Ink jet recording apparatus, method of replenishing ink to subtank in the apparatus, and method of checking the replenished amount of ink
First Claim
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1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:
- a recording head, mounted on a carriage which reciprocately moves in a widthwise direction of recording paper;
a subtank, mounted on the carriage for supplying ink;
a main tank, storing ink which is replenished to the subtank;
an ink amount detector, which detects an amount of ink stored in the subtank; and
a replenishment controller, which controls replenishment of ink stored in the main tank to the subtank, in accordance with the ink amount detected by the ink amount detector.
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Abstract
In an ink jet recording apparatus, a recording head is mounted on a carriage which reciprocately moves in a widthwise direction of recording paper. A subtank is mounted on the carriage for supplying ink. A main tank stores ink which is replenished to the subtank. An ink amount detector detects an amount of ink stored in the subtank. A replenishment controller controls replenishment of ink stored in the main tank to the subtank, in accordance with the ink amount detected by the ink amount detector.
85 Citations
63 Claims
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1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:
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a recording head, mounted on a carriage which reciprocately moves in a widthwise direction of recording paper;
a subtank, mounted on the carriage for supplying ink;
a main tank, storing ink which is replenished to the subtank;
an ink amount detector, which detects an amount of ink stored in the subtank; and
a replenishment controller, which controls replenishment of ink stored in the main tank to the subtank, in accordance with the ink amount detected by the ink amount detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 63)
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53. A method of replenishing ink stored in a main tank to a subtank mounted on a carriage reciprocately moving in a widthwise direction of recording paper, together with a recording head, which are incorporated in an ink jet recording apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying pressure generated by a compressor to the main tank;
operating an ink replenishing valve provided in a replenishment passage which connects the main tank and the subtank, so as to be opened and closed repeatedly in accordance with an amount of ink stored in the subtank. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 59, 60)
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57. A method of checking replenishment of ink stored in a main tank to a subtank mounted on a carriage reciprocately moving in a widthwise direction of recording paper, together with a recording head, which are incorporated in an ink jet recording apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting an ink amount replenished to the subtank;
discharging ink from the recording head when it is detected an ink overflow state in which the replenished ink amount detected by the detecting step exceeds a predetermined value;
checking whether the subtank is in the ink overflow state by detecting again an ink amount replenished to the subtank, after the discharging step;
continuing a printable condition of the apparatus when the ink overflow state is not detected by the checking step; and
determining an error condition of the apparatus when the ink overflow state is detected by the checking step.
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58. A method of checking replenishment of ink stored in a main tank to a subtank mounted on a carriage reciprocately moving in a widthwise direction of recording paper, together with a recording head, which are incorporated in an ink jet recording apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting an ink amount replenished to the subtank;
discharging ink from the recording head when it is detected an ink overflow state in which the replenished ink amount detected by the detecting step exceeds a predetermined value, while incrementing a number of which the ink overflow state is detected;
repeating the discharging step and the incrementing step while comparing the detected number with a predetermined number; and
detecting an error condition of the apparatus when the detected number reaches the predetermined number.
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61. A method of checking replenishment of ink stored in a main tank to a subtank mounted on a carriage reciprocately moving in a widthwise direction of recording paper, together with a recording head, which are incorporated in an ink jet recording apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting an ink amount replenished to the subtank;
performing a predetermined amount of printing when it is detected an ink overflow state in which the replenished ink amount detected by the detecting step exceeds a predetermined value;
checking whether the subtank is in the ink overflow state by detecting again an ink amount replenished to the subtank, after the printing step;
continuing a printable state of the apparatus when the ink overflow state is not detected by the checking step; and
determining an error state of the apparatus when the ink overflow state is detected by the checking step. - View Dependent Claims (62)
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Specification