Image forming apparatus including recording head for ejecting liquid droplets

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an apparatus body;
• a recording head to eject droplets of liquids;
• a plurality of head tanks to supply the liquids to the recording head;
• a plurality of main tanks removably mounted in the apparatus body to store the liquids to be supplied to the recording head;
• a plurality of liquid feed pumps to feed the liquids from the plurality of main tanks to the plurality of head tanks and in reverse from the plurality of head tanks to the plurality of main tanks;
• a first driving source to drive the plurality of liquid feed pumps;
• a drive control unit to control driving of the first driving source;
• and
• a drive switching assembly to selectively transmit a driving force of the first driving source to the plurality of liquid feed pumps, the drive switching assembly including
• a second driving source controlled by the drive control unit,
• a cam rotated by the second driving source,
• a slider member movable in a thrust direction with rotation of the cam, and
• a switching gear to receive the driving force of the first driving source and movable with the slider member between positions to engage driving gears of the plurality of liquid feed pumps and a position to disengage from the driving gears of the plurality of liquid feed pumps, wherein, with movement of the switching gear, the driving force of the first driving source is selectively transmitted to the plurality of liquid feed pumps.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an apparatus body;
• a recording head to eject droplets of liquids;
• a plurality of head tanks to supply the liquids to the recording head;
• a plurality of main tanks removably mounted in the apparatus body to store the liquids to be supplied to the recording head;
• a plurality of liquid feed pumps to feed the liquids from the plurality of main tanks to the plurality of head tanks and in reverse from the plurality of head tanks to the plurality of main tanks;
• a first driving source to drive the plurality of liquid feed pumps;
• a drive control unit to control driving of the first driving source;
• and
• a drive switching assembly to selectively transmit a driving force of the first driving source to the plurality of liquid feed pumps, the drive switching assembly including
• a second driving source controlled by the drive control unit,
• a cam rotated by the second driving source,
• a rotary member rotatable with the cam;
• a slider member movable in a thrust direction with rotation of the cam,
• a switching gear to receive the driving force of the first driving source and movable with the slider member between positions to engage driving gears of the plurality of liquid feed pumps and a position to disengage from the driving gears of the plurality of liquid feed pumps, wherein, with movement of the switching gear, the driving force of the first driving source is selectively transmitted to the plurality of liquid feed pumps.