Inkjet recording apparatus and ink discharge method

An inkjet recording apparatus comprising:

• a recording unit including a first ink ejection port array and a second ink ejection port array;
• a first ink storage unit configured to store ink to be supplied to the first ink ejection port array;
• a second ink storage unit configured to store ink to be supplied to the second ink ejection port array;
• a discharge unit configured to perform a discharge operation of discharging at least one of the ink and air from the first ink ejection port array and the second ink ejection port array for a predetermined time;
• a first detection unit configured to detect that an amount of the ink stored in the first ink storage unit is below a first predetermined amount;
• a second detection unit configured to detect that an amount of the ink stored in the second ink storage unit is below a second predetermined amount;
• a control unit configured to control the discharge unit to perform the discharge operation until the first detection unit detects that the amount of the first ink is below the first predetermined amount and the second detection unit detects that the amount of the second ink is below the second predetermined amount;
• a first counter configured to count, as a first number of times, how many times the discharge operation is performed until the first detection unit detects that the amount of the first ink is below the first predetermined amount;
• and
• a second counter configured to count, as a second number of times, how many times the discharge operation is performed until the second detection unit detects that the amount of the second ink is below the second predetermined amount,
• wherein the control unit controls the discharge unit to perform the discharge operation a determined number of times based on the first number and the second number.