A valve unit is arranged in an ink supply path located between an ink cartridge and a recording head in an ink jet recording apparatus. The valve unit controls the opening and closing of the ink supply paths between the ink cartridge and the nozzle openings during a cleaning operation of the recording head. Air bubbles entered into the recording head when the ink cartridge is replaced are discharged by opening the valve unit after applying negative pressure within a cap covering the nozzle openings. By closing valve units disposed on the other recording head that does not receive a new ink cartridge, unnecessary ink suction discharging ink equally through all nozzle openings can be avoided.