| 摘要 |
<p>An object of the invention is to provide an improved hot melt ink supply system for ink jet apparatus which is especially adapted for use with pigmented hot melt inks. In the representative hot melt ink supply system described in the specification, a first hot melt ink supply reservoir (27) maintains ink in molten condition during operation of the system and a second reservoir (12) mounted with an ink jet head (11) on a movable carriage (10) communicates with the first reservoir (27) through a flexible supply line (36). The ink in the supply line (36) is normally kept in solid condition and, when a reduced level of ink is detected in the second reservoir (12), the supply line (36) is heated to melt the ink in the line and a pump (32) is actuated to transfer ink from the first reservoir (27) to the second reservoir (12). To permit use of pigmented inks, each of the reservoirs (27, 12) is heated to provide a thermal gradient therein so as to maintain convective circulation of the ink. An ink circulation path is provided to cause convective circulation of pigmented ink in the ink jet head (11).</p> |
