JP7003800B2 - Facsimile system and facsimile machine. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a facsimile system and a facsimile machine.

In Patent Document 1, the CPU detects resources that can be used by the receiver for reception, such as the remaining amount of recording paper, ink, and toner, and according to the detection results of these resources, the image is transmitted. A facsimile machine that selects a color mode is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-27257

In the above-mentioned facsimile machine, when reception of facsimile is selected, a color mode at the time of image transmission is selected from the detection result of resources such as recording paper and ink. Then, the pre-facsimile procedure is executed to notify the transmitter of the selected color mode. For example, if there is no color ink, the transmitter is notified that there is no full color reception function. Even if color ink is replenished after this notification and the receiver changes to a state where full-color reception is possible, the transmitter has already been notified that there is no full-color reception function. Performs black-and-white binary or grayscale image transmission. As a result, the receiver cannot receive the color image.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile system and a facsimile machine capable of suppressing transmission / reception in monochrome and increasing the possibility of performing color transmission / reception. ..

The facsimile system according to the present specification includes a transmitting side facsimile machine, a receiving side facsimile machine, and a controller system. The transmitting side facsimile apparatus includes a first line interface for connecting to a telephone line and an input interface. In the receiving side facsimile apparatus, a mounting case in which a cartridge having a first liquid chamber in which a color printing agent is stored is mounted and a tank having a second liquid chamber, one of which communicates with the second liquid chamber of the tank. The other is a flow path that communicates with the first liquid chamber of the cartridge mounted in the mounting case, a head that communicates with the second liquid chamber and discharges a color printing agent, and a liquid. It includes a surface sensor and a second line interface that connects to a telephone line. The controller system determines whether or not the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than the first predetermined position, and in response to the determination that the position is less than the first predetermined position, the receiving side facsimile apparatus. After prohibiting color reception and determining that the position is less than the first predetermined position, an operation input instructing the receiving side facsimile device to perform color transmission through the input interface of the transmitting side facsimile device is accepted, and the above is performed. After determining that the position is less than the first predetermined position, it is determined whether or not the cartridge has been replaced, and after determining that the cartridge has been replaced, the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is the first predetermined position. The first signal output by the liquid level sensor according to being higher than the second predetermined position is received from the liquid level sensor, and color reception is prohibited according to the reception of the first signal. Is released, and a connection request signal requesting connection of a telephone line to the second line interface of the receiving side facsimile device is transmitted from the first line interface of the transmitting side facsimile device.

According to the above configuration, when the transmitting side facsimile machine receives an operation input to perform color facsimile transmission from the user, the amount of the color printing agent in the receiving side facsimile machine is small and color reception is prohibited. If so, the transmitting side does not immediately transmit the connection request signal requesting the connection of the telephone line and waits. Then, on the receiving side, the color printing agent flows from the cartridge into the tank, and in response to receiving the first signal from the liquid level sensor, the prohibition of color reception is released and the connection request signal is transmitted. As a result, monochrome reception can be suppressed and the possibility of color reception can be increased.

The facsimile machine according to the present invention includes a line interface connected to a telephone line, a communication interface connected to a communication network, an input interface, and a first controller. The first controller receives an operation input instructing the receiving side facsimile machine to perform color transmission through the input interface, and after receiving the operation input, the first controller of the tank of the receiving side facsimile machine through the communication interface. The first information regarding the position of the liquid level in the two liquid chambers and the second information indicating whether or not the cartridge having the first liquid chamber in which the color printing agent is stored are mounted in the mounting case are acquired through the above communication interface. Then, based on the first information, it is determined whether or not the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than the first predetermined position, and based on the second information, whether or not the cartridge has been replaced. In response to the determination that the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than the first predetermined position and that the cartridge has been replaced, the second controller of the receiving side facsimile device performs the above. The liquid level sensor outputs a first signal output by the liquid level sensor provided in the receiving side facsimile device according to the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber being higher than the second predetermined position higher than the first predetermined position. The third information regarding whether or not the signal was received from is acquired through the communication interface, and based on the third information, the second controller determines that the first signal has been received from the liquid level sensor. Then, the connection request signal requesting the connection of the telephone line to the receiving side facsimile device is transmitted from the line interface.

According to the above configuration, when an operation input to perform color facsimile transmission is received from the user, if the amount of color printing agent in the receiving side facsimile device is too small to receive color, the telephone line Stand by without sending a connection request signal requesting a connection. Then, on the receiving side, the color printing agent flows from the cartridge into the tank, and the connection request signal is transmitted in response to receiving the first signal from the liquid level sensor. As a result, monochrome reception can be suppressed and the possibility of color reception can be increased.

According to the present invention, in a facsimile system or a facsimile apparatus, monochrome reception can be suppressed and the possibility of color reception can be increased.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the facsimile system 1. 2A and 2B are external perspective views of the MFP 10, in which FIG. 2A shows a state in which the cover 87 is in a covered position, and FIG. 2B shows a state in which the cover 87 is in an exposed position. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the MFP 10. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the mounting case 150. 5A and 5B are views showing the structure of the cartridge 200, where FIG. 5A shows a front perspective view and FIG. 5B shows a vertical sectional view. FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which the cartridge 200 is mounted on the mounting case 150. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an outline of the operation of the facsimile system 1. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the state monitoring process. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the facsimile transmission process. FIG. 10A is a flowchart of the state acquisition process, and FIG. 10B is a flowchart of the notification request process. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the flag update process. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the printing process. 13 (A) is a flowchart of the first update process, FIG. 13 (B) is a flowchart of the second update process, and FIG. 13 (C) is a flowchart of the third update process. (D) is a flowchart of the fourth update process.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. It is needless to say that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention. Further, the execution order of each process described later can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.

[Overview of Facsimile System 1]
In this embodiment, the facsimile system 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The facsimile system 1 includes a plurality of MFPs and a server 50. In the illustrated example, only two MFPs 10 and MFP310 are shown, but the number of MFPs may be three or more.

The MFP 10 and the MFP 310 and the server 410 are connected by a communication line 71 such as the Internet. The MFP10, the MFP310, and the server 410 can communicate with each other using a communication protocol such as an Internet protocol. The communication line 71 is an example of a communication network.

The MFP 10 and the MFP 310 are connected by a telephone line 41. The MFP 10 and the MFP 310 can communicate with each other by using the communication protocol defined in the communication standard of facsimile. In the following description, an example in which the MFP 10 is the receiving side of the facsimile and the MFP 310 is the transmitting side of the facsimile will be described. The MFP 10 is an example of a receiving fax machine. The MFP 310 is an example of a transmitting side facsimile machine and a facsimile machine.

Hereinafter, each configuration of the MFP10, the MFP310, and the server 410, and each process executed by the MFP10, the MFP310, and the server 410 will be described.

[Overview of MFP10]
The MFP 10 is a multifunction device having an image recording function for recording an image on a sheet by an inkjet recording method, a scanning function, and a facsimile function. The MFP 10 may have a function such as a copy function.

In the following, the vertical direction 7 is defined based on the usage posture in which the MFP 10 is installed on a horizontal plane, and the front-rear direction 8 is defined with the surface on which the opening 13 of the MFP 10 is formed as the front surface, and the MFP 10 is viewed from the front surface. The left-right direction 9 is defined. In the present embodiment, in the usage posture, the vertical direction 7 corresponds to the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction 8 and the horizontal direction 9 correspond to the horizontal direction. The front-back direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 are orthogonal to each other.

The MFP 10 has a housing 14 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Inside the housing 14, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a feed tray 15, a feed roller 23, a transport roller 25, a head 21 having a plurality of nozzles 29, a platen 26, and a platen 26 are provided. The discharge roller 27, the discharge tray 16, the mounting case 150, and the tank 160 are located.

The MFP 10 drives the feed roller 23 and the transport roller 25 to transport the sheet supported by the feed tray 15 to the position of the platen 26. Next, the MFP 10 discharges the ink supplied from the tank 160 through the tube 19 to the head 21 through the nozzle 29. As a result, the ink lands on the sheet supported by the platen 26, and the image is printed on the sheet. Then, the MFP 10 drives the discharge roller 27 to discharge the sheet on which the image is printed to the discharge tray 16.

More specifically, the head 21 is mounted on a carriage 20 that reciprocates along a main scanning direction (parallel to the left-right direction 9) that intersects the sheet transport direction by the transport roller 25. The carriage 20 is transmitted with the driving force of a motor (not shown) and moves along the main scanning direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3). The MFP 10 causes the head 21 to eject ink through the nozzle 29 while moving the carriage 20 along the main scanning direction while the sheet transfer by the transfer roller 25 is stopped. As a result, the image is printed on a part of the area of the sheet facing the head 21 (hereinafter referred to as "1 pass"). Next, the MFP 10 causes the transfer roller 25 to transfer the sheet so that the area where the image should be printed next faces the head 21. Then, by repeatedly executing these processes alternately, an image is printed on one sheet.

[Display 28]
The housing 14 has a display 28. The display 28 is located on the front surface of the housing 14. The display 28 is a so-called touch panel in which a touch sensor is arranged on the display panel. However, instead of the display 28, or together with the display 28, the display panel and the push button may be located on the front surface of the housing 14. The display 28 accepts input from the user. The display 28 and the push button are examples of an input interface.

[Cover 87]
As shown in FIG. 2, an opening 85 is formed on the front surface 14A of the housing 14 and at the right end portion in the left-right direction 9. The housing 14 further includes a cover 87. The cover 87 is rotatable between a covering position covering the opening 85 (the position shown in FIG. 2A) and an open position opening the opening 85 (the position shown in FIG. 2B). be. The cover 87 is supported by the housing 14 so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis along the left-right direction 9, for example, in the vicinity of the lower end of the housing 14 in the vertical direction 7. A mounting case 150 on which the cartridge 200 is mounted is located in the accommodation space 86 inside the housing 14 that extends to the back of the opening 85.

[Mounting case 150]
As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting case 150 includes a contact 152, a rod 153, a mounting sensor 32, a liquid level sensor 33, and a lock pin 156. The mounting case 150 can accommodate four cartridges 200 corresponding to each color of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. That is, the mounting case 150 is provided with four contacts 152, a rod 153, a mounting sensor 32, and a liquid level sensor 33 corresponding to each of the four cartridges 200. The number of cartridges 200 that can be accommodated in the mounting case 150 is not limited to four.

The mounting case 150 has a box shape having an internal space for accommodating the mounted cartridge 200. The internal space of the mounting case 150 is composed of a top wall defining the upper end, a bottom wall defining the lower end, a back wall defining the rear end of the front-rear direction 8, and a pair of side walls defining both ends in the left-right direction 9. It is defined. On the other hand, the position facing the back wall of the mounting case 150 is an opening 85. That is, the opening 85 opens the internal space of the mounting case 150 to the outside of the MFP 10 when the cover 87 is located in the open position.

Then, the cartridge 200 is mounted on the mounting case 150 through the opening 85 of the housing 14, and is removed from the mounting case 150. More specifically, the cartridge 200 passes through the opening 85 backward in the front-rear direction 8 and is mounted on the mounting case 150. The cartridge 200 pulled out from the mounting case 150 passes through the opening 85 forward in the front-rear direction 8.

[Contact 152]
The contact 152 is located on the top wall of the mounting case 150. The contact 152 projects downward from the top wall toward the internal space of the mounting case 150. The contact 152 is located at a position in contact with the electrode 248 described later of the cartridge 200 when the cartridge 200 is mounted on the mounting case 150. The contact 152 has conductivity and is elastically deformable along the vertical direction 7. The contact 152 is electrically connected to the controller 130.

[Rod 153]
The rod 153 projects forward from the back wall of the mounting case 150. The rod 153 is located on the back wall of the mounting case 150 above the joint 180 described later. The rod 153 enters the atmospheric valve chamber 214 through the atmospheric communication port 221 described later of the cartridge 200 in the process of mounting the cartridge 200 on the mounting case 150. When the rod 153 enters the atmospheric valve chamber 214, the atmospheric valve chamber 214, which will be described later, communicates with the atmosphere.

