| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can prevent air from being mixed into an ink supply path due to a factor except a decrease in the remaining quantity of ink. SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus is equipped with an ink tank 21 wherein a porous ink storage body 22 is housed, and the ink supply path 3 for supplying the ink to a print head from the ink tank 21. A filter 23 is provided inside the path 3. The image forming apparatus satisfies the expression, F'<1/(N×R), wherein F (m) represents the filtration accuracy of the filter 23; N (number/m) represents the cell density of an ink absorber 22 before the ink absorber 22 is housed in the ink tank 21; and R represents a compression ratio which is expressed by the ratio of the volume of the ink absorber 22 housed in the ink tank 21 in a compressed state, to that of the ink absorber 22 before the ink absorber 22 is housed in the ink tank 21. However, the expression, F'=F, is satisfied when an opening of the filter 23 is circular, and the expression, F'=√2×F, is satisfied in other cases. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI |
