JPH0380662A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the time required for the maintenance and repair by dialing a telephone number of the service center automatically when the residual mount of recording paper is less so as to inform the less residual mount of recording paper. CONSTITUTION:Notice means 4, 5 informing the operating state of recording paper 13 are provided and a telephone number of the service center requesting the maintenance or repair or the like is registered in a memory 3 and when the quantity of use of the recording paper 13 reaches a prescribed value by an output of a feed quantity detection section 15, the service center is called and the notice means 4, 5 inform it that the residual amount of the recording paper 13 is less. Thus, the maintenance and repair request of the facsimile equipment is informed to the service center surely without a delay and the time required for the maintenance and repair is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine that automatically notifies a service center of the details of the malfunction when a malfunction occurs.

(Prior art) In conventional facsimile machines, maintenance (replacement) periods are set for various consumable parts. For example, in the recording system, the maintenance period can be determined by displaying the amount of paper passing (amount used). There are some things you can use as a guide. As a method for detecting the amount of paper passing through the recording paper, there is a method in which the amount of feed of a step motor that conveys the recording paper is counted and displayed on a counter. The operator looks at the display on this counter and periodically contacts the service center to request maintenance. Furthermore, in the case of a failure in the conventional fusing apparatus, if a service is required depending on the location of the failure, the operator is notified of this by displaying a message to that effect on the display. The operator sees this display and contacts the service center to request repair.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, such conventional facsimile '7t'
In the case of 1, the operator used the number of paper sheets displayed on the facsimile machine and the malfunction indication to determine the maintenance period and malfunction status, and then contacted the service center, which led to the paper running out and malfunctions. If the user is delayed in responding to the occurrence of a previous abnormal condition and is therefore delayed in contacting the service center, the period during which the facsimile machine is stopped becomes longer and the period during which it cannot be used becomes longer. This is inconvenient for the user.

Additionally, if a facsimile device is equipped with a memory whose stored contents are retained by a backup power source, the voltage of this backup power source may drop, erasing the stored contents and causing the facsimile device to no longer function as a facsimile device. Therefore, it is desirable to detect and avoid such failures in advance.

(Purpose of the Invention) Therefore, in the invention set forth in claim 1, the amount of recording paper used is detected, and when the remaining amount of recording paper becomes low based on the detection result, the telephone number of the service center registered in advance is automatically called. In addition, in the invention according to claim 2, the output voltage of the backup power source is detected and the output voltage becomes below a predetermined value. By automatically calling the pre-registered service center phone number and notifying the service center that the output voltage of the backup power supply has dropped, the service center can be contacted without delay to request maintenance or repair of the facsimile machine. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile machine that reduces the time required for maintenance and repair thereof.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim (2) includes a step motor that drives a recording paper conveyance section, a feed amount detection section that detects the feed amount of the step motor, and a bank-up A memory whose stored contents are retained by a power supply,
In a facsimile machine that detects the amount of recording paper used based on the feed amount of the step motor and stores system information for controlling the step motor and registration information such as one-touch dialing and abbreviated numbers in the memory, the recording paper In addition to providing a notification means for notifying the usage status of the memory, the telephone number of a service center for requesting maintenance, repair, etc. is registered in the memory, and the amount of recording paper used reaches a predetermined value based on the output of the detection unit. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the service center is called and the notifying means notifies the service center that the remaining amount of the recording paper is low; a step motor that detects the feed amount of the step motor, a feed/amount detection section that detects the feed amount of the step motor, and a memory that retains stored contents by a backup power source, and uses the recording paper based on the feed amount of the step motor. In the fujitsu device which detects the quantity and stores in the memory system information for controlling the step motor and registration information such as one-touch dialing and abbreviated numbers.

A voltage detection means for detecting the output voltage of the power supply and a notification means for notifying the detection result of the voltage detection means are provided, and the telephone number of a service center to which maintenance or repair is requested is registered in the memory. The present invention is characterized in that when the output of the voltage detection means becomes less than a predetermined value, a call is made to the service center and the notification means notifies that the output voltage of the backup power supply has decreased.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained based on examples.

