JP2011056689A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem of poor ejection caused by invasion into a head of air bubbles mixed in liquid when the liquid is supplied to a common channel in a distributing member. <P>SOLUTION: In the distributer tank 54, the common channel 123 for distributing inks to a plurality of heads 101 is formed in a tank case 121, an ink inlet 131 from an ink supply opening 130 is formed to be located below an ink supply opening 126 to the head 101, and a rising wall 133 being a partition between the ink inlet portion 131 and the ink supply opening 126 to the head 101 is formed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus provided with a recording head for discharging droplets.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying apparatus, a plotter, and a complex machine of these, for example, an ink jet recording apparatus is known as an image forming apparatus of a liquid discharge recording method using a recording head for discharging ink droplets. . This liquid discharge recording type image forming apparatus means that ink droplets are transported from a recording head (not limited to paper, including OHP, and can be attached to ink droplets and other liquids). Yes, it is also ejected onto a recording medium or a recording medium, recording paper, recording paper, etc.) to form an image (recording, printing, printing, and printing are also used synonymously). And a serial type image forming apparatus that forms an image by ejecting liquid droplets while the recording head moves in the main scanning direction, and a line type head that forms images by ejecting liquid droplets without moving the recording head There are line type image forming apparatuses using

  In the present application, the “image forming apparatus” of the liquid ejection method is an apparatus that forms an image by ejecting liquid onto a medium such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, or the like. In addition, “image formation” means not only that an image having a meaning such as a character or a figure is applied to the medium, but also an image having no meaning such as a pattern is applied to the medium (simply liquid It also means that a droplet hits the medium). “Ink” is not limited to ink, but is used as a general term for all liquids capable of image formation, such as recording liquid, fixing processing liquid, and liquid. DNA samples, resists, pattern materials and the like are also included.

  In particular, in a line type image forming apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as “inkjet recording apparatus”), a recording head in which a plurality of heads are arranged side by side, a main tank that stores ink, and ink that is supplied from the main tank are stored. And an ink supply system that can handle deaerated ink including a sealed sub-tank formed of a flexible member (for example, a flexible film) that supplies the recording head, and distributes and supplies the ink to a plurality of recording heads. A distribution member (also referred to as a distributor tank) as a supply member that performs (branches) and a means for discharging bubbles accumulated in the distributor tank from an ink supply path are known.

  Here, the discharge nozzles of the recording head are very fine (for example, φ24 μm). If the amount of dissolved oxygen in the discharge ink is high, oxygen gradually accumulates and ink discharge failure may occur. Therefore, if air bubbles are mixed in the ink in the ink supply path including the distributing member, the ink containing the air bubbles is distributed to the head, or the amount of dissolved oxygen in the ink becomes high, so A fixed amount of ink is not ejected or predetermined droplet ejection characteristics cannot be obtained. For this reason, it is necessary to discharge and remove bubbles mixed in the ink supplied to the distribution member.

  Conventionally, for example, an ink distributor is provided with a plurality of bubble flow restriction bubble paths that guide bubbles toward a space for collecting bubbles in the distributor, and formed by bubbles collected by each bubble flow restriction bubble path. There is known one provided with each float switch for detecting the liquid level of the ink (Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there is a type in which a buffer tank is provided between an ink circulation path on the printing apparatus side and a manifold, and ink once stored in the buffer tank is supplied to the manifold (Patent Document 2).

  Furthermore, the liquid supply flow path from the main tank to the sub tank has a bubble capturing section that captures bubbles mixed in the liquid, and the bubble capturing section includes a liquid flow path section partially formed of an elastic member, an actuator, An on-off valve is provided, and the liquid flow path section is provided at a head position where the liquid inflow side is higher than the liquid outflow side to capture bubbles mixed in the liquid flowing in the liquid supply flow path and press the liquid flow path section with an actuator to contract There is one that opens the on-off valve to discharge the trapped bubbles (Patent Document 3).

  In addition, an air opening passage is provided to supply ink in the flow path inside the branch member from directly below one end of the branch member (distribution member) and to form the top surface obliquely so as to open the highest part where air bubbles gather to the atmosphere. Is known (Patent Document 4).

