| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To enable to detect the residual amount of an ink economically and easily, by a method wherein a switch operated when the amount of an ink is reduced is provided in proximity to a fulcrum of turning of a lever making contact with an ink bag. CONSTITUTION:One end of a position-detecting lever 26 is turnably fitted to a support member 25 fixed to an upper part of a carriage 20, while the other end is brought into contact with the ink bag 1 through an opening part 23 of the carriage 20 and opening parts 11a, 16a provided in an upper cover part of an outer frame of the ink cartridge. A light-shielding plate 27 is provided in proximity to the fulcrum of turning of the lever 26, and light-emitting and light-receiving elements 28, 28' such as a photo-interrupter are fixed to the carriage 20 on opposite sides of the plate 27. As the amount of the ink is reduced, the plate 27 is lowered concurrently with the lowering of the lever 26, and when the ink is used up, the plate 27 shields light. A means for issuing an alarm when it is detected that the residual amount of the ink is reduced to zero or the like is connected to the light-receiving element 28'. |
