EP0342910A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photocopy monitoring system and method for monitoring copiers
Assignee: Monitel Products Corp
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Filing: 1989-05-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A system for monitoring a variable output paper processing device is provided. The monitoring system includes a counter which counts the number of papers processed and provides a count signal for each counted paper. A controller receives the count signals and totals the counts. The controller transmits the total count to a central station through a modem after either a predetermined time or a predetermined count. Internal diagnostic signals in the printing device are intercepted as they are transmitted to an internal display device of the printing device and transmitted to the central computer through the modem.
Inventors
- 👤 Burt Kravette
- 👤 Thomas Heidt
- 👤 Stephen Trapp
- 👤 Leonard Tarr
- 👤 James Charles Wickstead
- 👤 Roger Booth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:52
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B19/0428; G03G15/50; G03G15/5075; G03G15/5079; G03G15/55; G03G21/00; G03G21/02; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/24; G05B2219/24018; G05B2219/24058; G05B2219/24072; G05B2219/26; G05B2219/2662
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A system for monitoring a paper processing device and reporting to a central station, the printing device including an internal diagnosing system for diagnosing malfunctions within the system, a display device for displaying the diagnosed malfunction, the diagnosing system providing an internal diagnostic signal specific to the printing device for causing the display device to display the malfunction comprising: counter means for counting the number of papers processed by the printing device and producing a count signal corresponding to each paper processed; first control means for receiving the count signal, totalling the count signal and transmitting the total count at at least one of a predetermined time interval and a predetermined count interval and producing a count trigger signal; interface means for receiving the diagnostic signal without interfering with the operation of the display device, the first control means also receiving the diagnostic signal from the interface means and in response thereto producing a diagnostic trigger signal; and modem means for transmitting the total count signal to the central station upon receipt of said count trigger signal, the modem means also receiving the diagnostic trigger signal and transmitting the diagnostic signal in response thereto to the central station.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
A system for monitoring a paper processing device and reporting to a central station, the printing device including an internal diagnosing system for diagnosing malfunctions within the system, a display device for displaying the diagnosed malfunction, the diagnosing system providing an internal diagnostic signal specific to the printing device for causing the display device to display the malfunction comprising: counter means for counting the number of papers processed by the printing device and producing a count signal corresponding to each paper processed; first control means for receiving the count signal, totalling the count signal and transmitting the total count at at least one of a predetermined time interval and a predetermined count interval and producing a count trigger signal; interface means for receiving the diagnostic signal without interfering with the operation of the display device, the first control means also receiving the diagnostic signal from the interface means and in response thereto producing a diagnostic trigger signal; and modem means for transmitting the total count signal to the central station upon receipt of said count trigger signal, the modem means also receiving the diagnostic trigger signal and transmitting the diagnostic signal in response thereto to the central station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising an input/output means for retrieving data stored within the first control means and inputting data through the modem to the central station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a local area network for receiving the total count signal and diagnostic signal and transmitting the total count signal and diagnostic signal and second control means for receiving the total count signal and diagnostic signal from the local area network and transmitting the total count signal at a predetermined time to the modem means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the printing device is a photocopier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first control means includes memory means for storing said predetermined total count and further comprising third control means for causing the first control means to compare the total count to the predetermined count value and causing said first control means to produce said trigger signal when said total count equals said predetermined count.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The monitoring system of claim 5, wherein said predetermined total count may be reprogrammed from a remote location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the paper processing device includes a cable for internally transmitting the diagnostic signal and the interface means includes connector means for electrically connecting the interface means to the cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said interface means translates said formatted diagnostic signal into a form used by the central station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The monitoring system of claim 8, wherein said interface means formats said diagnostic signal into a form used by the first control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the printing device generates a count signal for causing the display device to display the count, and further comprises a cable for internally transmitting the count signal and the counter means includes connector means for electrically connecting the monitoring system to the cable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The copier monitoring system of claim 8, wherein said interface further includes an interface CPU for translating the internal diagnostic signal formed by the paper processing device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The monitoring system of claim 10, wherein said counter means includes an optocoupler.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
130 words
A system for monitoring a printing device and reporting to a central station comprising: counter means for counting the number of papers processed by the printing device and producing a count signal corresponding to each paper processed; first control means for receiving the count signal totaling the count signal and transmitting the total count at at least one of a predetermined time and a predetermined count and producing a trigger signal, the first control means including memory means for storing said predetermined total count; modem means for contacting the central station upon receipt of said trigger signal; and second control means for comparing the total count to the predetermined count value and causing said first control means to produce said trigger signal when said total count equals said predetermined count.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
130 words
A system for monitoring a printing device and reporting to a central station comprising: counter means for counting the number of papers processed by the printing device and producing a count signal corresponding to each paper processed; first control means for receiving the count signal totaling the count signal and transmitting the total count at at least one of a predetermined time and a predetermined count and producing a trigger signal, the first control means including memory means for storing said predetermined total count; modem means for contacting the central station upon receipt of said trigger signal; and second control means for comparing the total count to the predetermined count value and causing said first control means to produce said trigger signal when said total count equals said predetermined count.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for monitoring a printing device, the device including an internal diagnosing system for diagnosing malfunctions within the system, a display device for displaying the diagnosed malfunction, the diagnosing system providing internal diagnostic signals specific to the printing device for causing the display device to display the malfunctions comprising the steps of: detecting at least one selected internal diagnostic signal; translating the selected internal diagnostic signal to a signal which may be understood by a computer at a central station; and transmitting the translated signal to the central station.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for monitoring a printing device, the device including an internal diagnosing system for diagnosing malfunctions within the system, a display device for displaying the diagnosed malfunction, the diagnosing system providing internal diagnostic signals specific to the printing device for causing the display device to display the malfunctions comprising the steps of: detecting at least one selected internal diagnostic signal; translating the selected internal diagnostic signal to a signal which may be understood by a computer at a central station; and transmitting the translated signal to the central station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of transmitting a printing device identification number to the central station when transmitting the translated signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of transmitting a last abort data to the central station when transmitting the translated signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the last abort data includes at least the last printing device failure identified by month, day, year, hour, minute and a failure code.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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