Abstract: Disclosed is an ink container rotatable to take a first position and a second position, including an ink reservoir containing ink; and first and second detecting sensors connected to a detecting unit that determines whether the ink reservoir contains a predetermined amount of the ink based on current flowing through the first and second detecting sensors. The first and second detecting sensors are provided to face directions different from each other such that whether the ink reservoir contains a first predetermined amount of the ink for the first position is determined based on whether the first detecting sensor contacts the ink when the ink container takes the first position, and whether the ink reservoir contains a second predetermined amount of the ink for the second position is determined based on whether the second detecting sensor contacts the ink when the ink container takes the second position.

Abstract: A droplet ejection head that is attachable to and removable from a droplet ejection apparatus, includes: a nozzle plate having multiple nozzle holes to eject droplets; an individual-channel substrate in which multiple individual-liquid-chambers to supply liquid to the nozzle holes are formed; a common-channel substrate to supply liquid to the individual-channel substrate; a base plate made of metal and including a first positioning part to be engaged with a part of the droplet ejection apparatus at a given position to perform positioning with respect to the droplet ejection apparatus in a direction along an opening surface of the nozzle plate at which the nozzle holes are opened; and a housing made of resin and including a second positioning part to perform positioning with respect to the droplet ejection apparatus in a direction intersecting with the opening surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a recording head; a cap member capping the nozzle surface of the recording head and including a release port and a suction port; a suction unit in communication with the suction port; a switch unit opening and closing the release port to the air and capable of adjusting the opening amount of the release port to at least a first opening amount and a second opening amount larger than the first opening amount; and a control unit that controls the suction unit and the switch unit so that the release port is opened to the first opening amount to have a predetermined amount of air flow into the cap member after the cap member is suctioned by the suction unit, and the release port is then opened to the second opening amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a carriage movable in a main scanning direction and including a recording head having a nozzle surface in which nozzles to eject liquid droplets in a horizontal direction are formed, the nozzle surface being disposed in a vertical direction; a guide shaft to guide the carriage in the main scanning direction; and a bearing provided to the carriage and having two sloped sides slidably contacting an outer circumferential surface of the guide shaft. In a plane perpendicular to an axis of the guide shaft, the two sloped sides are disposed such that a line passing through both the axis of the guide shaft and an intersection of two tangent lines from contact portions in which the two sloped sides contact the outer circumferential surface of the guide shaft diagonally intersects a line extending along a plane of the nozzle surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head configured to have a nozzle face on which nozzles that discharge liquid droplets are formed; a cap configured to cap the nozzle face of the recording head; a discharge path configured to be connected to the cap; a suction pump configured to be provided in the discharge path and be made of a tube pump; and an atmosphere opening part configured to open an airtight space, created when the nozzle face is capped by the cap, to the atmosphere. The atmosphere opening part is configured to communicate with the inside of the cap at a position higher than a surface of liquid discharged into the cap, and a check valve configured to prevent a flow of the liquid toward the cap from the suction pump is provided in the discharge path.

