Abstract: A method for refilling liquid to a liquid supply path is provided with a sub-tank for supplying the liquid by retaining it temporarily and inducing the air outside into the sub-tank. This method comprises the steps of making the sub-tank a closed space and filling the liquid while reducing pressure in the sub-tank. With the application of this method, liquid can be supplied stably. Also, by use of a pump serving as means for generating negative pressure in the sub-tank, which can be installed on a path different from the liquid supply path, the structure of the liquid supply path becomes simpler to make it easier to avoid liquid leakage or other operational difficulties for the enhancement of a stabilized supply of liquid.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is capable of freely selecting a plurality of sheet feeding units each having a different controlling method. It is discriminated as to which one among plural kinds of sheet feeding units is fitted, and printing and a motor for a sheet feeding-unit are controlled based on the result of the discrimination from an output from a sensor disposed on the sheet feeding unit. Especially, in the case that a roll shaped paper feeding unit is fitted, it is judged that a printing medium reaches the position where printing can be started when a TOF sensor detects black color, and in the case that a cut sheet feeding unit is fitted, it is judged that the recording medium reaches the position where printing can be started when the TOF sensor detects white color.

Abstract: A cleaning method for removing a recording ink from a surface of a recording material conveying belt of a recording apparatus. The method includes the steps of detecting a recording material jam; press contacting a cleaning member to a surface of the recording material conveying belt in response to the detected jam, thus removing from the belt surface an improper discharge of recording ink; and separating the cleaning member from the surface of the conveying belt after cleaning for a period of time. The period of time is determined based upon an amount of the recording ink discharged onto the conveying belt surface.

Abstract: In a printer employing an ink-jet system, for appropriately managing loading and unloading of an ink cartridge and waste ink and for obtaining appropriate ink supply system for an ink-jet head, an ink storage chamber and a waste ink storage chamber of the ink cartridge is formed integrally. Most part of the waste ink storage chamber is filled with an absorbing member. Also, at a portion where a supply needle is pierced and removed at the front end face of the cartridge, an ink absorbing member is provided. Also, among two stage structure of the waste ink storage chamber, a portion where the absorbing member is not present is defined by a partitioning wall to detect the ink exuded from the absorbing member and stored in the portion beyond the partitioning wall is detected by a detection electrode. On the other hand, when the ink is forcedly supplied from the ink strage chamber to the ink-jet head by driving the tube pump in clockwise direction, the ink supply is performed via a buffer tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus comprising a conveying means for a recording medium in a substantially horizontal direction, a head holding means for holding a plurality of ink jet heads in such a manner that the ink jet heads discharge ink vertically downward toward the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means in the substantially horizontal direction, a vertical shifting means for shifting the head holding means in a substantially vertical direction, a head recovery means for recovering and preventing the non-discharge of ink from the plurality of ink jet heads, in a condition opposed to the plurality of ink jet heads, and a horizontal shifting means for shifting the head recovery means in the substantially horizontal direction into a spatial area provided above the recording medium by lifting the head holding means in the substantially vertical direction by means of the vertical shifting means, so that the head recovery means is opposed relation to the plurality of ink

Abstract: A belt driving apparatus for carrying material to be recorded to a plurality of image recording units. In the belt driving apparatus, the distance of movement of material to be recorded corresponding to one rotation of the belt driving roller has been set to n (an integer)-times (where n=2, 3, 4 . . . ) as long as a distance between each image recording unit. A distance between one image recording unit and another recording unit is equal to or an integral fraction of .pi.(D+2 t), wherein D is the diameter of a drive roller driving the belt and t is the thickness of the belt.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for recording information by ejecting ink fluid onto a recording medium has a recording head, a head drive part, a capping unit, a first moving unit, an ink receiver and a second moving unit. The recording head having an orifice ejects an ink fluid from the orifice. The head drive part drives the recording head to eject an ink fluid. The capping part covers up the orifice of the recording head, the part being installed so as to be able to move relative to the recording head. The first moving unit moves the capping unit and the recording head relative to each other. The ink receiver receives an ink fluid ejected from the recording head. The second moving unit moves the ink receiver and the recording head relative to each other and enables this movement independent of the movement established by the first moving unit.

Abstract: An ink jet apparatus for discharging a plurality of kinds of ink to a recording medium to thereby effect color recording has a plurality of recording head for discharging the inks to thereby effect recording, a carriage carrying the plurality of recording head thereon to be scanned along the recording medium, and forwardly and backwardly moving members for moving the plurality of recording heads carried on the carriage forwardly and backwardly independently of one another.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recording apparatus that includes a conveying device for conveying a recording sheet in a conveying direction, a recording device confronting the conveying device for recording an image on the sheet being conveyed and a supporting device for shiftably supporting at least one of the conveying device and the recording device for movement between a recording position where the conveying device and the recording device are in parallel contact with the recording sheet therebetween and a non-recording or separated position where the conveying device is separated from the recording device. In one embodiment, the recording device and the conveying device are separated in parallel in the non-recording position and the supporting device causes the at least one of the conveying device and the recording device to be non-parallel during movement from the non-recording position to the recording position.

Abstract: A developer supply device for supplying an image forming apparatus with a developer includes a developer accomodating container having an opening for supplying the developer, and a member for opening and closing the opening of the container. The developer accomodating container is slid to be positioned at a predetermined position. The direction of movement of the openable and closable member to open the opening coincides with the direction of the sliding movement for being positioned. A force needed for the movement of the openable and closable member is arranged to be larger than a force needed for the sliding movement of the developer accomodating container. The device also includes a regulating member, which prevents the developer accomodating container from being moved from the predetermined position when the openable and closable member is opened.

Abstract: A transport device for use in a recording apparatus is disclosed. The transport device includes a conveyor belt having at least three layers. The upper layer of the belt is a conductive or semiconductive layer that is discriminable from a recording material by a detector. Below the first conductive or semiconductive layer is an insulating layer and below the insulating layer is a third conductive layer. The first layer has a volume resistivity value of from 10.sup.14 to 10.sup.17 .OMEGA.cm. The detectors are positioned upstream and downstream of the recording region and disposed downstream of that recording region is a cleaning blade and absorber which together work under control of a controller to clean ink from the conveyor before it soils the charging roller or the next recording sheet. The controller also controls the cleaning operation in accordance with the amount of ink that was unnecessarily jetted onto the conveyor belt.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording apparatus comprising a conveyor for conveying a sheet while contacting therewith, a recording device for recording an image by discharging ink onto the sheet conveyed by the conveyor, a cleaning device for sweeping the ink adhered to the conveyor by slidingly contacting therewith, and an absorbing member for absorbing the ink adhered to the conveyor.

Abstract: In a support device for a direct drive electric motor found in apparatuses such as copy machines, printers, etc., employing the method of driving a driven shaft by an output shaft of the motor in direct connection thereto, the motor body is supported by the direct connection of the output shaft of the motor with the driven shaft, and a rotation preventing plate is provided for preventing the motor body from rotating about its output shaft, as the rotation preventing plate is in engagement with a fixed member.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording sheet, includes a recording section for recording an image on the recording sheet, a recording sheet holding section for holding the recording sheet, a conveying section for conveying the recording sheet held by the recording sheet holding section to a recording operation position by the recording section, a guide section for guiding the recording sheet to a convey path according to a size of the recording sheet subjected to the recording operation by the recording section, a first size recording sheet receiving section for receiving a first size recording sheet guided by the guide section, and a second size recording sheet receiving section for receiving a second size recording sheet different from the first size recording sheet and guided by the guide section.