JP2002264354A - Ink tank and ink-jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink tank and an ink-jet recorder which can prevent wasteful consumption of ink and can realize miniaturization. SOLUTION: The ink tank 10 supplies ink to an ink jet head, and is provided with an ink supply part 22 having an ink absorber 21 which has absorbed the ink for supplying the ink to the ink jet head, and an ink storage part 23 which communicates with the ink supply part 22 via a communication part 25 set in parallel to a side face of the ink supply part 22 and stores a predetermined amount of the ink to be supplied to the ink supply part 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an ink tank for supplying ink to an ink jet head and an ink jet recording apparatus having the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording apparatus for recording characters and images on a recording medium using an ink jet head for discharging ink from a plurality of nozzles has been known. This ink jet recording apparatus prints a dot pattern in a predetermined area by discharging ink from nozzles of the ink jet head while moving a carriage on which the ink jet head is mounted with respect to a recording medium in a main scanning direction, and printing once. After the main scanning is completed, the recording medium is moved in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined amount, and these operations are repeated to print all desired areas.

Further, in an ink jet recording apparatus having a large ink jet head, the amount of ink consumed by ejection of the ink jet head is large, so that ink from an ink tank is supplied to the ink jet head via an ink supply pipe. It has become.

[0004]

However, in a large-sized serial type ink jet recording apparatus in which the ink jet head scans and performs a printing operation, the ink jet head scans a wide range, the ink supply pipe becomes long, and the ink supply pipe becomes long. There is a problem that the air bubbles stay in the supply pipe to make the printing operation unstable and that the suction operation is not reliably performed.

Another problem is that the ink in the ink supply pipe is discarded when the ink tank is replaced, and that the ink is wasted other than in printing.

Further, in such an ink tank, in order to apply a negative pressure to the ink in the ink jet head, the liquid level in the ink tank needs to be lower than the nozzle opening to secure a head difference. For this reason, there is a problem that the mounting position of the ink tank is restricted, and miniaturization cannot be achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink tank and an ink jet recording apparatus which can prevent wasteful consumption of ink and can realize downsizing.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink tank for supplying ink to an ink jet head, wherein the ink tank contains an ink absorber absorbing the ink. And an ink supply unit that supplies ink to the ink supply unit, and an ink storage unit that communicates with each other through a communication unit provided on a side surface of the ink supply unit and that stores a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to the ink supply unit. And an ink tank.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ink tank according to the first aspect, the ink reservoir is provided with a liquid level detection sensor for detecting a liquid level of the ink. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the ink absorber applies a predetermined negative pressure to the ink in the inkjet head by absorbing a predetermined amount of the ink. The ink tank is characterized in that the liquid level detection sensor is for regulating the liquid level of the ink in the ink storage section so that a predetermined amount of ink is absorbed by the ink absorber.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the ink supply section and the ink storage section are formed separately, and the communication section that communicates with each other is provided. An ink tank characterized by being a communication pipe.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the ink supply section and the ink storage section are defined by a partition, and the communication section is provided on the partition. The ink tank is characterized in that the through hole is provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the ink reservoir has an ink supply hole for supplying ink to the ink reservoir. Is located in the ink tank.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet type comprising the ink tank according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, and an ink jet head connected to the ink supply section of the ink tank. In the recording device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of ink jet heads having a plurality of nozzle openings for discharging ink; and an ink tank for supplying ink to the ink jet head. The tank is interconnected with an ink supply unit that contains an ink absorber that absorbs ink and supplies ink to the inkjet head, and a communication unit that is provided in parallel with the ink supply unit and provided on a side surface. And an ink storage unit for storing a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to the ink supply unit, wherein the ink storage unit is provided with a liquid level detection sensor for detecting a liquid level of the ink. Ink jet recording apparatus.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect, a liquid level obtaining means for obtaining the position of the liquid level in the ink storage section based on a signal detected by the liquid level detection sensor is provided. In the ink jet recording apparatus.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, there is provided a warning means for generating a warning when the position of the liquid level in the ink storage section is out of a predetermined range by a signal of the liquid level obtaining means. An ink jet recording apparatus is characterized in that:

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, a main tank connected to the ink storage section of the ink tank via an ink supply pipe, and from the main tank to the ink storage section. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a pump for supplying ink.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, the ink tank is mounted on a carriage together with the ink jet head, and is connected to the ink storing section when the ink jet head moves to a home position. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a main tank for replenishing ink in the ink storage section.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is directed to the eleventh or twelfth aspect.
In the aspect, the signal of the liquid level obtaining means may include a replenishing means for replenishing the ink from the main tank to the ink storing part to a predetermined amount when the position of the liquid level in the ink storing part is outside a predetermined amount. A feature of the present invention is in an ink jet recording apparatus.

