Patent ID: 6324350
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A reusable unit that is adapted to be detachably installed in an image forming apparatus and to contain an expendable element that is exhaustible by the image forming apparatus, said reusable unit comprising:a display medium on which a specific pattern to be read by a reader in said image forming apparatus is displayed;wherein said specific pattern represents a trademark and said image forming apparatus is enabled to execute an image forming operation only when the specific pattern read by said reader is recognized as the trademark;wherein the display medium is formed of a material that is adapted to be modified so as to render the specific pattern displayed on the display medium illegible; andwherein said reusable unit is adapted to be refilled with more of the expendable element or to contain a new expendable element after exhaustion of the expendable element by the image forming apparatus.