JPS6090460A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable an operator of a copying machine to perform another job at a different place from the copying machine by informing an abnormal condition of the copying machine or the end of the copying work to the operator at a remote place by means of a telephone circuit. CONSTITUTION:If a copying machine has an abnormality, a call circuit 52 receives a call command from a control circuit 48 and sets the telephone number of an operator registered in a memory 54 to a routine. Then a call signal is sent to the operator. When the operator sends an answer, a message selecting circuit 58 discriminates a jam, the shortage of paper or toner, etc. for the abnormality and sets a start-end address of the corresponding message. Then the abnormality information is sent to the operator via a speech synthesis circuit 64. In the same way, a copying end message is transmitted when the copying operation is over.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to copying machines, and more particularly, to copiers that detect completion of copying operations, jams, toner shortages, etc. as detected by a self-monitoring feature.
This invention relates to a copying machine equipped with an automatic calling device that notifies an operator who is not near the copying machine of an abnormal condition such as a shortage of copy paper using a telephone line.

Conventional copiers equipped with an automatic document feeder or copiers equipped with a collating device to match this automatic document feeder are capable of automatically processing and copying multiple sheets of document. The middle operator has nothing to do unless an abnormality occurs in the copying machine. However, when performing other tasks in a location far from the copying machine, even if the copying machine is equipped with a function that not only displays and outputs copying abnormalities, but also issues warnings with a buzzer and outputs audio, it is difficult for the operator to This is not audible, and the copying error will not be cleared or the completed copies will not be sorted out until the operator returns. In particular, if the user forgets that he or she is using a copying machine, a great deal of time is lost in the progress of copying work, and the efficiency of using the copying machine is reduced.

Therefore, the operator must be aware that the copying machine will be in use for a considerable period of time until the copying process is complete, and must check the operating status of the copying machine from time to time. It was difficult to concentrate on other tasks.

The present invention eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art and enables the operator who is not near the copying machine to be notified of the status of the copying machine, thereby allowing the copying work to proceed smoothly and allowing the operator to move away from the copying machine during processing. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide a copying machine that allows one to concentrate on other tasks.

Configuration The configuration of the present invention will be described below based on one embodiment.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of a copying machine with an automatic calling device according to the present invention. In the figure, a copying machine 10
A console section 18 is provided on the main body 12 and includes a key date 14 (see FIG. 2) as an operation section and an automatic calling device 16 (see FIG. 3). A plurality of originals can be set by opening the top cover 20 of the main body 12, and each original is automatically fed after a predetermined number of originals have been copied. The copied sheets are stored page by page in each stacker section 24 of a collating device 22 provided on the right side of the main body 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the keyboard 14 includes a numeric keypad 26 that normally displays the number of copies per original sheet, a seven-fold number display and a number of copies, 28.30, and a main keypad that starts the copying operation. Switch 32, jam, (--end,
an abnormality display section 34 that displays abnormal conditions such as toner end;
In addition to 36 and 38, there are provided a telephone number set start key 401, a set end key 42, a reset key 44, a set auxiliary key 46, and an operator key (not shown) for distinguishing operators who are copying machine maintenance personnel. . When the number set key 40 is pressed, a telephone number can be entered using the numeric keypad 26.The digits of the telephone number are displayed on both the 1/copy number display section and the copy number display section 28.30. Ru. Next, when the set end key 44 is pressed, the telephone number is registered in the automatic calling device 16 and the display unit 2
8.30 display returns to normal. This registration is set key 4
2. If you want to register multiple phone numbers that can be canceled by pressing the reset key 44, press the set auxiliary key 46 at the break of each phone number to register each phone number individually, and then press the set end key 42 after inputting all the phone numbers. By pressing , registration is completed.

The operator key is used only to distinguish the telephone number that is pressed when the key is pressed as being for operator use, and is not normally used. After setting the number of copies, inputting the telephone number of the copy user's next work location, and turning on the main switch 'f32, the copying operation will begin.

If an abnormality occurs during copying, such as a jam, page completion, toner completion, etc., and it becomes impossible to continue the copying operation,
When all the copies have been completed, the automatic calling device 16 calls the operator's or copy user's other party phone using the telephone line, and transmits a message indicating the abnormality or copy completion.

As shown in FIG. 3, the automatic calling device 16 receives a copy completion signal, a jam signal o, an o end signal,
A control circuit 48 inputs a toner end signal, etc., and performs necessary control of each part of the apparatus; The system has a calling circuit 52 which operates a line connecting device 50 according to a pre-registered telephone number in order to call the copy user's other party's telephone, and does not call the operator or the copy user's other party's telephone. This calling circuit 52 includes a message selection circuit 58. Memory 54.
A timer 56 is connected. Message selection circuit 58
receives a message sending command including the type of situation sent from the control circuit 48, selects the message, breaks it down phrase by phrase, and outputs it.

A memory 60 is connected to the message selection circuit 58. The speech synthesis circuit 64 sequentially reads coefficients corresponding to each phoneme from the memory 62 based on the phrase sent from the message selection circuit 58 and performs speech synthesis. The audio signal formed by this voice synthesis circuit 64 is amplified by an amplifier 66. A speaker 72 is connected to the amplifier 66, and the speaker 72 is arranged opposite to the transmitter 70. Further, the microphone 76 faces the receiver 74, and these constitute an acoustic coupler. Connected to the microphone 76 are first to fourth discrimination circuits 77, 78, 80, 82 for discriminating received signals.

The control circuit 48 sends out a calling command including a copy user code when a copy completion signal is input, and sends out a calling command including an operator code to the calling circuit 52 when an abnormality detection signal such as a jam signal is input. Still, the first discrimination circuit 7
When a response from the other party's telephone 88, for example, a signal indicating that the caller has stopped, is input from 8, a message sending command including a type code of copy completion or toner end is output to the message selection circuit 58. Calling circuit 52
In accordance with a predetermined procedure, the keyboard 14 sends a connection 1 signal to the line connection device 50 in accordance with the operator's or copy user's telephone number registered and stored in the memory 54, connects and switches the line, and connects the telephone line. For example, a dial pulse is sent to the exchange 86 via 84 to call the other party (
Call Iku88. When the calling circuit 52 receives a signal from the third discrimination circuit 80 indicating that a ringing tone is being received, that is, a signal indicating that the other party is being called, the calling circuit 52 sets a timer 56 and waits for a predetermined period of time (15 to 30 If the other party does not respond within a few seconds, or if a signal indicating busy tone detection is input from the fourth discrimination circuit 82, the call is repeated a predetermined number of times using the same called party number.

If the other party does not respond, the timer 56 is set again and the same number is called again after a predetermined time interval has elapsed. The memory 54 is provided with a called party number storage section, first and second zo counter sections, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 4, the line connection device 50 has substantially the same configuration as a normal telephone. The line connection device @50 includes switches 90 and 92, which correspond to the hook switch of a telephone;
and dial switches 94 and 96, which are electromagnetic changeover switches controlled by the calling circuit 52 as shown by dotted lines. For example, when the copying machine is operating, switch 90.92
The loop of line 84 is closed by opening and opening.

After opening and closing 90 and 92, switch 94 is closed, and 96 is opened and closed in accordance with each digit of the selected number to send the Yars string to exchange 86 as shown in FIG. 88 is called. B is for bell, L is for bell,
Z is the sidetone circuit. The transmitter and receiver 70.74 are respectively opposed to a speaker and a microphone 72.76. In addition, when this line connection device 50 accommodates a push-button dial dial, the calling circuit 52 has two types of frequencies, for example, a combination of a high frequency and a low frequency as shown in FIG. 6, depending on the selected number. The signal, that is, the MF multiplied signal may be selected.

The message selection circuit 58 selects a message text according to the situation according to a predetermined procedure, sends it to the speech synthesis circuit 64 for voice agreement, and generates it from the speakerphone 72 to the receiver 70. When the messageno selection circuit 58 receives a sending command, it sets the start address of a certain messageno stored in the memory 62 depending on the situation, and outputs the message data phrase by phrase to the speech synthesis circuit 64 while incrementing the address.

This sending of the message data is repeated a plurality of times, and when it is completed, a message end signal is output to the paging circuit 52 to connect the line.

The messages stored in the memory 62 include, for example, ``This is the copying machine in room ○○. Copying has now been completed.'' or ``The copying machine in room ○○ has failed due to a noise.

”, etc., and one message data is broken down into phrases and stored sequentially in units of phrases from the first address.

In addition to this, the memory 62 includes a start/end register section,
A route counter section, an address counter section, etc. are provided.

The first to fourth discrimination units 77 to 82 filter the audio signals received from the transmitter 74 side according to the progress of the calling operation by the calling circuit 52, and each outputs a signal indicating that the dial tone is returned and the dialing state is enabled. However, when the called party picks up the handset and answers, it detects this and outputs a signal indicating the called party's response, or indicates that a ringing signal is being sent, that is, the calling party has been returned. It also has a function of detecting a busy state and outputting a busy detection signal.

Next, the overall operation of the above embodiment will be explained based on FIG. 7.

First, the control circuit 48 determines that the telephone numbers of the operator and the copy user have been input into the memory 54 (100).
If it is not input, do not execute the flow below, and if it is input, proceed to the next step to determine whether an abnormality has occurred (101).
, if no, then it is determined whether the copy is complete (1o2), and if this is also no, the process returns to step 101. Step 101
If it is determined that there is an abnormality, the process moves to operator call routine 103. That is, when the calling circuit 52 receives a calling command from the control circuit 48, it sets the telephone number of the operator registered in the memory 54 in the routine (104), and records the number of repeated calls in the first loop counter prepared in the memory 54. 105), and the second loop counter is set to the time during which a ringing signal is sent to the called party in one call, for example, the number of ringing intervals returned from the exchange 86 to the receiver 74 (106). Then, the switches 90 and 92 in the line connection circuit 50 are closed to call the line 84 (107), and when the first discrimination circuit 77 detects a dial tone,
Close the switch 94, open and close the switch 96, and disconnect the loop of the line 84 according to the selection number set in 1.
o8). If the output of the third and fourth discrimination circuits 80 and 82 determines whether the tone is a ringing tone or not (IL ringing tone, the timer 56 is set for a short time (21). If it is not a ringing tone, the second Luzo counter is decremented (]l12)
While the timer is open, the control circuit 48 determines whether the called party has responded based on the output from the second determination circuit 78 (113). If the called party has responded (113), the process moves to the abnormal message sending routine while maintaining the line (113). 130).

