US 10,300,705 B2 · Fluid ejection device and control method therefor

Abstract

Ink consumption accompanying purging bubbles from the buffer tank is suppressed. An inkjet printer has a buffer tank disposed to an ink path that supplies ink to a printhead. A first channel connects to the buffer tank at the bottom of the ink chamber, and a second channel connects to the top of the ink chamber. To print, the first valve and second valve are open, and ink is supplied from the first channel, into which bubbles do not easily flow. To purge bubbles, the first valve closes and the maintenance unit is driven in a cleaning operation, discharging bubbles with ink from the second channel. The second valve then closes, the maintenance unit is driven to create negative pressure downstream from the second valve, and the second valve then opens in a choke cleaning operation that discharges ink with entrained bubbles at once.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A fluid ejection device comprising:

a fluid ejection head;
a buffer tank configured to hold fluid to supply to the fluid ejection head;
a fluid storage unit configured to supply the fluid to the buffer tank;
a first channel connecting the buffer tank and the fluid ejection head;
a second channel connected to the buffer tank and merging with the first channel;
and
a channel switching mechanism configured to change between a first state in which the fluid flows from the buffer tank to the first channel, and a second state in which the fluid does not flow in the first channel and flows from the buffer tank to the second channel.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluid ejection device and control method therefor

Life of this patent

Fluid ejection device and control method therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12