Ink jet recording apparatus and recording method

An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

• a pressure chamber;
• ink containing a pigment, wherein an average particle size of the pigment in laser diffraction type particle distribution measurement is from 0.4 μm to 6.5 μm, a difference between the average particle size and a particle size of the pigment in 50% integrated value is within a range of ±5%, and standard deviation for a particle size distribution of the pigment is equal to or less than 0.21 μm;
• an ink tank which accommodates the ink;
• a nozzle plate which includes a nozzle opening to the pressure chamber and having a diameter of 20 μm to 40 μm;
• a supply unit which supplies the ink to the pressure chamber;
• an ink supply path which includes an end connected to the ink tank and an end connected to the supply unit;
• a discharging unit which collects the ink from the pressure chamber;
• an ink collecting path which includes a pump disposed on a circulating path and includes an end connected to the ink tank and an end connected to the discharging unit;
• and
• a circulating unit which includes a pump disposed on a circulating path and circulates the circulation path, the circulation path including the ink tank, the ink supply path, the ink collecting path, the ink in the supply unit, the pressure chamber, and the discharging unit.

An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

• a pressure chamber;
• ink containing a non-spherical pigment, wherein an average particle size of the pigment in laser diffraction type particle distribution measurement is from 0.4 μm to 1.3 μm, a difference between the average particle size and a particle size of the pigment in 50% integrated value is within a range of ±5%, and a particle size of the pigment in 90% integrated value is double or less the particle size in 50% integrated value;
• an ink tank which accommodates the ink;
• a nozzle plate which includes a nozzle opening to the pressure chamber and having a diameter of 20 μm to 40 μm;
• a supply unit which supplies the ink to the pressure chamber;
• an ink supply path which includes an end connected to the ink tank and an end connected to the supply unit;
• a discharging unit which collects the ink from the pressure chamber;
• an ink collecting path which includes an end connected to the ink tank and an end connected to the discharging unit;
• and
• a circulating unit which includes a pump disposed on a circulating path and circulates the ink in the circulation path, the circulation path including the ink tank, the ink supply path, the ink collecting path, the supply unit, the pressure chamber, and the discharging unit.