Patent ID: 7570892

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a process unit capable of being removably mounted in an apparatus body; a switching unit for switching the apparatus between a state to permit the mounting/dismounting of the process unit and a state to inhibit the mounting/dismounting of the process unit; a cover member which is free to be shifted between an open position and a close position with respect to the apparatus body and which, in the close position, serves to restrict an operation of mounting/dismounting the process unit by a user; and a controller for controlling the switching unit, wherein in a case where the cover member is closed when the apparatus is in the state to permit the mounting/dismounting of the process unit, the controller executes a mounting/dismounting inhibition process in which the switching unit is controlled after the lapse of a predetermined start waiting time so as to shift the apparatus to the state to inhibit the mounting/dismounting of the process unit, and wherein in a case where the mounting/dismounting of the process unit is undone before the closure of the cover member, the controller makes the start waiting time longer than that of a case where the mounting/dismounting of the process unit is done.