1 to 3 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the invention according to claim 1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile machine 1, and the facsimile machine 1 is an MPU (Micro Pro
cessing Unit) 2, RAM (Ran
dom Access Memory) (memory) 3,
It is equipped with a modem 4, an NCU 3, an operation section 6, a control circuit 7, etc., and each section is connected to a bus 8.

The MPU 2 executes a sequence for the facsimile apparatus 1 according to a program stored in the RAM 3, and also executes recording processing and recording paper usage detection processing, which will be described later.

The RAM 3 stores a program (system information) for executing a sequence as a facsimile machine, and also stores the telephone number of the destination, the telephone number of the service center, etc., and these stored contents are retained by the backup power supply 9. has been done.

The modem 4 modulates the transmitted signal into a form suitable for transmission over the line when transmitting, and demodulates the modulated signal sent from the line when receiving.

A line is connected to the NCU 3, and the NCU 3 connects and disconnects the line.

The operation section 6 includes a ten-key pad, operation keys, and a display section, and when operated by the operator, displays a message for confirmation, thereby exchanging information between the operator and the facsimile machine 1.

The control circuit 7 controls a drive circuit 10 based on a control signal from the MPU 2, and the drive circuit 10 drives and controls a stepping motor (step motor) 11.

The stepping motor 11 is a recording paper feed roller (conveyance section)
12 is rotationally driven to send the recording paper 13 to the recording section 14 and record an image. The feed amount of the stepping motor 11 is counted by a counter (feed amount detection section) 15, and the count amount of the counter 15 is sent to the MPU 2 via the lotus 8.
will be forwarded to.

Note that when the modem 4 and NCU 3 notify the service center of the amount of recording paper remaining, they either transmit the notification content as image information under the control of the MPU 2, or send a tone signal or DTM to the computer at the service center.
F (Dual Tone Multi Frequency
cy) It has a function as a notification means that communicates by signals.

Next, the effect will be explained.

First, the recording operation of the facsimile machine 1 will be explained according to the flowchart of the recording process shown in FIG.

When the factor ξ device 1 receives a call from a predetermined destination via the line, the factor ξ device 1 prepares for reception according to a predetermined facsimile communication procedure and transfers the leading edge of the recording paper 13 to the recording unit 14. set. After the recording paper 13 is sent, reception of image information is started, and the stepping motor 11 is driven under the drive control of the control circuit 7 and the drive circuit 10, and the recording paper 13 is moved by the recording paper feed roller 12 every predetermined line (for example, one line). (step PI), and the received image is recorded by the recording unit 14 (step Pg). This moment,
The counter 15 counts up the feed amount of the stepping motor 11 (step P3) until the recording is completed (
Step P,) Step PI"" Repeats the process of P3.

The MPU 2 recognizes the amount counted by the counter 15 as the amount of recording paper 13 used.

Next, the operation of detecting the amount of recording paper used by the facsimile machine 1 will be explained according to the flowchart of the detection process shown in FIG.

The MPU 2 checks the count value of the counter 15 (step P11), and determines whether this count value has exceeded a predetermined value (step P, □). When the count value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined that the remaining amount of recording paper 13 is low, and a call is made to the memorized telephone number of the service center to remove recording paper 13.
The modem 4 and the NCU 3 notify the service center that the remaining capacity of the NCU 3 is low (step PI+).

With this notification, the service center will issue 1 refill of recording paper.
3 can be prepared and delivered to the user of the fax machine without delay.

As described above, by detecting the usage amount of the recording paper 13 and automatically notifying the service center of the remaining amount, the running out of the recording paper 13 is detected in advance, and a request is made to the service center to replenish the recording paper 3. Therefore, a situation where the facsimile machine 1 becomes unable to receive data due to running out of recording paper can be avoided.

Therefore, it is possible to minimize the period during which the facsimile machine 1 is stopped due to lack of replenishment supplies, etc., and the operator's work to contact the service center can be reduced, making the facsimile machine even more convenient. improves.

FIG. 4.5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the invention according to claim 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the fudge device 21, and the same components as those of the fudge device 1 shown in FIG.

The facsimile device 21 includes an MPU 22, an ADC (A/D
It is equipped with a converter (voltage detection means) 23, a scanner 24, a plotter 25, and the like.

The facsimile machine 21 executes a sequence as the facsimile machine 1 according to a program stored in the RAM 3, and also executes a voltage detection process of the backup power supply 9, which will be described later.

The ADC 23 converts the output voltage (analog value) of the bank amplifiers a and 9 into digital data, and transfers this digital data to the MPU 2 via the bus 8.

The scanner 24 is, for example, a CCD (Charge
A line scanner using a Coupled Device is used, and the scanner 24 reads the document every one line and outputs it as image data.

As the plotter 25, for example, a thermal recording device using a thermal element is used, and the plotter 25 records on ordinary recording paper directly or indirectly via an ink sheet.

Next, the effect will be explained.

The process for detecting the voltage of the backup voltage FA9 will be explained in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG.

The output voltage of the backup power supply 9 is converted into digital data by the ADC 23 and transferred to the MPU 22 in step P.
z+), the MPU 22 determines based on this digital data whether the output voltage of the backup power supply 9 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value (step P2□).

If the output voltage of the backup power supply 9 is lower than the predetermined value, it is determined that the output voltage of the backup power supply 9 has decreased and the service life is near, and the modem 4 calls the memorized service center telephone number and informs the modem 4 that the output voltage of the backup power supply 9 has decreased. And the NCU 3 notifies the service center.

This notification allows the service center to prepare a replacement backup electronic device a9 and deliver it to the user of the facsimile device 1 without delay.

Therefore, due to the voltage drop of the backup voltage a9, R
This makes it possible to prevent the memory contents of the AM3 from being erased, and the reliability of the facsimile machine 1 is further improved.

(Effect) Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 1, the amount of recording paper used is detected, and when the remaining amount of recording paper becomes low based on the detection result, the telephone number of the service center registered in advance is automatically called. According to the second aspect of the invention, the output voltage of the bank up power supply is detected and this output voltage is set to a predetermined value. When the following conditions occur, a call is automatically made to the pre-registered service center phone number to notify that the output voltage of the backup power supply has dropped, allowing maintenance and repair requests to be made to the service center without delay. It is possible to communicate reliably and reduce the time required for maintenance and repairs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a fuse ξ according to the invention claimed in claim 1.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of its overall configuration, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing its recording processing program, and FIG. 3 is its recording paper usage detection processing program. It is a flowchart which shows. 4.5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus according to the invention as claimed in claim 2, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of its overall configuration, and FIG. 5 is an output voltage of the backup power supply shown in FIG. 4. 2 is a flowchart showing a program for detection processing. ■, 21...Facsimile machine, 2.22...
...MPU, 3...RAM (memory), 9...Backup power supply, 11...Stepping motor (step motor), 12...Recording Paper feed roller (transport unit), 1
3... Recording paper, 15... Counter (feed amount detection unit) 23...
...ADC (voltage detection section). agent

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A step motor that drives a recording paper conveyance section, a feed amount detection section that detects the feed amount of the step motor, and a memory whose stored contents are held by a backup power source, and the step motor drives the step motor. In a facsimile machine that detects the amount of recording paper used based on the amount and stores system information for controlling the step motor and registration information such as one-touch dialing and abbreviated numbers in the memory, the usage status of the recording paper is notified. In addition, a telephone number of a service center for requesting maintenance or repair is registered in the memory, and when the amount of recording paper used reaches a predetermined value according to the output of the detection unit, the service center is notified. 1. A facsimile apparatus, characterized in that the facsimile apparatus makes a call to the facsimile machine and uses a notification means to notify that the remaining amount of recording paper is low. (2) A step motor that drives a recording paper conveyance section, a feed amount detection section that detects the feed amount of the step motor, and a memory whose stored contents are held by a backup power source, and the step motor drives the step motor. In the facsimile machine, which detects the amount of recording paper used based on the amount of recording paper used, and stores in the memory system information for controlling the step motor and registration information such as one-touch dialing and abbreviated numbers, the output voltage of the backup power source is detected. In addition to providing a voltage detection means for detecting the voltage detection means and a notification means for notifying the detection result of the voltage detection means, the phone number of a service center to which maintenance or repair is requested is registered in the memory, and the voltage detection means is provided. A facsimile apparatus characterized in that when the output of the means becomes less than a predetermined value, the service center is called and the notification means notifies that the output voltage of the backup power supply has decreased.