Patent ID: 7399075

Claim:
A liquid ejection apparatus, comprising: a head for ejecting liquid from an ejection port; a subtank for temporarily storing liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head, wherein the subtank includes an air buffer; an air communication valve for opening or closing a passage for communicating air in the subtank; a circulation flow line for providing communication between the liquid ejecting head and the subtank for circulation, wherein the circulation flow line includes a first passage for supplying liquid from the subtank to the liquid ejecting head, and a second passage for returning liquid from the liquid ejecting head to the subtank; pumping means coupled to the first passage of the circulation flow line for circulating liquid between the liquid ejecting head and the subtank; and controlling means for controlling the air communication valve and the pumping means so that the pumping means is driven after closing the air communication valve, so as to circulate liquid to reduce an internal pressure of the subtank and inflate the air buffer, wherein the pumping means is driven until after stopping of inflation of the air buffer, and wherein the controlling means opens the air communication valve to communicate air in the subtank simultaneously with or immediately after the stoppage of the pumping means.