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:
Aug. 06, 2013
Filed:
Aug. 25, 2011
Mitsuya Matsubara, Kanagawa, JP;
Akiyoshi Tanaka, Kanagawa, JP;
Yoichi Ito, Tokyo, JP;
Tomomi Katoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Fumitaka Kikkawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Soyoung Park, Kanagawa, JP;
Kunihiro Yamanaka, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuki Suzuki, Kanagawa, JP;
Kuniyori Takano, Kanagawa, JP;
Honriku JO, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuji Tanaka, Kanagawa, JP;
Satoshi Endoh, Saitama, JP;
Mitsuya Matsubara, Kanagawa, JP;
Akiyoshi Tanaka, Kanagawa, JP;
Yoichi Ito, Tokyo, JP;
Tomomi Katoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Fumitaka Kikkawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Soyoung Park, Kanagawa, JP;
Kunihiro Yamanaka, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuki Suzuki, Kanagawa, JP;
Kuniyori Takano, Kanagawa, JP;
Honriku Jo, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuji Tanaka, Kanagawa, JP;
Satoshi Endoh, Saitama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a recording head configured to have a nozzle face on which nozzles that discharge liquid droplets are formed; a cap configured to cap the nozzle face of the recording head; a discharge path configured to be connected to the cap; a suction pump configured to be provided in the discharge path and be made of a tube pump; and an atmosphere opening part configured to open an airtight space, created when the nozzle face is capped by the cap, to the atmosphere. The atmosphere opening part is configured to communicate with the inside of the cap at a position higher than a surface of liquid discharged into the cap, and a check valve configured to prevent a flow of the liquid toward the cap from the suction pump is provided in the discharge path.