Tintenpatrone, Tintenpatronen-Befestigungsvorrichtung, Detektionsplatten eines Tintenende-Detektors und Verfahren zum Befestigen einer Tintenpatrone

A pair of electrode pins 21A,22A are positioned within a more compressed portion 16A of a porous member 16 contained in a chamber 13 of an ink cartridge 1 to detect the depletion of ink in the vicinity of an ink supply section 17 of the cartridge. The pins are electrically coupled to electrode detection plates 3,4 via a detection circuit 2, and as the water-soluble ink is consumed, the resistance between the plates increases indicating the depletion of the ink. A cartridge mounting device (500,Fig.5) is also provided, comprising an cartridge replacement mode setter (533), an ink pump (PU), and a determination circuit (520) for detecting ink in the supply section and determining whether sufficient ink remains for further printing.