In image forming apparatuses, such as a printer and a multifunction peripheral (MFP), since print processing is conducted so as to transfer images formed by use of toner onto paper sheets, it is required to monitor the remaining quantity of each of the toner and the paper sheets. Further, in a post processing section configured to perform stapling, since post processing is conducted so as to bind a bundle of paper sheets by use of staples, it is required to monitor the remaining quantity of staples. Then, conventionally, the remaining quantity of a consumable material, such as toner, paper sheets, and staple needles, is checked and confirmed by being displayed on a panel, and as a result of the check, if the remaining quantity becomes small, the consumable material is replenished.
With regard to such a display panel, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (JP-A) No. 2008-139485 discloses an image forming apparatus which includes a toner feeding devise with a spiral coil to feed toner, a control device to calculate a toner remaining quantity ratio, and a display panel to display a remaining quantity based on the toner remaining quantity ratio. The image forming apparatus is configured as follows. In the toner feeding devise, the spiral coil performs a feeding action to fill a toner conveyance pipe with toner conveyed from a toner cartridge at a predetermined timing. The control device calculates a toner remaining ratio based on an amount of actuation of the toner feeding devise, and controls the display panel to display the remaining quantity of toner in the toner cartridge based on the toner remaining ratio. In addition, when the spiral coil conducts the feeding action, the control device controls the display panel to compulsorily display a fill-up state as the remaining quantity regardless of the toner remaining ratio.
Further, JP-A No. H06-48610 discloses an image forming apparatus configured as follows. A rising time in a tray is measured and compared with data in a table stored in a ROM, thereby acquiring remaining quantity data corresponding to the remaining quantity of paper sheets. The acquired remaining quantity data are transmitted to a Main-CPU, and a display frame with a size corresponding to the remaining quantity of paper sheets is displayed with lighting on a control panel.
In these ways, by displaying the remaining quantity of a consumable material, such as toner, paper sheets, and staple needles, on a panel, it becomes possible to administrate the consumable material not to become short. However, in these methods, users are required to go to an image forming apparatus in order to check the display on a panel, which causes a problem of taking time and labor. In particular, in the case where an image forming apparatus is used as a network printer in an office, if the desk of an administrator is located distant from the image forming apparatus, the administrator is required to go frequently a round trip between the desk and the image forming apparatus. As a result, the burden of the administrator becomes heavy.
Further, in order to display the remaining quantity of a consumable material on a panel, it is required to prepare a large-sized panel, which becomes a primary factor of an increase in cost. In order to avoid the large-sized panel, it may be supposed to consider a method of displaying selectively one of multiple screens by switching. However, in this method, the switching operation for the multiple screens becomes complicate. Furthermore, if an apparatus is not equipped with a panel for saving the cost, since the remaining quantity of a consumable material cannot be confirmed by a panel, users have no way other than a way to visually confirm the remaining quantity of paper sheets by opening the tray. The present invention seeks to solve the problem.