Patent Publication Number: US-10768571-B2

Title: Lock control device, image forming apparatus, lock control method, and lock system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2018-166302, filed on Sep. 5, 2018, and 2019-035082, filed on Feb. 28, 2019, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a lock control device, an image forming apparatus, a lock control method, and a lock system. 
     Related Art 
     An image forming apparatus is known that includes a controller to control a sheet, which is ejected by executing a job with another image forming apparatus, so as to be ejected in a sheet ejection section that can be locked. 
     A remote control key is known that includes: a lock button to be operated when a lock operation of a licensed cabinet is performed; an unlock button to be operated when an unlock operation of the licensed cabinet is performed; and an all-lock button to be operated when a lock operation of all cabinets is performed. 
     An unlock and lock device for electronic lock is known, with which all of electronic lock units that store the same authentication information are unlocked and locked by providing a communication control unit capable of mutual communication and an electronic lock unit in each of multiple arranged electronic equipment storage cabinets and by manually entering the authentication information in any one of the electronic lock units. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a lock control device configured to control a plurality of lock devices respectively provided in a plurality of storage sections. The lock control device includes control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to: cause an indicator to indicate a plurality of pieces of storage section information representing the plurality of storage sections; receive an input of partial storage section information of the plurality of pieces of storage section information; and output an unlocking signal to a lock device of the plurality of lock devices corresponding to the partial storage section information, to unlock the lock device. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an image forming apparatus including an image forming section configured to form an image on a target and the lock control device. 
     In still another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a lock control method for controlling a plurality of lock devices respectively provided in a plurality of storage sections. The lock control method includes causing an indicator to indicate a plurality of pieces of storage section information representing the plurality of storage sections; receiving an input of partial storage section information of the plurality of pieces of storage section information; and outputting an unlocking signal to a lock device of the plurality of lock devices corresponding to the partial storage section information, to unlock the lock device. 
     In still yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a lock system that includes a plurality of storage sections and an image forming apparatus. The plurality of storage sections includes a plurality of lock devices, respectively. The image forming apparatus is configured to form an image on a target. The image forming apparatus includes an indicator and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to cause the indicator to indicate a plurality of pieces of storage section information representing the plurality of storage sections; receive an input of partial storage section information of the plurality of pieces of storage section information; and output an unlocking signal to a lock device of the plurality of lock devices corresponding to the partial storage section information, to unlock the lock device. 
     In still yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an image forming apparatus configured to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an operating device and control circuitry. The operating device is configured to receive a user operation. The control circuitry is configured to perform locking control and unlocking control on a lock device of an external apparatus, based on the user operation received by the operating device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are a front view and a front view of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a first example of a usage state of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a view for explaining an advantage of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a second example of the usage state of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a third example of the usage state of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a first illustrative view illustrating an operation of a lock device; 
         FIG. 10  is a second illustrative view illustrating the operation of the lock device; 
         FIG. 11  is a third illustrative view illustrating the operation of the lock device; 
         FIG. 12  is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating lock device control processing; 
         FIGS. 14A to 14D  illustrate a first example of screen transitions displayed on an image forming apparatus; 
         FIGS. 15A to 15D  illustrate a second example of the screen transitions displayed on the image forming apparatus; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling configuration of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention to a storage apparatus; 
         FIGS. 17A to 17C  are a front view and side views illustrating the coupling configurations of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention to the storage apparatus; 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling configuration of the storage apparatus; 
         FIG. 19  is a conceptual diagram illustrating electrical coupling between the image forming apparatus and the storage apparatus; 
         FIG. 20  is a front view illustrating a fourth example of the usage state of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 21  illustrates a first example of a coupling configuration of a coupling section; 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a second example of a coupling configuration of a coupling section; 
         FIG. 23  illustrates a third example of a coupling configuration of a coupling section; 
         FIG. 24  illustrates a fourth example of a coupling configuration of a coupling section; 
         FIG. 25  illustrates a fifth example of a coupling configuration of a coupling section; 
         FIG. 26  illustrates a sixth example of a coupling configuration of a coupling section; 
         FIG. 27  illustrates a seventh example of a coupling configuration of a coupling section; 
         FIG. 28  illustrates an eighth example of a coupling configuration of a coupling section; 
         FIG. 29  is a fourth illustrative view illustrating the operation of the lock device; 
         FIG. 30  is a fifth illustrative view illustrating the operation of the lock device, 
         FIG. 31  is a functional block diagram of a lock system according to one embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 32  illustrates a variation of the functional block diagram illustrated in  FIG. 31 ; 
         FIG. 33  illustrates another variation of the functional block diagram illustrated in  FIG. 31 ; 
         FIG. 34  illustrates a variation of the functional block diagram illustrated in  FIG. 33 ; 
         FIG. 35  is a second flowchart illustrating the lock device control processing; and 
         FIGS. 36A to 36D  illustrate a third example of the screen transitions displayed on the image forming apparatus. 
     
    
    
     The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present invention and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have a similar function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the attached drawings. In each of the drawings for explaining the embodiments of the present invention, members, constituent elements of components, and the like, which have the same function or shape, are described once by attaching the same reference numerals as much as possible, and after that its description will be omitted. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     An image forming apparatus  1  is an information processing apparatus that processes various information to execute various functions including, as an example, a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and it may be referred to as MFP (Multi-Function Printer/Peripheral/Product), but it is not limited to this. 
     The image forming apparatus  1  includes: a scanner  2  as an example of a reading device that reads an image of a manuscript; an auto document feeder  3  that feeds a manuscript to read an image of the fed manuscript; an operation panel  4  that receives an operation input to the image forming apparatus  1 ; a sheet ejection section  5  in which a sheet on which an image has been formed is ejected; a document table  6  on which a manuscript, a sheet, and the like are placed; an image forming section  7  that forms an image on a recording medium such as a sheet; a jam handling section  8  that handles paper jam of the sheets created in the image forming section  7 , sheet trays  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C in each of which sheets to be fed to the image forming section  7  are stacked; an opening  10  formed in a lower portion of the image forming apparatus  1 ; a storage section  11 ; an exterior  12  that covers an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus  1 ; a bottom plate  13 ; and a card reader  14 . 
     Hereinafter, a user performs an operation in front of the image forming apparatus  1  of each view. When a user operates the image forming apparatus  1 , a face of the image forming apparatus  1  that the user faces is referred to as a front face of the image forming apparatus  1 . An X-axis direction illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a width direction of the image forming apparatus  1 , a Y-axis direction is a height direction of the image forming apparatus  1 , and a Z-axis direction is a depth direction of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     The operation panel  4 , an operating device, receives various inputs in accordance with operations by users, and displays various information (e.g., information indicating a received operation, information indicating an operating state of the image forming apparatus  1 , and information indicating a setting state of the image forming apparatus  1 ). The operation panel  4  is configured with a liquid crystal display (LCD) loaded with, as an example, a touch panel function, but it is not limited to this. For example, the operation panel  4  may be configured with an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display device loaded with a touch panel function. In addition to or instead of this, an operating device such as a hardware key, or an indicator such as a lamp may be provided. 
     An upper portion of the sheet ejection section  5  is covered with part of the image forming apparatuses  1 , as an example, with the scanner  2  in  FIG. 1 . The sheet ejection section  5  is provided within the dimension in the width direction of the image forming apparatus  1 , whereby space-saving in the width direction of the image forming apparatus  1  can be achieved. 
     The sheet trays  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C include handles  90 A,  90 B, and  90 C for pulling out the sheet trays  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C, respectively. A user can pull out at least part of each of the sheet trays  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C from the inside of the image forming apparatus  1  by pulling each of the handles  90 A,  90 B, and  90 C in the front face direction of the image forming apparatus  1  from a state where each of the sheet trays is housed inside the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     The opening  10  has an opening upper end  101  that is an upper end of the opening  10 . In  FIG. 1 , the opening  10  is opened toward the front face of the image forming apparatus  1 , so that a wheelchair user can approach the image forming apparatus  1  to operate it, without colliding with the lower portion of the image forming apparatus  1 . The opening  10  is provided, as an example, as part of the exterior  12  in  FIG. 1 , and it can also be said that the opening upper end  101  is part of the exterior  12 . 
     The storage section  11  has a space that a user can use for storage. 
     The exterior  12  has at least a front face, a side face, and a back face that cover the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus  1 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the front face, the side face, and the back face of the exterior  12  correspond to a front face, a side face, and a back face of the image forming apparatus  1 , respectively, and the depth and the width of the image forming apparatus  1  are determined by a depth (a distance between the front face and the back face) and a width (a distance between both the side faces) of the exterior  12 , respectively. 
     The bottom plate  13  is a bottom of the image forming apparatus  1 . Further, the bottom plate  13  is configured as a bottom of the opening  10 . 
     The card reader  14  reads user information from a card for authenticating a user who uses the image forming apparatus  1 . As an example, when a user holds a contactless IC card using radio frequency identification (RFID) over the card reader  14 , the card reader  14  reads the user information set in the contactless IC card in advance. As a result, the user information is input to the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     Herein, a positional relationship between a plurality of the sheet trays  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C and the opening  10  will be described. Assuming that bottoms of the sheet trays  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C are a bottom  91 A, a bottom  91 B, and a bottom  91 C, respectively, the bottom  91 C is the lowest among the bottom  91 A, the bottom  91 B, and the bottom  91 C. The upper end of the opening  10  is located below the bottom  91 C of the sheet tray  9 C that is a sheet tray whose bottom is the lowest among the three sheet trays  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C. With such a configuration, an image forming apparatus that is easy to operate for users can be provided. As an example, operativity of the lowest sheet tray becomes good. Since the opening  10  is opened to the front face of the image forming apparatus  1 , a wheelchair user, etc., can perform an operation of pulling out the sheet tray  9 C, or the like, in a state close to the apparatus with a footrest put into the opening  10 , whereby the operativity is good. 
     Next, a positional relationship among the plurality of the sheet trays  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C will be described. The sheet tray  9 C, as a first sheet tray that is a sheet tray whose bottom is the lowest among the plurality of the sheet trays, and the sheet tray  9 A, as a second sheet tray, are arranged in parallel in the width direction, that is, in the X-axis direction in  FIG. 1 . With such a configuration, the operativity of the lowest sheet tray can be made good, and capacities of the plurality of the sheet trays can be secured. When the plurality of the sheet trays is arranged in parallel, there may or may not be a portion where the respective sheet trays overlap in the height direction of the image forming apparatus  1 , that is, in the Y-axis direction in  FIG. 1 . As an example, the sheet tray  9 A and the sheet tray  9 C are arranged in parallel, in which there is not a portion where the sheet tray  9 A and the sheet tray  9 C overlap in the height direction of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     The positional relationship between the plurality of the sheet trays  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C and the opening  10  will be further described. The sheet tray  9 C, as the first sheet tray that is a sheet tray whose bottom is the lowest among the plurality of the sheet trays, and the sheet tray  9 A, as the second sheet tray, are arranged in parallel, and the opening  10  is located below at least one of the sheet tray  9 C that is the first sheet tray and the sheet tray  9 A that is the second sheet tray. The opening  10  is located below the sheet tray  9 C and the sheet tray  9 A. 
