JP2005319587A - Liquid storing container, inkjet recorder, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the need of preparing a plurality of cartridges for ink of the same color even in an inkjet recorder of the constitution which can enhance the printing precision by feeding the ink of the same color to a plurality of recording heads. <P>SOLUTION: An ink feeding part 81 and an air introduction part 82 are set at each of both short edges of a flexible and flat ink storage bag 80. The ink storage bag 80 except these parts are closed by thermal fusion or the like, thereby sealing the ink. The ink of the same color is supplied from the two ink feeding parts 81 and 81 of the one ink storage bag 80 separately to two liquid droplet discharging heads which discharge the ink of the same color. In other words, the ink can be sent to the plurality of ink heads by one ink cartridge 26. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid storage container, an ink jet recording apparatus, and an image forming apparatus. For example, in order to send and supply ink to a recording head in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, and a composite machine of these. The present invention relates to a liquid storage container to be used, an ink jet recording apparatus including the liquid storage container, and an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various ink supply means have been proposed and put into practical use in ink jet recording apparatuses that perform printing on a recording medium such as paper by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles. In particular, a configuration is used in which ink is sealed in a bag made of a flexible material, an ink needle is inserted into the bag, the ink is led out, fed, and supplied to the recording head. In the case of such a configuration, the bag is housed in a resin case, an ink cartridge is configured and fixed in the recording apparatus, and the ink is supplied to the recording head mounted on the carriage by a flexible tube or the like. There are many. This is because it is not necessary to use a motor having a large output for driving a carriage provided with a recording head.

  This type of recording device can form small dots with high density, so it is used for many printing including color printing. However, output with higher quality has come to be demanded. Therefore, improvement in print quality has been demanded for both monochrome printing using black ink. In order to meet such demands, for example, in order to perform monochrome printing with high accuracy, two or more recording heads for black ink are mounted, and the same color ink is individually supplied to each, and printing of each recording head is performed. A technique for improving printing accuracy by slightly shifting the position has been proposed.

  However, when it is necessary to supply the same color ink to a plurality of recording heads by adopting such a configuration, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of ink cartridges of the same color, which may cause confusion for the user. Not only the above problem but also disadvantageous in cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and even when used in an inkjet recording apparatus having a configuration in which the same color ink can be fed to a plurality of recording heads to increase the printing accuracy, the same color can be used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid storage container and an ink jet recording apparatus using the same, which eliminate the need to prepare a plurality of ink cartridges, prevent confusion of the user, and reduce costs.

  A liquid storage container according to claim 1 of the present invention is a liquid storage container for storing a liquid, and has a plurality of suction ports for the stored liquid.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the liquid container according to the first aspect, the plurality of suction ports are close to each other.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the liquid container according to the first or second aspect, an internal flow path length between the plurality of suction ports is longer than a distance between the plurality of suction ports.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the liquid container according to any one of the first to third aspects is characterized in that it has a bag-like shape whose volume is reduced in accordance with the remaining amount of liquid inside.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid container according to any one of the first to third aspects, the liquid container is easily crushed as the amount of liquid inside decreases.

  The liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is characterized in that the suction port is provided at both ends.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the liquid storage container according to any one of the first to sixth aspects is capable of being folded in half.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid container according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the flow path between the two suction ports has a partition.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid storage container of the eighth aspect, a cascade-shaped flow path is formed by the partition.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid storage container for storing a liquid, which has a plurality of stored liquid suction ports, and has a large volume when the remaining amount of liquid stored therein is large. It is characterized in that the flow resistance between the suction ports is increased by abruptly crushing when the remaining amount of liquid to be kept and stored becomes small.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, in the liquid container according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, the flow resistance is small when the remaining amount of ink stored is large, and the flow is reduced when the remaining amount of stored ink is small. The plurality of suction ports are provided at a site where road resistance increases.

