Printer with inductive power and communication to accessory

An electronic printer or fax (101) having wireless power and communications connections (105A and 105P) to an accessory (103) to which it is adjacent and with which it is generally in contact during operation is disclosed. Communications between the printer (101) and the accessory (103), instead of being handled via a cable connection, are achieved using a two-way, infrared (IR) communications link (409 and 509). Operational power is supplied to the accessory via inductive coupling between a pair of adjacently positioned coils (200P and 200A) rather than directly through power cables. As inductive coupling works efficiently only over very short distances, the accessory (103) is equipped with a standby battery (106) power so that the accessory may be temporarily separated from the printer (e.g., in order to eliminate media jams) without loss of accessory status data. When the accessory (103) is once again positioned immediately adjacent the printer (101), inductive coupling reassumes the role of power provision. The invention eliminates problems associated with cable connections, such as the inadvertent disconnection of a power or communication cable, damage to connectors over the operational lifetime of the printer and its accessory, as well as manufacturing and stocking costs associated with the connector cables.