Patent ID: 7885553

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming apparatus main body; a plurality of replaceable units attached to the image forming apparatus main body in a detachable manner; a plurality of storage units provided in the replaceable units, the storage units storing information with respect to the replaceable units; a first detecting unit that detects a first-stage operation for replacing the replaceable units and other operation at a first stage of replacing the replaceable units; a second detecting unit that detects a second-stage operation for replacing the replaceable units at a second stage of replacing the replaceable units; and a control unit that controls access to the plurality of storage units to limit access to the plurality of storage units in response to the first detecting unit detecting the first-stage operation and until the second detecting unit detects the second-stage operation, wherein the control unit allows access to a plurality of storage units corresponding to the replaced replaceable units, in accordance with a detection of the second-stage operation by the second detecting unit, wherein the second detecting unit detects which of the replaceable units have been replaced.