Image forming apparatus

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body; and

a replaceable component mounted to the main body, the replaceable component being configured to be compatible with a plurality of image forming apparatuses,

wherein the main body comprises:

a first authentication information storage unit that stores a plurality of first authentication information for authentication with the replaceable component;

an authentication data storage unit that stores authentication data for choosing at least one of the plurality of first authentication information;

a first communication unit for communication with the replaceable component; and

a control unit that controls the first communication unit,

wherein the replaceable component comprises:

a second authentication information storage unit that stores a plurality of second authentication information corresponding to the first authentication information; and

a second communication unit for communication with the first communication unit;

wherein the authentication data is set to be different among the plurality of image forming apparatuses;

wherein the control unit attempts authentication with the replaceable component using the first authentication information chosen based on the authentication data by checking whether the second authentication information corresponding to the chosen first authentication information is stored in the second authentication information storage unit; and

wherein when the second authentication information corresponding to the chosen first authentication information is stored in the second authentication information storage unit, the control unit establishes connection between the first communication unit and the second communication unit.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality apparatuses comprises a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus;

wherein the authentication data storage unit of the first image forming apparatus stores authentication data 1 , and

wherein the authentication data storage unit of the second image forming apparatus stores authentication data 2 .

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus are different from each other in time of launch on the market.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the authentication data storage unit stores a predetermined number of authentication data, and

wherein the control unit attempts authentication with the replaceable component using a predetermined number of first authentication information assigned to the predetermined number of authentication data.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the authentication data storage unit stores a predetermined number of authentication data, and

wherein the control unit chooses one of the predetermined number of authentication data stored in the authentication data storage unit, and attempts authentication with the replaceable component using the first authentication information assigned to the chosen authentication data.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit chooses the one of the predetermined number of authentication data at random.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the authentication data storage unit stores a predetermined number of authentication data, and

wherein the control unit chooses at least two of the predetermined number of authentication data stored in the authentication data storage unit, and attempts authentication with the replaceable component using the first authentication information assigned to the chosen authentication data.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the control unit chooses the at least two of the predetermined number of authentication data at random.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the replaceable component is a developer cartridge storing a developer, and

wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises an image forming section that forms an image using the developer supplied by the developer cartridge.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the control unit allows the image forming section to form the image only when connection between the first communication unit and the second communication unit is established.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first authentication information storage unit and the second authentication information storage unit store the same information.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a display unit, and

wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display an error message when the control unit cannot successfully perform the authentication with the replaceable component.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second communication unit is a memory tag, and the authentication information storage unit is provided on the memory tag.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the first communication unit further comprises an antenna and an RF communication unit for communication with the memory tag.