# US 10,503,111 B2 · Image forming apparatus for displaying a screen to prompt a user to re-attach a container having developing material > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,503,111 B2 - Document ID: US10503111B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/945,266 - Filed: 2018-04-04 - Published: 2018-10-18 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-13 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Ryou Sakaguchi; Toshifumi Oikawa; Hiroyuki Eda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503111B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/556: {for toner consumption, e.g. pixel counting, toner coverage detection or toner density measurement} - G03G 15/0867: {cylindrical developer cartridges, e.g. toner bottles for the developer replenishing opening} - G03G 15/5016: {User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image with a developing material; a mounting unit having a container mounted therein, the container containing the developing material; a controller configured to determine a remaining amount of the developing material in the container and determine a replenishing error of the container; and a display unit configured to display, in a state where a first condition is satisfied, a screen to prompt a reattachment of the container detached from the mounting unit while the container is not in the mounting unit, and display, in a state where a second condition is satisfied, a screen to prompt an execution of an operation for solving the replenishing error while the container is not in the mounting unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: an image former configured to form an image with a developing material; a sensor configured to detect the developing material in the image former, wherein the sensor is provided on the image former; a mounting portion on which a container is mounted, the container containing the developing material; a processor configured to determine a replenishing error of the container based on the detection result by the sensor; and a display configured to: display a warning screen to prompt a reattachment of the container detached from the mounting portion, in a case where the container is detached from the mounting portion while a replacement condition is not satisfied; and display a discharge failure screen to prompt an execution of an operation for solving the replenishing error, in a case where the replenishing error is determined by the processor, wherein the display displays the discharge failure screen, in a case where the container is detached from the mounting portion while the replacement condition is not satisfied after the replenishing error is determined by the processor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor controls whether to stop an image forming operation by the image former and execute a predetermined replenishing operation, based on the detection result by the sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor controls the sensor to detect the developing material after executing the predetermined replenishing operation and determines the replenishing error in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied, and wherein the replenishing error is determined in the predetermined condition where the developing material is not increased and a number of replenishments executed from the container is less than a predetermined number. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display displays, in a case where the replacement condition is satisfied, a replacement screen to prompt a replacement of the container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor replenishes the developing material from the container to the image former, based on the detection result. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the container is detached from the mounting portion while the replacement condition is not satisfied after the replenishing error is determined by the processor, the display displays the discharge failure screen without displaying the warning screen. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the replenishing error is determined by the processor, the display displays the discharge failure screen before the container is detached from the mounting portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display displays a predetermined screen, which is different from the warning screen, after the container is reattached to the mounting portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor drives a pump of the container and replenishes the developing material from the container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a motor configured to be driven to replenish the developing material from the container, wherein the processor drives the motor to expand and contract a pump of the container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image former includes a first developing unit configured to store a developing material of a first color, a second developing unit configured to store a developing material of a second color, a third developing unit configured to store a developing material of a third color, and a fourth developing unit configured to store a developing material of a fourth color, wherein the mounting portion includes a first mounting portion to which a first container containing the developing material of the first color is mounted, a second mounting portion to which a second container containing the developing material of the second color is mounted, a third mounting portion to which a third container containing the developing material of the third color is mounted, and a fourth mounting portion to which a fourth container containing the developing material of the fourth color is mounted, wherein the processor determines a remaining amount of the developing material in the first container, wherein the processor determines a replenishing error in the first container, wherein in a case where the replacement condition is not satisfied, the display displays the screen to prompt a reattachment of the first container detached from the first mounting portion while the first container is not in the first mounting portion, and wherein in a case where the replacement condition is satisfied, the display displays the screen to prompt an execution of an operation to solve the replenishing error while the first container is not in the first mounting portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warning screen to prompt a reattachment of the container detached from the mounting portion includes information related to the detached container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the information corresponds to information that indicates the color of the developing material contained in the container detached from the mounting portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor determines whether or not the replacement condition is satisfied based on the detection result of the sensor. ### Claim 15 An image forming apparatus comprising: an image former configured to form an image with a developing material; a sensor configured to detect the developing material in the image former; a portion to which a container is attached, the container containing the developing material; a processor configured to: control replenishment operation in which the developing material is replenished to the image former from the container attached to the portion; and determine a replenishment error of the container based on the detection result by the sensor; and a display configured to: display a warning screen to prompt a reattachment of the container detached from the portion, in a case where (a) the container is detached from the portion and (b) a replacement condition is not satisfied; and display a discharge failure screen to notify of the replenishment error, in a case where the replenishment error is determined by the processor, wherein the display displays the discharge failure screen, in a case where (c) the container is detached from the portion, (d) the replacement condition is not satisfied, and (e) the replenishment error is determined by the processor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the processor determines whether or not the replacement condition is satisfied based on the detection result of the sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display displays, in a case where the replacement condition is satisfied, a replacement screen to prompt a replacement of the container. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display displays the discharge failure screen without displaying the warning screen, in a case where (f) the container is detached from the portion, (g) the replacement condition is not satisfied, and (h) the replenishment error is determined by the processor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display displays a predetermined screen, which is different from the warning screen, in a case where the container is reattached to the portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a motor configured to drive the container attached to the portion, wherein the processor controls the motor in the replenishment operation.