Patent ID: 8437647

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming unit; a container member containing a consumable supply used by said image forming unit for forming an image; a signal output device rendered operable immediately after power-on of said image forming apparatus, outputting a detection signal selectively assuming first and second values depending on whether remaining amount of the consumable supply contained in said container member is lower than a prescribed value; a main control unit rendered operable after a prescribed activating process after power-on of said image forming apparatus, for controlling said image forming unit; and an alarm device, connected to receive said detection signal, capable of assuming a first state indicating an alarm and a second state not indicating an alarm, rendered operable before completion of the activating process of said main control unit, and assuming said first state in response to said detection signal having said first value; wherein said signal output device includes: a sensor rendered operable immediately after power-on of said image forming apparatus, provided in relation to said container member, for detecting remaining amount of the consumable supply contained in said container member, and selectively assuming said first and second values depending on whether said remaining amount is lower than said prescribed value or not, a storage storing an output of said sensor immediately before power-off of said image forming apparatus, capable of retaining memory even when said image forming apparatus is powered off, and a reading device reading, after said image forming apparatus is powered on, said output of said sensor stored in said storage, and applying the read output as said detection signal to said alarm device; said alarm device includes: an alarm indicating device assuming said first state or said second state in response to a control signal, and a sub control unit connected to receive said detection signal, rendered operable before completion of the activating process of said main control unit after power-on of said image forming apparatus, for rendering said alarm indicating device to said first state or said second state in response to said detection signal having said first value or said second value, respectively; and said sub control unit includes: a first device reading said detection signal from said storage after power-on of said image forming apparatus, and based on its value, controlling the state of said alarm indicating device, and a second device executing, after the process by said first device, if said alarm indicating device is in said first state and canceling condition is satisfied, a prescribed process to cancel alarm indication by said alarm indicating device.