Abstract: An ink tank is formed having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, and air/fluid separating members having air pores are provided around at least the corner portions of the generally rectangular parallelepiped. The inner faces of wall members forming the outer faces of the generally rectangular parallelepiped are formed with an inclination of a predetermined angle as to the outer face of the wall member which it faces.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording unit for effecting recording on a recording medium, and a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium. The recording apparatus further includes a power input terminal adapted to be switched ON/OFF by the ignition key switch of an automobile, and a controller for executing the operation sequence of the recording apparatus in accordance with the ON/OFF state of the power input terminal. In addition, a method of controlling the above-described recording apparatus includes executing the operation sequence of the recording apparatus in accordance with the ON/OFF state of the power input terminal switched ON/OFF by the ignition key switch of an automobile.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording unit for effecting recording on a recording medium, and a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium. The recording apparatus further includes a power input terminal adapted to be switched ON/OFF by the ignition key switch of an automobile, and a controller for executing the operation sequence of the recording apparatus in accordance with the ON/OFF state of the power input terminal. In addition, a method of controlling the above-described recording apparatus includes executing the operation sequence of the recording apparatus in accordance with the ON/OFF state of the power input terminal switched ON/OFF by the ignition key switch of an automobile.

Abstract: In a supply system which includes an ink container for reserving a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to a printing head and which is configured such that ink is intermittently supplied to the container from an ink tank, there is provided a structure that fundamentally eliminates waste of ink associated with an operation of charging the container to apply a required negative pressure to the head. An ink containing body in which a negative pressure can be generated because of its elasticity is provided in the container. After the ink containing body is expanded to introduce ink into the same by depressurizing the interior of the container, the interior of the container is pressurized to contract the ink containing body, thereby returning a predetermined amount of ink to the tank. A negative pressure is thus generated in equilibrium with an ink meniscus holding ability of the head.

Abstract: A recording apparatus, including a reciprocating carriage equipped with a record head, an on-carriage first ink tank, a second ink tank distant from the carriage, an ink supply unit for supplying the ink from the second ink tank to the first ink tank, and a remaining ink amount detection unit for detecting a remaining ink amount in the first ink tank, calculates and stores an ink amount required to record a part of the image data while the image data reception, calculates and stores a maximum ink amount required to record the image data except for the above calculated portion, and then starts the record operation at a time when a sum total value of the stored ink amount required and the stored maximum ink amount becomes lower than the remaining ink amount, whereby the ink can be supplied and refilled effectively and appropriately.

Abstract: A recording apparatus with a relatively simple structure for easily, reliably, and stably transporting a recording medium includes a recording head performing a recording operation by discharging ink; a platen for guiding the recording medium, disposed so as to face the recording head; a discharge roller for discharging the recording medium, disposed in the downstream region of the platen and comprising at least two first roll portions and at least one second roll portion having a smaller diameter than the first roll portions; and at least two discharge guides for guiding the recording medium from the platen to the discharge roller. One end of each of the discharge guides is rotatably supported by the platen, and the other end thereof abuts against the second roll portion of the discharge roller.

Abstract: For eliminating waste of ink and achieving high charging efficiency with a reduced charging time where a printing head is equipped with a second tank for reserving a predetermined amount of ink and a supply system is configured to supply ink from a first tank to the second tank intermittently, the second tank is provided with a variable internal volume. The internal volume is varied to cause the second tank itself to function as an actuator for charging ink and performing a venting process. Specifically, the internal volume is forcibly reduced to cause a reverse flow of a gas residing in the second tank along with ink into the first tank, which makes it possible to generate of waste ink that is released to the outside. A normal charging operation can be completed simply by causing a change in the opposite direction (the direction of increasing the internal volume). Relatedly, the second tank may be provided with a member for holding ink and generating a negative pressure originating from an elastic force.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus for forming an image by discharging liquid from a recording head onto a recording medium, comprising a carriage to which the recording head and a sub-tank for storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head are mounted and which can be shifted reciprocally, a main tank disposed out of the carriage and adapted to store the liquid, a liquid flow passage connected between the main tank and the sub-tank in order to supply the liquid from the main tank to the sub-tank, a flow passage opening/closing valve disposed in the liquid flow passage on the way and adapted to open and close the liquid flow passage, and control means for controlling opening/closing of the flow passage opening/closing valve in accordance with an image forming condition during image formation using the recording head.

Abstract: In a structure which includes a second tank for reserving a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to a printing head and in which a supply system is configured such that ink is intermittently supplied to the second tank from a first tank, a high charging efficiency to and shortened processing time for charging the second tank, and high overall usability of ink are achieved. In an orientation upon using the printing apparatus, a port of a channel located at the second tank side for supplying ink from the first tank to the second tank is arranged relatively high position and an outlet port for supplying ink from the second tank to the head is arranged relatively low position in relation to the direction of gravity, and a port of the channel located at the first tank side is arranged at the bottom of the first tank.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus which has a positioning means for manual sheet feeding for aligning a sheet feeding position, and a positioning means for auto sheet feeding provided on an auto sheet feeder for aligning the sheet feeding position, and a sheet fed from the auto sheet feeder does not abut against the positioning means for manual sheet feeding, when the auto sheet feeder is attached to the recording apparatus main body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus which has a positioning means for manual sheet feeding for aligning a sheet feeding position, and a positioning means for auto sheet feeding provided on an auto sheet feeder for aligning the sheet feeding position, and a sheet fed from the auto sheet feeder does not abut against the positioning means for manual sheet feeding, when the auto sheet feeder is attached to the recording apparatus main body.

Abstract: An ink tank is formed having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, and air/fluid separating members having air pores are provided around at least the corner portions of the generally rectangular parallelepiped. The inner faces of wall members forming the outer faces of the generally rectangular parallelepiped are formed with an inclination of a predetermined angle as to the outer face of the wall member which it faces.

Abstract: In a supply system which includes an ink container for reserving a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to a printing head and which is configured such that ink is intermittently supplied to the container from an ink tank, there is provided a structure that fundamentally eliminates waste of ink associated with an operation of charging the container to apply a required negative pressure to the head. An ink containing body in which a negative pressure can be generated because of its elasticity is provided in the container. After the ink containing body is expanded to introduce ink into the same by depressurizing the interior of the container, the interior of the container is pressurized to contract the ink containing body, thereby returning a predetermined amount of ink to the tank. A negative pressure is thus generated in equilibrium with an ink meniscus holding ability of the head.

Abstract: An ink container for containing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head to which the ink container is detachably mountable, inclues an ink supply port for supplying the ink to the ink jet head; a air vent for fluid communication with ambience; a claw-like projection provided on a first side of the ink container; a latching lever provided on a second side opposite from the ink container, the latching lever being resiliently supported on the ink container and having a latching claw.

Abstract: In a serial recording apparatus having three recording modes, i.e., normal, high-quality, and high-speed recording mode, sheet feed control satisfying requirements in these modes is performed. More specifically, high-speed sheet feed control is performed in the normal or high-speed recording mode, and low-noise sheet feed control with improved precision is performed in the high-quality recording mode although the speed is low.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has high reliability both in manual feeding and in automatic feeding of a printing medium, and a feeding control method controls the printing apparatus. In the case of manual feeding of a sheet as the printing medium, the sheet is transported by an LF roller for an amount sufficient for feeding the tip end of the sheet to a discharge paper sensor located on the downstream side of a paper path with respect to a printing head. Judgment whether paper feeding is successful or not is made depending on whether the sheet is detected by the discharged paper sensor. On the other hand, in the case of automatic feeding using an automatic feeding apparatus, the operation of transporting the sheet to the discharged paper sensor is not performed. By this, in the case of automatic feeding, it becomes unnecessary to backwardly feed the sheet before initiation of printing so that the rotation amount of the LF roller is minimized.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus for forming an image by discharging liquid from a recording head onto a recording medium, comprising a carriage to which the recording head and a sub-tank for storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head are mounted and which can be shifted reciprocally, a main tank disposed out of the carriage and adapted to store the liquid, a liquid flow passage connected between the main tank and the sub-tank in order to supply the liquid from the main tank to the sub-tank, a flow passage opening/closing valve disposed in the liquid flow passage on the way and adapted to open and close the liquid flow passage, and control means for controlling opening/closing of the flow passage opening/closing valve in accordance with an image forming condition during image formation using the recording head.

Abstract: A recording apparatus, including a reciprocating carriage equipped with a record head, an on-carriage first ink tank, a second ink tank distant from the carriage, an ink supply unit for supplying the ink from the second ink tank to the first ink tank, and a remaining ink amount detection unit for detecting a remaining ink amount in the first ink tank, calculates and stores an ink amount required to record a part of the image data while the image data reception, calculates and stores a maximum ink amount required to record the image data except for the above calculated portion, and then starts the record operation at a time when a sum total value of the stored ink amount required and the stored maximum ink amount becomes lower than the remaining ink amount, whereby the ink can be supplied and refilled effectively and appropriately.

Abstract: In a structure which includes a second tank for reserving a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to a printing head and in which a supply system is configured such that ink is intermittently supplied to the second tank from a first tank, a high charging efficiency to and shortened processing time for charging the second tank, and high overall usability of ink are achieved. In an orientation upon using the printing apparatus, a port of a channel located at the second tank side for supplying ink from the first tank to the second tank is arranged relatively high position and an outlet port for supplying ink from the second tank to the head is arranged relatively low position in relation to the direction of gravity, and a port of the channel located at the first tank side is arranged at the bottom of the first tank.

Abstract: For eliminating waste of ink and achieving high charging efficiency with a reduced charging time where a printing head is equipped with a second tank for reserving a predetermined amount of ink and a supply system is configured to supply ink from a first tank to the second tank intermittently, a second tank having a variable internal volume is provided, and the internal volume is varied to cause the second tank itself functions as an actuator for charging ink and performing a venting process. Specifically, the internal volume is forcibly reduced to cause a reverse flow of a gas residing in the second tank along with ink into the first tank, which makes it possible to generation of waste ink that is released to the outside. A normal charging operation can be completed simply by causing a change in the opposite direction (the direction of increasing the internal volume).