  An ink jet recording apparatus according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the liquid container according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects is used.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the twelfth aspect, the recording apparatus includes a plurality of recording heads, at least two of the recording heads are for the same color ink, and the liquid storage container has the same color. A plurality of the suction ports are provided corresponding to the ink recording heads, and ink can be individually supplied from the suction ports to the ink recording heads of the same color.

An image forming apparatus according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention uses the ink jet recording apparatus according to the twelfth or thirteenth aspect.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the liquid storage container according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects is used.

  According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the fifteenth aspect, comprising a plurality of recording heads, wherein at least two of the recording heads are for the same color ink, and the liquid storage container has the same color. A plurality of the suction ports are provided corresponding to the ink recording heads, and ink can be individually supplied from the suction ports to the ink recording heads of the same color.

  The liquid storage container and the ink jet recording apparatus using the same according to the present invention include a plurality of ink cartridges of the same color even when used in an ink jet recording apparatus configured to feed the same color ink, for example, black ink, to a plurality of recording heads. There is an effect that it can be completed without preparation, and the user can be prevented from confusion and cost can be reduced.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of an example of an image forming apparatus that can use the liquid container according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view conceptually showing the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit 2, a sub-scanning transport unit 3, and the like in a housing of the apparatus main body 1, and a recording medium (hereinafter, a sheet) such as a sheet from a paper supply unit 4 provided at the bottom of the apparatus main body 1. The paper is not limited to paper.) 5 is fed one by one, and the image forming unit 2 transports the paper 5 at a position facing the image forming unit 2 by the sub-scanning transport unit 3. After droplets are ejected onto the paper 5 and a required image is formed (recorded) on the paper 5, the paper 5 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 7 formed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1 via the paper discharge conveyance unit 6. Make paper.

  The image forming apparatus also has an image reading unit (scanner unit) for reading an image above the discharge tray 7 above the apparatus main body 1 as an input system for image data (print data) formed by the image forming unit 2. ) 11. The image reading unit 11 includes a scanning optical system 15 including an illumination light source 13 and a mirror 14 and a scanning optical system 18 including mirrors 16 and 17. The original image obtained by scanning and scanning is read as an image signal by the image reading element 20 disposed behind the lens 19, and the read image signal is digitized and image-processed. Based on the image-processed print data The image is formed on the paper 5 as described above. A pressure plate 10 is provided on the contact glass 12 for pressing the document.

  Further, this image forming apparatus has an information processing apparatus such as an external personal computer, an image reading apparatus such as an image scanner, an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera, etc. as an input system for image data (print data) formed by the image forming unit 2. Print data including image data from the host side can be received via a cable or a network, and the received print data can be processed and printed. However, the detailed configuration and operation thereof are publicly known. Therefore, explanation is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 2 has a plurality of different colors on a carriage 23 guided by a carriage guide 21 and movable in a main scanning direction (a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper 5). The recording head 24 for discharging the liquid droplet is mounted, the carriage 23 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction, and the liquid is ejected from the recording head 24 while feeding the paper 5 in the paper transport direction (sub-scanning direction) to form an image. I do.

  The recording head 24 includes droplet discharge heads 24k1 and 24k2, 24c, 24m, and 24y that discharge inks of black (Bk), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Ink of each color is supplied from each of the sub tanks 25 mounted on 23. Bk ink is ejected from two adjacent droplet ejection heads 24k1 and 24k2.

  In addition, ink is supplied to the sub tank 25 from an ink cartridge 26... As a recording liquid cartridge of each color provided in the main tank 26A detachably mounted in the apparatus main body 1 through a tube or the like as will be described later. It is like that. In addition, although a liquid feeding apparatus is required, since a well-known thing should just be employ | adopted, illustration and description are abbreviate | omitted.

