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:
Apr. 21, 2026
Filed:
Jul. 27, 2023
Applicant:
Konica Minolta, Inc., Tokyo, JP;
Inventors:
Katsuhiro Umeda, Musashino, JP;
Shigetaka Kurosu, Hino, JP;
Yusuke Nishisaka, Mitaka, JP;
Hiroshi Akita, Hino, JP;
Assignee:
KONICA MINOLTA, INC., Tokyo, JP;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J 2/17 (2006.01); B41J 2/175 (2006.01); B41J 2/18 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J 2/1707 (2013.01); B41J 2/175 (2013.01); B41J 2/17596 (2013.01); B41J 2/18 (2013.01);
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a main tank that stores an ink, an ink head that ejects the ink, a first supply channel connected to the main tank, a second supply channel for supplying the ink from the first supply channel to the ink head, and a discharge channel for discharging the ink from the first supply channel without allowing the ink to pass through the ink head. The second supply channel is provided with a first supply valve, and the discharge channel is provided with a discharge valve.