JPH0232665A - Automatic material ordering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform the automatic ordering of a material by using a communication line by connecting the line to a reception side device registered in advance, and transmitting a material refilling signal to the reception side device when it is detected that the remaining quantity of the material goes less than a constant value. CONSTITUTION:In an automatic material ordering device, a detecting signal (a) is outputted from a detecting signal generating means 32 in the case of detecting the fact that the remaining quantity of the material goes less than a value set in advance by a detecting means 31. The line to the reception side device 40 registered in advance is connected to a transmission means 33 based on the detecting signal (a). When the line is connected, the material refilling signal (c) is transmitted to the reception side device 40. In such a way, it is possible to perform the automatic ordering of the material when the remaining quantity of the material goes less than the constant value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to an automatic material ordering device suitable for application to a transmission device that transmits and receives signals using a communication line such as a telephone line, such as a facsimile machine. .

[Background of the Invention] As a transmission device that transmits and receives signals using a communication line, a facsimile device that transmits and receives image signals over an existing telephone line is well known.

In this facsimile machine, information is reproduced on recording paper provided within the facsimile machine based on the received image signal.

Therefore, recording paper is consumed every time an image signal is received.

Therefore, the user needs to replenish the recording paper before it runs out.

Therefore, in order to inform the user of the consumption level of recording paper, a portion of the recording paper of a predetermined length starting from the last edge of the recording paper,
For example, a marker such as red is attached to the left end portion that does not have much influence on the received image.

Therefore, the user knows that the remaining amount of recording paper with markers is low, and orders recording paper from a material replenishment company.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] By the way, in the above-mentioned facsimile machine, when the recording paper with the marker is used up, it is necessary to order recording paper from a material supplier each time, which is extremely troublesome. It's complicated.

Furthermore, since there are multiple types of recording paper depending on the model and size of the device, there is a risk of ordering errors such as ordering a different type of recording paper by mistake.

Since recording paper with markers is only available in a predetermined length, if the order is delayed, the recording paper may run out by the time it is replenished, leading to problems such as reception being impossible.

Therefore, the present invention proposes an automatic material ordering device that solves these conventional problems with a simple structure and automatically orders consumable materials such as recording paper.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, in a transmission device that transmits and receives signals using a communication line, a detection means for detecting the remaining amount of material; A detection signal generating means generates a detection signal when the remaining amount of material is detected to be below a certain value, and a line is connected to a receiving device registered in advance based on the detection signal, and a line is connected to the receiving device. The apparatus is characterized in that it includes a transmitting means for transmitting a material replenishment signal, and automatically orders materials using a communication line.

[Function] In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, the automatic materials ordering device detects that the remaining amount of materials is below a preset value by the detection means 31 that detects the remaining amount of materials. In this case, the detection signal generating means 32 outputs the detection signal a.

Based on this detection signal a, the transmitting means 33 connects a line to the receiving device 40 registered in advance. When the line is connected, a material replenishment signal C is transmitted to the receiving device 4o.

Therefore, when the remaining amount of materials falls below a certain value, it is possible to automatically order materials.

[Embodiment] Next, a case in which an example of the automatic material ordering device according to the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned facsimile machine will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 and subsequent figures.

The first section is a system diagram showing an example of a user-side device (facsimile machine) to which an example of the automatic material ordering device according to the present invention is applied, and an example of a material supply company's device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic material ordering device 30 includes a detection means 31 for detecting the remaining amount of materials, a detection signal generation means 32 for outputting a detection signal a based on the detection result, a transmission means 33, and a user to notify the user of the remaining amount. It is composed of a notification means 34 that notifies the user.

The operation of the user-side device 1 equipped with the automatic material ordering device 30 having such a configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the remaining amount of material, such as recording paper, is detected by the detection means 31 (step S1), and the detection result is supplied to the detection signal generation means 32.

The detection signal generating means 32 determines whether the remaining amount of material is less than or equal to a preset amount based on the detection result (step S2).

If the remaining amount is less than a certain amount, the detection signal a is supplied to the transmitting means 33 and the mobi notification means 34, respectively (steps S3 and S4).
).

As a result, the notification means 34 is activated to notify the user of the material consumption, and the transmitting means 33 executes a line connection process with the material replenisher side device 40 recorded in advance. When the line is connected, information such as the user's registration number and material replenishment signal C is transmitted to the device 40 on the material replenisher side.

On the other hand, in the material replenishment company's device 40 as shown in FIG. The contents of the ?3 signal, that is, the user registration number and the material replenishment signal C are respectively detected.

As a result, the search means 43 refers to the database 44 based on the detected user registration number and searches for data regarding each user, such as the type of recording paper and delivery method.

Based on the search results, the communication means 45 contacts each organization so that the user can be supplied with predetermined recording paper.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the entire facsimile machine (user side device) to which the automatic material ordering device according to the present invention can be applied.

As is well known, the facsimile machine 1 includes a document optical reading means 10 in a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped housing (main body) 2.
Recording means 20 for recording received image data on recording paper
is stored.

The image signal read by the optical reading means 10 is transmitted to the other party using a communication line.

At the top of the housing 2, in the illustrated example, a document table 3 is provided that projects from the upper left to the lower right, and documents placed on the document table 3, identification sheets, etc. These papers (collectively referred to as manuscripts) are optical reading means 10
Paper is fed to

The original that has entered the inside of the red case through the original insertion hole is fed downward by the feeding roller 4. Then, the paper ejection roller 5
, 6, the paper type is determined and the document image is read.

