JPH07322032A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and efficiently execute the ordering of a recording agent holding means by detecting the scarcity of the remaining quantity of recording agent and automatically communicating information to the ordering destination of the stored exchange recording agent holding means. CONSTITUTION:Ink remaining quantity values stored in a control part 11 and a memory 13 are compared. When the scarcity of the ink remaining quantity of an ink cartridge is judged, the control part 11 displays the scarcity of the ink remaining quantity value in a display part, and gives an alarm to a user. At the same time, received image information is stored in an image memory 19 while the cartridge is exchanged, and it is controlled to execute substitution reception. Then, the FAX number of an ink cartridge store, which is stored in a non-volatile memory 14, is automatically dialled after reception is terminated, and necessary image data is communicated. Thus, the user can speedily receive delivery from the store without complicated purchase.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus for recording received image information on a recording paper by a recording means, and more particularly, a facsimile having a replaceable recording agent holding means for holding a recording agent for recording. It relates to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a facsimile apparatus, the recording means records the received image information on a recording sheet by using a recording agent, because the image information is received from the facsimile of the other party. Then, since the recording agent in the recording agent holding unit is consumed by repeating such recording, the remaining amount of the recording agent in the recording agent holding unit is detected and it is determined that the remaining amount is scarce. In some cases, the remaining amount detecting means is provided so that when the remaining amount of the recording material becomes scarce, the buzzer or the displaying means warns the user of the fact. The user who receives such a warning replenishes the recording material by replacing the recording material holding means.

[0003]

However, in the conventional facsimile apparatus as described above, the recording agent holding means had to be purchased from a store in order to replace the recording agent holding means. Furthermore, when going to a store to purchase the recording material holding means, the user performs a complicated operation of searching the instruction manual to check the model name of the recording material holding means, the model name of the facsimile device, or the like, or , I also brought with me a recording medium holding means that was full.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and when the remaining amount of the recording material becomes scarce, the replacement recording material holding means can be easily provided to the ordering party. It is an object to provide an orderable facsimile machine.

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, according to claim 1 of the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus for recording received image information on recording paper by a recording means, a recording agent for recording is held. A replaceable recording material holding means, a remaining amount detecting means for detecting that the remaining amount of the recording material in the recording material holding means has become rare, and a dial number of an orderer of the replacement recording material holding means Stored in the information storage means, the information stored in the information storage means is stored in the dial number of the number storage means. And a control means for communicating with the destination.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the information storage means further stores information relating to the model name of the recording agent holding means or the model name of the facsimile machine.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the storage means further stores a message for ordering the replacement recording agent holding means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means causes the information stored in the information storage means to communicate as facsimile image information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the control means causes the storage information of the information storage means to communicate as voice information.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is further provided means for notifying that the remaining amount is rare due to the remaining amount detection of the remaining amount detecting means, and input means.
It is characterized in that the communication is performed due to the user operating the input means after the notification by the notification means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the recording means is an ink jet head, and the recording agent holding means is an ink cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the ink jet head.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the recording agent holding means and the recording means are disposable ink jet cartridges in which an ink jet head and an ink cartridge are integrally formed.

According to a ninth aspect, in the seventh or eighth aspect, the ink cartridge or the ink jet cartridge is mounted on a carriage that scans the recording paper.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the control means outputs the communicated information using the recording means.

[0015]

In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, when the remaining amount detecting means detects the scarcity of the remaining amount of the recording material, the control means stores the information about the transmission source stored in the information storing means. Communication is made to the dial number of the ordering party of the replacement recording material holding means stored in the number storage means, and the replacement recording material holding means is ordered.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an inkjet facsimile will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an ink jet facsimile equipped with an ink jet head, which will be described later. The ink jet facsimile 1 includes a main body 2, an original table 3 provided on an upper portion of the main body 2, on which an original is placed, an operating section 4 and a handset 5. And so on. The operation unit 4 includes a numeric keypad 4a, operation keys 4b for inputting other commands, and a display unit 4c for displaying input commands and information transmitted from the inkjet facsimile 1 to the operator. The handset 5 is provided on the main body 2. Installation stand 5a
Is set to.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inkjet facsimile 1 includes a control unit 11, a modem 12, an operation unit 4, a memory 13, a non-volatile memory 14, a scanner unit 15, a recording unit 16, a network control unit 18, and an image memory 19. And so on.

