Patent ID: 7971528

Claim:
A used-master security system for a printing apparatus, comprising: a used-master storage device provided to a printing apparatus main body and configured to store at least one used master, the used-master storage device including at least a front surface facing to an exterior of the printing apparatus and a rear surface opposite to the front surface and facing to an interior of the printing apparatus; a mount detection device that detects whether the used-master storage device is mounted in the main body of the printing apparatus; a used-master security device configured to prohibit the removal of a used-master inside the master storage device, the used-master security device including a locking mechanism secured to an interior of the printing apparatus; a lock device; and a lock setting device that imparts to the lock device either a prohibited state for prohibiting the removal of the used-master storage device out from the main body of the printing apparatus, or a released state for permitting the removal of the used-master storage device out from the main body of the printing apparatus, wherein the lock setting device is a control device that controls the lock device and imparts to the lock device either a prohibited state or a released state, wherein the lock device includes a projection extending from the rear surface of the used-master storage device, the rear surface and projection facing the interior of the printing apparatus in an opposite direction from a direction of removal of the used-master storage device, wherein the projection is configured to project into an aperture formed in the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism configured to slide in a direction substantially perpendicular to the projection to engage the projection and prohibit the removal of the used-master storage device out from the main body of the printing apparatus, wherein the locking mechanism is located further to the interior of the printing apparatus than the rear surface of the used-master storage device, and wherein the control device does not set the lock device in the prohibited state unless the mount detection device detects that the used-master storage device is mounted in the main body of the printing apparatus.