[Mounting sensor 32]
The mounting sensor 32 is located on the top wall of the mounting case 150. The mounting sensor 32 is a sensor for detecting whether or not the cartridge 200 is mounted on the mounting case 150. The mounting sensor 32 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit separated from each other in the left-right direction 9. When the cartridge 200 is mounted on the mounting case 150, the light-shielding rib 245 described later of the cartridge 200 is located between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the mounting sensor 32. In other words, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the mounting sensor 32 are located so as to face each other with the light shielding rib 245 of the cartridge 200 mounted on the mounting case 150 interposed therebetween.

The mounting sensor 32 outputs different signals (hereinafter, referred to as “mounting signal”) depending on whether or not the light emitted from the light emitting unit along the left-right direction 9 is received by the light receiving unit. The mounting sensor 32 outputs a low-level signal to the controller 130, for example, according to the light receiving intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit being less than the threshold value. On the other hand, the mounting sensor 32 outputs a high level signal having a higher signal intensity than the low level signal to the controller 130 according to the light receiving intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit being equal to or higher than the threshold value.

[Liquid level sensor 33]
The liquid level sensor 33 is a sensor for detecting whether or not the detected portion 194 of the actuator 190, which will be described later, is located at the detection position. The liquid level sensor 33 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit separated from each other in the left-right direction 9. In other words, when the detected unit 194 is located at the detection position, the detected unit 194 is located between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the liquid level sensor 33. On the other hand, when the detected unit 194 is not located at the detection position, the detected unit 194 is not located between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the liquid level sensor 33. The liquid level sensor 33 outputs different signals depending on whether or not the light output from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit. The liquid level sensor 33 outputs a low level signal to the controller 130, for example, according to the light receiving intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit being less than the threshold value. On the other hand, the liquid level sensor 33 outputs a high level signal having a signal intensity higher than that of the low level signal to the controller 130 according to the light receiving intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit being equal to or higher than the threshold value. The liquid level sensor 33 is an example of a liquid level sensor.

[Lock pin 156]
The lock pin 156 is a rod-shaped member extending along the left-right direction 9 at the upper end of the internal space of the mounting case 150 and near the opening 85. Both ends of the lock pin 156 in the left-right direction 9 are fixed to a pair of side walls of the mounting case 150. The lock pin 156 extends in the left-right direction 9 over four spaces that can accommodate the four cartridges 200. The lock pin 156 is for holding the cartridge 200 mounted on the mounting case 150 at the mounting position shown in FIG. The cartridge 200 is fixed to the lock pin 156 in a state of being mounted on the mounting case 150.

[Tank 160]
The MFP 10 includes four tanks 160 corresponding to each of the four cartridges 200. Specifically, the tank 160 in which the magenta ink is stored corresponds to the cartridge 200 in which the magenta ink is stored, and the cyan ink is stored in the cartridge 200 in which the cyan ink is stored. Black ink is stored corresponding to the tank 160 and the cartridge 200 in which the yellow ink is stored, and the tank 160 in which the yellow ink is stored and the cartridge 200 in which the black ink is stored. It is equipped with a tank 160. Since the configurations of the four tanks 160 are generally the same, one tank 160 will be described below.

The tank 160 is located further behind the back wall of the mounting case 150. As shown in FIG. 4, the tank 160 is composed of an upper wall 161, a front wall 162, a lower wall 163, a rear wall 164, and a pair of side walls (not shown). The front wall 162 is composed of a plurality of walls, each of which is displaced in the front-rear direction 8. A liquid chamber 171 is formed inside the tank 160. The liquid chamber 171 is an example of the second liquid chamber.

Of the walls constituting the tank 160, at least the wall facing the liquid level sensor 33 has translucency. As a result, the light output by the liquid level sensor 33 can pass through the wall facing the liquid level sensor 33. At least a part of the rear wall 164 may be a film welded to the upper wall 161, the lower wall 163, and the end faces of the side wall. Further, the side wall of the tank 160 may be common to the mounting case 150 or may be independent of the mounting case 150. Further, the tanks 160 adjacent to each other in the left-right direction 9 are partitioned by a partition wall (not shown).

The liquid chamber 171 communicates with an ink flow path (not shown) through the outlet 174. The lower end of the outlet 174 is defined by a lower wall 163 that defines the lower end of the liquid chamber 171. The outlet 174 is located below the joint 180 (more specifically, the lower end of the through hole 184). The ink flow path (not shown) communicated with the outlet 174 is communicated with the tube 19. As a result, the liquid chamber 171 communicates with the head 21 from the outlet 174 through the ink flow path and the tube 19. That is, the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 is supplied to the head 21 from the outlet 174 through the ink flow path and the tube 19. The ink flow path and the tube 19 communicated with the outlet 174 are a flow path in which one end (outlet 174) is communicated with the liquid chamber 171 and the other end 89 (see FIG. 3) is communicated with the head 21.

The liquid chamber 171 communicates with the atmosphere through the air communication chamber 175. More specifically, the atmospheric communication chamber 175 communicates with the liquid chamber 171 through a through hole 176 penetrating the front wall 162. Further, the atmospheric communication chamber 175 is communicated to the outside of the MFP 10 through a tube (not shown) connected to the atmospheric communication port 177 and the atmospheric communication port 177. That is, the atmospheric communication chamber 175 is a flow path in which one end (through hole 176) is communicated with the liquid chamber 171 and the other end (atmospheric communication port 177) is communicated with the outside of the MFP 10. The atmospheric communication chamber 175 communicates with the atmosphere through an atmospheric communication port 177 and a tube (not shown).

[Joint 180]
The joint 180 includes a needle 181 and a guide 182, as shown in FIG. The needle 181 is a tube having a flow path formed inside. The needle 181 projects forward from the anterior wall 162 defining the liquid chamber 171. An opening 183 is formed at the front end of the needle 181. Further, the internal space of the needle 181 is communicated with the liquid chamber 171 through a through hole 184 penetrating the front wall 162. The needle 181 is a flow path in which one end (opening 183) is communicated with the outside of the tank 160 and the other end (through hole 184) is communicated with the liquid chamber 171. The guide 182 is a cylindrical member arranged around the needle 181. The guide 182 projects forward from the front wall 162 and has an open front end.

A valve 185 and a coil spring 186 are located in the internal space of the needle 181. The valve 185 is movable along the front-rear direction 8 between the closed position and the open position in the internal space of the needle 181. The valve 185 closes the opening 183 when located in the closed position. Further, the valve 185 opens the opening 183 when it is located at the open position. The coil spring 186 is urged in a direction that moves the valve 185 from the open position to the closed position, that is, in the forward direction along the front-rear direction 8. The internal space of the needle 181 is an example of a flow path.

[Actuator 190]
As shown in FIG. 4, the actuator 190 is located in the liquid chamber 171. The actuator 190 is rotatably supported along the direction of arrows 198 and 199 by a support member (not shown) arranged in the liquid chamber 171. The actuator 190 can rotate between the first state shown by the solid line and the second state shown by the broken line in FIG. Further, the actuator 190 is restricted from rotating in the direction of arrow 198 from the position of the solid line by a stopper (for example, the inner wall of the liquid chamber 171) (not shown). The actuator 190 includes a float 191, a shaft 192, an arm 193, and a detected portion 194. The actuator 190 is an example of a detection object.

The float 191 is made of a material having a lower specific density than the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171. The shaft 192 projects from the right and left surfaces of the float 191 along the left-right direction 9. The shaft 192 is inserted into a hole (not shown) formed in the support member. As a result, the actuator 190 is rotatably supported by the support member about the shaft 192. The arm 193 extends substantially upward from the float 191. The detected portion 194 is located at the tip end portion of the arm 193. That is, the arm 193 is located between the detected portion 194 and the shaft 192. The detected portion 194 is a plate-shaped member extending along each of the vertical direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8. The detected portion 194 is formed of a material or color that shields the light output from the light emitting portion of the liquid level sensor 33.

When the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 is equal to or higher than the reference position P, the actuator 190 rotated in the direction of arrow 198 by buoyancy is held by the stopper at the detection position shown by the solid line in FIG. On the other hand, when the liquid level of the ink is less than the reference position P, the actuator 190 rotates in the direction of arrow 199 following the drop of the liquid level. As a result, the detected portion 194 of the actuator 190 moves to a position different from the detected position. Since the detected unit 194 is a part of the actuator 190, the detected unit 194 moves to a position corresponding to the amount of ink stored in the liquid chamber 171.

The reference position P is at the same height as the axis center of the needle 181 and at the same height as the center of the ink supply port 234 described later in the vertical direction 7. However, the reference position P is not limited to the above-mentioned position as long as it is a position above the outlet 174 in the vertical direction 7. As another example, the reference position P may be the height of the upper end or the lower end of the internal space of the needle 181 or the height of the upper end or the lower end of the ink supply port 234.

When the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 is equal to or higher than the reference position P, the light output from the light emitting portion of the liquid level sensor 33 is blocked by the detected portion 194 located at the detection position. As a result, the liquid level sensor 33 outputs a low level signal to the controller 130 because the light from the light emitting unit does not reach the light receiving unit. On the other hand, when the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 is less than the reference position P, the liquid level sensor 33 outputs a high level signal to the controller 130 because the light output from the light emitting portion reaches the light receiving portion. do. That is, the controller 130 can detect whether or not the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 is equal to or higher than the reference position P by the signal output from the liquid level sensor 33. The reference position P is an example of the second predetermined position. The low level signal “L” is an example of the first signal. In the following, the low level signal may be described as “L” and the high level signal may be described as “H”.

[Cartridge 200]
The cartridge 200 is a container having a liquid chamber 210 (see FIG. 3) for storing liquid ink inside. The liquid chamber 210 is an example of the first liquid chamber.

The liquid chamber 210 is defined by, for example, a resin wall. As shown in FIG. 5A, the cartridge 200 has a flat shape in which the dimensions along the vertical direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8 are larger than the dimensions along the left-right direction 9. The outer shapes of the cartridges 200 in which inks of different colors are stored may be the same or different. At least a part of the walls constituting the cartridge 200 is translucent. As a result, the user can visually recognize the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 210 of the cartridge 200 from the outside of the cartridge 200. In the following description, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks may be collectively referred to as "color ink". Cyan, magenta, and yellow inks are examples of color printing agents.

The cartridge 200 includes a housing 201 and a supply pipe 230. The housing 201 is composed of a rear wall 202, a front wall 203, an upper wall 204, a lower wall 205, and a pair of side walls 206 and 207. The rear wall 202 is composed of a plurality of walls, each of which is displaced in the front-rear direction 8. Further, the upper wall 204 is composed of a plurality of walls, each of which is displaced in the vertical direction 7. Further, the lower wall 205 is composed of a plurality of walls, each of which is displaced in the vertical direction 7.

As shown in FIG. 5B, a liquid chamber 210, an ink valve chamber 213, and an atmospheric valve chamber 214 are formed in the internal space of the cartridge 200. The liquid chamber 210 has an upper liquid chamber 211 and a lower liquid chamber 212. The upper liquid chamber 211, the lower liquid chamber 212, and the atmospheric valve chamber 214 are internal spaces of the housing 201. On the other hand, the ink valve chamber 213 is an internal space of the supply pipe 230. The liquid chamber 210 stores ink. The atmosphere valve chamber 214 communicates the liquid chamber 210 with the outside of the cartridge 200. The liquid chamber 210 is an example of the first liquid chamber.

The upper liquid chamber 211 and the lower liquid chamber 212 of the liquid chamber 210 are separated in the vertical direction 7 by a partition wall 215 that partitions the internal space of the housing 201. The upper liquid chamber 211 and the lower liquid chamber 212 are communicated with each other by a through hole 216 formed in the partition wall 215. Further, the upper liquid chamber 211 and the atmospheric valve chamber 214 are separated by a partition wall 217 that partitions the internal space of the housing 201. The upper liquid chamber 211 and the atmospheric valve chamber 214 are communicated with each other by a through hole 218 formed in the partition wall 217. Further, the ink valve chamber 213 communicates with the lower end of the lower liquid chamber 212 through the through hole 219.

