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:
Dec. 25, 2012
Filed:
Jul. 20, 2010
Masahiro Kuwata, Atsugi, JP;
Tadashi Hayakawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, JP;
Ikoh Soh, Atsugi, JP;
Toshiroh Tokuno, Machida, JP;
Tomomi Katoh, Ebina, JP;
Akiko Bannai, Atsugi, JP;
Shotaro Takeuchi, Atsugi, JP;
Masanori Kusunoki, Tokyo, JP;
Masahiro Kuwata, Atsugi, JP;
Tadashi Hayakawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, JP;
Ikoh Soh, Atsugi, JP;
Toshiroh Tokuno, Machida, JP;
Tomomi Katoh, Ebina, JP;
Akiko Bannai, Atsugi, JP;
Shotaro Takeuchi, Atsugi, JP;
Masanori Kusunoki, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A liquid discharging-type image forming apparatus capable of securely eliminating mixed air bubbles from the ink liquid and forming a stable image. The apparatus includes: a sub tankof which negative pressure amount is detected; a pumpsucking ink when the detected amount of the sub tankis lower than a predetermined amount so that the sub tankand recording headshave negative pressure; a second backflow prevention unitto stop the sent ink to be reserved in a second liquid containerwhich is pressurized as ink increases. When the ink is again filled in the sub tankthe ink is sent from the second liquid containerbefore being sent from the first liquid container. Accordingly, ink is not accumulated in the second liquid containerallowing the second liquid containerto be smaller and the image forming apparatus as a whole to be more compact.