| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect a liquid quantity at a plurality of detection positions in a liquid storing member by a simple constitution. SOLUTION: A prism part 66 consists of an incidence waveguide 66a for guiding light brought in nearly parallel to an axial direction from an incidence part 67 to the downstream side, and an emission waveguide 66b for guiding the light from the incidence waveguide 66a side to an emission part 68 side. At the same time, the prism part 66 has a plurality of detecting parts 70 halfway each as an inclined face inclined to the axial direction of the incidence waveguide 66a. Each detecting part 70 is arranged at the detection position made different in the height in an ink storage part 58, and is set in a state to pass a large part of the light entering from the incidence waveguide 66a to the ink side when in a soak state in which the detecting part 70 soaks in the ink, and to reflect the large part of the entering light as a liquid quantity detection light to the emission waveguide 66b side when in a non soak state in which the detecting part 70 does not soak in the ink. An emitting quantity of light of the emission part 68 is made to change according to the soak state or the non soak state of each detecting part 70. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
