Abstract: A paper feeder includes a processor configured to, in a case of lowering a paper feed tray on which paper is placed in an accommodation section that accommodates paper and replenishing paper, the paper feed tray being controlled to be raised/lowered in a case of replenishing paper, control a lowering amount of the paper feed tray according to a number of sheets of paper to be replenished.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a processor configured to, in a case where a determination that an abnormality is not present in an image printed on a paper sheet fed from a first paper feeding source is made, discharge a first paper sheet on which the image determined as not having the abnormality is printed to a first discharge destination, in a case where a determination that the abnormality is present in the image is made, discharge a second paper sheet on which the image determined as having the abnormality is printed to a second discharge destination, discharge a paper sheet of a subsequent page of the second paper sheet to a third discharge destination and temporarily stop printing processing, notify a user of an instruction to arrange the paper sheet discharged to the third discharge destination in a second paper feeding source different from the first paper feeding source, and in a case where a notification indicating that the paper sheet discharged to the third discharge destination is arranged in

Abstract: A paper feeder includes a processor configured to, in a case of lowering a paper feed tray on which paper is placed in an accommodation section that accommodates paper and replenishing paper, the paper feed tray being controlled to be raised/lowered in a case of replenishing paper, control a lowering amount of the paper feed tray according to a number of sheets of paper to be replenished.

Abstract: A reservoir tank which includes: a container for storing fluid therein, having an inlet through which the fluid flows into the container and an outlet through which the fluid flows out of the container; and a duct provided inside the container, which is connected to the inlet of the container and has a first opening open inside the container. The first opening is located above the outlet of the container and below a surface of the fluid in the container.

Abstract: A reservoir tank which includes: a container for storing fluid therein, having an inlet through which the fluid flows into the container and an outlet through which the fluid flows out of the container; and a duct provided inside the container, which is connected to the inlet of the container and has a first opening open inside the container. The first opening is located above the outlet of the container and below a surface of the fluid in the container.

Abstract: A fuel cell 11, supply gas passages 12a, 12b which supply gas for power generation to the fuel cell 11, and an antifreeze passage 15 adjacent to the supply gas passages 12a, 12b via a partition 14 which selectively passes pure water installed in the fuel cell 11 or upstream of it, are provided, water is transferred from the antifreeze passage 15 to the supply gas passages 12a, 12b by the steam partial pressure difference between the antifreeze and supply gas at the partition 14, and the supply gas is thereby humidified.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a recording head mounted on a carriage for ejecting ink onto a recording medium, the carriage being moved in a main scanning direction with respect to the recording medium to be transported in a sub-scanning direction, sub tanks mounted on the carriage for supplying the ink to the recording head, a main tank installed outside of the carriage for supplying the ink to the sub tanks via a tube, flat and thin ink bags corresponding to one ink color contained in the main tank, a connecting member for connecting the ink bags to the tube, and a common channel for allowing the ink bags to communicate with each other.

Abstract: An error information reporting system of the present invention is applicable to an error monitoring system including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and data output terminals. When a critical error occurs in a device being monitored, all data necessary for analysis and remedy are immediately sent to all expected destinations.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having a print head for printing characters on a medium and an ink tank for holding ink to be supplied to the print head. The ink tank includes an ink chamber having an ink holding member and an ink supplying port. A first meniscus forming member is located in the ink supplying port so as to be in communication with the ink holding member. The print head includes an ink introducing port for receiving ink from the ink tank and a second meniscus forming member located in the ink introducing port. When the ink tank is attached to the print head, the ink introducing port is coupled with the ink supplying port. An ink passing member is located in the portion where the ink introducing port is coupled with the ink supplying port. The ends of the ink passing member are in contact with the first meniscus forming member and the second meniscus forming member. The ink passing member is subject to only minor changes in volume upon contact with ink.

Abstract: In an ink tank, there are provided a main ink chamber containing a capillary vessel member, and an intermediate ink chamber. When the ink is consumed, the ink held by capillary force of a capillary vessel member is supplied via a communication port from a joint port. The same amount of air as the amount of the consumed ink is conducted from the atmospheric communication port into the main ink chamber. The conducted air is supplied via a groove formed in a lid to an upper surface of the capillary vessel member. As a result, the air is entered into the capillary vessel member under better condition. In a plane portion of the lid, the ink is in contact with only the capillary vessel member, and the ink remaining this portion is reduced. Thus, the ink using efficiency is increased.

Abstract: An ink tank 1 includes a main ink chamber 11 and a intermediate chamber 16. A second meniscus forming member 17 is provided in a joint portion 2 to be coupled with a printhead 3. A filter 22 is provided in an ink introducing portion 4 of the printhead 3, which is to be coupled with the ink tank 1. The open-space diameter of the second meniscus forming member 17 is selected to be equal to that of the filter 22. With such a construction, the number of foreign materials flowing from the ink tank 1 to the filter 22 is reduced. The result is to reduce a frequency of occurrence of the filter clogging and to elongate a normally operable time of the printer. A fluid resistance in the ink passage ranging from the filter 22 to the nozzle is high. Therefore, air that is left in the jointing portion flows through the second meniscus forming member 17 into the intermediate chamber 16 of the ink tank 1.

Abstract: An elastic jointing member 22 with an umbrella-like portion with an opening and a flat part is provided in a jointing portion between a recording head 21 and an ink tank 1. When the ink tank 1 is attached to the recording head 21, the umbrella-like portion of the elastic jointing member 22 is pressed against the ink tank and elastically deformed inward. As a result, an ink passage is formed which is airtightly sealed. In the process of pressing the umbrella-like portion against the ink tank, the umbrella-like portion comes in contact with the flat part, to thereby prevent air from staying in the ink passage. Protrusions or grooves may be provided between the umbrella-like portion and the flat part. With the protrusions or the groove, the umbrella-like portion is not glued to the flat part.

Abstract: An ink printer designed to make users free from any danger when an inktank is replaced and to prevent ink from leaking out when the inktank is detached. The joint part of an inktank is pressed against the ink guide of a print head to couple the inktank and the print head together, so that ink is supplied from the inktank to the print head. The joint part is supplied with a porous material. When the inktank is attached, the porous material is compressed and contained in the joint part. When the inktank is detached from the print head, the volume of the porous material increases thereby raising its porosity. The ink remaining in the joint part is absorbed by the porous material whose porosity has been raised, so that ink is prevented from flowing out in the vicinity of the joint part when the inktank is removed.

Abstract: A main ink chamber for housing a capillary member and an intermediate ink chamber are provided, between which a first meniscus formation member is disposed. An ink guide member is in contact with the bottom face of the first meniscus formation member for supplying ink to the first meniscus formation member. The ink guide member is held by ink guide member retainers extending toward the ink guide member from a wall of a communication hole and is kept in contact with the first meniscus formation member. A larger number of the ink guide member retainers are placed on a side of the communication hole closer to a joint port than are placed on a side of the communication hole closer to the intermediate ink chamber. The placement of the ink guide member retainers guides bubbles entering the communication hole through the first meniscus formation member to the intermediate ink chamber to prevent bubbles entering the joint port and reaching the print head.

Abstract: A joint part of an ink tank has a connection part capillary member. A filter is placed at the tip of an ink introduction part on the side of a recording head. The ink tank is connected by bringing a face of the filter into contact with the connection part capillary member; liquid connection is made without entry of air. At this time, a force of pressing the connection part capillary member against the inside of the ink tank occurs. However, since the connection part capillary member is provided with a presser part on the rear side, the presser part absorbs the press pressure and the contact state is stable, preventing the connection part capillary member from being detached to the inside of the ink tank. Additionally, the ink tank has a seal material for sealing the ink supply hole in a state in which the tank joint part is detached from the recording head joint part.

Abstract: In an ink tank, there are provided a main ink chamber containing a capillary vessel member, and an intermediate ink chamber. When the ink is consumed, the ink held by capillary force of a capillary vessel member is supplied via a communication port from a joint port. The same amount of air as the amount of the consumed ink is conducted from the atmospheric communication port into the main ink chamber. The conducted ink is supplied via a groove formed in a lid to an upper surface of the capillary vessel member. As a result, the air is entered into the capillary vessel member under better condition. In a plane portion of the lid, the ink is in contact with only the capillary vessel member, and the ink remaining this portion is reduced. Thus, the ink using efficiency is increased.

Abstract: A main ink chamber with a through-hole contains a capillary member. An intermediate ink chamber is provided on the side wall of the main ink chamber. A path communicatively interconnects the main ink chamber and the intermediate ink chamber. A second meniscus forming member is disposed in a joint port, to thereby prevent ink leakage. In a print mode, ink flows from the main ink chamber to the joint port, through a meniscus forming member that is disposed in the through-hole. Air bubbles mingled into the ink move along the slanting upper wall of the path by their buoyant force, and are accumulatively stored in the upper part of the intermediate ink chamber. When ink is reduced to zero in the main ink chamber, air bubbles are introduced into the intermediate ink chamber through the meniscus forming member. As a result, the liquid level of the intermediate ink chamber is quickly reduced, thereby indicating a state that ink is used up.

Abstract: An ink supply device for supplying ink to a print head, the device containing a main ink chamber, an intermediate ink chamber, a first meniscus forming member with pores between the main and intermediate ink chambers and a joint portion between the first meniscus forming member and the print head. The ink supply device holds ink by negative pressure maintained therein and extends the efficiency of the ink supply device. Preferably, the intermediate ink chamber is hermetically sealed.