Patent ID: 6749296
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising:a recording head for receiving ink supplied via a first ink supply path and for ejecting ink droplets; a second ink supply path along which ink is transmitted from an ink supply to said first ink supply path, wherein said ink is transmitted in said second ink supply path generally in an ink transfer direction from said ink supply to said first ink supply path, wherein said second ink supply path comprises a connection portion that receives said ink from said ink supply and comprises an enlarged portion, and wherein a cross-sectional area of said enlarged portion, which is substantially perpendicular to said ink transfer direction, is greater than a cross-sectional area of said connection portion, which is substantially perpendicular to said ink transfer direction; and a filter which is located at a joint area that forms a communication portion situated between said first ink supply path and said second ink supply path, wherein said enlarged portion comprises at least a portion of said joint area, wherein ink induction paths are formed in said enlarged portion in order to use capillary attraction to induce the low of ink through said filter, and wherein said enlarged portion is tapered such that said cross-sectional area of said enlarged portion gradually changes along said ink transfer direction from said second ink supply path to said first ink supply path.