Patent ID: 7380923

Claim:
A liquid supply apparatus, which supplies an ink liquid to an ink head that spouts the ink liquid to an image forming medium, the apparatus comprising: an ink tank which accommodates the ink liquid; a reservoir tank which receives the ink liquid supplied from the ink tank to accommodate the ink liquid; an ink distribution unit which receives the ink liquid supplied from the reservoir tank and supplies the ink liquid to the ink head; an overflow liquid pipe having a first end connected to the reservoir tank, and a second end; an overflow tank which is connected to the second end of the overflow liquid pipe to collect the ink liquid that has flowed through the overflow liquid pipe from the reservoir tank, and which opens the reservoir tank to the atmosphere through the overflow liquid pipe; a pressurizing pipe connected to the overflow liquid pipe; and an ink liquid removing unit to pressurize an interior of the overflow liquid pipe through the pressurizing pipe and to remove the ink liquid which stays in the overflow liquid pipe.