Patent ID: 6179406
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink-jet printer with an ink nozzle purging device comprising:an ink supply source;a printing head unit having an ink passage and at least one ink nozzle communicating with the ink passage;an ink supply pipe which is use to supply ink to the ink passage of the printing head unit from the ink supply source;an ink pressurizing pump equipped in the ink supply pipe;an opening/closing valve equipped in one of: (i) a portion of the ink supply pipe extending from the ink pressurizing pump to the printing head unit, and (ii) a portion of the ink passage of the printing head unit up to the ink nozzle; andan ink urging unit having (i) a chamber equipped in a portion of the ink supply pipe between the opening/closing valve and the ink pressurizing pump, and (ii) an elastic member disposed in the chamber, said elastic member accumulating an elastic force due to a pressure of ink entering into the chamber when the ink pressurizing pump is operated with the opening/closing valve closed, and said elastic member then urging ink in the chamber toward the printing head unit when the opening/closing valve is opened to release the elastic force accumulated in the elastic member.