The control section 11 is provided with a ROM for storing the control program and the like of the entire inkjet facsimile 1,
According to the program in the OM, each part of the inkjet facsimile 1 is controlled to execute a sequence as a facsimile device. A work area is formed in the memory 13 and various data is stored therein. At the time of transmission, the modem 12 modulates image information into a form suitable for transmission of an external line,
During reception, the modulated signal sent from the external line is demodulated. The non-volatile memory 14 stores a FAX number of an ink cartridge store, which will be described later, and a message to be transmitted to the store as image data. The details will be described later. The scanner unit 15 includes a line image sensor using a CCD, and reads and outputs image information of a document for each line.

The recording section 16 includes an ink jet head 58, an ink cartridge 60, and a cartridge detector 23, which will be described later, and records the received image information on a recording sheet. The network control unit 18 is generally called an NCU, and the network control unit 18 is connected to an external line and the handset 5. At the time of transmission, the network control unit 18 receives the CE from the line.
The D signal (callee identification signal), the polarity reversal of the line, the ring back tone and the busy tone from the line, etc. are monitored, and at the time of reception, these signals are output to the line as necessary. The image memory 19 stores the image information coded by the encoding / combining means (not shown), and the image information is sent to the modem 12 or the recording unit 16 under the control of the control unit 11.

The inkjet facsimile 1 scans a document set on the document table 3 from the top page to read image information at the time of transmission or storage, and sends it to an encoding / combining means (not shown) for encoding. . The coded image information is stored in the image memory 19 in the storage mode and then transmitted at a predetermined time. In the immediate mode, the coded image information is transmitted to the modem 12 and modulated, and then transmitted through the network control unit 18. Sent to.

On the other hand, at the time of reception, the image information (modulated signal) input from the line is demodulated by the modem 12, and the image memory 1
Accumulate in 9. The image information stored in the image memory 19 is
The data is read out immediately or at a predetermined time, decoded by the encoding / compositing means, and then sent to the recording unit 16. The image data sent to the recording unit 16 is recorded on recording paper by an inkjet head.

Next, the structure of the recording unit 16 will be described with reference to FIG. A platen 56 that holds the recording sheet 54 at a predetermined recording position is rotatable by a motor 57,
At a position facing the platen 56, an inkjet head 58 (hereinafter simply referred to as a head) is provided with a carriage 59.
It is placed and installed on. Further, the head 58 has
A replaceable ink cartridge 60 is connected.
The drive force of the carriage motor 62 is transmitted to the carriage 59 via the drive belt 61. The carriage 59 reciprocates along the platen 56 during recording and performs maintenance at a predetermined timing. By being transferred to the position 63, the wiper 64 cleans the orifice surface (not shown) of the head 58,
Ink in the head 58 is sucked by the suction means 65. The ink ejection method of the head 58 is, for example, a Kaiser type disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 53-12138, a thermal jet type disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-59914, or Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-15.
A method such as a shear mode type utilizing piezoelectric ceramics disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 0355 is adopted.

Next, the electrical structure and control operation of the recording section 16 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The control unit 11 calculates the total ink usage amount from the ink ejection amount obtained by counting the drive signal applied to the head 58 and the ink amount obtained by counting the suction operation by the suction means 65. , The ink remaining amount value is converted. Then, the remaining ink amount value obtained by the control unit 11 is stored in the memory 13 as stored information and updated at any time.

When the image information is received and the sequence enters the recording operation, the control section 11 causes each drive element (not shown) corresponding to a plurality of orifices (not shown) provided in the head 58. On the basis of the data stored in the image memory 19, the drive signal stored in advance in the ROM of the control unit 11 is output, and the ink is ejected from the orifice to record on the recording paper 54. Let Here, the waveform of the drive signal in this embodiment is the drive voltage 30
A single drive pulse (rectangular wave) having V and a conduction width L / a is used. The above L / a is the time required for the pressure wave in the ink pressure chamber (not shown) in the head 58 to propagate one way in the longitudinal direction of the ink pressure chamber, and is the length of the ink pressure chamber. And the sound velocity a in the ink.

Further, the recording section 16 is provided with a cartridge detector 23, and the cartridge detector 23 detects the mounting of the ink cartridge 60 on the carriage 59. When the mounting of the ink cartridge 60 is detected by the cartridge detector 23, the control unit 11
Clears the remaining ink amount value stored in the memory 13. After that, when the ink in the ink cartridge 60 is consumed by the recording operation or the suction operation, the control unit 11 calculates the remaining ink amount value as described above and sequentially updates the value of the memory 13. Here, since the memory 13 is configured to be backed up by a battery (not shown) even if the main power source of the inkjet facsimile 1 is turned off, the remaining ink amount value does not disappear.