  On the other hand, if bubbles are mixed in the recording head, drop ejection failure occurs. For example, four separation weirs that temporarily block ink flowing from the inlet are formed, and the ink is blocked by these four separation weirs. It is known to provide a bubble separator that separates bubbles mixed in the ink from the ink (Patent Document 5).

  Also, a first ink chamber that communicates with the ink cartridge and a second ink chamber that communicates with the recording head are provided, the two chambers communicate with each other through a narrow communication port, and the air bubbles that have flowed into the second ink chamber through the communication port. A device that obstructs the flow into the ink chamber is known (Patent Document 6).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-096208 JP 2003-019811 A JP 2008-183746 A JP 2009-012452 A JP 2007-136760 A JP 10-329330 A

  As described above, when a bubble enters a flow path inside a distribution member that distributes ink of a plurality of heads (this is referred to as a “common flow path”), a droplet ejection defect (jet bend) in which the bubbles are mixed into the head. Or inability to discharge), and stable image formation cannot be performed. In particular, when ink flows into the common liquid chamber from the same direction as the arrangement direction of the plurality of heads, there is a problem that bubbles contained in the ink are conveyed as they are to the supply port to the head and are easily supplied to the head.

  On the other hand, in order to suppress the pulsation of the ink flow in the common flow path in the distribution member, an elastic member that urges the flexible member by forming a part of the wall surface of the common liquid chamber with the flexible member It is preferable to provide damper means for disposing in the common flow path. When such a damper means is provided, it is necessary to prevent the distribution member from becoming large (the height is increased).

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to reduce the mixing of bubbles into the head.

In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes:
A plurality of heads having nozzles for discharging droplets;
A distribution member having therein a common flow path for distributing and supplying liquid to the plurality of heads;
Liquid storage means for supplying the liquid to the distribution member,
The distribution member has a configuration in which a partition portion is provided in the common flow path between an inflow portion into which a supplied liquid flows and a supply portion for the head.

  Here, the common flow path of the distribution member may be configured such that the inflow portion is provided at a position lower than the supply portion for the head.

  Further, the liquid can flow into the inflow portion from the head alignment direction.

  Further, a part of the wall surface of the common liquid chamber of the distribution member is formed of a flexible member, and has an elastic member that urges the flexible member outward, and the elastic member is disposed at the inflow portion. It can be set as the arrangement | positioning.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the distribution member has a configuration in which the partition portion is provided between the inflow portion into which the supplied liquid flows and the supply portion for the head in the common flow path. It is possible to prevent air bubbles mixed in the flowing liquid from entering the head.

1 is a schematic front view illustrating the overall configuration of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Similarly it is principal part plane explanatory drawing. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the ink supply system of the apparatus. It is side surface explanatory drawing of a head module. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along the line DD in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is an explanatory bottom view of the head portion of FIG. 4. It is a section explanatory view of a distribution tank in a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of an effect | action of the distribution tank. It is a section explanatory view of a distribution tank in a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is a section explanatory view of a distribution tank in a 3rd embodiment of the present invention. It is a section explanatory view of a distribution tank in a 4th embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the comparative example with which it uses for description of the embodiment. It is a section explanatory view of a distribution tank in a 5th embodiment of the present invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan explanatory diagram of the apparatus.

  This image forming apparatus is a line type image forming apparatus, and includes an apparatus main body 1, a paper feed tray 2 on which paper P is stacked and fed, a paper discharge tray 3 on which printed paper P is discharged and stacked, and paper P An image forming unit 5 that includes a head module 51 that constitutes a recording head that discharges and prints droplets on a sheet P that is transported by the transport unit 4. The head cleaning device 6 that is a maintenance / recovery mechanism that performs maintenance / recovery of each recording head of the image forming unit 5 after printing is completed or at a required timing, a conveyance guide portion 7 that opens and closes the head cleaning device 6, and the image forming unit 5 An ink tank unit 8 composed of sub-tanks that supply ink to the head module 51, and a main tank that supplies ink to the ink tank unit 8. And a tank unit 9.

  The apparatus main body 1 includes front and rear side plates and stays (not shown), and the sheets P stacked on the sheet feed tray 2 are fed one by one to the transport unit 4 by the separation roller 21 and the sheet feed roller 22. Is done.

  The transport unit 4 includes a transport driving roller 41A, a transport driven roller 41B, and an endless transport belt 43 wound around these rollers 41A and 41B. A plurality of suction holes (not shown) are formed on the surface of the transport belt 43, and a suction fan 44 that sucks the paper P is disposed below the transport belt 43. Further, conveyance guide rollers 42A and 42B are respectively held on guides (not shown) on the conveyance driving roller 41A and conveyance driven roller 41B and are in contact with the belt 43 by their own weight.

  The conveyance belt 43 rotates around when the conveyance driving roller 41A is rotated by a motor (not shown), and the paper P is sucked onto the conveyance belt 43 by the suction fan 44 and is conveyed by the rotation movement of the conveyance belt 43. The transport driven roller 41 </ b> B and the transport guide rollers 42 </ b> A and 42 </ b> B rotate following the transport belt 43. Further, an empty discharge cleaning device 45 that removes empty discharge droplets attached to the conveyor belt 43 by empty discharge is disposed below the transfer belt 43.

  An image forming unit 5 composed of a plurality of head modules 51 for discharging droplets to be printed on the paper P is disposed above the transport unit 4 so as to be movable in the arrow A direction (and the reverse direction). The image forming unit 5 is moved to above the cleaning device 6 during the maintenance and recovery operation (during cleaning), and is returned to the position shown in FIG. 1 during image formation.

  In the image forming unit 5, a plurality of heads 101 that discharge droplets are arranged in a line, and a head module (hereinafter referred to as a “distribution tank”) 54 that supplies and distributes ink to the plurality of heads 101 is integrated. Recording head units) 51A, 51B, 51C, and 51D are arranged along the sheet conveyance direction and attached to the line base member 52.

  Here, one of the two nozzle rows of the head modules 51A and 51B ejects yellow (Y) droplets and the other of the magenta (M) droplets, and the two nozzle rows of the head modules 51C and 51D. On the other hand, cyan (C) droplets are discharged, and on the other hand, black (K) droplets are discharged. That is, in the image forming unit 5, two head modules 51 that discharge droplets of the same color are arranged side by side in the paper transport direction, and the two head modules 51 form a nozzle row corresponding to the paper width. It has a configuration.

  A distribution tank 54 for supplying ink to each head 101 is arranged for each head module 51 on the upper side of the head module 51. A sub tank 81 is disposed upstream of the distribution tank 54 and connected via a supply tube 82. A main tank 91 for storing ink is disposed on the upstream side of the sub tank 81, and the main tank 91 and the sub tank 81 are connected by a supply path by a supply tube 92.

  On the downstream side of the transport unit 4, a transport guide portion 7 that discharges the paper P to the paper discharge tray 3 is provided. The paper P guided and conveyed by the conveyance guide unit 7 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 3. The paper discharge tray 3 includes a pair of side fences 31 that regulate the width direction of the paper P and an end fence 32 that regulates the front end of the paper P.

  The maintenance / recovery mechanism (head cleaning device) 6 includes four rows of cleaning units 61 </ b> A to 61 </ b> D corresponding to each head module 51 of the image forming unit 5, and one cleaning unit 61 corresponds to each head module 51. A cap member 62 for capping the nozzle surface corresponding to the head 101 and a wiping member (wiper member) 64 for wiping the nozzle surface are formed. The cap member 62 of each cleaning means 61 can be moved up and down independently for each row. Further, below the cleaning unit 61, suction pumps 63 </ b> A to 63 </ b> D, which are suction units for sucking ink from the nozzles with the cap member 62 capping the nozzle surface of the head 101, are arranged.