The atmospheric valve chamber 214 is communicated to the outside of the cartridge 200 at the upper part of the cartridge 200 through an atmospheric communication port 221 formed in the rear wall 202. That is, one end (through hole 218) of the atmospheric valve chamber 214 is communicated with the liquid chamber 210 (more specifically, the upper liquid chamber 211), and the other end (atmospheric communication port 221) is communicated with the outside of the cartridge 200. ing. The atmospheric valve chamber 214 communicates with the atmosphere through the atmospheric communication port 221. Further, a valve 222 and a coil spring 223 are located in the atmospheric valve chamber 214. The valve 222 can move between the closed position and the open position along the front-rear direction 8. When the valve 222 is located at the closed position, it closes the atmospheric communication port 221. Further, when the valve 222 is located at the open position, the atmospheric communication port 221 is opened. The coil spring 223 is urged to move the valve 222 from the open position to the closed position, that is, backward along the front-rear direction 8.

In the process of mounting the cartridge 200 on the mounting case 150, the rod 153 enters the atmospheric valve chamber 214 through the atmospheric communication port 221. The rod 153 that has entered the atmosphere valve chamber 214 moves the valve 222 in the closed position forward along the front-rear direction 8 against the urging force of the coil spring 223. Then, by moving the valve 222 to the open position, the upper liquid chamber 211 is communicated with the atmosphere. The configuration for opening the atmospheric communication port 221 is not limited to the above example. As another example, the rod 153 may be configured to break through the film that seals the atmospheric communication port 221.

The supply pipe 230 projects rearward along the front-rear direction 8 from the rear wall 202 at the lower part of the housing 201. The rear end of the supply pipe 230 is open. That is, the ink valve chamber 213 communicates the liquid chamber 210 communicated through the through hole 219 with the outside of the cartridge 200. One end (through hole 219) of the ink valve chamber 213 communicates with the liquid chamber 210 (more specifically, the lower liquid chamber 212), and the other end (ink supply port 234 described later) communicates with the outside of the cartridge 200. There is. Further, the packing 231, the valve 232, and the coil spring 233 are located in the ink valve chamber 213.

An ink supply port 234 penetrating in the front-rear direction 8 is formed in the center of the packing 231. The inner diameter of the ink supply port 234 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the needle 181. The valve 232 is movable along the anteroposterior direction 8 between the closed position and the open position. When the valve 232 is located at the closed position, it comes into contact with the packing 231 and closes the ink supply port 234. Further, when the valve 232 is located at the open position, the valve 232 is separated from the packing 231 to open the ink supply port 234. The coil spring 233 is urged to move the valve 232 from the open position to the closed position, that is, backward along the front-rear direction 8. Further, the urging force of the coil spring 233 is larger than that of the coil spring 186.

In the process of mounting the cartridge 200 on the mounting case 150, the supply pipe 230 enters the guide 182, and the needle 181 eventually enters the ink valve chamber 213 through the ink supply port 234. At this time, the needle 181 elastically deforms the packing 231 and comes into liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface defining the ink supply port 234. When the cartridge 200 is further inserted into the mounting case 150, the needle 181 moves the valve 232 forward against the urging force of the coil spring 233. Further, the valve 232 moves the valve 185 protruding from the opening 183 of the needle 181 backward against the urging force of the coil spring 186.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the ink supply port 234 and the opening 183 are opened, and the ink valve chamber 213 of the supply pipe 230 and the internal space of the needle 181 are communicated with each other. That is, when the cartridge 200 is mounted on the mounting case 150, the internal space of the ink valve chamber 213 and the needle 181 constitutes a flow path for communicating the liquid chamber 210 of the cartridge 200 and the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160.

Further, in a state where the cartridge 200 is mounted on the mounting case 150, a part of the liquid chamber 210 and a part of the liquid chamber 171 overlap each other when viewed from the horizontal direction. Further, the bottom of the liquid chamber 171 is located below the bottom of the liquid chamber 210. As a result, the ink stored in the liquid chamber 210 flows out to the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 through the connected supply pipe 230 and the joint 180 due to the difference between the head of the liquid chamber 210 and the water head of the liquid chamber 171.

As shown in FIG. 5, a protrusion 241 is formed on the upper wall 204. The protrusion 241 projects upward from the outer surface of the upper wall 204 and extends along the front-rear direction 8. The protrusion 241 has a lock surface 242 and an inclined surface 243. The lock surface 242 and the inclined surface 243 are located above the upper wall 204. The lock surface 242 faces forward along the front-rear direction 8 and extends along each of the up-down direction 7 and the left-right direction 9 (that is, substantially orthogonal to the upper wall 204). The inclined surface 243 is inclined with respect to the upper wall 204 so as to face upward and backward.

The lock surface 242 is a surface that comes into contact with the lock pin 156 when the cartridge 200 is mounted on the mounting case 150. The inclined surface 243 is a surface that guides the lock pin 156 to a position where it comes into contact with the lock surface 242 in the process of mounting the cartridge 200 on the mounting case 150. When the lock surface 242 and the lock pin 156 are in contact with each other, the cartridge 200 is held in the mounting position shown in FIG. 6 against the urging force of the coil springs 186, 223, and 233.

A flat plate-shaped member is formed so as to extend upward from the upper wall 204 in front of the lock surface 242. The upper surface of the flat plate-shaped member is an operation unit 244 operated by the user when the cartridge 200 is pulled out from the mounting case 150. When the cartridge 200 is mounted on the mounting case 150 and the cover 87 is located in the open position, the operation unit 244 can be operated by the user. When the operation unit 244 is pushed downward, the cartridge 200 rotates, so that the lock surface 242 moves downward from the lock pin 156. As a result, the cartridge 200 can be removed from the mounting case 150.

As shown in FIG. 5, a light-shielding rib 245 is formed on the outer surface of the upper wall 204 and behind the protrusion 241. The light-shielding rib 245 projects upward from the outer surface of the upper wall 204 and extends along the front-rear direction 8. The light-shielding rib 245 is made of a material or color that blocks light output from the light emitting portion of the mounting sensor 32. The light-shielding rib 245 is located on the optical path from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion of the mounting sensor 32 in a state where the cartridge 200 is mounted on the mounting case 150. That is, the mounting sensor 32 outputs a low level signal to the controller 130 (FIG. 1) according to the mounting of the cartridge 200 in the mounting case 150. On the other hand, the mounting sensor 32 outputs a high-level signal to the controller 130 according to the fact that the cartridge 200 is not mounted on the mounting case 150. That is, the controller 130 can detect whether or not the cartridge 200 is mounted on the mounting case 150 by the signal output from the mounting sensor 32.

As shown in FIG. 5, the IC chip 34 is located on the outer surface of the upper wall 204 and between the light-shielding rib 245 and the protrusion 241 in the front-rear direction 8. An electrode 248 is formed on the IC chip 34. Further, the IC chip 34 includes a memory (not shown). The electrode 248 is electrically connected to the memory of the IC chip 34. The electrode 248 is electrically exposed to the contact 152 on the upper surface of the IC chip 34. That is, when the cartridge 200 is mounted on the mounting case 150, the electrode 248 conducts with the contact 152. The controller 130 can read information from the memory of the IC chip 34 through the contact 152 and the electrode 248, and can write the information to the memory of the IC chip 34 through the contact 152 and the electrode 248.

The memory of the IC chip 34 stores the type information of the cartridge 200, the serial number, and the remaining amount value of the cartridge. The type information is information indicating whether the cartridge 200 is a small-capacity cartridge or a large-capacity cartridge, the color of the ink to be stored, and the like. The serial number is information that individually identifies the cartridge 200. The cartridge remaining amount value is a value indicating the amount of ink stored in the cartridge 200. In the unused cartridge 200, the initial remaining amount value indicating the initial ink remaining amount is stored in the memory as the cartridge remaining amount value.

[Controller 130]
The MFP 10 includes a controller 130. As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 130 includes a CPU 35, a storage unit 36, and a communication bus 39. The storage unit 36 has a ROM 37, an EEPROM 61, and a RAM 62. The controller 130 is an example of the second controller.

The ROM 37 stores an OS (abbreviation of Operating System) program 37A, a control program 37B, and the like. The control program 37B is a program that performs printing processing and the like, which will be described later. The OS program 37A is a program different from the control program 37B, and is a program that controls an operation different from the operation controlled by the control program 37B. The OS program 37A and the control program 37B are executed by processing the instruction described in the address by the CPU 35. In the following, the operation processed by the execution of the OS program 37A and the control program 37B may be described as the operation of the controller 130. The controller 130 may have a hardware circuit using an IC that realizes a part or all of the operations executed by the OS program 37A and the control program 37B.

The EEPROM 61 stores the device information of the MFP 10. The device information includes the identification information of the MFP 10. The identification information of the MFP 10 is the MAC address, serial number, or the like of the MFP 10. The EEPROM 61 stores setting information to be retained even after the power is turned off.

Further, the EEPROM 61 stores various information in association with each of the four cartridges 200 mounted on the mounting case 150, in other words, in association with each of the tanks 160 communicating with the cartridge 200. The various information stores, for example, a first discharge value, a second discharge value, an initial cartridge remaining amount value, an initial tank remaining amount value, an S_Empty flag, and a C_Empty flag. Further, the EEPROM 61 corresponds to each of the three cartridges 200 for storing cyan, magenta, and yellow inks, in other words, corresponds to each of the tanks 160 communicating with the cartridge 200, and the remaining amount flag and the inflow. I remember the flag. The first discharge value, the second discharge value, the initial cartridge remaining value, the initial tank remaining value, the S_Empty flag and the C_Empty flag will be described in the state monitoring process and the printing process described later. The remaining amount flag and the inflow flag will be described in the state monitoring process described later.

Further, the EEPROM 61 stores the paper setting information. The paper setting information is information indicating the type of paper set as printable by the MFP 10.

The RAM 133 is used as a storage area for temporarily recording data, signals, etc. used by the CPU 131 when executing the program, or as a work area for data processing.

The communication bus 39 includes a head 21, a communication interface 31 (hereinafter referred to as a communication I / F 31), a mounting sensor 32, a liquid level sensor 33, a contact 152, a clock 30, a display 28, and a line interface. A 51 (hereinafter referred to as a line I / F 51), a scanner 81, a motor (not shown), and the like are connected. The clock 30 outputs date and time information.

The controller 130 rotates the feed roller 23, the transport roller 25, and the discharge roller 27 by driving a motor (not shown) through the communication bus 39. Further, the controller 130 outputs a drive signal to the drive element of the head 21 through the communication bus 39, so that ink droplets are ejected from the head 21.

Further, the controller 130 detects whether or not the cartridge 200 is mounted on the mounting case 150 through the mounting sensor 32. Further, the controller 130 detects whether or not the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 is equal to or higher than the reference position P through the liquid level sensor 33.

Further, the controller 130 reads out the type information, the serial number, and the remaining cartridge value stored in the memory of the IC chip 34 through the electrode 248 of the cartridge 200 mounted on the mounting case 150 and the contact 152. Further, the controller 130 updates the value of the remaining cartridge value stored in the memory of the IC chip 34 through the electrode 248 of the cartridge 200 mounted on the mounting case 150 and the contact 152.

Further, the controller 130 connects to the communication line 71 through the communication I / F 31, and transmits / receives a state information request, a state information, and a notification request, which will be described later, to / from the server 410. The controller 130 connects to the telephone line 41 through the line I / F 51, and transmits / receives facsimile data and various signals to / from the MFP 310. The controller 130 acquires scan data from the scanner 81. The communication I / F 31 is an example of the second communication interface. The line I / F 51 is an example of a second line interface.

[MFP310]
The MFP 310 has the same configuration as the MFP 10. In the following description, the controller of the MFP 310, the line I / F, the communication I / F, the scanner, the controller 330, the line I / F351, the communication I / F371, and the like, as shown in FIG. It is described as scanner 381. The controller 330 is an example of the first controller. The line I / F351 is an example of the first line interface. The communication I / F 371 is an example of the first communication interface.

The RAM 133 of the MFP 310 stores the state information acquired from the server 410. The status information is information indicating the status of the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side (MFP10 in the present embodiment), and is, for example, the remaining amount flag, the inflow flag, and the paper setting information. The RAM 133 stores the latest state information acquired from the server 410 as the current information, and stores the state information acquired from the server 410 one time before the current information as the old information.