According to the present invention, a negative pressure can be applied to the ink in the ink jet head regardless of the position of the ink tank. Further, the ink can be relatively easily replenished to the ink tank.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink tank according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the ink tank.

As shown in the figure, the ink tank 10 of the present embodiment includes a tank body 20 having an upper opening, and a lid member 30 for closing the upper opening of the tank body 20.

The tank body 20 has an ink absorber 21 for absorbing ink therein, and an ink supply unit 22 for supplying ink to the ink jet head, and an ink storage unit 23 for storing a predetermined amount of ink. It is divided and juxtaposed. The ink supply section 22 and the ink storage section 23 are connected to each other by a communication section 2 which is a through hole formed in the partition wall 24.
And 5 communicate with each other.

An ink supply hole 27 to which an ink supply pipe 26 for supplying ink to the ink jet head is connected is provided on the bottom surface of the ink supply unit 22. Then, the ink is charged into the ink jet head via the ink supply pipe 26.

The ink absorber 21 built in the ink supply unit 22 is, for example, a porous absorber such as foamed polyurethane. According to the ink absorber 21,
By absorbing a predetermined amount of ink, a predetermined negative pressure can be applied to the ink in the inkjet head.
In addition, as the ink absorber 21, an ink absorber 21 in which a plurality of members having different absorptivity are laminated may be used.

The ink storage unit 23 communicated with the ink supply unit 22 through the communication unit 25 of the partition wall 24 includes:
A pair of liquid level detection sensors 28a for detecting the liquid level of the ink,
28b are provided.

The pair of liquid level detection sensors 28a, 28b
Is connected to a liquid level acquisition unit provided in the ink jet recording apparatus described later, so that the ink storage unit 23
It is used to obtain the position of the ink liquid level inside. More specifically, if the amount of ink in the ink storage unit 23 is too large, the pressure of the ink passing through the communication unit 25 increases, and the ink absorber 21 absorbs a predetermined amount or more of ink.
If a predetermined amount or more of ink is absorbed by the ink absorber 21 and the ink cannot be sufficiently absorbed, a predetermined negative pressure cannot be applied to the ink in the inkjet head.

On the other hand, even if the ink in the ink storage section 23 is too small, the pressure of the ink passing through the communication section 25 drops,
Insufficient ink in the ink absorber 21 makes it impossible to apply a predetermined negative pressure.

Therefore, one of the liquid level detecting sensors 28a
Generates a signal for detecting the upper limit of the ink level in the ink reservoir 23 so that a predetermined amount of ink is absorbed by the ink absorber 21, and outputs a signal to the other level sensor 28b.
Generates a signal for detecting the lower limit of the ink liquid in the ink storage unit 23.

The liquid level detection sensors 28a and 28b
There is no particular limitation as long as the ink level can be detected, for example,
An electrical, optical, magnetic or mechanical liquid level detection sensor may be used. In the present embodiment, the liquid level detection sensor 28a,
28b, optical liquid level detection sensors 28a and 28b for detecting a liquid level based on a difference in refractive index of light between air and liquid.
Was used.

Also, without providing the liquid level detecting sensors 28a and 28b, the ink reservoir 2 is provided so that the position of the liquid level can be visually recognized.
3 may be provided with a mark such as a scale.
A transparent memory window that can be visually recognized from the outside may be provided on the side surface of. In any case, the ink storage unit 2
By defining the liquid level of the ink in 3, the amount of ink absorbed by the ink absorber 21 can be made a predetermined amount,
A predetermined negative pressure can be applied to the ink in the inkjet head.

Further, the communication portion 25 which is a through hole provided in the partition wall 24 is provided at the lower end of the partition wall 24 in this embodiment. The position, the opening area, and the like of the communication portion 25 may be appropriately determined according to a desired amount of ink to be absorbed by the ink absorber 21. The position of the ink surface in the ink storage unit 23 may be defined according to the position of the communication unit 25 and the opening area. The area may be determined appropriately.