  Further, in this image forming apparatus, after the printing is finished, when the nozzle surface of each head of the head module 51 that discharges droplets is capped by the cleaning unit 61, or ink is sucked from the nozzle, or the head module 51 When the ink adhering to the nozzle surface of each head is cleaned with a wiping member, as shown in FIG. 1, after the printing is stopped, the entire transport unit 4 rotates in the direction of arrow B with the transport driven roller 41B as a fulcrum, A space for moving the image forming unit 5 is ensured by making the space between the image forming unit 5 larger than that at the time of image formation. At this time, the conveyance guide plate 71 of the conveyance guide portion 7 disposed on the upper portion of the head cleaning device 6 is also rotated upward in the direction of arrow C at the fulcrum 72, and the upper portion of the head cleaning device 6 is opened.

  Then, after the transport unit 4 and the transport guide portion 7 are released (released), the image forming unit 5 moves in the paper passing direction (arrow A direction), is stopped above the head cleaning device 6, and is cleaned. 61 rises and shifts to the cleaning operation (maintenance recovery operation) of each head module 51.

Next, details of the ink supply system including the head module of the image forming apparatus will be described manually with reference to FIG.
The sub tank 81 and the distribution tank 54 of the head module 51 are connected via a supply tube 82, and the meniscus of the nozzle of the head 101 is held by the water head difference (−20 to −70 mmAq) between the sub tank 81 and the head 101. Appropriate negative pressure is generated. The diameter of the supply tube 82 is 6 mm here, but the larger the diameter is, the better, it may be 10 mm. If the diameter of the supply tube 81 is small, resistance (pressure loss) increases, so that it is difficult to eject ink from the head 101, which may affect the image.

  The sub tank 81 is a pack-type sub tank. That is, the sub tank 81 is configured by storing a flexible pack 83 for storing ink in a sealed case 84. The pack-type subtank prevents the ink from directly contacting the atmosphere, prevents the ink from increasing in viscosity due to water evaporation, keeps the amount of dissolved oxygen in the ink constant, and prevents bubbles from accumulating in the head 101. Can do.

  A pressure pump 85 that pressurizes between the pack 83 and the case 84 is connected to the sub tank 81 (connected by a tube). At the time of maintenance operation before printing after being left, the inside of the case 84 of the sub tank 81 is pressurized by the pressure pump 85, the ink is sent to the head 101, and the ink is ejected from the nozzles for maintenance. This maintenance operation is performed after the image forming unit 5 moves to the upper part of the cleaning device 6.

  A main tank 91 for storing ink is disposed on the upstream side of the sub tank 81. The main tank 91 and the sub tank 81 are connected by a supply path by a supply tube 92, and an electromagnetic valve 93 is provided in the supply path. The ink supply from the main tank 91 to the sub tank 81 is controlled by opening / closing the electromagnetic valve 93.

  A tube 55 that forms an air discharge path leading to a waste liquid tank (not shown) and an electromagnetic valve 56 that opens and closes the discharge path 55 are provided above the distribution tank 54. When the air is discharged when the distribution tank 54 is initially filled and when air is collected in the distribution tank 54, the electromagnetic valve 56 is opened to discharge the air. Note that the top surface of the common flow path inside the distribution tank 54 is provided with an inclination in order to facilitate air removal.

Next, details of the head module 51 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the head module, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the head portion of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the head 101 has two nozzle rows 103 and 103 in which a plurality of nozzles 102 for discharging droplets are arranged, and droplets of different colors from the nozzles 102 of the nozzle rows 103 and 103. Is discharged.

  The plurality of heads 101 are fixed to the base member 111 by fixing members (screws, adhesives, etc.) not shown. The plurality of heads 101 are fixed to the distribution tank 54 by distribution tank fixing members 112. The distribution tank fixing member 112 is formed by a plate spring that presses up and down in the drawing, and the distribution tank 54 is pressed against the head 101. A filter 105 is interposed between the head 101 and the distribution tank 54.

  In the distribution tank 54, common flow paths 123 and 123 corresponding to different colors defined by partition walls 122 along the head arrangement direction are formed inside the tank case 121. Then, at least a part of the wall surface of the common channel 123 is formed of a flexible member 124 having flexibility, and an elastic member such as a spring that biases the flexible member 124 outward in the common channel 123. 125 is disposed. The flexible member 124 and the elastic member 125 constitute damper means (mechanism).

