Patent ID: 8641179

Claim:
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet head; a first tank arranged above the ink jet head and configured to store ink to be supplied to the ink jet head; a first tank valve that opens and closes in order to switch an inside of the first tank to be opened to or shut off from atmosphere; a second tank arranged below the ink jet head and configured to store the ink collected from the ink jet head; a second tank valve that opens and closes in order to switch an inside of the second tank to be opened to or shut off from the atmosphere; a pipe configured to connect the ink jet head, the first tank, and the second tank and form a part of a circulation shape; a pump provided in the pipe between the first tank and the second tank; a passive pressure adjusting device connected to the second tank and configured to generate negative pressure using gravity; and a third tank valve provided between the second tank and the passive pressure adjusting device; and a controller configured to perform control to circulate the ink stored in the first tank to the second tank via the ink jet head, wherein the controller performs control to switch circulation control to first circulation control and second circulation control for circulating the ink at a flow rate higher than that in the first circulation control and circulate the ink, wherein the controller performs control to close the first tank valve and the second tank valve, if the controller performs control in the second circulation control.