Recording apparatus having a device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorYoshio Uchikata
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, which is installed on an ink-jet recording apparatus, is configured to determine the presence or absence of ink in the ink flow path by detecting the reflection of light from a light transmission portion by irradiating light thereon. The light transmission portion is formed on at least a part of the ink path wall that forms the ink flow path for supplying ink to the recording head. As a result, it becomes possible for responding to consumer demands of designing a smaller version of the ink tank, a cost effective production thereof, and the like in addition to provide images with excellent image qualities.
Claims10
1-20. (canceled)
An ink tank for supplying ink to a recording means that ejects ink and is fixed on or removably mounted on a recording apparatus for recording input image information on a recording medium using the recording means, said ink tank comprising:
- a casing forming a chamber for storing the ink, said casing having a plurality of rectangular walls;
- an engagement member by which said ink tank engages with the recording means, said engagement member being provided on a first one of said walls;
- and
- a reflecting portion having at least two surfaces configured to reflect an amount of incident light from outside said ink tank according to an amount of ink in said ink tank, said reflecting portion being arranged at a predetermined position on a second one of said walls,
- wherein said at least two surfaces are formed at predetermined angles with respect to said second wall to form a dihedral angle having a vertex line parallel to said second wall, said second wall is different from said first wall, on which said engagement member is provided, and said first wall shares a shorter edge of said second wall as a border with said second wall.
A recording unit comprising an ink tank and a recording means that ejects ink supplied by said ink tank, said recording means being fixed on or removably mounted on a recording apparatus for recording input image information on a recording medium using said recording means, said ink tank comprising:
- a casing forming a chamber for storing the ink, said casing having a plurality of rectangular walls;
- an engagement member by which said ink tank engages with the recording means, said engagement member being provided on a first one of said walls;
- and
- a reflecting portion having at least two surfaces configured to reflect an amount of incident light from outside said ink tank according to an amount of ink in said ink tank, said reflecting portion being arranged at a predetermined position on a second one of said walls,
- wherein said at least two surfaces are formed at predetermined angles with respect to said second wall to form a dihedral angle having a vertex line parallel to said second wall, said second wall is different from said first wall, on which said engagement member is provided, and said first wall shares a shorter edge of said second wall as a border with said second wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.