When the remaining ink amount becomes less than a predetermined value, the control unit 11 uses the message display area of the display unit 4c to display that the remaining ink amount in the ink cartridge 60 is scarce and the buzzer is activated. Etc. to warn the user.

Further, in the ink jet facsimile of this embodiment, when the scarcity of the remaining ink amount is detected,
It has the function of automatically ordering replacement cartridges from the ink cartridge retailer. Therefore, the nonvolatile memory 14 stores the FAX number of the ink cartridge store, and
The sender, that is, the address / name of the installation place of this facsimile device, the manufacturer / model name of the inkjet facsimile, the model name of the ink cartridge 60, and the ink cartridge are scarce, so we request that you deliver a replacement ink cartridge. Message and the like are stored as image data.

Next, the operation of the remaining ink amount detecting process by the control unit 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Step S1 of FIG. 4 (hereinafter simply referred to as S1, S2
The control unit 11 compares the ink remaining amount value stored in the memory 13 with the comparison value of the ink remaining amount stored in the control unit 11 in advance, and It is determined whether the remaining amount of ink is scarce.
Here, when it is determined that the remaining amount is not scarce, the recording process of the image information received in S2 is performed, and the maintenance process by the wiper 64 and the suction unit 65 is performed as necessary. Next, in S3, the control unit 11 causes the head 58 to
The total amount of ink used is calculated from the amount of ejected ink obtained by counting the drive signals applied to the ink and the amount of ink obtained by counting the suction operation of the suction means 65, and converted into an ink remaining amount value, and stored in the memory. The ink remaining amount value stored in 13 is updated. Then, in S4, it is judged whether or not the recording is completed. If it is completed, the process is ended, and if not completed, the process returns to the step S1.

On the other hand, when it is determined in S1 that the remaining amount of ink is scarce, the control section 11 causes the display section 4 to display in S5.
The message display area c is used to display that the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 60 is scarce, and a buzzer is used to warn the user. Further, in S6, the inkjet facsimile 1 is controlled so that the received image information is stored in the image memory 19 and the proxy reception is performed until the ink cartridge 60 is replaced thereafter.

Then, once the reception is completed, the control unit 11
In S7, the FAX number of the ink cartridge store stored in the non-volatile memory 14 is read out, and in S8, the number is automatically dialed. And S9
Then, the image data stored in the non-volatile memory 14 is transmitted as the transmission image information, and the process ends.

By adopting such a sequence, when the ink remaining amount in the ink cartridge 60 becomes scarce, it is intended to order the replacement ink cartridge as shown in FIG. 5 from the dealer of the ink cartridge. The image information 70 is automatically transmitted, and the image information 70 includes the date 75, the address and name 7 of the installation place of the facsimile device.
1. Manufacturer name and model name of inkjet facsimile 7
2. The model name 73 of the ink cartridge 60 and the message 74 requesting that the replacement ink cartridge be delivered because the ink cartridge has become scarce are described. It is possible to quickly deliver the cartridge. Therefore,
The user does not need to search the instruction manual of the inkjet facsimile or go to the ink cartridge dealer to purchase the ink cartridge.

Further, even if the user cannot recognize the warning that the remaining amount of ink is scarce, the ink cartridge is automatically ordered, so that various problems should occur when the ink runs out, For example, the inkjet head 5
It is possible to prevent air bubbles from being mixed in 8 and a memory overflow due to an increase in the number of proxy receptions.

If the same information as the image information 70 is output using the recording unit 16 after the image information 70 is transmitted, it can be managed as a refrain from ordering the ink cartridge 60.

In the above embodiment, the information transmitted to the ink cartridge dealer is the facsimile image information. However, the nonvolatile memory 14 stores the telephone number of the ink cartridge dealer, and the facsimile machine The address and name of the installation location, the manufacturer of the inkjet facsimile, the model name of the inkjet facsimile and the ink cartridge 60, and a message that the replacement ink cartridge should be delivered because the ink cartridge is rare are non-volatile as voice information. Stored in the memory 14 and provided with a voice generator, the order may be placed by voice in the store using a telephone line.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the scarcity of the ink remaining amount is detected, the control means 11 automatically places an order for the ink cartridge with the dealer. However, after detecting the ink remaining amount, the control unit 11 displays on the display section 4c. A message asking whether to order the ink cartridge is displayed, the user inputs the information using the operation key 4b, and only when the order is acceptable, the control means 11 orders the order in the same manner as in the above embodiment. You may do it.

