Patent ID: 6048057
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A head mounted on a carriage used in a hot melt ink jet printer having a frame, the head comprising:an ink tank that stores ink, and formed with a first chamber, a second chamber, and a first channel connecting between the first chamber and the second chamber;a nozzle head that ejects ink;a front panel that mounts the nozzle head, the front panel being formed with a second channel connecting between the first chamber and the nozzle head and a third channel connecting between the nozzle head and the second chamber so that ink is allowed to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber via the nozzle head;a tank heater that heats the ink tank;a panel heater that heats the front panel and is attached to the front panel;a first valve provided to the second chamber, the first valve selectively opening and closing the third channel;a second valve provided to the second chamber, the second valve selectively opening and closing the first channel; anda valve control unit that executes a purging operation during which ink is circulated from the first chamber to the second chamber via the print head, the purging operation being executed by controlling the first valve and the second valve; whereinduring the purging operation, the first valve opens the third channel, and the second valve closes the first channel;during a time when the purging operation is not performed, the first valve closes the third channel, and the second valve opens the first channel.