| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a determination device and a determination method which are capable of surely determining the state of an ink cartridge and to provide the ink cartridge suitable for the determination device and the determination method. SOLUTION: The ink cartridge 10 has a slider 24 which can come in contact with and separate from the rear surface 102 of the ink cartridge 10. The slider 24 is supported by coil springs 26 and 27 with respect to the rear surface 102. A cartridge case 121 is provided with a photosensor 123. When the ink cartridge 10 is inserted into a cartridge case 121, the slider 24 is detected by the photosensor 123 (S1) and after that, the front wall 141 of a detection part 140 is detected (S3). A main control part 250 calculates the time differenceΔT between the respective detection timings of the slider 24 and the front wall 141 (S5). When the calculated time differenceΔT is a predetermined reference value or more, it is determined that the ink cartridge 10 is normal and when the calculated time differenceΔT is below the reference value, it is determined that the cartridge 10 is abnormal (S6). COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT |
