Patent ID: 7794067

Claim:
An ink supplying device configured to supply ink contained in an external ink container to a recording head of a recording apparatus by way of a connecting member, the ink supplying device comprising: an ink outflow passage adapted to be in fluid communication with the recording head; a negative pressure generating mechanism disposed between the connecting member and the ink outflow passage, the negative pressure generating mechanism comprising: an elastic member having a first face and a second face; an opening configured to be closed when the first face of the elastic member comes in contact with the opening and be opened when the first face of the elastic member separates from the opening; a first space facing the first face of the elastic member; a second space facing the second face of the elastic member; a first passage fluid communicating with the connecting member and the first space; a second passage fluid communicating with the opening and the ink outflow passage; and a third passage fluid communicating with the second space and the ink outflow passage; wherein the ink supplying device is so configured that the ink contained in the external ink container is supplied to the recording head by way of the connecting member, the first passage, the opening, the second passage and the ink outflow passage when the opening is opened.