| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To regulate a circulating flow rate and pressure near a nozzle to a suitable value, by controlling an internal pressure of a circulation pump and a tank. <P>SOLUTION: One embodiment is an ink supply mechanism that includes a circulating system composed by communicating with: an inkjet head having a nozzle, a pressure chamber opposed to the nozzle, an upstream port and a downstream port communicating with the pressure chamber; an upstream side tank communicating with the inkjet head through the upstream port and capable of storing the ink; a downstream side tank communicating with the inkjet head through the downstream port and capable of storing the ink; and a circulation pump for returning the ink from the downstream side tank to the upstream side tank. The ink supply mechanism has an opening valve which can open and close at least the downstream side tank liquid surface with an atmospheric pressure, closes the opening valve to drive the circulation pump, makes the downstream side tank liquid surface to negative pressure, returns the ink from the downstream side tank to the upstream side tank through a return channel, and circulates the ink. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT |
