Image forming apparatus

Abstract

The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an operation accepting means for accepting an instruction, and a display controlling means for controlling a display section. The display controlling means controls the display section to display at least environmental information, which has been obtained by the image forming apparatus, at predetermined timing at which no instruction corresponding to a job is accepted by the operation accepting means.

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 operation accepting means for accepting an instruction corresponding to a job; and   display controlling means for controlling a display section,   the display controlling means controlling the display section to display at least environmental information, which has been obtained by said image forming apparatus, at predetermined timing at which no instruction is accepted by the operation accepting means.   
     
     
         2 . An image forming apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 power source ON/OFF detecting means for detecting a power source being turned ON or OFF,   the display controlling means controlling the display section to display said at least environmental information during a warm-up operation which is carried out after the power source ON/OFF detecting means detects the power source being turned ON.   
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said image forming apparatus is switchable between a normal mode and an energy saving mode in which electric power is consumed less than in the normal mode; and   the display controlling means controls the display section to display said at least environmental information during returning operation from the energy saving mode.   
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the display controlling means controls the display section to display an initial screen which includes an icon from which an instruction on displaying the environmental information is to be entered by a user; and   the display controlling means controls the display section to display said at least environmental information in response to the instruction on displaying the environmental information, which instruction has been accepted by the operation accepting means.   
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the display controlling means controls the display section to display, at the predetermined timing, the environmental information and a message corresponding to the predetermined timing.   
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the display controlling means controls the display section to alternately display, at the predetermined timing, the environmental information and a message which corresponds to the predetermined timing.   
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the environmental information includes a plurality of images of labels and/or marks relating to environmental efforts; and   the display controlling means controls the display section to display the plurality of images in a thumbnail view.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the environmental information includes a plurality of names of labels and/or marks relating to environmental efforts; and   the display controlling means controls the display section to display a list of the plurality of names.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the operation accepting means has an operation section, from which the instruction is to be entered by the user;   the display section is provided so as to be openable and closeable with respect to the operation section via a hinge; and   the display section has an operation key from which an instruction on displaying the environmental information is to be entered by the user, the operation key being provided on an outer circumferential part of the display section, which outer circumferential part is other than a side face on which side the hinge is provided.