Reusable unit displaying a specific pattern and an image forming apparatus using the reusable unit when the specific pattern is displayed and rendering the specific pattern illegible when the reusable unit is exhausted

An image forming apparatus in which a reusable unit may be detachably installed, wherein said reusable unit contains an expendable element that is exhaustible by the image forming apparatus, and said reusable unit comprises a display medium on which a specific pattern is printed, said image forming apparatus comprising:

• a reader that reads the specific pattern printed on said display medium;
• a pattern processor adapted to cause the specific pattern printed on said display medium to be rendered illegible;
• and
• a control unit that determines whether the specific pattern read by said reader coincides with a predetermined trademark, and that enables said image forming apparatus to execute an image forming operation only when the specific pattern read by the reader coincides with the predetermined trademark;
• wherein said reusable unit is adapted to be refilled with more of the expendable element or to contain a new expendable element after exhaustion of the expendable element by the image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus in which a reusable unit may be detachably installed, wherein said reusable unit contains an expendable element that is exhaustible by the image forming apparatus, and said reusable unit comprises a display medium on which a specific pattern is printed and a pattern processor adapted to cause the specific pattern printed on said display medium to be rendered illegible, said image forming apparatus comprising:

• a reader that reads the specific pattern printed on said display medium;
• and
• a control unit that determines whether the specific pattern read by said reader coincides with a predetermined trademark, and that enables said image forming apparatus to execute an image forming operation only when the specific pattern read by the reader coincides with the predetermined trademark;
• wherein said reusable unit is adapted to be refilled with more of the expendable element or to contain a new expendable element after exhaustion of the expendable element by the image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus in which a reusable unit may be detachably installed, wherein said reusable unit contains an expendable element that is exhaustible by the image forming apparatus, and said reusable unit comprises a display medium on which a specific pattern is printed, said image forming apparatus comprising:

• a reader that reads the specific pattern printed on said display medium;
• a pattern processor adapted to cause the specific pattern printed on said display medium to be rendered illegible by applying pigment onto the specific pattern;
• and
• a control unit that determines whether the specific pattern read by said reader coincides with a predetermined trademark, and that enables said image forming apparatus to execute an image forming operation only when the specific pattern read by the reader coincides with the predetermined trademark;
• wherein said reusable unit is adapted to be refilled with more of the expendable element or to contain a new expendable element after exhaustion of the expendable element by the image forming apparatus.

A reusable unit that is adapted to be detachably installed in an image forming apparatus and to contain an expendable element that is exhaustible by the image forming apparatus, said reusable unit comprising:

• a display medium on which a specific pattern to be read by a reader in said image forming apparatus is displayed;
• wherein said image forming apparatus is enabled to execute an image forming operation only when the specific pattern read by said reader is recognized as matching a predetermined pattern;
• wherein the display medium is formed of a material that is adapted to be modified so as to render the specific pattern displayed on the display medium illegible when the expendable element contained in the reusable unit is exhausted;
• and
• wherein said reusable unit is adapted to be refilled with more of the expendable element or to contain a new expendable element after exhaustion of the expendable element by the image forming apparatus.