Therefore, the feeding roller 4 and the pair of paper ejection rollers 5, 6
A fluorescent lamp 11 is provided between the two and illuminates the surface of the document with its light. The reflected light (optical image information) thus obtained is transmitted to a pair of mirrors 12 disposed on the bottom side of the housing 2.
'13, the light is guided to the image reading element 15 via the lens system 14.

In the image reading element 15, optical image information is converted into an electrical signal, that is, an image signal. The image signal passes through an image processing system (not shown), is stored in memory, or is sent to a communication line.

As the image reading element 15, a line sensor made of a charge transfer element such as a CCD or the like can be used.

Reference numeral 17 indicates a board on which the CCD 15 is mounted.

The document is fed downward at a predetermined speed, and in the embodiment, image information is read line by line and sequentially converted into image signals.

The document fed out at a predetermined speed is passed through a pair of paper ejection rollers 5.6.
In this example, the document is ejected from the front bottom side of the housing 2 to a tray (not shown) for the document tray.

Although not shown, the upper front side of the casing 2 serves as an operation panel surface on which various operation keys and a display section are formed.

Next, the recording means 20 will be explained.

The recording means 20 is means for reproducing the information as a visible image on recording paper based on the received image signal. The recording means 20 is provided above the rear of the housing 2.

Therefore, roll paper (recording paper) 21 is placed in the center of the housing 2.
is rotatably provided, and this recording paper 21 is sent out to the platen roller 22 side.

A recording element 23 is arranged on the upper surface of the platen roller 22 so as to be in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of this roller. As the recording element 23, a linear thermal head or the like can be used.

Therefore, the incoming image information is recorded up to the upper surface of the platen roller 22 (when the flying recording paper 21 passes the thermal head 23).

When the recording paper 21 on which image information has been recorded is conveyed for a predetermined length, the automatic cutter device 24 is driven and the trailing portion of the recording paper 21 is automatically cut. Therefore, although not shown, the automatic cutter device 24 is composed of a knife for cutting paper and a drive means for moving the knife up and down.

The automatically cut recording paper 21 is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 25 attached to the rear of the housing 2.

In the facsimile apparatus 1 as described above, the above-mentioned detection means 31 is attached to the free end portion of the support member 27 whose rotational fulcrum is the shaft 26 that rotatably supports the recording element 23 as shown in the figure.

An example of the detection means 31 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 shows a case where, for example, an odometer sensor 31a (combined light emitting and light receiving type) is used as the detection means 31.

If there is one or more preset recording sheets 21,
As shown in FIG. 4A, the light P fully emitted from the photosensor 31a is reflected by the recording paper 21, and this reflected light P is received by the photosensor 31a.

On the other hand, when the recording paper 21 falls below a certain amount, the light P emitted from the photosensor 31a does not hit the recording paper 21, as shown in FIG. 4B, so the photosensor 31a does not receive the reflected light P.

Therefore, the photosensor 31a can easily detect the remaining amount of the recording paper 21 depending on whether or not it receives the reflected light P.

FIG. 5 shows a microswitch 31b as the detection means 31.
This is the case when using .

As shown in FIG. 5A, when there is more than a certain amount of recording paper 21, the microswitch 31b is turned on (or turned off).

Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the amount of recording paper 21 falls below a certain amount, the microswitch 31b is turned off (or on) and the remaining amount is detected.

The detection means 31 described above is only an example, and is not limited thereto.

Further, although this embodiment has been described using recording paper as the material, the present invention is not limited to this, and other consumable materials may be used.

The installation position of the detection means is only one example, and other positions may be used as long as the remaining amount of the consumable material can be detected.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the configuration of the present invention, in a transmission device that transmits and receives signals using a communication line, there is a detection means for detecting the remaining amount of material, and a detection means in which the remaining amount of material is constant. A detection signal generation means that generates a detection signal when a value less than the value is detected, and a line is connected to a receiving device registered in advance based on the detection signal, and a material replenishment signal is sent to the receiving device. The system is characterized in that it is equipped with a transmitting means for automatically ordering materials using a communication line.

Therefore, the user does not need to request material replenishment.
You can also avoid delays such as delays in ordering.

Additionally, errors in ordering materials, etc., can be reliably prevented.

Therefore, the automatic material ordering device according to the present invention is extremely suitable for application to transmission devices such as the above-mentioned facsimile machines.

・Detection means ・Detection signal generation means ・Detection signal ・User registration number ・Material supply signal

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an automatic material ordering device according to the present invention applied to a facsimile machine, FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the automatic material ordering device, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an automatic material ordering device according to the present invention applied to a facsimile machine In the diagram showing an outline of a preferred facsimile machine, the fourth section and the fifth section are sections showing an example of the detection means of the present invention. 1...Facsimile machine 21...Recording paper 30...Automatic material ordering device

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a transmission device that transmits and receives signals using a communication line, there is a detection means for detecting the remaining amount of material, and a detection device that generates a detection signal when the above detection means detects that the remaining amount of material is below a certain value. a signal generating means; and a transmitting means for connecting a line to a receiving device registered in advance based on the detection signal and transmitting a material replenishment signal to the receiving device; An automatic materials ordering device characterized in that the automatic materials ordering device is used to automatically order materials.