When the called party does not answer in step 113, the paging circuit 5
2, if time up is determined (114), if not, return to Stella fl13, if time up, go to step 1
Move to 12. After decrementing the second loop counter in step 112, the calling circuit 52 determines if the divisor value is zero (115), and if not, once the line is restored (115).
16), return to step 107 and immediately call again. Then, when the line becomes zero in step 115, the line is restored (117), and the timer 56 is activated for a relatively long time (several minutes to one hour).
118), after the time-up (119), and after decrementing the first loop counter (120), the count value is zero.
1), if not, the process returns to step 106 and a second call is made after a delay. Then, when the value becomes zero in step 121, the flow ends.

In the abnormal message sending routine 130, the message selection circuit 58 first determines whether the abnormal situation is NOYAM, paper end, toner end, etc. 13;1), (132
), (133), ..., after setting the start and end addresses of the message at the appropriate locations (134),
(135), (136).

...Set the number of repetitions in the loop counter of the memory 60 137), set the address counter to the start address (I38), and output the first phrase data to the speech synthesis circuit 64 139), synthesize the speech and start →
72 and sends it to the other party (140). Next, the address counter is incremented (141L) to determine whether it is greater than the end address of the message (142), and if it is less than the end address, the process returns to step 139 and outputs the audio for the next phrase. If the count value is larger than the end address in step 142, the loop counter is decremented (143), and then it is determined whether it is zero or not.
44), if no, return to step f138 and try again.

Perform Seno Send. Based on the judgment in step 144, the zero termination signal of the calling circuit 52 is directly disconnected from the sending port (145), and the flow ends.

Separately, if the copying is completed in step 102, a copy user call routine 150 is executed in the same manner as the operator call routine 103 to determine whether the called party has responded (151); If there is no response, please judge whether you have called repeatedly using the prescribed procedure.
2) If no, the process returns to step 150, and if the call is made again after a while, the flow ends. If the other party responds as determined in step 151, the copy completion message is sent out multiple times in the same way as the abnormal message notification described above.153L The line is restored and the flow ends.

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the operator or copy user registers one telephone number, but it is possible to register multiple telephone numbers by prioritizing them.
If the user does not answer the first call to the set telephone number, the second set number may be called, and the calls may be made in the same manner. Additionally, if a person who wants to make a copy while the person in front of him is copying enters "Reservation" on the keyboard and registers his or her phone number, a message will be sent to the copy user when the copy is complete. The text has been changed to "The copy has been completed and has been deleted. There is a next reservation, so please come quickly to pick it up." and the next reservation person will also be automatically notified that the previous copy has been completed. It's okay.

Effects According to the present invention, the completion of copying or the occurrence of an abnormality such as a jam in the copying machine is notified to an operator located at a location away from the copying machine. Therefore, the operator 1'F can smoothly perform the work for the first time, and can concentrate on the detailed work during processing, and can improve the efficiency of use of the copying machine.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a copying machine with an automatic calling device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partially omitted perspective view showing the keyboard part in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an automatic calling device. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the device, Figure 4 is a detailed configuration diagram of the line connection circuit shown in Figure 3, Figure 5 is a waveform diagram showing an example of dial/gurus, Figure 6 is MF. An explanatory diagram showing an example of a double signal configuration, FIG. 7 is a flowchart 1 explaining the overall operation of the automatic calling device shown in FIG. 3.
・It is. Explanation of symbols of main parts 10...Copy machine 14...Keyboard 48 ・Ichiwa loop circuit 50...Line connection circuit 52...Paging circuit 58...Message selection circuit 64...Speech synthesis circuit patent Applicant Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A line connection means for accommodating and operatively interfacing with a telephone line, an input means for inputting a called party number, and a memory for storing the input called party number. means for synthesizing the voice of the content of the report in response to a first signal indicating completion of copying or interruption of copying due to an abnormality of the copying machine, and transmitting the voice to the line in response to the first signal; calling means for controlling the connecting means and calling the line, the calling means, upon receiving the first signal, calling the line according to the called party number stored in the storage means; When the line connecting means detects a response from the called telephone of the called party number, the voice synthesizing means is controlled to synthesize a voice according to the content of the first signal and send it to the line. A copying machine characterized by: 2. In the copying machine according to claim 1, the storage means can store a plurality of called party numbers input by the input means, and the calling means first selects the called party number having a high priority. If the called telephone of the called party number with the higher priority does not respond within a predetermined period of time after the call is made, the called party number with the lower priority is called again in sequence. A copying machine characterized by: