Patent ID: 6234597
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink-jet printer comprising:an ink storage unit for storing ink;an ink supplement member, detachably connected to said ink storage unit, for supplementing ink into said ink storage unit;a print head for receiving the ink from the ink storage unit and ejecting the ink to print an image on a print medium that is moved relatively to the print head;an ink-amount sensing section for sensing that an amount of the ink remaining in said ink storage unit is decreased to less than a reference amount to generate a sense signal; anda print control circuit for driving said print head such that images are printed on print media in a number ordered by each print job except in a state where the sense signal is generated by said ink-amount sensing section;wherein said ink storage unit is connected to said print head by an ink supply tube, and said reference amount to be sensed by said ink-amount sensing section is set such that a limited number of prints are obtainable without any intrusion of air into said ink supply tube from said ink storage unit; andwherein said print control circuit includes a continuation means for continuing a print job being executed at a time when the sense signal is generated by said ink-amount sensing section, using the ink remaining in said ink storage unit at the time when the sense signal is generated by said ink-amount sensing section.