Abstract: A heating device includes a tube, a container, a heater, and heat medium. The tube through which liquid flows is spirally formed. The container has a cylindrical part whose axial direction is along a spiral direction of the tube and stores the tube. The heater is provided in the cylindrical part. The heat medium is in liquid form and fills the container.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head including a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, a conveyor belt that has a plurality of apertures and conveys recording media one by one, a control unit, an ink receiver, and a pipe-shaped ink discharge flow path. The control unit controls drive of the recording head and the conveyor belt to perform flushing, in which the ink is ejected from the nozzle of the recording head to pass through one of the apertures, at a timing different from a timing contributing to image recording. The ink receiver is disposed to face the recording head sandwiching the conveyor belt therebetween, to receive the ink after passing through the aperture when the flushing is performed. The ink discharge flow path is connected to the ink receiver. When the flushing is performed, a predetermined amount of liquid is stored in the ink receiver.

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: According to an ink replacement method in an ink-jet recording apparatus that includes a recording head having an ink ejection face in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink onto a recording medium are arranged, a sub-tank that temporarily stores the ink fed from an ink container, and an ink flow passage through which the ink circulates from the sub-tank via the recording head to the sub-tank, gas is inserted between first ink present in the ink flow passage and second ink newly supplied to the recording head via the ink flow passage to form a gas-liquid interface between the first and second ink and gas, and then the first ink is replaced with the second ink.

Abstract: Provided is an ink-replacement method for an inkjet recording apparatus that includes a recording head having an ink ejection surface on which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink onto a recording medium is arranged, a sub-tank for temporarily retaining the ink supplied from an ink container, and an ink flow path along which the ink circulates from and to the sub-tank by passing through the recording head. In replacing a first ink present in the ink flow path with a second ink to be newly supplied to the recording head via the ink flow path, when the second ink is caused to flow from the sub-tank into the ink flow path, pulsation is generated in the ink flow path.

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus includes a conveyance belt, a conveyance plate, a suction unit, an inkjet head, and a cleaning unit. The conveyance belt has a plurality of through holes. The conveyance plate includes a plurality of through holes formed in bottom portions of the plurality of recessed portions. The suction unit is configured to suck the sheet to the conveyance belt. The inkjet head includes a head main body and a head end portion adjacent to the head main body, and faces an upper surface of the conveyance plate via the conveyance belt. The cleaning unit removes ink adhering to a lower surface of the head main body. A depth of the recessed portion in a facing region facing the head end portion of the conveyance plate is shallower than a depth of the recessed portion in a region other than the facing region.

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus includes a conveyance belt, a conveyance plate, a suction unit, an inkjet head, and a cleaning unit. The conveyance belt has a plurality of through holes. The suction unit causes the conveyance belt to suck the sheet. The conveyance plate includes a plurality of through holes formed in bottom portions of the plurality of recessed portions. The inkjet head includes a head main body and a head end portion adjacent to the head main body, and faces an upper surface of the conveyance plate via the conveyance belt. The cleaning unit removes ink adhering to a lower surface of the head main body. A ratio of the recessed portions per unit area in a facing region of the conveyance plate facing the head end portion is smaller than a ratio of the recessed portions per unit area in a region other than the facing region.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head including a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, a conveyor belt that has a plurality of apertures and conveys recording media one by one, a control unit, an ink receiver, and a pipe-shaped ink discharge flow path. The control unit controls drive of the recording head and the conveyor belt to perform flushing, in which the ink is ejected from the nozzle of the recording head to pass through one of the apertures, at a timing different from a timing contributing to image recording. The ink receiver is disposed to face the recording head sandwiching the conveyor belt therebetween, to receive the ink after passing through the aperture when the flushing is performed. The ink discharge flow path is connected to the ink receiver. When the flushing is performed, a predetermined amount of liquid is stored in the ink receiver.

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: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a wiper member, a cleaning liquid supply device, and a controller. The recording head includes an ink ejection surface having an ink ejection port from which ink is ejected. The cleaning liquid supply device includes a cleaning liquid supply surface having a cleaning liquid supply port from which cleaning liquid for wiping the ink ejection surface with the wiper member is supplied, and is located upstream of the ink ejection surface in a wiping direction. The controller controls a cleaning operation including squeezing out the cleaning liquid containing bubbles from the cleaning liquid supply port, and moving the wiper member carrying the cleaning liquid containing bubbles, in the wiping direction from a movement start position to an end position ahead of the ink ejection surface.

Abstract: A heater unit includes a metal plate, a pipe and a linear heater. The pipe comes into contact with one surface of the metal plate, and a fluid to be heated is passed through the pipe. The linear heater comes into contact with the other surface of the metal plate and is disposed along the pipe.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a wiper member, a cleaning liquid supply device, a cleaning liquid flow path, and a controller. The cleaning liquid flow path includes a vertical tubular member connected to the cleaning liquid supply device and extending upward, and a horizontal tubular member connected to an upper end of the vertical tubular member and extending in a horizontal direction. The controller extrudes a cleaning liquid in at least a part of the cleaning liquid flow path from a cleaning liquid supply port before control of a cleaning operation for wiping an ink ejection surface of the recording head, thereby performing control of an air bubble release operation of the cleaning liquid flow path.

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus includes a conveyance belt, a conveyance plate, a suction unit, an inkjet head, and a cleaning unit. The conveyance belt has a plurality of through holes. The suction unit causes the conveyance belt to suck the sheet. The conveyance plate includes a plurality of through holes formed in bottom portions of the plurality of recessed portions. The inkjet head includes a head main body and a head end portion adjacent to the head main body, and faces an upper surface of the conveyance plate via the conveyance belt. The cleaning unit removes ink adhering to a lower surface of the head main body. A ratio of the recessed portions per unit area in a facing region of the conveyance plate facing the head end portion is smaller than a ratio of the recessed portions per unit area in a region other than the facing region.

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus includes a conveyance belt, a conveyance plate, a suction unit, an inkjet head, and a cleaning unit. The conveyance belt has a plurality of through holes. The conveyance plate includes a plurality of through holes formed in bottom portions of the plurality of recessed portions. The suction unit is configured to suck the sheet to the conveyance belt. The inkjet head includes a head main body and a head end portion adjacent to the head main body, and faces an upper surface of the conveyance plate via the conveyance belt. The cleaning unit removes ink adhering to a lower surface of the head main body. A depth of the recessed portion in a facing region facing the head end portion of the conveyance plate is shallower than a depth of the recessed portion in a region other than the facing region.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a wiper member, a cleaning liquid supply device, a cleaning liquid flow path, and a controller. The cleaning liquid flow path includes a vertical tubular member connected to the cleaning liquid supply device and extending upward, and a horizontal tubular member connected to an upper end of the vertical tubular member and extending in a horizontal direction. The controller extrudes a cleaning liquid in at least a part of the cleaning liquid flow path from a cleaning liquid supply port before control of a cleaning operation for wiping an ink ejection surface of the recording head, thereby performing control of an air bubble release operation of the cleaning liquid flow path.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a wiper member, a cleaning liquid supply device, and a controller. The recording head includes an ink ejection surface having an ink ejection port from which ink is ejected. The cleaning liquid supply device includes a cleaning liquid supply surface having a cleaning liquid supply port from which cleaning liquid for wiping the ink ejection surface with the wiper member is supplied, and is located upstream of the ink ejection surface in a wiping direction. The controller controls a cleaning operation including squeezing out the cleaning liquid containing bubbles from the cleaning liquid supply port, and moving the wiper member carrying the cleaning liquid containing bubbles, in the wiping direction from a movement start position to an end position ahead of the ink ejection surface.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink ejection surface, a washing liquid storage portion, a washing liquid nozzle, a mesh sheet, and a sponge member. The washing liquid storage portion includes a supply surface adjacent to the ink ejection surface. The washing liquid nozzle includes a communicating hole that is communicated from a supply port formed in the supply surface to an inside of the washing liquid storage portion, and forms a concave meniscus by a surface of the washing liquid in the communicating hole. The mesh sheet is provided in close contact with an opposite rear surface of the supply surface, and has an opening that is smaller in size than an inner diameter of the communicating hole. The sponge member is provided in a compressed state in the inside of the washing liquid storage portion, presses the mesh sheet toward the opposite rear surface of the supply surface.

Abstract: A wiping device wipes off ink attached to an ink discharge surface of a recording head. The wiping device includes a wiper. The wiper wipes off ink attached to the ink discharge surface of the recording head. The wiper is formed of a material having elasticity. The wiper includes a blade pressed to the ink discharge surface. The blade has a shape easily deformed in a direction perpendicular to the ink discharge surface.

Abstract: A recording head of the present disclosure includes an ink ejection surface where a plurality of ink ejection ports for ejecting ink onto a recording medium are disposed. A plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports for supplying a cleaning liquid are disposed on an upstream side with respect to the ink ejection ports in a wiping direction which is a direction in which a wiper wipes the ink ejection surface. The plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports each have a chamfer portion formed at a portion thereof that intersects a surface to be wiped by the wiper, the chamfer portion being R-shaped in section.