Method of supplying fluid to a fluid ejection head, fluid supply mechanism, and fluid ejection device

摘要

A drop in the throughput of continuous printing operations caused by refilling a subtank with ink is suppressed. The control unit of an inkjet printer 1 fills subtanks 11a-11d with ink whenever ink consumption exceeds a reference volume q during continuous printing. Ink is suctioned by producing negative pressure in subtanks 11a-11d during the ink refill operation while ink continues being supplied to the inkjet head 7 from pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d disposed between subtanks 11a-11d and inkjet head 7. Ink ejection from the inkjet head 7 can therefore continue even during the ink refill operation. By setting the volume of the pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d greater than at least the amount of ink that is ejected during the ink refill operation, there is no need to interrupt printing in order to replenish the ink supply.