Liquid discharge device, image forming apparatus, and fabricating apparatus

A liquid discharge device comprising:

• a storage tank configured to store a liquid;
• a discharge head configured to discharge the liquid;
• a liquid feeder configured to feed the liquid from the storage tank to the discharge head in a liquid feed direction;
• a recovery tank;
• a detector configured to detect an amount of the liquid in the recovery tank;
• a supply tank disposed upstream of the discharge head in the liquid feed direction and configured to store the liquid fed by the liquid feeder while being in a state open to atmosphere;
• a liquid path configured to flow the liquid from the liquid feeder to the supply tank;
• a flow regulator disposed downstream of the discharge head in the liquid feed direction and configured to control a flow rate of the liquid flowing into the discharge head;
• another liquid feeder configured to feed the liquid in the recovery tank to the storage tank when the detector detects that the amount of the liquid in the recovery tank exceeds a threshold amount;
• and
• a branch path connected to the liquid path that is configured to cause part of the liquid to branch from the liquid path, wherein the branch path connects an upstream side of the supply tank in the liquid feed direction to the recovery tank to mitigate pressure fluctuations of the liquid at the discharge head as the flow regulator controls the flow rate of the liquid flowing into the discharge head.