| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To provide the title apparatus adaptable even to ink using any kind of a solvent and an ink tank having any kind of shape, by allowing a small float having a magnetic body mounted therein so as to cover the liquid surface of ink and apparently providing magnetism to the liquid surface of ink and detecting the liquid surface of the ink by a preliminarily arranged magnetism-sensitive sensor. CONSTITUTION:Small detection floats 3 each formed by wrapping a magnetic body and air in a polymer material are allowed to float on the liquid surface formed by the ink 2 received in an ink container 1 so as to cover the whole liquid surface of the ink 2. Therefore, when the ink 2 is consumed, the liquid surface of the ink is lowered and, at the same time, the floats 3 floating on the liquid surface are also lowered as the ink is consumed. When the consumption of the ink is further advanced and the liquid level is lowered to a position where an ink absent state must be detected, the magnetism of the floats 3 is detected by the magnetic sensor 4 arranged at a definite position outside the ink container 1 and the ink absent state is detected. When the ink absent state is detected, recording operation is stopped by the function of a control circuit and, therefore, the ink can be replenished from an ink replenishing port 5. |
