A developer case (10) according to the present invention includes a case main body (30) and an RF tag (36, 37). The case main body (30) contains developer and is attached to an apparatus main body (2, 71) which includes a communication device (14). The RF tag (36, 37) is arranged at the case main body (30) and makes wireless communication with the communication device (14) within a communicable area (A1, A2) around the communication device (14). The case main body (30) includes a plurality of attachment parts (41a, 41b) opposed to the communication device (14) in a state where the case main body (30) is attached to the apparatus main body (2, 71). The RF tag (36, 37) is arranged at one of the plurality of attachment parts (41a, 41b) according to the communicable area (A1, A2) unique to the RF tag (36, 37).

An image forming apparatus which utilizes a communication device is disclosed. A communication unit of a housing which corresponds to an antenna portion is provided at a position at which the communication unit can be seen without obstruction from the upper side. A communication device such as a smartphone can be brought close to or into contact with the communication unit readily. Accordingly, wireless communication between the antenna portion and the communication device can be established.

A method of authenticating a consumable or detachable element of a continuous inkjet printer, (CIJ), comprising: the controller of the printer generating and dispatching a 1.sup.st item of random information to an authentication circuit of the element; encrypting the 1.sup.st item of random information by the authentication circuit using a 1.sup.st encryption algorithm and a 1.sup.st secret key to form a 1.sup.st item of encrypted random information; dispatching the 1.sup.st item of encrypted random information to the controller; encrypting the 1.sup.st item of random information by the controller using a 2.sup.nd encryption algorithm and a 2.sup.nd secret key to form a 2.sup.nd item of encrypted random information; and comparing the 1.sup.st item of encrypted random information with the 2.sup.nd encrypted item of random information. If the consumable element is authenticated, a shared key part of a 3.sup.rd key is dispatched by the consumable or detachable element to the CIJ.

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a processor, an image forming unit, a radio communication unit, a receiving unit, and a shielding member. The processor controls supply and ejection of a medium with a radio tag, which is to be housed in a housing unit. The image forming unit forms an image in the supplied medium. The radio communication unit transmits a radio wave for writing information to the radio tag of the supplied medium. The receiving unit receives the ejected medium. The shielding member is formed in a part of the receiving unit and shields radio waves transmitted from the radio communication unit.

An information processing apparatus includes a sheet holder, a conveyor, a wireless writer, a wireless reader, and a controller. The sheet holder accommodates a sheet. The conveyor conveys the sheet from the sheet holder. The wireless writer writes data to a wireless tag on a first sheet. The wireless reader reads data from the wireless tag on the first sheet. The controller ejects a second sheet from the sheet holder when the data written in the first sheet by the writer and the data read from the first sheet by the reader are different from each other.

An image forming apparatus includes a communication portion arranged inside a cover covering an image forming portion in the main body of the apparatus and including an antenna surface for use in establishing near field communication. The cover includes a stacking portion in its upper section. The stacking portion is configured to receive a recording medium with an image thereon, the recording medium being discharged outside the main body of the apparatus. The antenna surface faces a region of the upper section of the cover downstream in a direction of discharging the recording medium. The antenna surface at least partially faces a region of the upper section of the cover outside the stacking portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction of discharging the recording medium. The communication portion is capable of communicating with another communication portion using near field communication.

An image forming apparatus includes: a toner container, a reader and writer, a blocking control section, and a press mechanism. To the toner container, an RFID tag is attached. The reader and writer opposes the RFID tag. The press mechanism has a press member and a rotor reciprocally moving in an attachment and detachment direction of the toner container. The blocking control section permits power supply to the reader and writer when the press member has been pressed in conjunction with insertion of the toner container and the rotor in conjunction therewith has moved to a first tip position, and blocks the power supply to the reader and writer when the rotor has separated from the first tip position and has moved to a locking position.

A cartridge including a carrier storing an authenticity verification code readable by a scan device other than a host device and an auto-destruct feature to render the authenticity verification code unreadable at installation.

A cartridge including an interconnect circuit to communicate with a host device, a carrier storing an authenticity verification code readable by a scan device other than the host device, and an auto-destruct feature to render the authenticity verification code unreadable when installing the cartridge in the host device.

An image forming apparatus includes a communication portion arranged inside a cover covering an image forming portion in the main body of the apparatus and including an antenna surface for use in establishing near field communication. The cover includes a stacking portion in its upper section. The stacking portion is configured to receive a recording medium with an image thereon, the recording medium being discharged outside the main body of the apparatus. The antenna surface faces a region of the upper section of the cover downstream in a direction of discharging the recording medium. The antenna surface at least partially faces a region of the upper section of the cover outside the stacking portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction of discharging the recording medium. The communication portion is capable of communicating with another communication portion using near field communication.