Image forming apparatus and method for notifying remaining amount of consumables using LED

Abstract

Provided are an image forming apparatus, a method of indicating the remaining quantity of a consumable material and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for the remaining quantity of a consumable material. The image forming apparatus includes an array of LEDs arranged on a body of the image forming apparatus such that a lighting condition of the LEDs is visible to a user at a remote place from the image forming apparatus; an image forming section; and a control section configured to operate the image forming section to perform image forming processing. The control section is further configured to operate the LEDs to turn on or blink in a first lighting pattern according to a status of an operation of the image forming apparatus, and operate the LEDs to turn on or blink in a second lighting pattern according to a remaining quantity of a consumable material.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a device having consumables and a method for notifying the remaining amount of consumables, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus equipped with an LED (Light Emitting Diode) for notifying the operating state of the device, and a remaining amount of consumables using the LED in the image forming apparatus. Quantity notification method. Background technique [0002] In an image forming apparatus such as a printer and a multifunction peripheral (MFP: Multi Function Peripheral), in order to perform a printing process of transferring an image formed using toner (toner) to paper, it is necessary to monitor the remaining amount of toner and paper. quantity. In addition, in a post-processing section that performs stapling and the like, it is necessary to monitor the remaining amount of staples in order to perform post-processing of binding a bundle of paper into a book using staples. In view of this, convention...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, in this method, since the user has to go to the image forming apparatus to confirm the display of the panel, there is a problem of labor and time.

Especially when an image forming apparatus is used as a network printer in a company, if the manager’s desk is located far away from the image forming apparatus, the manager has to go back and forth between the desk and the image forming apparatus every time, causing the administrator to the burden of

[0008] In addition, in order to display the remaining amount of consumables on the panel, it is necessary to prepare a large panel, which becomes an important factor for cost increase

In addition, in order to avoid an increase in the size of the panel, a method of switching and displaying the screens of the panel is also conceivable, but in this method, the screen operation becomes cumbersome.

In addition, in the case of a device without a panel for cost reduction, since the remaining amount of consumables cannot be confirmed through the panel, the remaining amount of paper can only be confirmed by visual observation by opening the paper tray.

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