Abstract: A droplet ejection head that is attachable to and removable from a droplet ejection apparatus, includes: a nozzle plate having multiple nozzle holes to eject droplets; an individual-channel substrate in which multiple individual-liquid-chambers to supply liquid to the nozzle holes are formed; a common-channel substrate to supply liquid to the individual-channel substrate; a base plate made of metal and including a first positioning part to be engaged with a part of the droplet ejection apparatus at a given position to perform positioning with respect to the droplet ejection apparatus in a direction along an opening surface of the nozzle plate at which the nozzle holes are opened; and a housing made of resin and including a second positioning part to perform positioning with respect to the droplet ejection apparatus in a direction intersecting with the opening surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head disposed to eject droplets of liquid upward to form an image on a lower face of a recording medium conveyed to a position above the recording head. The recording head includes nozzles, individual liquid chambers, a common liquid chamber, a liquid supply port, a bubble discharge channel, and a valve unit. The nozzles eject droplets of the liquid. The individual liquid chambers are communicated with the nozzles. The common liquid chamber is communicated with the individual liquid chambers. The liquid supply port supplies the liquid to the common liquid chamber. The bubble discharge channel is communicated with the common liquid chamber to communicate the common liquid chamber with an outside of the recording head. The valve unit is disposed at the bubble discharge channel to open and close the bubble discharge channel.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a cap, a suction unit, and a recovery device. The recording head has nozzles at a nozzle face to horizontally eject droplets of liquid. The cap caps the nozzle face of the recording head. The suction unit is connected to the cap. The recovery device drives the suction unit with the nozzle face capped with the cap to create a negative pressure in an internal space of the cap and suck the liquid from the recording head. The cap has a contact portion to contact the nozzle face and a suction port to communicate with the suction unit. The suction port is disposed away from the contact portion with a minute gap at a lowermost area of the cap in a vertical direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink container rotatable to take a first position and a second position, including an ink reservoir containing ink; and first and second detecting sensors connected to a detecting unit that determines whether the ink reservoir contains a predetermined amount of the ink based on current flowing through the first and second detecting sensors. The first and second detecting sensors are provided to face directions different from each other such that whether the ink reservoir contains a first predetermined amount of the ink for the first position is determined based on whether the first detecting sensor contacts the ink when the ink container takes the first position, and whether the ink reservoir contains a second predetermined amount of the ink for the second position is determined based on whether the second detecting sensor contacts the ink when the ink container takes the second position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a recording head; a cap member capping the nozzle surface of the recording head and including a release port and a suction port; a suction unit in communication with the suction port; a switch unit opening and closing the release port to the air and capable of adjusting the opening amount of the release port to at least a first opening amount and a second opening amount larger than the first opening amount; and a control unit that controls the suction unit and the switch unit so that the release port is opened to the first opening amount to have a predetermined amount of air flow into the cap member after the cap member is suctioned by the suction unit, and the release port is then opened to the second opening amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a carriage movable in a main scanning direction and including a recording head having a nozzle surface in which nozzles to eject liquid droplets in a horizontal direction are formed, the nozzle surface being disposed in a vertical direction; a guide shaft to guide the carriage in the main scanning direction; and a bearing provided to the carriage and having two sloped sides slidably contacting an outer circumferential surface of the guide shaft. In a plane perpendicular to an axis of the guide shaft, the two sloped sides are disposed such that a line passing through both the axis of the guide shaft and an intersection of two tangent lines from contact portions in which the two sloped sides contact the outer circumferential surface of the guide shaft diagonally intersects a line extending along a plane of the nozzle surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head configured to have a nozzle face on which nozzles that discharge liquid droplets are formed; a cap configured to cap the nozzle face of the recording head; a discharge path configured to be connected to the cap; a suction pump configured to be provided in the discharge path and be made of a tube pump; and an atmosphere opening part configured to open an airtight space, created when the nozzle face is capped by the cap, to the atmosphere. The atmosphere opening part is configured to communicate with the inside of the cap at a position higher than a surface of liquid discharged into the cap, and a check valve configured to prevent a flow of the liquid toward the cap from the suction pump is provided in the discharge path.

Abstract: A cover unit to open and close an opening formed in a main body includes a cover including a hinged first end portion, a second end portion including an engagement portion provided on a side facing the opening, and a deformable portion deformable toward the main body, provided in the second end portion, a rotation stopper disposed between the cover and the opening, to inhibit the cover from rotating excessively, and a push latch unit disposed in the main body to lock and unlock the cover, including an engagement pawl to contact the engagement portion of the cover when the rotation stopper prohibits the cover from rotating further to the main body. When the second end portion is pressed while the rotation stopper prohibits the cover from rotating, the engagement portion of the cover is engaged or disengaged from the engagement pawl of the push latch unit.

Abstract: A cover unit to open and close an opening formed in a main body includes a cover including a hinged first end portion, a second end portion including an engagement portion provided on a side facing the opening, and a deformable portion deformable toward the main body, provided in the second end portion, a rotation stopper disposed between the cover and the opening, to inhibit the cover from rotating excessively, and a push latch unit disposed in the main body to lock and unlock the cover, including an engagement pawl to contact the engagement portion of the cover when the rotation stopper prohibits the cover from rotating further to the main body. When the second end portion is pressed while the rotation stopper prohibits the cover from rotating, the engagement portion of the cover is engaged or disengaged from the engagement pawl of the push latch unit.