Further, the RAM 133 of the MFP 10 stores the first flag, the second flag, and the third flag when the MFP 10 executes the facsimile transmission process (FIG. 9). Details of the first flag, the second flag, and the third flag will be described later.

[Server 410]
The server 410 includes a controller 430 and a communication I / F 471. The controller 430 includes a CPU 431, a memory 432, and a communication bus (not shown). The controller 430 connects to the communication line 71 through the communication I / F 471, sends and receives the state information and the notification request described later with the MFP 10, and sends and receives the state information request, the state information, and the notification request described later with the MFP 310. Send and receive. The controller 430 is an example of the third controller. Communication I / F471 is an example of a third communication interface. The controller 130 of the MFP 10, the controller 330 of the MFP 310, and the controller 430 of the server 410 are examples of the controller system.

The memory 432 stores the telephone numbers of the plurality of MFPs 10 in a state in which the state information acquired from the MFPs 10 is associated with each other. The telephone number of the MFP 10 is a telephone number of a destination for facsimile communication with the MFP 10. The state information is information including the set values of the remaining amount flag and the inflow flag of the MFP 10 and the paper setting information.

[Operation of facsimile system 1]
The operation of the facsimile system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 13. Each process shown in FIGS. 7 to 13 is executed by the CPU 131 of the controller 130, the CPU 131 of the controller 330, or the CPU 431 of the controller 430. The following processes may be performed by the CPU 131 reading and executing the program stored in the ROM 132 of the controller 130, or may be realized by the hardware circuit mounted on the controller 130. The program stored in the ROM 132 of the controller 330 may be read by the CPU 131 and executed, or may be realized by a hardware circuit mounted on the controller 330. The program stored in the memory 432 of the controller 430 may be read by the CPU 431 and executed, or may be realized by a hardware circuit mounted on the controller 430.

First, with reference to FIG. 7, an outline of the overall operation of the facsimile system 1 will be described. The controller 130 of the MFP 10 executes a condition monitoring process (S901, FIG. 8) described later. The state monitoring process is a process of updating the remaining amount flag and the inflow flag stored in the EEPROM 61 of the MFP 10. The status information including the updated remaining amount flag and inflow flag setting values and the paper setting information is transmitted from the MFP 10 to the server 410. The controller 430 of the server 410 stores the state information acquired from the MFP 10 in the memory 432 (S902).

When the controller 330 of the MFP 310 receives an operation input to the effect that the facsimile is transmitted from the user, the controller 330 executes the facsimile transmission process (S903, FIG. 9) described later. In the facsimile transmission process, the controller 330 executes a state acquisition process (FIG. 10A) described later, requests the state information of the MFP 10 on the receiving side from the server 410, and acquires the state information from the server 410. The MFP 10 on the receiving side is specified by the telephone number of the destination input by the user.

Further, the controller 330 of the MFP 310 executes a notification request process (FIG. 10 (B)) described later based on the acquired status information of the MFP 10 in the facsimile transmission process. In the notification request processing, the controller 330 transmits a request for notification of various information to the user in the MFP 10 to the server 410. The controller 430 of the server 410 transmits the notification request acquired from the MFP 310 to the MFP 10. The controller 130 of the MFP 10 notifies the user of various information based on the acquired notification request (S904). Specifically, the controller 130 of the MFP 10 causes the display 28 to display the character string indicated by the notification request.

Further, the controller 330 of the MFP 310 transmits a connection request requesting a connection with the MFP 10 through the line I / F 51 in the facsimile transmission process. The controller 330 transmits facsimile data to the MFP 10 via the telephone line 41 connected to the line I / F 351 of the MFP 10. The controller 330 of the MFP 10 executes a printing process (S905, FIG. 12) for printing an image included in the received facsimile data on a sheet.

[Status monitoring process]
A state monitoring process (S901 in FIG. 7) executed by the controller 130 of the MFP 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The controller 130 periodically and repeatedly executes the state monitoring process. The controller 130 independently executes the condition monitoring process for each of the three tanks 160 that store the cyan, magenta, and yellow inks. Since the status monitoring process for each tank 160 is common, only the status monitoring process corresponding to one tank 160 will be described below.

First, the controller 130 reads the remaining amount flag stored in the EEPROM 61 and determines the value (S101). The controller 130 acquires a signal output by the liquid level sensor 33 in response to the determination that the value of the remaining amount flag is “OFF” (S101: OFF), and determines the signal (S102). The controller 130 assigns "ON" to the remaining amount flag and "OFF" to the inflow flag in response to the determination that the signal output by the liquid level sensor 33 is a low level signal (S102: L). (S103), and the status monitoring process is terminated.

The controller 130 reads the S_Empty flag stored in the EEPROM 61 in response to the determination that the value of the remaining amount flag is "ON", and determines the value (S104).

Here, the S_Empty flag will be described. The controller 130 stores "ON" in the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61 before the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 reaches the upper end of the outlet 174 where the ink flows out from the tank 160. The value of the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61 stores "OFF" until "ON" is stored. When the liquid level of the ink reaches the upper end of the outlet 174, air may enter the nozzle of the head 21. If the air that has entered the nozzle of the head 21 stays in the nozzle, there is a possibility that the entry of ink into the nozzle is hindered or the ejection of ink droplets from the nozzle is hindered.

That is, the S_Empty flag is for preventing air from entering the nozzle of the head 21. The controller 130 stores "OFF" in the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61 in step S15 described later, and stores "ON" in the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61 in step S65. The controller 130 prohibits the ejection of ink through the head 21 according to the value of the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61 being "ON". Further, the controller 130 allows the ink to be discharged through the head 21 according to the value of the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61 being "OFF". In the following description, it may be described that the tank 160 is in the inkempty state when the S_Empty flag is ON, and the tank 160 is not in the inkempty state when the S_Empty flag is OFF.

When the controller 130 determines that the value of the S_Empty flag is "OFF" (S104: OFF), the controller 130 ends the status monitoring process. When the controller 130 determines that the value of the S_Empty flag is "ON" (S104: ON), the controller 130 displays the S_Empty notification screen on the display 28 (S105). The S_Empty notification screen is a screen for notifying the user that the corresponding tank 160 is in the inkempty state. Determining that the value of the S_Empty flag is "ON" is an example of determining that the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than the first predetermined position.

After executing S105, the controller 130 assigns "OFF" to the remaining amount flag and prohibits color reception of the facsimile (S106). When color reception is prohibited, the controller 130 does not transmit the color reception DIS signal, but transmits the monochrome reception DIS signal.

The controller 130 determines the value of the inflow flag of the EEPROM 61 after executing S106 or in response to the determination in S102 that the signal output by the liquid level sensor 33 is a high level signal (S102: H). (S107). When the controller 130 determines that the value of the inflow flag is "OFF" (S107: OFF), the controller 130 acquires the mounting signal from the mounting sensor 32 at predetermined time intervals. Next, the controller 130 changes the acquired mounting signal from a low level signal (hereinafter referred to as “L”) to a high level signal (hereinafter referred to as “H”), and further, the acquired mounting signal becomes “H”. It is determined whether or not the change has changed from "" to "L" (S108). That is, it is determined whether or not the cartridge 200 is mounted based on the change in the mounting signal. Hereinafter, the controller 130 determines whether or not the acquired mounting signal has changed from "L" to "H" and the acquired mounting signal has changed from "H" to "L". However, it is determined whether or not the cartridge 200 is mounted. Further, the controller 130 determines that the acquired mounting signal has changed from "L" to "H" and that the acquired mounting signal has changed from "H" to "L" (S108: Yes). It is assumed that the controller 130 determines that the cartridge 200 is mounted.

When the controller 130 determines that the cartridge 200 is not mounted (S108: No), the controller 130 ends the status monitoring process. When the controller 130 determines that the cartridge 200 is mounted (S108: Yes), the controller 130 executes the first update process (S109). In the first update process shown in FIG. 13A, the controller 130 stores the initial cartridge remaining value and the initial tank remaining value stored in the EEPROM 61, and the cartridge remaining value stored in the IC chip 34 of the cartridge 200. It is a process to update. The details of the first update process will be described later with reference to FIG. 13 (A). If the first update process has already been executed, the controller 130 does not need to start the first update process of S109.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the first update process is completed (S109), the controller 130 stores "OFF" in the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61, stores "OFF" in the C_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61, and stores the "OFF" in the C_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61. Zero is stored as the first emission value and the second emission value (S110). Then, the controller 130 erases the S_Empty notification screen from the display 28 (S111).

Next, the controller 130 is updated in the first update process, reads out the cartridge remaining value stored in the RAM 62, and determines the cartridge remaining value (S112). When the controller 130 determines that the remaining cartridge value is zero (S112: No), the controller 130 ends the status monitoring process. The controller 130 assigns "ON" to the inflow flag (S113) in response to the determination that the remaining cartridge value is greater than zero (S112: Yes), and ends the status monitoring process.

The controller 130 reads the remaining cartridge value stored in the RAM 62 in response to the determination in S107 that the value of the inflow flag is “ON” (S107: ON), and determines the remaining cartridge value. Judgment (S114). The controller 130 ends the status monitoring process according to the determination that the remaining cartridge value is larger than zero (S114: Yes). The controller 130 assigns "OFF" to the inflow flag (S115) in response to the determination that the remaining cartridge value is zero (S114: No), and ends the status monitoring process.

The remaining amount flag and the inflow flag updated in the status monitoring process are transmitted from the MFP 10 to the server 410 as status information together with the paper setting information, and are stored in the memory 432 of the server 410 (S902). The state information is an example of the first information, the second information, and the third information.

The update of the remaining amount flag and the inflow flag by the state monitoring process described above will be described with a specific example. In the remaining amount update process, "ON" is assigned to the remaining amount flag and "OFF" is assigned to the inflow flag in a state where more ink than the ink state is stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160. It shall be started in the state. When the ink is consumed by the printing process or the like described later and the tank 160 is in the ink state, the controller 130 determines "ON" in S101, determines ON in S104, and sets "OFF" in the remaining amount flag. Substitute (S106). After that, the remaining amount flag and the inflow flag remain “OFF” until the cartridge 200 is replaced (S108: No). When the cartridge 200 is replaced (S108: Yes) and it is determined that the remaining cartridge value is not 0 (S112: Yes), the controller 130 assigns "ON" to the inflow flag (S113). When ink flows into the tank 160 from the replaced cartridge 200 and the position of the liquid level in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 becomes equal to or higher than the reference position P, the liquid level sensor 33 outputs a low level signal. The controller 130 substitutes "ON" for the remaining amount flag and "OFF" for the inflow flag in response to the determination that the signal output by the liquid level sensor 33 is a low level signal (S102: L). (S103).

As described above, the value of the remaining amount flag is determined according to the amount of ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160. When at least one of the three remaining flag is "OFF", color facsimile reception is prohibited (S106). When all three remaining amount flags are "ON", the prohibition of color facsimile reception is released (S145). The inflow flag is information indicating whether or not ink is flowing from the cartridge 200 to the tank 160 when the remaining amount flag is “OFF”. The inflow flag is determined according to whether or not the cartridge 200 has been replaced and whether or not the remaining amount value of the cartridge is 0 after the remaining amount flag is turned “OFF”.

[Facsimile transmission processing]
A facsimile transmission process executed by the controller 330 of the MFP 310 will be described with reference to FIG. The controller 330 executes the facsimile transmission process in response to the operation input to the effect that the facsimile transmission is performed from the user through the operation panel 22. In the facsimile transmission process, the set values of the remaining amount flag and the inflow flag of the MFP 10 updated in the above-mentioned state monitoring process are acquired via the server 410, and the telephone line 41 is connected to the MFP 10 on the receiving side based on the set values. Is the process of connecting and sending facsimile data.

First, the controller 330 acquires the transmission setting information and the telephone number of the transmission destination and stores them in the RAM 133 (S131). The transmission setting information includes information indicating whether or not the transmission is color transmission and information indicating the type of paper to be transmitted. For example, the controller 330 acquires the transmission setting information and the telephone number based on the operation input received from the user through the operation panel 22.

