Method of and apparatus for determining an amount of ink using current in ink-jet printer

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for using current in an ink-jet printer having a head including a plurality of nozzles for each color and nozzle driving units driving the nozzles include detecting an amount of the current flowing through the head, dividing the detected amount of the current by a unit current and determining a result of the division as a first nozzle number, and accumulating first nozzle numbers and determining a result of the accumulation as a second nozzle number. A state of the ink-jet printer is determined using the second nozzle number, and the unit current corresponds to current flowing through a nozzle through which ink is ejected. The amount of the current flowing through the head can be detected, and the number of the nozzles, through which the ink has been ejected, can be precisely obtained using the detected amount of the current such that the amount of the ink in use, a remaining amount of the ink, or an ink deficiency degree for each color is precisely checked, and malfunction of the nozzles is recognized easily and quickly using the detected amount of the current.