Patent ID: 7377616
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An inkjet printer comprising: (a) a head unit having a plurality of ejecting portions and operable to eject a plurality of kinds of inks through said plurality of ejecting portions, respectively; (b) a discharger operable to discharge the plurality of kinds of inks through said plurality of ejecting portions of said head unit; and (c) a communication controller, wherein said discharger includes: wherein said cap defines therein a plurality of ink storage chambers in which the respective kinds of inks are to be stored, wherein said connector includes a plurality of passage definers defining respective discharge passages each of which communicates a corresponding one of said ink storage chambers and a chamber of said suction pump, wherein said communication controller allows communication between at least two of said plurality of ink storage chambers when said cap is placed in said separate state, and inhibits the communication between said at least two ink storage chambers when said cap is placed in said contact state, wherein said cap has a partition wall by which said at least two ink storage chambers are separated from each other, wherein said communication controller selectively allows and inhibits the communication between said at least two ink storage chambers through said partition wall, and wherein said communication controller is provided by said partition wall which defines a communication through-hole establishing therethrough the communication between said at least two ink storage chambers, such that said communication through-hole is open when said cap is placed in said separate state and is closed when said cap is placed in said contact state.