  As a droplet discharge head constituting the recording head 24, a diaphragm that forms a wall surface of an ink flow path using a piezoelectric element as pressure generation means (actuator means) for pressurizing ink in the ink flow path (pressure generation chamber) The so-called piezo-type that changes the volume of the ink flow path by changing the volume of the ink flow path, or the pressure generated by generating bubbles by heating the ink in the ink flow path using a heating resistor A so-called thermal type that discharges ink, a diaphragm that forms the wall surface of the ink flow path, and an electrode are arranged opposite to each other, and the diaphragm is deformed by an electrostatic force generated between the diaphragm and the electrode, thereby allowing ink flow. Various types such as an electrostatic type that discharges ink droplets by changing the volume in the path can be used.

  A maintenance / recovery mechanism (a maintenance / recovery unit) 27 for maintaining and recovering the state of the nozzles of the recording head 24 is disposed in the non-printing area on one side in the scanning direction of the carriage 23. The maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 includes cap members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d for capping the nozzle surface of the recording head 24, a wiper blade 29 for wiping the nozzle surface, and an empty discharge receiver that receives ink discharged in an empty manner. 30 etc.

  The sub-scanning conveyance unit 3 is arranged on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction of the image forming unit 2 with a pair of printing unit conveyance rollers 34 that conveys the sheet 5 fed from the sheet feeding unit 4 upward. A printing unit conveyance roller 31 that conveys the sheet 5 with its conveyance direction changed by approximately 90 degrees, and a pressing roller 32 that also serves as a roller that defines the feed angle of the sheet 5 from the printing unit conveyance roller 31. A sheet guide plate that is disposed downstream of the image forming unit 2 in the sheet conveying direction and includes a pair of printing unit conveying rollers 33 that conveys the sheet 5 and that guides the lower surface of the sheet 5 to face the image forming unit 2 35 is arranged. Here, the configuration is such that the paper 5 is transported by the transport roller, but a configuration in which the paper 5 is transported by electrostatic suction and transported by a transport belt or the like may be used.

  In this image forming apparatus, the image forming unit 2, the sub-scanning transport unit 3, and the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 are configured as a single unit (printing unit) 9 that can be detachably attached to the apparatus main body 1. Improved.

  Further, it is preferable that the printing unit 9 and the cartridge mounting portion 26A for mounting the ink cartridge 26 are unitized so that when the printing unit 9 is pulled out of the apparatus main body 1, the cartridge mounting portion 26A is also pulled out integrally. That is, when a configuration for supplying ink from the main tank to the sub tank on the head side is employed, the main tank and the sub tank must be connected by a connecting means (ink supply path) such as a tube. On the other hand, if the image forming unit and the sub-scanning conveyance unit are unitized and can be pulled out of the apparatus main body, the connecting means with the cartridge mounting unit must be removed once. If such a connecting means is required to be removed and attached, not only the maintainability is deteriorated, but also there is a possibility that the recording liquid remaining in the connecting means drips or the like inside and outside the apparatus. Therefore, by making the cartridge mounting portion be integrated with the printing unit and being pulled out, the maintainability is improved, and the recording liquid does not drip and become dirty.

  The paper feed unit 4 can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body 1, and a paper feed cassette 41 for stacking and storing a large number of papers 5 and a paper feed for separating and feeding the papers 5 in the paper feed cassette 41 one by one. A paper roller 42 and a friction pad 43 are provided.

  The paper discharge transport unit 6 is configured to send a paper discharge roller pair 61 that transports the paper 5 on which image formation has been performed, a paper discharge roller 62, and a paper 5 fed from the paper discharge roller 62 to the paper discharge tray 7. A paper discharge conveyance roller pair 63 and a discharge roller 64 are provided.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the carriage 23 and the connection structure between the main tank 26A and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the front side of the main tank 26A. The main tank 26A as an ink replenishing supply means is a box body to which a plurality of ink cartridges 26 can be attached and detached, and includes a front cover 26B that can be opened and closed for attaching and detaching the ink cartridges 26 (in FIG. 3). The illustration is omitted). The sub tank 25 mounted on the carriage 23 is replenished and supplied with ink from the main tank 26A via an ink supply tube 26C.

