INK JET RECORDER, VALVE UNIT AND INK SUCKING METHOD THEREFOR, AND CLEANING METHOD FOR INK JET RECORDING HEAD EMPLOYING THAT VALVE UNIT

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely discharge bubbles remaining in a head filter chamber formed in the downstream region of an ink supply needle and in a head. SOLUTION: A valve unit 23 is arranged in an ink supply passage 22 between an ink cartridge 8 and a recording head 7 while being interlocked with the suction operation of a suction pump in the recording head 7 to open/close a valve unit 23 (valve disc member 23a). When the valve unit 23 (valve disc member 23a) is closed and a negative pressure is applied from the suction pump before opening the valve unit 23 (valve disc member 23a), a strong ink flow can be produced in the downstream region of the valve unit 23 and bubbles remaining at the upper part of the head filter F in the ink supply passage 22 and in the head can be carried on the ink flow and discharged surely.