IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND RECORDING HEAD MAINTENANCE METHOD

Title:

IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND RECORDING HEAD MAINTENANCE METHOD

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO/2013/137057

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

In order to perform recording head maintenance by discharge and reflux of ink with higher pressures without creating instability of the meniscus in the nozzle surface, this image forming device (1) is provided with a recording head (241) having multiple nozzles (2411), a first reservoir unit (242) and a second reservoir unit (243) which store the ink supplied to the recording head (241), a supply unit (301) which is opened and closed by a solenoid valve (310) and connects the recording head (241) and the first reservoir unit (242), a pump (P1) which supplies the ink in the second reservoir unit (243) to the first reservoir unit (242), a recovery passage (302) which is opened and closed by solenoid valves (307, 308) and connects the recording head (241) and the second reservoir unit (243), and a control unit (40) which controls operation of the solenoid valves and the pump (P1). The control unit (40) closes the connection between the first reservoir (242) and a pressure control unit (305), closes the recovery path (302), and supplies to the first reservoir unit (242) the ink stored in the second reservoir unit (243).

Inventors:

OBATA MITSURU (JP)

Application Number:

PCT/JP2013/055946

Publication Date:

September 19, 2013

Filing Date:

March 05, 2013

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

KONICA MINOLTA INC (JP)
OBATA MITSURU (JP)

International Classes:

B41J2/175; B41J2/01

Foreign References:

JP2006150745A	2006-06-15
JP2008264767A	2008-11-06
JP2011255580A	2011-12-22
JP2009154328A	2009-07-16
JP2011212872A	2011-10-27
JPH02520A	1990-01-05
JP2006116955A	2006-05-11

Other References: