| CPC B41J 2/17503 (2013.01) [B41J 2/14088 (2013.01); B41J 2/1433 (2013.01); B41J 2002/14467 (2013.01); B41J 2202/05 (2013.01)] | 15 Claims |
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1. A service tank used in an inkjet printing apparatus and configured to temporarily store ink introduced from an ink tank and directly supply the ink to a printing unit in a case where a liquid surface of the ink is in a proper area between an upper limit and a lower limit, the service tank comprising:
a container having an internal space in which the ink is able to be stored, the container being provided with an inlet through which the ink is introduced into the internal space and a plurality of supply ports through which the ink stored in the internal space is supplied to each of a plurality of the printing units;
a divider configured to divide the internal space into a plurality of compartments;
a detector configured to detect that the liquid surface of the ink stored in the internal space is at the upper limit or the lower limit; and
an auxiliary divider having a U shape in top view, the auxiliary divider being attached directly above one of the supply ports and composed of a basal portion, a left small piece provided on a left of the basal portion, and a right small piece provided at a right of the basal portion;
wherein:
the divider is attached between the inlet and one of the supply ports provided in a position closest to the inlet;
the divider includes a plate that prevents flow of the ink and air above the ink between adjacent ones of the compartments, an ink opening through which the ink flows between the adjacent compartments, and an air opening through which the air flows between the adjacent compartments;
the plate is located in the proper area;
the ink opening is located below the proper area;
the air opening is located above the proper area; and
the supply port is located between the left small piece and the right small piece in top view.
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