Patent ID: 8131163

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image onto an image forming medium based on received print data by using a cartridge removably provided; a cartridge determination unit configured to determine whether an MICR cartridge is inserted as the cartridge; a password storage unit into which a password is registered in advance; a notification unit configured to send notification to input the password; a password input unit configured to input the password; a determination unit configured to compare the password input by the password input unit and the password registered in the password storage unit and determine whether an image forming process of the received print data is allowed to be performed; and a control unit configured to, when the print data are received while the cartridge determination unit determines that the MICR cartridge is inserted as the cartridge, temporarily stop processing the print data, cause the notification unit to send the notification to input the password, and, when the determination unit determines that the image forming process of the received print data is allowed to be performed, perform an MICR image forming control process that causes the image forming unit to resume the processing of the print data.