  In the sub tank 25, a flexible film-like member 102 that seals the opening of the ink containing portion 100 is attached to a container main body (case) 101 forming the ink containing portion 100 for containing ink by adhesion or welding. A spring (not shown) for biasing the film-like member 102 outward is interposed between the container body 101 and the film-like member 102, and the film-like member 102 corresponds to the spring. A case is formed so that a bulging portion is formed, a reinforcing member 104 is attached to the outer surface thereof, and a negative pressure lever 106 for pressing the film-like member 102 against the spring can be advanced and retracted with respect to the film-like member 102. It is attached to the side portion of 101 so as to be swingable.

  In FIG. 3, 151 is a negative pressure pin, 152 is a spring, 153 is an air release pin, a drive unit 162 having a lever 161 is arranged for driving the air release pin 153, and the negative pressure of the sub tank 25 is By operating the lever 106 with a negative pressure pin 151 against a spring (not shown) on the case 101 side and then returning the lever 106, a negative pressure can be generated in the ink containing portion 100.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view (A) schematically showing an ink storage bag 80 as an example of the liquid storage container according to the present invention stored in the case of the ink cartridge 26 and a cross-sectional view (B) showing its usage form. is there. The illustrated ink storage bag 80 is formed of a flexible, flat and rectangular shape by laminating a polyethylene film on the inside with an aluminum film as a base material, and laminating a nylon film or polyethylene film on the outside. The volume is reduced in accordance with the remaining amount of liquid such as internal ink. Further, an ink supply part 81 and an air introduction part 82 are provided at both short edges, respectively, except for a part where they are communicated to the inside, and closed by heat welding or the like, and the ink is sealed. Each of the ink supply unit 81 and the air introduction unit 82 includes a sealing mechanism, but illustration and detailed description thereof are omitted.

  It should be noted that known means such as a means for detecting the remaining amount of ink and a means for pushing out the ink may be housed inside the ink containing bag 80, but both of them correspond to the pair of ink supply portions 81, 81. It is preferable to provide them. In the case where a means for detecting the remaining amount of ink is provided, it is preferable to be able to detect the ink before the ink storage bag 80 is crushed.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, among the cases 26a to 26d of the ink cartridge 26 for storing the ink storage bag 80 shown in FIG. 5A, the case 26d stores the ink, that is, supplies ink. One portion 81 and one air introduction portion 82, each having a width wider than the other cases 26a to 26c for storing the ink bags 8 for other colors (colors other than Bk in this embodiment) that are not used for bending. It has become.

  The ink supply unit 81 stores the ink bags 8 and 81 in any of the cases 26a to 26d of the ink cartridge 26 and mounts them on the cartridge mounting unit 26A. The supply needle pierces a seal mechanism (not shown) in the ink supply unit 81 and connects the ink outflow path in the ink supply unit 81 to the ink supply tube 26C on the cartridge mounting unit 26A side. As the supply needle and other mechanisms on the cartridge mounting portion 26A side, known mechanisms may be used, and illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  As described above, the present embodiment includes the two droplet discharge heads 24k1 and 24k2 for discharging Bk ink, and therefore, the two ink supply portions of one ink storage bag 80 for the droplet discharge heads 24k1 and 24k2. Bk ink is individually supplied from 81 and 81. That is, it becomes possible to feed ink to a plurality of ink heads with one ink cartridge 26.

  As is well known, in an image forming apparatus equipped with an ink jet head, a desired meniscus is formed by applying an appropriate negative pressure when supplying liquid ink, and high-quality printing is performed as an appropriate ink discharge amount. However, if the negative pressure is too weak, ink drops from the recording head and the ink scatters.On the other hand, if the negative pressure is too strong, it is difficult for the ink to come out, and printing may be blurred or unprintable. It occurs. This phenomenon is likely to occur in a bag-like ink container made of a flexible material. Therefore, various countermeasures have been devised and adopted for preventing the backflow.

