Ink detection for printers and scanners

摘要

A printer that performs high-precision residual-ink detection regardless of various movements accompanying print operation and facsimile apparatus using the printer. When an ink cartridge reciprocates along a main-scanning direction, ink surface of ink 91 varies depending on a moving direction and moving condition (stationary state, uniform motion, accelerated motion and decelerated motion) of the ink cartridge. Accordingly, the residual-ink detection is controlled such that a residual-ink amount can be detected by using photosensor 11 and reflection board 93, at the same detection timing (e.g., always at timing of uniform motion).