Ink-jet recording apparatus having improved recovery device
US5485187A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jan 16, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/175
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ink-jet recording apparatus capable of efficiently performing a pressurization recovery operation on a recording head without causing clogging due to dust particles. An ink supply system for supplying ink to the head includes an ink container with an air space defined above the ink surface, and a pump for pressurizing air within the air space, which pump is arranged to connect the air space with either the pressure side of the pump or the atmosphere. In one embodiment, the ink container compriss a main ink tank, and an auxiliary ink tank, having the air space, provided between the head and the main ink tank. The main ink tank is controlled to maintain a predetermined pressure head of ink therein, and the auxiliary ink tank is positioned such that the auxiliary ink tank can have, under atmospheric pressure, substantially the same pressure head as the main ink tank. In another embodiment, a removable ink cartridge, serving as the ink container, is divided into small and large ink chambers. Thus, in either case the pump need only pressurize a small volume of air in the ink container so that, during a recovery operation, the air pressurized by the pump efficiently pressurizes the in…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.