Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To achieve efficient power saving in returning an image forming apparatus from a power saving state.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus (1) comprises a human sensor (21), a microphone (22), a receiving unit (103), and a control unit (100). When a person approaching the image forming apparatus (1) is detected by the human sensor (21) while the image forming apparatus is in a power saving state, the control unit (100) brings the microphone (22) into a state where it can receive input of voice, cancels the power saving state of an operating mechanism necessary for execution of a function associated with details indicated by a voice instruction received by the receiving unit (103) and brings the operating mechanism into a normal operation state, and maintains the power saving state of the operating mechanism necessary for execution of a function not associated with the details indicated by the voice instruction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of receiving voice instructions. [Background technology]

[0002] Some image forming devices, such as copiers and multifunction devices, are equipped with an operation panel that allows a user to manually input operations. By operating the operation panel, a user can select one function from among a number of functions (e.g., copy function, scanner function, facsimile function) or configure settings for a function.

[0003] Also, various image forming apparatuses that allow voice instructions have been proposed and put to practical use. For example, the following Patent Document 1 describes how the contents of voice instructions are reflected in job settings, and the following Patent Document 2 describes how job history information that the user intends to select is narrowed down from among multiple pieces of job history information based on keywords included in the user's voice. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-098383 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-205052 A Summary of the Invention

[0005] Some image forming apparatuses can be set to a power saving mode that puts the operating mechanism of the image forming apparatus into a power saving state. In addition, a microphone used for voice input for voice instructions is turned on when a person is detected by a motion sensor, for example. If a person passes in front of the image forming apparatus and the microphone is turned on, the power saving mode is released and the operating mechanism of the image forming apparatus is returned from the power saving state to a normal operable state. However, in a situation where a person is only detected by the motion sensor and it is not known which function of the image forming apparatus the person will use, returning all of the operating mechanisms of the image forming apparatus from the power saving state to a normal operable state is not preferable from the viewpoint of efficiently realizing power saving. The above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not disclose a means for dealing with such a problem and realizing efficient power saving.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to realize efficient power saving when an image forming apparatus is restored from a power saving state.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on recording paper and prints it, a human presence sensor that detects a person approaching the image forming apparatus, a voice input unit to which voice is input from a user, a reception unit that receives voice instructions based on the voice input to the voice input unit, and a control unit that executes a job in accordance with the content of the voice instructions received by the reception unit and sets a plurality of operating mechanisms provided in the image forming apparatus to a predetermined power saving state, and when an approaching person is detected by the human presence sensor while the image forming apparatus is in the power saving state, the control unit sets the voice input unit to a state in which voice input is possible, and controls the operation mechanisms required to execute a function corresponding to the content indicated by the voice instructions received by the reception unit. the control unit releases the operating mechanisms necessary for executing functions not corresponding to the content indicated by the voice instructions from the power saving state to a normal operating state, and causes the operating mechanisms necessary for executing functions not corresponding to the content indicated by the voice instructions to maintain the power saving state, and further comprises an operation unit that accepts instructions input by operation by a user, and when the control unit acquires status information indicating that the state of any of the mechanical parts of the image forming apparatus has changed, the control unit releases, from the power saving state, the operating mechanisms necessary for executing a function using that mechanical part, which are selected by the voice instruction input to the voice input unit or the instruction accepted by the operation unit, from the power saving state to a normal operating state, and causes the operating mechanisms other than the operating mechanisms necessary for executing the selected function to maintain the power saving state.

[0008] According to the present invention, efficient power saving can be achieved when the image forming apparatus is restored from a power saving state. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic internal configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 3] 5A and 5B are diagrams showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. [Figure 6] 11 is a diagram showing an example of a relationship between a keyword uttered by a user and a unit that cancels a power saving state. FIG. [Figure 7] 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed by a control unit of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is a multifunction machine having multiple functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and includes an original feeding unit 6, an original reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, a memory unit 8, a human sensor 21, an operation unit 47, a facsimile communication unit 71, a network interface unit 91, a microphone 22, and a speaker 23.

[0011] The document feeder 6 is configured to be openable and closable by a hinge or the like (not shown) on the top surface of the document reading unit 5, and functions as a document pressing cover when reading a document placed on a platen glass (not shown). The document feeder 6 is also called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) or DP (Document Processor), and includes a document placement tray 61, and supplies documents placed on the document placement tray 61 to the document reading unit 5 one by one.

[0012] A description will be given of a case where a document reading operation is performed by the image forming apparatus 1. The document reading unit 5 optically reads an image of a document supplied to the document reading unit 5 by the document feeding unit 6 or a document placed on the platen glass, and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an image memory or the like (not shown).

[0013] A description will be given of an image forming operation performed by the image forming apparatus 1. Based on image data generated by a document reading operation or image data received from a computer serving as an external device (e.g., a personal computer) connected via a network, the image forming unit 12 forms a toner image on a recording paper serving as a recording medium fed from a paper feed unit 14.

[0014] The fixing unit 13 applies heat and pressure to the recording paper on which the toner image has been formed by the image forming unit 12, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording paper. The recording paper that has been subjected to the fixing process is discharged onto a discharge tray 151. The paper supply unit 14 includes a plurality of paper supply cassettes 141.

[0015] The storage unit 8 is a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various control programs and the like.

[0016] The human sensor 21 detects a person approaching the image forming apparatus 1. As the human sensor 21, for example, a sensor that detects infrared rays emitted by a human body is used.

[0017] The operation unit 47 receives instructions, such as an instruction to execute an image forming operation, from an operator, who is a user, regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 that displays operation guides and the like for the operator. The operation unit 47 also receives input of instructions from the user, via a touch panel included in the display unit 473, based on the user's operation (touch operation) on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 473 or the user's operation on physical keys.

[0018] The display unit 473 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. The display unit 473 is equipped with a touch panel. When the operator touches a button or key displayed on the screen, the touch panel receives an instruction associated with the touched position.

[0019] The facsimile communication section 71 includes an encoding / decoding section, a modulation / demodulation section, and an NCU (Network Control Unit), all of which are not shown, and transmits and receives facsimile data using a public telephone line network or the like.

[0020] The network interface unit 91 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving various data to and from an external device (for example, a personal computer) within a local area or on the Internet.

[0021] The microphone 22 is a voice input unit that collects sounds around the image forming apparatus 1 and converts them into an electric signal (voice data). The microphone 22 is provided at an appropriate location where it is easy to collect the voice of the user, for example, in the operation unit 47.

[0022] Speaker 23 outputs various sounds such as operation sounds and sound effects when operating operation unit 47, guidance voice explaining the operation method, and warning sounds when a problem occurs in image forming apparatus 1. For example, speaker 23 is provided in a location that cannot be seen from the outside of image forming apparatus 1, for example, inside operation unit 47.

[0023] The control unit 10 includes a processor, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a micro processing unit (MPU). The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100, a display control unit 101, a voice analysis unit 102, and a reception unit 103.

[0024] The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100, a display control unit 101, a voice analysis unit 102, and a reception unit 103 by the operation of the processor in accordance with a control program stored in the storage unit 8. However, the control unit 100 and the like can also be configured by hardware circuits, without relying on the operation of the control unit 10 in accordance with a control program. The same applies to each embodiment below unless otherwise stated.

[0025] The control unit 100 is responsible for controlling the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the document feed unit 6, the document reading unit 5, the image forming unit 12, the fixing unit 13, the paper feed unit 14, the storage unit 8, the motion sensor 21, the operation unit 47, the facsimile communication unit 71, the network interface unit 91, the microphone 22, and the speaker 23, and performs drive control of each of these units. For example, the control unit 100 controls the operation of the image forming unit 12, etc., to form the document image obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5 on recording paper as a recording medium.

[0026] Furthermore, when an approaching person is detected by the motion sensor 21, the control unit 100 controls the microphone 22 to be in an on state to enable voice input to the microphone 22, and when a predetermined time (e.g., 30 seconds) has elapsed since the motion sensor 21 stopped detecting an approaching person, the control unit 100 controls the microphone 22 to be in an off state. Note that the control unit 100 can also switch the microphone 22 on and off according to an instruction input to the operation unit 47.

[0027] Furthermore, when the human sensor 21 detects an approaching person, the control unit 100 turns on the microphone 22 to enable voice input.

[0028] Display control unit 101 controls the display operation of display unit 473. For example, display control unit 101 displays on display unit 473 a selection screen for allowing a user to select a function to be executed from among a plurality of functions executable by image forming apparatus 1, and also displays on display unit 473 a setting screen, which is a lower layer than the selection screen, for receiving input related to the setting of each function.

[0029] 3(A) and (B) are diagrams showing examples of screens displayed on display unit 473. Operation screen SC1 shown in FIG. 3(A) is a selection screen for allowing a user to select a function to be executed from among a plurality of functions executable by image forming apparatus 1. A "Copy" button, a "Send (scanner function)" button, a "Fax (facsimile function)" button, and the like are displayed on operation screen SC1. Note that operation screen SC1 as the selection screen is also a home screen. When the user presses the "Copy" button, a copy function selection instruction is received by operation unit 47, and control unit 100 causes display unit 473 to display operation screen SC2 shown in FIG. 3(B) in accordance with this instruction.

[0030] The operation screen SC2 is displayed on the display unit 473 as a lower hierarchical layer than the "Home" screen. The operation screen SC2 is a setting screen for receiving input related to the settings of the "Copy" function. In the center of the setting screen for the "Copy" function, six buttons are displayed, labeled "Paper Selection," "Color Selection," "Page Combination," "Reduce / Enlarge," "Double-Sided / Split," and "Staple / Punch." These buttons are images for receiving settings related to the "Copy" function.

[0031] In addition, on the operation screen SC2, below the six buttons, a button for accepting the designation of a favorite registration setting in which a setting value different from a default value is registered in advance is displayed. For example, the button is marked with "ID card copy". "ID card copy" is a function used when it is desired to copy both the front and back sides of an ID card such as a driver's license or insurance card side by side on one recording paper. In "ID card copy", setting values ​​different from the default value, such as "A6 (paper selection)", "color (color selection)", "2in1 (page combination)", "A6 (original size)", "not set (continuous reading)", "set (erase outside the original area)", and "outer frame: 1 mm (border erase)", are registered in advance as settings for the "copy" function. Therefore, when the user presses the "ID card copy" button, an instruction to reflect these setting values ​​different from the default in the copy function is input to the operation unit 47, and is further accepted by the acceptance unit 103.

[0032] The voice analysis unit 102 converts the electrical signal (voice data) converted by the microphone 22 into text data using existing voice recognition technology, and recognizes voice instructions from the user by analyzing the text data using existing natural language processing technology.

[0033] The reception unit 103 receives, as instructions from the user, instructions input by manual input operation via the operation unit 47 (including a touch panel) for the screen currently displayed on the display unit 473, and voice instructions recognized by the voice analysis unit 102 (the analysis result by the voice analysis unit 102) via the microphone 22. The control unit 100 executes a job according to the contents of the instructions received by the reception unit 103.

[0034] The display control unit 101 displays on the display unit 473 a setting screen that displays the instructions input by manual input operation or the contents indicated by the voice instruction. For example, when the operation screen SC2 as the setting screen shown in FIG. 3B is displayed on the display unit 473, the user inputs instructions to set "paper selection" to "A4", "color selection" to "black and white", and "page combination" to "2in1" via the operation unit 47, and the reception unit 103 receives these instructions. At this time, the display control unit 101 displays on the display unit 473 the operation screen SC2 (setting screen) that switches the setting of "paper selection" from "automatic" to "A4", the setting of "color selection" from "full color" to "black and white", and the setting of "page combination" from "off" to "2in1", as shown in FIG. 4A.

[0035] When the operation screen SC1 shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the display unit 473, if the user utters the keyword "black and white copy", the reception unit 103 receives a voice instruction to set the setting value to "black and white copy" via the speaker 23 and the voice analysis unit 102. That is, when the display control unit 101 causes the display unit 473 to display the operation screen SC1, which is a selection screen, and a voice instruction is input to the speaker 23 and the voice instruction is received by the reception unit 103 via the voice analysis unit 102, the display control unit 101 transitions the display screen of the display unit 473 from the operation screen SC1, which is a selection screen, to the operation screen SC2, which is a setting screen for receiving input of the setting value indicated by the voice instruction. Furthermore, as shown in an example in FIG. 5, the display control unit 101 causes the operation screen SC2 to display the setting value indicated by the received voice instruction, here "black and white copy". For each setting screen, information regarding which function it corresponds to and what setting value input it is for accepting is stored in advance, for example, in a memory built into the control unit 10, by an operation based on a control program. Based on this information, the display control unit 101 identifies the setting screen for accepting the input of the setting value indicated by the voice instruction.

[0036] The control unit 100 also controls a plurality of operating mechanisms provided in the image forming apparatus 1 to be in a predetermined power saving state. The predetermined power saving state refers to putting the operating mechanisms in a sleep state in which power consumption is reduced as much as possible, rather than in a standby state in which they can be immediately operated. The operating mechanisms are, for example, a UI (User Interface) unit, a scanner unit, a printing (image forming) unit, and a facsimile unit. The UI unit is an operating mechanism that includes an operation unit 47. The scanner unit is an operating mechanism that includes a document reading unit 5. The printing unit is an operating mechanism that includes an image forming unit 12 and a fixing unit 13. The facsimile unit is an operating mechanism that includes a facsimile communication unit 71.

[0037] When the image forming apparatus 1 is in a power saving state, if the human presence sensor 21 detects an approaching person, the control unit 100 puts the microphone 22 into a state in which voice input is possible, releases the operating mechanisms required for executing the functions associated with the contents indicated by the voice instructions received by the receiving unit 103 from the power saving state and places them in a normal operating state, and causes the operating mechanisms required for executing the functions not associated with the contents indicated by the voice instructions to remain in the power saving state.

[0038] For example, when the reception unit 103 receives a voice command containing the keyword "copy," the control unit 100 cancels the power saving state of the UI unit, scanner unit, and print unit that are pre-stored in association with the copy function indicated by the voice command. Meanwhile, at this time, the control unit 100 does not cancel the power saving state of the facsimile unit that is not pre-stored in association with the copy function, but maintains it as is.

[0039] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between keywords included in a voice instruction spoken by a user and an operating mechanism that cancels a power-saving state. In Fig. 6, a unit that cancels the power-saving state to a normal operating state where normal operation is possible is represented by "ON", and a unit that does not cancel the power-saving state is represented by "OFF". Among the keywords shown in Fig. 6, "copy" corresponds to the copy function, "send" corresponds to the send function, and "fax" corresponds to the facsimile function. That is, Fig. 6 shows the relationship between each function that can be executed by image forming apparatus 1 and an operating mechanism that cancels the power-saving state in association with each function.

[0040] The reception unit 103 also receives voice instructions for the above-mentioned preregistered favorite registration settings. For example, when the user speaks the key code "ID card copy" and the reception unit 103 receives a voice instruction for ID card copy via the microphone 22 and the voice analysis unit 102, or when the user presses the "ID card copy" button and receives a manual input instruction via the operation unit 47, the reception unit 103 receives the setting of the copy function with the contents (setting values) preregistered as the favorite registration setting for ID card copy.

[0041] When the image forming apparatus 1 is in a power saving state and the reception unit 103 receives a voice instruction for setting a favorite registration, the control unit 100 cancels the power saving state of the operating mechanisms necessary for executing the function set by the favorite registration setting indicated by the voice instruction, and switches them to the normal operating state, while maintaining the other operating mechanisms that are not necessary for executing the function in the power saving state.

[0042] Next, an example of processing performed by the control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 7. This processing is performed when the image forming apparatus 1 is in a power saving state, the human sensor 21 detects an approaching person, the control unit 100 turns on the microphone 22 to enable voice input to the microphone 22, and a voice instruction is received by the reception unit 103 via the microphone 22 and the voice analysis unit 102.

[0043] The control unit 100 identifies a function associated with the content indicated by the voice instruction received by the receiving unit 103 (S1). Then, the control unit 100 determines an operating mechanism required to execute the identified function (S2). The control unit 100 releases the determined operating mechanism from the power-saving state to a normal operating state (S3). At this time, the control unit 100 causes the operating mechanisms required to execute functions not associated with the content indicated by the voice instruction, i.e., the operating mechanisms other than the determined operating mechanism, to maintain the power-saving state.

[0044] As described above, according to the embodiment, when the power saving mode is set and a voice instruction is given by the user, the power saving state of the image forming device 1 is not completely released, but only the power saving state of the units required to execute the function associated with the content of the voice instruction is released. In other words, the operating mechanism for executing the function not associated with the voice instruction input by the user is maintained in the power saving state. Therefore, according to the embodiment, efficient power saving can be achieved when the image forming device 1 is restored from the power saving state.

[0045] Here, a modified example of the above embodiment will be described. For example, when the operation screen SC1 shown in Fig. 3(A) is displayed on the display unit 473, if the user utters a keyword "black and white copy", a voice instruction is received by the reception unit 103 via the microphone 22 and the voice analysis unit 102, and the control unit 100 can identify that the function associated with the content indicated by the voice instruction is a copy function.

[0046] However, when the above-mentioned operation screen SC1 is displayed on the display unit 473, if the user utters the keyword "2in1" and the voice instruction is received by the reception unit 103, the "2in1" indicated by the voice instruction is common to multiple functions, namely the copy function, the scanner function, and the facsimile function, and therefore the control unit 100 cannot narrow down and identify one function associated with the content indicated by the voice instruction.

[0047] Therefore, when the contents of the voice instruction received by the reception unit 103 correspond to a plurality of functions, the control unit 100 releases the operating mechanisms necessary for executing the plurality of functions from the power saving state to the normal operating state, and causes the operating mechanisms not necessary for executing the plurality of functions to maintain the power saving state. For example, when the user utters the keyword "2in1" and the voice instruction is received by the reception unit 103 via the microphone 22 and the voice analysis unit 102, the control unit 100 releases the power saving state of the UI unit, scanner unit, and print unit, which are necessary for executing all the functions associated with the voice instruction, to the normal operating state.

[0048] A further modified example of the above embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 1 is in a power saving state and an approaching person is detected by the human sensor 21, the control unit 100 turns on the microphone 22. Alternatively, the control unit 100 may turn on the microphone 22 to enable voice input when the condition that the detection of the approaching person continues for a predetermined time (e.g., 30 seconds) is further satisfied in addition to the condition that the approaching person is detected by the human sensor 21. In this case, even if the human sensor 21 detects an approaching person who simply passes by the image forming apparatus 1 without operating the image forming apparatus 1, the voice instruction cannot be received by the reception unit 103. Therefore, noise or the like can be input to the microphone 22, and the reception unit 103 cannot receive an inaccurate voice instruction.

