Consumable carrier with code reader

A media cartridge storing a consumable medium on which content is to be rendered utilizing a hardcopy production apparatus for generating a hardcopy of the content, the media cartridge comprising:

• a housing comprising a support surface on which the consumable medium rests and a perimeter wall that extends upwardly, from a portion of a periphery of the support surface to define a cavity in which the medium is to be stored for consumption by the hardcopy production apparatus;
• wherein the consumable medium comprises sheets of a flexible imager medium on which content is to be printed, the sheets of the flexible imager medium being supported on the support surface, within a rectangular recess substantially surrounded by the perimeter wall in a manner to be retrieved from the recess by the hardcopy production apparatus, and being formed from at least one of film and paper;
• a tag supporting the computer-readable code among the sheets of the flexible imager medium in the recess;
• a first reading component coupled to the housing and comprising an interrogation antenna that emits an interrogation signal in response to being energized to read a computer-readable code stored by a storage device accompanying the consumable medium, the interrogation antenna comprising a first orientation relative to the housing;
• and
• a relay interface operatively connected to communicate with the first reading component and comprising a relay antenna in a second orientation relative to the housing that is different from the first orientation of the interrogation antenna, wherein, in response to the relay antenna receiving a wireless signal, the relay interface transmits an energizing signal to energize the interrogation antenna and initiate reading of the computer-readable code.