Liquid supply device, liquid ejection device, and liquid supply method

Abstract

To provide a liquid supply device that fills ink into a liquid discharge head without generating any waste ink and leaving any bubble on a primary side of a filter, and to provide a liquid discharge device and a method for discharging liquid.SOLUTION: A liquid supply device includes a tank. The tank includes: a first liquid chamber connected on a primary side of a filter; and a second liquid chamber having a lower part sectioned from the first liquid chamber and an upper part communicated to the first liquid chamber and connected on the primary side of the filter. The tank reserves liquid to be supplied to a liquid discharge head.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD Embodiments of the present invention relate to a liquid supplying apparatus, a liquid ejecting apparatus, and a liquid supplying method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, liquid ejection devices have been known that include an inkjet head as a liquid ejection head and a filter provided in a flow path that supplies ink to the inkjet head. When filling the ink into the inkjet head, first, the filter's air bubble vent port is opened to start the ink supply. Then, after waiting until ink comes out of the filter's air bubble vent port, the air bubble vent port is closed. After that, ink is supplied to the head side at a predetermined pressure, thereby filling the inkjet head. This type of ink bubble venting is performed manually by connecting a tube to the air bubble vent port. In addition, the ink discharged by the air bubble venting is discarded. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-006374 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a liquid supply device, a liquid ejection device, and a liquid supply method that fills ink into a liquid ejection head without generating waste ink and without leaving air bubbles on the primary side of the filter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The liquid supply device according to the embodiment includes a tank. The tank includes a first liquid chamber connected to the primary side of a filter, and a tank having a lower portion separated from the first liquid chamber and an upper portion separated from the first liquid chamber. Topa second fluid chamber connected to the primary side of the filter, which is in communication with the Partition walls that divide the interior space The tank stores the liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of a liquid supply apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 5A to 5C are explanatory views showing an example of a liquid supplying method of the liquid supply apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a liquid ejection device according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] A liquid supplying apparatus 1 and a liquid ejecting apparatus 3 according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram that schematically shows the configuration of the liquid supplying apparatus 1 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram that shows an example of a liquid supplying method of the liquid supplying apparatus 1 according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram that schematically shows the configuration of the liquid ejecting apparatus 3 according to an embodiment.

[0008] 1, a liquid supplying device 1 is connected to a liquid ejection head 2. The liquid supplying device 1 supplies liquid to the liquid ejection head 2. In this embodiment, the liquid ejection head 2 is an inkjet head, and the liquid supplying device 1 supplies ink 100 as a liquid to the liquid ejection head 2.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid supply device 1 includes, for example, a first liquid tank 11, a second liquid tank (tank) 12, a filter 13, a flow path pipe 14, a supply device 15, a liquid level sensor 16, and a control unit 17.

[0010] The first liquid tank 11 stores ink 100. The first liquid tank 11 is a main tank. The first liquid tank 11 is connected to the second liquid tank 12 via a flow path pipe .

[0011] The second liquid tank 12 is connected to the first liquid tank 11 and the filter 13. The second liquid tank 12 stores ink 100. The second liquid tank 12 is a sub-tank for removing air from the ink 100 supplied from the first liquid tank 11.

[0012] The second liquid tank 12 is connected to the first liquid tank 11 and the filter 13 by a flow path pipe 14. The second liquid tank 12 is sealed from the outside air and can have an internal pressure different from atmospheric pressure. The second liquid tank 12 has a container body 121 and a partition wall 122 that partitions the lower part of the container body 121. The second liquid tank 12 has a first liquid chamber 123 and a second liquid chamber 124 partitioned by the partition wall 122 inside.

[0013] The inner space of the container body 121 is divided at the bottom by a partition wall 122 into two chambers, a first liquid chamber 123 and a second liquid chamber 124. The first liquid chamber 123 and the second liquid chamber 124 are continuous at the top of the inner space of the container body 121.

[0014] The first liquid chamber 123 is connected to the filter 13 via a flow path pipe 14. The second liquid chamber 124 is connected to the filter 13 via a flow path pipe 14.

