Patent ID: 8147025
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a printhead to eject droplets of ink to form an ink image; an ink container to supply ink to the printhead; a sensor to detect an air leak in the ink container when an amount of air therewithin exceeds a given limit level, the ink container being depressurized to generate a negative pressure lower than atmospheric pressure upon detection of the air leak by the sensor, such that the amount of air therewithin falls below the given limit level; a memory to record an air leak detection count representing a total number of times the sensor detects an air leak in the ink container during a given counting cycle initiated at a given start time and completed following a lapse of a given period of time; and a processor to compare the detection count against a given threshold value upon completion of the counting cycle, and indicate a defect in the ink container when the air leak detection count exceeds the given threshold value.