On the other hand, the lid member 30 closes the upper openings of the ink supply section 22 and the ink storage section 23 of the tank body 20. In the present embodiment, the cover member 30 is provided in a region opposed to the ink supply section 22. Pores 31 and ink reservoir 23
And an ink replenishing hole 32 that is provided in a region facing the ink replenishing portion and replenishes the ink in the ink storing portion 23.

In the present embodiment, one end of an ink replenishing tube 33 is connected to the ink replenishing hole 32 provided in a region facing the ink storing part 23, and the other end of the ink replenishing tube 33 is connected to the ink tank 10. Is connected to a main tank which holds a larger amount of ink than that described later. The ink in the ink storing section 23 may be replenished manually at an appropriate timing through the ink replenishing hole 32 without providing the main tank.
, The lid member 30 may be removed each time replenishment is performed, and ink may be replenished into the ink storage unit 23 at an appropriate timing. As described above, when the ink tank 10 is mounted on a carriage together with the inkjet head and performs scanning, the ink is replenished into the ink storage unit 23 at a predetermined position such as a home position where the inkjet head does not perform ejection. When the ink tank 10 is not mounted on the carriage, regardless of the position of the ink jet head, when the ink in the ink storage unit 23 is consumed by a predetermined amount, When the lower limit of the ink liquid is detected by the detection sensor 28b, the ink may be replenished in the ink storage unit 23.

As described above, the ink tank 10 having the ink supply section 22 and the ink storage section 23 is provided in the ink storage section 2.
By defining the liquid level of the ink in 3, the ink absorber 21 in the ink supply unit 22 can absorb a predetermined amount of ink. Therefore, even when the ink absorbed by the ink absorber 21 and the ink in the ink storage unit 23 are all consumed, the ink can be easily refilled without replacing the ink tank 10.

Further, since a predetermined negative pressure can be applied to the ink in the ink jet head by the ink absorber 21, there is no restriction on the mounting position of the ink tank 10. Therefore, by providing the ink tank 10 near the ink jet head or by directly connecting the ink tank 10 to the ink jet head, the ink supply pipe 26 can be shortened, and bubbles hardly accumulate in the ink supply pipe 26. Accordingly, the ejection of the ink jet head does not become unstable, and the suction operation for sucking the ink near the nozzle opening of the ink jet head can be performed properly.

Further, since the ink supply tube 26 can be shortened or can be directly connected to the ink jet head, the ink supply tube 26 can be replaced when the ink tank 10 is replaced.
It is possible to reduce wasteful ink consumption in the printer.

Further, since the ink storage unit 23 for supplying the ink to the ink absorber 21 as well as the ink absorbed by the ink absorber 21 is provided, the ink storage unit 23 is different from the ink cartridge type having only the ink absorber. By holding the ink in a large amount and replenishing the ink in the ink storage section 23, the ink storage unit 23 can be mounted on an ink jet recording apparatus such as a large ink jet head which consumes a large amount of ink.

The shape and the like of the ink tank are not particularly limited as long as the ink supply section and the ink storage section are arranged side by side and communicate with each other on their side surfaces. For example, as shown in FIG. Portion 22A and the ink storage portion 23A are provided separately, and a communication portion 2 formed of a cylindrical body provided on a side surface thereof.
The ink tanks 10A may communicate with each other via 5A. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing another example of the ink tank.

Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus having such an ink tank 10 will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing an ink jet recording apparatus, and FIG. 5 is a plan view and a sectional view showing an ink jet head and an ink supply system.

The ink jet recording apparatus 4 of the present embodiment
0 uses a large inkjet head, for example,
The printer executes printing on a large recording medium such as a poster or a signboard. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of inkjet heads 50 provided for each color, and a carriage on which the inkjet heads 50 are mounted. 65, an ink tank 10 for supplying ink to the inkjet head 50 as an ink supply system, and a main tank 70 for supplying ink to the ink tank 10.

The ink jet head 50 of the present embodiment
Is for discharging only a single color with one inkjet head 50. In the present embodiment, four ink jet heads 50 are arranged in correspondence with each color of black (B), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). And is mounted on the carriage 65.
The carriage 65 on which a plurality of inkjet heads 50 are mounted is mounted on a guide rail 66 provided in the main scanning direction so as to be freely movable in the axial direction.

