PRINTER

摘要

A printer capable of detecting the presence of ink, including whether an ink tank is attached. A detachable ink tank (32) on a carriage (31) includes a prism (32C), and a reflective optical sensor (33) detects the presence of ink depending on the difference in refractive index between the two states, that is, filled and empty. A reflector lever (35), movable in response to the ink tank (32) being attached or detached, is provided on the bottom of an ink tank holder (34). The reflector lever (35) has one end fixed on a lower part of the ink tank and the other end that is a free end consisting of a triangular reflector (35D). The reflector lever (35) is normally urged upward by an elastic member (35A), and it will not direct the reflection toward the sensor (33) in the absence of the ink tank whereas it is deformed in the presence of the ink tank to direct the reflection toward the sensor (33). As a result, the presence of the ink tank is detected.