent image, is supplied from a toner cartridge 62 and adheres to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. Next, a recording paper is superimposed on this toner image, and a charge having a polarity opposite to the charged polarity of the toner is applied to the recording paper from a surface of the recording paper opposite to the photosensitive drum 58 by a transfer unit 63, and the toner image is formed by electrostatic force. Transfer to recording paper.

The recording paper is stored in a recording paper cassette 64, is conveyed to a conveyance path by a paper feed roller (not shown), and is supplied by a paper feed roller 65 to a transfer area where the transfer device 63 is arranged.

The toner image transferred onto the recording paper is fixed on the recording paper by applying heat or pressure by a fixing device 66. On the other hand, the latent image charge on the photosensitive drum 58 after the transfer is eliminated by the neutralizer 70. Further, residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 58 without being transferred is removed by a cleaner (not shown). By repeating a series of processes from the charging to the cleaning, the original image is continuously copied onto the recording paper.

The recording paper on which the toner image has been fixed is conveyed by a paper discharge roller 67 and discharged to a paper discharge tray 68.

In the vicinity of the exposure head 54, the exposure head 5
A cooling fan 69 for cooling the heat of No. 4 is arranged.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation at the time of transmitting information relating to the operation state of the facsimile machine 1. When an operation state (abnormal state) is detected by the detection unit 17 in step a1, in step a2, the control unit 11 determines whether the detected abnormal state needs to be automatically transmitted to the management device 3 or not. You. When the automatic transmission is not necessary, that is, when the detected abnormal state is not included in the maintenance service based on the preset opening information, the operation unit 15 uses the key for information transmission in step a3. Determine whether an input operation has been performed. If a key input operation for information transmission has been performed, a call operation is performed to the management device 3 in step a4, and information such as a signal indicating the trouble is transmitted in step a5. In step a3,
If no key input operation has been performed, the operation ends.

In step a2, if the detected abnormal state is a trouble included in the maintenance service based on the preset opening information, for example, the photosensitive drum 58
In the case of trouble such as expiration of the service life, a call is made to the management device 3 in step a8, and
In step 9, the detected abnormal state, that is, information indicating that the photosensitive drum 58 needs to be replaced is transmitted, and the operation is terminated.

In step a6, it is determined whether the printer of the recording unit 14 can be used. When available,
In step a7, the information transmitted in step a5 is printed on a recording sheet and the operation is terminated. When the operation cannot be performed, for example, when the abnormal state detected in step a1 relates to the printer, step a10 is executed.
Then, the transmitted information is stored in the memory 18. At step a11, the stored information is displayed on the display unit 16 and the operation is terminated.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the detecting unit 1
Even information other than the information on the abnormal state of the facsimile machine 1 detected by the facsimile machine 7, that is, information that is not subject to maintenance service based on preset opening information, is transmitted to the management apparatus 3 by a key input operation by the operator. can do. As a result, even when a trouble not subject to maintenance management occurs in the facsimile machine, information on the trouble can be transmitted to the management device 3.

The transmitted information is printed out by the recording unit 14 or stored in the memory 18 and displayed and output by the display unit 16. As a result, the operator can visually confirm the transmitted information, and the convenience and usability of the facsimile machine 1 can be improved.

[0044]

According to the present invention, information to be automatically transmitted among at least the abnormal states of the facsimile communication means, the recording means and the reading means detected by the abnormal state detecting means is automatically transmitted by the abnormal state transmitting means. Even if information other than the information indicating the abnormal state detected by the abnormal state detecting means and not automatically transmitted and the information relating to the abnormal state is transmitted, the information can be transmitted to the management device by operating the key input means. Therefore, for example, even if a trouble that is not covered by the maintenance management service occurs, the information can be transmitted to the maintenance service bureau without a telephone call, thereby improving the convenience and usability of the facsimile machine. Can be done.

According to the invention, the information to be transmitted is printed out on the recording paper by the recording means. Therefore, the user of the facsimile machine can easily confirm what information has been transmitted.

Further, according to the present invention, information to be transmitted is stored in a memory, and can be arbitrarily displayed on a display means, for example. Therefore, the user of the facsimile machine can easily confirm what information has been transmitted. Further, the information stored in the memory is recorded on the recording paper by the recording means when the abnormal state of the recording means is not detected, which also allows the user of the facsimile apparatus to easily transmit the information transmitted to the management apparatus. Can be confirmed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a facsimile apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a configuration of the facsimile machine 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operation unit 15;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation at the time of transmitting information relating to an operation state of the facsimile apparatus 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 facsimile device 2 telephone line 3 management device 11 control unit 12 communication control unit 14 recording unit 17 detection unit 18 memory

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-84653 (JP, A) JP-A-3-280656 (JP, A) JP-A-3-278671 (JP, A) Jpn. Microfilm (JP, U) (58) Field of investigation (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 1/00 106 H04M 11/00 302

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile communication unit for transmitting and receiving image data via a public line, a recording unit for recording image data on recording paper, a reading unit for optically reading a document and converting the document into image data, An abnormal state detecting means for detecting an abnormal state of the facsimile communication means, the recording means and the reading means; and an output representing the abnormal state from the abnormal state detecting means,
A judgment means for judging whether the information indicating the detected abnormal state should be automatically transmitted to a management device for managing the abnormal state, and responding to the output of the judging means to indicate the detected abnormal state. An abnormal state transmitting means for automatically transmitting information to be automatically transmitted to the management apparatus, and an abnormality which is information to be transmitted to the management apparatus and which is detected by the abnormal state detecting means and is not automatically transmitted to the management apparatus. Key input means for instructing transmission of information indicating a state; transmitting information to be transmitted to the management device input by the key input means; and responding to an output indicating an abnormal state from the abnormal state detecting means, and making a determination. When it is determined that the information is not to be automatically transmitted by the means, the information indicating the abnormal state that is not automatically transmitted is managed by the input operation output of the key input means. Fakumishimiri apparatus characterized by comprising a means for transmitting to the location. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the abnormal state of the recording unit is not detected by the abnormal state detecting unit, the recording unit records information input by the key input unit on a recording sheet. A facsimile machine as described. 3. A memory for storing information input by the key input means when an abnormal state of the recording means is detected by the abnormal state detection means, and a display means for displaying stored contents of the memory. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit records the contents stored in the memory on a recording sheet when no abnormal state is detected.