Ink-jet recording apparatus

An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising:

• a recording head that ejects ink;
• an ink tank that stores the ink;
• an ink tube coupled between the recording head and the ink tank to supply the ink from the ink tank to the recording head;
• and
• an air discharge member extending along the ink tube and being connected to a vacuum source that reduces pressure in the air discharge member to reduce air bubbles in the ink contained in the ink tube.

An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising:

• an ink tank that stores ink;
• a recording head that ejects the ink and is provided separately from the ink tank;
• an ink tube coupled between the recording head and the ink tank to supply the ink from the ink tank to the recording head;
• an air discharge tube extending along the ink tube and having an air permeable wall;
• and
• a vacuum source connected to the air discharge tube to reduce the pressure therein to draw air bubbles present in the ink in the ink tube through the air permeable wall.

A method of supplying ink to a recording head, the method comprising:

• providing an ink tube that connects an ink tank that stored ink to a recording head that ejects the ink;
• placing an air discharge member that extends along the ink tube;
• and
• lowering the pressure in the air discharge member to reduce air bubbles in the ink contained in the ink tube.