Image forming apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an output unit, a light source, and a processor. The image forming unit creates a printed material by forming an image on paper. The output unit outputs the printed material to an output tray. The light source is provided such that lit light is viewable from outside the image forming apparatus. The processor is configured to receive specification of a period during which the light source is not to be lit, receive an instruction to create the printed material, and perform control such that in a case where the printed material is output in accordance with the instruction at a time outside the period, the light source is lit, whereas in a case where the printed material is output during the period, the light source is not lit during the period and then starts to be lit when the period ends.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-196299 filed Oct. 29, 2019.

BACKGROUND

(i) Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus and a non-transitory computer readable medium.

(ii) Related Art

Recently, a printer that notifies, by turning on light, a user that a printed material has been output has been suggested (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-1085).

A printer described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-1085 includes a plurality of paper output trays for different colors, sign poles that emit light of colors corresponding to the paper output trays, and a controller that causes a sign pole to emit light of a color corresponding to a paper output tray to which a printed material has been output.

SUMMARY

For example, in a case where a facsimile is received at midnight and a printed material is output, a user may not be present. Thus, causing a light source to be lit so that the user may be notified that the printed material has been output is not very necessary. However, it may be desirable that the next morning the light source be lit so that the user may be notified that the printed material has been output.

Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to providing an image forming apparatus and a non-transitory computer readable medium that do not notify that a printed material has been output during a specific period but do notify that the printed material has been output after the period ends.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, an output unit, a light source, and a processor. The image forming unit creates a printed material by forming an image on paper. The output unit outputs the printed material to an output tray. The light source is provided such that lit light is viewable from outside the image forming apparatus. The processor is configured to receive specification of a period during which the light source is not to be lit, receive an instruction to create the printed material, and perform control such that in a case where the printed material is output in accordance with the instruction at a time outside the period, the light source is lit, whereas in a case where the printed material is output during the period, the light source is not lit during the period and then starts to be lit when the period ends.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be explained below with reference to drawings. In the drawings, components having substantially the same functions will be referred to with the same signs, and redundant explanation will be omitted.

Summary of Exemplary Embodiments

An image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes an image forming unit that creates a printed material by forming an image on paper, an output unit that outputs the printed material to an output tray, a light source that is provided such that lit light is viewable from outside the image forming apparatus, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive specification of a period during which the light source is not to be lit, receive an instruction to create the printed material, and perform control such that in a case where the printed material is output in accordance with the instruction at a time outside the period, the light source is lit, whereas in a case where the printed material is output during the period, the light source is not lit during the period and then starts to be lit when the period ends.

The period during which the light source is not lit is a period during which notifying that a printed material has been output is less necessary than other periods. The period during which the light source is not lit is, for example, nighttime. The period during which the light source is not lit may be set by a user in a desired manner.

In the case where the printed material is output during the period and an operation indicating that the printed material has been picked up from a tray is then performed, the processor may not perform control for starting to cause the light source to be lit when the period ends.

The operation indicating that a printed material has been picked up may be, for example:

(i) operation for indirectly issuing an instruction to turn off the light source; and

(ii) operation for issuing an instruction to turn off the light source after the printed material has been picked up.

For example, an operation by a user for picking up a printed material from an output tray corresponds to the operation (i). The operation for picking up the printed material may be detected, for example, by a paper sensor that detects presence or absence of a printed material output to the output tray. Alternatively, for example, a human sensor or a load sensor arranged on the floor may detect that the user has approached the image forming apparatus to pick up the printed material from the output tray and then moved away from the image forming apparatus.

For example, an operation on a turn-off button, a specific gesture, or the like may correspond to the operation (ii). A user may be guided in advance in a user's manual or the like to turn off the light source by an operation on the turn-off button or the like after picking up all the printed materials from the output tray.

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG.1is an external view illustrating a schematic configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. An image forming apparatus1is, for example, a multifunction apparatus including multiple functions such as a scanning function, a printing function, a copying function, an e-mail function, and a facsimile function. The image forming apparatus1may be an image forming apparatus including a single function such as a printing function or a facsimile function.

Furthermore, the image forming apparatus1includes a function for setting a forced turn-off period, in addition to the functions mentioned above. The forced turn-off period is an example of a period during which a light source is not to be lit.

The image forming apparatus1includes an apparatus body2. The apparatus body2includes, in an upper part2a, a platen3on which a document is placed and an automatic paper feeder4that automatically feeds a document to the platen3. The automatic paper feeder4is provided so as to be openable in the upper part2aof the apparatus body2and includes a document feeder tray4afrom which a document is fed and a document output tray4bto which a document is output.

Furthermore, the apparatus body2includes, on a front side of the upper part2a, an operation display unit12and a turn-off button12a. The apparatus body2includes, inside an intermediate part2b, an image forming unit14that forms an image. The apparatus body2includes, in a lower part2c, a plurality of paper feed cassettes21aand21bthat feed paper. The apparatus body2includes, in a space2dbetween the upper part2aand the intermediate part2b, a paper output tray22to which a printed material P is output. The apparatus body2includes, on a lower face of the upper part2a, a lamp23that illuminates the paper output tray22. In the first exemplary embodiment, a paper sensor that detects a printed material P output to the paper output tray22is not provided. The paper output tray22is an example of an output tray. The lamp23is an example of a light source.

The turn-off button12ais a button for turning off the lamp23that is lit. The turn-off button12amay be a hardware key or a software key. The turn-off button12amay be displayed on a screen displayed by the operation display unit12. An operation on the turn-off button12ais an example of an operation indicating that a printed material has been picked up or an operation for issuing an instruction to turn off the light source.

The lamp23emits, for example, white light. The lamp23includes, for example, a blue light-emitting diode (LED) that emits blue light and a fluorescent substance that converts part of blue light emitted from the blue LED into yellow light. Part of blue light is converted into yellow light by the fluorescent substance and a mixture of the blue light and the yellow light is emitted as white light. The color of light emitted from the lamp23is not limited to white like. For example, light of other colors, such as blue light, red light, or green light, may be emitted from the lamp23.

The lamp23is arranged to illuminate a certain range, for example, with a diameter of about 10 cm, of a printed material P output to the paper output tray22. The lamp23may be provided on an upper face of the upper part2aof the apparatus body2as long as visually recognized from outside the image forming apparatus1. Furthermore, the lamp23may be provided at a position away from the apparatus body2, for example, may be provided on the ceiling or suspended from the ceiling.

FIG.2is a block diagram illustrating an example of a control system of the image forming apparatus1. The image forming apparatus1includes a controller10that controls units of the image forming apparatus1. A memory11, an operation display unit12, the turn-off button12a, an image reading unit13, an image forming unit14, a network communication unit16A, a facsimile communication unit16B, a turn-on circuit17, and an output unit25are connected to the controller10.

The controller10includes a processor10asuch as a central processing unit (CPU), an interface, and so on. The processor10afunctions as a receiver101, an execution unit102, a display controller103, a turn-on controller104, and so on when executing a program110stored in the memory11. The details of a setting unit100, the receiver101, the execution unit102, the display controller103, and the turn-on controller104will be described later.

The memory11includes a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk, and so on and stores various types of information such as the program110, a turn-off timing table111(seeFIG.3), and flag data112. The flag data112is data of a flag indicating occurrence of a print job, that is, “0” indicating FALSE or “1” indicating TRUE. “0” is stored as an initial value for the flag data112.

The operation display unit12inputs and displays information. The operation display unit12is, for example, a touch panel display and has a configuration in which a touch panel is superimposed on a display such as a liquid crystal display.

The image reading unit13includes the automatic paper feeder4provided on the platen3and a scanner (not illustrated inFIG.1). The image reading unit13optically reads a document image from a document arranged on the platen3or a document transmitted by the automatic paper feeder4.

The image forming unit14creates a printed material P by forming an image on paper fed from the paper feed cassette21aor21busing, for example, an electrophotographic system, an inkjet system, or the like.

A network15A is a communication network such as, for example, a local area network (LAN) or the Internet.

The network communication unit16A communicates with an external apparatus such as a user terminal via the network15A in accordance with a communication protocol such as transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP). The network communication unit16A receives a print job for printing and a print job for e-mail from the external apparatus.

The facsimile communication unit16B modulates and demodulates data in accordance with a facsimile protocol such as G3or G4and communicates with an external apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and the like via a public network15B. The facsimile communication unit16B receives a print job for facsimile from the external apparatus.

When a turn-on signal is transmitted from the controller10, the turn-on circuit17turns on the lamp23. When a turn-off signal is transmitted from the controller10, the turn-on circuit17turns off the lamp23.

The output unit25outputs a printed material P created by forming an image on paper by the image forming unit14under the control of the controller10to the paper output tray22.

FIG.3is a diagram illustrating an example of the turn-off timing table111. The turn-off timing table111includes items such as “turn-off timing”, “forced turn-off start time”, and “forced turn-off end time”. As the item “turn-off timing”, a turn-off timing selected on an administrator setting screen120A inFIG.4A, which will be described later, is recorded. InFIG.4A, for example, “when turn-off button is operated” is recorded. As the item “forced turn-off start time”, time at which the forced turn-off period starts (hereinafter, may be referred to as forced turn-off start time) that is input on an administrator setting screen120B inFIG.4B, which will be described later, is recorded. As the item “forced turn-off end time”, time at which the forced turn-off period ends (hereinafter, may be referred to as forced turn-off end time) that is input on the administrator setting screen120B inFIG.4Bis recorded. InFIG.4B, for example, forced turn-off start time “19:00” and forced turn-off end time “06:00” are recorded.

Next, the components100to104of the controller10will be explained.

In accordance with operations by an administrator on the administrator setting screens120A and120B (seeFIGS.4A and4B), the setting unit100records the turn-off timing of the lamp23as the item “turn-off timing” in the turn-off timing table111, receives the forced turn-off start time and the forced turn-off end time as a period during which the lamp23is not to be lit, and records the forced turn-off start time and the forced turn-off end time as the “forced turn-off start time” and the “forced turn-off end time” in the turn-off timing table111, respectively.

The receiver101receives a print job for printing or e-mail transmitted from an external apparatus via the network15A and the network communication unit16A or a print job for facsimile transmitted from an external apparatus via the public network15B and the facsimile communication unit16B as an instruction for creating a printed material.

The execution unit102controls the image forming unit14to execute a print job received by the receiver101. At a time when executing the print job, the execution unit102stores “1”, which represents that a flag indicating occurrence of a job represents TRUE, as the flag data112into the memory11. At the time when a printed material P created by forming an image on paper by the image forming unit14is output to the paper output tray22, the execution unit102transmits to the turn-on controller104an output signal indicating that the printed material P has been output. At the time when a forced turn-off period starts, as initialization processing, the execution unit102overwrites “0”, which represents that a flag indicating occurrence of a job represents FALSE, as the flag data112into the memory11.

The display controller103performs display control for various screens such as a menu screen and a setting screen on the operation display unit12.

When an output signal is transmitted from the execution unit102, the turn-on controller104transmits a turn-on signal to the turn-on circuit17. When the turn-off button12ais operated, the turn-on controller104transmits a turn-off signal to the turn-on circuit17.

After transmitting the turn-on signal to the turn-on circuit17, in the case where the turn-off button12ais not operated and the forced turn-off period starts, the turn-on controller104transmits the turn-off signal to the turn-on circuit17. Furthermore, after the forced turn-off period starts, even when the output signal is transmitted from the execution unit102, the turn-on controller104does not transmit the turn-on signal to the turn-on circuit17. When the forced turn-off period ends, the turn-on controller104transmits the turn-on signal to the turn-on circuit17. That is, when the forced turn-off period ends, if the flag data112indicates “1”, the turn-on controller104transmits the turn-on signal to the turn-on circuit17. If the flag data112indicates “0”, the turn-on controller104transmits the turn-off signal to the turn-on circuit17.

(Operations of Image Forming Apparatus)

Next, examples of operations of the image forming apparatus1will be explained with reference toFIGS.4A,4B,5A,5B,6,7,8,9,10A, and10B.

FIGS.4A and4Bare diagrams illustrating examples of an administrator setting screen displayed on the operation display unit12.

When an administrator operates the operation display unit12to make a request to display an administrator setting screen, the display controller103displays the administrator setting screen120A illustrated inFIG.4Aon the operation display unit12. The administrator setting screen120A allows selection of a tur-off timing of the lamp23. The “turn-off timing” represents a timing at which the lamp23that has started to be lit is turned off. For example, any one of “when absence of paper is detected”, “when power-saving mode is entered”, “when turn-off button is operated”, and “when specified time has passed” is selected using the radio button121as the turn-off timing. An input field124in which a specified time for the case where “when specified time has passed” is selected is provided. The administrator setting screen120A also includes a “close” button122for closing the screen and a “confirm/change” button123for confirming or changing the setting details. “When absence of paper is detected” is a turn-off timing that may be set in the case where a paper sensor is provided. In the first exemplary embodiment, no paper sensor is provided. Therefore, “when absence of paper is detected” is not able to be set in the first exemplary embodiment. “When power-saving mode is entered” and “when specified time has passed” represent timings at which the lamp23is turned off, regardless of whether or not a printed material is present on the paper output tray22.

