| 摘要 |
The present invention has as its object to detect the termination of ink reliably and highly accurately in an ink jet recording apparatus. An ink cartridge 2 has an opening 5 for connection to a recording head 1, and is comprised of a negative pressure generating member containing portion 14 containing a negative pressure generating member 13 and having an atmosphere communicating port 10, and an ink containing portion 16 which is adjacent to the negative pressure generating member containing portion 14 and communicates therewith at the bottom 11 of the ink cartridge. Ink detecting means 3 is provided below the ink containing portion 16. When the detecting means 3 detects a reduction in the remain in the ink containing portion 16, ink remains only in the negative pressure generating member containing portion 14 and the remainder can be substantially estimated. For the remaining ink, the amount of use is calculated by the counting of discharge pulses or the like and is compared, whereby the remain of the ink can be detected accurately and easily.
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