Patent ID: 9144992
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An ink jet recording apparatus, the ink jet recording apparatus being a continuous type ink jet recording apparatus that has a reservoir detachably receiving a solvent cartridge and adjusts the viscosity of an ink liquid by replenishment with a solvent from the solvent cartridge, the ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a main tank storing an ink liquid therein; a solvent flowing tube connected to the reservoir, the solvent flowing tube allowing a solvent in the solvent cartridge attached to the reservoir to flow therethrough; a pump for sucking the solvent in the solvent cartridge attached to the reservoir to supply the sucked solvent to the main tank through the solvent flowing tube; and a replaceable optical emptiness detection unit disposed in the path of the solvent flowing tube, wherein, the light transmissive tube is connected to the solvent flowing tube when the replaceable optical emptiness detection unit is disposed in the path of the solvent flowing tube, and wherein emptiness detection for the solvent cartridge attached to the reservoir is performed based on the signal output from the light receiver.