[0015] The filter 13 includes a casing 131 and a filter member 132 provided inside the casing 131. The casing 131 is divided by the filter member 132 into a first chamber 1311 on the primary side and a second chamber 1312 on the secondary side. The first chamber 1311 on the primary side of the casing 131 is connected to the first liquid chamber 123 and the second liquid chamber 124 via the flow path pipe 14. The second chamber 1312 on the secondary side of the casing 131 is connected to the liquid ejection head 2 via the flow path pipe 14.

[0016] As a specific example, the casing 131 of the filter 13 has a supply port 1313 and a bubble vent port 1314 provided in the first chamber 1311. The casing 131 of the filter 13 also has a discharge port 1315 provided in the second chamber 1312. The casing 131 is arranged such that the first chamber 1311 is on the upper side and the second chamber 1312 is on the lower side, and the top surface of the first chamber 1311 is inclined upward from the supply port 1313 side toward the bubble vent port 1314 side. That is, the top surface of the first chamber 1311 is inclined so that the bubble vent port 1314 side is higher than the supply port 1313 so that air bubbles that have entered the first chamber 1311 from the supply port 1313 can easily move toward the bubble vent port 1314.

[0017] The supply port 1313 is connected to the first liquid chamber 123 via the flow path pipe 14. The bubble vent port 1314 is connected to the second liquid chamber 124 via the flow path pipe 14. The discharge port 1315 is connected to the liquid ejection head 2 via the flow path pipe 14.

[0018] The filter member 132 filters the ink 100 that passes through it. The filter member 132 is, for example, a filter mesh. The filter member 132 does not allow the ink 100 to pass through it, and does not allow the ink 100 to pass through it when the ink pressure P of the ink 100 applied to the filter surface is smaller than the retention force N, which is a predetermined value. The filter member 132 allows the ink 100 to pass through it when the ink pressure of the ink 100 applied to the filter surface is equal to or greater than the predetermined value N.

[0019] The flow path pipe 14 is composed of a plurality of tubes made of, for example, a metal material or a resin material. The flow path pipe 14 includes, for example, a first pipe 141, a second pipe 142, a third pipe 143, and a fourth pipe 144. The first pipe 141 connects the first liquid tank 11 and the second liquid tank 12. As a specific example, one end of the first pipe 141 is connected to a position inside the container body 121 of the second liquid tank 12 and facing the first liquid chamber 123. The first pipe 141 supplies ink 100 to the first liquid chamber 123. The second pipe 142 connects the first liquid chamber 123 of the second liquid tank 12 and a supply port 1313 of the filter 13. The third pipe 143 connects the second liquid chamber 124 of the second liquid tank 12 and a bubble vent port 1314 of the filter 13. The fourth pipe 144 connects the outlet 1315 of the filter 13 and the liquid ejection head 2 .

[0020] The supply device 15 supplies the ink 100 from the first liquid tank 11 to the first liquid chamber 123 of the second liquid tank 12. The supply device 15 is, for example, a piezoelectric pump.

[0021] The liquid level sensor 16 detects, for example, the liquid level (water level) of the ink 100 in the second liquid tank 12. For example, two liquid level sensors 16 are provided and detect the liquid level at two different heights of the ink 100 in the second liquid tank 12. For example, the first liquid level detected by the liquid level sensor 16 is a height at which the ink 100 supplied to the first liquid chamber 123 can pass through the second tube 142, the first chamber 1311 of the filter 13, and the third tube 143 and move to the second liquid chamber 124, and is a position lower than the upper end of the partition wall 122. The second liquid level is a position higher than the first liquid level height and higher than the upper end of the partition wall 122.

