JPH0698073A - Facsimile broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use a receiver without anxiety by monitoring the residual quantity of recording paper. expediting the exchange or refilling/purchase of the recording paper by notifying the fact that the residual quantity of the recording paper is insufficient to a user by a recording paper residual quantity alarm means when the residual quantity arrives at a certain residual quantity alarm reference value, and reducing possibility to miss the reception of required information due to the shortage of the recording paper. CONSTITUTION:This receiver is equipped with a recording paper cover reset means 4 which recognizes the fact that the recording paper P of a recording means 5 is exchanged with new one, a measuring means 6c which measures the outer diameter of the recording paper P at every print or paper feed processing, a measuring value storage means 6b which stores a value obtained by the measuring means 6c, a residual quantity alarm reference storage means 6a which stores and preserves an alarm reference value representing a diameter when the residual quantity of the recording paper P arrives at a value in the neighborhood of limitation in the outer diameter of the recording paper P, and a recording paper residual quantity alarm means 8 which compares the alarm reference value with the value of the measuring value storage means 6b and notifies the fact that the value of the measuring value storage means 6b arrives at the alarm reference value.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention receives a facsimile broadcast signal transmitted by utilizing a gap between audio signals of the current television broadcast, and after a series of processing, outputs image information to a printer or the like. The present invention relates to a facsimile broadcast receiving device for outputting to a device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional facsimile broadcast receiver,
As a means for confirming the remaining amount of the recording paper, there has been often used a method in which a peep window for confirming the remaining amount of the recording paper is provided and the user appropriately visually confirms through the peep window.

[0003]

However, in the conventional facsimile broadcast receiving apparatus, the confirmation of the remaining amount of the recording paper is left to the judgment of the user's voluntary action, so that the user confirms the remaining amount of the recording paper. If you fail to do so, you will not notice until you run out of recording paper, and you will not be aware of it until you run out of recording paper. There was a problem that a situation occurred and the required information was not received when desired.

Further, since the facsimile broadcasting is a one-way communication because of the nature of broadcasting, information is unilaterally transmitted regardless of the state of the receiving side, so that the receiving side facsimile broadcasting receiving apparatus runs out of recording paper or the like. There is also a problem that it is extremely difficult to obtain the same necessary information when the user fails to receive the necessary information.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to monitor the remaining amount of recording paper and warn the remaining amount of recording paper when a certain remaining amount warning reference value is reached. By means of means to inform the user that the remaining amount of the recording paper is low, urge the replacement or replenishment / purchase of the recording paper, and reduce the possibility of failing to receive the necessary information due to lack of recording paper, An object is to provide a facsimile broadcast receiving apparatus that can be used by a user with peace of mind.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in a facsimile broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention, a facsimile broadcast signal transmitted by utilizing a gap between audio signals of a television broadcast. In a facsimile broadcast receiving apparatus configured to record the facsimile broadcast signal in the recording means, and a recording paper cover resetting means for recognizing that the recording paper of the recording means is replaced with a new one, and a printing or paper feeding The measuring means for measuring the outer diameter of the recording paper at each processing, the measured value storing means for storing the value obtained by this measuring means, and the diameter when the remaining amount of the recording paper is near the usage limit The remaining amount warning reference storage means for storing and holding the warning reference value represented by the outer diameter of the recording paper is compared with this warning reference value and the value of the measurement value storage means, and the value of the measurement value storage means is the warning. Characterized by comprising a recording sheet remaining amount warning means for informing to that effect upon reaching the reference value.

[0007]

In the present invention having the above construction, the recording paper used is specified by the manufacturer as a recording paper suitable for the apparatus, and the outer diameter of the recording paper when it is in a new state is fixed. Therefore, the value near the limit (remaining amount warning reference value) at which printing or paper feed processing when the recording paper is new can be set within a certain allowable range. The warning reference value is stored in advance in the remaining amount warning reference storage means, the outer diameter of the recording paper is measured for each printing or paper feeding process, and the value is stored in the measured value storage means and the remaining amount warning reference. When the value of the measured value storage means reaches the value of the remaining amount warning reference storage means, the user is notified that the remaining amount of recording paper is low.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a facsimile broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, a facsimile broadcast receiving device includes a facsimile broadcast receiving unit 1, a main control unit 2, an operation unit 3, a recording paper cover reset unit 4, an image information recording unit 5 as a recording unit, a measurement / storage unit 6, and a backup battery. 7 and a recording paper remaining amount warning unit 8 are generally configured.

