JPH05236251A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the charging of account by detecting the operating state of the facsimile equipment and outputting a signal indicating that the equipment is being used. CONSTITUTION:When a communication key of a key board 6 is operated, a controller 1 controls a read section 3, the original reading is started and the original is sent, a relay 7 is driven by the detection of the communication key signal to close a relay contact 8. When the transmission is finished, the controller 1 controls the relay 7 to open the contact 8. As a result, a period when the contact 8 is closed indicates the operating state of the facsimile equipment. Thus, the operating time is counted by connecting a count means to terminals S1, S2 of the contact 8. In the case of reception, since the contact 8 is similarly closed, the operating time is counted by an external count means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the spread of facsimile machines, it has been attempted to improve the service to customers by installing a facsimile machine in each room of a business hotel. When used by the customer, it is configured to charge only for the transmission as in the case of the telephone.

[0003]

By the way, in the conventional charging system, the telephone charge can be charged according to the communication time only in the case of transmission, but generally, the facsimile apparatus is provided with a means for instructing that the apparatus is in use. Since it is not available, it was not possible to charge a fee for using the facsimile machine. In particular, it is difficult to charge the usage fee even though the recording paper is used because the receiving and copying operations are performed.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and outputs means for detecting the busy state of a facsimile machine and a signal for instructing the busy state to the outside. It is configured by means.

[0005]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the usage fee can be charged based on the use of the facsimile machine.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (1) is a control device for controlling the entire facsimile apparatus, which is composed of a microprocessor, and controls each unit according to a program in a program memory (2) in which a processing program is stored. Further, the control device (1) performs signal processing of the read transmission original data and processing of the received signal, and also generates various control signals. A reading unit (3) optically reads a transmission original, converts the read black and white data into an electric signal, and supplies the electric signal to the control device (1). (4) is a control device (1) based on the received signal
A recording unit that drives a recording head such as a thermal head under the control of to print. Reference numeral (5) is a data memory for storing the original data read by the reading unit (3) or the signal-processed data, and the writing and reading of the data are controlled by the control device (1). Reference numeral (6) is a keyboard composed of a communication key, a copy key, a selection key, a ten-key pad, etc. The control device (1) which takes in the key signal controls according to the program of the program memory (2) according to the key signal. (7) is a relay means controlled by the control device (1), and is a terminal (S1) (S) connected to the outside.
Open and close the relay contact (8) with 2). Reference numeral (9) is a line switching circuit for switching and connecting the telephone (10) and the control device (1) of the facsimile machine to the telephone line (L), which is constituted by a relay circuit and is switch-controlled by the control device (1).

Next, the operation of the present invention having such a configuration will be described. In the case of sending, first, after setting the original on the reading unit (3), dialing the receiving side on the telephone (10) and confirming that the facsimile machine has responded, if the communication key of the keyboard (6) is operated, Upon detecting the communication key signal, the control device (1) controls the reading unit (3) to start reading the document and transmit the document, and at the same time, the relay unit (7) is driven by the detection of the communication key signal to drive the relay contact (8). ) Closed. When the transmission is completed, the control device (1) which detects the completion of the transmission controls the relay means (7) to open the relay contact (8).

As a result, the period in which the relay contact (8) is closed indicates that the facsimile apparatus is in use, and the terminals (S1) (S2) of the relay contact (8) are not shown in the figure. By connecting the means, the usage time of the facsimile machine can be counted. In the case of manual reception next, when the communication key of the keyboard (6) is operated in the same manner as described above, reception is started and the relay contact (8) is closed. The usage time of the facsimile machine can be counted.

Even in the case of automatic reception, the use time can be counted by controlling the relay means (7) at the start of reception. Also, when the copy key of the keyboard (6) is operated to copy by the copy function of the facsimile device, the control device (1) that detects the copy key signal closes the relay contact (8). By controlling the means (7), it is possible to count the usage time of the facsimile machine as a copying machine.

[0010]

As described above, since the facsimile apparatus of the present invention can count the usage time, it is possible to charge the usage fee for any use of transmission, reception and copying. It is most suitable for a facsimile machine placed in each room of a business hotel.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 control device 3 reading unit 4 recording unit 6 keyboard 7 relay 8 relay contact

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A means for detecting that the facsimile apparatus is being used for transmission, reception, copying, etc., and means for outputting a signal instructing that the facsimile apparatus is being used to the outside by the detection of the means. Fax machine.