| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To ensure the removal of bubbles in an ink flow path to conduct a proper printing using a low-cost ink jet printer by a method wherein ink and bubbles are pressurized by a pressurizing pump as well as sucked by a suction pump, and a discharge valve of a buffer tank is opened/closed by a driven element provided on a cap. CONSTITUTION:When bubbles or the like stagnate inside a head 1, a buffer tank 2, or the like, a motor 27 is driven with the head 1 capped with a cap 4 to actuate a pressurizing pump 28, and a motor 6 is driven to actuate a suction pump 7. In this manner, ink in the buffer tank 2 and an ink flow path of the head 1 is pressurized. On the other hand, the pressurized ink and bubble in the head 1 are sucked out of a nozzle 1a by the suction pump 7 to be discharged to a waste liquid tank 8. In addition, a discharge valve 17 of the buffer tank 2 is opened/closed by a driven element provided on the cap 4. In this manner, the need for using a high-cost solenoid valve for the discharge valve 17 is eliminated, and a low-cost printer can be manufactured. |