[0022] The control unit 17 has, for example, a processing circuit 171 such as a processor and a storage medium 172 such as a memory. The control unit 17 is connected, for example, to the supply device 15 and two liquid level sensors 16. The control unit 17 drives the supply device 15. The control unit 17 controls the supply device 15 to supply ink 100 into the second liquid tank 12. The control unit 17 also controls the supply device 15 to supply the ink 100 to the second liquid tank 12 at a predetermined pressure so that the pressure (ink pressure) P of the ink 100 passing through the second liquid tank 12 and on the filter surface of the filter member 132 becomes at least the first pressure P1 and the second pressure P2.

[0023] Here, the first pressure P1 is a pressure value at which the ink 100 does not pass through the filter member 132, i.e., a pressure value lower than the retention force N at which the filter member 132 retains the ink 100. The second pressure P2 is a pressure value at which the pressure inside the second liquid tank 12 is higher than the first pressure and at which the ink 100 passes through the filter member 132. In other words, the second pressure P2 is a purge pressure at which purging is performed.

[0024] The ink pressure P on the filter surface of the filter member 132 is expressed as follows: P=P0+ρgh This becomes:

[0025] Here, P0 is the pressure inside the second liquid tank 12. h is the distance between the filter surface of the filter member 132 and the liquid level inside the second liquid tank 12. The filter surface is the surface of the filter member 132 of the filter 13 that is disposed in the first chamber 1311.

[0026] Furthermore, if the retention force of the filter member 132 to retain the ink 100 is N, then P1 <N<P2 This becomes:

[0027] The control unit 17 controls the driving of the supply device 15 to adjust the pressure in the second liquid tank 12 so that the pressure applied to the filter surface becomes the first pressure P1 and the second pressure P2, for example.

[0028] For example, the control unit 17 controls the supply device 15 to supply the ink 100 from the first liquid chamber 123 to the first chamber 1311 of the filter 13 so that the ink pressure P on the filter surface becomes a first pressure P1 that is lower than the retention force of the ink 100 in the filter member 132. The control unit 17 supplies the ink 100 at at least the first pressure P1 from the first liquid chamber 123 to the second liquid chamber 124 separated from the first liquid chamber 123 by the partition wall 122, for example, via the first liquid chamber 123 and the first chamber 1311 on the primary side of the filter member 132 of the filter 13, until the liquid level reaches the first liquid level height.

[0029] Furthermore, after the ink 100 has been supplied up to the first liquid level height, the control unit 17 controls the supply device 15 to supply the ink 100 in the second liquid tank 12 up to a second liquid level height, which is a position higher than the upper end of the partition wall 122. The control unit 17 supplies the ink 100 into the second liquid tank 12, for example, at the first pressure P1 or at a pressure different from the first pressure P1 and lower than the retention force N of the filter member 132, until the liquid level of the ink 100 reaches the second liquid level height.

[0030] Furthermore, when the liquid level of the ink 100 in the second liquid tank 12 reaches a second liquid level height, the control unit 17 controls the supply device 15 to supply the ink 100 to the first liquid chamber 123 so that the ink pressure P on the filter surface becomes a second pressure P2 higher than the retention force of the ink 100. That is, when the liquid level of the ink 100 in the second liquid tank 12 reaches the second liquid level height, the control unit 17 sets the ink pressure to the second pressure P2. As a result, the ink in the first liquid chamber 123 and the second liquid chamber 124 passes through the second tube 142, the third tube 143, the first chamber 1311, the filter member 132, the second chamber 1312, and the fourth tube 144 and moves to the liquid ejection head 2. In this way, the control unit 17 controls the supply device 15 to supply the ink 100 to the liquid ejection head 2.

[0031] Next, a liquid supplying method using the liquid supplying apparatus 1 configured as above will be described with reference to FIG.

[0032] Such a liquid supplying method is carried out, for example, when the liquid ejection device 3 is first started up, or after maintenance of the liquid ejection device 3, etc.

[0033] First, the control unit 17 controls the supply device 15 to supply the ink 100 to the second liquid tank 12 at a pressure that becomes a first pressure P1 that is lower than the retention force of the ink 100 in the filter member 132 (ACT1). The ink 100 is supplied from the first tube 141 to the first liquid chamber 123. The ink 100 supplied to the first liquid chamber 123 moves from the second tube 142 into the casing 131 of the filter 13. At this time, since the pressure of the ink 100 on the filter surface of the filter member 132 is the first pressure P1, the ink 100 is retained by the filter member 132 and does not pass through the filter member 132.

