Patent ID: 7234800

Claim:
An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a detachable ink tank adapted to accommodate ink; a recording head; an ink supply path coupled to the recording head; an atmosphere communication portion communicating with an atmosphere; first and second hollow needles, wherein the ink tank is configured to attach to and detach from the first and second hollow needles, wherein in an attached state in which the ink tank is attached to the first and second needles, the atmosphere communication portion communicates with the ink tank via the second hollow needle and the ink supply path communicates with the ink tank via the first hollow needle so that a single flow hermetically sealed path is provide between the recording head to the atmosphere communication portion; a first switching valve sealing the first hollow needle from the ink supply path in a detached state in which the ink tank is detached from the first and second hollow needles; a second switching valve sealing the second hollow needle from the atmosphere communication portion in the detached state of the ink tank; a waste ink collection unit configured to collect waste ink; the ink supply path including an opening facilitating introducing the waste ink into the waste ink collection unit; and a third switching valve configured to seal the opening in the attached state of the ink tank, and to release the opening in the detached state of the ink tank.