Next, the controller 330 determines whether or not the facsimile transmission button on the operation panel 22 is pressed (S132). If the controller 330 determines that it has not been pressed (S132: No), the controller 330 repeats the process of S132.

When the controller 330 determines that the transmission button has been pressed (S132: Yes), the controller 330 acquires the image data of the facsimile original through the scanner 381 and stores it in the RAM 133 (S133).

Next, the controller 330 starts measuring the elapsed time (S134).

Next, the controller 330 executes the state acquisition process (S135). The state acquisition process is a process of acquiring the state information of the MFP 10 from the server 410. The details of the state acquisition process will be described later with reference to FIG. 10 (A). The state information of the MFP 10 acquired in the state acquisition process is stored in the RAM 133.

The controller 330 determines whether or not the acquisition of the state information is successful in S135 (S136). The controller 330 executes the flag update process (S137) in response to the determination that the acquisition of the status information is successful (S135: Yes). The flag update process is a process of setting or updating the set values of the first flag, the second flag, and the third flag. The details of the flag update process will be described later with reference to FIG.

Next, the controller 330 determines the first flag, the second flag, and the third flag set / updated in S137 (S138). The controller 330 executes the notification request process (S139) in response to the determination that at least one of the first to third flags is ON (S138: Yes). The notification request processing is a process of transmitting information requesting the user to notify the user of various information by the MFP 10 to the server 410. Details of the notification request processing will be described later with reference to FIG. 10B.

Next, the controller 330 determines the elapsed time when the measurement is started in S134 or S206 of the state acquisition process (S140). The controller 330 repeatedly executes the processes of S135 to S139 in response to the determination that the elapsed time does not exceed the preset threshold value T1 (S140: No). It should be noted that the threshold value T1 when determining the elapsed time when the measurement is started in S134 and the threshold value T1 when determining the elapsed time when the measurement is started in S206 may be different values. The threshold value T1 is an example of the first threshold time and the second threshold time.

The controller 330 responds to the determination in S136 that the acquisition of the status information has failed (S135: No), or the determination in S138 that all of the first to third flags are OFF. (S138: No), or in response to the determination in S140 that the elapsed time has exceeded the threshold value T1 (S140: Yes), the telephone line to the destination (MFP10) indicated by the telephone number acquired in S131. A connection request signal requesting a connection is transmitted through the line I / F351 (S141).

Next, the controller 330 determines whether or not the telephone line 41 is connected to the MFP 10 (S142). The controller 330 repeats the process of S142 according to the determination that the telephone line 41 is not connected (S142: No).

The controller 330 performs predetermined communication defined in the facsimile communication standard in response to the determination that the telephone line 41 is connected (S142: Yes) (S143). For example, the controller 330 transmits a CNG signal, receives a CED signal and a DIS signal, transmits a DCS signal, transmits a TCF signal, and receives a CFR signal through the line I / F351. Regarding the DIS signal, the controller 130 of the MFP 10 on the receiving side sets the DIS signal for monochrome reception to the line according to the fact that at least one remaining amount flag is "OFF" and color reception is prohibited (S106). It is transmitted to the MFP 310 through the I / F 51. The controller 130 cancels the color reception prohibition according to the fact that all the remaining amount flags are "ON", and transmits the color reception DIS signal to the MFP 310 through the line I / F 51.

Next, the controller 330 transmits facsimile data (PIX signal) to the MFP 10 through the line I / F351 (S144). After transmitting all the facsimile data (S144), the controller 330 performs a predetermined communication defined in the communication standard of the facsimile (S145). For example, the controller 330 transmits an EOP signal, receives an MCF signal, and transmits a DCN signal through the line I / F351. After transmitting the DCN signal in S145, the controller 330 disconnects the line connection with the MFP 10 (S146) and ends the facsimile transmission process.

[Status acquisition process]
Next, the details of the state acquisition process executed by the controller 330 in S135 will be described with reference to FIG. 10 (A).

First, the controller 330 acquires the state information of the MFP 10 stored in the memory 432 of the server 410 (S201). For example, the controller 330 transmits a status information request including the telephone number of the MFP 10 to the server 410 through the communication I / F 371. Upon receiving the status information request, the controller 430 of the server 410 transmits the status information of the MFP 10 corresponding to the telephone number included in the status information request to the MFP 310 through the communication I / F 471.

Next, the controller 330 determines whether or not the acquisition of the state information is successful in S201 (S202). For example, the controller 330 determines whether or not status information has been received from the server 410. The controller 330 ends the state acquisition process according to the determination that the acquisition of the state information has failed (S202: No).

The controller 330 overwrites the current information of the state information stored in the RAM 133 with the old information in response to the determination that the acquisition of the state information is successful (202: Yes) (S203). In other words, the controller 330 stores the state information acquired from the server 410 in the previous state acquisition process in the RAM 133 as old information. If the current information of the state information is not stored in the RAM 133, the controller 330 does not execute S203.

Next, the controller 330 overwrites the state information acquired in S201 with the current information stored in the RAM 133 (S204). In other words, the controller 330 stores the state information acquired from the server 410 in the current state acquisition process in the RAM 133 as the current information.

Next, the controller 330 determines the inflow flag of the state information stored in the RAM 133 (S205). The controller 330 ends the state acquisition process in response to the determination that there is no tank 160 in which the inflow flag of the old information is OFF and the inflow flag of the new information is ON (S205: No).

The controller 330 measures the elapsed time started in S134 in response to the determination that there is a tank 160 in which the inflow flag of the old information is OFF and the inflow flag of the new information is ON (S205: Yes). Is reset and started again (S206). Then, the controller 330 ends the state acquisition process.

[Flag update process]
Next, with reference to FIG. 11, the details of the flag update process executed by the controller 330 in S137 will be described.

First, the controller 330 determines the transmission setting information stored in the RAM 133 in S131 (S301).

In response to the determination that the transmission setting information indicates that the transmission setting information is color transmission (S301: Yes), the controller 330 has three inflows included in the current information (state information of the MFP 10) stored in the RAM 133 in S204. Judgment is made regarding the flag (S302).

The controller 330 determines that at least one inflow flag is ON (S302: Yes), and the controller 330 has three remaining flag flags included in the current information (state information of the MFP 10) stored in the RAM 133 in S204. And three inflow flags are determined (S303).

The controller 330 substitutes ON for the first flag in response to the determination that the tank 160 whose remaining amount flag is OFF and the inflow flag is OFF does not exist (S303: Yes).

The controller 330 determines that the transmission is monochrome (S301: No), or determines that all the inflow flags are OFF (S302: No), or the balance. Depending on the determination that there is a tank 160 in which the amount flag is OFF and the inflow flag is OFF (S303: No), OFF is substituted for the first flag (S305).

After executing S304 or S305, the controller 330 is based on the transmission setting information stored in the RAM 133 in S131 and the paper setting information included in the current information (status information of the MFP 10) stored in the RAM 133 in S204. , It is determined whether or not the paper type to be transmitted indicated by the transmission setting information is included in the paper type set as printable by the MFP 10 indicated by the paper setting information (S306).

The controller 330 assigns ON to the second flag according to the determination that the paper type indicated by the transmission setting information is not included in the paper type indicated by the paper setting information (S306: No) (S307). The controller 330 assigns OFF to the second flag according to the determination that it is included (S306: Yes) (S308).

After executing S307 or S308, the controller 330 determines the transmission setting information stored in the RAM 133 in S31 (S309). In response to the determination that the transmission setting information indicates that the transmission setting information is color transmission (S309: Yes), the controller 330 has three remaining elements included in the current information (state information of the MFP 10) stored in the RAM 133 in S204. Judgment is made regarding the quantity flag and the three inflow flags (S310).

The controller 330 assigns ON to the third flag (S311) in response to the determination that there is a tank 160 whose remaining amount flag is OFF and the inflow flag is OFF (S310: Yes), and ends the flag update process. do.

The controller 330 determines that it is monochrome transmission (S309: No), or determines that there is no tank 160 in which the remaining amount flag is OFF and the inflow flag is OFF. (S310: No), OFF is assigned to the third flag (S312), and the flag update process is terminated.

[Notification request processing]
Next, with reference to FIG. 10B, the details of the notification request processing executed by the controller 330 in S139 will be described.

First, the controller 330 determines the first flag stored in the RAM 133 (S401). The controller 330 determines whether or not the first notification request (S403) has already been made in the present facsimile transmission processing in response to the determination that the set value of the first flag is ON (S401: Yes). (S402).

The controller 330 transmits a notification request requesting that the first notification be performed by the MFP 10 to the server 410 through the communication I / F 371 in response to the determination that the first notification is not requested (S402: Yes). (S403). The first notification is a notification to the user who is about to perform facsimile reception. For example, the controller 330 transmits a notification request including the telephone number of the MFP 10 to the server 410 through the communication I / F 371. Upon receiving the notification request, the controller 430 of the server 410 transmits the notification request requesting the first notification to the MFP 10 corresponding to the telephone number included in the notification request through the communication I / F471. Upon receiving the notification request, the controller 130 of the MFP 10 causes the display 28 to display the character string "receive the facsimile after the ink inflow is completed" (S904). Displaying the character string "receive a facsimile after the inflow of ink is completed" on the display 28 is an example of displaying a screen indicating that the facsimile reception is performed on the display.

The controller 330 determines that the set value of the first flag is OFF (S401: No), or determines that the first notification has been requested (S402: No). Alternatively, after executing S403, the second flag stored in the RAM 133 is determined (S404). The controller 330 determines whether or not the second notification request (S406) has already been made in the present facsimile transmission process in response to the determination that the set value of the second flag is ON (S404: Yes). (S405).

The controller 330 transmits a notification request requesting that the second notification be performed by the MFP 10 to the server 410 through the communication I / F 371 in response to the determination that the second notification is not requested (S405: Yes). (S406). The second notification is a notification requesting the user to change the paper setting. For example, the controller 330 transmits a notification request including the telephone number of the MFP 10 to the server 410 through the communication I / F 371. Upon receiving the notification request, the controller 430 of the server 410 transmits the notification request requesting the second notification to the MFP 10 corresponding to the telephone number included in the notification request through the communication I / F471. Upon receiving the notification request, the controller 130 of the MFP 10 displays the character string "A3 size facsimile is transmitted. Please set the A3 paper" on the display 28 (S904).

The controller 330 determines that the set value of the second flag is OFF (S404: No), or determines that the second notification has been requested (S405: No). Alternatively, after executing S406, the third flag stored in the RAM 133 is determined (S407). The controller 330 determines whether or not the request for the third notification (S409) has already been made in the present facsimile transmission process in response to the determination that the set value of the third flag is ON (S407: Yes). (S408).

The controller 330 transmits a notification request requesting the MFP 10 to perform the third notification to the server 410 through the communication I / F 371 in response to the determination that the third notification is not requested (S408: Yes). (S409). The third notification is a notification requesting the user to replace the cartridge 200. For example, the controller 330 transmits a notification request including the telephone number of the MFP 10 to the server 410 through the communication I / F 371. Upon receiving the notification request, the controller 430 of the server 410 transmits the notification request requesting the third notification to the MFP 10 corresponding to the telephone number included in the notification request through the communication I / F471. Upon receiving the notification request, the controller 130 of the MFP 10 displays the character string "A color facsimile is transmitted. Please replace the magenta cartridge" on the display 28 (S904). Displaying the character string "A color facsimile is sent. Please replace the magenta cartridge" on the display 28 is an example of displaying a screen prompting the display to replace the cartridge.

The controller 330 determines that the set value of the third flag is OFF (S407: No), or determines that the third notification has been requested (S408: No). Alternatively, after executing S409, the notification request processing is terminated.

[Print processing]
Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the details of the printing process executed by the controller 130 of the MFP 10 that has received the facsimile data will be described. In addition to the case where the facsimile data is received, the controller 130 executes the printing process in response to the input of the recording instruction to the MFP 10. The recording instruction is an example of an ejection instruction for causing the MFP 10 to execute a printing process for recording an image indicated by image data on a sheet. The acquisition destination of the recording instruction is not particularly limited, and for example, the user operation corresponding to the recording instruction may be received through the operation panel 22 or may be received from an external device through a communication interface (not shown). In the following description, the facsimile data received from the MFP 310 to 310 and the remaining recording instructions are collectively referred to as “recording instructions”.

