# US 2009/0262152 A1 · Inkjet printer system and ink supply apparatus

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- Number: US 2009/0262152 A1
- Document ID: US20090262152A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/419,286
- Filed: 2009-04-06
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-16
- Assignees: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Kazutaka Tamaki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090262152A1

## CPC

- B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor}
- B41J 2/17509: {Whilst mounted in the printer}
- B41J 2/17566: {Ink level or ink residue control}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

An inkjet printer system includes a print head and a sub tank. The print head is configured to eject ink. The sub tank is provided above the print head and connected to the print head via a head-side supply passage. The sub tank has a first supplying hole and a second supplying hole which are connected to the head-side supply passage. A position of the first supplying hole is higher than a position of the second supplying hole.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inkjet printer system comprising:
a print head configured to eject ink; and
a sub tank provided above the print head and connected to the print head via a head-side supply passage, the sub tank having a first supplying hole and a second supplying hole which are connected to the head-side supply passage, a position of the first supplying hole being higher than a position of the second supplying hole.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printer system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a main tank connected to the sub tank and capable of storing ink to be supplied to the sub tank.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The inkjet printer system according to claim 2, further comprising:
a main body having the main tank; and
a carriage relatively movable with respect to the main body and having the print head and the sub tank.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printer system according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the first supplying hole is larger than a cross-sectional area of the second supplying hole.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printer system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a sub tank depressurizing unit configured to make a pressure in the sub tank to be lower than atmospheric pressure; and
a sub tank pressurizing unit configured to make the pressure in the sub tank to be higher than the atmospheric pressure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printer system according to claim 1, wherein the ink comprises UV ink.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printer system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a sensor configured to detect an amount of ink contained in the sub tank.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The inkjet printer system according to claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises
a float member provided in the sub tank and capable of floating in the ink,
a magnet provided at the float member, and
a magnetic sensor fixed in the sub tank and configured to detect the magnet.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printer system according to claim 1, wherein the sub tank includes
an ink introduction hole connected to an ink introduction passage, and
an air introduction hole connected to an air introduction passage, the air introduction hole being provided above the ink introduction hole.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The inkjet printer system according to claim 9, further comprising:
a check valve provided at the air introduction hole.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printer system according to claim 1, wherein the sub tank depressurizing unit is configured to make the pressure in the sub tank to be from about −1 kPa to about −2 kPa.

### Claim 12

An ink supply apparatus comprising:
a sub tank provided above a print head of a inkjet printer system and connected to the print head via a head-side supply passage, the sub tank having a first supplying hole and a second supplying hole which are connected to the head-side supply passage, a position of the first supplying hole being higher than a position of the second supplying hole.