Patent ID: 9296217
Filing Date: 2016-03-29
CPC Classification: B41J

Claim Text:
1. An image forming device comprising: a recording head including a plurality of nozzles to eject ink onto a recording medium to form an image; a first reservoir part in which the ink to be supplied to the recording head is stored; a supply path connecting the recording head to the first reservoir part, the ink supplied from the first reservoir part passing through the supply path to the recording head; a pressure control unit connected to the first reservoir part, the pressure control unit allowing a pressure in the nozzles of the recording head to be a negative pressure state through the first reservoir part and the supply path; a first switching part to make a switch between opening and closing of a connection between the first reservoir part and the pressure control unit; a second reservoir part in which the ink to be supplied to the first reservoir part is stored; a supply part to supply the ink stored in the second reservoir part to the first reservoir part; a return path connecting the recording head to the second reservoir part, part of the ink which has been supplied to the recording head passing through the return path to return to the second reservoir part; a second switching part to make a switch between opening and closing of the return path; a first heater to heat the ink at the return path; a second heater to heat the ink at the supply path; and a control unit to control an operation of each of the first switching part, the second switching part, and the supply part, wherein in a state in which the connection between the first reservoir part and the pressure control unit is closed with the first switching part and the return path is closed with the second switching part, the control unit performs control to operate the supply part so that the ink stored in the second reservoir part is supplied to the first reservoir part to allow the nozzles of the recording head to eject the ink; in a state in which the connection between the first reservoir part and the pressure control unit is closed with the first switching part and the return path is opened with the second switching part, the control unit performs control to operate the supply part so that the ink stored in the second reservoir part is supplied to the first reservoir part to return the ink in the recording head to the second reservoir part; at a time of the control to return the ink in the recording head to the second reservoir part, the control unit controls the first heater in such a way that a temperature of the ink in the return path is higher than a temperature of the ink in the supply path; and the control unit controls the first heater and the second heater in such a way that the temperature of the ink in the supply path and the temperature of the ink in the return path are higher at the time of the control to return the ink in the recording head to the second reservoir part than at a time of image formation.