Patent ID: 7552989

Claim:
An ink run-out detector for use in an ink jet recording apparatus that is provided with a cartridge mounting section for mounting an ink cartridge in a removable fashion, and a recording head in which ink is supplied from said ink cartridge and is discharged to record an image on a recording medium, said ink run-out detector comprising: a checking section formed in an ink chamber of said ink cartridge, said checking section comprising a curing agent that is cured when the ink contained in said ink chamber is reduced to expose said curing agent to air or light, and an ink-impermeable protection film for protecting said curing agent against the ink as contained in said ink chamber; a detection device for detecting whether said curing agent is uncured or cured while said ink cartridge is mounted on said cartridge mounting section; and a judging device for judging whether the ink remains in said ink chamber or not by a detection result of said detection device.