Ink consumption detection using a photosensor with a light-transmissive ink container

摘要

An ink-jet recording apparatus has an ink container which has a plurality of defined chambers for containing ink and a detecting device which detects the residual ink quantity in the chambers. The detecting device has photosensors fixed in the recording apparatus which can detect the residual ink quantity in the chambers optically based on an amount of light passing through the chambers. As the ink container moves with a printhead carried by a carriage, the photosensors detect the residual ink quantities in the chambers one after another, whereby a simple detecting device for an ink container having multiple ink chambers can be provided.