Here, the ink jet head 50 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the head chip, and FIG. 7 is a plan view and a perspective view of the flow path forming member.

The ink jet head 50 of the present embodiment
As shown in FIG. 5, a head chip 51, a flow path forming member 52 provided on one side thereof,
Wiring board 5 on which a drive circuit for driving 1 is mounted
3, each of which is a base member 5
4 is fixed.

Also, as shown in FIG.
A plurality of grooves 56 are provided in the piezoelectric ceramic plate 55 constituting one, and each groove 56 is separated by a side wall 57. One end in the longitudinal direction of each of the grooves 56 extends to one end surface of the piezoelectric ceramic plate 55,
The other end does not extend to the other end surface of the piezoelectric ceramic plate 55, but has a gradually decreasing depth. Each groove 56 formed in the piezoelectric ceramic plate 55 is formed by, for example, a disk-shaped die cutter, and a portion whose depth is gradually reduced is unnecessary, but is formed by the shape of the die cutter. I will.

Further, electrodes 58 for applying an electric field for driving the side walls 57 are formed on the side walls 57 on both sides in the width direction in each of the grooves 56 on the opening side of the grooves 56 in the longitudinal direction. .

An ink chamber plate 60 defining an ink chamber 59 communicating with each groove 56 is joined to the opening side of the groove 56 of the piezoelectric ceramic plate 55 in which the grooves 56 and the electrodes 58 are formed. The ink chamber 59 and each groove 5
6 communicates with each groove 56 in the vicinity of the other end of the groove 56 which is shallow.

The ink chamber plate 60 can be formed of a ceramic plate, a metal plate, or the like. However, considering deformation after joining with the piezoelectric ceramic plate 55, a ceramic plate having a similar coefficient of thermal expansion is used. Is preferred.

A nozzle plate 61 is joined to an end face of the joined body of the piezoelectric ceramic plate 55 and the ink chamber plate 60 where the groove 56 is open, and the nozzle plate 61 is opposed to each groove 56 of the nozzle plate 61. Is formed with a nozzle opening 62.

In the present embodiment, the nozzle plate 61
The area of the end face where the groove 56 of the joined body of the piezoelectric ceramic plate 55 and the ink chamber plate 60 is open is larger. The nozzle plate 61 is formed by forming a nozzle opening 62 in a polyimide film or the like by using, for example, an excimer laser device. Although not shown, a water-repellent film having a water-repellent property is provided on a surface of the nozzle plate 61 which faces the printing material, in order to prevent ink from adhering.

In this embodiment, the groove 56 of the joined body of the piezoelectric ceramic plate 55 and the ink chamber plate 60 is used.
The nozzle support plate 6 is provided around the open end of the nozzle support plate 6.
3 are arranged. This nozzle support plate 63 is
This is for stably holding the nozzle plate 61, and is joined to the outside of the end face of the joined body of the nozzle plate 61 and is fixed to the base member 54.

A flow path forming member 52 as shown in FIG. 7 is joined to one side of the ink chamber plate 60 constituting the head chip 51, and one side of the ink chamber 59 is connected to the flow path forming member. It is sealed by the forming member 52.
Specifically, the flow path forming member 52 is in contact with one surface of the ink chamber plate 60 via, for example, an O-ring or the like, and is fixed to the base member 54 by a screw member or the like (not shown).

The flow path forming member 52 has an ink supply pipe 26 from the ink tank 10 at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction.
Is connected, and has an ink supply path 64 that forms a part of an ink flow path that connects the ink supply unit 22 and the ink chamber 59. That is, the ink supply unit 22 of the ink tank 10
From the ink supply pipe 26 and the ink supply path 64
Is filled into the ink chamber 59 via the.

Such an ink-jet head 50 includes:
A plurality of carriages 6 corresponding to each color, in this embodiment four carriages 6
5, the carriage 65 is moved in the main scanning direction and the recording medium S is moved in the sub-scanning direction, so that printing can be performed on all desired areas on the recording medium S. .

