Patent ID: 8162451
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A pressure buffer disposed in an ink supply path that connects an ink supply source to an ink-jet head, the pressure buffer comprising: a chamber having upper and lower portions and having an ink flow inlet through which ink flows from the ink supply source into the chamber and an ink flow outlet through which the ink flows from the chamber to the ink-jet head; a partition wall disposed within the chamber and extending at least partly along a side wall of the chamber to define an ink flow path that communicates through an opening at its upper end with the chamber and that communicates at its lower end with the ink flow outlet so that the ink flows serially from the chamber through the opening into the ink flow path and from the ink flow path through the ink flow outlet into the ink-jet head; and a through-opening in the partition wall in the vicinity of the ink flow outlet and through which the ink flows between the ink flow path and the chamber to suppress pressure fluctuations in the ink flow path.