Patent ID: 7325893
Filing Date: 2008-02-05
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising: a pair of electrodes that are in contact with ink in the ink container and that are spaced apart; a detecting unit that detects an electrical characteristic between the pair of electrodes; a first route of least electrical resistance, which is formed so as to electrically connect the pair of electrodes via the ink in a state that the ink in the ink container is more than a first prescribed amount; a second route of least electrical resistance, which is formed so as to electrically connect the pair of electrodes via the ink in a state that the ink in the ink container is of the first prescribed amount or less, the second route establishing electrical continuity though it is different from the first route in the electrical characteristic between the pair of electrodes via the ink; and a first judging unit that judges an ink residual amount of the container based on the electrical characteristic detected by the detecting unit.