Patent ID: 8336998
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus to form an image by discharging droplets, comprising: a recording head to discharge liquid droplets; an ink cartridge comprising a first liquid container and a first engagement unit located at a side of the ink cartridge, the first liquid container attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus via the first engagement unit; a first backflow prevention unit, arranged between the first engagement unit and the first liquid container, to prevent a backflow of ink into the first liquid container; a sub tank configured to temporarily hold ink supplied thereto from the first liquid container via a liquid supply path and to supply the held ink to the recording head; a liquid moving unit, provided in the liquid supply path between a second engagement unit located at the side of the image forming apparatus and the sub tank, to supply ink inside the first liquid container to the sub tank as well as return ink from the sub tank toward the second engagement unit at the side of the image forming apparatus; a second liquid container, provided in the liquid supply path between the liquid moving unit and the second engagement unit at the side of the image forming apparatus, to accommodate ink returned by the liquid moving unit from the sub tank toward the second engagement unit at the side of the image forming apparatus; and a second backflow prevention unit to prevent a backflow of the ink, provided between the second liquid container and the second engagement unit at the side of the image forming apparatus.