Importance

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Abstract

An ink-jet recording apparatus capable of efficiently performing a pressurization recovery operation on a recording head without causing clogging due to dust particles. An ink supply system for supplying ink to the head includes an ink container with an air space defined above the ink surface, and a pump for pressurizing air within the air space, which pump is arranged to connect the air space with either the pressure side of the pump or the atmosphere. In one embodiment, the ink container compriss a main ink tank, and an auxiliary ink tank, having the air space, provided between the head and the main ink tank. The main ink tank is controlled to maintain a predetermined pressure head of ink therein, and the auxiliary ink tank is positioned such that the auxiliary ink tank can have, under atmospheric pressure, substantially the same pressure head as the main ink tank. In another embodiment, a removable ink cartridge, serving as the ink container, is divided into small and large ink chambers. Thus, in either case the pump need only pressurize a small volume of air in the ink container so that, during a recovery operation, the air pressurized by the pump efficiently pressurizes the ink within the auxiliary ink tank or small ink chamber even when the amount of ink has decreased.

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First Claim