Patent ID: 6152559
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink-jet printing device, comprising:an ink-jet head having a plurality of parallel pressure chambers each having one end and another end and arrayed side by side in an array direction, nozzles connected to the one end of the pressure chambers, and a manifold connected to the another end of the pressure chambers, wherein the plurality of pressure chambers and the nozzles have a structure providing a first flow resistance to ink flow, the manifold extending in the array direction and having an inlet end positioned adjacent a first pressure chamber of said plurality of pressure chambers and an outlet end positioned adjacent a last pressure chamber of said plurality of pressure chambers;a first ink channel having one end connected to the inlet end of the manifold, the first ink channel having another end;a second ink channel having one end connected to the outlet end of the manifold and having another end, the second ink channel has a structure providing a second flow resistance to ink flow, wherein the first flow resistance being 1 to 5 times the second flow resistance;an ink tank accumulating therein an ink, the another end of the first ink channel and the another end of the second ink channel being connected to the ink tank for supplying the ink from the ink tank to the ink-jet head through the first ink channel and for circulating the ink in the ink-jet head to the ink tank through the second ink channel; anda pressure applying device connected to and applying pressure to ink accumulated in the ink tank for supplying the ink in the ink tank toward the first ink channel, so that a part of the ink supplied from the ink tank is ejected out of the nozzles and a remaining part of the ink being recirculated into the ink tank by the pressure in a single step purging operation without any capping of the nozzles.