US 11,701,892 B2
Image-recording apparatus including first tank, second tank connectable to first tank, and head for ejecting liquid supplied from second tank
Masahiro Hayashi, Nagoya (JP); Akinari Ishibe, Okazaki (JP); Yuma Tanabe, Nagoya (JP); Masatake Sato, Nagoya (JP); and Akihito Kobayashi, Konan (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Jul. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/371,199.
Application 17/371,199 is a division of application No. 16/590,693, filed on Oct. 2, 2019, granted, now 11,084,292.
Application 16/590,693 is a division of application No. 15/904,675, filed on Feb. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,442,206, issued on Oct. 15, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2017-037193 (JP), filed on Feb. 28, 2017; application No. 2017-037194 (JP), filed on Feb. 28, 2017; application No. 2017-037195 (JP), filed on Feb. 28, 2017; and application No. 2017-037196 (JP), filed on Feb. 28, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0331484 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. B41J 2/175 (2006.01); B41J 2/19 (2006.01); B41J 2/14 (2006.01); C09D 11/40 (2014.01); B41J 29/02 (2006.01); C09D 11/30 (2014.01); B41J 29/13 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/17523 (2013.01) [B41J 2/14274 (2013.01); B41J 2/1752 (2013.01); B41J 2/17509 (2013.01); B41J 2/17513 (2013.01); B41J 2/17533 (2013.01); B41J 2/17553 (2013.01); B41J 2/19 (2013.01); B41J 29/02 (2013.01); C09D 11/40 (2013.01); B41J 29/13 (2013.01); C09D 11/30 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image-recording apparatus comprising:
a tank comprising:
a liquid inlet port through which liquid is introduced;
a liquid storage chamber configured to store the liquid flowing through the liquid inlet port;
a liquid outlet port through which the liquid in the liquid storage chamber is configured to be discharged; and
an air communication portion configured to allow the liquid storage chamber to communicate with an atmosphere;
a conveying mechanism configured to convey a sheet along a conveying path extending in a depthwise direction perpendicular to a vertical direction, the depthwise direction including a first depthwise direction and a second depthwise direction opposite to each other, the conveying path having a width in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the depthwise direction, the widthwise direction including a first widthwise direction and a second widthwise direction opposite to each other; and
a recording head positioned above the conveying path and in communication with the liquid outlet port through a liquid channel, the recording head having a nozzle through which the liquid supplied through the liquid channel is configured to be ejected toward the conveying path,
wherein the liquid storage chamber is positioned further in the first depthwise direction relative to the nozzle and is positioned further in the first widthwise direction relative to the conveying path;
wherein the liquid outlet port is configured to discharge the liquid out of the second storage chamber at a position below a center of the second storage chamber in the vertical direction, and at the position further in the first depthwise direction relative to a depthwise center of the second storage chamber, and at the position further in the first widthwise direction relative to a widthwise center of the second storage chamber; and
wherein the liquid storage chamber includes:
a buffer chamber positioned further in the second widthwise direction relative to the liquid outlet port, the buffer chamber being defined as a space positioned above a specific level of the liquid equal to a height of the liquid inlet port with respect to the vertical direction;
a first chamber positioned below the buffer chamber and in communication with the liquid outlet port; and
a second chamber connecting the buffer chamber and the first chamber to each other, the second chamber having a horizontal cross-sectional area smaller than a horizontal cross-sectional area of the buffer chamber and smaller than a horizontal cross-sectional area of the first chamber.