Abstract: An ink jet recording device includes a recording head unit having discharge ports for discharging ink, ink channels communicating to the discharge ports and leading the ink thereto, and an ink tank unit for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head unit. The recording head unit consists of a device for storing parameter information concerning the ink discharge characteristics, and a protective member disposed on a side face area adjacent to the discharge port formation face for preventing the ink from flowing around.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus in which a belt is wound around an outer peripheral surface of a convey rotary member for conveying a sheet and an outer peripheral surface of a drive pulley for transmitting a rotational force to the convey rotary member or an outer peripheral surface of a drive shaft of the drive pulley, so that a rotational force of the drive pulley is transmitted to the convey rotary member by way of the belt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming system comprising an image forming device for forming an image on a sheet; first feeding rollers arranged at an upstream side of the image forming device, for pinching the sheet and for feeding the sheet to the image forming device; and second feeding rollers arranged at a downstream side of the image forming device, for pinching the sheet and for feeding the sheet at a speed faster than that of the first feeding rollers in order to apply a tension force to the sheet in a transverse direction thereof.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus includes a sheet supply roller provided at its periphery with a cylindrical portion for supplying a sheet and a cut-out portion having a radial distance smaller than a radius of the cylindrical portion, a friction separator moving toward and away from the sheet supply roller to separate sheets one by one when it is contacted by the cylindrical portion of the sheet supply roller, and a biasing mechanism for biasing the friction separator toward the sheet supply roller. In addition, a rotation controller stops the sheet supply roller so that the cut-out portion is opposed to the friction separator when the feeding of the sheet effected by the sheet supply roller is finished, and a guide is arranged for pinching the sheet, which is fed out by a force smaller than a pinching force for pinching the sheet between the cylindrical portion and the friction separator, between the friction separator and the guide when the sheet supply roller is stopped by the rotation controller.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus with a support member for supporting an ink jet recording head for effecting recording by ink discharge onto a recording material, comprising: recording material transport means for transporting the recording material from a feeding position through a recording position to a discharge position; and recovery means for maintaining and restoring the ink discharge state of said ink jet recording head. The driving source for driving the recording material transport means or support member is also used for driving the recovery means, and, when the power supply to the apparatus is turned on, the initial operations of at least the recording material transport means and the recovery means are conducted utilizing a single sensor.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprising a platen for supporting a sheet at a recording area, feeding means for feeding the sheet to the platen, recording means for recording an image on the sheet at the recording area, and an urging member disposed at a downstream side of the recording area and adapted to urge the sheet against the platen. The urging member has an urging surface for urging the sheet against the platen when the recording means is recording the image on the sheet.

Abstract: A recovery device is equipped with a tube pump which performs suction or pressurization by utilizing deformation of a tube applicable to a liquid jet recording apparatus. The recovery device comprises a mechanism which acts on a tube between the acting portion side acting on the discharge portion of the liquid jet recording head of the aforesaid tube pump and the aforesaid tube pump to effect communication and closing between the acting portion side and tube pump.

Abstract: An ink jet head cartridge includes a recording head for ejecting ink; an ink container for containing the ink to be supplied to the recording head; an ink supply port for supplying the ink from the container to the head; a porous ink absorbing material disposed in the container and having a ring shape with a central opening; and an engaging portion engaging with the central opening wherein the absorbing material has a higher density proximate to the supply port than proximate to the engaging portion.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a mounting portion on which an ink jet cartridge is detachably mounted, the cartridge having a connector and a recording head portion for discharging ink to perform image recording. The mounting portion has a body connector associated therewith for electrically connecting the connector of the cartridge to the apparatus. A recording head positioner positions the recording head portion of the cartridge on the mounting portion. An operation device displaces the cartridge and the body connector relative to each other to connect the body connector to the cartridge connector.