[0034] Therefore, when the control unit 17 controls the supply device 15 to continue supplying the ink 100, the ink 100 fills the first chamber 1311 of the casing 131, and then moves to the second liquid chamber 124 through the air bubble vent port 1314 and the third tube 143 (ACT2). As a result, air bubbles are released from the ink 100 that has moved to the second liquid chamber 124 in the container body 121 of the second liquid tank 12.

[0035] Furthermore, when the control unit 17 controls the supply device 15 to continue supplying the ink 100, the liquid level of the ink 100 in the second liquid chamber 124 becomes the same height as the liquid level of the ink 100 in the first liquid chamber 123. When the control unit 17 continues to control the supply device 15 and the liquid levels in the first liquid chamber 123 and the second liquid chamber 124 rise, the liquid level of the ink 100 exceeds the partition wall 122, the ink 100 in the first liquid chamber 123 and the ink 100 in the second liquid chamber 124 communicate in the space above the upper end of the partition wall 122, and the liquid level becomes higher than the upper end of the partition wall 122.

[0036] At this time, the control unit 17 controls the supply device 15 so that the ink pressure on the filter surface is a pressure value smaller than the retention force N and the liquid level of the ink 100 is at a second height position. That is, the control unit 17 controls the drive of the supply device 15 so that the ink pressure P on the filter surface satisfies N>P (where P=P0+ρgh), and monitors the height of the liquid level with the liquid level sensor 16.

[0037] For example, when the liquid level of the ink 100 detected by the liquid level sensor 16 reaches a second height position (ACT3), the control unit 17 controls the supply device 15 to apply a positive pressure (purge pressure) to the inside of the container body 121 of the second liquid tank 12 as a purge (ACT4). As a result, the ink pressure on the filter surface of the filter member 132 becomes a second pressure P2, and the ink 100 passes through the filter member 132. As a result, the liquid ejection head 2 is filled with the ink 100.

[0038] When filling of the liquid ejection head 2 with the ink 100 is completed, the control unit 17, for example, drives the supply device 15 to maintain the liquid level of the ink 100 in the container body 121 at the second height position. By these methods, air bubbles in the ink 100 are removed when filling the liquid ejection head 2 with the ink 100, and the liquid ejection head 2 is filled with the ink 100 from which the air bubbles have been removed.

[0039] According to the liquid supply device 1 and liquid supply method configured in this manner, when ink 100 is supplied to the first chamber 1311 on the primary side of the filter member 132 of the filter 13, the ink 100 is returned to the second liquid chamber 124 of the second liquid tank 12 without being discharged outside the device. As a result, air bubbles contained in the ink 100 do not remain in the filter 13, and are removed from the ink 100 in the second liquid tank 12. Therefore, the liquid supply device 1 and liquid supply method can fill the liquid ejection head 2 with ink 100 without leaving any air bubbles on the primary side of the filter 13.

[0040] That is, the first liquid chamber 123 and the second liquid chamber 124 of the second liquid tank 12 are separated by the partition wall 122, which prevents the ink 100 containing air bubbles that has returned from the filter 13 from mixing with the ink 100 in the first liquid chamber 123 that is supplied to the filter 13. In addition, the first liquid level height is lower than the upper end of the partition wall 122. Therefore, the air in the ink 100 in the second liquid chamber 124 can be removed by the time the liquid level of the ink 100 in the second liquid chamber 124 reaches a level higher than the partition wall 122.

[0041] Furthermore, after the ink 100 in the first liquid chamber 123 and the ink 100 in the second liquid chamber 124 join together, air can be prevented from being contained in the ink 100 supplied to the filter 13. Therefore, when the ink 100 whose liquid level has reached the second liquid level is purged and the ink 100 is supplied to the liquid ejection head 2, the ink 100 containing air bubbles does not fill the liquid ejection head 2. Therefore, the liquid supply device 1 can prevent air bubbles from moving to the liquid ejection head 2.

[0042] Furthermore, because the ink 100 from which air bubbles are removed is returned to the second liquid chamber 124 without being discharged, there is no need to discard the ink 100 when removing air bubbles from the ink 100. Therefore, the liquid supply device 1 and liquid supply method do not require any processing or components for discarding the ink 100, and more ink 100 is available for use, reducing running costs. In addition, because there is no need to manually remove air bubbles from the ink 100, the task of filling the liquid ejection head 2 with ink 100 is simplified.

[0043] A liquid ejection device 3 having a liquid supply device 1 and a liquid ejection head 2 will be described below with reference to Fig. 3. In this embodiment, the liquid ejection device 3 is, for example, an inkjet recording device. The liquid ejection device 3 includes a housing 2111, a medium supply unit 2112, an image forming unit 2113, a medium ejection unit 2114, a conveying device 2115 which is a support device, a temperature adjustment device 2116, a maintenance device 2117, and a control unit 2118.

[0044] The liquid ejection device 3 is an inkjet printer that performs an image formation process on paper P by ejecting a liquid such as ink 100 onto the paper P as a recording medium, which is the object of ejection, along a predetermined transport path 2001 that runs from a medium supply section 2112 through an image forming section 2113 to a medium ejection section 2114.

[0045] The medium supply unit 2112 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 21121. The image forming unit 2113 includes a support unit 2120 that supports paper, and a plurality of head units 2130 that are arranged above and facing the support unit 2120. The medium discharge unit 2114 includes a paper discharge tray 21141.

[0046] The support section 2120 includes a conveyor belt 21201 that is looped in a predetermined area where image formation is performed, a support plate 21202 that supports the conveyor belt 21201 from the back side, and a plurality of belt rollers 21203 that are provided on the back side of the conveyor belt 21201.

[0047] The head unit 2130 includes a plurality of liquid supply devices 1 and a plurality of liquid ejection heads 2, which are inkjet heads.

[0048] In this embodiment, the liquid ejection heads 2 are provided in four colors, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and four liquid supply devices 1 for storing ink 100 of each color, respectively.

[0049] The transport device 2115 transports the paper P along a transport path 2001 that runs from a paper feed cassette 21121 in the medium supply unit 2112, through the image forming unit 2113, to a paper discharge tray 21141 in the medium discharge unit 2114. The transport device 2115 includes a plurality of guide plate pairs 21211 to 21218 and a plurality of transport rollers 21221 to 21228 that are arranged along the transport path 2001. The transport device 2115 supports the paper P so that it can move relative to the liquid ejection head 2.

[0050] The temperature adjustment device 2116 includes a temperature adjustment water tank 21161, a temperature adjustment circuit 21162 such as piping or tubes for supplying the temperature adjustment water, a pump for supplying the temperature adjustment water, and a temperature adjuster for adjusting the temperature of the temperature adjustment water. The temperature adjustment device 2116 supplies the temperature adjustment water in the temperature adjustment water tank 21161, which has been adjusted to a predetermined temperature by the temperature adjuster, to a temperature adjustment water supply pipe via the temperature adjustment circuit 21162 by pumping water. The temperature adjustment device 2116 also recovers the temperature adjustment water discharged from the temperature adjustment water discharge pipe back into the temperature adjustment water tank 21161 via the temperature adjustment circuit 21162. The temperature adjuster is, for example, a heater or a cooler.

[0051] The maintenance device 2117, for example, during maintenance, sucks and recovers the ink 100 remaining on the outer surface of the nozzle plate of the liquid ejection head 2. Furthermore, if the liquid ejection head 2 is of a non-circulating type, the maintenance device 2117 during maintenance recovers the ink 100 from the nozzles of the liquid ejection head 2. Such a maintenance device 2117 has a tray, tank, or the like for storing the recovered ink 100.

