Patent ID: 7764922
Filing Date: 2010-07-27
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus with a printed-paper storing function, comprising: a housing; a printing unit configured to be provided in this housing; a printed-paper storing unit configured to be provided in the housing to be removable to an outside and store paper printed by the printing unit; a guiding mechanism that guides the paper printed by the printing unit to the printed-paper storing unit; a fixing mechanism that fixes the printed-paper storing unit in a lock state for physically preventing removal to the outside of the housing; and a control unit configured to cause, when a print job designating internal storage of a print result from a user side is accepted, the fixing mechanism to operate to enter the lock state, notify the user side of an unlock number of a number selected at random, cause the printing unit to operate in accordance with the print job, after printing is finished, notify the user side of the finish of the printing, and release, when the unlock number is inputted, the lock state by the fixing mechanism; wherein the control unit alternately executes, when a print job designating internal storage of a print result and a print job not designating the internal storage are accepted, these print jobs for each predetermined number of pieces of paper and causes the guiding mechanism to guide printed paper to the printed-paper storing unit corresponding thereto only during execution of a print job designating the internal storage of a print result.