The present disclosure provides a consumable, a consumable chip, and a communication method between the image forming apparatus and the consumable chip. The consumable chip is capable of being installed on a consumable, and the consumable is capable of being detachably installed on an image forming apparatus. The consumable chip includes a storage unit and a chip control unit. The storage unit is configured to store identity authentication information of the consumable. The chip control unit is configured to receive an authentication request sent by the image forming apparatus and obtain second time information, generate a second code by performing a calculation using a preset algorithm according to the obtained second time information and the pre-stored identity authentication information of the consumable, and send the second code to the image forming apparatus. The second code is configured to determine whether the consumable meets expectation.

An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a supply cartridge attachable to the main casing; a printing mechanism; a display; and a controller configured to perform: determining, based on information inputted into the controller, whether an agreement is made for the image forming apparatus; setting, when an agreement is made for the image forming apparatus, an operation mode for the image forming apparatus to a pre-contract mode; determining under the pre-contract mode whether a type of the supply cartridge attached to the main casing is a normal type or a subscription type; displaying, when the type of the supply cartridge attached to the main casing is the normal type, information related to the pre-contract mode on the display; and setting, when the type of the supply cartridge attached to the main casing is the subscription type, the operation mode from the pre-contract mode to a formal contract mode.

In some examples, an apparatus can include a cartridge flange, and a grip structure including an inner surface to receive an expansion member included in an imaging device, where the expansion member is to expand from a first diameter to a second diameter to be received by the grip structure.

A printing device comprises a housing, a communication interface configured to communicate with a server, and a controller. The printing device is configured to operate either in a contract mode or in a normal mode. The housing is configured such that one or more consumables including a first type consumable and a second type consumable are attachable. The first type consumable is dedicated for the contract printing, and the second type consumable is usable for printing in both the contract mode and the normal mode. The controller is configured to activate the contract mode in response to an activation instruction from the server. In a case where the second type consumable is attached to the housing when the contract mode is activated, the controller changes a state of the printing device to a contract printing state in which the contract printing is activated after activating the contract mode.

A liquid cartridge includes: a housing including first and second protrusions; and a circuit board including an electrode. The first protrusion is positioned rearward but the second protrusion is positioned forward relative to the circuit board. When viewed in a width direction crossing a gravitational direction, an outline of the liquid cartridge between a first point and a second point is lower than an imaginary line. The imaginary line passes through the first point on the first protrusion and the second point on the second protrusion. A distance between a front edge of the electrode and the first point is smaller than a distance between the front edge and the second point. A dimension between a front end and a rear end of the second protrusion is greater than a distance between a frontmost end of the housing and the front end of the second protrusion.

A physical quantity detection device including a container that accommodates a detection object formed of a dielectric, a first electrode provided at an outer side of the container, a second electrode that is provided separately from and to face the first electrode, and an electrostatic capacitance detector that detects an electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrostatic capacitance detector includes a waveform generation source coupled to the first electrode and a voltage detection circuit coupled to the second electrode. A relationship of |Zc|/|Z1|+|Zc|>|Zc|/|Z2|+|Zc| is satisfied in which |Zc| is an absolute value of an input impedance of the electrostatic capacitance detector, |Z1| is an absolute value of an impedance when the detection object is present between the first electrode and the second electrode, and |Z2| is an absolute value of an impedance when no detection object is present between the first electrode and the second electrode.

A packaging assembly includes an outer packaging unit, at least one to-be-packaged unit, and a loading unit configured to accommodate the at least one to-be-packaged unit to limit movement of the at least one to-be-packaged unit with respect to the loading unit. The outer packaging unit includes a receiving unit capable of receiving at least a part of the loading unit and the at least one to-be-packaged unit which are fit to each other.

Provided are an automatic reset method for a consumable chip and the consumable chip. The automatic reset method includes: in response to determining that an ink amount state is an ink-out state, entering an automatic reset state and shielding a printer command; turning off a core of the chip and shielding a printer dock command in the automatic reset state; entering a reset allowing state after shielding N groups of printer dock commands in the automatic reset state; and resetting ink amount data and turning on the core of the chip in the reset allowing state.

An ink cartridge having a print head. The ink cartridge comprises an ink container, a print head housing, and a first chip; the ink container has an ink containing chamber; the ink containing chamber is used for containing ink; the print head housing has a mounting chamber; the ink container is mounted in the mounting chamber, and is used for supplying the ink to a print head mounted on the print head housing; the first chip is provided on the outer surface of the ink container, and at least part of the first chip is exposed to the outer surface of the ink cartridge; the portion of the first chip exposed to the outer surface of the ink cartridge comprises information contacts.

A method of authenticating a consumable or detachable element of a continuous inkjet printer comprising: the controller of the printer generating a 1.sup.st item of random information that is dispatched to an authentication circuit of the element; encrypting the 1.sup.st item of 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 information to the controller; encrypting the 1.sup.st item of 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; comparing the 1.sup.st item of encrypted random information with the 2.sup.nd encrypted item of random information to authenticate the consumable element; and if the consumable element is authenticated, dispatching at least one part of a 3.sup.rd key, termed the shared key, by the element to the printer.