When the administrator selects any one of the turn-off timings, the setting unit100stores the selected turn-off timing as the item “turn-off timing” in the turn-off timing table111. When the administrator operates the “close” button122, the display controller103displays the administrator setting screen120B illustrated inFIG.4Bon the operation display unit12.

The administrator setting screen120B illustrated inFIG.4Bis a screen for setting a forced turn-off period of the lamp23. On the administrator setting screen120B, “do not set” or “specify period” is selected using the radio button121. By selecting “specify period”, a forced turn-off start time and a forced turn-off end time are able to be specified.

When the administrator selects “specify period” on the administrator setting screen120B and specifies the forced turn-off start time and the forced turn-off end time, the setting unit100records the specified forced turn-off start time and forced turn-off end time as the items “forced turn-off start time” and “forced turn-off end time” in the turn-off timing table111. In the case where “do not set” is selected on the administrator setting screen120B, the setting unit100does not record any data in the turn-off timing table111.

The forced turn-off period is not necessarily specified as a time period, such as from 19:00 to 06:00. For example, days of the week, dates such as the end and beginning of the year, may be specified.

(2) Operation at Time when Print Job Starts

Next, an example of an operation of the image forming apparatus1at the time when a print job starts will be explained with reference to a flowchart ofFIG.6. Hereinafter, a print job will be explained as a print job for facsimile.

The receiver101receives a print job for facsimile from an external apparatus via the public network15B and the facsimile communication unit16B.

The execution unit102starts to execute the print job received by the receiver101. That is, the execution unit102controls the image forming unit14to create a printed material P by forming image data included in the print job on paper, and controls the output unit25to output the printed material P created by the image forming unit14to the paper output tray22.

The turn-on controller104determines whether or not all the printed materials P have been output (S1). In the case where all the printed materials P have been output (S1: Yes), the turn-on controller104refers to the turn-off timing table111to determine whether or not the current time is within the forced turn-off period (S2). In the case where the current time is not within the forced turn-off period (S2: No), the turn-on controller104transmits the turn-on signal to the turn-on circuit17to turn on the lamp23(S3).

In the case where the current time is within the forced turn-off period (S2: Yes), the turn-on controller104transmits the turn-off signal to the turn-on circuit17to turn off the lamp23(S4).

(3) When Forced Turn-Off Period Starts

Next, an example of an operation of the image forming apparatus1at the time when the forced turn-off period starts will be explained with reference to a flowchart ofFIG.7.

When the forced turn-off period starts, as initialization processing, the turn-on controller104writes “0” as the flag data112(S11), and turns off the lamp23(S12).

Next, the execution unit102determines whether or not to start execution of the print job (S13). In the case where the execution unit102starts to execute the print job (S13: Yes), the execution unit102stores “1” as the flag data112(S14).

Next, the turn-on controller104determines whether or not the forced turn-off period has ended (S15). When the forced turn-off period ends (S15: Yes), the turn-on controller104determines whether or not the flag indicating occurrence of a job indicates TRUE, that is, whether or not the flag data112indicates “1” (S16).

In the case where the flag data112indicates “1” (S16: Yes), the turn-on controller104transmits the turn-on signal to the turn-on circuit17to turn on the lamp23(S17). In the case where the flag indicating occurrence of a job indicates FALSE, that is, the flag data112indicates “0” (S16: No), the turn-on controller104transmits the turn-off signal to the turn-on circuit17to turn off the lamp23(S18).

(4) Specific Operations

Next, specific operations will be explained with reference toFIGS.5A and5B. Hereinafter, a print job will be explained as a print job for facsimile.

(a) Case where Print Job is Generated Before Forced Turn-Off Period

As illustrated inFIG.5A, for example, in the case where a print job for facsimile is generated before the forced turn-off period, when a printed material P is output, the lamp23is turned on (S3). In the case where the forced turn-off period starts without the printed material P being collected from the paper output tray22by a user, the lamp23is turned off (S4). When the forced turn-off period ends without the printed material P being collected from the paper output tray22by the user, the lamp23is turned on. After that, when the printed material P is collected and the turn-off button12ais then operated, the lamp23is turned off. In the case where the user collects the printed material P from the paper output tray22before the forced turn-off period starts and then operates the turn-off button12a, the lamp23is turned off.

