Liquid refilling method, liquid supplying apparatus, and liquid jet recording apparatus
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsMasatoshi Ikkatai, Yasuyuki Takanaka
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for refilling liquid to a liquid supply path is provided with a sub-tank for supplying the liquid by retaining it temporarily and inducing the air outside into the sub-tank. This method comprises the steps of making the sub-tank a closed space and filling the liquid while reducing pressure in the sub-tank. With the application of this method, liquid can be supplied stably. Also, by use of a pump serving as means for generating negative pressure in the sub-tank, which can be installed on a path different from the liquid supply path, the structure of the liquid supply path becomes simpler to make it easier to avoid liquid leakage or other operational difficulties for the enhancement of a stabilized supply of liquid.
Claims16
A method for refilling liquid to a sub-tank, the liquid being refilled from a main tank of a liquid discharge recording apparatus having a liquid supply path including a liquid discharge recording head for discharging liquid, the sub-tank for temporarily containing liquid and supplying the liquid to the liquid discharge recording head by introducing atmospheric air into the sub-tank, said method comprising the steps of:
- closing the liquid supply path between the sub-tank and the liquid discharge recording head of the liquid supply path;
- making the sub-tank into a space closed from atmospheric air;
- and
- refilling the liquid in the main tank into the sub-tank by reducing pressure in the sub-tank,
- wherein pressure is reduced in the sub-tank by negative pressure generating means provided in a path different from the liquid supply path.
A liquid discharge recording apparatus, comprising:
- a liquid supply path having a liquid discharge recording head for discharging liquid;
- a sub-tank for temporarily containing liquid and for supplying the liquid through said liquid supply Path to said liquid discharge recording head by introducing atmospheric air into said sub-tank;
- a main tank for containing liquid to be supplied to said sub-tank;
- closing means for making said sub-tank into a space closed from atmospheric air;
- and
- negative pressure generating means provided in a path different from said liquid supply path to refill the liquid from said main tank into said sub-tank by reducing pressure in said sub-tank;
- wherein said closing means includes a valve for opening and closing said liquid supply path between said sub-tank and said liquid discharge recording head, and further includes an openable/closable atmosphere opening valve provided in said sub-tank.
A liquid jet recording apparatus comprising:
- a liquid jet head unit for recording on a recording medium by discharging liquid;
- a sub-tank for holding liquid temporarily and for supplying said liquid to said liquid jet head unit, said sub-tank including an air releasing valve for introducing atmospheric air;
- a main tank for storing liquid to be refilled to said sub-tank;
- a pump for exhausting air in said sub-tank;
- a first liquid supply path for connecting said sub-tank and said main tank;
- a second liquid supply path for connecting said liquid jet head unit and said sub-tank;
- a valve in said second liquid supply path for controlling the connection between said liquid jet head unit and said sub-tank;
- and
- a negative pressure generating path for connecting said sub-tank and said pump,
- wherein an end portion of said negative pressure generating path on a sub-tank side thereof is positioned higher than an end portion of said first liquid supply path on a sub-tank side thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.