Abstract: An image forming device capable of detecting the presence/absence of ink as well as whether an ink tank is mounted. A detachable ink tank 32 on a carriage 31 includes a prism 32C, and a reflective optical sensor 33 detects the presence/absence of ink depending on the difference in refractive index between the two states, that is, filled with ink and empty. A reflector lever 35, movable in response to the ink tank 32 being mounted or not, is provided on the bottom of an ink tank holder 34. The reflector lever 35 has one end fixed on a lower part of the ink tank and the other end that is a free end consisting of a triangular reflector 35D. The reflector lever 35 is normally urged upward by a resilient member 35A, and it will not direct the reflection toward the sensor 33 in the absence of the ink tank whereas it is deformed in the presence/absence of the ink tank to direct the reflection toward the sensor 33. As a result, the presence/absence of the ink tank is detected.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having a black ink recording head for discharging black ink onto a recording material and at least one single color non-black recording head for discharging non-black ink onto the recording material includes a recording head driver for driving the recording heads to discharge the ink onto the recording material; and a controller for controlling the recording head driver so that a volume, per unit area of the recording material, of the black ink discharged from the blue ink recording head and deposited on the recording region of the recording material is larger than that of the non-black ink discharged from the non-black ink recording head and deposited on the recording region of the recording material.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording using a recording head for ejecting an ink from a plurality of ejection orifices, includes a print control unit for performing a print operation while switching a print mode between a thin multi-pass print mode for sequentially recording divided recording data in a plurality of number of times of relative scan operations of the recording head with respect to a single recording area, and a 1-pass print mode for recording all recording data in a single relative scan operation of the recording head, and an eject quantity control unit for controlling the eject quantity of the ink ejected from the recording head so that a total ink quantity on the recording area in the thin multi-pass print mode is larger than a total ink quantity in the 1-pass print mode.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for recovering an ink jet head having an opening communicating with a discharge port, the opening being provided on a same planar surface on which the discharge port for discharging ink is provided. An area of the opening is larger than an area of the discharge port. The method includes the steps of forcibly introducing gas into the ink jet head simultaneously through the discharge port and the opening, and exhausting the gas introduced into the ink jet head in the introducing step with ink through the discharge port. The gas introduced into the ink jet head enables the ink to be exhausted at an increased velocity in the exhausting step.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a recording head adapted for ejecting at least two colors of ink, a discriminater for discriminating between character data and bit map data, and a controller for selecting a character data recording mode or a bit map data recording mode in accordance with a discrimination result by the discriminater. The controller controls an amount of ink ejection in the bit map data recording mode to be less than that in the character data recording mode.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprising, timer means for measring an elapse time from a predetermined measurement start timing, a backup power source for supplying power to said timer means when a main power source is turned off, and control means for changing a content and/or the number of times of a recover operation for recovering and preventing a discharge error in a discharge port for discharging an ink on the basis of the elapse time.

Abstract: There is disclosed a dot forming method and a recording apparatus, suitable for unprocessed recording medium, such as plain paper having fluctuation in its ink absorbing ability, or a plastic sheet with low ink absorbing ability. At the formation of each pixel with plural dots, the dots are so distributed that they are not continuous but are mutually complementary in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the pixel and also at least in the boundary area of adjacent pixels.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having a black ink recording head for discharging black ink onto a recording material and at least one single color non-black recording head for discharging non-black ink onto the recording material includes a recording head driver for driving the recording heads to discharge the ink onto the recording material and a controller for controlling the recording head driver so that a volume, per one dot area of the recording material, of the black ink discharged from the black ink recording head and deposited on the recording region of the recording material is larger than that of the non-black ink discharged from the non-black ink recording head and deposited on the recording region of the recording material.

Abstract: A container including a lid contains an ink jet cartridge, with the lid permitting removal of the cartridge when opened. The cartridge has a head portion with a discharge opening therein. The container includes an ink absorbing member spaced apart from and facing the discharge opening.

