INK SUCTION MEANS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a mechanism and to achieve cost reduction by providing a valve means hermetically closing an air chamber capable of being increased and decreased in its vol. when the vol. of the air chamber is increased by a vol. changing means and releasing the air chamber when the vol. of the air chamber is reduced to set the pressure in the air chamber to atmospheric pressure. SOLUTION: An arm 28 follows the revolution of cam 27 and a valve 24 is upwardly moved through a pin 30 and the close contact of the valve 24 and rubber 22 is released to set the pressure in an air chamber to atmospheric pressure. Subsequently, the valve 24 is upwardly moved to push up the rubber 22 at the A-part of the arm through a slider 23 to reduce the vol. in the air chamber. At this time, the air and ink in a pump are discharged from the gap between the valve 24 and the rubber 22 and the ink is absorbed by an ink absorbing member. Subsequently, the valve 24 is moved downwardly and the valve 24 and the rubber 22 are brought to a closely contact state to hermetically close the air chamber. The rubber 22 and the slider 23 are also downwardly moved by the downward movement valve 24 and the air chamber is increased in vol. in a hermetically closed state and the pressure thereof lowers and the suction of the head is performed from a venting hole 31.