| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for detecting a stored object, which can detect at only one point the presence/absence of a container mounted and of any object remained in the container. SOLUTION: The presence of the remaining amount of ink M in an ink cartridge 1A is detected by the signal of a light receiving section 102 which receives the light emitted from a light emitting section 101. The light emitting section 101 which emits light toward the ink cartridge 1A set to the ink cartridge set section, and the light receiving section 102 which receives the emitted light, are arranged with the optical axes shifted. The ink cartridge 1A is provided with a first and a second reflecting surfaces 11, 12 which reflect the emitted light from the light emitting section 101 to send it to the light receiving section 102 when there remains a stored object in a properly set condition, and with a inclination interface 13 which is located on a path P where the light emitted from the light emitting section 101 reaches the light receiving section 102 and is switched between transmission and reflection by the presence/absence of the remaining object. The inclination interface 13 allows the light emitted from the light emitting section 101 to pass therethrough on the path P when there remains a stored object, while allowing the light emitted from the light emitting section 101 to a direction out of the path P when there remains no stored object. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
