Patent ID: 7837294

Claim:
A fluid ejection apparatus, comprising: a fluid ejection head comprising a nozzle through which fluid is ejected; a fluid supply passage through which fluid is supplied to the fluid ejection head; a suction device configured to draw fluid from the nozzle; and a movable member positioned within a predetermined portion of the fluid supply passage; wherein the movable member has at least one opening formed therethrough, and is configured to hold at least one air bubble therein; wherein the movable member is configured to move between a first position and a second position downstream of the first position in a fluid flowing direction; wherein, when the movable member is in the second position, the movable member partitions the predetermined portion of the fluid supply passage into a first space upstream of the movable member and a second space downstream of the movable member; and wherein when the suction device transitions from an inactive state to an active state to draw fluid from the nozzle, the movable member moves from the first position to the second position and remains in the second position until the suction device transitions from the active state to the inactive state.