[0049] As yet another embodiment, when the control unit 100 acquires status information indicating that the status of any of the mechanical parts of the image forming apparatus 1 has changed, the control unit 100 may, in addition to the above control, control the operating mechanisms necessary for executing the function in which the mechanical parts are used to be released from the power-saving state and placed in the normal operating state, and the operating mechanisms that are not necessary for executing the function in which the mechanical parts are used to be maintained in the power-saving state.

[0050] For example, when the image forming apparatus 1 is in a power saving state and the human sensor 21 detects an approaching person, the control unit 100 acquires open / close detection information from an open / close switch (not shown) that detects the open / close state of the document feed unit 6. If the open / close detection information indicates "open," the control unit 100 identifies the transmission function and copy function that are pre-associated with the "open" information, and the display control unit 101 displays on the display unit 473 an operation screen SC3 (an example of which is shown in FIG. 8) for receiving input of a selection instruction to select whether the transmission function or the copy function is to be executed. At this point, the control unit 100 may release the operating mechanisms necessary to execute the transmission function and copy function from the power saving state and place them in the normal operating state, or further, the control unit 100 may not release the operating mechanisms necessary to execute the transmission function and copy function from the power saving state and place them in the normal operating state at this point, but when the selection instruction indicating which of the transmission function and copy function to execute is to be received by the receiving unit 103 through the voice instruction or manual input instruction, release the operating mechanisms necessary to execute the function selected by the selection instruction from the power saving state and place them in the normal operating state.

[0051] Up to this point, we have explained the case where the voice data collected by the microphone 22 and converted is analyzed by the voice analysis unit 102 in the image forming device 1. However, as a further embodiment, a speaker with a built-in microphone and an AI (artificial intelligence) assistant function known as a smart speaker is adopted, and the user's voice is collected by the speaker. The image forming device 1 may use the speaker as a voice input unit, and the reception unit 103 may receive the voice analysis result from the speaker as a setting value.

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In addition, in the above embodiment, the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiment using Figures 1 to 8 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration and processing.

Claims

1. an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording paper and performs printing, a human presence sensor that detects a person approaching the image forming apparatus; a voice input unit for inputting voice from a user; a reception unit that receives a voice instruction based on the voice input to the voice input unit; a control unit that executes a job in accordance with the contents of the voice instruction received by the reception unit and sets a plurality of operating mechanisms provided in the image forming apparatus to a predetermined power saving state, When the control unit is in the power saving state of the image forming device and the human presence sensor detects an approaching person, it puts the voice input unit into a state where voice input is possible, releases the operating mechanism necessary for executing a function corresponding to the content indicated by the voice instruction received by the reception unit from the power saving state and puts it into a normal operating state, and causes the operating mechanism necessary for executing a function not corresponding to the content indicated by the voice instruction to remain in the power saving state.

2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit puts the voice input unit into a state in which voice input is possible when, in addition to the condition that an approaching person is detected by the human presence sensor, the detection of the approaching person continues for a predetermined period of time is further satisfied.

3. 2. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the content of the voice instruction received by the receiving unit corresponds to a plurality of functions, the control unit releases the operating mechanism necessary for executing the plurality of functions from the power saving state and places it in a normal operating state, and causes the operating mechanism that is not necessary for executing the plurality of functions to maintain the power saving state.

4. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the control unit acquires status information indicating that the status of any of the mechanical parts of the image forming apparatus has changed, the control unit releases the operating mechanism necessary for executing the function in which the mechanical part is used from the power saving state to a normal operating state, and causes the operating mechanism that is not necessary for executing the function in which the mechanical part is used to maintain the power saving state.

5. When the reception unit further receives the voice instruction regarding a favorite registration setting in which a setting value different from a default value is pre-registered, 2. The image forming device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit releases the operating mechanism necessary for executing the function to which the favorite registration setting is applied from the power saving state and places it in a normal operating state, and causes the operating mechanism that is not necessary for executing the function to remain in the power saving state.

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