Ink reservoir

• US 4,610,202 A
• Filed: 12/20/1984
• Issued: 09/09/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ebinuma, Ryuichi, Hattori, Yoshifumi, Ichihashi, Hiroo
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weresh, John A.
• Application Number:
  US06/684,120
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 101/364, 101/366, 101/DIG. 24, 73/1 H, 73/304 C, 73/304 R, 361/284, 137/392, 33/1 V, 400/126, 346/140 R, 116/109, 116/227
• US Class Current: 101/364
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor

Abstract

An ink jet recorder comprises a first tank as an ink supply source, a second tank as an ink supply source for the first tank, and three switching means and a pump arranged in an ink supply path. By controlling open/close states of the switching means and operation condition of the pump, print mode, supply mode, pressure mode, circulation mode or store mode can be selectively established.

Claims

1. An ink reservoir for storing ink to be supplied to a print head, said ink reservoir comprising:

a tank for storing ink to be supplied to the print head;

an ink level measurement area in said tank; and

a sensor for detecting the ink level of the ink stored in said tank, said sensor being arranged outside of said ink level measurement area said tank has a top surface, and wherein a portion of said top surface of said tank has a recess defined therein and a projection is defined rising from said recess, said projection defining said ink level measurement area, and said tank has a bottom and wherein said ink level measurement area becomes wider toward said bottom of said tank.

2. An ink reservoir according to claim 1 wherein said ink level measurement area is disposed at the center of said top surface of said tank.

3. An ink reservoir according to claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a pair of electrodes and the ink level is detected by means of an electrostatic capacitance between said electrodes.

4. An ink reservoir according to claim 1 wherein said ink level measurement area is made of transparent material and said sensor comprises a pair of photocouplers so that the ink level is detected by the transmission of light.

5. An ink reservoir according to claim 1 wherein said ink level measurement area is disposed at the center of said top surface of said tank.

6. An ink reservoir according to claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a pair of electrodes and the ink level is detected by means of an electrostatic capacitance between said electrodes.

7. An ink reservoir according to claim 1 wherein said ink level measurement area is made of tansparent material and said sensor comprises a pair of photocouplers so that the ink level is detected by the transmission of light.

8. An ink reservoir according to claim 1 wherein said ink level measurement area is disposed at the center of said top surface of said tank.

9. An ink reservoir according to claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a pair of electrodes and the ink level is detected by means of an electrostatic capacitance between said electrodes.

10. An ink reservoir according to claim 1 wherein said ink level measurement area is made of transparent material and said sensor comprises a pair of photocouplers so that the ink level is detected by the transmission of light.