US 12,291,038 B2
Liquid ejection apparatus and liquid ejection head
Koichi Kubo, Kanagawa (JP); Naozumi Nabeshima, Tokyo (JP); Soji Kondo, Kanagawa (JP); and Kazuya Yoshii, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Dec. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/062,345.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-205285 (JP), filed on Dec. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0191793 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. B41J 2/175 (2006.01); B41J 2/18 (2006.01); B41J 2/185 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/17596 (2013.01) [B41J 2/185 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit configured to discharge ink to form an image on a recording medium;
a liquid storage unit configured to store a liquid;
a liquid ejection head including
an inlet through which a liquid from the liquid storage unit is introduced,
a pressure chamber to which the liquid introduced through the inlet is supplied, and
an ejection port through which the liquid in the pressure chamber is ejected;
a liquid communication path through which the liquid storage unit and the inlet of the liquid ejection head communicate with each other;
a liquid connection part configured to connect the liquid storage unit to the liquid ejection head; and
a liquid pressurization unit configured to supply the liquid in the liquid storage unit to the liquid ejection head through the liquid communication path by pressurization,
wherein the liquid ejection head includes a circulation path through which the liquid supplied from the liquid communication path is circulated within the liquid ejection head,
wherein the circulation path includes
a supply channel through which the liquid is supplied to the pressure chamber,
a collection channel through which the liquid is collected from the pressure chamber,
a circulation pump which supplies the liquid collected through the collection channel to the supply channel, and
a pressure adjustment unit configured to adjust a pressure on the liquid to be supplied to the supply channel, and
wherein the circulation pump is disposed at a position which is higher than the inlet in a direction of gravity and where the circulation pump is not in contact with the inlet, and
wherein the liquid communication path is provided with the liquid connection part in a positive pressure region in which the pressure on the liquid flowing therethrough is positive, and the liquid connection part is not in contact with the circulation pump.