Patent ID: 8292412
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising: a recording head configured to eject an ink; an auxiliary reservoir having an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber that are both open to an atmosphere, and configured to store the ink; a first supply passage for supplying the ink from the downstream chamber of the auxiliary reservoir to the recording head; a return passage for returning the ink from the recording head to the upstream chamber of the auxiliary reservoir; a partition portion dividing an internal space of the auxiliary reservoir into the upstream and downstream chambers, and having a plate section inhibiting flows of the ink between the upstream and downstream chambers and having an upper end which is higher than a first level of the ink when the auxiliary reservoir stores therein a largest volume of the ink, the partition portion further having a filter section contacting the ink in the upstream and downstream chambers; and an ink level control portion configured to control a level of the ink within the auxiliary reservoir, such that the level of ink within the auxiliary reservoir is kept between said first level, and a second level which is higher than a bottom wall of the auxiliary reservoir when the auxiliary reservoir stores therein a smallest volume of the ink, and wherein the plate section has a first plate extending upwards from the bottom wall to a position lower than the second level of the ink, said filter section extending from an upper end of the first plate in a horizontal direction, the plate section further having a second plate extending upwards from one of the opposite ends of the filter section remote from the first plate section to a position higher than said first level of the ink.