Patent ID: 7072593

Claim:
An apparatus for forming an image, the apparatus comprising: a key-lockable sheet storage unit configured to feed sheets, the key-lockable sheet storage unit having a lock status including first and second states; a determining unit adapted to determine the lock status of the key-lockable sheet storage unit; a controller selectively performing at least one of a first action and a second action on the key-lockable sheet storage unit based on the lock status, wherein the controller performs the first action responsive to the key-lockable sheet storage unit being in the first state, and performs the second action responsive to the key-lockable sheet storage unit being in the second state; and a keyless sheet storage unit, wherein the first action includes permitting a first print process to be performed on a sheet fed from the key-lockable sheet storage unit and inhibiting a second print process from being performed on a sheet fed from the keyless sheet storage unit, wherein the second action includes permitting the first and second print processes to be performed, and wherein the controller performs the first action responsive to the lock status being the first state and performs the second action responsive to the lock status being the second state.