  In the case of this embodiment, it is necessary to eliminate the influence of at least two ink supply units 81, 81 or to make it as small as possible. When a pair of ink supply portions 81, 81 is used as a suction port, and ink that is liquid is sucked out from the suction port (for example, a pump), the remaining ink is discharged when sucked from one side portion (hereinafter referred to as ink storage chamber 8A). When the amount decreases, the negative pressure in the ink storage bag 80 increases as a whole because the other side portion (hereinafter referred to as the ink storage chamber 8B) communicates internally with the bent portion. This is because there is a possibility that a reverse flow of ink from the sub tank 25 side may occur in the ink storage chamber 8B where ink is not sucked out. However, in the experiments conducted by the inventors of the present application, it is very useful for preventing back flow of ink due to negative pressure change by simply bending and using a bag-like ink container, that is, the ink storage bag 80 of this embodiment. It was effective.

  In consideration of the layout of the device, it is desirable that the two suction ports, that is, the ink supply units 81 and 81 are close to each other for miniaturization, while the two ink supply units 81 and 81 are in close proximity to each other. It is also desirable to have a long flow path. That is, if the flow path becomes narrower and longer, the flow path resistance increases, and the ink supply portions 81 and 81 that are the suction ports are less likely to be affected by each other. In the above-described embodiment, it is considered that this is achieved by bending the ink storage bag 80.

  The ink storage bag 80 preferably has a volume that decreases according to the remaining amount of liquid inside as described above. In other words, the volume is sufficiently large when the remaining amount is large, and the remaining amount is small. In this case, it is preferable that the flow path resistance between the two ink storage chambers 8A and 8B increases (as is well known, inversely proportional to the square of the cross-sectional area and proportional to the length). In addition, the position where the ink supply unit 81 is provided does not have to be at the center of the short side edge of the bag as in the illustrated example. When the remaining amount of ink is large, the flow path resistance is small, If there is a part that can satisfy the condition that the flow path resistance increases as the remaining amount decreases, it is preferable to use that part.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an ink storage bag as another example of the liquid storage container according to the present invention. In this example, the flow path resistance as described above is considered, and the flow path (that is, the internal space of the bag) between the two ink supply portions 81 and 81 is partitioned by an appropriate partition member 83 to thereby form the inside of the ink storage bag 80. The two storage chambers 81A and 81B are formed. In this example, the direct distance between the ink supply portions 81 and 81 is short, the flow path between the two portions is long, and the storage chamber on the side from which ink is sucked out has little ink remaining. The internal flow resistance is crushed and becomes larger (for example, in the example shown in the figure, R1 <R2 <R3 <R4 <R5: R is the flow resistance), so that it is less likely to affect the storage chamber on the other side. be able to.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an ink storage bag as still another example of the liquid storage container according to the present invention. In this example, a substantially heart-shaped ink storage bag 80 is used and is bent by appropriately adjusting the size, shape, etc. of the constricted portion (the portion indicated by arrow K in the figure) between the two ink supply portions 81, 81. As in the case of the example, the ink supply sections 81 and 81 can be made less susceptible to each other.

  FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an ink storage bag as still another example of the liquid storage container according to the present invention. This example is effective when a material that is not a flexible bag is used. The two ink supply portions 81 and 81 are provided as far as possible from the ink storage bag 80, and a plurality of partitions are provided inside the bag. The members 83... Are provided to form a cascading flow path so that the ink supply parts 81 and 81 are not easily affected by each other.

