# US 2021/0331484 A1 · Image-recording apparatus including first tank, second tank connectable to first tank, and head for ejecting liquid supplied from second tank

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- Number: US 2021/0331484 A1
- Document ID: US20210331484A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/371,199
- Filed: 2021-07-09
- Published: 2021-10-28
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-28
- Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI; Akinari ISHIBE; Yuma TANABE; Masatake SATO; Akihito KOBAYASHI; Hiroaki TAKAHASHI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210331484A1

## CPC

- B41J 2/17523: {Ink connection}
- B41J 2/14274: {of stacked structure type, deformed by compression/extension and disposed on a diaphragm}
- B41J 2/17509: {Whilst mounted in the printer}
- B41J 2/17513: {Inner structure}
- B41J 2/1752: {Mounting within the printer}
- B41J 2/17533: {Storage or packaging of ink cartridges}
- B41J 2/17553: {Outer structure}
- B41J 2/19: for removing air bubbles
- B41J 29/02: Framework
- C09D 11/40: Ink-sets specially adapted for multi-colour inkjet printing
- B41J 29/13: Cases or covers
- C09D 11/30: Inkjet printing inks
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)

## Abstract

An image-recording apparatus includes: a first tank defining a first storage chamber; a second tank defining a second storage chamber; a conveying mechanism for conveying sheets along a conveying path extending in a depthwise direction and a widthwise direction perpendicular to a vertical direction and the depthwise direction; and a recording head including a nozzle. Liquid in the first storage chamber is supplied through a communication port to the second storage chamber and then to the recording head through a liquid outlet port. The second storage chamber is positioned further in a first depthwise direction relative to the nozzle and further in a first widthwise direction relative to the conveying path. A volume of a prescribed space above a liquid level equal to a height of the communication port in the second storage chamber is greater than that of a liquid channel between the liquid outlet port and the nozzle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image-recording apparatus comprising:
a tank comprising:
a liquid inlet port through which liquid is introduced;
a liquid storage chamber configured to store the liquid flowing through the liquid inlet port;
a liquid outlet port through which the liquid in the liquid storage chamber is configured to be discharged; and
an air communication portion configured to allow the liquid storage chamber to communicate with an atmosphere;
a conveying mechanism configured to convey a sheet along a conveying path extending in a depthwise direction perpendicular to a vertical direction, the depthwise direction including a first depthwise direction and a second depthwise direction opposite to each other, the conveying path having a width in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the depthwise direction, the widthwise direction including a first widthwise direction and a second widthwise direction opposite to each other; and
a recording head positioned above the conveying path and in communication with the liquid outlet port through a liquid channel, the recording head having a nozzle through which the liquid supplied through the liquid channel is configured to be ejected toward the conveying path,
wherein the second storage chamber is positioned further in the first depthwise direction relative to the nozzle and is positioned further in the first widthwise direction relative to the conveying path;
wherein the liquid outlet port is configured to discharge the liquid out of the second storage chamber at a position below a center of the second storage chamber in the vertical direction, and at the position further in the first depthwise direction relative to a depthwise center of the second storage chamber, and at the position further in the first widthwise direction relative to a widthwise center of the second storage chamber; and
wherein the liquid storage chamber includes:
a buffer chamber positioned further in the second widthwise direction relative to the liquid outlet port, the buffer chamber being defined as a space positioned above a specific level of the liquid equal to a height of the liquid inlet port with respect to the vertical direction;
a first chamber positioned below the buffer chamber and in communication with the liquid outlet port; and
a second chamber connecting the buffer chamber and the first chamber to each other, the second chamber having a horizontal cross-sectional area smaller than a horizontal cross-sectional area of the buffer chamber and smaller than a horizontal cross-sectional area of the first chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image-recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a wall provided in the first chamber and extending in the vertical direction and the depthwise direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The image-recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the wall is positioned offset from the liquid outlet port in the vertical direction and the depthwise direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The image-recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a specific surface defines an end of the buffer chamber in the first widthwise direction; and
wherein the wall is positioned adjacent to a liquid level provided by a stipulated maximum amount of the liquid that can be stored in the liquid storage chamber in a state where the image-recording apparatus is disposed in such a posture that the specific surface defines an upper end of the buffer chamber in the vertical direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image-recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage chamber further includes a third chamber connecting the buffer chamber and the first chamber to each other at a position further in the second widthwise direction relative to the second chamber; and
wherein a sum of the horizontal cross-sectional area of the second chamber and a horizontal cross-sectional area of the third chamber is smaller than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the buffer chamber and smaller than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the first chamber.

### Claim 6

An image-recording apparatus comprising:
a first tank comprising:
a first storage chamber configured to store liquid;
a liquid supply port through which the liquid in the first storage chamber is configured to be supplied; and
a first air communication passage through which the first storage chamber is allowed to communicate with an atmosphere;
a second tank comprising:
a liquid inlet port through which the liquid supplied through the liquid supply port is configured to be introduced;
a second storage chamber configured to store the liquid introduced through the liquid inlet port;
a liquid outlet port through which the liquid stored in the second storage chamber is configured to be discharged; and
a second air communication passage configured to allow the second storage chamber to communicate with the atmosphere;
a conveying mechanism configured to convey a sheet along a conveying path extending in a depthwise direction perpendicular to a vertical direction, the depthwise direction including a first depthwise direction and a second depthwise direction opposite to each other, the conveying path having a width in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the depthwise direction, the widthwise direction including a first widthwise direction and a second widthwise direction opposite to each other; and
a recording head positioned above the conveying path and in communication with the liquid outlet port through a liquid channel, the recording head having a nozzle through which the liquid supplied through the liquid channel is configured to be ejected toward the conveying path,
wherein the second storage chamber is positioned further in the first depthwise direction relative to the nozzle and is positioned further in the first widthwise direction relative to the conveying path;
wherein the liquid outlet port is configured to discharge the liquid from the second storage chamber at a position below a center of the second storage chamber in the vertical direction, and at the position further in the first widthwise direction relative to a widthwise center of the second storage chamber; and
wherein the liquid outlet port is positioned further in the first widthwise direction relative to the liquid inlet port and the first storage chamber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The image-recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first air communication passage is in communication with the first storage chamber through a communication opening provided at a top surface facing downward and defining a ceiling of the first storage chamber;
wherein the first storage chamber is partitioned by a wall portion into an upper space above the wall portion and a lower space below the wall portion in the vertical direction, the wall portion extending in the first widthwise direction from a side surface defining the first storage chamber and facing in the first widthwise direction;
wherein the wall portion is positioned above the liquid supply port in the first storage chamber, the wall portion being formed with a gap through which the upper space and the lower space are allowed to communicate with each other, the gap having one end in the second widthwise direction; and
wherein the communication opening has one end in the second widthwise direction, the one end of the gap being positioned further in the first widthwise direction relative to the one end of the communication opening.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The image-recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein first tank further comprises a buffer space positioned between one end of the first air communication passage and another end of the first air communication passage, air being allowed to flow from the one end toward the another end of the first air communication passage, the buffer space defining a vertical cross-sectional area greater than a vertical cross-sectional area of the first air communication passage.