Patent ID: 8474932
Filing Date: 2013-07-02
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a recording head configured to jet liquid droplets; a head tank configured to accommodate liquid to be supplied to the recording head; a main tank configured to accommodate liquid to be supplied to the head tank; a liquid sending pump configured to send the liquid from the main tank to the head tank; a full tank detection unit configured to detect whether the head tank is in a full state when sending liquid from the main tank to the head tank; an empty determination unit configured to determine an empty state of the main tank, when the full state of the head tank is not detected by the full tank detection unit even if a predetermined liquid sending amount is sent from the main tank to the head tank; and a near empty detection unit configured to detect whether a remaining liquid amount in the main tank is less than or equal to a predetermined remaining amount, wherein the full tank detection unit switches the predetermined liquid sending amount to be sent from the main tank to the head tank, which is required for detecting whether the head tank is in the full state, between a first liquid sending amount and a second liquid sending amount that is greater than the first liquid sending amount, wherein the full tank detection unit detects whether the head tank is in the full state based on a liquid sending operation of sending the first liquid sending amount, when the remaining liquid amount in the main tank is greater than the predetermined remaining amount, and the full tank detection unit detects whether the head tank is in the full state based on a liquid sending operation of sending the second liquid sending amount, when the remaining liquid amount in the main tank is less than or equal to the predetermined remaining amount.