Image forming apparatus and computer-readable storage medium

Abstract

An image forming apparatus, having a cartridge detachably attached to the image forming apparatus and including a first compartment configured to store a colorant, a container configured to be connected with the cartridge and including a second compartment configured to store the colorant flowing from the cartridge, and a display configured to display a first object indicating a first remainder amount and a second object indicating a second remainder amount in a single screen, is provided. The first remainder amount is a remainder amount of the colorant stored in the first compartment, and the second remainder amount is a remainder amount of the colorant stored in the second compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a cartridge detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, the cartridge including a first compartment configured to store a colorant;   a container configured to be connected with the cartridge, the container including a second compartment configured to store the colorant flowing from the cartridge; and   a display configured to display a first object indicating a first remainder amount and a second object indicating a second remainder amount in a single screen, the first remainder amount being a remainder amount of the colorant stored in the first compartment, and the second remainder amount being a remainder amount of the colorant stored in the second compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are in fluid communication with atmosphere,   wherein a part of the second compartment is located to be lower than the first compartment,   wherein the first object includes a bar, of which length is varied according to the first remainder amount,   wherein the bar in the first object is displayed in a maximum length until the first remainder amount reduces to reach a first predetermined amount, the first predetermined amount being smaller than an initially filled amount for the colorant stored in the first compartment, and   wherein the bar in the first object is displayed in a length proportionate to the first remainder amount under a condition where the first remainder amount is smaller than the first predetermined amount.   
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the display is configured to display a third object along with the first object and the second object in the single screen under a condition where the first remainder amount is smaller than a second predetermined amount, the second predetermined amount being smaller than the first predetermined amount.   
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the third object is displayed in an area coincident with the first object in the single screen. 
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are in fluid communication with atmosphere,   wherein a part of the second compartment is located to be lower than the first compartment,   wherein the second object includes a bar, of which length is varied according to the second remainder amount,   wherein the bar in the second object is displayed in a maximum length until the first remainder amount reduces to reach a first predetermined amount, the first predetermined amount being smaller than an initially filled amount for the colorant stored in the first compartment, and   wherein the bar in the second object is displayed in a length proportionate to the second remainder amount under a condition where the first remainder amount is smaller than the first predetermined amount.   
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the display is configured to display an insufficiency-indicative object under a condition where the first remainder amount is smaller than a first predetermined amount, the first predetermined amount being smaller than an initially filled amount for the colorant stored in the first compartment, and where the second remainder amount is smaller than a second predetermined amount.   
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the insufficiency-indicative object is displayed in an area coincident with at least one of the first object and the second object in the single screen. 
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a plurality of reservoir sets, each of which includes the cartridge and the container,   wherein the display is configured to display the first object for each cartridge in each of the plurality of reservoir sets and the second object for each container in each of the plurality of reservoir sets in the single screen.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first object includes a bar, of which length is varied according to the first remainder amount,   wherein the second object includes a bar, of which length is varied according to the second remainder amount,   wherein the first object and the second object are displayed in one of:
 a first display mode, in which the first object and the second object in each of the plurality of reservoir sets align in a perpendicular direction in the screen of the display, the lengths of the bars in the first object and the second object are varied in the perpendicular direction, and the plurality of reservoir sets align in a crosswise direction in the screen of the display; and 
 a second display mode, in which the first object and the second object in each of the plurality of reservoir sets align in the crosswise direction in the screen of the display, the lengths of the bars in the first object and the second object are varied in the crosswise direction, and the plurality of reservoir sets align in the perpendicular direction in the screen of the display. 
   
     
     
         10 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first object includes a bar, of which length is varied according to the first remainder amount,   wherein the second object includes a bar, of which length is varied according to the second remainder amount,   wherein a large-capacity cartridge comprising a third compartment capable of containing a larger amount of the colorant than the first compartment is attachable to the image forming apparatus in place of the cartridge,   wherein the container is configured to store the colorant flowing from one of the cartridge and the large-capacity cartridge, and   wherein the display is configured to display a larger-width object, of which width is larger than a width of the first object, under a condition where the colorant from the large-capacity cartridge flows into the container.   
     
     
         11 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the width of the larger-width object is larger than a width of the second object. 
     
     
         12 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the display is configured to display a quantity-indicative object indicating an estimated printable quantity based on the first remainder amount and the second remainder amount along with the first object and the second object in the single screen.   
     
     
         13 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are in fluid communication with atmosphere,   wherein a part of the second compartment is located to be lower than the first compartment,   wherein, under a condition where the estimated printable quantity is at least equal to a predetermined number, the quantity-indicative object indicating one of that the estimated printable quantity is greater than the predetermined number and that the estimated printable quantity is equal to the predetermined number is displayed, and   wherein, under a condition where the estimated printable quantity is smaller than the predetermined number, the quantity-indicative object indicating the estimated printable quantity is displayed.   
     
     
         14 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the display restrains the quantity-indicative object from being displayed under a condition where the container is not connected with the cartridge qualified for the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an input device configured to accept one of a display-commanding operation that causes the display to display the quantity-indicative object and a display-restraining operation that restrains the display from displaying the quantity-indicative object.   
     
     
         16 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the display is configured to display an absence-indicative object indicating that the cartridge qualified for the image forming apparatus is absent under a condition where the input device accepts the display-restraining operation and where the cartridge qualified for the image forming apparatus is absent from the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 a plurality of reservoir sets, each of which includes the cartridge and the container,   wherein the display is configured to display the quantity-indicative object for each of the plurality of reservoir sets along with the first object and the second object in the single screen.   
     
     
         18 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a cartridge detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, the cartridge including a first compartment configured to store a colorant;   a container configured to be connected with the cartridge, the container including a second compartment configured to store the colorant flowing from the cartridge;   a recorder connected with the container, the recorder being configured to discharge the colorant supplied from the container;   a display;   a memory; and   a controller configured to:
 control the recorder to discharge the colorant and the display to display an image in a screen; 
 calculate a discharged amount value indicating an amount of the colorant having been discharged from the recorder; 
 obtain first information, the first information indicating an initial amount being an amount of the colorant stored in the cartridge after attachment of the cartridge in the image forming apparatus, and second information, the second information indicating an amount of the colorant stored in the container prior to the attachment of the cartridge, from the memory; and 
 display a first object including a bar, of which length is varied according to a first remainder amount indicating an amount of the colorant stored in the cartridge, the first remainder amount being determined based on the discharged amount value, the first information, and the second information, and a second object including a bar, of which length is varied according to a second remainder amount indicating the amount of the colorant stored in the container, in a single screen. 
   
     
     
         19 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 18 ,
 wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are in fluid communication with atmosphere,   wherein a part of the second compartment is located to be lower than the first compartment,   wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a sensor configured to output a detector signal to the controller in response to a surface level of the colorant stored in the container having reached a detectable position,   wherein the discharged amount value indicates the amount of the colorant having been discharged from the recorder from a time when the detector signal from the sensor is received in the controller;   wherein the controller is configured to:
 determine whether the detector signal is received; and 
 display one of the second object including the bar, of which length is in a maximum length in response to a determination that the detector signal is not received, and the second object including the bar, of which length is varied according to the second remainder amount based on the discharged amount in response to a determination that the detector signal is received. 
   
     
     
         20 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 18 ,
 wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are in fluid communication with atmosphere,   wherein a part of the second compartment is located to be lower than the first compartment,   wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a sensor configured to output a detector signal to the controller in response to a surface level of the colorant stored in the container having reached a detectable position,   wherein the discharged amount value indicates the amount of the colorant having been discharged from the recorder from a time when the cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus;   wherein the controller is configured to:
 determine whether the detector signal is received; 
 store a remainder value in the memory, the remainder value being based on the discharged amount value and indicating the second remainder amount; and 
 display one of the first object, of which length is in a maximum length until the discharged amount value increases to a value corresponding to the remainder value stored in the memory, and the first object, of which length is varied according to the discharged amount after the discharged amount value increases to the value corresponding to the remainder value stored in the memory. 
   
     
     
         21 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 18 ,
 wherein the controller is configured to determine an estimated printable quantity based on the discharged amount value, and   wherein the controller is configured to control the display to display a quantity-indicative object indicating the estimated printable quantity along with the first object and the second object in the single screen.   
     
     
         22 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are in fluid communication with atmosphere,   wherein a part of the second compartment is located to be lower than the first compartment,   wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a sensor configured to output a detector signal to the controller in response to a surface level of the colorant stored in the container having reached a detectable position,   wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a sensor configured to output a detector signal to the controller in response to a surface level of the colorant stored in the container having reached a detectable position,   wherein the controller is configured to:
 determine whether the detector signal is received; 
 determine, in response to a determination that the detector signal is not received, the estimated printable quantity based on the discharged amount, the estimated printable quantity being determined to be a lower limit number at the smallest, the lower limit number being a quantity corresponding to the detectable position; and 
 determine, in response to a determination that the detector signal is received, the estimated printable quantity based on a partial discharged amount value indicating an amount of the colorant having been discharged from the recorder from a time when the detector signal from the sensor is received in the controller. 
   
     
     
         23 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are in fluid communication with atmosphere,   wherein a part of the second compartment is located to be lower than the first compartment,   wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a sensor configured to output a detector signal to the controller in response to a surface level of the colorant stored in the container having reached a detectable position,   wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a sensor configured to output a detector signal to the controller in response to a surface level of the colorant stored in the container having reached a detectable position,   wherein the discharged amount value indicates the amount of the colorant having been discharged from the recorder from a time when the cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus;   wherein the controller is configured to:
 determine whether the detector signal is received; 
 store a remainder value in the memory, the remainder value being based on the discharged amount value and indicating the second remainder amount; and 
 determine the estimated printable quantity to be one of:
 a specific number until the discharged amount value increases to a value corresponding to the remainder value stored in the memory; and 
 a number estimated according to the discharged amount value after the discharged amount value increases to the value corresponding to the remainder value stored in the memory. 
 
   
     
     
         24 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions that are executable by a computer in an information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising a display and a first communication interface, through which the information processing apparatus communicates with an image forming apparatus, the computer readable instructions, when executed by the computer, causing the computer to:
 receive first information and second information from the image forming apparatus through the first communication interface, the first information indicating an amount of a colorant stored in a cartridge in the image forming apparatus, the second information indicating an amount of the colorant stored in a container in the image forming apparatus; and   control the display to display a first object, the first object indicating the amount of the colorant stored in the cartridge based on the first information, and a second object, the second object indicating the amount of the colorant stored in the container based on the second information, in a single screen.