Patent ID: 9022538
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus or forming an image on a recording medium, the apparatus comprising: an image forming unit to form the image on the recording medium; a treatment-liquid application unit including a chamber to store a treatment liquid and applying the treatment liquid from the chamber to the recording medium; a treatment-liquid storage unit to store the treatment liquid to be supplied to the chamber; a supply channel member forming a supply channel to supply the treatment liquid from the treatment-liquid storage unit o the chamber; a collection channel member forming a collection channel to collect the treatment liquid from the chamber to the treatment-liquid storage unit, treatment liquid flowing through the collection channel in a liquid collection direction; a temporary storage portion disposed in the collection channel to temporarily store he treatment liquid collected through the collection channel member and resupplied to the chamber, in a side view, the temporary storage portion having an extent in a width direction that is perpendicular to the liquid collection direction greater that of the collection channel, the collection channel including a first channel portion to connect the chamber to the temporary storage portion, and a second channel portion to connect the temporary storage portion to the treatment-liquid storage unit; and a pump disposed in the second channel portion to bi-directionally deliver the treatment liquid to the temporary storage portion and to the treatment-liquid storage unit, respectively, wherein the first channel portion of the collection channel, in the side view, has an extent in a width direction that is perpendicular to the liquid collection direction smaller than that of the temporary storage portion, and wherein the image forming apparatus shifts to a standby state after termination of a collecting operation for collecting the treatment liquid from the chamber to the treatment-liquid storage unit through the first channel portion. the temporary storage portion and the second channel portion, and in the standby state, the temporary storage portion is communicated with the first channel portion, and the temporary storage portion and the second channel portion are filled with the treatment liquid, a liquid surface of said treatment liquid being at a position within the first channel portion.