Sheet safekeeping apparatus and image processing apparatus

An image processing apparatus, comprising:

• a sheet safekeeping apparatus;
• and
• an image processing apparatus main body configured to form an image on a sheet and to send the sheet to the sheet safekeeping apparatus, wherein
• the sheet safekeeping apparatus comprises:
• a multistage tray in which a plurality of housing sections for accommodating sheets is arranged side by side in a first direction, a removal port through which an accommodated sheet is taken out being formed in each of the plurality of the housing sections, and a cover for closing the removal port in an openable manner being provided in each of the plurality of the housing sections;
• a support section configured to support the multistage tray;
• a tray displacement unit configured to displace the multistage tray in the first direction with respect to the support section;
• a conveyance unit, arranged in the support section, configured to convey a sheet to the plurality of the housing sections;
• and
• a cover displacement unit, arranged in the support section, configured to displace the cover of one housing section determined by an operation of the tray displacement unit among the plurality of the housing sections to open the removal port.

A sheet safekeeping method, comprising:

• displacing a multistage tray in a first direction with respect to a support section, the multistage tray comprising a plurality of housing sections for accommodating sheets arranged side by side in the first direction, a removal port through which an accommodated sheet is taken out being formed in each of the plurality of the housing sections, and a cover for closing the removal port in an openable manner provided in each of the plurality of the housing sections;
• conveying a sheet from the support section to the plurality of the housing sections;
• and
• displacing the cover of one housing section determined by an operation of the displacing among the plurality of the housing sections to open the removal port using a cover displacement unit from the support section.