Further, in the above embodiment, the image information received after the detection of the scarcity of the ink is processed as the proxy reception, but in order to save the capacity of the image memory 19, all the reception after the detection is performed. It may be processed as a reception error.

In the above embodiment, the control unit 11 counts the amount of ink used to calculate the remaining amount of ink. However, for example, two electrodes to be inserted into the ink cartridge are provided, and the two electrodes are inserted between the electrodes. The remaining ink amount may be detected by the resistance.

In the above embodiment, the head 58 of the recording section 16 and the ink cartridge 60 are provided separately, but the head may be provided integrally with the ink cartridge. Further, although the inkjet facsimile uses the ink cartridge 60 that stores the liquid ink, it may be a well-known hot melt inkjet inkjet facsimile that uses the ink cartridge that stores the solid ink.

Further, in this embodiment, ink is ejected from the head for printing as the carriage moves, but printing may be performed by a head having a width greater than the width of the recording medium, so-called line head. Good.

In this embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to an ink jet type facsimile machine is shown.
The present invention can be applied to a well-known thermal transfer type facsimile apparatus using an ink ribbon, a well-known laser facsimile using toner, and the like.

However, in the case of the ink jet type facsimile apparatus, compared with the above-mentioned thermal transfer type or laser facsimile apparatus, the suction operation or the like is performed as a maintenance, so that ink not contributing to recording is not a little consumed. Further, in order to reduce the price of the facsimile device and stabilize the ink supply, there is a case where the ink cartridge 60 is mounted on the carriage 59 as shown in FIG. Therefore, since the ink capacity of the ink cartridge 60 cannot be increased so much and the ink that does not contribute to the recording described above is consumed, the remaining amount of the ink becomes rarer more frequently than in a facsimile apparatus of another system. Therefore, the present invention is most effective when used in an inkjet type facsimile apparatus.

[0045]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, when the remaining amount detecting means detects the scarcity of the remaining amount of the recording material, the control means stores it in the information storing means. In order to communicate the information regarding the transmission source, which is stored in the number storage means, to the dial number of the ordering party of the recording agent holding means for exchange, the user searches the instruction manual of the facsimile device, etc. There is an effect that the replacement recording agent holding means can be easily ordered to the ordering party without performing the complicated operation and then ordering from the store.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of an inkjet facsimile according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the inkjet facsimile of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a recording unit of the inkjet facsimile of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the inkjet facsimile of the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing image information intended to order a replacement ink cartridge in the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 inkjet facsimile 4b operation key 4c display section 11 control section 12 modem 13 memory 14 non-volatile memory 16 recording section 18 network control section 54 recording paper 58 inkjet head 59 carriage 60 ink cartridge 70 image information 71 address / name of installation location of device 72 Facsimile machine manufacturer / type 73 Ink cartridge type 74 Message

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus for recording received image information on a recording sheet by a recording means, a recording material holding means for holding and exchanging a recording material for recording, and a recording material in the recording material holding means. Remaining amount detecting means for detecting that the remaining amount of the recording medium has become scarce, number storing means for storing the dial number of the ordering party of the recording material holding means for replacement, and information storing means for storing information regarding the sender. A facsimile device comprising: control means for communicating the stored information of the information storage means to the dial number of the number storage means due to the detection of the scarcity of the remaining quantity of the remaining amount detection means. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information storage unit further stores information about a model name of the recording agent holding unit or a model name of the facsimile apparatus. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means further stores a message for ordering a replacement recording agent holding means. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the stored information in the information storage unit to communicate as facsimile image information. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the storage information of the information storage unit to communicate as voice information. 6. The apparatus further comprises means for notifying that the remaining amount is rare due to the remaining amount detection of the remaining amount detecting means and input means, and the control means is provided after the notification by the notifying means. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication is performed due to a user operating an input unit. 7. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is an ink jet head, and the recording agent holding means is an ink cartridge which can be attached to and detached from the ink jet head. 8. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording agent holding unit and the recording unit are disposable ink jet cartridges in which an ink jet head and an ink cartridge are integrally configured. 9. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the ink cartridge or the inkjet cartridge is mounted on a carriage that scans the recording paper. 10. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit outputs the communicated information using the recording unit.