Image forming apparatus including cartridge having first storage chamber, cartridge attachment portion having second storage chamber, and recording portion

Abstract

For an image forming apparatus including first and second storage chambers, an inequality expression of “R2>A×R1” is met. R1 is a sum of a passage resistance value obtained by flowing air through a first air communication portion and a passage resistance value obtained by flowing liquid through a supply portion. R2 is a passage resistance value obtained by flowing air through a second air communication portion. A is a cross-sectional area ratio obtained by dividing a first average cross-sectional area of a first space of the first storage chamber taken along a plurality of horizontal planes by a second average cross-sectional area of a second space of the second storage chamber taken along the plurality of horizontal planes. The first space contains at least a portion adjacent to the supply portion and accumulating the liquid. The second space contains at least a portion accumulating the liquid.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a cartridge comprising:
 a first storage chamber configured to store a liquid; 
 a first air communication portion allowing the first storage chamber to be communicated with an atmosphere; 
 a supply portion configured to supply the liquid stored in the first storage chamber; and 
 a first semipermeable membrane blocking the first air communication portion against a flow of the liquid; 
   a cartridge attachment portion comprising:
 a connecting portion connectable to the supply portion; and 
 a tank comprising:
 a liquid flow-in port allowing the liquid stored in the first storage chamber and flowing through the connecting portion connected to the supply portion to pass through the liquid flow-in port; 
 a second storage chamber configured to store the liquid passed through the liquid flow-in port; 
 a second air communication portion allowing the second storage chamber to be communicated with the atmosphere; 
 a second semipermeable membrane blocking the second air communication portion against the flow of the liquid; and 
 
   a liquid flow-out port disposed at a position below the liquid flow-in port and allowing the liquid stored in the storage chamber to flow out of the second storage chamber; and   a recording portion comprising a nozzle through which the liquid flowed out of the second storage chamber through the liquid flow-out port is ejected.   
     
     
       2. The image forming apparatus system according to claim  1   7 , wherein the second storage chamber includes a first portion, and a second portion positioned above the first portion and having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the first portion. 
     
     
       3. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising;
 a detecting portion configured to detect a level of the liquid stored in the second storage chamber and at a position adjacent to the connecting portion, the detecting portion being further configured to output a detection signal; and   a controller configured to:
 determine non-existence of the liquid in the first storage chamber according to the detection signal outputted from the detecting portion; and 
 notify a user of a replacement of the cartridge with a new cartridge. 
   
     
     
       4. The image forming apparatus system according to claim  1   7 , wherein the liquid flow-out port is positioned below the supply portion in a direction of gravity. 
     
     
       5. The image forming apparatus system according to claim  1   7 , wherein the supply portion comprises a liquid passage,
 wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a valve provided in the supply portion to open and close the liquid passage, and 
 wherein the connecting portion comprises a tubular member in abutment with the valve to enter the liquid passage providing communication between the liquid passage and an internal space of the tubular member. 
 
     
     
       6. The image forming apparatus system according to  claim 5 , wherein the tubular member extends in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
       7. An image forming system comprising:
 a cartridge comprising:
 a first storage chamber configured to store a liquid; 
 a first air communication portion allowing the first storage chamber to be communicated with an atmosphere; 
 a supply portion configured to supply the liquid stored in the first storage chamber; and 
 a first semipermeable membrane blocking the first air communication portion against a flow of the liquid; and 
 
 an image forming apparatus comprising:
 a cartridge attachment portion comprising:
 a connecting portion connectable to the supply portion; and 
 a tank comprising:
 a liquid flow-in port allowing the liquid stored in the first storage chamber and flowing through the connecting portion connected to the supply portion to pass through the liquid flow-in port; 
 a second storage chamber configured to store the liquid passed through the liquid flow-in port; 
 a second air communication portion allowing the second storage chamber to be communicated with the atmosphere; 
 a second semipermeable membrane blocking the second air communication portion against the flow out of the liquid; and 
 a liquid flow-out port disposed at a position below the liquid flow-in port and allowing the liquid stored in the storage chamber to flow out of the second storage chamber; and 
 
 
 
 a recording portion comprising a nozzle through which the liquid flowed out of the second storage chamber through the liquid flow-out port is ejected, 
 wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises:
 a detecting portion configured to detect a level of the liquid stored in the second storage chamber and at a position adjacent to the connecting portion, the detecting portion being further configured to output a detection signal; and 
 a controller configured to:
 determine non-existence of the liquid in the first storage chamber according to the detection signal outputted from the detecting portion; and 
 notify a user of a replacement of the cartridge with a new cartridge. 
 
 
 
     
     
       8. An image forming system comprising:
 a first storage chamber configured to store a liquid;   a first air communication portion allowing the first storage chamber to be communicated with an atmosphere;   a first supply portion configured to supply the liquid stored in the first storage chamber;   a second storage chamber configured to store the liquid supplied from the first supply portion;   a second air communication portion allowing the second storage chamber to be communicated with the atmosphere;   a second supply portion configured to supply the liquid stored in the second storage chamber; and   a recording portion comprising a nozzle through which the liquid supplied from the second storage chamber is ejected,   wherein an inequality expression of “R2>A×R1” is met, in which
 R1: a first passage resistance value which is a sum of a passage resistance value obtained by flowing air through the first air communication portion and a passage resistance value obtained by flowing liquid through the first supply portion; 
 R2: a second passage resistance value obtained by flowing air through the second air communication portion; and 
 A: a cross-sectional area ratio obtained by dividing a first average cross-sectional area by a second average cross-sectional area, the first average cross-sectional area being an average cross-sectional area of a first space of the first storage chamber taken along a plurality of horizontal planes, the first space containing at least a portion adjacent to the first supply portion and accumulating the liquid; and the second average cross-sectional area being an average cross-sectional area of a second space of the second storage chamber taken along the plurality of horizontal planes, the second space containing at least a portion accumulating the liquid. 
   
     
     
       9. The image forming system according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first semipermeable membrane blocking the first air communication portion against a flow of the liquid.   
     
     
       10. The image forming system according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a second semipermeable membrane blocking the second air communication portion against a flow of the liquid.   
     
     
       11. The image forming system according to  claim 8 , wherein the second supply portion is positioned below the first supply portion in a direction of gravity.