US 12,358,300 B2
Image forming apparatus
Hiroyuki Tokimatsu, Hino (JP)
Assigned to KONICA MINOLTA, INC., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Konica Minolta, Inc., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jul. 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/355,024.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-132037 (JP), filed on Aug. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0059074 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. B41J 2/175 (2006.01); B41J 2/045 (2006.01); B41J 2/165 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/17596 (2013.01) [B41J 2/0451 (2013.01); B41J 2/16579 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main tank that stores ink containing a plurality of types of components having melting points different from each other;
an ink head unit that includes a first heating device to heat the ink and that ejects the heated ink;
a supply channel that supplies the ink from the main tank to the ink head unit;
a second heating device that heats the supply channel; and
a controller, wherein
the supply channel includes a specific region having a temperature equal to or more than a first temperature and less than a second temperature when the first heating device is heating the ink and the second heating device is not heating the supply channel, the first temperature being a melting point of a component having a lowest melting point in the plurality of types of components, the second temperature being a melting point of a component having a highest melting point in the plurality of types of components, and
the controller causes the second heating device to start heating at a predetermined timing such that the temperature of the specific region is equal to or more than the second temperature.