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ink supply system of the present embodiment for supplying ink to such a large-sized ink jet head 50 includes the above-described ink tank 10 and the ink tank 10. A main tank 70 for supplying ink and storing a larger amount of ink than the ink tank 10.
Are connected via an ink replenishing tube 33. That is, in the ink jet recording apparatus 40 of the present embodiment,
The above-described ink tank 10 is used as a sub tank. The ink tank 10 may be used alone. In addition, although not shown, an ink tank and a main tank of each color are connected to the plurality of inkjet heads 50 provided for each color in the present embodiment.

The ink supply hole 27 of the ink tank 10
Is connected to one end of an ink supply pipe 26, and the other end is connected to an ink supply path 64 of the inkjet head 50. The ink in the ink tank 10 passes through the ink supply path 64 via the ink supply Head 5
0 is supplied.

Further, one end of an ink supply pipe 33 is connected to the ink supply hole 32 of the lid member 30 of the ink tank 10, and a main tank 70 is connected to the other end of the ink supply pipe 33. Further, a pump 71 is provided in the middle of the ink replenishing tube 33. The ink in the main tank 70 is replenished to the ink storage section 23 via the ink replenishing pipe 33 by the pump 71.

The ink stored in the ink storage section 23 is absorbed by the ink absorber 21 in the ink supply section 22 through the communication section 25 and is filled in the ink jet head 50 through the ink supply pipe 26.

Here, control of the ink supply system of the ink jet recording apparatus 40 will be described. In addition, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating control of an ink supply system of the ink jet recording apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 80 for controlling the ink supply system of the ink jet recording apparatus 40 includes a liquid level obtaining unit 81 for obtaining the position of the ink level in the ink storage unit 23, The section 23 has a replenishing means 82 for replenishing ink.

The liquid level acquiring means 81 acquires the position of the liquid level of the ink in the ink storing section 23 based on signals from the pair of liquid level detecting sensors 28a and 28b.

The replenishing means 82 is provided with a liquid level acquiring means 81.
The pump 71 provided in the middle of the ink replenishing pipe 33 based on the position of the ink liquid level in the ink reservoir 23 obtained by
To control the amount of ink replenishment from the main tank 70 to the ink storage unit 23.

Here, an operation of replenishing the ink into the ink storing section will be described.

First, when all the ink in the ink storage unit 23 is consumed and the ink level in the ink storage unit 23 reaches the position of the liquid level detection sensor 28b, the liquid level acquisition unit receives a signal from the liquid level detection sensor 28b. A command 81 causes the replenishing means 82 to replenish the ink. The replenishing means 82 controls the pump 71 to move the ink refill tube 33 from the main tank 70.
The ink is replenished to the ink storage unit 23 via the.

When the liquid level of the replenished ink in the ink reservoir 23 reaches the position of the liquid level detection sensor 28a,
Based on a signal from the liquid level detecting sensor 28a, the liquid level detecting means 8
1 instructs the replenishment means 82 to stop replenishment. The replenishing means 82 stops the pump 71 and stops the replenishment of the ink from the main tank 70 to the ink storage unit 23.

As described above, the liquid level acquiring means 81 and the replenishing means 8
By controlling the ink supply system to the inkjet head 50 by the control unit 80 comprising
3 can be automatically replenished, the ink level in the ink reservoir 23 can always be at a specified position, and the ink absorber 21 in the ink supply 22
Can be set to a predetermined amount. Therefore, regardless of the mounting position of the ink tank 10, a predetermined negative pressure is applied to the ink in the ink jet head 50, so that the ink droplets can be continuously and appropriately ejected from the ink jet head 50, and the size of the ink jet recording apparatus 40 can be reduced. Can be realized.

(Other Embodiments) The first embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the ink tank and the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention are not limited to such a configuration.

For example, in Embodiment 1 described above, the ink jet head 50 of the Saar type is illustrated, but the invention is not limited to this. It goes without saying that it can be applied.

Further, the ink tank 10 may be held by the carriage 65 on which the ink jet head 50 is mounted, and the ink tank 10 may be scanned by the carriage 65 together with the ink jet head 50. When the ink tank is mounted on the carriage as described above, the replenishment of the ink from the main tank may be performed when the carriage moves to a predetermined position such as a home position.

