# US 11,298,953 B2 · Printing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,953 B2 - Document ID: US11298953B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/917,313 - Filed: 2020-06-30 - Published: 2021-02-18 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-15 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Sae Mogi; Kazuo Suzuki; Shin Genta; Hiroshi Taira - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298953B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/17509: {Whilst mounted in the printer} - B41J 2/17596: {Ink pumps, ink valves} - B41J 2/045: by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers - B41J 2/16508: {connected with the printer frame} - B41J 2/16526: {by applying pressure only} - B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A printing apparatus includes an ink tank that stores ink, a supply tube that supplies the ink from the ink tank, and a printing head that includes therein a pressure chamber arranged with an ejection port to eject the ink and performs reciprocal moving. The printing head includes a first liquid chamber that includes a connection portion with the supply channel, a second liquid chamber that communicates with the first liquid chamber by way of the pressure chamber, and a volume variable unit that changes an inner volume of the second liquid chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printing apparatus, comprising: a tank configured to store ink; a printing head provided with an ejection port to eject ink and a pressure chamber to be filled with ink and configured to perform reciprocal moving; and a supply channel configured to supply ink from the tank to the printing head, wherein the printing head includes a first liquid chamber provided with a connection portion with the supply channel, a second liquid chamber configured to communicate with the first liquid chamber by way of the pressure chamber, and a volume variable unit configured to change an inner volume of the second liquid chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the volume variable unit includes a wall arranged in the second liquid chamber and movable according to a pressure, and an elastic member joined to the wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the volume variable unit includes a flexible member arranged in the second liquid chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the volume variable unit is formed such that a speed of expansion of the inner volume and a speed of contraction of the inner volume are different from each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the volume variable unit includes a partition member configured to partition inside the volume variable unit, a plurality of passages provided in the partition member, and a valve configured to open and close at least one of the passages according to a pressure variation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tank is fixed to a predetermined position in the printing apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply channel is formed of a flexible member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the flexible member is a tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the tube is routed in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of the reciprocal moving by the printing head, and the routing direction is not changed along with the reciprocal moving by the printing head. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the tube is routed in a circular shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a carriage configured to move reciprocally with the printing head mounted thereon. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing head includes a first channel configured to connect the first liquid chamber and the pressure chamber, and a second channel configured to connect the pressure chamber and the second liquid chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the printing head includes a plurality of the ejection ports, and the first channel and the second channel are connected with each ejection port. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tank is opened to atmosphere during the reciprocal moving by the printing head. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing head includes an energy generation element, and the generated energy from the energy generation element affects ink in the pressure chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The printing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the energy generation element is arranged in the pressure chamber.