JPS61174864A - Communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To recognize completely the state of a device by changing the display mode of a display means in accordance with the detected state of an operation state detecting means which detects the operation state of a prescribed member. CONSTITUTION:A central control part 8 uses time counting of an incorporated timer to display the date and the time on a display device 9a of an operation panel 9. The output state of a sensor 11 is checked; and if the sensor 11 is turned on, that is, if a recording paper cover is closed, the output state of a recording paper sensor is checked, and the presence or the absence of a recording paper, the width of the set recording paper, etc. are discriminated, and the set state of the recording paper is displayed in accordance with detects results. If the sensor 11 is turned off, the execution of the inspecting operation is displayed. Further, it is discriminated whether outputs of all sensors 11-15 are turned off or not, that is, whether they do not detect the recording paper at all or not. If the recording paper is not detected, the routine is terminated; but otherwise, said display operation is repeated to monitor the state of the recording paper. One display state is terminated by a certain time, and the next display cycle is started when a prescribed time elapses.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a communication device, and more particularly to a communication device having a display capable of monitoring an operating state.

[Prior art] Conventional communication devices, particularly facsimile devices, are equipped with an operation panel that includes a display using a monitor lamp and an LCD, along with a numeric keypad, switches, etc., and allows the device to send calls to specific destinations stored in the device. Devices that display numbers, operating status, etc. are known.

However, with the display of a conventional facsimile machine, it is not possible to monitor the size of the original to be transmitted, the loading status of the original, or the presence or absence of an original. Also,
Conventional devices do not display the operating status of the recording system or the status of constituent members such as recording paper.

Regarding the recording system, even if a paper jam occurs in the recording section or the recording paper is used up, processing such as stopping the operation can be performed in response to such detection, but it cannot be displayed, so it may be the cause of the failure. There was a tendency for recovery time to be long due to the inability to judge.

[Purpose] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a system that centrally displays and completely recognizes the status of each component of a device, such as a recording system and a reading system, using a simple and inexpensive configuration. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a communication device equipped with the following.

[Structure of the Invention #i] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a means for detecting the operation state of a predetermined member, a single or plural means for detecting the state of the component member of the device, and a means for detecting the state of the component member of the device, and the detection means. A configuration is adopted in which a means for displaying the state of the component member according to the output is provided, and a display state of the display means is changed according to a detection state of the operation state detection means of the predetermined member.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a facsimile machine as an example of a communication device employing the present invention. In the figure, the reference numeral 2 is a known circuit which performs connection switching and loop maintenance of the line 2a in an NCU (network control unit). Images and control signals transmitted and received from the line 2a via the NCU 2 are modulated and demodulated by the modem 1.

Connection of the modem 1 and NCU 2 and modulation/demodulation processing are performed by the central control section 8 via the modem control section 3.

The central control section 8 is composed of a microcomputer element, etc., and operates according to a program stored in the ROM 5, including routines to be described later, to control the operation of the entire apparatus. The RAM 6 is used to store control parameters, flags, image data, etc. used in various processing by the central control unit 8.

The received image data or the image data read during the original copying operation is recorded by the recording unit 4. The recording section 4 is composed of a thermal printer or the like.

Copying the original or reading the original during image transmission is performed by a reading section 7 composed of a CCD line sensor or the like.

On the other hand, the right side of the figure shows an operation panel 9 used for transmitting and receiving images and controlling various operations. The operation panel 9 is a display device 9a composed of an LCD or the like, which is used to centrally display the (operational) status of component parts, input data such as a telephone number, time display, etc.
have.

In this embodiment, the display 9a is used to display information regarding the constituent members of the apparatus.

Further, the operation panel 9 is provided with a keyboard 9b consisting of a numeric keypad, operation switches, etc.

Various operational inputs can be performed.

FIGS. 2(A) and CB) show the configuration of the above-mentioned display 9a. Here, a case is shown in which the display device 9a is composed of an LCD or a display tube, and in the case of FIG. 2(A), an example is shown in which the state of the recording paper is displayed on the display device 9a. This display state will be detailed later. Further, FIG. 2(B) shows the display state of the display 9a when displaying the year, date and time.

Here, FIG. 2C shows the structure of the recording section 4 described above. In this embodiment, the recording section 4 incorporates a roll-shaped recording paper 4b as shown in FIG.

The recording paper 4b is sequentially conveyed by the feeding roller 17, and is recorded by the recording head 4a according to received or read data. The recording paper 4b on which recording has been completed is discharged from the opening of the recording paper cover 40 to the outside of the machine. At this time, the cutter 16 cuts the paper into a predetermined paper size, and the feed roller 10 discharges the paper to the outside of the machine.

The recording mechanism portion is covered with a recording paper cover 4C to protect the apparatus and prevent danger, and this recording paper cover 40 can be opened and closed via a hinge portion 4d.

Opening/closing of the recording paper cover 40 is detected by a sensor 11 including a limit switch or the like provided near the cover.

As shown in FIG. 1, the feed rollers 10 (, 17) and the cutter 16 are driven and controlled by a central control section, and the output of a sensor 11 that detects opening and closing of the recording paper cover is input to the central control section 8.

The width of the recording paper and the presence or absence of the recording paper are detected by recording paper sensors 12 and 13, respectively, and the results are input to the central control unit 8.

As shown in FIG. 2(C), the recording paper sensor 12 is constituted by a detection element such as a photointerrupter provided in a portion of the recording paper conveyance path in its width direction. The recording paper sensor 13 is constituted by a limit switch or the like having an extended actuator so as to detect the thickness of the rolled recording paper 4b.

The recording paper sensors 14 and 15 are composed of the same detection elements as the sensor 12, and are connected to the feed roller 1o and the cutter 1, respectively.
The presence or absence of recording paper is detected at a position near 6.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the operation of the configuration described below will be explained in detail. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a routine related to recording paper detection and its display among the control procedures of the central control section 8 of FIG. 1.

In step S1 of FIG. 3, the central control unit 8 first displays the date and time as shown in FIG. 2(B) using the built-in timer. Details of timekeeping and time display are techniques that are widely used, so detailed explanations will be omitted here.

Subsequently, in step S2, the output state of the sensor 11 is checked. If the sensor 11 is on, that is, the recording paper cover 40 is closed as shown in FIG. Move to S3.

In step S4, the output states of the recording paper sensors 12 to 15 are checked, and the presence or absence of recording paper, the width of the loaded recording paper, and the correct conveyance path to the leading edge of the recording paper 4b as shown in FIG. 2(C) are checked. Determine if it is loaded. Then, depending on the detection result, the loaded state of the recording paper is displayed as shown in FIG. 2(A).

As for the display method, if there is any abnormality in the loaded state, a message ``Kirokushitenken'' is displayed as indicated by reference numeral 91 in FIG. 2(A) to prompt an inspection operation.

Further, when the recording paper width is correctly detected by the recording paper sensor 12, as shown by reference numeral 92, whether the size is A series or B series is displayed as rAJ or "B". Many facsimile machines use A4 or 84 width recording paper rolls and cut them to form A4, BS, etc. sheets, so simply indicating the size series like this is sufficient. . However, in an apparatus using sheet-like recording paper, sizes up to A4, B6, etc. may be displayed.

Further, symbols 93 to 95 are recording paper sensors 13.1, respectively.
4. Indicates the detection result at position 15. If there is no recording paper at each position, a "tree" is displayed as shown in the figure to indicate that an abnormality with the recording paper has occurred at the position. do. For example, if the ``tree'' is lit only at the 93 position, it means that the roll has been consumed, and if it is lit at the 94.95 position, there is a possibility of a paper jam. I understand.

Further, in step S3, since the recording paper cover is open, "KILLOKUSHITENKEN" is displayed as indicated by reference numeral 91 in FIG. 2(A), indicating that an inspection operation is in progress.

In step S5, it is determined whether the outputs of the sensors 11 to 15 shown in FIG. 1 are all off, that is, whether no recording paper is detected at all. If the recording paper is not detected, the routine ends, but if not, the process returns to step S1 and the above display operation is repeated to monitor the state of the recording paper. In the above routine, it is assumed that one display state ends after a certain period of time, and when the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the next display cycle is started.

According to the above configuration, the loading status (presence or absence) of recording paper in a predetermined position and its size can be detected and displayed centrally on the same display, thereby preventing jams, recording paper consumption, etc. Even if a problem occurs, the operator can respond quickly. Moreover, only the necessary information is displayed depending on the status of the recording paper cover, so there is no need for wasted power consumption.
Make a valid presentation.Table 1. It also becomes easier to read X.

A buzzer may be further added to the above embodiment, and when an abnormality occurs in the recording section, the buzzer sound may be used in combination to notify the abnormality. Further, although the time is displayed in FIG. 2(B), it can be configured to display other information. For example, a detector similar to that shown in FIG. 2(C) may be arranged in the document transport path of the reading section 7, and the document loading status indicator 9a may be used to monitor the document loading status. The display state can be changed depending on whether the cover of the reading section is opened or closed.

Furthermore, although the time display in Figure 2 (B) is shown using the Western calendar, it is of course possible to use the Showa era or to display Japan Standard Time and Greenwich Mean Time alternately. . Further, the timer 1 and 2 of the central control unit 8 may be used to display the time while the recording paper cover is open.

Furthermore, if more recording paper is discovered, it will be
Instead of using the message ``Tenkenchu'', a more easily understandable message such as ``Kirokushi Riki Bafa ga Tekudasai'' may be displayed. The present invention can also be applied to various communication devices that communicate characters and symbols using codes.

[Effects] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a means for detecting the operation state of a predetermined member, one or more means for detecting the state of a component of the device, and an output of the detecting means are provided. Accordingly, a configuration is adopted in which a display state of the display means is changed according to a detection state of the operation state detection means of the predetermined member, and a means for displaying the state of the component member according to the detection state of the predetermined member.
An excellent communication device that saves power by displaying the status of each component of the device, such as the recording system and reading system, centrally and to the point with a simple and inexpensive configuration, and is also equipped with a system that can completely recognize the status of the device. can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus employing the present invention, and FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B) are flowcharts showing a portion thereof. 4... Recording section 5... ROM6... RA
M 7...Reading section 9...Operation panel 9a...Display 9b...Key 1
1...Sensors 12-15...Recording paper sensor Fig. 1

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A means for detecting the operation state of a predetermined member, one or more means for detecting the state of a component of the device, and a means for displaying the state of the component according to the output of the detection means. A communication device characterized in that the display state of the display means is changed according to the detection state of the operation state detection means of the predetermined member. 2) The operating state detection means detects the open/closed state of the recording paper cover, and displays information regarding the width of the recording paper and the loading state on the display according to the detected open/closed state of the recording paper cover. A communication device according to claim 1.