[0052] The control unit 2118 includes a CPU 21181 as an example of a processor, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various programs and the like, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores various variable data, image data, and other memories, and an interface unit that inputs data from the outside and outputs data to the outside. Note that the control unit 2118 may constitute the control unit 17 of the liquid supplying device 1.

[0053] According to the liquid supply device 1, liquid ejection device 3, and liquid supply method of the embodiments described above, no ink 100 is wasted, and the ink 100 can be filled into the primary side of the filter 13 without leaving any air bubbles on the primary side of the filter 13.

[0054] Note that the embodiment is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, in the above example, the supply device 15 is controlled to increase the pressure in the second liquid tank 12, and the ink pressure applied to the filter surface of the filter member 132 becomes the second pressure P2. However, the ink pressure P applied to the filter surface may be set as the second pressure P2 by a configuration other than the supply device 15, or by another device or element in addition to the supply device 15. For example, the ink pressure P may be adjusted by a pump or the like that pressurizes the second liquid tank 12, or the ink pressure P may be adjusted according to the liquid level in the second liquid tank 12.

[0055] In the above example, two liquid level sensors 16 for detecting the first liquid level height and the second liquid level height are provided on the first liquid chamber 123 side, and one of the liquid level sensors 16 detects the first liquid level height of the first liquid chamber 123. However, the liquid level sensor 16 may be provided on the first liquid chamber 123 side, or on both the first liquid chamber 123 side and the second liquid chamber 124 side.

[0056] For example, if a liquid level sensor 16 is provided on the second liquid chamber 124 side, it is installed at a position lower than the lower level sensor 16 provided on the first liquid chamber 123 side. By providing the liquid level sensor 16 on the second liquid chamber 124 side in this way, it becomes possible to detect that ink has entered the second liquid chamber 124 side from the filter 13 side before the liquid level of the ink 100 in the second liquid tank 12 reaches the second liquid level height, and therefore the ink filling operation can be completed more quickly.

[0057] Furthermore, in the above example, a configuration including two liquid level sensors 16 for detecting the first liquid level height and the second liquid level height has been described, but this is not limiting. For example, a configuration including one liquid level sensor 16 for detecting the second liquid level height may be used, or a configuration without a liquid level sensor 16 may be used in which purging is performed based on the pressure inside the second liquid tank 12, or a configuration in which purging is performed based on the operating time of the supply device 15. In other words, as long as the liquid supply device 1 is configured to remove air bubbles from the ink 100 that has moved to the second liquid chamber 124 and then perform purging at a predetermined liquid level of the ink 100, the liquid level of the ink 100 may be detected or estimated.

[0058] According to at least one of the embodiments described above, the liquid supply device, liquid ejection device, and liquid supply method can fill ink on the primary side of the filter without wasting ink and without leaving any air bubbles on the primary side of the filter.

