| 摘要 |
<p>An ink jet printer and a method for operating the same are proposed. The ink jet printer is designed to perform high quality drafting or printing, while minimizing the contact of ink with the atmosphere. Ink jet type recording heads (52) and sub tanks (54) of the ink jet printer are mounted on a movable carriage (40) of the printer. The sub tanks supply the recording heads with ink. Main tanks (60) are located stationary at the printer body and supply the sub tanks with ink. Ink can be recycled from the sub tanks into the main tanks and removed from the recording heads into a waste solution tank (118). Afterwards, the ink in the main tanks can be stirred, and the recording heads can be cleaned with a cleaning solution and subsequently dried by air. Preferably, an atmosphere release valve (90) is associated to the sub tanks. This valve is basically only opened during drafting or printing. In particular, the valve is closed after the sub tanks have been filled or refilled with ink from the main tanks or after ink from the sub tanks has been recycled into the main tanks. <IMAGE></p> |