(b) Case where Print Job is Generated During Forced Turn-Off Period

As illustrated inFIG.5B, for example, in the case where a print job for facsimile is generated during the forced turn-off period, the lamp23remains unlit because the time when the printed material P is output is within the forced turn-off period (S4). When the forced turn-off period ends, the lamp23is turned on (S3). When the user collects the printed material P from the paper output tray22and operates the turn-off button12a, the lamp23is turned off. In the case where the user collects the printed material P from the paper output tray22during the forced turn-off period and operates the turn-off button12a, the turn-on controller104does not perform control for starting to cause the lamp23to be lit after the forced turn-off period.

As operations in the first exemplary embodiment, the case where a print job for facsimile is generated has been explained. However, the image forming apparatus1may operate in a similar manner in the case where a print job for printing or e-mail is generated.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

FIG.8is an external view illustrating a schematic configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The second exemplary embodiment is different from the first exemplary embodiment in that a paper sensor24that detects presence or absence of a printed material P output to the paper output tray22is added in place of the turn-off button12a. Explanation for differences from the first exemplary embodiment will be focused on. The paper sensor24is an example of a detector.

When detecting a printed material P output to the paper output tray22, the paper sensor24transmits a detection signal to the controller10. The paper sensor24continuously transmits detection signals during the period in which a printed material P is present on the paper output tray22. When all printed materials P have been picked up from the paper output tray22, the paper sensor24stops transmission of detection signals.

As the paper sensor24, for example, a reflective light emitting and receiving unit that includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element that are arranged in the same direction or a transmissive light emitting and receiving unit that includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element that is arranged correspondingly to the light-emitting element may be used.

FIG.9is a block diagram illustrating an example of a control system of the image forming apparatus1. As in the first exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus1includes the controller10. The memory11, the operation display unit12, the turn-off button12a, the image reading unit13, the image forming unit14, the network communication unit16A, the facsimile communication unit16B, and the turn-on circuit17are connected to the controller10. Furthermore, the paper sensor24is connected to the controller10.

As in the first exemplary embodiment, the memory11stores the program110, the turn-off timing table111(seeFIG.3), the flag data112, and the like.

When an output signal is transmitted from the execution unit102, the turn-on controller104transmits a turn-on signal to the turn-on circuit17. After a detection signal is transmitted from the paper sensor24, when transmission of the detection signal stops, the turn-on controller104transmits a turn-off signal to the turn-on circuit17.

Furthermore, after the turn-on controller104transmits the turn-on signal to the turn-on circuit17, in the case where the forced turn-off period starts while a detection signal is transmitted from the paper sensor24, the turn-on controller104transmits the turn-off signal to the turn-on circuit17. Furthermore, after the forced turn-off period starts, even if the output signal is transmitted from the execution unit102, the turn-on controller104does not transmits the turn-on signal to the turn-on circuit17. When the forced turn-off period ends, the turn-on controller104transmits the turn-on signal to the turn-on circuit17. That is, when the forced turn-off period ends, in the case where the flag data112indicates “1”, the turn-on controller104transmits the turn-on signal to the turn-on circuit17. In the case where the flag data112indicates “0”, the turn-on controller104transmits the turn-off signal to the turn-on circuit17.

Next, specific operations will be explained with reference toFIGS.10A, and10B. Hereinafter, a print job will be explained as a print job for facsimile.

(a) Case where Print Job is Generated Before Forced Turn-Off Period

As illustrated inFIG.10A, for example, in the case where a print job for facsimile is generated before the forced turn-off period, when a printed material P is output, the lamp23is turned on (S3). In the case where the forced turn-off period starts without the printed material P being collected from the paper output tray22by a user, the lamp23is turned off (S4). When the forced turn-off period ends without the printed material P being collected from the paper output tray22by the user, the paper sensor24detects the printed material P, and the lamp23is turned on. After that, when the printed material P is collected and the paper sensor24detects that the printed material P has been collected, the lamp23is turned off. In the case where the user collects the printed material P from the paper output tray22before the forced turn-off period starts and the forced turn-off period ends, the printed material P is not detected by the paper sensor24. Therefore, the turn-on controller104does not perform control for starting to cause the lamp23to be lit.

(b) Case where Print Job is Generated During Forced Turn-Off Period

As illustrated inFIG.10B, for example, in the case where a print job for facsimile is generated during the forced turn-off period, the lamp23remains unlit because the time when the printed material P is output is within the forced turn-off period (S4). When the forced turn-off period ends, the paper sensor24detects the printed material P, and the lamp23is turned on (S3). When the user collects the printed material P from the paper output tray22and the paper sensor24detects that the printed material P has been collected from the paper output tray22, the lamp23is turned off. In the case where the user collects the printed material P from the paper output tray22within the forced turn-off period, the printed material P is not detected by the paper sensor24when the forced turn-off period ends. Therefore, the turn-on controller104does not perform control for starting to cause the lamp23to be lit.

As operations in the second exemplary embodiment, the case where a print job for facsimile is generated has been explained. However, the image forming apparatus1may operate in a similar manner in the case where a print job for printing or e-mail is generated.

First Modification

The turn-on controller104may perform control for causing the lamp23to be lit in different modes according to whether or not a printed material P is output during the forced turn-off period. The different modes include, for example:

(i) lit time of the lamp23;

(ii) color of light emitted from the lamp23;

(iii) state in which the lamp23is lit, for example, being solidly lit or flashing corresponds to a state in which the lamp23is lit;

(iv) amount or intensity of light emitted from the lamp23; and

(v) timing at which the lamp23is turned off.

In case (i), in the case where a printed material P1is output during the forced turn-off period, for example, the turn-on controller104performs control such that the lamp23is lit for a longer lit time than a case where a printed material P2is output during a time outside the forced turn-off period. This is because the printed material P1output during the forced turn-off period is not easily noticed compared to the printed material P2output during the time outside the forced turn-off period and is highly likely to be left without being collected. In case (v), for example, even in the case where “when specified time has passed” is selected as the turn-off timing of the lamp23on the administrator setting screen120A, the turn-on controller104may automatically set the turn-off timing of the lamp23indicating that the printed material P1has been output during the forced turn-off period to “when absence of paper is detected” or “when turn-off button is operated”. By setting this, in the case where the printed material P1is left without being collected for the specified time or longer, the lit time of the lamp23indicating that the printed material P1has been output is longer than the lit time of the lamp23indicating that the printed material P2has been output. The administrator or the like may set a mode in which the lamp23is lit.

Second Modification

The image forming apparatus1may be shifted from a normal mode to a power-saving mode with a reduced power consumption in the case where a predetermined shift condition is satisfied. The shift condition may be, for example, that a state in which the image forming apparatus1is not used lasts for a predetermined time, that a predetermined time has been reached, that an instruction for entering the power-saving mode is explicitly issued by a user, or the like. In the case where a specific recovery condition is satisfied, recovery from the power-saving mode to the normal mode may occur or recovery to a partial power-saving mode in which only some units are recovered according to the recovery condition may occur. The recovery condition may be, for example,

(i) when a period for execution of the power-saving mode ends; and

(ii) when the image forming apparatus1starts to be used.

These cases may include, for example, a case where a facsimile is received, a human sensor such as a Doppler sensor or an infrared sensor, a load sensor arranged on the floor, or the like detects that a user has approached the image forming apparatus1, a case where the operation display unit12is operated, a case where a document is arranged on the platen3, and the like.

The forced turn-off period may be specified independent of the shift condition or the recovery condition. That is, even in the case where the image forming apparatus1receives a facsimile in the power-saving mode, recovers from the power-saving mode, and outputs a printed material P, if the time at which the printed material P is output is within the forced turn-off period, the forced turn-off period is not ended by the output of the printed material P. Furthermore, in the case where the printed material P is output during the forced turn-off period, the turn-on controller104may perform control for starting to cause the lamp23to be lit when the forced turn-off period ends even in the case where the power-saving mode or the partial power-saving mode has been entered.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above. However, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above. Various changes and implementations may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Part of or the entire components of the processor10amay be configured as a hardware circuit such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or the like.

Furthermore, part of components in the exemplary embodiments described above may be omitted or changed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In the flow of processes in the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, addition, deletion, change, exchange, and the like of steps may be performed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Programs used in the exemplary embodiments may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM) and provided. The programs may be stored in an external server such as a cloud server and used via a network.

In the embodiments above, the term “processor” refers to hardware in a broad sense. Examples of the processor includes general processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit), dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, and programmable logic device).