Abstract: A cleaning member includes an elastic blade member that elastically deforms when its rounded tip end portion wipes an ejection orifice surface of an ink jet recording head. The rounded portion has a curved surface with a predetermined curvature with respect to the direction of relative movement of the elastic member and the recording head. Thus, a substantially fixed contact angle can be maintained between the rounded portion and the ejection orifice surface during wiping. The cleaning member moves between a cleaning position for cleaning the ejection orifice surface of the recording head and a non-cleaning position spaced from the recording head.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes a device for generating an electrostatic attraction force for attracting a sheet member to a surface of a transport belt disposed close to another surface of the transport belt opposite to the surface that contacts the sheet member. The apparatus is arranged to reduce a drive load on the transport belt caused by the electrostatic attraction force. To achieve this effect, at least one of a surface of the electrostatic attraction force generating device contacting the transport belt and a surface of the transport belt contacting the electrostatic attraction force generating device is roughened. Alternatively, an electrostatic attraction force generated at at least one particular portion of the transport belt by the electrostatic attraction force generating device is smaller than an electrostatic attraction force generated at another portion of the transport belt.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by discharging ink from a recording head to a recording medium includes a cap for enclosing a discharge port of the recording head, which is attached to a cap holder. The cap is brought into direct contact with the recording head with the cap holder being swingable as a fulcrum at a position corresponding to a substantially central portion of the recording head.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus, including a plurality of recording heads each having an ink outlet, a liquid passage communicating with the outlet and an ejection energy generating element for generating energy for ejecting ink through the outlet; a refresher for refreshing the ink in the passage by driving the ejection energy generating element to eject the ink when a recording operation of the apparatus is not performed; and a controller for changing a driving condition for the ejection energy generating element by the refresher for the recording heads.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for forming a record by discharging ink from a recording head onto a recording material, has a tube pump for ink discharge recovery, by suction or pressurization, through deformation, with pressure rollers, of plural tubes communicating with discharge openings of the recording head. The timings of pressing of the tubes by the pressure rollers or the timings of release of the tubes from the pressed state by the pressure rollers are different from tube to tube.

Abstract: An ejection recovering unit includes tube pumps which generate pressure for performing ink enforced discharge of ink jet heads by sequentially deforming flexible tubes under pressure. Pressing rollers are spring biased toward a direction of preliminary pressurizing a spring for sequentially pressure deformation of tubes. This suppresses an increase in drive torque due to dispersion of accuracy of tubes, pressing rollers and mounting parts thereof. A guide is provided to place the corresponding roller in a state corresponding to a pressurizing state before the guide presses the corresponding tube. This prevents any change in torque due to sudden production of the pressurizing state.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head including a liquid passage having an ejection energy generating element for generating energy for ejecting ink, an ejection outlet defining member having an ejection outlet communicating with the liquid passage, the ejecting outlet defining member having a surface from which the ink is ejected through the ejection outlet, and a member covering at least a part of the surface away from the ejection outlet; a wiping member for contacting the surface to wipe it; a driver for imparting relative movement between the surface and the wiping member to wipe the surface; and a controller for providing a relatively low speed of the relative movement at least when the surface being wiped by the wiping member.

Abstract: An ink jet head cartridge includes an ink jet head unit having an ink passage in which an energy generating element for generating energy used to discharge ink is disposed, and an ink tank adapted to store the ink to be fed to the ink passage and having a vent opening for permitting the interior of the ink tank to communicate with the atmosphere and being formed integrally with the ink jet head unit. In the ink jet cartridge an area where an ink absorber is disposed, and an air area at least a part of which is defined by a tubular member and which is filled with air, are formed in an internal space of the ink tank, and a porous member is disposed in an air passage extending from the air area to the vent opening. An ink tank can be incorporated into the above-mentioned ink jet head cartridge, and an ink jet recording apparatus utilizing the above-mentioned ink jet head cartridge can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording apparatus with a supply roller for supplying a sheet, a sheet directing path for directing the sheet supplied by the supply roller to a recording portion, a sheet ejection path for directing the sheet recorded at the recording portion to an ejection outlet, a guide for guiding a sheet to be introduced from the ejection outlet, and sheet feeding rollers and detectors for directing the introduced sheet to the recording portion through the sheet ejection path and thereafter for returning the sheet to the ejection outlet.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a mounting portion on which an ink jet cartridge is detachably mounted, the cartridge having a connector and a recording head portion for discharging ink to perform image recording. The mounting portion has a body connector associated therewith for electrically connecting the connector of the cartridge to the apparatus. A recording head positioner positions the recording head portion of the cartridge on the mounting portion. An operation device displaces the cartridge and the body connector relative to each other to connect the body connector to the cartridge connector.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming unit which can be shifted within an image forming apparatus having an original support plate to perform an image forming operation, and which can also perform the image forming operation in combination with other device even when it is removed from the image forming apparatus, and which has multi-function and is compact.