First, the controller 130 determines whether the value of the S_Empty flag stored in the EEPROM 61 is "ON" or "OFF" (S11).

When the controller 130 determines that the value of the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61 is "ON" (S11: ON), the controller 130 displays the S_Empty notification screen on the display 28 (S12). The S_Empty notification screen is a screen for notifying the user that the corresponding tank 160 is in the inkempty state.

Next, the controller 130 acquires the mounting signal from the mounting sensor 32 at predetermined time intervals. Next, the controller 130 changes the acquired mounting signal from a low level signal (hereinafter referred to as “L”) to a high level signal (hereinafter referred to as “H”), and further, the acquired mounting signal becomes “H”. It is determined whether or not the change has changed from "" to "L" (S13).

When the controller 130 determines that the cartridge 200 is not mounted (S13: No), the controller 130 continues to periodically acquire the mounting signal from the mounting sensor 32. When the controller 130 determines that the cartridge 200 is mounted (S13: Yes), the controller 130 executes the first update process (S14).

[First update process]
In the first update process shown in FIG. 13A, the controller 130 stores the initial cartridge remaining value and the initial tank remaining value stored in the EEPROM 61, and the cartridge remaining value stored in the IC chip 34 of the cartridge 200. It is a process to update.

First, the controller 130 reads out the remaining cartridge value stored in the memory of the IC chip 34 from the memory of the IC chip 34 of the cartridge 200 mounted on the mounting case 150 through the contact 152 (S31). The controller 130 stores the read cartridge remaining amount value in the EEPROM 61 as the initial cartridge remaining amount value (S32).

Further, the controller 130 reads the remaining tank value from the RAM 62 (S33). The tank remaining amount value is a value indicating the amount of ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160. When the remaining tank value is not stored in the RAM 62 due to the power being turned off or the like, the controller 130 calculates the remaining tank value in the same manner as the fourth update process described later, and uses the calculated remaining tank value. Stored in RAM 62. The tank remaining amount value read from the RAM 62 is a value indicating the ink remaining amount stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 immediately before the cartridge 200 is mounted. In other words, the remaining amount of ink in the tank is a value indicating the remaining amount of ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 when the cartridge 200 is removed. The controller 130 stores the tank remaining amount value read from the RAM 62 as the initial tank remaining amount value in the EEPROM 61 (S33).

The controller 130 adds the initial cartridge remaining amount value and the initial tank remaining amount value, and calculates the total remaining amount value indicating the total remaining amount of ink (S34). The controller 130 determines a new cartridge remaining amount value and a tank remaining amount value from the calculated total remaining amount value (S35).

Specifically, when a new cartridge 200 is mounted in the mounting case 150, a part of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 210 of the cartridge 200 moves into the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160. leak. The outflow of ink from the liquid chamber 210 of the cartridge 200 to the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 is caused by the head of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 210 of the cartridge 200 and the head of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160. When the difference is almost eliminated, it stops. The difference between the new cartridge remaining value and the new tank remaining value between the head of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 210 of the cartridge 200 and the head of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 has almost disappeared. Indicates the amount of ink remaining in the state.

The cartridge remaining amount value and the tank remaining amount value may be determined, for example, by the controller 130 performing a calculation based on a calculation formula stored in the EEPROM 61 or the ROM 37. Alternatively, the remaining cartridge value and the remaining tank value may be determined, for example, by the controller 130 based on the table stored in the EEPROM 61 or the ROM 37. Specifically, the shape of the liquid chamber 210 of the cartridge 200 and the shape of the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 are predetermined by the design. Therefore, if the total remaining amount of ink is known, the remaining amount of the cartridge and the remaining amount of the tank in a state where the difference between the head of the ink stored in the cartridge 200 and the head of the ink stored in the tank 160 is almost eliminated are also obtained. I understand. The EEPROM 61 and ROM 37 store in advance a calculation formula for calculating the cartridge remaining value and the tank remaining value from the total remaining value. Alternatively, the EEPROM 61 and the ROM 37 store in advance a table showing the correspondence between the total remaining amount value, the cartridge remaining amount value, and the tank remaining amount value. The controller 130 determines a new cartridge remaining value and a new tank remaining value based on the total ink remaining value and the calculation formula or table.

The controller 130 stores the determined new cartridge remaining value in the RAM 62, and updates the cartridge remaining value stored in the memory of the IC chip 34 (S36). Further, the controller 130 stores the determined new remaining tank remaining value in the RAM 62 (S37). Next, the controller 130 stores the date and time information output by the clock 30 in the EEPROM 61 as the mounting date and time (S38), and ends the first update process.

As shown in FIG. 12, when the first update process is completed (S14), the controller 130 stores "OFF" in the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61, stores "OFF" in the C_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61, and stores the "OFF" in the C_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61. Zero is stored as the first emission value and the second emission value (S15). Then, the controller 130 erases the S_Empty notification screen from the display 28 (S16). After executing the process of step S16, the controller 130 executes the process of step S11 again. The C_Empty flag, the first emission value, and the second emission value will be described later.

When the controller 130 determines that the value of the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61 is "OFF" (S11: OFF), the controller 130 acquires a signal from the liquid level sensor 33 (hereinafter referred to as a liquid level signal) (S17). After that, the controller 130 prints on the sheet according to the image data stored in the RAM 62 (S18). By printing the image on the sheet, the ink is ejected through the head 21. As the ink is discharged, the liquid level of the ink in the tank 160 is lowered. After executing printing (S18), the controller 130 acquires a liquid level signal from the liquid level sensor 33 (S19). Next, the controller 130 determines the liquid level signal acquired in step S17 and the liquid level signal acquired in step S19 (S20). Hereinafter, the low level signal acquired by the controller 130 from the liquid level sensor 33 may be referred to as “L”. Further, the high level signal acquired by the controller 130 from the liquid level sensor 33 may be described as "H".

When the controller 130 determines that the liquid level signals acquired in steps S17 and S19 are both “L” (S20: L → L), the controller 130 executes the second update process (S21). When the controller 130 determines in step S20 that the liquid level signals acquired in steps S17 and S19 are both "L", the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 is in the following state. That is, the position of the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 before the execution of printing (S18) is equal to or higher than the reference position P (the liquid level signal acquired in step S17 is “L”). The position of the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 after the execution of printing (S18) is equal to or higher than the reference position P (the liquid level signal acquired in step S19 is “L”). That is, ink is present in the liquid chamber 210 of the cartridge 200 when the liquid level signal acquired by the controller 130 in step S19 is “L” after the execution of printing (S18).

[Second update process]
In the second update process shown in FIG. 13B, a new cartridge remaining amount value and a tank remaining amount value are obtained from the first discharge value indicating the amount of ink discharged by the controller 130 through the head 21 in printing or maintenance. Is the process of determining. The first ejection value is, for example, a value obtained by multiplying the amount of one drop of ink ejected to the head 21 by the number of times the one drop of ink is ejected. Each time the controller 130 instructs the head 21 to discharge ink, the controller 130 counts the first discharge value according to the instruction. The controller 130 counts the first discharge value corresponding to the amount discharged by the head 21 from the time when the cartridge 200 is mounted to the present. That is, the first ejection value is an integrated value of the amount of ink ejected by the head 21 from the time when the cartridge 200 is mounted to the present. The first emission value is stored in the EEPROM 61. The first emission value is an example of emission amount.

First, the controller 130 reads the initial cartridge remaining amount value and the initial tank remaining amount value from the EEPROM 61 (S41). Next, the controller 130 calculates the total remaining amount value by adding the read initial remaining amount value and the initial tank remaining amount value (S42). The controller 130 subtracts the first discharge value from the calculated total remaining amount value to calculate a new total remaining amount value (S43). After that, the controller 130 determines a new cartridge remaining amount value and a new tank remaining amount value by using a calculation formula or a table in the same manner as described above (S44).

The controller 130 stores the determined new cartridge remaining value in the RAM 62, and updates the cartridge remaining value stored in the IC chip 34 (S45). Further, the controller 130 stores the determined new remaining tank remaining value in the RAM 62 (S46), and ends the second update process.

When the controller 130 determines that the value of the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61 is "OFF" (S11: OFF), the controller 130 again executes the processes from steps S17 to S20. When the controller 130 determines that the liquid level signal acquired in step S17 is "L" and the liquid level signal acquired in step S19 is "H" (S20: L → H), the third update process (S20: L → H). S22) is executed. When the controller 130 determines in step S20 that the liquid level signal acquired in step S17 is "L" and the liquid level signal acquired in S19 is "H", the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 is contacted. The stored ink is in the following state. That is, the position of the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 before the execution of printing (S18) is equal to or higher than the reference position P (the liquid level signal acquired in step S17 is “L”). The position of the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 after the execution of printing (S18) is less than the reference position P (the liquid level signal acquired in step S19 is “H”). That is, during the printing execution (S18), the ink in the liquid chamber 210 of the cartridge 200 disappeared. In other words, it means that the ink stored in the liquid chamber 210 of the cartridge 200 has been used up during the printing execution (S18).

[Third update process]
The third update process shown in FIG. 13C is a process in which the controller 130 updates the initial cartridge remaining amount value to the first predetermined value and the initial tank remaining amount value to the second predetermined value. Specifically, the first ejection value indicating the amount of ink ejected through the head 21 by printing or the like includes an error. For example, even if the controller 130 instructs the head 21 to eject a specific amount of ink, there is a difference between the amount of ink actually ejected from the head 21 and the specific amount instructed to the head 21. May occur. This difference may occur, for example, due to the temperature at which the ink ejection is instructed. This is because the lower the temperature, the higher the viscosity of the ink, and the more difficult it is for the ink to be ejected through the nozzle 29. Further, when the controller 130 repeatedly gives the above instruction to the head 21, the difference may be further widened between the amount of ink actually discharged through the head 21 repeatedly and the amount of repeating a specific amount. That is, there is a possibility that an error may be accumulated between the amount indicated by the calculated first emission value and the amount actually emitted through the head 21 each time printing is performed.

Since the cartridge remaining amount value is determined according to the first discharge value, an error occurs between the ink remaining amount indicated by the cartridge remaining amount value and the ink remaining amount stored in the actual liquid chamber 210. Further, since the tank remaining amount value is determined according to the first discharge value, an error occurs between the ink remaining amount indicated by the tank remaining amount value and the ink remaining amount stored in the actual liquid chamber 171. Therefore, the cartridge remaining amount value and the tank remaining amount value determined each time printing is performed include the integrated error. The third update process is a process of resetting the accumulated error.

Specifically, the controller 130 updates the initial cartridge remaining value stored in the memory of the IC chip 34 with the first predetermined value (S51). The first predetermined value is, for example, "zero". Further, the controller 130 stores the initial tank remaining amount value as the second predetermined value in the RAM 62 and the EEPROM 61 (S52). The second predetermined value is a value indicating the amount of ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 when the liquid level of the ink is at the reference position P. The first predetermined value and the second predetermined value are stored in advance in, for example, the ROM 37.

Next, the controller 130 stores "ON" in the C_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61 (S53). The C_Empty flag is information indicating whether or not the cartridge 200 is in the cartridge empty state. In the C_Empty flag, a value "ON" corresponding to the cartridge empty state or a value "OFF" corresponding to the non-cartridge empty state is set. The cartridge empty state is a state in which ink is not substantially stored in the cartridge 200 (more specifically, the liquid chamber 210). In other words, the cartridge empty state is a state in which ink does not move from the communicated liquid chamber 210 to the liquid chamber 171. In other words, the cartridge empty state is a state in which the liquid level of the tank 160 communicating with the cartridge 200 is less than the reference position P. Then, the controller 130 ends the third update process.

When the controller 130 determines in the process of step S11 that the value of the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61 is "OFF" (S11: OFF), the controller 130 executes the processes of steps S17 to S20 again. When the controller 130 determines that the liquid level signals acquired in steps S17 and S19 are both "H" (S20: H → H), the controller 130 executes the fourth update process (S23). When the controller 130 determines in step S20 that the liquid level signals acquired in steps S17 and S19 are both "H", the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 is in the following state. That is, the position of the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 before the execution of printing (S18) is less than the reference position P (the liquid level signal acquired in step S17 is “H”). The position of the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 after the execution of printing (S18) is less than the reference position P (the liquid level signal acquired in step S19 is “H”). That is, before and after the execution of printing (S18), the controller 130 does not have ink in the liquid chamber 210 of the cartridge 200.

[4th update process]
The fourth update process shown in FIG. 13D is a process in which the controller 130 calculates the remaining amount of the tank and further determines whether or not printing is prohibited. First, the controller 130 reads the initial tank remaining amount value updated to the second predetermined value from the EEPROM 61 (S61). The controller 130 subtracts the second discharge value from the read initial remaining amount value of the tank to calculate a new remaining amount value of the tank (S62). The second ejection value is, for example, a value obtained by multiplying the amount of one drop of ink ejected to the head 21 by the number of times the one drop of ink is ejected, similarly to the first ejection value. Each time the controller 130 instructs the head 21 to eject ink, the controller 130 counts the second discharge value according to the instruction. The controller 130 counts a second discharge value indicating the amount of ink discharged by the head 21 after the liquid level signal acquired from the liquid level sensor 33 changes from “L” to “H”. That is, the second discharge value is an integrated value of the amount of ink discharged by the head 21 from the time when the liquid level signal acquired from the liquid level sensor 33 changes from “L” to “H” to the present. The second emission value is stored in the EEPROM 61.

The controller 130 stores the calculated new remaining tank value in the RAM 62 (S63). Next, the controller 130 determines whether or not the counted second emission value has reached the threshold value (S64). The threshold value is a value stored in advance in the ROM 37 or the EEPROM 61. When the controller 130 determines that the counted second emission value has not reached the threshold value (S64: No), the controller 130 ends the fourth update process. On the other hand, when the controller 130 determines that the counted second emission value has reached the threshold value (S64: Yes), it stores "ON" in the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61 (S65), and ends the fourth update process. When the controller 130 determines that "ON" is stored in the S_Empty flag of the EEPROM 61, it prohibits the ejection of ink through the head 21 including printing and maintenance.

The threshold value is set so that when the second discharge value reaches the threshold value, the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 is slightly above the outlet 174. More specifically, there may be an error between the design reference position P detected by the liquid level sensor 33 and the reference position P actually detected by the liquid level sensor 33. This error may occur, for example, due to a malfunction of the actuator 190. As for the threshold value, even if the error is the maximum error that can be assumed at the time of design, when the second discharge value reaches the threshold value, the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 reaches the outlet 174. The values are set so that they do not overlap. By prohibiting the ejection of ink through the head 21 by the controller 130, it is possible to prevent air from entering the head 21. In addition to the above error, the threshold value reaches the threshold value even when the MFP 10 is mounted on a surface having a predetermined tilt angle, considering that the MFP 10 is mounted on an inclined surface. At that time, the value may be set so that the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 does not overlap with the outlet 174. Further, the second emission value may include an error like the first emission value. As for the threshold value, even if the error of the second discharge value is the maximum, the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 does not overlap the outlet 174 when the second discharge value reaches the threshold value. It may be a value like this. The position of the liquid level of the ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 when the second discharge value reaches the threshold value is an example of the first predetermined position. Determining that the second discharge value has reached the threshold value is an example of determining that the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than the first predetermined position.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the second update process (S21), the third update process (S22), or the fourth update process (S23) is completed, the controller 130 stores whether or not the next page is stored in the RAM 62. Is determined (S24). When the controller 130 determines that the next page is stored in the RAM 62 (S24: Yes), the controller 130 executes the process of step S11 again.

When the controller 130 determines that the next page is not stored in the RAM 62 (S24: No), the controller 130 determines the set value of each of the four S_Empty flags and the set value of each of the four C_Empty flags (S25, S26).

The controller 130 causes the display 28 to display the S_Empty notification screen according to the setting of "ON" to at least one of the four S_Empty flags (S25: ON) (S27). Further, in the controller 130, "OFF" is set for all four S_Empty flags, and "ON" is set for at least one of the four C_Empty flags (S25: OFF & S26: ON). ), The C_Empty notification screen is displayed on the display 28 (S28).

The S_Empty notification screen displayed in S27 may be the same as in S12. Further, the C_Empty notification screen is a screen for notifying the user that the cartridge 200 corresponding to the C_Empty flag set to "ON" is in the cartridge empty state. The C_Empty notification screen may include, for example, information indicating the color of the ink stored in the cartridge 200 in the cartridge empty state, the remaining amount of the cartridge, and the remaining amount of the tank. On the other hand, the controller 130 performs the printing process without executing the processes of S27 and S28 according to the fact that "OFF" is set in all of the four S_Empty flags and the four C_Empty flags (S26: OFF). finish.

As described above, each time the printing in step S18 is executed, the controller 130 determines the cartridge remaining amount value and the tank remaining amount value according to the amount of ink used for printing. In the above process, an example has been described in which the controller 130 determines the cartridge remaining amount value and the tank remaining amount value each time printing for one page is executed. Instead, the controller 130 may determine the remaining cartridge value and the remaining tank value each time one pass of printing is performed. Further, the controller 130 executes the second update process, the third update process, and the fourth update process every time ink is discharged through the head 21 not only for printing but also for maintenance and the like. The maintenance execution instruction is an example of the discharge instruction.

The operation of facsimile transmission in the facsimile system 1 described above will be described by a specific example. In the following description, it is assumed that the paper type set to be transmitted by the user on the transmitting side MFP 310 is set to be printable on the receiving side MFP10.

It is assumed that a sufficient amount of ink is stored in the three tanks 160 of color ink in the MFP 10 on the receiving side, and all the S_Empty flags are "OFF". By the condition monitoring process (FIG. 8), all three remaining amount flags are set to "ON", and all three inflow flags are set to "OFF". When the user performs a color facsimile transmission operation on the transmitting side MFP 310 (S131 & S132), a state acquisition process is performed (S135 & S136: Yes), and a flag update process is performed (S137). In the flag update process, all the first to third flags are set to "OFF", the notification request process (S139) is not performed (S138: No), and the connection request signal is transmitted (S141). Color reception is not prohibited by the MFP 10 on the receiving side, and color facsimile transmission / reception is performed between the MFP 310 and the MFP 10 (S142 to S146).

In the MFP 10 on the receiving side, among the three tanks 160 in which the color ink is stored, the ink is in the inkepty state (S65), the cartridge 200 is replaced (S13: Yes), and the ink is flowing from the cartridge 200 to the tank 160. Suppose there is something that is. It is assumed that there is no tank 160 in which the remaining amount flag is "OFF" and the inflow flag is "OFF". By the condition monitoring process (FIG. 8), the remaining amount flag of the tank 160 is set to "OFF", and color reception is prohibited (S106). The inflow flag is set to "ON" (S113). Similarly, when the user performs a color facsimile transmission operation on the transmitting side MFP 310 (S131 & S132), a state acquisition process is performed (S135 & S136: Yes), and a flag update process is performed (S137). In the flag update process, the first flag is set to "ON" (S302: No & S305), the second flag and the third flag are set to "OFF", and the first notification request is made in the notification request processing (S139). It is executed (S403). The inflow of ink to the tank 160 progresses, the liquid level signal becomes "L" (S102: L), the remaining amount flag becomes "ON" and the inflow flag becomes "OFF" (S103), and the first flag becomes "OFF". Then (S302: No & S305), a connection request signal is transmitted (S141). The prohibition of color reception is lifted by the MFP 10 on the receiving side, and color facsimile transmission / reception is performed between the MFP 310 and the MFP 10 (S142 to S146).

It is assumed that, in the MFP 10 on the receiving side, among the three tanks 160 in which the color ink is stored, there is one that is in the ink-filled state (S65) and the cartridge 200 has not been replaced (S13: No). By the condition monitoring process (FIG. 8), the remaining amount flag of the tank 160 is set to "OFF", and color reception is prohibited (S106). The inflow flag remains “OFF” (S108: No). Similarly, when the user performs a color facsimile transmission operation on the transmitting side MFP 310 (S131 & S132), a state acquisition process is performed (S135 & S136: Yes), and a flag update process is performed (S137). In the flag update process, the first flag is set to "OFF" (S303: No & S305), the second flag is set to "OFF", and the third flag is set to "ON" (S310: Yes & S311). The third notification request is executed in the notification request processing (S139) (S403). When the cartridge 200 is replaced (S1108: Yes) and the inflow flag is "ON" (S113), the third flag is "OFF" (S310: No & S312) and the first flag is "ON" (S303: Yes & S304). , The first notification request is executed in the notification request processing (S139) (S403). Similarly, the inflow of ink to the tank 160 progresses, the liquid level signal becomes “L” (S102: L), the remaining amount flag becomes “ON” and the inflow flag becomes “OFF” (S103), and the first flag When is "OFF" (S302: No & S305), a connection request signal is transmitted (S141). The prohibition of color reception is lifted by the MFP 10 on the receiving side, and color facsimile transmission / reception is performed between the MFP 310 and the MFP 10 (S142 to S146).

[Effect of this embodiment]
In the present embodiment, the controller 130 of the MFP 10 determines that the position of the liquid surface of the liquid chamber 171 is less than the reference position P for the tank 160 in which the color ink is stored (S11: H), and the color Reception is prohibited (S13). The controller 330 of the MFP 310 accepts an operation input to perform color transmission (S131 & S132: Yes), and if it determines that the first flag is "ON", it repeats S135 to S139 without transmitting a connection request signal. Then, the high level signal is received from the liquid level sensor 155 (S11: L & S12), and in response to the first flag being “OFF” (S302: No), the controller 330 transmits a connection request signal (S141). .. Therefore, if the MFP 10 is in a state where color reception is not possible because the remaining amount of color ink is less than a predetermined amount, the MFP 310 does not transmit a connection request signal, and the cartridge 200 is mounted on the MFP 10 to obtain the remaining amount of color ink. Waits for the amount of liquid to exceed a predetermined amount and is ready for color reception, and then a connection request signal is transmitted (S141). As a result, monochrome reception can be suppressed and the possibility of color reception can be increased.

Further, in the present embodiment, the controller 330 of the MFP 310 does not receive the high level signal from the liquid level sensor 155 after the transmission button is pressed (S132: Yes) and the measurement of the elapsed time is started (S133). (S11: H) A connection request signal is transmitted (S141) according to the elapse of the threshold value T1 (S140: Yes). Therefore, if the MFP 10 is in a state where color reception is not possible because the remaining amount of color ink is less than the predetermined liquid amount, the MFP 310 waits without transmitting the connection request signal until the time of the threshold value T1 elapses, and the threshold value T1 elapses. Then, a connection request signal is transmitted. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which facsimile transmission cannot be performed for a long time while increasing the possibility of performing color transmission / reception while waiting for a connection request signal.

Further, in the present embodiment, the controller 330 of the MFP 310 determines that the cartridge 200 has been replaced (S205: Yes), restarts the measurement of the elapsed time (S206), and then starts the high level signal from the liquid level sensor 155. (S11: H), and the connection request signal is transmitted (S141) in response to the elapse of the threshold value T1 (S140: Yes). Therefore, when the cartridge 200 is replaced by the MFP 10 and the ink is flowing in, the MFP 310 waits without transmitting the connection request signal until the time of the threshold value T1 elapses, and transmits the connection request signal when the threshold value T1 elapses. do. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which facsimile transmission cannot be performed for a long time while increasing the possibility of performing color transmission / reception while waiting for a connection request signal.

