The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 28, 2019
Filed:
May. 31, 2016
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Tomoji Suzuki, Matsumoto, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Ink consumption accompanying purging bubbles from the buffer tank is suppressed. An inkjet printer has a buffer tank disposed to an ink path that supplies ink to a printhead. A first channel connects to the buffer tank at the bottom of the ink chamber, and a second channel connects to the top of the ink chamber. To print, the first valve and second valve are open, and ink is supplied from the first channel, into which bubbles do not easily flow. To purge bubbles, the first valve closes and the maintenance unit is driven in a cleaning operation, discharging bubbles with ink from the second channel. The second valve then closes, the maintenance unit is driven to create negative pressure downstream from the second valve, and the second valve then opens in a choke cleaning operation that discharges ink with entrained bubbles at once.