Patent ID: 6913350
Filing Date: 2005-07-05
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a record head mounted on a carriage and reciprocated in a width direction of record paper, and a sub-tank mounted on the carriage together with the record head for receiving replenishment with ink via an ink replenishment passage from a main tank, and supplying ink to the record head, wherein air pressure generated by an air pressurizing pump is applied to the main tank, and the sub-tank is replenished with ink from the main tank by the action of the air pressure, the recording apparatus further comprising: an on-off valve unit having a valve member provided to an air flow passage from the air pressurizing pump to the main tank and opened under a given or more air pressure for maintaining the air pressure in the air flow passage within a predetermined range; and a drive system capable of forcibly opening the valve member in the on-off valve unit, thereby releasing a pressurization state of the air pressurizing pump.