Further, in the present embodiment, after the controller 330 of the MFP 310 determines that the transmission button has been pressed (S132: Yes), the cartridge 200 is replaced (S16: Yes), and the first flag is "ON". Accordingly (S401: Yes), a notification request requesting that the first notification be performed by the MFP 10 is transmitted to the server 410 through the communication I / F 371 (S403). Upon receiving the notification request, the controller 430 of the server 410 transmits a notification request requesting the first notification to the MFP 10. Upon receiving the notification request, the controller 130 of the MFP 10 causes the display 28 to display, for example, the character string "receive a facsimile after the ink inflow is completed". Therefore, the user of the MFP 10 can know that he / she will receive the facsimile soon. As a result, the convenience of the facsimile system 1 is improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the controller 330 of the MFP 310 sends a notification request requesting that the MFP 10 perform the second notification in response to the second flag being “ON” (S404: Yes). It is transmitted to the server 410 through / F371 (S406). Upon receiving the notification request, the controller 430 of the server 410 transmits a notification request requesting the second notification to the MFP 10. Upon receiving the notification request, the controller 130 of the MFP 10 displays, for example, the character string "A3 size facsimile is transmitted. Please set the A3 paper" on the display 28. Therefore, even if the paper type to be transmitted is not set in the MFP10, when the user changes the paper setting of the MFP10 on the receiving side by the second notification, the facsimile is transmitted / received in the paper type set by the user of the MFP310 on the transmitting side. Can be done. As a result, the convenience of the facsimile system 1 is improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the controller 330 of the MFP 310 determines that the transmission button has been pressed (S132: Yes), the cartridge 200 is not replaced (S16: No), and the third flag is “ON”. (S407: Yes), a notification request requesting that the third notification be performed by the MFP 10 is transmitted to the server 410 through the communication I / F 371 (S403). Upon receiving the notification request, the controller 430 of the server 410 transmits a notification request requesting the third notification to the MFP 10. Upon receiving the notification request, the controller 130 of the MFP 10 displays, for example, the character string "A color facsimile is transmitted. Please replace the magenta cartridge" on the display 28. Therefore, even if the cartridge 200 is not replaced by the MFP 10 and color reception is not possible, when the user replaces the cartridge 200 of the MFP 10 on the receiving side by the third notification, ink flows from the cartridge 200 to the tank 160 and the color is received. Receiving becomes possible. As a result, monochrome reception can be suppressed and the possibility of color reception can be increased.

[Modification example]
In the above embodiment, an example in which the controller 130 of the MFP 10 which is the receiving side of the facsimile executes the state monitoring process has been described. The controller 430 of the server 410 may perform the status monitoring process. In this case, the controller 430 of the server 410 acquires the S_Empty flag, the mounting signal, and the liquid level signal from the MFP 10, updates the set values of the remaining amount flag and the inflow flag based on these information, and the memory of the server 410. Store in 432. Further, the controller 330 of the MFP 310, which is the transmitting side of the facsimile, may perform the status monitoring process. In this case, the controller 330 of the MFP 310 acquires the S_Empty flag, the mounting signal, and the liquid level signal from the MFP 10 via the server 410, and updates the set values of the remaining amount flag and the inflow flag based on these information. , Stored in RAM 133 of the MFP 310. The S_Empty flag is an example of the first information, the mounting signal is an example of the second information, and the liquid level signal is an example of the third information.

In the above embodiment, there is an example in which the controller 430 of the server 410 stores the status information acquired from the MFP 10 in the memory 432, and the controller 330 of the MFP 310, which is the transmitting side of the facsimile, acquires the status information of the MFP 10 from the server 410. Explained. The controller 330 of the MFP 310 on the transmitting side may acquire the status information from the MFP 10 on the receiving side. In this case, it is preferable to store the telephone number of the MFP 10 and the IP address in association with the EEPROM 61 of the MFP 310. The controller 130 of the MFP 10 and the controller 330 of the MFP 310 are examples of a controller system.

In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the controller 330 of the MFP 310 performs the first to third notifications based on the first to third flags and transmits a connection request signal. It is also possible to omit the processing for the third flag and the third notification. In this modification, if any of the three tanks 160 in which the color ink is stored is in the ink-empty state (S65) and the cartridge 200 has not been replaced (S13: No), the first flag is set. It is set to "OFF" (S303: No & S305), the notification request processing (S139) is not performed (S138: No), and the connection request signal is transmitted (S141). Therefore, when the MFP 10 is in a state where color reception is not possible because the remaining amount of color ink is less than a predetermined amount, the MFP 310 immediately transmits the connection request signal without waiting for the transmission of the connection request signal. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which facsimile transmission cannot be performed for a long time.

In the above-described embodiment, the liquid level sensor 155 including the actuator 190 has been described. However, the liquid level sensor 155 may adopt a configuration other than the configuration including the actuator 190 as long as it can detect the position of the liquid level of the ink in the tank 160 or the cartridge 200. For example, the liquid level sensor 155 optically detects the liquid level of the ink in the liquid chamber 171 by using a prism having different reflectance depending on whether or not the ink is in contact with the rear wall 164 of the liquid chamber 171. It may be a sensor. Further, the liquid level sensor 155 may be an electrode rod inserted in the liquid chamber 171.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which ink flows out from the cartridge 200 to the tank 160 due to the head difference has been described. However, ink may be discharged from the cartridge 200 to the tank 160 by gravity, a pump, or the like. That is, the present invention can also be used for a device that causes ink to flow out from the cartridge 200 to the tank 160 by gravity, a pump, or the like.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the remaining amount flag is updated according to the liquid level signal from the liquid level sensor 155 has been described. However, the remaining amount flag may be updated based on the ink amount Vs of the tank 160 updated in the remaining amount updating process. Specifically, in S11 of the state monitoring process, the controller 130 reads out the ink amount Vs stored in the EEPROM 61 and determines the ink amount Vs (S11). The controller 130 substitutes "ON" for the remaining amount flag and "OFF" for the inflow flag according to the determination that the ink amount Vs is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold value (S12), and performs the state monitoring process. finish. When the controller 130 determines that the ink amount Vs is less than a predetermined threshold value, "OFF" is assigned to the remaining amount flag (S13), and color reception of the facsimile is prohibited (S13). The predetermined threshold value may be the amount of ink stored in the liquid chamber 171 when the liquid level of the liquid chamber 171 of the tank 160 is the reference position P, or a value larger or smaller than the amount of the ink. May be. The height Hs may be used instead of the ink amount Vs.

10 ... MFP
21 ... Head 31 ... Communication I / F
51 ... Line I / F
61 ... EEPROM
130 ... Controller 150 ... Mounting case 154 ... Mounting sensor 155 ... Liquid level sensor 160 ... Tank 171 ... Liquid chamber 181 ... Needle 190 ... Actuator 200 ... Cartridge 210 ... Liquid chamber 310 ... Facsimile device 310 ... MFP
330 ... Controller 351 ... Line I / F
371 ... Communication I / F
381 ... Scanner 410 ... Server 430 ... Controller 471 ... Communication I / F

Claims (10)

Sending fax machine and
Receiving fax machine and
Equipped with a controller system
The transmitting side facsimile device includes a first line interface for connecting to a telephone line and an input interface.
The above receiving fax machine
A mounting case in which a cartridge having a first liquid chamber in which a color printing agent is stored is mounted, and a mounting case.
A tank with a second liquid chamber and
One is communicated with the second liquid chamber of the tank, and the other is a flow path communicating with the first liquid chamber of the cartridge mounted on the mounting case.
A head that communicates with the second liquid chamber and discharges the color printing agent,
Liquid level sensor and
Equipped with a second line interface to connect to a telephone line,
The above controller system
It is determined whether or not the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than the first predetermined position.
In response to the determination that the position is less than the first predetermined position, color reception of the receiving fax machine is prohibited.
After determining that the position is less than the first predetermined position, an operation input instructing the receiving side facsimile device to perform color transmission is received through the input interface of the transmitting side facsimile device.
After determining that the position is less than the first predetermined position, it is determined whether or not the cartridge has been replaced.
After determining that the cartridge has been replaced, the first signal output by the liquid level sensor according to the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber being higher than the second predetermined position higher than the first predetermined position. Is received from the above liquid level sensor,
In response to the reception of the first signal, the prohibition of color reception is lifted, and the connection of the telephone line from the first line interface of the transmitting side facsimile device to the second line interface of the receiving side facsimile device. A facsimile system that sends a connection request signal to request. The above controller system
Corresponding to the elapse of the first threshold time without receiving the first signal after receiving the operation input instructing the receiving side facsimile device to perform color transmission through the input interface of the transmitting side facsimile device. The facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein a connection request signal for requesting a connection of a telephone line from the first line interface of the transmitting fax machine to the second line interface of the receiving fax machine is transmitted. The controller system determines that the cartridge has been replaced, and then, in response to the elapse of the second threshold time without receiving the first signal, from the first line interface of the transmitting side facsimile apparatus. The facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein a connection request signal for requesting connection of a telephone line to the second line interface of the receiving side facsimile apparatus is transmitted. The receiving fax machine has a display and is equipped with a display.
The above controller system
Facsimile reception is performed after receiving an operation input instructing the receiving side facsimile device to perform color transmission through the input interface of the transmitting side facsimile device and in response to the determination that the cartridge has been replaced. The facsimile system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a screen indicating the above is displayed on the display. The receiving fax machine has a display and is equipped with a display.
The above controller system
When the operation input instructing the receiving side facsimile device to perform color transmission is received through the input interface of the transmitting side facsimile device, the cartridge is determined to have not been replaced. The facsimile system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a screen prompting replacement is displayed on the display. The above controller system
When the operation input instructing the receiving side facsimile device to perform color transmission through the input interface of the transmitting side facsimile device is received, the transmitting side determines that the cartridge has not been replaced. The facsimile system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a connection request signal for transmitting a connection request signal for connecting a telephone line from the first line interface of the facsimile machine to the second line interface of the receiving side facsimile device is transmitted. The tank has a detection object and
The detected object is in the first state when the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is equal to or higher than the second predetermined position, and the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than the second predetermined position. Sometimes it becomes a second state different from the first state above,
The facsimile system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the liquid level sensor outputs the first signal in response to detecting the detected object in the first state. In response to receiving the discharge instruction for discharging the color printing agent through the head, the controller system discharges the color printing agent through the head and counts the discharge amount of the color printing agent indicated by the discharge instruction. The facsimile system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein it is determined whether or not the position of the liquid level is less than the first predetermined position based on the counted amount of the color printing agent discharged. With more servers
The transmitting fax machine includes a first controller constituting the controller system and a first communication interface connected to the server via a communication network.
The receiving side facsimile device includes a second controller constituting the controller system and a second communication interface connected to the server via a communication network.
The server includes a third controller constituting the controller system, a memory, and a third communication interface connected to the transmitting side facsimile machine and the receiving side facsimile machine via a communication network.
The third controller is
The first information regarding the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber, the second information indicating whether or not the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case, and the first information output by the liquid level sensor by the second controller. The third information regarding whether or not the signal was received from the liquid level sensor is acquired from the receiving side facsimile device through the third communication interface and the second communication interface, and stored in the memory.
The first controller is
The first information, the second information, and the third information stored in the memory are acquired from the server through the first communication interface and the third communication interface.
Based on the first information, it is determined whether or not the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than the first predetermined position.
Based on the second information, it is determined whether or not the cartridge has been replaced.
The facsimile system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second controller determines whether or not the first signal is received from the liquid level sensor based on the third information. It is provided with a line interface for connecting to a telephone line, a communication interface for connecting to a communication network, an input interface, and a first controller.
The first controller is
Accepts operation input instructing to perform color transmission to the receiving facsimile machine through the above input interface,
After receiving the operation input, the cartridge having the first information regarding the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber of the tank of the receiving side facsimile apparatus and the first liquid chamber in which the color printing agent is stored through the communication interface. The second information indicating whether or not is mounted on the mounting case is acquired through the above communication interface.
Based on the first information, it is determined whether or not the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than the first predetermined position.
Based on the second information, it is determined whether or not the cartridge has been replaced.
In response to the determination that the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than the first predetermined position and the cartridge has been replaced, the second controller of the receiving side facsimile apparatus moves into the second liquid chamber. Whether the first signal output by the liquid level sensor provided in the receiving side facsimile device is received from the liquid level sensor according to the position of the liquid level of the liquid level being higher than the second predetermined position higher than the first predetermined position. Obtain the third information regarding whether or not through the above communication interface,
Based on the third information, in response to the determination that the second controller has received the first signal from the liquid level sensor, the line interface requests the connection of the telephone line from the receiving facsimile device. A facsimile machine that sends a connection request signal.

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