An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a main contact, and a main guide, and a cartridge including a memory contact, a moving unit moving into and out of the apparatus body in a first direction and including a frame to which the cartridge is attached, first and second protrusions protruding in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction from the end surface of the frame, an intermediate contact being in electrical contact with the memory contact, an unit contact being in electrical contact with the main contact, and a line conductor, the first protrusion being supported by the main guide of the apparatus body, the second protrusion being located above the first protrusion. At least part of the line conductor connecting the intermediate contact and the unit contact is located in a recess formed by the first protrusion, the second protrusion, and the end surface.

An electronic component includes a processor and a memory. The electronic component has a secure platform capable of storing at least one dual key pair and a corresponding digital signature. There is also a system including a host machine and an electronic component capable of being operated by the host machine. The electronic component has a processor, a memory, and a secure platform capable of storing at least one dual key pair and a corresponding digital signature. Another aspect describes a method, which includes reading a public key from an electronic component by a host machine, verifying the public key against a stored key in the host machine, digitally signing data using a private key from the electronic component, verifying the signed data against the stored key, and using the electronic component by the host machine only if the signed data and the public key are verified.

A logic circuitry package for association with a replaceable print apparatus component comprises: logic and a serial data bus interface, wherein the serial data bus interface is to interface with a serial data bus of a print apparatus, and, wherein the logic is, in response to a first command sent to the logic circuitry package via the serial data bus connected to the serial data bus interface, the first command including a time period, to generate a low voltage condition on the serial data bus for a duration based on the time period, and, after the duration, return to a default voltage condition on the serial data bus.

An image forming apparatus includes a main body and a cartridge attached to the main body. The cartridge includes: a casing extending in a longitudinal direction; a photosensitive drum extending in the longitudinal direction; and a separating member that is detachably attached to the casing. The photosensitive drum has a peripheral surface and is positioned in confrontation with the endless belt as a result of attachment of the cartridge to the main body. The separating member is attached to the casing and separates the photosensitive drum from the endless belt when the main body is packaged while the cartridge is attached to the main body. The separating member includes first and second end portions disposed on both end portions of the casing, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second end portions and is configured to cover the peripheral surface.

The present disclosure provides an electrical parameter detection method, a chip, a consumable, and an image forming apparatus. The electrical parameter detection method includes: configuring an installation detecting pin to be at a high level by an image forming control unit; controlling a voltage of an installation detecting terminal to be at a low level by a chip control unit, such that a current loop is formed between the image forming apparatus and the chip; and determining, by the image forming apparatus, whether the image forming apparatus is in a desired contact with the chip according to an electrical parameter of the current loop.

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a toner cartridge, a replaceable part, a controller and an apparatus body memory. An operating mode of the controller is set to one of a subscription mode and a normal mode. The controller is configured to perform processes in accordance with the set operating mode. The apparatus body memory is configured to store life information indicating a remaining life of the replaceable part attached to the apparatus body. The controller is configured to switch a control between: a control for allowing an extended use of the replaceable part; and a control for restricting the extended use of the replaceable part, according to the set operating mode. The extended use is defined as use of the replaceable part even after the replaceable part exceeds the remaining life indicated by the life information stored in the apparatus body memory.

A toner cartridge includes a casing, a feeding member and a pump. the casing includes a toner accommodation chamber accommodating toner, and a toner discharging chamber having a discharge opening for discharging the toner, and a communication port for fluid communication between the toner accommodation chamber and the toner discharging chamber. A part of the feeding member is provided inside the communication port. When a minimum cross-sectional area of the communication port in a plane perpendicular to a toner feeding direction of the feeding member is Asmin, the toner discharging chamber has a cross-sectional area Bs larger than Asmin, and the toner accommodation chamber has a cross-sectional area Cs larger than Asmin.

A replaceable item for a host device, such as a print substance cartridge for a printing device, stores multiple identities. For each identity, the replaceable item stores multiple authentication values, or passwords. The replaceable item selects an identity, and in response to a request for an authentication value from the host device, sends the requested authentication value for the selected identity.

In an image forming apparatus, a tray unit to which a cartridge is detachably mounted, and that is configured to be capable of moving between an internal position situated within the apparatus main body and an external position situated outside, includes first and second side plates configured to support the cartridge, and they are each made of metal, and include a supporting portion and an outer side portion, the supporting portions includes positioning portions configured to come into contact with the cartridge to position the cartridge as to an image forming position. The apparatus main body includes first and second pressing members each capable of moving between pressing positions at which the cartridge is pressed, and separated positions separated from the cartridge. The first and second pressing members are disposed each intersecting with imaginary planes that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and intersect the positioning portions.

An image forming apparatus includes: a drum cartridge to which one of a first toner cartridge and a second toner cartridge is attachable; a frame including a first slot and a second slot; and a controller including a control memory and a processor. The drum cartridge to which the one of the first toner cartridge and the second toner cartridges is attached is attachable to one of the first slot and the second slot. The control memory stores first color information allocated to the first slot, and second color information allocated to the second slot. In a state where the drum cartridge is attached to one of the first slot and the second slot and when the drum memory does not store any color information, the processor is configured to perform: writing, into the drum memory, one of the first color information and the second color information which is appropriate.