JPS6090366A - Displaying system for remaining quantity of paper - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display a state that paper is nearly consumed, so as to be easily visible to an operator by setting a color of a display element immediately before paper is consumed, to a color being different from others, and lighting it only in case of a state immediately before paper is consumed. CONSTITUTION:The quantity of paper placed on feed paper plates 1, 2 is displayed by lighting plural display elements 3, and a color of the element of the lowest stage is set to a color being different from others. An output of paper remaining quantity sensors 7, 8 of the first and the second feed paper plates 1, 2 is inputted to a control part 6, and controls plural LEDs for constituting a display part 3. In a usual state, the LED of the lowest stage is turned off and others remain turned on, and as paper is consumed, the LED of its position is turned off, and immediately before paper is consumed, the LED of the lowest stage whose color is different is turned on. Accordingly, an operator replenishes paper by seeing it, and waste of time can be avoided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to an improvement in a method for displaying the remaining amount of paper stored or placed on a paper feed tray of a copying machine, a printing machine, or the like.

(Prior Art) Figures 1+a) and 1(b) show the most common paper remaining amount display method according to the prior art.

In the same figure, (a) shows the state of the upper paper feed tray, and (a) shows the state of the lower paper feed tray. However, this does not mean that there are two display sections, one for the upper stage and one for the lower stage, but only that the paper tweez display section 1, the selection key 2, and the LED display section 3 are provided on one side.

That is, in the same figure (a), when the selection key 2 is pressed to specify the upper paper feed tray, the size A of the paper contained in this upper paper feed tray is
4 is displayed and the amount of paper is displayed on the LED. Similarly, (b) shows the paper size B4 and the amount of paper when the selection key 2 is pressed and the sketch paper base is selected. It is something that There are multiple LED display units 3 (8 in this case)
It is made up of LEDs, and the LED that is lit ()
・Display the remaining amount of paper by the number (indicated by ticks).

As the amount of paper decreases, the lights turn off in order from the top L (EI), so for example, as shown in (b), the lowest L ED1
If the individual lights are on, it means that there is very little paper left.

By the way, in the conventional example, since all the LEDs were of the same color, there is a possibility that they may be overlooked. Therefore, when the paper ran out, I had to go somewhere else to get it (sometimes I was busy and wasting my time).

(Purpose) The present invention has been made in view of the drawbacks of the conventional example, and it is an object of the present invention to make it easier for the operator to understand when the paper is almost exhausted.

(composition) The present invention will be explained below based on an example of a closure.

In short, the present invention expresses the remaining amount of paper by turning on and off display elements of different colors, and only the display element that is turned on immediately before the paper runs out has a different color from the other display elements.

For example, the paper remaining amount display element on the first paper feed tray is configured with seven LEDs, and that on the second paper feed tray is configured with five LEDs, and the LED that lights up just before paper runs out is orange, and the other Set the LED to yellow.

If a little more than half of the paper remains on the first paper feed tray,
The yellow LED is turned off, and the fourth to sixth yellow LEDs are turned on.

At this time, the seventh orange LED is turned off in order to turn it on only when the paper is about to run out.

Also, if the paper on the second paper feed tray is almost hot,
Turn off the four yellow LEDs from the top and turn on the fifth orange LED.

As a result, the color is different from other display elements, making it easier for the operator to see.

This state is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Figure 2 +81 is the display section of the first paper feed tray (for example, the upper stage), (
b) is a display section of the second paper feed table (for example, the lower stage).

4 indicates a yellow display element, and 5 indicates an orange display element.

Note that, similar to the display section 3 shown in FIG. 1, the display sections 3 of the first paper feed tray and the second paper feed tray are common, but are shown divided into two for the sake of explanation.

+8+ in FIG. 3 shows a state where the first paper feed tray is slightly more than half full of paper...The yellow display element 4 in the pinching area is lit.

(b) shows the state just before the paper runs out on the second paper feed tray, and the orange display element 5 is lit to alert the operator.
I'm watching.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram for performing such lighting control. The trap is such that the transistors Q, to Qn are driven by the input and the fraud processing in the control unit 6.

These transistors Q0 to QnK are connected to LED1 to LEDn, respectively, which constitute the display section 3, and are turned on when the transistors are turned on.

Therefore, the 21 paper feed tray has 7 LEDs (LEDI to LED7).
) are driven by transistors Q1 to Q.

Therefore, in the above example, transistors Q4 to Q6 are turned on to light up LED4 to LED6.

In the case of the second paper feed tray, the fifth LED 5 is turned on and the others are turned off.

As mentioned above, only the LED just before the paper runs out, other LEDs
If the color is different from D, the operator's attention will be aroused, but if it is made to blink, the effect will be even better.

A circuit diagram in that case is shown in FIG.

In that case, as shown in FIG. 5, a multivibrator 9 may be provided at the LEDn (lowest ■/ED) corresponding to the orange display element 5.

(Effects) As described above, the present invention controls the lighting color of the lowest display element among the display elements provided in multiple stages to be different from the others. Notice paper can be refilled. Therefore, even if you run out of paper and try to replenish it, if there is no paper near the machine.

It is possible to eliminate the drawback of the conventional method that it is necessary to go to another paper storage location and waste time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1+a) and (b) are diagrams showing the remaining paper amount display state according to the conventional example, Figure 2 (a), Φ) and Figure 3 (a), (b) are diagrams showing the remaining paper amount according to the present invention. 4 is a display control circuit diagram according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a display control a11 circuit diagram according to another embodiment. LEDI ~LEDn=-・-display element, 5 (LEDn
)...Display element just before paper runs out, 9...
...Multi-pie break.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a system where the amount of paper in the paper feed section is expressed by lighting up multiple display elements and the number of lit elements, the color of the display element just before the paper runs out is expressed by another. A paper remaining amount display method characterized in that the color is different from that of the display element, and the display element is not turned on when there is a large amount of paper, and is turned on only when one sheet of paper is about to run out. (2) The paper remaining amount display method according to claim (1), characterized in that when lighting up the display element immediately before the paper runs out, one blink is repeated.