Print device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9855758-B2
Application number	US-201615272015-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

There is provided a print device including a wet liquid supply unit corresponding to a wider environmental range, with a simple and inexpensive configuration. Therefore, a valve that can change the volume is provided in a flow passage between an intermediate tank and a storing unit that stores liquid and that supplies the liquid to the intermediate tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A print device comprising:
a first liquid storing unit configured to store liquid;
a second liquid storing unit configured to store the liquid supplied from the first liquid storing unit;
a liquid flow passage for supplying the liquid from the first liquid storing unit to the second liquid storing unit;
an air flow passage for supplying air from the second liquid storing unit to the first liquid storing unit;
a flow suppressing unit configured to suppress a flow of the liquid from the second liquid storing unit to the first liquid storing unit in the liquid flow passage;
an air flow passage valve provided in the air flow passage and configured to switch between an open state in which air can be supplied from the second liquid storing unit to the first liquid storing unit, and a closed state in which air cannot be supplied from the second liquid storing unit to the first liquid storing unit; and
a supplying unit configured to supply a liquid in the first liquid storing unit to the second liquid storing unit when the air flow passage valve is in the closed state.

2. The print device according to claim 1 , wherein
the supplying unit is provided in the liquid flow passage and is configured to change internal volume.

3. The print device according to claim 2 , wherein
in a case where the internal volume of the supplying unit is reduced in a state when the air flow passage valve is in the closed state, the liquid in the first liquid storing unit is supplied to the second liquid storing unit through the liquid flow passage.

4. The print device according to claim 3 , wherein
the supplying unit includes a first valve configured to shut off the liquid flow passage.

5. The print device according to claim 1 , wherein
the flow suppressing unit includes a liquid holding member configured to hold the liquid in the second liquid storing unit.

6. The print device according to claim 5 , wherein
the liquid holding member is formed by a porous body having air permeability.

7. The print device according to claim 6 , wherein
the liquid holding member is arranged adjacently to a first connecting unit between the second liquid storing unit and the liquid flow passage.

8. The print device according to claim 7 , wherein
a second connecting unit between the second liquid storing unit and the air flow passage is arranged at a position higher than that of the first connecting unit, and
the liquid holding member is arranged in the second liquid storing unit not to be adjacent to the second connecting unit.

9. The print device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second liquid storing unit includes a supply unit configured to supply the liquid outside the second liquid storing unit.

10. The print device according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a wiper configured to suck the liquid and to wipe a member, wherein
the supply unit supplies the liquid to the wiper.

11. The print device according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a driving unit configured to drive the wiper,
wherein
at least one of the first valve and the air flow passage valve performs an opening/closing operation by using the driving unit.

12. The print device according to claim 11 , wherein
the first valve and the air flow passage valve are simultaneously maintained in an opening state by using the driving unit.

13. The print device according to claim 12 , wherein
a driving timing of the driving unit is different between the wiper, and the first valve and the air flow passage valve.

14. The print device according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a print head configured to perform a print operation,
wherein
the wiper wipes the print head.

15. The print device according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a print head having an ejection port surface on which an ejection port for ejecting ink is provided;
the wiper for wiping the ejection port surface; and
an applying unit configured to apply the liquid in the second liquid storing unit to the wiper by being in contact with the wiper.

16. The print device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first liquid storing unit is arranged at a position higher than that of the second liquid storing unit, and
the liquid is supplied by the supplying unit from the first liquid storing unit to the second liquid storing unit, by a water head difference.

17. The print device according to claim 1 , wherein
the flow suppressing unit includes a check valve that is provided in the liquid flow passage, allows movement of the liquid from the first liquid storing unit to the second liquid storing unit, and suppresses the movement of the liquid in a reverse direction.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Obata Tsutomu
• Aoki Noriyuki
• Watanabe Shigeru
• Sugiyama Toshiro
• Wada Naoaki
• Maruyama Ryohei
• Kato Ryuichi
• Tokuda Kouhei

Classifications

• B41J2/16523

  Waste ink transport from caps or spittoons, e.g. by suction (Collecting or collectors of waste ink B41J2/1721) · CPC title

• B41J2/17556 Primary

  Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge · CPC title

• B41J2/17596

  Ink pumps, ink valves · CPC title

• B41J2/16538

  with brushes or wiper blades perpendicular to the nozzle plate · CPC title

• B41J2/16508

  connected with the printer frame · CPC title