Further, in the first embodiment, the main tank 70 is provided, and the liquid level detecting sensors 28a, 28
b, the liquid level acquiring means 81 and the replenishing means 8
2, the control unit 80 is configured to replenish the ink in the ink storage unit 23, but is not limited thereto.
Without providing the main tank 70, there is provided warning means for visually or audibly generating a warning based on the position of the ink liquid level of the ink storage unit 23 obtained by the liquid level obtaining means 81, and based on this warning means The ink reservoir 23 may be manually replenished with a predetermined amount of ink. As described above, if the position of the ink liquid level in the ink storage unit 23 is within the specified range, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0074]

As described above, the ink tank of the present invention has an ink absorber, and communicates with the ink supply section for supplying ink to the ink jet head through the communication section with the side face of the ink supply section. Since the ink storage unit that stores a predetermined amount of ink is provided in parallel, a negative pressure can be applied to the ink in the inkjet head regardless of the position of the ink tank. Therefore, the ink tank can be provided near the inkjet head, and the ink supply pipe for supplying ink from the ink tank to the inkjet head can be relatively short. Therefore, bubbles are less likely to accumulate in the ink supply pipe, and wasteful ink consumption in the ink supply pipe when the ink tank is replaced can be reduced.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus having such an ink tank, since the position of the ink tank is not restricted, the size can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an ink tank according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the ink tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the ink tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view illustrating an ink jet head and an ink supply system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a head chip according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view and a perspective view of a flow path forming member according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating control of an ink supply system of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10A Ink tank 20 Tank body 21 Ink absorber 22, 22A Ink supply unit 23, 23A Ink storage unit 24 Partition wall 25 Communication unit 26 Ink supply tube 27 Ink supply holes 28a, 28b Liquid level detection sensor 30 Cover member 31 Vent hole Reference Signs List 32 ink refill hole 33 ink refill tube 40 ink jet recording device 50 ink jet head 65 carriage 70 main tank 71 pump 80 control unit 81 liquid level acquisition unit 82 replenishment unit

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An ink tank for supplying ink to an ink jet head, comprising: an ink supply unit that contains an ink absorber that absorbs ink and supplies ink to the ink jet head; And an ink storage unit that communicates with each other via a communication unit provided on a side surface of the ink tank and stores a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to the ink supply unit. 2. The ink tank according to claim 1, wherein a liquid level detection sensor for detecting a liquid level of the ink is provided in the ink storing section. 3. The ink absorber applies a predetermined negative pressure to the ink in the ink jet head by absorbing a predetermined amount of ink, and the liquid level detection sensor applies a predetermined amount of ink to the ink absorber. 3. The ink tank according to claim 2, wherein the ink tank is used to regulate the liquid level of the ink in the ink storing section so that the ink is absorbed. 4. The ink supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the ink supply unit and the ink storage unit are formed separately, and the communication unit that communicates with each other is a communication tube. The described ink tank. 5. The ink supply section and the ink storage section are defined by a partition, and the communication section is a through hole provided in the partition.
The ink tank according to any one of the above. 6. The ink tank according to claim 1, wherein the ink reservoir has an ink supply hole for supplying ink to the ink reservoir. 7. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: the ink tank according to claim 1; and an ink jet head connected to the ink supply unit of the ink tank. 8. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of ink jet heads having a plurality of nozzle openings for discharging ink; and an ink tank for supplying ink to the ink jet head, wherein the ink tank has absorbed the ink. An ink supply unit that incorporates an ink absorber and supplies ink to the inkjet head; and an ink supply unit that is connected to the ink supply unit and communicates with each other through a communication unit provided on a side surface and to the ink supply unit. An ink storage unit that stores a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied, wherein the ink storage unit is provided with a liquid level detection sensor that detects a liquid level of the ink. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a liquid level acquisition unit that acquires a position of a liquid level in the ink storing section based on a signal detected by the liquid level detection sensor. 10. An ink jet type apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a warning unit for issuing a warning when the position of the liquid surface in the ink storage unit is out of a predetermined range in response to a signal from the liquid surface acquisition unit. Recording device. 11. A main tank connected to the ink storage section of the ink tank via an ink supply pipe, and a pump for supplying ink from the main tank to the ink storage section. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein 12. A main tank which is mounted on a carriage together with the ink jet head and which is connected to the ink storing portion when the ink jet head moves to a home position, and which refills the ink storing portion with ink. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein
3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 13. A replenishing means for replenishing a predetermined amount of ink from the main tank into the ink storage part when a position of the liquid level in the ink storage part is outside a predetermined level, based on a signal from the liquid level acquisition means. 13. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: