KR100235862B1 - Facsimile with function informing toner empty - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having a toner replacement supply notification function, which allows a telephone number to be notified of a state of consumption when a toner used for printing a record in a facsimile apparatus is almost exhausted. A printing unit for printing image data on a recording sheet, a toner consumption state detection unit for detecting a consumption state of toner supplied to the printing unit, and a network control unit (NCU) for connecting a telephone line to transmit or receive data In one facsimile apparatus; A key input unit for registering a phone number to enter or call a toner consumption state notification mode, a mode state storage unit for storing a toner notification mode entered through the key input unit, and storing a registered phone number through the key input unit A registration data storage unit, a notification message storage means for storing a voice notification message relating to toner supply, a voice data processing unit for processing voice message data, a DTMF signal generator for generating a DTMF signal, and the toner consumption state detection unit When it detects that the toner is almost used up, it generates DTMF signal corresponding to the number data stored in the registration data storage and sends it to the CO line. When the called phone number and the call path are formed, it is stored in the notification message storage. To read the notification message about toner supply and send it to CO line through voice data processing unit. Including a control unit that controls characterized in that configured.

Description

Fax machine with toner replacement supply notification

The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and in particular, it is possible to prevent the loss of data due to toner shortage by notifying the consumption state when the toner used for printing the contents of the facsimile apparatus is almost exhausted. The present invention relates to a facsimile device with a toner replacement supply notification function.

At present, with the development of the industrial society, the office equipment used for office automation has been developed a lot, and in the case of the printing technology that prints and prints a written document in a facsimile machine, a printing method with an improved function has appeared.

Such printing methods include inkjet and laser beam methods. Among them, the laser beam printing method is operated by an exposure operation. When the black image data is reflected on an exposure mirror with a laser beam and irradiated on a charged photosensitive drum, Toner is attached to the exposed part of the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the attached toner is transferred to the printing paper and attached to the printing paper, and when it is fused with heat of the thermal print head (TPH), dots are formed. Dots are gathered to form letters or pictures and printed out.

Conventionally, the above-described laser beam printing facsimile apparatus or inkjet type facsimile apparatus uses a sensor for detecting toner consumption in a developer containing toner by a method of detecting toner consumption or ink consumption. If it does not reach the preset value of this sensor, it is irrelevant, but when the toner continues to be consumed and reaches the set value of the sensor installed in the developer, the toner replacement time can be notified to detect the toner consumption.

When the remaining amount is calculated by counting the number of printed sheets and comparing the preset number of sheets with the number of sheets of paper used, the toner should be reloaded to the control panel just before the toner is almost consumed. There is a function to inform.

However, in the above case, it is recognized that there is no remaining amount of toner just before the toner is almost consumed. In some cases, the image of the printer is too light when the toner is exhausted or when the user who uses the printer is visually The toner will only be loaded when it is not printed.

Therefore, when there is no user or when there is no toner at night printing, there is a problem of losing information and having to retransmit the information, thereby inhibiting efficient work.

Accordingly, the present invention was created in view of the above circumstances, and when the ink or toner used to print the recording contents in the facsimile apparatus is exhausted, the data is received by calling the registered phone number to notify the consumption state. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile device with toner replacement supply notification function to prevent data loss due to no ink or toner.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus with toner replacement supply notification function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart for explaining the operation of the device having the configuration of FIG. 1; FIG.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

1 reading unit 2 printing unit

3: engine controller 4: key input unit

4a: Notification function for toner replacement supply 4b: 10-key

5: Mode state storage unit 6: Registration data storage unit

7: notification message storage unit 8: voice data storage unit

9 DTMF signal generator 10 Modulation and demodulation unit

11 network control device 12 display unit

13: input request data storage unit 14: control unit

15: toner consumption state detection unit

A facsimile apparatus having a toner consumption state notification function according to the present invention for realizing the above object includes: a printing unit for printing image data on a recording sheet, a toner consumption state detection unit for detecting a consumption state of toner supplied to the printing unit; A facsimile apparatus comprising a network control unit (NCU) for connecting a telephone line to transmit or receive data; A key input unit for registering a phone number to enter or call a toner consumption state notification mode, a mode state storage unit for storing a toner notification mode entered through the key input unit, and storing a registered phone number through the key input unit A registration data storage unit, a notification message storage unit for storing a voice notification message related to toner supply, a voice data processing unit for processing voice message data, a DTMF signal generator for generating a DTMF signal, the toner consumption state detection unit When it is detected that the toner is almost used up, it generates DTMF signal corresponding to the number data stored in the registration data storage and sends it to the trunk line. When the called phone number and the call path are formed, it is stored in the notification message storage. Read notification message about toner supply and control to send to CO line through voice data processing unit It is characterized in that it is configured with a control unit.

According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, when it is detected that the toner consumption is almost exhausted through the toner consumption state detection unit, the control unit dials the registered telephone number through the DTMF signal generation unit and stores the toner stored in the notification message storage unit. The supply message is read and sent to the CO line, thereby informing the replacement supply of the toner.

Therefore, data loss due to toner shortage can be prevented in advance.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus having a toner replacement supply notification function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a reading unit which reads the contents recorded on the document and converts them into electrical signals, 2 denotes a printing unit which prints the received image data on the recording paper, and 3 denotes a control unit according to a predetermined control signal. An engine controller for driving control of the printing unit 2, 4 is a key input unit for inputting a toner replacement supply notification mode or number data, which is a function key 4a for inputting execution of the toner consumption status notification function and a telephone to be called. For example, 10-keys 4b for registering numbers.

In addition, reference numeral 5 is a mode state storage unit for storing the toner notification mode input through the key input unit 4, 6 is a registration data storage for storing the telephone number registered through the key input unit 4 Part 7 is a notification message storage unit in which a voice notification message relating to toner replacement supply is stored.

In addition, reference numeral 8 is a voice data processing unit for processing voice message data as an analog signal, 9 is a DTMF signal generator for generating a DTMF signal, 10 is a demodulation unit for modulating or demodulating data to be transmitted and received, and 11 A network control unit (NCU) that connects telephone lines to send or receive data.

In the drawing, reference numeral 12 is a display unit for displaying the operation status of the facsimile apparatus, 13 is an input request data storage unit for storing message data for inputting a telephone number to be called, and 14 is a toner consumption which will be described later. When the state detection unit 15 detects that the toner is almost used up, it generates a DTMF signal corresponding to the number data stored in the registration data storage unit 6 and sends it to the trunk line. When formed, the control unit reads out the notification message regarding the toner supply stored in the notification message storage unit 7 and transmits the notification message to the trunk line through the voice data processing unit 8.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a toner consumption state detection unit for detecting a toner consumption state, which includes a clock generation unit 151 for generating clock data by logically multiplying a predetermined video clock and video data, and a coefficient for counting clock data. When the clock counting section 152 counts more than a predetermined clock, the counting circuit 153 determines whether the toner shortage state is recognized. And a depletion status recognition circuit 154 for allowing the completion status to be recognized.

The configuration and operation of the toner consumption state detection unit 15 are described in detail in Korean Patent Application No. 96-78526, filed in 1996 by the present applicant, and thus the detailed configuration and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the device having the above configuration will be described with reference to the operation flowchart shown in FIG. 2.

First, when the user enters the toner replacement supply notification mode through the function key 4a of the key input unit 4 (step ST1), the control unit 14 sets the input toner replacement supply notification mode to the mode state storage unit ( 5) (ST2 step).

Then, the message data requesting the input of the telephone number to be called from the input request data storage unit 13 is read out and displayed on the display unit 12 (step ST3).

After that, if the telephone number to be called for a predetermined time is not input (step ST4 to ST5), the control unit 14 cancels the set toner replacement supply notification mode and returns to the standby mode for receiving initial data (step ST6). .

On the other hand, when the telephone number is input through the 10-key 4b of the key input unit 4 in the toner replacement supply notification mode, the control unit 14 registers the input telephone number data with the registration data storage unit 6. Will be stored in step (ST7).

In the state of setting the toner replacement supply notification mode as described above, the controller 14 determines whether the predetermined signal is sent from the toner consumption state detection unit 15. When the toner is almost used up, the toner consumption is exhausted. A high level signal, for example, is output from the toner shortage state detection circuit 153 of the state detection unit 15 to the control unit 14.

Accordingly, when a high level signal is input from the toner consumption state detection unit 15 (step ST8), the control unit 14 reads out telephone number data stored in the registration data storage unit 6 to generate the DTMF signal generation unit. A DTMF signal corresponding to the telephone number data read out through (9) is generated and sent to the trunk line (step ST9).

Thereafter, even if a predetermined time has elapsed, if the call path is not connected to the called number, the line is switched to return to the standby state for the first data reception (steps ST10 to ST11).

However, when the call path is connected to the called number, the control unit 14 reads out the notification message data, for example, “Toner is used up, stored in the notification message storage unit 7”. After converting into an analog voice signal through the data processing section 8 and transmitting it to the trunk line, the line is switched and returned to the standby state for the first data reception. (ST12 to ST13 steps)

Therefore, the called telephone side can know that the toner of the facsimile apparatus is exhausted and the replacement supply time has come, and can cope with it accordingly.

That is, according to the above embodiment, it is possible to realize a facsimile apparatus in which the facsimile apparatus can notify the replacement supply time of the toner by the registered telephone number when the toner is used up.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, It can variously deform and implement within the range which does not deviate from the technical summary of this invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the loss of data due to toner shortage by calling the telephone number registered in advance when the toner runs out.

Claims (1)

A printing unit for printing image data on a recording sheet, a toner consumption state detection unit for detecting a consumption state of toner supplied to the printing unit, and a network control unit (NCU) for connecting a telephone line to transmit or receive data In one facsimile apparatus; Key input unit for entering the toner consumption status notification mode or registering a telephone number to be called, A mode state storage unit for storing the toner notification mode input through the key input unit; Registration data storage unit for storing the registered phone number through the key input unit, Notification message storage unit for storing voice notification messages regarding toner supply, A voice data processor for processing voice message data; A DTMF signal generator for generating a DTMF signal, When the toner consumption state detection unit detects that the toner is almost exhausted, it generates a DTMF signal corresponding to the number data stored in the registration data storage unit and sends it to the trunk line. And a control unit configured to read out the notification message relating to the toner supply stored in the message storage unit and to transmit the notification message to the trunk line through the voice data processing unit.

Images