Abstract: A liquid leakage detection device includes a first absorption layer, a second absorption layer, and a pair of terminals. The first absorption layer absorbs liquid. The second absorption layer is stacked on the first absorption layer, and absorbs the liquid. The pair of terminals are in contact only with the second absorption layer.

Abstract: A sub-tank is disposed in a flow path from a main tank to a recording head. The sub-tank includes a tank main body, a level sensor and a flow restricting part. In the tank main body, ink replenished from the main tank is contained. The level sensor detects a liquid level of the ink in the tank main body. The flow restricting part restricts flowing of the ink in an upper-and-lower direction in the tank main body. The flow path is connected to the tank main body at a position below the flow restricting part. The flow restricting part is disposed at a position below a lower limit level of the liquid level.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a sub tank that pools an ink supplied from a container, a recording head, a heater, a temperature sensor, and a control unit that supplies the ink from the container to the sub tank when an allowed state has been established. The control unit determines that the allowed state has been established when the temperature of the sub tank is equal to or higher than a tank control temperature. The sub tank has a capacity that is higher than the capacity per container.

Abstract: A liquid container includes a pack main body and a covering body. The covering body covers a part of the pack main body and is more hardly deformable than the pack main body. The pack main body includes a trunk part, a pair of sealing parts and a spout. The trunk part is formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape in a state where the ink is stored. The pair of sealing parts seal both ends of the trunk part. At least one of the sealing parts is formed into a gabled roof shape having a pair of flat portions facing each other in the thickness direction and a pair of gable portions facing each other in a width direction. The covering body includes a pair of covering flat plates covering at least a part of the pair of flat portions.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a sub tank that pools an ink supplied from a container, a recording head, a heater, a temperature sensor, and a control unit that supplies the ink from the container to the sub tank when an allowed state has been established. The control unit determines that the allowed state has been established when the temperature of the sub tank is equal to or higher than a tank control temperature. The sub tank has a capacity that is higher than the capacity per container.

Abstract: A liquid leakage detection device includes a first absorption layer, a second absorption layer, and a pair of terminals. The first absorption layer absorbs liquid. The second absorption layer is stacked on the first absorption layer, and absorbs the liquid. The pair of terminals are in contact only with the second absorption layer.

Abstract: A liquid container includes a pack main body and a covering body. The covering body covers a part of the pack main body and is more hardly deformable than the pack main body. The pack main body includes a trunk part, a pair of sealing parts and a spout. The trunk part is formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape in a state where the ink is stored. The pair of sealing parts seal both ends of the trunk part. At least one of the sealing parts is formed into a gabled roof shape having a pair of flat portions facing each other in the thickness direction and a pair of gable portions facing each other in a width direction. The covering body includes a pair of covering flat plates covering at least a part of the pair of flat portions.

Abstract: In a connection mechanism for a liquid flow path, in a case of connecting a container to an apparatus main body, a slide portion causes a first open/close valve to move to establish communication of the liquid flow path, and a first main body portion causes the slide portion to move to disconnect an air flow path from the liquid flow path. In the connection mechanism for the liquid flow path, in a case of disconnecting the container from the apparatus main body, a second biasing member biases the slide portion to connect the air flow path to the liquid flow path, and the first main body portion is separated from the slide portion, so that a first biasing member biases the first open/close valve to close a part of the liquid flow path included in the first main body portion.

Abstract: A coupling structure which couples an ink container to a supply target includes a cap and a joint. The cap includes a container side communication path and a container opening/closing valve. The container side communication path is communicated with a supply port. The container opening/closing valve opens and closes the supply port. The joint includes a main body side communication path, a main body opening/closing valve and a first biasing member. The main body side communication path is communicated to an inflow port. The main body opening/closing valve opens and closes the inflow port. The first biasing member biases the main body opening/closing valve to a side of the ink container. The main body opening/closing valve is protruded to a side of the ink container closer than the inflow port even if the first biasing member is mostly contracted.

Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus, ink reserved in a reserve portion flows into a valve chamber through an inflow port. A first outflow port and a second outflow port are capable of flowing the ink from the valve chamber. The first valve element is preliminarily located at an opening position separated from the first outflow port in an inward direction directed from the first outflow port toward inside of the valve chamber. The first valve element is displaced from the opening position to the first outflow port and closes the first outflow port when the valve chamber is filled with the ink. The second valve element is preliminarily located at a closing position closing the second outflow port, and opens the second outflow port when the valve chamber is filled with the ink. Subsequently, a recording head becomes ready to record an image on a recording object with the ink.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a container guide and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a pin and a pin supporting member. The latch mechanism permits an attachment of the ink container to the container guide when the ink container is pushed in an attachment direction and the pin is stored in a first storage part and permits a detachment of the ink container from the container guide when the ink container attached to the container guide is pushed in the attachment direction and the pin is removed from the first storage part. The pin supporting member includes a boss. The boss is stored in a second storage part when the pin is stored in the first storage part, and the boss is removed from the second storage part when the pin is removed from the first storage part.

Abstract: In a connection mechanism for a liquid flow path, in a case of connecting a container to an apparatus main body, a slide portion causes a first open/close valve to move to establish communication of the liquid flow path, and a first main body portion causes the slide portion to move to disconnect an air flow path from the liquid flow path. In the connection mechanism for the liquid flow path, in a case of disconnecting the container from the apparatus main body, a second biasing member biases the slide portion to connect the air flow path to the liquid flow path, and the first main body portion is separated from the slide portion, so that a first biasing member biases the first open/close valve to close a part of the liquid flow path included in the first main body portion.

Abstract: A supply liquid tank unit of the present disclosure includes a supply liquid tank and a detection sensor. The detection sensor detects a liquid surface of ink in the supply liquid tank. The supply liquid tank is provided with an inner space having a storage chamber which stores the ink and an atmosphere release port for making an inner pressure in the inner space equal to an atmospheric pressure. The detection sensor has a float which moves vertically in accordance with an amount of the ink in the storage chamber and a sensor main body which detects a liquid surface of the ink when the float moves vertically. An inner side surface of the storage chamber is disposed along and near an outer circumferential surface of the float.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a container guide and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a pin and a pin supporting member. The latch mechanism permits an attachment of the ink container to the container guide when the ink container is pushed in an attachment direction and the pin is stored in a first storage part and permits a detachment of the ink container from the container guide when the ink container attached to the container guide is pushed in the attachment direction and the pin is removed from the first storage part. The pin supporting member includes a boss. The boss is stored in a second storage part when the pin is stored in the first storage part, and the boss is removed from the second storage part when the pin is removed from the first storage part.

Abstract: A coupling structure which couples an ink container to a supply target includes a cap and a joint. The cap includes a container side communication path and a container opening/closing valve. The container side communication path is communicated with a supply port. The container opening/closing valve opens and closes the supply port. The joint includes a main body side communication path, a main body opening/closing valve and a first biasing member. The main body side communication path is communicated to an inflow port. The main body opening/closing valve opens and closes the inflow port. The first biasing member biases the main body opening/closing valve to a side of the ink container. The main body opening/closing valve is protruded to a side of the ink container closer than the inflow port even if the first biasing member is mostly contracted.

Abstract: A cap closes a spout of an ink pack and is coupled to an ink supply target to communicate the ink supply target with the ink pack. The cap includes a communication path, an opening/closing valve, a backflow prevention valve and an annular protrusion. The communication path is communicated with a supply port through which an ink is supplied to the ink supply target. The opening/closing valve opens and closes the supply port. The backflow prevention valve prevents a backflow of the ink from the communication path to the ink pack. The opening/closing valve comes into contact with the annular protrusion with a liquid pressure of the ink filled in the communication path between the opening/closing valve and the backflow prevention valve. The protrusion is tapered toward the supply port.

Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus, ink reserved in a reserve portion flows into a valve chamber through an inflow port. A first outflow port and a second outflow port are capable of flowing the ink from the valve chamber. The first valve element is preliminarily located at an opening position separated from the first outflow port in an inward direction directed from the first outflow port toward inside of the valve chamber. The first valve element is displaced from the opening position to the first outflow port and closes the first outflow port when the valve chamber is filled with the ink. The second valve element is preliminarily located at a closing position closing the second outflow port, and opens the second outflow port when the valve chamber is filled with the ink. Subsequently, a recording head becomes ready to record an image on a recording object with the ink.