Photocopy monitoring system and method for monitoring copiers

• US 5,184,179 A
• Filed: 07/31/1991
• Issued: 02/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monitel Products Corp. (Phoenix DataComm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Monitel Products Corp. (Phoenix DataComm, Inc.)
• Inventors: King, Gregory, Johansen, Brian, Tarr, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Moses, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US07/739,060
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 355/207, 355/209, 355/203-206, 355/308, 340/825.06, 340/825.17, 235/385, 364/478
• US Class Current: 399/8
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/55 Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/02 Counting the number of copies; Billing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24018 Computer assisted repair, diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24058 Remote testing, monitoring independent from normal control by pc
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24072 Detect faulty circuit, display on screen and replace it
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2662 Photocopier

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 paper counted. A controller receives the count signals and totals the counts. The controller includes an internal clock as well as an interrupt signal generator. Upon receipt of the count signal, the interrupt generator generates an interrupt signal starting the internal clock. The internal clock has a duration of a predetermined value larger than random noise signals. The controller compares the internal clock signal to the count signal and determines whether a valid count has occurred. The controller includes a CPU and RAM which are coupled by a PAL which isolates the RAM from the CPU when a voltage supplied to the CPU and PAL falls below a predetermined level.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a paper processing device and reporting to a central station, the paper processing 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 paper processing device for causing the display device to display the malfunction comprising:

counter means for counting the number of papers processed by the paper processing 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;

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; and

voltage regulator means receiving an AC power input, a power input from the paper processing device and a battery power input, said voltage regulator means providing power to said first control means utilizing said battery power when said voltage regulator means detects an absence of an input of AC power and power from said paper processing device.

2. The system for monitoring a paper processing device of claim 1, wherein said first control means includes clock means, said first control means receiving a clock input from said clock means and determining a time interval in response thereto during which battery power is supplied to said control means and placing said system for monitoring a paper processing device in a sleep mode when said time interval has exceeded a predetermined time interval.

3. The system for monitoring a paper processing device of claim 2, wherein said first control means causes said modem means to transmit a second signal to said central station upon receipt of a count signal from said counter means after said predetermined time interval.

4. A voltage regulator for a system for monitoring a paper processing device and reporting to a central station, said voltage regulator means receiving an AC power input, a power input from the paper processing device and a battery power input, and providing power to said system utilizing said battery power when said voltage regulator means detects an absence of both an input of AC power and power from said paper processing device.

5. The voltage regulator of claim 4, wherein said system includes counter means for counting the number of papers processed by the printing device producing a count signal corresponding to each paper process and 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, said first control means including a clock means, said first control means receiving a clock input from said clock means and determining a time interval in response thereto during which battery power is supplied to said control means and placing said system for monitoring a paper processing device in a sleep mode when said time interval has exceeded a predetermined time interval.

6. The voltage regulator of claim 5, wherein the system for monitoring a paper processing device includes modem means for transmitting the total count signal to a central station upon receipt of said count trigger signal, said first control means causing said modem means to transmit a second signal to said central station upon receipt of a count signal from said counter means after said predetermined time interval.

7. A system for monitoring a paper processing device and reporting to a central station comprising:

at least one 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 said count signal and transmitting the total count at at least one of a predetermined time interval and at a predetermined count interval and producing a count trigger signal; and

interrupt means for generating an interrupt signal in response to said count signal, said first control means generating an internal clock for a predetermined time interval in response to said interrupt signal, said time interval being less than the duration of said count signal and greater than the duration of random noise signals and comparing said internal generated clock to said count signal and determining a count has occurred when said count signal exceeds said internal clock signal.

8. The system for monitoring a paper processing device of claim 7, wherein said interrupt means includes a NAND gate, an OR gate and means to detect multiple meter signals and generate an interrupt and validation sequence.

9. The system for monitoring a paper processing device of claim 7, wherein said counter means includes an LED and photodetecting diode.

10. The system for monitoring a paper processing device of claim 7, wherein said first control means includes a CPU, and a RAM, said CPU writing data in and reading data from said RAM and a PAL coupled to said CPU and said RAM for addressing the portions of said RAM written in or read from said CPU;

power source means for providing a predetermined voltage to said PAL and said CPU, said PAL preventing access to said RAM by said CPU when said voltage falls below a predetermined level.

11. The system for monitoring a paper processing 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 process;

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;

said first control means including a CPU for totalling the count signal, a RAM coupled to said CPU for storing the total count and a PAL coupled between said CPU and said RAM for controlling the addresses at which said RAM is operated upon by said CPU;

power source means for providing power at a predetermined voltage level to said PAL and CPU, said PAL preventing access to said RAM by said CPU when said voltage falls below said predetermined level; and

modem means for transmitting the total count signal to the central station upon receipt of said count trigger signal.