  The embodiment described above is only a system using a main tank and a sub tank, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a type in which an ink tank is directly mounted on a recording head.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an overall configuration of an example of an image forming apparatus that can use a liquid container according to the present invention. A plan view conceptually showing the image forming unit FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a carriage of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and a connection structure with a main tank. A perspective view showing the structure of the front side of the main tank The top view (A) which shows the ink storage bag as an example of the liquid storage container based on this invention accommodated in the case of the ink cartridge, and sectional drawing (B) which shows the usage form Sectional drawing which shows the ink storage bag as another example of the liquid storage container which concerns on this invention Sectional drawing which shows the ink storage bag as another example of the liquid storage container which concerns on this invention Sectional drawing which shows the ink storage bag as still another example of the liquid storage container which concerns on this invention

Explanation of symbols

1: apparatus main body 2: image forming unit 3: sub-scanning conveyance unit 4: paper feeding unit 5: paper 6: paper discharge conveyance unit 7: paper discharge tray 8: ink storage bag 9: printing unit 10: pressure plate 11: image reading Part (scanner part)
12: contact glass 13: illumination light source 14: mirror 15: scanning optical system 16, 17: mirror 18: scanning optical system 19: lens 20: image reading element 21: carriage guide 23: carriage 24: recording head 24k1, 24k2, 24c 24m, 24y: droplet ejection head 26: ink cartridge 26A: main tank 26B: front cover 26C: ink supply tube 26D: case 27: maintenance recovery mechanism (maintenance recovery unit)
28a, 28b, 28c, 28d: cap member 29: wiper blade 30: idle discharge receptacle 31: printing unit conveyance roller 32: pressing roller 33: printing unit conveyance roller pair 34: printing unit conveyance roller pair 35: paper guide Plate 41: Paper feed cassette 42: Paper feed roller 43: Friction pad 61: Paper discharge roller pair 62: Paper discharge roller 63: Paper discharge roller pair 64: Paper discharge roller 80: Ink storage bag 81: Ink supply section 81A 81B: Ink storage chamber 82: Air introduction part 83: Partition member 100: Ink storage part 101: Container body (case)
102: Film-like member 104: Reinforcing member 106: Negative pressure lever 151: Negative pressure pin 152: Spring 153: Atmospheric release pin 161: Lever 162: Drive unit

Claims (16)

A liquid storage container for storing a liquid, wherein the liquid storage container has a plurality of stored liquid suction ports. 2. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of suction ports are close to each other. 3. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein an internal flow path length between the plurality of suction ports is longer than a distance between the plurality of suction ports. 4. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage container has a bag shape whose volume is reduced in accordance with the amount of liquid remaining inside. 4. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage container is easily crushed as the amount of liquid inside decreases. 6. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the suction opening is provided at both ends. 7. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage container can be folded in half. 7. The liquid container according to claim 1, further comprising a partition in a flow path between the two suction ports. 9. The liquid storage container according to claim 8, wherein a cascade-shaped flow path is formed by the partition. A liquid storage container for storing liquid, which has a plurality of liquid outlets for storing the liquid, and keeps the volume large when the amount of liquid stored inside is large, and the remaining liquid stored A liquid storage container characterized by being rapidly crushed when the amount becomes small and the flow path resistance between the suction ports is increased. 11. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the flow path resistance is small when the amount of ink stored is large, and the flow path resistance increases when the amount of stored ink is small. A liquid storage container, characterized by being provided with a suction port. An ink jet recording apparatus using the liquid container according to claim 1. 13. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 12, comprising a plurality of recording heads, at least two of which are for the same color ink, and the liquid storage container corresponds to the recording head for the same color ink. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a plurality of the suction ports, and capable of individually supplying ink from the suction ports to the recording head for the same color ink. An image forming apparatus using the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 12. An image forming apparatus using the liquid storage container according to claim 1. 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a plurality of recording heads, at least two of which are for the same color ink, and the liquid storage container corresponds to the recording head for the same color ink. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of suction ports, wherein ink can be individually supplied from the suction ports to the recording head for the same color ink.

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