     Further, the opening  10  is located below a portion between the sheet tray  9 C and the sheet tray  9 A. That is, the opening  10  is continuously formed from immediately below the sheet tray  9 C to immediately below the sheet tray  9 A. With such a configuration, a wheelchair user, etc., can easily operate both the first sheet tray and the second sheet tray, with the footrest put into the opening  10 . 
     Herein, a configuration of the front face of the image forming apparatus  1  will be described. In  FIG. 1 , in a state where the sheet trays  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C are housed inside the image forming apparatus  1 , the front face of each sheet tray is almost the same plane as the front face of the exterior  12 , as an example. That is, a portion of the exterior  12 , which forms the opening  10 , is almost the same plane also as the front face of each sheet tray in a state where the sheet trays  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C are housed inside the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     Maximum storage sizes of sheets that can be stored in both the sheet tray  9 C, as the first sheet tray that is a sheet tray whose bottom is the lowest among the plurality of the sheet trays, and the sheet tray  9 A, as the second sheet tray that is arranged parallel to the sheet tray  9 C, may be different from each other. Also, maximum storage numbers of sheets that can be stored may be different from each other. By appropriately arranging, in relation to other members, sheet trays having storage sizes different from each other, that is, having widths different from each other in a left-right direction of the apparatus, or sheet trays having maximum storage numbers different from each other, that is, having widths different from each other in the height direction of the apparatus, flexibility in layout of the image forming apparatus  1  is increased. As an example, the maximum sizes/maximum storage numbers of the respective sheet trays are legal/500 with the sheet tray  9 A, A4/100 with the sheet tray  9 B, and A4/250 with the sheet tray  9 C. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are a top view and a front view of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2A  is a top view of the image forming apparatus  1 . In  FIG. 2A , W represents a size in the width direction of the image forming apparatus  1 , and, as an example, W represents a distance between both the side faces of the exterior  12 . D represents a size in the depth direction of the image forming apparatus  1 , and, as an example, D represents a distance between the front face and the back face of the exterior  12 . The auto document feeder  3  includes a manuscript stacking section  3 A on which manuscripts are stacked, and a manuscript ejection section  3 B in which the fed manuscript is ejected. 
     An arrow P represents a direction in which a sheet is fed when an image is to be formed and a sheet, on which an image has been formed, is ejected, and an arrow d represents a direction in which a manuscript is fed in the auto document feeder  3 , in which the arrow P and the arrow d cross each other at right angles. That is, a manuscript feeding direction in which a manuscript is fed by the auto document feeder  3 , and a sheet feeding direction in which a sheet, on which an image is to be formed, is fed, cross each other at right angles. With such a configuration, for example, when a long sheet is copied, an increase in the width of the image forming apparatus can be suppressed. 
     As an example, W is 900 mm or less. By determining in this way the width based on the size of office furniture, as an example, a cabinet that stores documents and the like, the image forming apparatus  1  does not protrude into a passage that originally exists, when the image forming apparatus  1  is installed in an office. For example, a passage for wheelchair users can be easily secured. 
     As an example, D is 450 mm or less. As an example, W is 900 mm or less. By determining in this way the width based on the size of office furniture, as an example, a cabinet that stores documents and the like, the image forming apparatus  1  does not protrude into a passage that originally exists, when the image forming apparatus  1  is installed in an office. For example, a passage for wheelchair users can be easily secured. 
       FIG. 2B  is a front view of the image forming apparatus  1 . In  FIG. 2B , W 10  represents a size in the width direction of the opening  10 , and the arrow P represents the direction in which a sheet is fed and ejected. The image forming apparatus  1  includes the bottom plate  13  at the bottom. The bottom plate  13  is configured as the bottom of the opening  10 , and an end of the bottom plate  13  on the side of the front face of the image forming apparatus  1  is configured as an opening lower end  102  that is a lower end of the opening  10 . The image forming apparatus  1  also includes, in its inside, a feeding path U that is a sheet feeding section through which a sheet stored in the sheet tray  9 A,  9 B, or  9 C is fed to the image forming section  7  and the sheet ejection section  5 . The sheet stored in the sheet tray  9 A,  9 B, or  9 C is fed through the feeding path U, and an image is formed when the sheet passes through the image forming section  7  from below to above. 
     The scanner  2  includes a pressure plate  2 A that presses a manuscript, a reading section  2 B on which a manuscript to be read is placed, and a scanner body  2 C that reads an image of the manuscript placed on the reading section  2 B. The sheet ejection section  5  includes a sheet stacking section  50  in which a sheet, on which an image has been formed, is stacked, and an outlet  51  from which a user removes a sheet on which an image has been formed. Since the outlet  51  is opened to the front face of the image forming apparatus  1 , a wheelchair user can remove a sheet, on which an image has been formed, from the outlet  51  in a state closer to the image forming apparatus  1 , with the footrest put in the opening  10 . 
     The pressure plate  2 A can be opened and closed to the reading section  2 B. That is, the pressure plate  2 A can take a closing position at which the plate covers an upper portion of the reading section  2 B to close it, and an opening position at which the plate opens the upper portion of the reading section  2 B.  FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a case where the pressure plate  2 A is at the closing position. A user places a manuscript on the reading section  2 B in a state where the pressure plate  2 A is moved to the opening position, and the user makes the scanner body  2 C read the manuscript by moving the pressure plate  2 A to the closing position. The pressure plate  2 A applies pressure to a manuscript at the closing position, whereby a shift of the manuscript can be prevented. Further, the pressure plate  2 A serves as a background plate at the closing position while a manuscript is being read, whereby good reading can be made. 
     The auto document feeder  3  can be opened and closed to the document table  6 . That is, the auto document feeder  3  can take a closing position at which the feeder covers an upper portion of the document table  6  to close it, and an opening position at which the feeder opens the upper portion of the document table  6 .  FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a case where the auto document feeder  3  is at the closing position. A user places and removes a manuscript or a sheet on and from the document table  6  in a state where the auto document feeder  3  is moved to the opening position, and the user uses the auto document feeder  3  by moving the auto document feeder  3  to the closing position. 
     As an example, W 10  is 600 mm or more. Or, W 10  is more than or equal to a wheelchair seat width W 1  determined in JIS-T9201. With such a configuration, the footrest of a wheelchair can be put in the opening  10 , whereby it is easy for a wheelchair user to approach and operate the apparatus. For example, by setting the width of the image forming apparatus  1  to be within a range of 600 mm to 900 mm (inclusive), an opening, in which the footrest of a wheelchair is put, can be provided, and further, when installed in an office, the image forming apparatus  1  does not protrude into a passage that originally exists. In the embodiment of the image forming apparatus  1  described above, at least two of the sheet ejection section  5 , the scanner  2 , and the auto document feeder  3  are arranged in parallel so as to overlap each other in the height direction (Y-axis direction in  FIG. 1 ). Further, two of the sheet ejection section  5 , the scanner  2 , and the auto document feeders  3  are stacked in the height direction, and a remaining one is arranged in parallel to a stacked section including the two stacked items so as to overlap the stacked section in the height direction. Thereby, the height of the image forming apparatus  1  including three of the sheet ejection section  5 , the scanner  2 , and the auto document feeder  3  is suppressed, so that the image forming apparatus  1  having good operativity for users is provided. 
     The two stacked items are stacked such that both ends in the width direction of one item are located at almost the same positions as both ends of the other item. Thereby, the widths of the two stacked items are suppressed, whereby the image forming apparatus  1  having good operativity for users is provided. 
     Specifically, the auto document feeder  3  and at least one of the sheet ejection section  5  and the scanner  2  are arranged in parallel so as to overlap each other in the height direction, and the sheet ejection section  5  and the scanner  2  are stacked to form the stacked section. In more detail, a top face of the stacked section including the sheet ejection section  5  and the scanner  2  is higher than a top face of the auto document feeder  3 , and a lower face of the stacked section is lower than a lower face of the auto document feeder  3 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , taken along a line A-A. H is a height of the bottom plate  13  from a floor. It can also be said that H is a height of the opening lower end  102  from the floor. HL is a height to the bottom  91 C of the sheet tray  9 C, the bottom  91 C being the lowest from the floor. D 10  represents a size in the depth direction of the opening  10 . The auto document feeder  3  includes a back face reading section  33  that reads an image of a back face of a manuscript to be fed (a lower face of the manuscript placed on the manuscript stacking section  3 A), and a top face reading section  34  that reads an image of a top face of the manuscript to be fed (a top face of the manuscript placed on the manuscript stacking section  3 A). 
     While a manuscript placed on the upper portion of the auto document feeder  3  by a user is being fed through a route indicated by the arrow d, an image of the back face of the manuscript is read when the manuscript passes through the back face reading section  33 , and an image of the top face of the manuscript is read when the manuscript passes through the top face reading section  34 . With such a configuration, images of both faces of a manuscript can be read while each manuscript is being fed in one direction one time. With such a configuration, a feeding route becomes short compared to a case where each manuscript is fed in two or more directions, whereby a paper jam occurrence rate in the auto document feeder  3  can be lowered and operativity can be improved. Such a configuration may be referred to as a single pass double-sided reading configuration. 
     Herein, as an example, H is lower than 50 mm that is a foot support height H 7  of a wheelchair determined in JIS-T9201. D 10  is more than or equal to a foot support length L 5  of a wheelchair determined in JIS-T9201. With such a configuration, a wheelchair user can operate the image forming apparatus  1  at a position closer to the apparatus, without hitting the footrest on the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     As an example, HL is 300 mm or more. With such a configuration, a wheelchair user can perform, for example, operations of opening and closing the sheet trays at a position closer to the image forming apparatus  1 , without hitting the footrest on the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     In the present embodiment described above, when the opening  10  is continuously formed from the lower portion of the first sheet tray  9 A to the lower portion of the second sheet tray  9 C, as illustrated also in  FIG. 1 , a wheelchair user can perform, at an almost central position of the image forming apparatus  1 , various operations of the image forming apparatus  1  in a state where the footrest is put in the opening  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     Specifically, the operation panel  4 , located at almost the center of the image forming apparatus  1 , can be operated almost in front of the operation panel  4 . Further, both the left and right sheet trays, aligned in the width direction to sandwich the feeding path U located near the center of the image forming apparatus  1 , are within a reach and operable. Further, both the left and right sheet trays, aligned in the width direction to sandwich the feeding path U located near the center of the image forming apparatus  1 , are within a reach and operable. Furthermore, the image forming section  7  and the jam handling section  8 , aligned to sandwich the near center of the image forming apparatus  1 , are both within a reach, and parts replacement processing on the image forming section  7  and paper jam handling in the jam handling section  8  can be performed. Still furthermore, the scanner  2  and the auto document feeder  3 , aligned to sandwich the near center of the image forming apparatus  1 , are both within a reach and operable. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view illustrating the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus  1 . The image forming apparatus  1  includes a control board  15 , an opening and closing section  71  that opens an inside of the image forming section  7 , an opening and closing section  81  that opens an inside of the jam handling section  8 , and an opening and closing section  111  that opens an inside of the storage section  11 . 
     The image forming section  7  includes, in its inside, toner bottles  72 K,  72 C,  72 M, and  72 Y that store toner of respective colors of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and image forming units  73 K,  73 C,  73 M, and  73 Y that form an image of respective colors of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow by using the toners supplied from the toner bottles  72 K,  72 C,  72 M, and  72 Y. 
     The image forming section  7  also include, in its inside, an intermediate transfer unit  74  that transfers the image of the respective colors formed by the image forming units  73 K,  73 C,  73 M, and  73 Y, a secondary transfer section  73  that secondarily transfers the image, which has been transferred by the intermediate transfer unit  74 , to a sheet fed through the feeding path U, and a registration roller  75  that feeds a sheet to the secondary transfer section  73 . 
     The jam handling section  8  includes a paper jam handling opening and closing cover  82  that is a feeding section cover for covering the feeding path U at least when an image is formed, a slide rail  84  that slides and moves the paper jam handling opening and closing cover  82 , a paper jam handling space  85  that is a sheet removing space where paper jam handling, such as removal of a sheet from the feeding path U by a user, is performed, and a paper jam handling space opening  86  that opens the paper jam handling space  85  to the front face of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     The secondary transfer section  73  is attached to the paper jam handling opening and closing cover  82 , and with the paper jam handling opening and closing cover  82  moving, the secondary transfer section  73  can move between a secondary transfer position, at which an image is secondarily transferred to a sheet, and an opening position at which the feeding path U is opened. 
     The storage section  11  is arranged to be parallel to the sheet tray  9 C and overlap it in the height direction (Y-axis direction  FIG. 1 ), and has, in its inside, a space that a user can use for storage. The storage section  11  further includes in its inside: a secure digital (SD) card slot  112  into which an SD card, a storage medium, can be inserted; a universal serial bus (USB) memory slot  113  into which a USB memory, a storage medium, can be inserted; and a local area network (LAN) cable coupling port  114  to which a LAN cable can be coupled. The SD card slot  112 , the USB memory slot  113 , and the LAN cable coupling port  114  are provided in the front face of the image forming apparatus  1 . With such a configuration, a user, who is performing another operation in front of the image forming apparatus  1 , can also operate the storage section  11 , as the user is. When a user wants to increase the capacity of the sheets to be stored in the image forming apparatus  1 , a further sheet tray may be provided in a place where the storage section  11  is arranged, instead of the storage section  11 . 
     The control board  15  as control circuitry controls the whole image forming apparatus  1  based on the operations input from the operation panel  4 , the card reader  14 , and other external apparatuses. As an example, the control board is a control board on which: a central processing unit (CPU); a read only memory (ROM) and a hard disk drive (HDD) that are storage media for storing programs and data necessary for the operation of the CPU; a random access memory (RAM) that is a work area when the CPU executes a program; a power supply circuit that controls power supply from a main power supply of the image forming apparatus  1  to, as an example, each device of the image forming apparatus; and the like, are provided. 
     Herein, how to form an image on a sheet by the image forming section  7  will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . The feeding path U illustrated by solid lines in  FIG. 2B  includes a sheet feeding path U 1  and an ejected sheet feeding path U 2  that are illustrated by broken lines in  FIG. 4 . The sheet stored in the sheet tray  9 A,  9 B, or  9 C is fed to the image forming section  7  through the sheet feeding path U 1 , and an image is formed. The sheet, on which the image has been formed, is fed through the ejected sheet feeding path U 2  and ejected in the sheet ejection section  5 . 
     The sheet feeding path U 1  is provided to pass through, in the height direction, near both a gap in the width direction between the sheet tray  9 A and the sheet tray  9 C and a gap in the width direction between the sheet tray  9 C and the sheet tray  9 B. While a sheet is being fed in the height direction through the sheet feeding path U 1 , an image is provided to the sheet on the feeding path U on either the left or right side in the width direction. In  FIG. 4 , an image is provided to the sheet at a position indicated by an arrow T and from a direction indicated by the arrow T, i.e., from the left side in the width direction. The sheet, on which the image has been provided, is fed through the ejected sheet feeding path U 2  and ejected in the sheet ejection section  5 . As described with reference to  FIG. 1 , the sheet ejection section  5  is provided within the size in the width direction of the image forming apparatus  1 , and in the present embodiment, after an image is formed, the ejected sheet feeding path U 2  reaches the sheet ejection section  5 , without passing through the outside of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     Herein, sheets are stored in the sheet trays  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C such that both sides of a sheet are located up and down. As a result, in  FIG. 4 , an image is provided to a face that has been an upper face in the state of being stored in the sheet tray  9 A, and an image is provided to a lower face that has been an opposite face in the state of being stored in the sheet tray  9 B or the sheet tray  9 C that are arranged in parallel to the sheet tray  9 A. 
     An image may be provided from the right side of the feeding path U. In the case, an image is provided to a face that has been a lower face in the state of being stored in the sheet tray  9 A, and an image is provided to an upper face that has been an opposite face in the state of being stored in the sheet tray  9 B or the sheet tray  9 C that are arranged in parallel to the sheet tray  9 A. 
     Since the feeding path U is configured as described above, a face of a sheet stored in the first sheet tray, on which an image is to be formed by the image forming section, and a face of a sheet stored in the second sheet tray, on which an image is to be formed by the image forming section, are opposite to each other in the up-down direction in the state of being stored in the first sheet tray or the second sheet tray. With such a configuration, images can be formed efficiently within the width of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     Herein, paper jam handling will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . The paper jam handling space  85  is arranged within the width dimension of the image forming apparatus  1 . As an example, the paper jam handling space is arranged above any one of the plurality of the sheet trays. With such a configuration, an operation of the sheet trays and an operation for removing a sheet from the feeding path can be performed within the width dimension of the image forming apparatus  1 . Further, the paper jam handling space  85  is arranged below the auto document feeder  3 , and an operation of the sheet trays, an operation for removing a sheet from the feeding path, and an operation of the auto document feeder can be performed within the width dimension of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     The paper jam handling opening and closing cover  82 , a feeding section cover, can move in the paper jam handling space  85 . As an example, with moving from a closing position, at which the feeding path U is covered, to an opening position, at which the feeding path U is opened to the paper jam handling space  85 , the paper jam handling opening and closing cover  82  can open and close the feeding path U to the paper jam handling space  85 . With such a configuration, an operation of a sheet feeding tray and an operation for removing a sheet from the feeding path can be performed by opening the feeding section cover within the width dimension of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     The paper jam handling space  85  also includes a removing space opening  86  that is opened to the front face of the image forming apparatus  1 . With such a configuration, a user, who is performing another operation in front of the image forming apparatus  1 , can also perform paper jam handling. 
     The opening and closing section  81  can open and close the removing space opening  86  to the outside of the image forming apparatus  1 . With such a configuration, the inside of the image forming apparatus  1  can be protected and the appearance of the image forming apparatus  1  can be improved by closing the removing space except when a sheet is removed from the feeding section. 
     In  FIG. 4 , description has been made by taking the image forming section  7  of a so-called full color electrophotographic method as an example, but the method of the image forming section  7  is not limited to this. For example, the image forming section  7  of a monochrome electrophotographic method, in which an image is formed with only black toner, may be adopted. Alternatively, the image forming section  7  of an inkjet method, in which an image is formed on the sheet fed from each sheet tray by an inkjet head, may be adopted. The recording medium, a target on which an image is to be formed, is not limited to a sheet, but roll paper and the like may be used. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a first example of a usage state of the image forming apparatus  1 . As an example, the image forming apparatus  1  is used in a state of being installed next to a storage apparatus  200 . The storage apparatus  200  includes an exterior  210 , storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C that are internal spaces in which articles can be stored, and a lock device  230 . Examples of the articles include various documents, sheet bundles for replenishing a sheet tray with sheets when sheets run out in the sheet tray, replacement toner bottles, and the like, but they are not limited to these. 
     The storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C include handles  221 A,  221 B, and  221 C for pulling out the storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C, respectively. By pulling the handles  221 A,  221 B, and  221 C toward the front face of the storage apparatus  200  from a state where the storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C are located inside the storage apparatus  200 , a user can pull out at least part of the storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C from the storage apparatus  200 . 
     When the storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C are located inside the storage apparatus  200 , the storage spaces of the storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C are covered with the storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C or the exterior  210  of the storage apparatus  200  in the front-back direction (Z-axis direction), the up-down direction (Y-axis direction), and the left-right direction (X-axis direction), respectively. Therefore, in this state, the storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C can hold the articles, stored in the respective storage spaces, so as not to be brought out and not to be seen. At this time, it is said that the storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C are located at storage positions. 
     On the other hand, when a user removes an article located inside from the storage space, these storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C are pulled out from the storage apparatus  200 , respectively, whereby the storage spaces and the stored articles are brought into a state of being exposed. At this time, the storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C are located at removal positions. The storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C move between their respective storage positions and removal positions. 
     The lock device  230  locks the storage section  220 A at the storage position such that the storage section  220 A cannot move to the removal positions even if the handle  221 A is pulled. When the lock device  230  is in an unlocked state, the storage section  220 A can move to the removal position. As an example, the lock device  230  is an electronic lock (electric lock) that can be electrically operated. In  FIG. 5 , the lock device  230  is provided inside the storage apparatus  200  as an example, but the lock device is not limited to this. In  FIG. 5 , the lock device  230  is illustrated by dot lines in order to indicate that it is located inside the storage apparatus  200 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the width W, a depth D, and a height H of the image forming apparatus  1  are almost the same as a width W 1 , a depth D 1 , and a height HI of the storage apparatus  200 , respectively. When the height H of the image forming apparatus  1  is not constant in the width direction or the depth direction, a height of the highest portion of the image forming apparatus  1  is defined as the height H. 
     A configuration or an operation common among the storage sections  220 A,  220 B, and  220 C may be described by denoting with a storage section  220 . A configuration or an operation common among the handles  221 A,  221 B, and  221 C may be described by denoting with a handle  221 . 
     The width and depth of the image forming apparatus  1  will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a top view illustrating a second example of the usage state of the image forming apparatus  1 . In  FIG. 6 , D 1  to D 8  indicate office desks, S 1  to S 8  indicate office chairs, and C 1  and C 2  indicate the storage apparatuses  200  each of which is used as a cabinet in an office. The image forming apparatus  1  is installed between the cabinets C 1  and C 2  so as to be adjacent to each of the cabinets C 1  and C 2 . In this case, when the depth D of the image forming apparatus  1  is less than or equal to the depth D 1  of the storage apparatus  200 , the image forming apparatus  1  does not hamper people from passing through, the hamper being caused when the apparatus protrudes into a passage, whereby the image forming apparatus  1  is easy to use in the office. 
     Further, when the depth D and the depth D 1  are almost the same, as illustrated in, for example,  FIG. 6 , the office looks good, and it is easy for a user to operate both the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200  that are next to each other. 
     Furthermore, when the width W of the image forming apparatus  1  and the width W 1  of the storage apparatus  200  are almost the same, as illustrated in, for example,  FIG. 6 , in an office where the cabinets are originally installed, the image forming apparatus  1  can be installed at the place where the cabinet was installed, without changing the layout. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a variation of the image forming apparatus  1 . In the image forming apparatus  1  illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a storage section  16  is provided at the position of the opening  10  of the image forming apparatus  1  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The storage section  16  includes a handle  161  for pulling out the storage section  16  from the image forming apparatus  1 . As described above, part of the image forming apparatus  1  can be used for storage in accordance with a demand of a user for increasing storage. 
     In this case, the image forming apparatus  1  may include a lock device that locks such that the storage section  16  at a storage position cannot be moved to a removal position even if the handle  161  is pulled, in the same way in which the storage apparatus  200  includes the lock device  230 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a third example of the usage state of the image forming apparatus  1 . In  FIG. 8 , the image forming apparatus  1  is installed between the storage apparatus  200  and a storage apparatus  300  so as to be adjacent to both of them. 
