# US 10,479,089 B2 · Supply liquid tank unit and ink jet recording apparatus including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,089 B2 - Document ID: US10479089B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/987,495 - Filed: 2018-05-23 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-02 - Assignees: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc. - Applicants: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc. - Inventors: Tatsuhiko Yoshii - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479089B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/16552: {using cleaning fluids} - B41J 2/1721: {Collecting waste ink; Collectors therefor} - B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} - B41J 2/17509: {Whilst mounted in the printer} - B41J 2/17513: {Inner structure} - B41J 2/1752: {Mounting within the printer} - B41J 2/17553: {Outer structure} - B41J 2/17566: {Ink level or ink residue control} - B41J 2/19: for removing air bubbles - B41J 13/00: Devices or arrangements {of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers,} specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets - B41J 29/13: Cases or covers - B41J 2002/16558: {Using cleaning liquid for wet wiping} - B41J 2002/17573: {using optical means for ink level indication} - B41J 2002/17579: {Measuring electrical impedance for ink level indication} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract The supply liquid tank unit of the disclosure includes a supply liquid tank, and a detection sensor. The detection sensor detects a liquid level of liquid in the supply liquid tank. The supply liquid tank includes a first chamber provided with an inflow port, a second chamber provided with an outflow port, a partition wall for partitioning the first chamber and the second chamber from each other, and a lower communicating path which is formed from a lower end of the partition wall and a lower surface of the supply liquid tank and which makes the first chamber and the second chamber communicating with each other. The detection sensor detects a liquid level of the liquid in the second chamber and is placed above the lower end of the partition wall. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A supply liquid tank unit comprising: a supply liquid tank for containing cleaning liquid for cleaning a recording head to be supplied to the recording head that ejects ink onto a recording medium; and a detection sensor for detecting a liquid level of the cleaning liquid in the supply liquid tank, wherein the supply liquid tank includes: a first chamber provided with an inflow port allowing inflow of the cleaning liquid; a second chamber provided with an outflow port allowing outflow of the cleaning liquid; a partition wall for partitioning the first chamber and the second chamber from each other; and a lower communicating path which is formed from a lower end of the partition wall and a lower surface of the supply liquid tank and which makes the first chamber and the second chamber communicating with each other, the outflow port is placed below the detection sensor, the detection sensor detects a liquid level of the cleaning liquid in the second chamber, and is placed above the lower end of the partition wall, and the inflow port is placed at a higher position than the outflow port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The supply liquid tank unit according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is placed closer to the outflow port than an intermediate position between the inflow port and the outflow port. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The supply liquid tank unit according to claim 1, wherein the supply liquid tank further includes an upper communicating path which is formed from an upper end of the partition wall and an upper surface of the supply liquid tank and which makes the first chamber and the second chamber communicating with each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The supply liquid tank unit according to claim 1, wherein the outflow port is placed below the lower end of the partition wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The supply liquid tank unit according to claim 1, wherein the supply liquid tank is formed so as to extend horizontally, the inflow port is provided at one longitudinal end portion of the supply liquid tank, and the outflow port is provided at the other longitudinal end portion of the supply liquid tank. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The supply liquid tank unit according to claim 1, wherein the entire detection sensor is placed below an upper end of the partition wall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The supply liquid tank unit according to claim 1, wherein the lower surface includes an inclined surface, the lower communicating path is formed by the lower end of the partition wall and the inclined surface, and the inclined surface is inclined downward in a direction from the first chamber to the second chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The supply liquid tank unit according to claim 1, wherein the supply liquid tank includes a pair of side surfaces, and the partition wall connects together the pair of side surfaces and has a void formed inside. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The supply liquid tank unit according to claim 1, wherein part of the inflow port is placed at a same height as an upper end of the partition wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The supply liquid tank unit according to claim 1, wherein an atmospheric air opening for equalizing internal pressures of the first chamber and the second chamber with atmospheric pressure is provided in an upper surface of the supply liquid tank. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The supply liquid tank unit according to claim 10, wherein the inflow port is arranged at a lower position than the atmospheric air opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: the supply liquid tank unit according to claim 1; and the recording head for ejecting ink onto the recording medium. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a wiper, wherein the recording head includes a head portion that ejects the ink and a cleaning liquid supply member that supplies the cleaning liquid, the cleaning liquid supply member is placed adjacent to the head portion on an upstream side thereof in a wiping direction of the wiper, and the wiper wipes an ink ejection surface of the head portion while holding the cleaning liquid.