  The flexible member 124 functions as a damper for adjusting pressure from external vibration, mechanical vibration, and pulsation. For example, aluminum, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, Teflon (registered trademark), Saran, It is made of vinyl chloride, PVA, polypropylene, nylon, PET or the like. The flexible member 124 also has a gas barrier function. The material of the tank case 121 is preferably the same material as that of the flexible member 124 in terms of adhesion, but may be a metal material or the like. Further, the distribution tank 54 may be configured without a damper portion.

  The configuration of the distribution tank 54 and the head 101 is not limited to the above example. For example, the distribution tank is configured to discharge one color of ink with each head without dividing the distribution tank, and the number of heads is set as follows. The image resolution may be increased to double the image resolution described above.

Next, the distribution tank in 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory sectional view of the distribution tank.
In the distribution tank 54, a common channel 123 for distributing ink to the plurality of heads 101 is formed in the tank case 121, and the top surface 123a of the common channel 123 is formed in an inclined surface. An ink inflow portion 131 through which ink flows from an ink supply port portion 130 that supplies ink to the common flow channel 123 is provided on one end of the common flow channel 123 (the end on the side having the top surface 123b of the top surface 123a). It has been. In addition, a bubble discharge port 132 is provided above the ink inflow portion 131 and is connected to the discharge path 55 as described above.

  In addition, the common flow path 123 is provided with an ink supply port 126 for supplying ink to each head 101.

  Here, the ink supply port portion 130 of the tank case 121 is located below the common flow path 123 and below the nozzle surface of the head 101, and the ink inflow portion 131 from the ink supply port portion 130 is placed in the head. The rising wall 133 serving as a partition portion is formed between the ink inflow portion 131 and the ink supply port portion 126 to the head 101 by being formed so as to be positioned below the ink supply port portion 126 to the 101. . By forming the wall 134 on the side facing the rising wall 133 to be inclined, the ink inflow portion 131 has a shape that spreads upward while rising toward the common flow path 123. Further, the supply path from the ink supply port portion 130 to the ink inflow portion 131 is also inclined obliquely upward (here, an inclination angle of 3 degrees or more).

  Further, the elastic member 125 of the damper means described above is disposed in the ink inflow portion 131.

The operation of the distribution tank 54 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
When ink is supplied to the distribution tank 54, as shown in FIG. 8A, if ink 300 is supplied from the ink supply port portion 130 to the ink inflow portion 131, as shown in FIG. It is supplied to the flow path 123.

  At this time, when the bubble 301 is mixed in the ink 300 flowing into the ink inflow portion 131, the ink inflow portion 131 is inclined, so that the bubble 301 rises due to its buoyancy and is shown in FIG. In this manner, the air is discharged to the bubble outlet 132.

  Here, since the rising wall 133 is formed, even if the ink flows into the ink inflow portion 131 from the lateral direction (the direction along the head arrangement direction), the rising wall 133 is bent upward in the flow of the ink 300. Therefore, the bubbles 300 contained in the ink 300 can be prevented from entering the head 101 from the ink supply port 126 of the head 101.

  Further, since the ink inflow portion 131 is widened, the flow velocity is slow with respect to the ink supply port portion 130, and even if ink is vigorously supplied to the empty distribution tank 54, the generation of bubbles can be suppressed. Even if air bubbles flow into the distribution tank 54 filled with the above, the inflow of air bubbles to the head can be suppressed.

  Further, by disposing the elastic member 125 of the damper means in the ink inflow portion 131, the height of the common flow path 123 of the distribution member 54 can be reduced, and the height H of the distribution member 54 is reduced. Can be reduced in size.

  Further, in this configuration, as shown in FIG. 8C, a sufficient gap G (for example, 10 mm or more) is provided between the inlet portion (the portion where the inclination starts) of the ink inflow portion 131 and the head 101. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent bubbles from entering the head 101.

Next, a distribution tank according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory sectional view of the distribution tank.
Here, a rising wall 135 as a vertical wall forming the wall surface of the ink inflow portion 131 is provided as a partitioning portion between the ink inflow portion 131 and the ink supply port portion 126 of the head 101. The wall 136 facing the rising wall 135 is also a vertical wall.

  That is, a path that rises from the ink supply port part 130 toward the ink inflow part 131 (with an inclination angle of 3 degrees or more) is formed, and then the ink inflow part 131 is formed. A rising wall 135 is provided as a partition that vertically rises toward the 123 side. Accordingly, since the ink inflow portion 133 can be widened, the elastic member 125 is disposed in the ink inflow portion 133.

  As described above, by providing the rising wall 135 in the supply path, even if the ink 300 mixed with air bubbles flows obliquely downward from the common flow path 123, the flow direction of the ink is directed upward. As a result, the bubbles 131 mixed in the ink 300 rise and are discharged from the bubble discharge port 132 and do not directly enter the head 101. Furthermore, despite the provision of the elastic member 125 (damper), the size (height H) of the distribution tank can be reduced.

Next, a distribution tank according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, FIG. 10 is sectional explanatory drawing of the distribution tank.
Here, a combination of the first and second embodiments is provided with a rising wall 135 that is a vertical wall as a partitioning portion and an inclined wall 134 that is inclined toward the ascending facing the wall 135.

  With this configuration, the size of the ink inflow portion 131 can be made larger than that in the second embodiment.

Next, a distribution tank according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the distribution tank.
Here, the ink 300 is configured to flow into the ink inflow portion 133 in the horizontal direction from the ink supply port portion 130, and the rising wall 137 as a partition portion is provided between the ink inflow portion 133 and the ink supply port portion 126 to the head 101. Is provided. An ink supply port 126 side of the rising wall 137 to the head 101 has an inclined surface 137a that falls obliquely.

  Even if comprised in this way, the effect similar to each said embodiment can be acquired. However, in order to secure a region in which the elastic member 125 is provided, the height H of the distribution member 54 is higher than that in each of the embodiments. Further, the ink supply port 126 side of the rising wall 137 to the head 101 is formed as an inclined surface 137a that obliquely falls, so that when ink is initially filled, as shown in FIG. It can be prevented from occurring and flowing into the head 101.

Next, a distribution tank according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory sectional view of the distribution tank.
Here, the ink 300 is configured to flow into the ink inflow portion 133 from the ink supply port portion 130 in the vertical direction. Similarly to the fourth embodiment, the ink inflow portion 133 and the ink supply port portion 126 to the head 101 are connected to each other. A rising wall 137 is provided as a partitioning portion. An ink supply port 126 side of the rising wall 137 to the head 101 has an inclined surface 137a that falls obliquely.

  Even if comprised in this way, the effect similar to each said embodiment can be acquired.

  Although the above embodiment has been described with an example applied to a line type image forming apparatus, the present invention can be similarly applied to a serial type image forming apparatus provided with a recording head having a configuration in which a plurality of heads are arranged.

1 Device body 4 Transport unit (transport section)
5 Image forming unit 6 Cleaning device (maintenance and recovery mechanism)
7 Transport guide 8 Ink tank unit (sub tank unit)
9 Main tank unit 51 Head module (recording head unit)
54 Distribution tank (distribution member)
81 Sub tank 91 Main tank (ink cartridge)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Head 121 Tank case 123 Common flow path 130 Ink supply port part 131 Ink inflow part 132 Bubble discharge port 133, 135, 137 Standing wall (partition part)

Claims (4)

A plurality of heads having nozzles for discharging droplets;
A distribution member having therein a common flow path for distributing and supplying liquid to the plurality of heads;
Liquid storage means for supplying the liquid to the distribution member,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distribution member is provided with a partition portion in the common flow path between an inflow portion into which the supplied liquid flows and a supply portion for the head.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inflow portion is provided in a position lower than a supply portion for the head in the common flow path of the distribution member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid flows into the inflow portion from a head alignment direction.   A wall surface of a part of the common liquid chamber of the distribution member is formed of a flexible member, and has an elastic member that urges the flexible member outward, and the elastic member is disposed in the inflow portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

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