Patent ID: 8272718

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a recording head having nozzles for ejecting droplets; a liquid tank that stores liquid to be supplied to the recording head; a first channel member connected to the recording head; a second channel member connected to the liquid tank; a pressure regulation valve including an internal channel that connects the first channel member to the second channel member, a third channel member connecting the pressure regulation valve to one of the second channel member and the liquid tank; and a liquid feed unit disposed on the third channel member to feed the liquid, wherein the pressure regulation valve changes a fluid resistance of the internal channel of the pressure regulation valve in response to a flow amount of the liquid passing through the first channel member and, as liquid droplets are ejected from the nozzles, the liquid feed unit feeds the liquid from the liquid tank to the recording head with the recording head in communication with the liquid tank via the pressure regulation valve.