Importance

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Abstract

The invention comprises an ink cartridge wherein a pair of electrodes for detecting the depletion of ink from the ink cartridge for an ink jet printer are positioned within a highly compressed portion of a porous member contained within the ink cartridge. The porous member is highly compressed by an ink supply section in an ink chamber. The electrodes are maintained in contact with electrode plates. One electrode may be disposed so as to be exposed to the inside of an ink supply port defined by the ink supply section. One of the electrodes may be formed of a fine mesh, a portion of the filter being embedded within the cartridge and a portion of the filter being positioned outside the cartridge. The detection plate may be formed with microscopic asperities thereon, formed as microscopic holes or grooves, in areas brought into contact with the electrodes. One electrode may be provided which extends through at least two ink chambers, the electrode aiding in determining whether ink has been depleted from any of the at least two ink chambers. The invention also comprises a mounting device for an ink cartridge, comprising an ink cartridge replacement mode setter, an ink suctioner, a determination circuit for detecting existence of ink in the ink supply section and for determining possibility of printing, and a display for displaying the determination result.

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First Claim