     The storage apparatus  300  is an open-door type storage apparatus that includes doors  320 A and  320 B and handles  321 A and  321 B, and has, in its inside, a storage space appearing when the handles  321 A and  321 B are pulled and the doors  320 A and  320 B are rotated, respectively. Lock devices  330 A and  330 B are provided in the doors  320 A and  320 B, respectively. As an example, the lock devices  330 A and  330 B are electronic locks like the lock device  230 , and they can lock such that the doors  320 A and  320 B are not opened even if the handles  321 A and  321 B are pulled. As described above, the present invention can be applied also to a storage apparatus having a different form of storage. 
     The storage apparatus  200  includes lock devices  230 A to  230 C, and the lock devices  230 A to  230 C lock the storage sections  220 A to  220 C located at their respective storage positions so as not to be moved to the removal positions even if the handles  221 A to  221 C are pulled. 
     In  FIG. 8 , the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  300  are coupled with a coupling tool  400 A. The image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200  are coupled with a coupling tool  400 B. The coupling tool  400 A has a plate shape, as an example, and couples the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  300  to each other with part of the tool secured to part of each of the image forming apparatuses  1  and the storage apparatuses  300  by a screw, or the like. The coupling tool  400 B has a plate shape, as an example, and couples the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200  to each other with part of the tool secured to part of each of the image forming apparatuses  1  and the storage apparatuses  200  by a screw, or the like. As an example, the image forming apparatus  1  includes, as parts of the exterior, coupling tool attaching portions  12 C- 1  and  12 C- 2  to which coupling tools can be attached, and fall or a misalignment of the image forming apparatus  1  and a storage apparatus can be prevented by being coupled to each other. 
     A configuration or an operation common between the doors  320 A and  320 B may be described by denoting with a door  320 . A configuration or an operation common between the handles  321 A and  321 B may be described by denoting with a handle  321 . A configuration or an operation common between the lock devices  330 A and  330 B may be described by denoting with a lock device  330 . 
       FIG. 9  is a first illustrative view illustrating an operation of a lock device of the storage apparatus  200 .  FIG. 9  illustrates a state of being locked. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the lock device  230  includes an electronic lock (electric lock)  231  using a solenoid coil, as an example. The electronic lock  231  includes a coil  2311 , an iron core  2312 , and a spring  2313 . The iron core  2312  has a slope FI whose diameter becomes smaller as it goes to the tip. 
     In a state where power supply to the coil  2311  is off, the spring  2313  pushes down the iron core  2312 , whereby the coil  2311  enters a concave portion  2221  of a locking coupling section  222 . This position of the lock device  230  may be referred to as a locking position of the lock device  230 . Since the right direction in  FIG. 9  is a direction in which the storage section  220  is pulled out, a portion  2222  of the storage section  220 , illustrated by broken lines in the view, is hooked on the iron core  2312  in this state, whereby a user cannot pull out the storage section  220 . At this time, the storage section  220  is located at a storage position, at which a manuscript is stored inside the storage apparatus  200  and cannot be removed from the inside. Since the storage section is locked when located at this position, it may also be said that the storage section is located at the locking position. 
       FIG. 10  is a second illustrative view illustrating an operation of the lock device.  FIG. 10  illustrates a state of being unlocked. 
     In a state where power supply to the coil  2311  is on, the coil  2311  operates such that the iron core  2312  pushes up the spring  2313 , whereby the iron core  2312  comes out of the concave portion  2221  of the locking coupling section  222 . This position of the lock device  230  is referred to as an unlocking position of the lock device  230 . At this time, a user can pull out the storage section  220 , without being hooked on the iron core  2312 . At this time, the storage section  220  is located at a removal position at which a manuscript is exposed to the outside of the storage apparatus  200  and can be removed from the inside. Herein, a direction in which the storage section  220  moves from the storage position to the removal position is the same as the direction in which a manuscript is ejected in the manuscript ejection section  3 B, as illustrated in  FIG. 2B , and these directions face the front direction of the image forming apparatus  1  (Z-axis direction in  FIG. 7 ). Thereby, the direction in which the storage section  220  is pulled out can be made the same as the direction in which a manuscript is removed from the manuscript ejection section  3 B, whereby the operativity, when the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200  are both used, is improved. 
       FIG. 11  is a third illustrative view illustrating an operation of the lock device.  FIG. 11  illustrates a state where the storage section  220  moves from the position at which the section is pulled out to the storage position. 
     In a state where power supply to the lock device  230  is off, the iron core  2312  is pushed down like  FIG. 9 . That is, the lock device  230  is at the locking position, like  FIG. 9 . When the storage section  220  is pushed into the right in  FIG. 9  in this state, the locking coupling section  222  contacts the slope FI, and a force, which contracts the spring  2313 , is exerted on the spring  2313  by a pushing force, so that the iron core  2312  climbs over the portion  2222  of the concave portion  2221  of the locking coupling section  222 , illustrated by broken lines in the view, and enters the inside of the concave portion  2221 , whereby a locking state is created. After the storage section  220  is pushed in and the locking state is created, the storage section cannot be pulled out, unless power is supplied to the coil  2311 , as described with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
     In  FIG. 11 , the case, where the storage section  220  moves from the state where power supply is off to the storage position, has been described. In this case, when the storage section  220  is pushed into the image forming apparatus  1 , the section can be locked automatically, but it is not limited to this. That is, another configuration may be adopted, in which power supply to the coil  2311  is turned off by closing a tray  62  in the state of  FIG. 11  and then by a user inputting a locking instruction from the operation panel  4 , whereby the storage section is locked. 
     With the solenoid coil to be used in the lock device  230  made common to a solenoid coil to be used in another member in the image forming apparatus  1 , that is, by using a solenoid coil of the same type, the purchase cost can be reduced by purchasing as a component of the image forming apparatus  1 , and further part of the control can be made common. An example of the another member in the image forming apparatus  1  includes the intermediate transfer unit  74 . A solenoid coil is used for operating both an intermediate transfer gear and a drive gear that drive an intermediate transfer belt of the intermediate transfer unit  74 . That is, the solenoid coil engages the gears with each other or separates from each other, depending on when the intermediate transfer gear is driven or when it is not driven. 
     Next, a configuration of the image forming apparatus  1 , which controls the lock device of the storage apparatus, will be described.  FIG. 12  is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus  1 . The image forming apparatus  1  includes: an input receiving unit  110  that receives an input; an indicator controller  120  that controls display on the operation panel  4 ; a communication controller  130  that controls communication between the image forming apparatus  1  and an external apparatus; a control unit  140  that controls the whole image forming apparatus  1 ; a storing unit  150  that stores various data and programs on the image forming apparatus  1 ; and a read-write processing unit  160  that reads and writes various data and programs for the storing unit  150 . The control unit  140  further includes a lock control unit  1401  that controls the lock device  230 . The storing unit  150  further includes a lock device control authority storing unit  1501 . 
     The input receiving unit  110  is implemented by CPU processing of the control board  15 , and executes a function to receive an input from a user to the image forming apparatus  1 , the input from a user being made by using the operation panel  4  (an example of the input device) or the card reader  14  (an example of the input device). Examples of the input from a user include: a login demand based on user information for using the image forming apparatus  1 ; instructions for executing a copy function, a printer function, and a scanner function and an instruction for storing data; a control instruction on the lock device  230  of the storage apparatus  200 ; and the like, but they are not limited to these. 
     The indicator controller  120  is implemented by CPU processing of the control board  15 , and executes a function to control a display screen to be displayed on the operation panel  4  (an example of the indicator). 
     The communication controller  130  is implemented by CPU processing of the control board  15 , and executes a function to control a communication interface of the image forming apparatus  1  with an external apparatus. The communication may be wireless communication or wired communication. 
     The control unit  140  is implemented by CPU processing of the control board  15 , and executes a function to control an operation for the image forming apparatus  1  in accordance with a user operation. The lock control unit  1401  (an example of an unlock control unit) is implemented by CPU processing of the control board  15 , and executes a function to perform control on the lock device  230  in accordance with a user operation. Examples of the control on the lock device  230  include lock control and unlock control to lock and unlock the lock device  230 , but they are not limited to these. 
     The storing unit  150  is executed by ROM or HDD processing of the control board  15 , and executes a function to store a program, document data, various setting information required for the operation of the image forming apparatus  1 , an action log of the image forming apparatus  1 , and the like. The lock device control authority storing unit  1501  stores in advance a lock device control authority table in which user information and presence or absence of authority for executing lock device control, an operation on the lock device  230 , are associated with each other. An example of the user information includes a login identification (ID) for logging in to use the image forming apparatus  1 , but it is not limited to this. Examples of the lock device control include control of unlocking, locking, and information acquisition of the lock device  230 , but they are not limited to these. The authority table may be provided for every control, or may be provided for a plurality of control. When a plurality of the lock devices  230  is controlled, the authority table may be provided for every lock device. 
     The read-write processing unit  160  is executed by CPU processing of the control board  15 , and executes functions to store various data in the storing unit  150  and to read the various data stored in the storing unit  150 . 
     In the present embodiment, a lock control device is configured with the input receiving unit  110 , the indicator controller  120 , and the lock control unit  1401 . 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating lock device control processing. The lock device control processing is started when a user instructs an operation of the lock device  230  from the operation panel  4 . Examples of the operation instruction include unlocking, locking, acquisition of information, and the like, but they are not limited to these. 
     First, the input receiving unit  110  receives user information (S 1 ). Then, the lock control unit  1401  determines based on the input user information whether a user has operation authority to the lock device by referring to the lock device control authority table in the lock device control authority storing unit  1501  (S 2 ). 
     When it is determined that the user has authority (YES) in step S 2 , the indicator controller  120  makes candidates for the storage section  220 , a target of unlocking, displayed on the operation panel  4  (S 3 ). The input receiving unit  110  receives operation target information input by the user, as an example, information by which the storage section  220  that is a target of unlocking can be identified (S 4 ). When the number of the storage sections to be controlled by the lock control unit  1401  is one, step S 4  may be omitted. 
     Then, the lock control unit  1401  executes operation processing of the storage section  220  that is an input operation target (S 5 ), and outputs an unlocking signal that designates the storage section  220  to be unlocked, whereby the processing flow ends. When the operation instruction is unlocking, the operation processing is, as an example, the power supply to the coil  2311  that has been described with reference to  FIG. 10 , but it is not limited to this. 
     On the other hand, when it is determined that the user does not have authority (NO) in step S 2 , the indicator controller  120  displays a message reading that the user does not have unlocking authority on the operation panel  4  (S 6 ), whereby the processing flow ends. 
     Since the lock device  230 , provided in the storage section  220  of the storage apparatus  200 , can be unlocked by an input from the operation panel  4  of the image forming apparatus  1 , as described above, security of an article stored in the storage apparatus  200  can be secured by the image forming apparatus  1 . Examples of the article whose security is to be secured include, for example, a replacement toner bottle and supplementary sheets that are to be used in the image forming apparatus  1 . They have relatively high monetary value of articles themselves, so their securities should be secured. Also, for example, a manuscript to be copied in the image forming apparatus  1  and a copied manuscript may be highly confidential depending on their contents, so their securities should be secured. The securities of these articles, stored in the storage apparatus  200  that stores articles relating to the image forming apparatus  1 , can be secured by the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     As the user information in the lock device control authority table, user information registered as users of the image forming apparatus  1  are used. Therefore, user registration for performing locking-unlocking control of the storage apparatus  200  is not particularly needed. Further, an operation history of the lock device  230  of the storage apparatus  200 , an external apparatus, can be managed by a log management (history management) function based on the user information usually executed in the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     Furthermore, when a highly confidential document, copied in the image forming apparatus  1 , is stored in a lockable storage apparatus, or when a document stored in a locked storage apparatus is removed to be copied or scanned in the image forming apparatus  1 , it is unnecessary to move a long distance carrying the document, with the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200  installed next to each other. 
     Next, examples of screens displayed on the image forming apparatus  1  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 14A to 14D and 15A to 15D .  FIGS. 14A to 14D  illustrate a first example of screen transitions displayed on the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     A screen illustrated in  FIG. 14A  is an initial screen (home screen) displayed on the operation panel  4  of the image forming apparatus  1 . Buttons labeled with “copy”, “printer”, “scanner”, and “cabinet lock release”, which can be executed in the image forming apparatus  1 , are displayed, so that a user can select a function, which the user wants to execute in the image forming apparatus  1 , by pushing a button labeled with the function. A user is logging in to the image forming apparatus  1  by inputting a password from the operation panel  4  or by making the card reader  14  read an ID card, and the user currently logging in is displayed on the screen of  FIG. 14A  as “User X: Currently logging in.” A user who wants to unlock any one of the storage sections  220  selects the button labeled with “cabinet lock release” in  FIG. 14A . 
       FIG. 14B  illustrates a screen displayed when the button labeled with “cabinet lock release” is selected in  FIG. 14A . As candidates for the cabinet whose lock is to be released, seven types of buttons of “ 1 -A”, “ 1 -B”, “ 1 -C”, “ 3 ”, “ 2 -A”, “ 2 -B”, and “ 2 -C” are displayed on the screen of  FIG. 14B . As an example, “ 1 -A”, “ 1 -B”, and “ 1 -C” represent the three storage sections  220  of the storage apparatus  200 , which are installed in order from the top on the left side of the image forming apparatus  1 . “ 3 ” represents the storage section  16  in the lower portion of the image forming apparatus  1 . “ 2 -A”, “ 2 -B”, and “ 2 -C” represent the three storage sections  220  of the storage apparatus  200 , which are installed in order from the top on the right side of the image forming apparatus  1 . In  FIG. 14B , a user selects a button labeled with a cabinet that the user wants to unlock. 
     The image forming apparatus  1  may be configured such that in  FIG. 14B , the storage apparatus  200 , the lock device  230  of which a user has operation authority to, is only displayed based on the user information on the user currently logging in, and the storage apparatus  200 , the lock device  230  of which a user does not have operation authority to, is not displayed. Or, the image forming apparatus  1  may be configured such that in  FIG. 14B , the storage apparatus  200 , the lock device  230  of which a user has operation authority to, is displayed based on the user information on the user currently logging in, but it cannot be selected. 
     After the button labeled with “cabinet lock release” is pushed in  FIG. 14A , the image forming apparatus  1  determines, based on the user information on the user currently logging in, whether the user has operation authority to the lock device  230 . When the user does not have the authority, it may be displayed on the operation panel  4  that the user does not have the authority. 
       FIG. 14C  illustrates a screen displayed when the button labeled with “ 1 -A” is selected in  FIG. 14B . The screen of  FIG. 14C  indicates that “ 1 -A” selected as a target of unlocking is displayed in a darker color than the other candidates. And, “ 1 -A to be released?”, “Yes”, and “No” are displayed as confirmation messages. When the target of unlocking is right, a user selects “Yes.” 
       FIG. 14D  illustrates a screen displayed when the button labeled with “Yes” is selected in  FIG. 14C . In  FIG. 14D , a message reading “Released. Complete work within X seconds.” is displayed as a message indicating an operation state of the lock device  230 . When this message is displayed, a user can confirm that the target of unlocking has been unlocked, and an article can be stored in or removed from the storage section  220 . 
     These display contents of  FIGS. 14A to 14D  and switching of the display are controlled by the indicator controller  120 . 
       FIGS. 15A to 15D  illustrate a second example of the screen transitions displayed on the image forming apparatus  1 . A screen illustrated in  FIG. 15A  is an initial screen (home screen) displayed on the operation panel  4  of the image forming apparatus  1 . Buttons labeled with “copy”, “printer”, “scanner”, and “cabinet lock release”, which can be executed in the image forming apparatus  1 , are displayed, so that a user can select a function, which the user wants to execute in the image forming apparatus  1 , by pushing a button labeled with the function. 
       FIG. 15B  illustrates a screen displayed when the button labeled with “cabinet lock release” is selected in  FIG. 15A . As candidates for the cabinet whose lock is to be released, seven types of buttons of “ 1 -A”, “ 1 -B”, “ 1 -C”, “ 3 ”, “ 2 -A”, “ 2 -B”, and “ 2 -C” are displayed on the screen of  FIG. 15B . As an example, “ 1 -A”, “ 1 -B”, and “ 1 -C” represent the three storage sections  220  of the storage apparatus  200  installed on the left side of the image forming apparatus  1 . “ 3 ” represents the storage section  16  of the image forming apparatus  1 . “ 2 -A”, “ 2 -B”, and “ 2 -C” represent the three storage sections  220  of the storage apparatus  200  installed on the right side of the image forming apparatus  1 . In  FIG. 15B , a user selects a button labeled with a cabinet that the user wants to unlock. 
       FIG. 15C  illustrates a screen displayed when the button labeled with “ 1 -A” is selected in  FIG. 15B . The screen of  FIG. 14C  indicates that “ 1 -A” selected as a target of unlocking is displayed in a darker color than the other candidates. And, an authentication message reading as “Input PIN” is displayed. In the screen of  FIG. 15C , a user inputs a PIN as user information from the operation panel  4 . 
       FIG. 15D  illustrates a screen displayed when it is determined, based on the PIN as user information input in  FIG. 15C , that the user has operation authority to the lock device  230 . In  FIG. 15D , a message reading “Released. Complete work within X seconds.” is displayed as a message indicating an operation state of a lock device  230 . When this message is displayed, a user can confirm that the target of unlocking has been unlocked, and an article can be stored in or removed from the storage section  220 . 
     When the image forming apparatus  1  determines, based on the user information as a PIN input in  FIG. 15C , whether the user has operation authority to the lock device  230 , and when the user does not have the authority, it may be displayed on the operation panel  4  that the user does not have the authority. 
     These display contents of  FIGS. 15A to 15D  and switching of the display are controlled by the indicator controller  120 . 
     In  FIGS. 14A to 14D and 15A to 15D , the operation panel  4  doubles as the indicator and the input device, but the indicator and the input device may be configured separately. 
     Next, a hardware configuration for coupling the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200  will be described.  FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus  1 , like  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 16 , coupling sections  17 A and  17 B, at which the image forming apparatus  1  is to be coupled to the storage apparatus  200 , are provided, of the exterior  12 , in a side face  12 R that is a portion forming one side face of the image forming apparatus  1 . Each of the coupling sections  17 A and  17 B has at least one opening. 
       FIG. 17A  is a side view illustrating an opposite face to the side face  12 R of the image forming apparatus  1 . Hereinafter, the side face opposite to the side face  12 R may be referred to as a side face  12 L. Coupling sections  17 C and  17 D are provided in the side face  12 L. Each of the coupling sections  17 C and  17 D has at least one opening. In  FIG. 17A , part of the respective members provided near the side face  12 L, when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus  1 , i.e., the control board  15 , the toner bottle  72 K, the image forming unit  73 K, and the intermediate transfer unit  74  are illustrated by broken lines. The control board  15  is provided near the back face of the image forming apparatus  1 . The coupling section  17 C is provided at a position closer to the control board  15  than the coupling section  17 D. 
       FIG. 17B  is a front view of the image forming apparatus  1 . In  FIG. 17B , the control board  15  located inside is illustrated by dot lines. And, cables  18 A and  18 C, coupled to the power supply circuit, a control circuit, and the like that are on the control board  15 , are illustrated. The cable  18 A includes a cable section  181 A and a connector section  182 A. The cable  18 C includes a cable section  181 C and a connector section  182 C. In the present embodiment, the cables  18 A and  18 C are cables to be electrically coupled to the lock device  230  of the storage apparatus  200 . 
       FIG. 17C  illustrates the side face  12 L of the image forming apparatus  1 . The coupling sections  17 A and  17 B, described with reference to  FIG. 16 , are illustrated. The coupling section  17 A is provided at a position closer to the control board  15  than the coupling section  17 B. 
     Hereinafter, a configuration or an operation common among the coupling sections  17 A,  17 B,  17 C, and  17 D may be described by denoting with a coupling section  17 . A configuration or an operation common between the cables  18 A and  18 C may be described by denoting with a cable  18 . A configuration or an operation common between the cable sections  181 A and  181 C may be described by denoting with a cable section  181 . A configuration or an operation common between the connector sections  182 A and  182 C may be described by denoting with a connector section  182 . 
     As described with reference to  FIG. 4 , the ejected sheet feeding path U 2  reaches the sheet ejection section  5 , without passing through the outside of the image forming apparatus  1 . Therefore, in a space outside the image forming apparatus  1 , more specifically, in a space outside the exterior  12  of the image forming apparatus  1 , the cable  18  exists, but the sheet ejection section  5  and the ejected sheet feeding path U 2  do not exist. Therefore, the cable  18  is hardly affected by a user action of removing a copied sheet that has been ejected outside the image forming apparatus  1  or ejected toward the outside of the image forming apparatus  1 . Further, when the cable  18  is laid out, it is unnecessary to take into consideration interference with a mechanism for ejecting sheets outside the image forming apparatus  1 , whereby flexibility in the layout of the cable  18  is increased. 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the storage apparatus  200 . In  FIG. 18 , coupling sections  240 A and  240 B, at which the storage apparatus  200  is to be coupled to the image forming apparatus  1 , are provided, of the exterior  210 , in a side face  210 L that is a portion facing (or contacting) the side face of the image forming apparatus  1 . Each of the coupling sections  240 A and  240 B has at least one opening. 
     In  FIG. 18 , the lock device  230  provided inside is illustrated. The lock device  230  includes a cable  250  for receiving power and a control signal. The cable  250  includes a cable section  251  and a connector section  252 . 
     The coupling sections  240 A and  240 B are provided at positions at which when the image forming apparatus  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 17A to 17C  and the storage apparatus  200  illustrated in  FIG. 18  are arranged next to each other as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the coupling sections  240  and  240 B are almost opposite to the coupling sections  17 A and  17 B, respectively. 
     As described above with reference to  FIGS. 16, 17A to 17C, and 18 , the image forming apparatus  1  includes the coupling section  17 , corresponding to the coupling section  240  of the storage apparatus  200 , in the side face facing (or contacting) the side face of the storage apparatus  200 . With this coupling section  17 , wired electrical coupling or securing coupling to secure each other can be made between the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200 . The storage apparatus  200  includes the coupling section  240 , corresponding to the coupling section  17  of the image forming apparatus  1 , in the side face facing (or contacting) the side face of the image forming apparatus  1 . With this coupling section  240 , wired electrical coupling or securing coupling to secure each other can be made between the storage apparatus  200  and the image forming apparatus  1 . More preferably, the coupling section  17  is provided at a position almost opposite to the coupling section  240 . The coupling section  240  is provided at a position almost opposite to the coupling section  17 . In that case, the electrical coupling or the securing coupling can be made more easily and surely. 
     It can be appropriately set to use the coupling section  17  for the securing coupling or the electrical coupling, but in the present embodiment, the cable section  181 A and the connector section  182 A are arranged such that the connector section  182 A is oriented toward the coupling section  17 A, as illustrated in  FIGS. 17A to 17C . And, the cable section  181 C and the connector section  182 C are arranged such that the connector section  182 C is oriented toward the coupling section  17 C. 
     In the present embodiment, each of the coupling sections  17 A and  17 C has an opening for electrically coupling the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200  through an electrical coupling cable, as described above. In this case, the coupling sections  17 A and  17 C are electrical coupling sections. On the other hand, each of the coupling sections  17 D and  17 B has an opening for securing the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200  to each other. In this case, the coupling sections  17 B and  17 D are securing coupling sections. 
     Alternatively, the coupling section  17  may have a plurality of openings such that each of the securing coupling and the electrical coupling is formed by using part of the openings. In that case, the coupling section  17  is the securing coupling section and the electrical coupling section. If one side face has a plurality of the securing coupling sections, the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200  are secured more stably. 
     The image forming apparatus  1  has a plurality of the coupling sections  17  in its one side face. With the electrical coupling section provided at a position closer to the control board  15  than the securing coupling section, a length of the cable  18  in the image forming apparatus  1  can be shortened. 
     The cable  250  extends toward the coupling section  240 A opposite to the coupling section  17 A that is the electrical coupling section of the image forming apparatus  1 . Since the lock device  230 , illustrated in  FIG. 18 , is provided near the front face of the apparatus, the cable  250  is arranged to extend toward the back face of the apparatus. When the lock device  230  is provided near the back face, the cable  250  can be shortened. When a plurality of the lock devices  230  are provided, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the cables  250 , each corresponding to each lock device  230 , are provided. On the other hand, the same number of the coupling sections  17  may be provided, or a plurality of the cables  250  may be provided for one coupling section  17  in consideration of the coupling to the image forming apparatus  1 , as described above. The positions at which the lock devices  230  are provided and wiring of the cables  250  can be appropriately selected. 
       FIG. 19  is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the electrical coupling between the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200 . The control board  15  includes a power supply device  151  and a signal output device  152 . The power supply device  151  is a circuit for supplying power to each section of the lock device  230 . The signal output device  152  is a circuit for outputting a control signal over each section of the lock device  230 . The cable section  181  includes a power supply cable  1811  and a signal output cable  1812 . The power supply cable  1811  is a cable that is to be coupled to the power supply device  151  to supply power to each section of the lock device  230 . The signal output cable  1812  is a cable that is to be coupled to the signal output device  152  to send a control signal to each section of the lock device  230 . The connector section  182  is coupled to the power supply cable  1811  and the signal output cable  1812  to function as a power supply connector section and a signal output connector section. The connector section  182  is coupled to the connector section  252 . 
     The lock device  230  includes a power receiving section  232  and a drive unit  233 . The power receiving section  232  receives power supply required for the operation of each section of the lock device  230 . The drive unit  233  drives each section of the lock device  230  based on a signal from the signal output device  152 . The cable section  251  includes a power receiving cable  2511  and a signal input cable  2512 . The power receiving cable  2511  is a cable for receiving power to be supplied to each section of the lock device  230 . The signal input cable  2512  is a cable for sending a control signal from the signal output device  152  to each section of the lock device  230 . The connector section  252  is coupled to the power receiving cable  2511  and the signal input cable  2512  to function as a power receiving connector section and a signal input connector section. The connector section  252  is coupled to the connector section  182 . 
     As described above, the cable  18  coupled to the control board  15  is electrically coupled to the lock device  230  via the cable  250 . That is, the cable  18  is coupled to the electronic lock  231 , the power receiving section  232 , and the drive unit  233  that are included in the lock device  230 . Therefore, the lock device  230 , and the electronic lock  231 , the power receiving section  232 , and the drive unit  233  that are included in the lock device  230 , are controlled based on an operation received from the operation panel  4  or the like of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     When the lock device  230  is locked or unlocked depending on the presence or absence of power supply to the electronic lock  231 , as described as an example with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 11 , the lock device  230  can be locked or unlocked with the lock control unit  1401  controlling the power supply from the power supply device  151 , even if the drive unit  233  is not necessarily provided. That is, in the case of the configuration of  FIGS. 9 to 11 , the lock device  230  can be unlocked by supplying power from the image forming apparatus  1  to the coil  2311 , as described with reference to  FIG. 10 . On the other hand, the lock device  230  can be locked by pushing the storage section  220  into the storage apparatus  200 , even if the image forming apparatus  1  is powered off and power is not supplied from the image forming apparatus  1 , as described with reference to  FIG. 11 . Therefore, the lock device  230  of  FIGS. 9 to 11  can be locked also when the image forming apparatus  1  is powered off, while it can be unlocked when the image forming apparatus  1  is powered on. 
       FIG. 20  is a view illustrating an example of a usage state where an image forming apparatus and storage apparatuses are installed next to each other. The image forming apparatus  1  is installed between a storage apparatus  200 - 1  and a storage apparatus  200 - 2 . Each of regions indicated by R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  is a region where the coupling section  17  and the coupling section  240  are almost opposite to each other. 
     The storage apparatus  200 - 1  includes storage section  220 A- 1 ,  220 B- 1 , and  220 C- 1 , and lock devices  230 A- 1 ,  230 B- 1 , and  230 C- 1  as the lock devices  230  of the respective storage sections. The storage apparatus  200 - 2  includes storage sections  220 A- 2 ,  220 B- 2 , and  220 C- 2 , and lock devices  230 A- 2 ,  230 B- 2 , and  230 C- 2  as the lock devices  230  of the respective storage sections. With each lock device  230  provided at a position closer, in the width direction, to the image forming apparatus  1 , as illustrated in  FIG. 20 , the cable  250  can be shortened in the storage apparatus  200 . The image forming apparatus  1  includes the storage section  16  and a lock device  230 D in its lower portion. 
     That is, the storage sections  220 A- 1 ,  220 B- 1 , and  220 C- 1  are installed in order from the top on the left side of the image forming apparatus  1 , and they correspond to “ 1 -A”, “ 1 -B”, and “ 1 -C” as the storage section information illustrated in  FIGS. 14B and 15B . The storage sections  220 A- 2 ,  220 B- 2 , and  220 C- 2  are installed in order from the top on the right side of the image forming apparatus  1 , and they correspond to “ 2 -A”, “ 2 -B”, and “ 2 -C” as the storage section information illustrated in  FIGS. 14B and 15B . The storage section  16  is arranged in the lower portion of the image forming apparatus  1 , and it corresponds to “ 3 ” as the storage section information illustrated in  FIGS. 14B and 15B . 
     As described with reference to  FIG. 4 , the ejected sheet feeding path U 2  reaches the sheet ejection section  5 , without passing through the outside of the image forming apparatus  1 . Therefore, in a space between the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200 - 1 , more specifically, in a space between the exterior  12  of the image forming apparatus  1  and the exterior  210  of the storage apparatus  200 - 1 , the cable  18 A exists, but the sheet ejection section  5  and the ejected sheet feeding path U 2  do not exist. Also, in a space between the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200 - 2 , more specifically, in a space between the exterior  12  of the image forming apparatus  1  and the exterior  210  of the storage apparatus  200 - 2 , the cable  18 C exists, but the sheet ejection section  5  and the ejected sheet feeding path U 2  do not exist. Therefore, the cable  18  is hardly affected by a user action of removing a copied sheet that has been ejected outside the image forming apparatus  1  or ejected toward the outside of the image forming apparatus  1 . Further, when the cable  18  is laid out, it is unnecessary to take into consideration interference with a mechanism for ejecting sheets outside the image forming apparatus  1 , whereby flexibility in the layout of the cable is increased. 
     Herein, a coupling configuration between the coupling section  17  of the image forming apparatus  1  and the coupling section  240  of the storage apparatus  200  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 21 to 28 . 
       FIG. 21  illustrates a first example of a coupling configuration of the coupling section. An example of the securing coupling section is illustrated. The coupling section  17  and the coupling section  240  have holes for a screw  500  and a nut  600 , i.e., screw holes MH, respectively, whereby the exterior  12  and the exterior  210  are secured to each other by a screw. 
     With the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200  screwed in the coupling section  17  and the coupling section  240 , as described above, fall and a misalignment of installation positions can be prevented. 
       FIG. 22  illustrates a second example of a coupling configuration of the coupling section. Another example of the securing coupling section is illustrated. The coupling section  17  and the coupling section  240  have openings for a tapping screw  700 , i.e., pilot holes PH for a tapping screw, respectively, whereby the exterior  12  and the exterior  210  are secured to each other by a tapping screw. 
     With the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200  screwed in the coupling section  17  and the coupling section  240 , as described above, fall and a misalignment of installation positions can be prevented. 
     An example, in which the coupling configurations described with reference to  FIGS. 21 and 22  are applied to the configuration described with reference to  FIGS. 17A to 17C , will be described. In the configuration described with reference to  FIGS. 17A to 17C , the coupling sections  17 A and  17 C are electrical coupling sections, and the coupling sections  17 B and  17 D are securing coupling sections, as desirable configurations in accordance with the position of the control board  15 . Therefore, the securing coupling sections described with reference to  FIGS. 21 and 22  can be applied to the coupling sections  17 B and  17 D in the configuration described with reference to  FIGS. 17A to 17C . 
       FIG. 23  illustrates a third example of a coupling configuration of the coupling section. An example of the coupling section, which is an electrical coupling section and a securing coupling section, is illustrated. A connector on the left side in  FIG. 23  is a concave connector and a connector on the right side is a convex connector, and EH indicates an opening for the connector. The coupling section  17  and the coupling section  240  have holes for a screw  500  and a nut  600 , i.e., screw holes MH, respectively, whereby the exterior  12  and the exterior  210  are secured to each other by a screw. By providing an opening for the electrical coupling and an opening for the securing coupling close to each other, as described above, for example, vibrations and the like, caused by a misalignment between the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200 , are hardly transmitted to the electrical coupling section, whereby the electrical coupling is stabilized. 
       FIG. 24  illustrates a fourth example of a coupling configuration of the coupling section. An example of the coupling section, which is an electrical coupling section and a securing coupling section, is illustrated. In  FIG. 24 , each of a concave connector and a convex connector also has an opening MH, so that the whole connectors are screwed. By providing an opening for the electrical coupling and an opening for the securing coupling close to each other, as described above, for example, vibrations and the like, caused by a misalignment between the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage apparatus  200 , are hardly transmitted to the electrical coupling section, whereby the electrical coupling is stabilized. 
     An example, in which the coupling configurations described with reference to  FIGS. 23 and 24  are applied to the configuration described with reference to  FIGS. 17A to 17C , will be described. In the configuration described with reference to  FIGS. 17A to 17C , the coupling sections  17 A and  17 C are the electrical coupling sections, and the coupling sections  17 B and  17 D are the securing coupling sections, as desirable configurations in accordance with the position of the control board  15 . Therefore, the coupling sections described with reference to  FIGS. 23 and 24 , each of which is an electrical coupling section and a securing coupling section, can be applied to the coupling sections  17 A and  17 C in the configuration described with reference to  FIGS. 17A to 17C . 
     Herein, differences between the coupling in the region R 1  in  FIG. 20  and the couplings in the other regions R 2  to R 4  will be described. First, the image forming apparatus  1  has in advance an internal space section, a member that has a space for a predetermined purpose, in its inside. Examples of the internal space section include: the opening  10  having a space for putting in the footrest of a wheelchair; the storage section  16  having a space for storing an article and the like in its inside; and the jam handling section  8  having the paper jam handling space  85 , a space for removing a sheet, which is for performing jam handling such as sheet removal, but they are not limited to these. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus  1  has, in its inside, an internal dense section that is a member not having a space for a predetermined purpose. An example of the internal dense section includes the image forming section  7 . The storage apparatus  200  has the storage section  220  as the internal space section. Each of such an internal space section the image forming apparatus  1  has and such an internal space section the storage apparatus  200  has can be used as a space for configuring coupling or a space for coupling work where a user, or the like, forms coupling in the coupling section  17  and the coupling section  240 . 
     In this case, there are internal space sections both on the image forming apparatus  1  side and on the storage apparatus  200  side, in the regions R 2  to R 4 . Therefore, in the regions R 2  to R 4 , the internal space sections on the image forming apparatus  1  side can also be used as a space for coupling work using a tool, etc., like the storage section  220  of the storage apparatus  200 . On the other hand, in the region R 1 , the side of the image forming apparatus  1  is coupled in the coupling section  17 C provided in a portion corresponding to the image forming section  7 , the internal dense section. In this case, the image forming section  7 , the internal dense section, does not have a large space in its inside, unlike the internal space section, and hence the space that can be used for coupling or coupling work is also small. Therefore, it is preferable, on the image forming apparatus  1  side, that a screw for the securing coupling and a connector for the electrical coupling are smaller. Hereinafter, a coupling configuration in this region R 1  will be described. 
       FIG. 25  illustrates a fifth example of a coupling configuration of the coupling section. An example of the securing coupling section in the region R 1  is illustrated. The coupling section  17 C and the coupling section  240 C have holes for the screw  500  and the nut  600 , i.e., screw holes MH, respectively, whereby the exterior  12  and the exterior  210  are secured to each other by a screw. A case, where a length (L 1 ) of the screw  500  is larger than a length (L 2 ) of the nut  600 , is illustrated. This case shows a coupling configuration screwed from the storage apparatus  200  side, as illustrated in  FIG. 25 . Therefore, even if the internal space section on the image forming apparatus  1  side is the image forming section  7 , the internal dense section, so that the internal space section on the image forming apparatus  1  side has a small coupling work space, a user can perform coupling work, such as screwing, from the storage apparatus  200  side by putting, into the storage apparatus  200  side having a coupling work space, the screw  500 , a larger member than the nut  600 , a tool for coupling, and the like. 
       FIG. 26  illustrates a sixth example of a coupling configuration of the coupling section. An example of the securing coupling section in the region R 1  is illustrated. The coupling section  17 C and the coupling section  240 C have openings for a tapping screw  700 , i.e., pilot holes PH for a tapping screw, respectively, whereby the exterior  12  and the exterior  210  are secured to each other by a tapping screw. This case shows a coupling configuration screwed from the storage apparatus  200  side, as illustrated in  FIG. 26 . Therefore, even if the internal space section on the image forming apparatus  1  side has a small coupling work space because it is the image forming section  7 , the internal dense section, a user can perform coupling work, such as screwing, from the storage apparatus  200  side by putting, into the storage apparatus  200  side having a coupling work space, a screw, a tool for coupling, and the like. 
       FIG. 27  illustrates a seventh example of a coupling configuration of the coupling section. An example of the coupling section in the region R 1 , which is an electrical coupling section and a securing coupling section, is illustrated. In  FIG. 27 , the connector section  260  on the storage apparatus  200  side is a convex connector, and the connector  19  on the image forming apparatus  1  side is a concave connector. A case, where a length (L 3 ) of the convex connector is larger than a length (L 4 ) of the concave connector, is illustrated. In this case, a configuration is formed, in which a connector having a relatively large shape, i.e., the convex connector is inserted from the storage apparatus  200  side, as illustrated in  FIG. 27 . Therefore, even if the internal space section on the image forming apparatus  1  side has a small coupling work space because it is the image forming section  7 , the internal dense section, a user can perform coupling work by inserting a convex connector having a relatively large shape into the storage apparatus  200  side having a coupling work space. This case shows a coupling configuration screwed from the storage apparatus  200  side, as illustrated in  FIG. 27 . Therefore, even if the internal space section on the image forming apparatus  1  side has a small coupling work space because it is the image forming section  7 , the internal dense section, a user can perform work, such as screwing, from the storage apparatus  200  side having a coupling work space. 
       FIG. 28  illustrates an eighth example of a coupling configuration of the coupling section. An example of the coupling section, which is an electrical coupling section and a securing coupling section, is illustrated. In  FIG. 28 , a configuration is formed, in which the connector  19  that is a concave connector and a connector section  260  that is a convex connector also have openings PH, so that the whole connectors are screwed by tapping screws  700 A and  700 B. In this case, a configuration is formed, in which a connector having a relatively large shape, i.e., the convex connector is inserted from the storage apparatus  200  side, as illustrated in  FIG. 27 . Therefore, even if the internal space section on the image forming apparatus  1  side has a small coupling work space because it is the image forming section  7 , the internal dense section, a user can perform coupling work by inserting a convex connector having a large shape from the storage apparatus  200  side having a coupling work space. This case shows a coupling configuration screwed from the storage apparatus  200  side, as illustrated in  FIG. 27 . Therefore, even if the internal space section on the image forming apparatus  1  side has a small coupling work space because it is the image forming section  7 , the internal dense section, a user can perform work, such as screwing, from the storage apparatus  200  side having a coupling work space. 
     An example, in which the coupling configurations described with reference to  FIGS. 27 and 28  are applied to the configuration described with reference to  FIGS. 17A to 17C , will be described. In the configuration described with reference to  FIGS. 17A to 17C , the coupling sections  17 A and  17 C are formed into electrical coupling sections, and the coupling sections  17 B and  17 D are formed into securing coupling sections, as desirable configurations in accordance with the position of the control board  15 . In the configuration described with reference to  FIGS. 17A to 17C , the coupling section facing the image forming section  7 , the internal dense section, is  17 C. Therefore, it is better that the coupling sections, each of which is an electrical coupling section and a securing coupling section, described with reference to  FIGS. 27 and 28 , are applied to the coupling section  17 C in the configuration described with reference to  FIGS. 17A to 17C . 
       FIG. 29  is a fourth illustrative view illustrating an operation of the lock device. The lock device  230  illustrated in  FIG. 29  includes a sensor  238  that detects the iron core  2312 , and the other configurations are the same as the configurations of  FIG. 9 . The sensor  238  is a light transmission type sensor including a light emitter and a light receiver, and it outputs a detection signal when the iron core  2312  is located in an area of the sensor  238 .  FIG. 29  illustrates a state of being locked, and the iron core  2312  is not located in the area of the sensor  238 , and hence the sensor  238  does not output a detection signal. 
       FIG. 30  is a fifth illustrative view illustrating an operation of the lock device. The lock device  230  illustrated in  FIG. 30  includes a sensor  238  that detects the iron core  2312 , like  FIG. 29 , and the other configurations are the same as the configurations of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 30  illustrates a state of being unlocked, and a part  2312 A of the iron core  2312  is located in the area of the sensor  238 , and hence the sensor  238  outputs a detection signal. 
       FIG. 31  is a functional block diagram of a lock system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The lock system corresponds to the usage state illustrated in  FIG. 20 , and includes the image forming apparatus  1  and the storage sections  220 A- 2 ,  220 B- 2 , and  220 C- 2 . The storage sections  220 A- 2 ,  220 B- 2 , and  220 C- 2  correspond to “ 2 -A”, “ 2 -B”, and “ 2 -C” as the storage section information illustrated in  FIGS. 14B and 15B . 
     Illustration of the storage sections  220 A- 1 ,  220 B- 1 , and  220 C- 1  (they correspond to “ 1 -A”, “ 1 -B”, and “ 1 -C” as the storage section information illustrated in  FIGS. 14B and 15B ), which are illustrated in  FIG. 20 , are omitted, but the storage sections  220 A- 1 ,  220 B- 1 , and  220 C- 1  are configured in the same way as the storage sections  220 A- 2 ,  220 B- 2 , and  220 C- 2 . 
     The image forming apparatus  1  has the input receiving unit  110 , the indicator controller  120 , the communication controller  130 , the control unit  140 , the storing unit  150 , and the read-write processing unit  160 , like the functional block diagram illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The control unit  140  includes the lock control unit  1401 , and the storing unit  150  includes the lock device control authority storing unit  1501 . 
     In addition to the functional block diagram illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the image forming apparatus  1  includes the lock device  230 D that locks the storage section  16 , and the lock device  230 D includes a drive control unit  236 D that controls power supply to the coil  2311  illustrated in  FIGS. 29 and 30 , and a detection signal acquisition section  237 D implemented by the sensor  238  illustrated in  FIGS. 29 and 30 . 
     As described in step S 4  and step S 5  of  FIG. 13 , the lock control unit  1401  outputs an unlocking signal that designates the storage section  220  that is a target of unlocking, based on operation target information input to the input receiving unit  110  by a user. 
     The drive control unit  236 D is implemented by CPU processing or the like and a drive circuit of the control board  15 , and when receiving an unlocking signal output from the lock control unit  1401 , the drive control unit  236 D supplies power to the coil  2311 , thereby creating an unlocked state, as illustrated in  FIG. 30 . 
     When the detection signal acquisition section  237 D generates a detection signal of the sensor  238 , the indicator controller  120  receives the detection signal to make a message reading “Released” displayed on the display screen of the operation panel  4 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 14D and 15D . When the image forming apparatus  1  does not include the storage section  16  and the lock device  230 D, the indicator controller  120  does not make the button “ 3 ” illustrated in  FIGS. 14B and 15B  displayed on the operation panel  4 . 
     The storage sections  220 A- 2 ,  220 B- 2 , and  220 C- 2  include the lock devices  230 A- 2 ,  230 B- 2 , and  230 C- 2  that lock the storage sections  220 A- 1 ,  220 B- 1 , and  220 C- 1 , respectively, and the lock device  230 A- 2  includes a communication controller  235 A. 
     The lock devices  230 A- 2 ,  230 B- 2 , and  230 C- 2  further include the drive control units  236 A,  236 B, and  236 C that control power supply to the coil  2311  illustrated in  FIGS. 29 and 30 , and the detection signal acquisition sections  237 A,  237 B, and  237 C implemented by the sensor  238  illustrated in  FIGS. 29 and 30 , respectively. The communication controller  235 A, the drive control units  236 A,  236 B, and  236 C, and the detection signal acquisition sections  237 A,  237 B, and  237 C are coupled by signal lines  2010 A. 
