Ink jet printer

An ink jet printer comprising:

• a plurality of ink jet heads which record an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink;
• an ink bottle in which the ink to be supplied to the ink jet heads is filled;
• an ink supply path which is connected to the ink bottle and the ink jet heads so that the ink is flowable along an ink path therebetween;
• and
• an electromagnetic valve which is provided on the ink supply path and which is operable to open and close the ink path between the ink bottle and the ink jet heads,
• wherein the ink bottle, the electromagnetic valve and the ink jet heads are arranged in a vertical direction such that the ink jet heads are below the electromagnetic valve and the electromagnetic valve is below the ink bottle,
• wherein the ink supply path extends substantially downward in the vertical direction along an entire length thereof such that the ink from the ink bottle is supplied to the recording heads by its own weight when the ink path is opened by the electromagnetic valve,
• wherein the ink supply path comprises a branching portion provided between the electromagnetic valve and the ink jet heads,
• wherein a sub ink tank is provided at an end of the branching portion so as to be positioned lower than the ink jet heads in the vertical direction,
• wherein an ink bottle side joint is provided to an ink supply outlet of the bottle so as to enable attachment and detachment of the ink bottle to and from the ink supply path, and an ink supply path side joint is provided at one end of the ink supply path so as to enable attachment and detachment of the ink supply path to and from the ink bottle side joint, and
• wherein an ink absorbing member is provided to surround an ink supply opening in the ink supply outlet and is positioned inward of an outer edge of the ink supply outlet.