Patent ID: 7031012
Filing Date: 2006-04-18
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A printing apparatus to which an expendable unit, having a memory, including a plurality of memory areas, and a recording agent, is detachably attached, wherein said a plurality of memory areas include a first memory area storing data concerning a use state of the expendable unit, a second memory area storing data concerning a use state of the recording agent and a third memory area storing data for setting inhibition/permission of writing with respect to the first and second memory areas said apparatus comprising: memory access means for reading from and writing to the memory in the expendable unit; and setting means for setting inhibition of writing with respect to the first and the second memory areas in the memory in the expendable unit by writing predetermined data into the third memory area; wherein said setting means sets inhibition of writing of the first and the second memory areas, at different timings, on the basis of the use state of the expendable unit and the use state of the recording agent.