     The communication controller  235 A is implemented by CPU processing of the control board, and executes a function to control a communication interface with the image forming apparatus  1 . The communication controller  235 A is coupled to the communication controller  130  of the image forming apparatus  1  by a signal line  2000 A. 
     The communication controller  235 A transmits, to the communication controller  130  of the image forming apparatus  1 , a storage section identification signal that identifies whether the storage sections  220 A- 2 ,  220 B- 2 , and  220 C- 2  are coupled, and an arrangement identification signal that identifies which positions the storage sections  220 A- 2 ,  220 B- 2 , and  220 C- 2  are arranged at. 
     When receiving the storage section identification signal via the communication controller  130 , the indicator controller  120  makes, of the buttons “ 2 -A”, “ 2 -B”, and “ 2 -C” illustrated in  FIGS. 14B and 15B , a button, corresponding to the storage section identification signal, displayed on the operation panel  4  in an arrangement corresponding to the arrangement identification signal. For example, when receiving, from the storage section  220 A- 2 , the storage section identification signal and the arrangement identification signal indicating upper right, the indicator controller  120  makes the button “ 2 -A” displayed in an upper right portion on the operation panel  4 . The indicator controller  120  does not make a button for a storage section, the storage section identification signal for which has not been received, displayed on the operation panel  4 . 
     When the lock control unit  1401  outputs an unlocking signal that designates any one of the storage sections  220 A- 1 ,  220 B- 1 , and  220 C- 1 , the communication controller  130  transmits an unlocking signal corresponding to the designated storage section to the communication controller  235 A. 
     The drive control units  236 A,  236 B, and  236 C are implemented by CPU processing, etc., and drive circuits, respectively, and when receiving an unlocking signal output from the lock control unit  1401  via the communication controller  235 A, the drive control units  236 A,  236 B, and  236 C supply power to the coil  2311 , thereby creating an unlocked state, as illustrated in  FIG. 30 . 
     When the detection signal acquisition section  237 A,  237 B, or  237 C generates a detection signal of the sensor  238 , the communication controller  235 A receives the detection signal and transmits the detection signal to the communication controller  130 . 
     When receiving the detection signal output from the detection signal acquisition section  237 A,  237 B, or  237 C via the communication controller  130 , the indicator controller  120  makes a message reading “Released” displayed on the display screen of the operation panel  4 , as illustrated  FIGS. 14D and 15D . 
       FIG. 32  illustrates a variation of the functional block diagram illustrated in  FIG. 31 . In the variation illustrated in  FIG. 32 , the communication controller  235 A is coupled to the communication controller  130  of the image forming apparatus  1  by two-way wireless communication  2000 . The others are the same as in  FIG. 31 . 
       FIG. 33  illustrates another variation of the functional block diagram illustrated in  FIG. 31 . In the variation illustrated in  FIG. 33 , the lock devices  230 B- 2  and  230 C- 2  include communication controllers  235 B and  235 C, respectively. 
     The communication controllers  235 B and  235 C are implemented by CPU processing of the control board, and execute a function to control a communication interface with the image forming apparatus  1 , respectively. The communication controllers  235 B and  235 C are coupled to the communication controller  130  of the image forming apparatus  1  by signal lines  2000 B and  2000 C, respectively. 
     The communication controller  235 A,  235 B, and  235 C transmit, to the communication controller  130  of the image forming apparatus  1 , a storage section identification signal that identifies any one of the storage sections  220 A- 2 ,  220 B- 2 , and  220 C- 2 , and an arrangement identification signal that identifies which positions the storage sections  220 A- 2 ,  220 B- 2 , and  220 C- 2  are arranged at, respectively. 
     When the lock control unit  1401  outputs an unlocking signal that designates any one of the storage sections  220 A- 1 ,  220 B- 1 , and  220 C- 1 , the communication controller  130  transmits the unlocking signal to the communication controller corresponding to, of the communication controllers  235 A,  235 B, and  235 C, the designated storage section. The others are the same as in  FIG. 31 . 
       FIG. 34  illustrates a variation of the functional block diagram illustrated in  FIG. 33 . In the variation illustrated in  FIG. 34 , the communication controllers  235 A,  235 B, and  235 C are coupled to the communication controller  130  of the image forming apparatus  1  by two-way wireless communication  2000 , respectively. The others are the same as in  FIG. 33 . 
       FIG. 35  is a second flowchart illustrating the lock device control processing. In the flowchart illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the processing related to unlocking are performed, but in the flowchart illustrated in  FIG. 35 , processing related to locking are performed. 
     First, the input receiving unit  110  receives user information (S 1 ). Then, the lock control unit  1401  determines based on the input user information whether a user has operation authority to the lock device by referring to the lock device control authority table in the lock device control authority storing unit  1501  (S 2 ). 
     When it is determined that the user has authority (YES) in step S 2 , the indicator controller  120  makes candidates for the storage section  220 , a target of locking, displayed on the operation panel  4  (S 3 ). The input receiving unit  110  receives operation target information input by the user, as an example, information by which the storage section  220 , a target of locking, can be identified (S 4 ). When the number of the storage sections to be controlled by the lock control unit  1401  is one, step S 4  may be omitted. 
     Then, the lock control unit  1401  executes operation processing of the storage section  220  that is the input operation target (S 5 ), whereby the processing flow ends. An example of the operation processing is the end of power supply to the coil  2311 , as described with reference to  FIG. 10 , but it is not limited to this. 
     On the other hand, when it is determined that the user does not have authority (NO) in step S 2 , the indicator controller  120  makes a message, reading that the user does not have locking authority, displayed on the operation panel  4  (S 6 ), whereby the processing flow ends. 
       FIG. 36  illustrates a third example of the screen transitions displayed on the image forming apparatus. 
     A screen illustrated in  FIG. 36A  is an initial screen (home screen) displayed on the operation panel  4  of the image forming apparatus  1 . Buttons labeled with “copy”, “printer”, “scanner”, and “cabinet lock”, functions that can be executed in the image forming apparatus  1 , are displayed, so that a user can select a function, which the user wants to execute in the image forming apparatus  1 , by pushing a button labeled with the function. A user is logging in to the image forming apparatus  1  by inputting a password from the operation panel  4  or by making the card reader  14  read an ID card, and the user currently logging in is displayed on the screen of  FIG. 36A  as “User X: Currently logging in.” A user who wants to unlock any one of the storage sections  220  selects the button labeled with “cabinet lock” in  FIG. 36A . 
       FIG. 36B  illustrates a screen displayed when the button labeled with “cabinet lock” is selected in  FIG. 36A . As candidates for the cabinet to be locked, seven types of buttons of “ 1 -A”, “ 1 -B”, “ 1 -C”, “ 3 ”, “ 2 -A”, “ 2 -B”, and “ 2 -C” are displayed on the screen of  FIG. 36B . As an example, “ 1 -A”, “ 1 -B”, and “ 1 -C” represent the three storage sections  220  of the storage apparatus  200 , which are installed in order from the top on the left side of the image forming apparatus  1 . “ 3 ” represents the storage section  16  in the lower portion of the image forming apparatus  1 . “ 2 -A”, “ 2 -B”, and “ 2 -C” represent the three storage sections  220  of the storage apparatus  200 , which are installed in order from the top on the right side of the image forming apparatus  1 . In  FIG. 36B , a user selects a button labeled with a cabinet that the user wants to lock. 
     The image forming apparatus  1  may be configured such that in  FIG. 36B , the storage apparatus  200 , the lock device  230  of which a user has operation authority to, is only displayed based on the user information on the user currently logging in, and the storage apparatus  200 , the lock device  230  of which a user does not have operation authority to, is not displayed. Or, the image forming apparatus  1  may be configured such that in  FIG. 36B , the storage apparatus  200 , the lock device  230  of which a user does not have operation authority to, is displayed based on the user information on the user currently logging in, but it cannot be selected. 
     Alternatively, the image forming apparatus may be configured such that after the button labeled with “cabinet lock” is pushed in  FIG. 36A , the image forming apparatus  1  determines, based on the user information on the user currently logging in, whether the user has operation authority to the lock device  230 , and when the user does not have the authority, it is displayed on the operation panel  4  that the user does not have the authority. 
       FIG. 36C  illustrates a screen displayed when the button labeled with “ 1 -A” is selected in  FIG. 36B . The screen of  FIG. 36C  indicates that “ 1 -A” selected as a target of locking is displayed in a darker color than the other candidates. And, “ 1 -A to be locked?”, “Yes”, and “No” are displayed as confirmation messages. When the target of locking is right, a user selects “Yes.” 
       FIG. 36D  illustrates a screen displayed when the button labeled with “Yes” is selected in  FIG. 36C . In  FIG. 36D , a message reading “Locked” is displayed as a message indicating an operation state of the lock device  230 . When this message is displayed, a user can confirm that the target of locking has been locked. 
     These display contents of  FIGS. 36A to 36D  and switching of the display are controlled by the indicator controller  120 . 
     Although respective embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. 
     As described above, the image forming apparatus  1  according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the image forming section  7  that forms an image on a target and a lock control device. The lock control device controls a plurality of the lock devices ( 230 A- 1 ,  230 B- 1 ,  230 C- 1 ,  230 A- 2 ,  230 B- 2 ,  230 C- 2 , and  230 D) respectively provided in a plurality of the storage sections ( 220 A- 1 ,  220 B- 1 ,  220 C- 1 ,  220 A- 2 ,  220 B- 2 ,  220 C- 2 , and  16 ), and includes: the indicator controller  120  that makes a plurality of pieces of storage section information (“ 1 -A”, “ 1 -B”, “ 1 -C”, “ 3 ”, “ 2 -A”, “ 2 -B”, and “ 2 -C”), which indicate the storage sections, displayed on the operation panel  4  (an example of the indicator), the input receiving unit  110  that receives an input of, of the plurality of piece of storage section information, partial storage section information (e.g., “ 1 -A”), and the lock control unit  1401  (an example of the unlock control unit) that outputs an unlocking signal for unlocking a lock device to the partial lock device corresponding to the partial storage section information that the input receiving unit has received. 
     Thereby, a user can easily unlock, of the plurality of the storage sections, an arbitrary storage section by selecting it, whereby user convenience is improved. 
     Further, the indicator controller  120  makes the plurality of pieces of storage section information displayed on the operation panel  4  so as to indicate the arrangement of the plurality of the storage sections. 
     Thereby, a user can unlock a storage section, which the user wants to unlock, by selecting the storage section after confirming the arrangement of the storage section on the operation panel  4 , and hence a fear that a storage section may be erroneously selected as the storage section the user wants to unlock is reduced, whereby user convenience is improved. 
     The input receiving unit  110  further receives an input of user information that authenticates a user, and the indicator controller  120  makes a plurality of pieces of storage section information, corresponding to the user information that the input receiving unit  110  has received, displayed on the operation panel  4 . 
     Thereby, a user can unlock a storage section, which the user can unlock by himself or herself, by selecting the storage section after confirming it on the operation panel  4 , whereby user convenience is improved. 
     The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present invention. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present invention. 
     Any one of the above-described operations may be performed in various other ways, for example, in an order different from the one described above. 
     Each of the functions of the described embodiments may be implemented by one or more processing circuits or circuitry. Processing circuitry includes a programmed processor, as a processor includes circuitry. A processing circuit also includes devices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), field programmable gate array (FPGA), and conventional circuit components arranged to perform the recited functions.