[0059] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. The following is a description equivalent to the invention described in the original claims of the present application. [1] A liquid supply device having a first liquid chamber connected to the primary side of a filter, and a second liquid chamber connected to the primary side of the filter, the lower part of which is separated from the first liquid chamber and the upper part of which is in communication with the first liquid chamber, and equipped with a tank for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejection head. [2] a supply unit that supplies the liquid to the first liquid chamber of the tank; a filter member, the filter having a supply port provided on a primary side of the filter member and connected to the first liquid chamber, a discharge port provided on a secondary side of the filter member and connected to a liquid ejection head that ejects the liquid, and an air bubble vent provided on the primary side of the filter member and connected to the second liquid chamber; The liquid supply device according to [1], comprising: [3] The liquid supply device according to [2], wherein the supply unit supplies the liquid at a first pressure lower than the liquid retention force of the filter member and a second pressure higher than the retention force. [4] The liquid supply device according to any one of [1] to [3], a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid; A liquid ejection device comprising: [5] A tank for storing liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head, the tank having a first liquid chamber connected to the primary side of a filter, and a second liquid chamber connected to the primary side of the filter, the second liquid chamber being separated from the first liquid chamber at its lower part and communicating with the first liquid chamber at its upper part; a supply unit that supplies the liquid to the first liquid chamber; a filter having a supply port provided on a primary side of the filter member and connected to the first liquid chamber, a discharge port provided on a secondary side of the filter member and connected to a liquid discharge head that discharges the liquid, and an air bubble vent provided on the primary side of the filter member and connected to the second liquid chamber, supplying liquid to the first liquid chamber at a first pressure lower than the liquid retention force of the filter member, and supplying liquid from the first liquid chamber and the first liquid chamber to a portion of the second liquid chamber separated from the first liquid chamber via a primary side of the filter member; The liquid supplying method includes supplying the liquid at a second pressure higher than the holding force of the filter member and the first pressure, and supplying the liquid to the secondary side of the filter member and the liquid ejection head. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1...liquid supply device, 2...liquid ejection head, 3...liquid ejection device, 11...first liquid tank, 12...second liquid tank (tank), 13...filter, 14...flow path pipe, 15...supply device, 16...liquid level sensor, 17...control unit, 100...ink, 121...container body, 122...partition wall, 123...first liquid chamber, 124...second liquid chamber, 131...casing, 132...filter member, 141...first pipe, 142...second pipe, 143...third pipe, 144...fourth pipe, 171...processing circuit, 172...storage medium, 1311...first chamber, 1312...second chamber, 1313...supply port, 1314...bubble vent, 131 5...discharge outlet, 2001...conveyance path, 2111...housing, 2112...media supply section, 2113...image forming section, 2114...media discharge section, 2115...conveyance device, 2116...temperature control device, 2117...maintenance device, 2118...control section, 2120...support section, 2130...head unit, 21121...paper feed cassette, 21141...paper output tray, 21161...temperature control water tank, 21162...temperature control circuit, 21201...conveyor belt, 21202...support plate, 21203...belt roller, 21211-21218...guide plate pair, 21221-21228...conveyance rollers.

Claims

1. A liquid supply device comprising a tank having a partition wall that partitions an internal space into a first liquid chamber connected to the primary side of a filter, and a second liquid chamber connected to the primary side of the filter, the lower part of which is partitioned from the first liquid chamber and the upper part of which is connected to the upper part of the first liquid chamber, and which stores liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejection head.

2. a supply unit that supplies the liquid to the first liquid chamber of the tank; a filter member, the filter having a supply port provided on a primary side of the filter member and connected to the first liquid chamber, a discharge port provided on a secondary side of the filter member and connected to a liquid ejection head that ejects the liquid, and an air bubble vent provided on the primary side of the filter member and connected to the second liquid chamber; The liquid supply system of claim 1 , comprising:

3. The liquid supply device according to claim 2 , wherein the supply unit supplies the liquid at a first pressure lower than a retention force of the liquid in the filter member, and at a second pressure higher than the retention force.

4. The liquid supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3; a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid; A liquid ejection device comprising:

5. a tank for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejection head, the tank having a first liquid chamber connected to a primary side of a filter, and a second liquid chamber connected to the primary side of the filter, the second liquid chamber having a lower portion separated from the first liquid chamber and an upper portion communicating with the first liquid chamber; a supply unit that supplies the liquid to the first liquid chamber; a filter having a supply port provided on a primary side of the filter member and connected to the first liquid chamber, a discharge port provided on a secondary side of the filter member and connected to a liquid discharge head that discharges the liquid, and an air bubble vent provided on the primary side of the filter member and connected to the second liquid chamber, liquid is supplied to the first liquid chamber at a first pressure lower than the liquid retention force of the filter member, and liquid is supplied from the first liquid chamber and the first liquid chamber to a portion of the second liquid chamber partitioned from the first liquid chamber via a primary side of the filter member; The liquid supplying method includes supplying the liquid at a second pressure higher than the holding force of the filter member and the first pressure, and supplying the liquid to a secondary side of the filter member and the liquid ejection head.

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