Patent ID: 6736477
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink-jet printing apparatus having a mounting portion for mounting a detachable ink tank that stores ink, the ink tank having an information storing portion for storing information pertaining to the ink tank, and the ink-jet printing apparatus performing printing by ejecting from a printing head the ink stored in said ink tank, the ink-jet printing apparatus comprising:a memory incorporated in a body of the printing apparatus for storing information; writing means for writing information pertaining to the ink tank into said information storing portion of said ink tank while said ink tank is mounted in said mounting portion; reading means for reading information from said information storing portion of said ink tank while said ink tank is mounted in said mounting portion; and control means for judging, when an exchange of said ink tank is detected by said printer, whether said ink tank is brand new based on said information read from said information storing portion of said ink tank by said reading means, for setting individual discrimination information for the ink tank that discriminates the ink tank from other ink tanks in the case that the ink tank is exchanged and is judged as brand new, and for memorizing the set individual discrimination information into said information storing portion of said ink tank by using said writing means, wherein, when said control means judges the exchanged ink tank as brand new, said control means causes said memory to memorize the individual discrimination information which is set in said information storing portion of said ink tank.