The facsimile broadcast receiving unit 1 receives a facsimile broadcast signal transmitted by utilizing the gap between the audio signals of the television broadcast and makes the main control unit 2 easily process the received facsimile broadcast signal. Signal conversion into an appropriate information unit. The main control unit 2 receives necessary information from the facsimile broadcast signals converted into appropriate information units given by the facsimile broadcast receiving unit 1 according to the program or page selection information input by the user from the operation unit 3. Only the decoded facsimile image information is output to the image information recording unit 5 and the entire apparatus is controlled.

The operation unit 3 is for executing an operation of selecting a program or page number of a facsimile broadcast desired by the user. The recording paper cover reset unit 4 performs an operation for making the main control unit 2 recognize that the recording paper is replaced with a new one when the recording paper is replaced with a new one. This is for recording the facsimile image information decrypted in (1) on a recording medium such as a thermal paper using a recording means such as a thermal head.

The measuring / storing unit 6 is composed of a remaining amount warning reference storing unit 6a, a measured value storing unit 6b, and a measuring unit 6c. The measuring unit 6c records from the optical sensor each time printing or paper feeding is performed. The distance to the outer circumference of the paper is measured, and the value is stored in the measured value storage unit 6b. Then, the remaining amount warning reference storage unit 6a stores a warning reference value obtained by converting the amount when the recording paper is near the usable limit into the distance from the optical sensor to the outer circumference of the recording paper. Backup battery 7
Is for backing up the information stored in the storage units 6a and 6b of the measurement / storage unit 6 so as not to volatilize even when the power supply of the apparatus is off.

The recording paper remaining amount warning unit 8 has a warning sound generating unit 8a and a warning light display unit 8b, and the warning sound generating unit 8a has the value of the measured value storage unit 6b as the value of the remaining amount warning reference storage unit 6a. When it reaches, a warning sound is emitted for a certain period of time in response to a command from the main control unit 2 to inform the user of the fact that the recording paper is about to run out, and the warning light display unit is provided. 8b is a condition similar to that of the warning sound generating section 8a, and is for visually informing the user that the recording paper will be used up soon.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the image information recording unit 5 in one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the image information recording unit 5 is built in the exterior portion 10 of the facsimile broadcast receiving apparatus. The cover 11 of the portion 10 is configured to be openable / closable in the direction of the arrow a around the support metal fitting 12 to cover the image information recording portion 5, and the inside of the cover 11 is covered by the recording paper P each time printing or paper feeding processing is performed. An optical sensor 13 for measuring the distance L from the outer circumference is provided. And
A recording paper cover reset switch 14 is arranged near the support fitting 12 to detect whether the cover 11 is opened or closed.

A roll-shaped recording paper P is accommodated in the lower portion of the outer casing 10. In this embodiment, the recording paper P is recorded by the thermal head 15, so a thermal paper is used. The recording paper P is rotated in the direction of arrow b by the driving of the platen roller 16 and is recorded by the thermal head 15.

The operation of the facsimile broadcast receiving apparatus in this embodiment having the above structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B). The facsimile broadcast signal input to the facsimile broadcast receiving unit 1 is subjected to signal processing according to a predetermined algorithm, converted into an appropriate information unit so that the main control unit 2 can easily process the signal, and output to the main control unit 2. To be done. The main control unit 2 first determines whether or not it is in the standby state (step 101). If it is not in the standby state, the main control unit 2 that has received a facsimile broadcast signal of an appropriate information unit from the facsimile broadcast reception unit 1 will It is determined whether or not the broadcast signal is information of the program or page desired and selected by the user from the operation unit 3 (steps 102 and 103).

Then, the main control unit 2 judges that the facsimile broadcast signal of an appropriate information unit received from the facsimile broadcast receiving unit 1 is the information of the program or page desired and selected by the user from the operation unit 3. Then, the process proceeds to step 104, and the decoding process of the facsimile broadcast signal is started according to a predetermined algorithm. When the main control unit 2 continues the decoding process of the facsimile broadcast signal of an appropriate unit received from the facsimile broadcast receiving unit 1, when the decoding process of the facsimile broadcast signal corresponding to one line of image information is completed, the main control unit 2 The section 2 outputs an image information recording start command for one line to the image information recording section 5, measures the distance L from the optical sensor 13 to the outer circumference of the recording paper P, and stores the value in the measured value storage section 6b. Remember.

The main control unit 2 restarts the decoding process from the continuation of the completion of the decoding process of the facsimile broadcasting signal corresponding to one line of image information in the facsimile broadcasting signal received from the facsimile broadcasting receiving unit 1. The decoding process is continued until the decoding of all the necessary information in the appropriate unit of the facsimile broadcasting signal received from the facsimile broadcasting receiving unit 1 is completed (steps 105 to 107). The main controller 2, which has completed decoding of all the necessary information among the appropriate units of the facsimile broadcast signal received from the facsimile broadcast receiver 1, outputs the next continuous facsimile broadcast signal from the facsimile broadcast receiver 1. Wait for

On the other hand, the image information recording unit 5 which receives the image information for one line from the main control unit 2 and the image information recording unit 5 which receives the image information recording start command for one line receives the image information for one line received from the main control unit 2. Is recorded on a recording medium such as thermal paper using a recording means such as the thermal head 15, the distance L from the optical sensor 13 to the outer circumference of the recording paper P is measured, and the value is stored in the measured value storage unit 6b. (Step 108-
110).

The above processing is repeated until the processing for one page of the facsimile broadcast signal is completed.
When the processing for one page of the facsimile broadcast signal is completed, the main control unit 2 and the image information recording unit 5 wait until the information of the program or page of the facsimile broadcast selected and selected by the next user arrives. State (step 1
11, 112).

When the main controller 2 is in the standby state,
As shown in (B), the routine proceeds to step 113, where it is determined whether or not the warning lamp is in the lighting state. If it is not in the lighting state, the value stored in the measured value storage section 6b and the remaining amount warning reference storage section 6 are determined.
If the value of the measured value storage unit 6b has reached the value of the remaining amount warning reference storage unit 6a by comparing with the remaining amount warning reference value stored in a, the main control unit 2 instructs the warning sound generation unit 8a. The warning light is instructed to sound, and the warning light display unit 8b is instructed to turn on the warning light. The warning sound generation unit 8a, which receives the warning sound command from the main control unit 2, sounds the warning sound for a certain period of time. Similarly, the warning light display unit 8b which receives the warning lamp lighting command from the main control unit 2 performs the warning lamp lighting process (steps 114 to 116).

Note that the warning lamp display section 8b is temporarily changed to the main control section 2.
When the warning lamp lighting command is received from the user and the warning lamp lighting process is performed, the recording paper P is replaced by a new one by the user, and the recording is performed by the user from the recording paper cover reset switch 14 through the recording paper cover reset unit 4. After performing an operation for making the main control unit 2 recognize that the paper P is replaced with a new one, the main control unit 2 performs a series of processing when the main control unit 2 is replaced with a new one, and the main control unit 2 outputs a warning light. If the warning light extinction command is not output to the display unit 8b, the warning light display unit 8b does not perform the extinction process of the warning light.

Therefore, as described above, if the value of the measured value storage unit 6b has reached the value of the remaining amount warning reference storage unit 6a when the main control unit 2 is in the standby state, the main control unit 2 The warning sound generation unit 8a is instructed to emit a warning sound, and the warning light display unit 8b is instructed to turn on the warning light. The warning sound generation unit 8a, which receives the warning sound command from the main control unit 2, sounds the warning sound for a certain period of time. Similarly, the warning light display unit 8b, which has received a warning lamp lighting command from the main control unit 2, performs a warning lamp lighting process.

Then, the user notices that the warning sound of the warning sound generation section 8a and the warning lamp of the warning lamp display section 8b are turned on, and the user replaces the recording paper P with a new one, and the recording paper cover reset switch. The main control unit 2 indicates that the recording paper P has been replaced with a new one through the recording paper cover reset unit 4 from 14.
Suppose that the operation for causing the user to recognize is performed, the main control unit 2
Stores the warning reference value, which is the distance L from the optical sensor 13 to the outer periphery of the recording paper P when the new recording paper is near the usable limit, in the remaining amount warning reference storage unit 6a, and also displays the warning light display unit. A warning lamp turn-off command is output to 8b. Warning lamp display section 8 which has received a warning lamp turn-off command from the main control section 2
In step b, the warning lamp is turned off (steps 117 to 11).
9).

When a procedure for exchanging the recording paper with a new one is inevitably caused by a jam or the like, the recording paper cover reset switch 14 operates, but the main controller 2 indicates that the recording paper P has been replaced with a new one. In order to recognize, the warning lamp display portion 8b is turned on and it is recognized when the recording paper cover reset switch 14 is operated. Therefore, even if the procedure of unavoidably replacing the recording paper with a new one is taken. The remaining amount warning reference value does not change.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the user replaces the recording paper P with a new one, the recording paper P is reset from the recording paper cover reset switch 14 through the recording paper cover reset unit 4.
Make the main control unit 2 recognize that the
At this time, a warning reference value, which is a value converted into the distance L from the optical sensor 13 to the outer circumference of the recording paper P when the new recording paper P is near the usable limit, is stored in the remaining amount warning reference storage unit 6a. Each time the printing process or the paper feeding process is performed, the distance L from the optical sensor 13 to the outer circumference of the recording paper P is measured and stored, and the value of the measured value storage unit 6b is compared with the warning reference value to measure. When the value in the value storage section 6b reaches the warning reference value,
By sounding a warning sound or turning on a warning light,
Notify the user that the remaining amount of the recording paper P is low.

Although the optical sensor 13 is used in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and another sensor such as an image sensor may be used. Further, in order to measure the outer diameter of the recording paper P, the distance L from the optical sensor 13 to the outer circumference of the recording paper P is measured, but the outer diameter of the recording paper P may be directly measured. Further, as the recording paper remaining amount warning means, it is desirable to provide both the warning sound generating portion 8a and the warning light display portion 8b as in the above embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and either one may be provided. You may

[0027]

As described above, according to the facsimile broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to prompt the user to replace the recording paper or purchase the supplement, so that the necessary information cannot be received due to insufficient recording. Even if the user has to follow the procedure for exchanging the recording paper due to a paper jam during reception, the series of measured value storage means will be used to ensure accurate operation. It is possible,
The user can use it with peace of mind, and as a result, the reliability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an image recording unit in the apparatus of FIG.

3A and 3B are flowcharts showing the flow of processing of a main control unit in the apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Facsimile broadcast receiving section 2 Main control section 3 Operation section 4 Recording paper cover reset section 5 Image information recording section (recording means) 6 Measurement / storage section 6a Remaining amount warning reference storage section 6b Measured value storage section 6c Measuring section 7 For backup Battery 8 Recording paper remaining amount warning part 8a Warning sound generation part 8b Warning light display part 13 Optical sensor

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 1, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Brief description of the drawing

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an image recording unit in the apparatus of FIG.

3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a main control unit in the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a processing flow of a main control unit in the apparatus of FIG .
It is a flowchart.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 Facsimile broadcast receiving unit 2 Main control unit 3 Operation unit 4 Recording paper cover reset unit 5 Image information recording unit (recording means) 6 Measurement / storage unit 6a Remaining amount warning reference storage unit 6b Measured value storage unit 6c Measuring unit 7 Backup battery 8 Recording paper level warning unit 8a Warning sound generation unit 8b Warning light display unit 13 Optical sensor

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Fig. 2]

[Figure 1]

[Figure 3]

[Figure 4]

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile broadcast signal transmitted using a gap between audio signals of a television broadcast is received,
In the facsimile broadcast receiving apparatus configured to record the facsimile broadcast signal in the recording means, a recording paper cover resetting means for recognizing that the recording paper of the recording means has been replaced with a new one, and a printing or paper feeding process each time The measuring means for measuring the outer diameter of the recording paper, the measured value storing means for storing the value obtained by this measuring means, and the diameter when the remaining amount of the recording paper is near the use limit are The remaining amount warning reference storage means for storing and holding the warning reference value represented by the outer diameter is compared with the value of the above-mentioned measured value storage means, and the value of the measured value storage means reaches the above-mentioned warning reference value. A facsimile broadcast receiving apparatus, comprising: a recording sheet remaining amount warning means for notifying the user of the fact.