| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink cartridge, which can minimize information stored in a memory for managing the residual ink within the ink cartridge, and which can control the supply of the ink from the ink cartridge with a simple configuration. SOLUTION: In a printer, the ink is supplied from an ink cartridge 1 to a storage tank 6 after confirming that the residual amount of the ink within the storage tank is small by detecting the residual amount of the ink. In this ink supply, the amount of the ink smaller than the ink capacity within the storage tank is supplied. At this time, the information stored in a memory means 2 provided in the cartridge is referred to. When the number of remaining charges is not zero (the number of charges to be applicable), the ink is supplied. The number of charges is subtracted by one. The updated information is recorded into the memory means. Further, when the referred number of remaining charges becomes 0, the charging operation is not carried out, and an alarm is given to a user. In other words, the ink capacity within the ink cartridge can be confirmed based on single information, and appropriate printing operation corresponding to the information becomes possible. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO |
