| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a highly reliable ink supply mechanism which enables ink to be easily supplied by free-falling by gravitation, and an ink storage vessel for use in the ink supply mechanism. SOLUTION: An opening 16 is provided at the leading end of a connecting pipe 15 of a main tank 3, and sealed with a spherical sealing member 19. When the main tank 3 is connected to a subtank 2, the connecting pipe 15 is inserted into an ink lead-in part; an O-ring 20 is pinched between a wall member 25 and the connecting pipe 15; and a rod-shaped part 21 pushes in a sealing member 23, so that an ink lead-in port 24 can be opened. A protrusion 27 pushes in the sealing member 19 in the connecting pipe 1, so as to open the opening 16. Thus, the inside of the subtank 2 and that of the main tank 3 communicate with each other via the opening 16 and the port 24 in the state of being blocked off from outside air by the O-ring 20, and the mutual delivery of the ink and the air is provided. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI |
