Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a container body, and an electrostatic capacitance sensor. The container body contains a liquid and is placed on a ground surface which is a part of the housing. The electrostatic capacitance sensor detects a change in capacitance between a side surface of the container body and the ground surface to determine a change in quantity of the liquid in the container body. The top surface of the container body is a part of the housing. The top surface and the ground surface are in electrically conductive state, a distance between the top surface and the electrostatic capacitance sensor is longer than a distance between the ground surface and the electrostatic capacitance sensor, or the top surface and the ground surface are electrically insulated, or the top surface is opened.

Abstract: A drying device that dries a medium having an image formed thereon while conveying the medium, includes a conveyance belt having through holes formed in an entire surface thereof and supporting and conveying the medium in a predetermined conveyance direction, a heating section that applies warm air to the medium to dry the image and presses the medium onto the conveyance belt by the warm air, and a suction section that attracts the medium onto the conveyance belt by sucking air through the through holes. At least one of a force with which the heating section presses the sheet against the conveyance belt and a force with which the suction section attracts the medium to the conveyance belt is greater on a downstream side than on an upstream side in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A drying apparatus which dries a medium on which an image is formed with ink while conveying the medium includes a conveyance part, a heating part, a measurement part and a controller. The conveyance part conveys the medium in a predetermined conveyance direction. The heating part supplies energy to the image on the sheet conveyed in the conveyance part and dries the image. The measurement part measures a value accompanied with moisture contained in the medium. The controller estimates an amount of moisture contained in the medium based on the value measured by the measurement part, and controls at least one of the conveyance part and the heating part so as to change an amount of the energy supplied to the image based on the estimated amount of moisture.

Abstract: The drying apparatus includes a conveying belt and a heating unit. The heating unit includes a blower fan, a rectifying member, a heater, and a reflecting plate. The rectifying member is arranged on the downstream side of the blower fan in the blowing direction of the blower fan and includes one or more first through holes. The heater is arranged on the downstream side of the rectifying member in the blowing direction to radiate infrared rays in all directions. The reflecting plate is arranged between the rectifying member and the heater, includes one or more second through holes, and reflects the infrared rays radiated from the heater to the side of the conveying belt. The one or more first through holes are formed in a portion other than a portion where the infrared rays passing through the one or more second through holes of the reflecting plate are radiated.

Abstract: The coupling structure includes a container side joint and a main body side joint. The container side joint includes a container opening/closing valve, a container side communication passage, a backflow prevention valve and a protrusion. The container opening/closing valve is brought into contact with the protrusion by a pressure of the liquid filled in the container side communication passage. The main body side joint includes a main body opening/closing valve and a main body side communication passage. When the main body opening/closing valve pushes the container opening/closing valve at a coupling of the container side joint and the main body side joint, the container opening/closing valve is pushed in a coupling direction, is also tilted and is separated from the protrusion to communicate the container side communication passage with the main body side communication passage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a container body, and an electrostatic capacitance sensor. The container body contains a liquid and is placed on a ground surface which is a part of the housing. The electrostatic capacitance sensor detects a change in capacitance between a side surface of the container body and the ground surface to determine a change in quantity of the liquid in the container body. The top surface of the container body is a part of the housing. The top surface and the ground surface are in electrically conductive state, a distance between the top surface and the electrostatic capacitance sensor is longer than a distance between the ground surface and the electrostatic capacitance sensor, or the top surface and the ground surface are electrically insulated, or the top surface is opened.

Abstract: The drying apparatus includes a conveying belt and a heating unit. The heating unit includes a blower fan, a rectifying member, a heater, and a reflecting plate. The rectifying member is arranged on the downstream side of the blower fan in the blowing direction of the blower fan and includes one or more first through holes. The heater is arranged on the downstream side of the rectifying member in the blowing direction to radiate infrared rays in all directions. The reflecting plate is arranged between the rectifying member and the heater, includes one or more second through holes, and reflects the infrared rays radiated from the heater to the side of the conveying belt. The one or more first through holes are formed in a portion other than a portion where the infrared rays passing through the one or more second through holes of the reflecting plate are radiated.

Abstract: A drying apparatus which dries a medium on which an image is formed with ink while conveying the medium includes a conveyance part, a heating part, a measurement part and a controller. The conveyance part conveys the medium in a predetermined conveyance direction. The heating part supplies energy to the image on the sheet conveyed in the conveyance part and dries the image. The measurement part measures a value accompanied with moisture contained in the medium. The controller estimates an amount of moisture contained in the medium based on the value measured by the measurement part, and controls at least one of the conveyance part and the heating part so as to change an amount of the energy supplied to the image based on the estimated amount of moisture.

Abstract: A drying device that dries a medium having an image formed thereon while conveying the medium, includes a conveyance belt having through holes formed in an entire surface thereof and supporting and conveying the medium in a predetermined conveyance direction, a heating section that applies warm air to the medium to dry the image and presses the medium onto the conveyance belt by the warm air, and a suction section that attracts the medium onto the conveyance belt by sucking air through the through holes. At least one of a force with which the heating section presses the sheet against the conveyance belt and a force with which the suction section attracts the medium to the conveyance belt is greater on a downstream side than on an upstream side in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A waste liquid recovery apparatus including a waste liquid tube through which waste liquid flows and a displacement mechanism. The displacement mechanism includes a driven portion that receives a driving force and operates owing to the driving force and a displacement portion that is displaced within a predetermined displacement range in conjunction with the operation of the driven portion. The waste liquid tube includes a flexible tube at least at a terminal end from which the waste liquid is issued. When the displacement portion is displaced within the predetermined displacement range, a contact depth of the displacement portion with respect to the contacted portion of the flexible tube, near the terminal end, changes.