Abstract: A system using an ink jet recording head for scanning between a recording area and a non-recording area and for discharging ink to record an image on a recording medium at the recording area. The system includes wiping a discharge surface of the ink jet recording head, preliminarily discharging ink from the recording head after wiping, and performing normal recording in response to a recording signal without wiping the discharge surface of the ink jet recording head after the preliminary discharge.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus, for recording information on a recording medium, comprises a recording head having an ink ejection outlet for ejecting ink and an ejection recovery unit for ensuring satisfactory ejection from the ink ejection outlet. The ejection recovery unit has a housing, a cap disposed on one side of the housing for capping the ink ejection outlet, and a pump disposed on the other side of the housing and linked to the cap through a tube for sucking ink. In relation to the position of the ejection recovery unit, the tube is disposed so that it has a part bending upward in a vertical direction, and the pump is disposed so that an ink outlet thereof opens downward in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus means ink is discharged from a recording head onto a recording material for recording. The ink jet recording apparatus has a cap for closing an ink discharge portion of the recording head, and a device for indicating that the ink discharge portion has been closed with the cap.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a recording head adapted for ejecting at least two colors of ink, a discriminater for discriminating between character data and bit map data, and a controller for selecting a character data recording mode or a bit map data recording mode in accordance with a discrimination result by the discriminater. The controller controls an amount of ink ejection in the bit map data recording mode to be less than that in the character data recording mode.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes datum portions for positioning of each of a plurality of recording heads. The carriage has a cover member to protect the ink jet recording heads and to press them against the datum portions. Another cover member includes an electrical connecting member for making electrical connection to the recording head. With this structure, operating the cover members protects the ink jet recording heads, while they are positioned and electrical connection thereto is made.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus detects the temperature and humidity of the environment in which the ink jet recording apparatus is used when the power-supply is turned on, and checks the detected levels. If the detected levels are lower than the predetermined levels, no ink exhaust is executed as uniquely set, but the number of predischarges is set in accordance with the detected levels. Hence the recording apparatus rises. Also, the standby time of the recording apparatus is measured, and after the recording apparatus rises, the recovery mode is automatically selected in accordance with the temperature, humidity, and standby time. Also, depending on the conditions, the predischarges are executed in the number of discharges which has been changed, thus making it possible to reduce the ink consumption for the operations other than printing, and implement shortening the time required for the recovery operation.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is provided with a paper supply stacker on which sheets are stacked and held, a recording head for effecting recording on the sheets fed out from the paper supply stacker, a flat support device for supporting the sheets during the recording by the recording head, and a discharged paper stacker onto which the sheets recorded by the recording head are discharged.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus and an ink cartridge for use in this apparatus are disclosed. The recording apparatus has a transport unit for transporting the recording medium, a recording unit having a carriage portion on which a recording head capable of discharging an ink supplied from an ink containing portion to effect recording is mounted, and a recovery unit capable of restoring the function of discharging the ink through the discharge port. The transport unit, the recording unit and the recovery unit are independently separable from each other. Ink passages for communication between the ink containing portion and the recording head can be disconnected while being shut off in each unit. The ink cartridge has a casing, a plurality of ink containers disposed in the casing, and positioning members formed on the ink containers. The ink containers are positioned by engaging the positioning members with each other.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus having an opening for ejecting ink and a cap for covering the opening, a suction recovery device includes a suction pump. The suction pump includes a cylinder communicating with the inside of the cap, a piston with a rotatable disc, and a partition. The disc rotates so as to move the piston along a longitudinal axis of the cylinder between an initial and an operative position. The partition is mounted in the cylinder and moves with the piston, abutting an end of the cylinder when the piston is in the initial position and abutting the piston after the piston has moved a predetermined distance therefrom toward the operative position. A sealed suction chamber is thus formed ill the cylinder. A negative pressure inside the cap suitable for recovering ink ejection from the opening is selected by selecting a suitable angular displacement of the disc.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus usable with an ink cartridge includes an ink cartridge mounting passage a plate for blocking the ink cartridge mounting passage and; a limiting member for preventing opening of the plate. The limiting member is disposed at each lateral end portion so that they are arranged in a chevron shape with an upward inclination, and when the ink cartridge is inserted in the ink cartridge passage, the limiting members contact to a front surface of the ink cartridge and are simultaneously rotated externally to release the blocking plate.

Abstract: An ink remaining amount detecting device, and an ink jet recording apparatus having such a device, for detecting when a predetermined amount of ink remains in an ink supply passage of an ink jet apparatus. This device includes a diaphragm, supporting member for fixedly supporting a circumference of the diaphragm, at least two pawl members having respective first ends fixed to a position substantially equidistant from the diaphragm's center, and extending away from the diaphragm to respective second ends constituting respective pawls, which have respective pawl end and base portions, the pawl members being resiliently flexible toward the center of the diaphragm.