Patent ID: 6575547
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An inkjet printer comprising:an ink containing portion for containing ink; a printing unit having a driving portion having a nozzle for ejecting ink contained in the ink containing portion; a first control circuit for driving and controlling the driving portion so that a pressure for ejecting the ink from the nozzle is generated in the driving portion; an ink passage disposed between the ink containing portion and the driving portion for supplying ink contained in the ink containing portion to the driving portion via an ink supply path extending from the ink containing portion through the ink passage to the driving portion; a heating portion disposed in the ink supply path for heating the ink supplied to the driving portion; a cooling portion for cooling the ink supplied to the driving portion, the cooling portion being disposed in the ink supply path at a position closer to the driving portion than the heating portion; a temperature sensor portion for detecting the temperature of the ink supplied to the driving portion, the temperature sensor portion being disposed in the ink supply path at a position closer to the driving portion than the cooling portion; and a second control circuit for controlling at least one of the heating portion and the cooling portion in accordance with the temperature of the ink detected by the temperature sensor portion to adjust and control the temperature of the ink before it is supplied to the driving portion; wherein the second control circuit outputs an electric signal to the heating portion to control the heating portion to generate heat to heat the ink so that a viscosity of the ink is maintained constant before the ink is supplied to the driving portion, and wherein the second control to control the cooling portion to absorb heat to cool the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is maintained constant before the ink is supplied to the driving portion.