Apparatus controlled by data from consumable parts with incorporated memory devices

A replaceable ink cartridge for an ink jet printing system, the printing system including a replaceable printhead for producing marks on a print media, the replaceable printhead having a printhead memory element mounted thereon for recording print means-related parameters, the printing system including a processor means that is coupled to the printhead memory element when the replaceable printhead is releasably coupled to the printing system, the replaceable ink cartridge comprising:

• an ink reservoir containing an ink supply;
• a discharge port in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, the discharge port establishing fluid communication with a fluid inlet in the ink station when the ink cartridge is releasably mounted to the receptacle;
• and
• a cartridge memory element mounted thereon and having cartridge-related parameters stored therein, the cartridge memory element electrically coupled with the processor means so that the processor means has access to the cartridge-related parameters when the ink cartridge is installed in the receptacle;
• wherein, in order to carry out a printing operation where ink is transferred from the ink reservoir through the discharge port to the printhead, certain cartridge-related parameters stored in the cartridge memory element are stored and/or modified by signals from the processor means, and or transmitted from the ink cartridge to the processor means so that the processor means derives a printing system function control value that is dependent upon at least both a cartridge-related parameter and a printhead-related parameter when the replaceable print means and the replaceable ink cartridge are releasably installed in the ink jet printing system.

A replaceable ink cartridge for an ink jet printing system, the printing system including a plurality of printheads of different colors for ejecting droplets of ink on media, each printhead including a printhead memory element mounted thereon and having printhead factory parameters stored therein, the printing system having a processor means for controlling printing system function, the processor means coupling with the printhead memory element so that the processor means has access to the printhead factory parameters, the printing system including an ink station for supplying ink to the printhead, the ink station including a plurality of receptacles corresponding to the plurality of printheads, the replaceable ink cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge body having an ink reservoir therein, the cartridge body adapted to be releasably mounted to one of the plurality of receptacles in said ink jet printing system;
• a discharge port in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, the discharge port establishing fluid communication with a fluid inlet in one of the plurality of receptacles when the cartridge body is releasably mounted to one of the plurality of receptacles to thereby enable ink to flow out of the discharge port and to an associated printhead when the cartridge body is releasably mounted to one of the plurality of receptacles;
• and
• an ink cartridge memory element mounted thereon and adapted to electrically couple to the processor means when the cartridge body is releasably mounted to one of the plurality of receptacles, the ink cartridge memory element thereby providing ink cartridge factory parameters to the processor means;
• and
• wherein, in order to carry out a printing operation where ink is transferred from the ink reservoir through the discharge port and to the printhead, certain factory-inserted parameters stored in the ink cartridge memory element are transmitted from the ink cartridge memory element to the processor means so that the processor means combines at least one ink cartridge factory-inserted parameter and at least one printhead factory-inserted parameter to derive a usage control parameter for the printhead.