US Patent 7234801 Printing cartridge with barcode identification

A printing cartridge is releasably engageable with a printing device having a linear reader for reading a barcode (1232) and a central processor capable of interpreting data carried on a barcode. The printing cartridge (1100) includes a housing (1104). Media and media colorant supply arrangements are positioned within the housing and contain a supply of media and a supply of media colorant, respectively. Feed mechanisms are positioned in the housing for feeding the media and the media colorant to a printing mechanism. A barcode (1232) is depicted on the housing, the barcode being readable by the linear reader (1236) and defining a code representing data relating to the media and the media colorant.