| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of detecting a residual amount of ink in an ink housing section in a comparatively simple structure. SOLUTION: A rotary shaft 68 of an agitating member 60 is extended in a height direction of an ink tank 50 and six blades 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 for agitating ink are fixed to the rotary shaft 68. As all the blades 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 receive resistance from the ink when a body 52 is roughly full of the ink, a predetermined maximum current is supplied to an agitating motor 70 in order to rotate a motor shaft 72 at a constant speed. In the case where the ink housed in the body 52 is, for example, roughly half of its full state, as the upper three blades 61, 62, 63 do not come in contact with the ink and only the lower three blades 64, 65, 66 receive the resistance from the ink when agitating the ink, it is sufficient to supply the current in a value less than the maximum current to the agitating motor 70 in order to rotate the motor shaft 72 at a constant speed. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
