Single-vendor unit and circulation method, equipment having such unit, access device and ink box

Abstract

Disclosed are a method for preventing shoplifting of an optional part without causing trouble to a retail store and inconvenience to a consumer and a method for enabling a storage device of the optional part to be customized as desired on the way of a distribution channel from a manufacturer to the consumer. On an ink cartridge 19, a cartridge EEPROM 21 having a coil 37 contactlessly accessible to the ink cartridge 19 is mounted; and a transparent window 45 through which the coil 37 of the cartridge EEPROM 21 can be seen is provided on a package 50 of the ink cartridge 19. A data writing device 67 including a memory interface 41 and a coil 43 for writing data into the cartridge EEPROM 21 is provided in each of retail stores 40a, 40b.... When the consumer purchases the ink cartridge 19, purchase data and the like are written into the cartridge EEPROM 21 through the transparent window 45 of the package 50 by electromagnetic induction between the coil 37 and the coil 43. A printer 5 reads out data from the cartridge EEPROM 21 when the ink cartridge 19 is fitted thereto, and when no purchase data exists, the printer is not allowed to operate for printing.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to equipment such as a personal computer or a printer, parts for the equipment sold independently of the main body of the equipment, consumables, or accessories (in this specification, they are simply collectively referred to as "parts"). Background technique [0002] The printer is taken as an example for description below. [0003] A printer is brought into a usable state by mounting components sold separately from the main body, such as roll paper or ink cartridges, on the main body of the printer. Since most of these separately sold parts are consumables, users often need to go to retail stores to purchase them. [0004] For example, ink cartridges are known in which a semiconductor memory is mounted thereon, and various control information for ink is stored in the semiconductor memory, and the printer main body reads the information and uses it for control. A semiconductor memory provided on a conventional ink cartr...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Since most of these separately sold parts are consumables, users often need to go to retail stores to purchase

Images