A device is described for determining the state of a filter unit of an ink supply system of a print bar of an inkjet printing device. The filter unit at a supply line to the print bar is arranged in series with a supply valve. The device is configured to determine an opening degree of the supply valve that thereby occurs while ink is conveyed with a defined target volumetric flow through the supply line. Furthermore, the device is configured to determine state information with respect to the state of the filter unit on the basis of the determined opening degree of the supply valve.

A device is described for determining the state of a filter unit of an ink supply system of a print bar of an inkjet printing device. The filter unit at a supply line to the print bar is arranged in series with a supply valve. The device is configured to determine an opening degree of the supply valve that thereby occurs while ink is conveyed with a defined target volumetric flow through the supply line. Furthermore, the device is configured to determine state information with respect to the state of the filter unit on the basis of the determined opening degree of the supply valve.

An ink supplier includes: a supply reservoir storing ink to be supplied to a plurality of heads; and a discharge pipe used for discharging the ink from the supply reservoir. The supply reservoir includes: a cylindrical first horizontal reservoir having a plurality of supply ports each communicating with one of the plurality of heads; and a first vertical reservoir having a side surface provided with a first opening communicating with one end of the first horizontal reservoir. The first horizontal reservoir has a bottom surface that is tilted from a horizontal direction at an angle of tilt equal to or greater than 0.3 in such a manner as to extend downward from the one end toward the other end. The first horizontal reservoir includes a first discharge port provided at a bottom portion of the first horizontal reservoir at the other end and communicably connected to the discharge pipe.

A liquid supply apparatus includes a support unit configured to support a liquid container having flexibility, a channel forming unit configured to be connected to the liquid container supported by the support means, and form a channel through which liquid flows from the liquid container to a supply destination, and pressing unit configured to repeat a pressing operation and a pressing reduced operation with respect to the liquid container supported by support unit.

In an inkjet recording device that uses a pigment-based ink, an ink device is provided in which ink sticking in an ink path and the precipitation of pigment components in an ink container, which occur when printing is not performed over a long period, can be suppressed, and the pigment-based ink can be jetted in a short time at the restart of the printing. The inkjet recording device uses a pigment-based ink. A control section 7 executes a printing mode performing a printing operation and a rest mode not performing the printing operation. In the rest mode, the control section 7 forcibly performs the stirring of a pigment-based ink 68A in an ink container 31 and the circulation of the ink in an ink circulation path not including a printing head (S300) or the circulation of the ink in an ink circulation path including the printing head (S400). Accordingly, it is possible to suppress ink sticking in the ink circulation path and the precipitation of pigment components in an ink container, which occur when printing is not performed over a long period, and to jet the pigment-based ink in a short time at the restart of the printing.

In an inkjet recording device that uses a pigment-based ink, an ink device is provided in which ink sticking in an ink path and the precipitation of pigment components in an ink container, which occur when printing is not performed over a long period, can be suppressed, and the pigment-based ink can be jetted in a short time at the restart of the printing. The inkjet recording device uses a pigment-based ink. A control section 7 executes a printing mode performing a printing operation and a rest mode not performing the printing operation. In the rest mode, the control section 7 forcibly performs the stirring of a pigment-based ink 68A in an ink container 31 and the circulation of the ink in an ink circulation path not including a printing head (S300) or the circulation of the ink in an ink circulation path including the printing head (S400). Accordingly, it is possible to suppress ink sticking in the ink circulation path and the precipitation of pigment components in an ink container, which occur when printing is not performed over a long period, and to jet the pigment-based ink in a short time at the restart of the printing.

A liquid ejection head includes a pressure chamber for ejecting liquid, a first energy generating element for generating energy to eject the liquid, and circulating flow passages, each of which is provided with a second energy generating element and has a supply port through which liquid to the pressure chamber flows in and a discharge port through which liquid from the pressure chamber is discharged, and the pressure chamber being disposed between the supply port and the discharge port. The supply port is located on one side of the pressure chamber the discharge port is located on the other side of the pressure chamber, and the supply port, pressure chamber, and discharge port are arranged in this order. The second energy generating element is disposed on a side closer to the supply port than the pressure chamber, and is driven while the first energy generating element is stopped.

A liquid ejection head includes a pressure chamber for ejecting liquid, a first energy generating element for generating energy to eject the liquid, and circulating flow passages, each of which is provided with a second energy generating element and has a supply port through which liquid to the pressure chamber flows in and a discharge port through which liquid from the pressure chamber is discharged, and the pressure chamber being disposed between the supply port and the discharge port. The supply port is located on one side of the pressure chamber the discharge port is located on the other side of the pressure chamber, and the supply port, pressure chamber, and discharge port are arranged in this order. The second energy generating element is disposed on a side closer to the supply port than the pressure chamber, and is driven while the first energy generating element is stopped.

A liquid discharge head includes a pressure chamber; a nozzle to discharge a liquid from the pressure chamber; a nozzle plate on the pressure chamber; and an actuator on the nozzle plate, the actuator deforming the nozzle plate to discharge the liquid in the pressure chamber from the nozzle, wherein a drive voltage is applied to the actuator to generate a controlled flow of the liquid in the pressure chamber.

A liquid discharge head includes a pressure chamber; a nozzle to discharge a liquid from the pressure chamber; a nozzle plate on the pressure chamber; and an actuator on the nozzle plate, the actuator deforming the nozzle plate to discharge the liquid in the pressure chamber from the nozzle, wherein a drive voltage is applied to the actuator to generate a controlled flow of the liquid in the pressure chamber.