Abstract: A waste ink conveying device includes a waste ink tank installed in a tank installed part, and a tank cover opening/closing the tank installed part. The tank cover includes a nozzle, a nozzle operation part and a cover locking part. The nozzle flowing a waste ink is inserted in an inflow port in the waste ink tank. The nozzle operation part switches projecting and retracting of the nozzle to insert and retract the nozzle to the inflow port. The cover locking part switches locking and unlocking of closing of the tank cover. If the cover locking part is in a locking state and the nozzle is in a retracting state, the cover locking part can be switched to an unlocking state. If the cover locking part is in the locking state and the nozzle is in a projecting state, the cover locking part cannot be switched to the unlocking state.

Abstract: A waste liquid recovery apparatus including a waste liquid tube through which waste liquid flows and a displacement mechanism. The displacement mechanism includes a driven portion that receives a driving force and operates owing to the driving force and a displacement portion that is displaced within a predetermined displacement range in conjunction with the operation of the driven portion. The waste liquid tube includes a flexible tube at least at a terminal end from which the waste liquid is issued. When the displacement portion is displaced within the predetermined displacement range, a contact depth of the displacement portion with respect to the contacted portion of the flexible tube, near the terminal end, changes.

Abstract: A wipe unit cleans a recording head having an ink discharge surface on which an ink discharge opening that discharges an ink onto a recording medium opens. The wipe unit includes a wiper and a collecting tray. The wiper wipes off an ink forcibly extruded from the ink discharge opening. The collecting tray is arranged under the wiper. The collecting tray collects the ink wiped off with the wiper. The collecting tray includes a discharge port and a plurality of ribs. The discharge port discharges the collected ink downward, and the plurality of ribs are arranged so as to surround a peripheral area of the discharge port and arranged with a predetermined interval from one another in a circumferential direction of the discharge port.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a movable body, a rack, a gear, a stepping motor, and a first action body. The movable body moves between a first position and a second position with respect to the housing. The first action body acts on the movable body. When an output shaft of the stepping motor rotates in a first rotation direction, the gear rotates to move the movable body in a first direction from the second position toward the first position. The first action body applies a pressing force toward a second direction opposite to the first direction to the movable body moving in the first direction beyond the first position. The pressing force is smaller than a force enough to rotate the output shaft of the stepping motor by one step in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction.

Abstract: A cap member includes a cap portion and a support member. The cap portion has a bottom surface portion and a side surface portion. The support member supports the bottom surface portion of the cap member. The bottom surface portion is provided with a groove portion defined by a first rib projecting from an upper surface of the bottom surface portion. A lid member which covers the groove portion is provided on, and in close contact with. an upper end of the first rib. The groove portion and the lid member define an air passage through which air passes. One end portion of the air passage communicates with an inner space of the cap member, and the other end portion of the air passage communicates with an outside of the cap portion.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a waste ink tray, an ink inflow section, an ink detecting section, and a controller. The recording head ejects ink. The waste ink tray recovers the ink. The ink inflow section is located on the waste ink tray. The ink flows into the ink inflow section. The ink detecting section outputs a detection signal indicating whether there is the ink or not. The ink inflow section has a first inflow opening and a second inflow opening. The second inflow opening is located at a position higher than a position of the first inflow opening. The ink detecting section detects whether or not the ink has flown into the second inflow opening. The controller, upon receiving the detection signal, detects that the first inflow opening is clogged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a movable body, a rack, a gear, a stepping motor, and a first action body. The movable body moves between a first position and a second position with respect to the housing. The first action body acts on the movable body. When an output shaft of the stepping motor rotates in a first rotation direction, the gear rotates to move the movable body in a first direction from the second position toward the first position. The first action body applies a pressing force toward a second direction opposite to the first direction to the movable body moving in the first direction beyond the first position. The pressing force is smaller than a force enough to rotate the output shaft of the stepping motor by one step in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus of the present disclosure includes a recording head, a cap portion, and a moisture-retaining agent supply mechanism. The cap portion caps the recording head.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a waste ink tray, an ink inflow section, an ink detecting section, and a controller. The recording head ejects ink. The waste ink tray recovers the ink. The ink inflow section is located on the waste ink tray. The ink flows into the ink inflow section. The ink detecting section outputs a detection signal indicating whether there is the ink or not. The ink inflow section has a first inflow opening and a second inflow opening. The second inflow opening is located at a position higher than a position of the first inflow opening. The ink detecting section detects whether or not the ink has flown into the second inflow opening. The controller, upon receiving the detection signal, detects that the first inflow opening is clogged.

Abstract: A waste ink conveying device includes a waste ink tank installed in a tank installed part, and a tank cover opening/closing the tank installed part. The tank cover includes a nozzle, a nozzle operation part and a cover locking part. The nozzle flowing a waste ink is inserted in an inflow port in the waste ink tank. The nozzle operation part switches projecting and retracting of the nozzle to insert and retract the nozzle to the inflow port. The cover locking part switches locking and unlocking of closing of the tank cover. If the cover locking part is in a locking state and the nozzle is in a retracting state, the cover locking part can be switched to an unlocking state. If the cover locking part is in the locking state and the nozzle is in a projecting state, the cover locking part cannot be switched to the unlocking state.