LIQUID DETECTING METHOD AND LIQUID DETECTING SYSTEM

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid detecting method and a liquid detecting system, which enable the sure determination of the presence or absence of a liquid without decreasing throughput of a liquid jet apparatus. SOLUTION: This method for detecting the liquid inside a liquid vessel for use in the liquid jet apparatus by using a liquid detector comprises: a consumption computing step of computing the estimated consumption of the liquid in the liquid vessel in accordance with information indicating the relationship between the amount of operation of the liquid jet apparatus and the consumption of the liquid; and an actual consumption detecting step of detecting the state of the actual consumption of the liquid in the liquid vessel by the liquid detector, when the estimated consumption, which is computed in the consumption computing step, reaches a preset constant rate. After the state of the actual consumption is detected in the actual consumption detecting step, the already computed estimated consumption is reset. In the next consumption computing step, the estimated consumption is newly computed from the time of the last detection associated with the state of the actual consumption. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI