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 form 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: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a timer for measuring an elapse of time from a predetermined measurement start timing, a backup power source for supplying power to the timer when a main power source is turned off, and a controller for changing the content and/or the frequency of a recover operation for recovering and preventing a discharge error in a discharge port for discharging ink on the basis of the elapsed time.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a recording head moved in a predetermined direction relative to a recording medium; a shaft member extended in the predetermined direction for rotatably supporting a carriage on which the recording head is mounted and for guiding movement of the recording head in the predetermined direction; a support member extended in the predetermined direction for supporting the carriage in cooperation with the shaft member; and a changing mechanism a distance between the recording head and the recording medium by changing a height of the carriage, the height being measured from the supporting member. In the case that the recording medium is made of materials, for example, having a poor property in absorbing ink, the operator can adjust the distance between the recording head and the recording medium to be large enough by using the above mentioned mechanism so that the recording medium, which may have warped due to ink absorption, will not rub against the recording head.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording by discharging ink from a recorder a recording medium, there is provided a rubbing member which is caused to be slidably in contact with the discharging port surface of the recorder for each of the predetermined operations in order to remove ink droplets, water droplets, dust, and other impurities as well as ink films created by the adhering ink, which cause defective ink discharging, hence enabling a more reliable cleaning operation to attain a higher printing quality.

Abstract: An ink quantity detecting device includes a plurality of ink chambers for containing inks, displacement members each provided for a corresponding one of the ink chambers and capable of being displaced in accordance with a quantity of a corresponding ink, a coupling member for coupling a plurality of displacement members, and a detecting unit for detecting displacement of at least one of the displacement members or the coupling member. The coupling member can be displaced in accordance with a quantity of at least one ink.

Abstract: A recovery process for an ink jet recording head of a recording apparatus and a device for performing the recovery process are disclosed. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head with a plurality of discharge ports and a liquid chamber common to the discharge ports. The liquid chamber is supplied with ink through an ink supply path from an ink tank. The recovery device includes a device for introducing air into the liquid chamber of the recording head, a cap unit for covering the discharge ports of the recording head, and a pumping device for applying suction to the cap unit to suck the introduced air and ink through the discharge ports.

Abstract: A container for an ink jet head having a discharge opening therein includes an openable containing member for containing the ink jet head and permitting removal of the ink jet head when opened, and a discharge recovery member for discharging ink from the discharge opening of the ink jet head in response to removing the ink jet head from the container, in response to opening the openable containing member, or in response to pressing against a wall of the container member.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an ink jet recording head uses a flexible blade that is moved forwardly and backwardly in response to the capping operation of the front surface of the recording head and the movement of a carriage, and the front surface of the recording head is wiped by the blade in response to the movement of the carriage. An ink jet recording apparatus has a recording head disposed on a carriage, cap means for covering the front surface of the recording head and a blade for cleaning the front surface of the recording head, characterized by blade moving means for moving the blade forward or backward in the direction of the recording head by movement of the cap means and movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A recording apparatus effects a recording operation by scanning a recording medium in a predetermined direction with a recording head provided with discharge openings for recording liquid. A cap member is capable of covering a face with discharge openings of said recording head. A transmission member causes said cap member to cover said face with discharge openings in response to a motion setting said recording head to a predetermined position; and engaging members consisting of a protruding part are provided on one of said recording head and a carriage supporting said head. The protruding part engages a receiving part for said protruding part formed on the other of said recording head and said carriage, wherein said protruding part and said receiving part mutually engage at two points when said cap member covers said face with discharge openings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid jet recording apparatus, comprising: an open/close means arranged in an ink supply path supplying ink to a discharge opening of a recording head, for permitting and blocking the communicaiton between the ink supply path and the discharge opening; an absorption recovering device for absorbing the ink from the discharge opening by a negative pressure; and a control means for controlling the open/close means in accordance with absorption modes of the absorption recovering device.

Abstract: In a suction recovering device used in a liquid injection recording apparatus having a cap integrally provided with a plurality of caps, each for hermetically sealing the circumference of the orifice of a liquid injection recording head each cap communicating with suction and vent means, the cap is formed of an elastic material and atmosphere communicating means is provided for communicating the interior of the cap with the atmosphere immediately before the circumference of the orifice is hermetically sealed by the cap.

Abstract: In a discharge recovery method for an ink jet recording head, a recording head having discharge openings for discharging ink therethrough, liquid paths in which recording energy generating members generating energy for discharging the ink through the discharge openings are provided and which communicate with the discharge openings, and a liquid chamber communicating with the liquid paths for supplying the ink to the liquid paths is used to drive heat energy generating means provided in the liquid chamber for generating heat energy for causing a change in the state of the ink in the liquid chamber and creating a bubble, during nonrecording, thereby causing the ink to be discharged through the discharge openings.

Abstract: Suction recovery device for use in an ink jet printer provided with an ink jet recording unit for emitting ink to a recording surface of a recording medium and a cap member to face the recording unit at a determined position, comprising a suction unit communicating with the cap member and a vent unit communicating with the cap member at a position different than the position where the suction unit communicates with the cap member for opening and closing the interior of the cap member to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An ink jet recovery device comprises an elastic cap that is movable between a retracted position, in which it is spaced from a recording head, and a contact position, in which it is pressed against and seals the recording head. The recovery device also includes a rotatable drive gear having a cam surface, with a retracting cam and a compression cam, for moving the cap. When the drive gear is in a first angular position the retracting cam moves the cap to its retracted position, and when the drive gear is in a second angular position the compression cam presses the cap against the recording head. The drive gear has a third angular position for disengaging the pin from the cam surface so that a spring can press the cap into the contact position. In operation, the compression cam further presses the cap toward the recording in order to force air into the recording head to aid recovery.

Abstract: An operation method on an ink jet recording apparatus, comprises the steps of: moving a recording head to a position at which the recording head faces to a cap, causing the recording head to discharge ink from an ink discharge port thereof into the cap after each lapse of a predetermined time period or each lapse of a printing operation period for a predetermined numbers of lines; and idle-discharging the ink collected in the cap when the removing operation of a recording medium is performed succeedingly to the discharge, or when the period longer than said printing operation period has been lapsed while the recording head stays at the position.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes first and second cartridges, each containing ink and a water ink collection unit and detachably mounted on the apparatus, a recovery mechanism for performing recovery operation for a recording head, and a distribution path for distributing the waste ink generated in the recovery operation into the waste ink collection units of the first and second cartridges.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a discharge port surface of an ink jet recording apparatus includes wiping the surface using a blade having a certain contact area with the surface and rubbing the surface using a rubbing member having a larger contact area with the surface than the blade. The wiping and rubbing operations are performed independently of each other so that their different purposes can be better accomplished. For example, since rubbing the surface need not be done as often as wiping, they can both be performed at optimum intervals. The rubbing member can be removably mounted to a replacement ink cartridge so that the rubbing member can be conveniently replaced at the same time as the cartridge.

Abstract: A liquid ejection recording apparatus has a carriage, a liquid ejection recording unit, a lever biased by a spring for mounting the unit on the carriage, and a communication hole portion formed in an ink tank in the unit. When the unit is fixed on the carriage for printing, a projection presses the communication hole portion to provide a communication hole for communicating the interior of the ink tank with the outer atmosphere. Stable ink ejection is guaranteed without clogging of a nozzle or the like and regardless of the amount of ink remaining in the ink tank.

Abstract: A recovery device for an ink jet recording apparatus having a cup for an ink discharge port of a recording head and a suction device communicating with the cap for sucking ink from the ink discharge port includes a communicating tube, a communicating valve, and a ventilating valve. The communication tube communicates with the cap and a subtank which supplies ink to the recording head. A communicating valve connects and disconnects communication of the cap with the subtank and is provided in an intermediate portion of the tube. A ventilating valve communicates the interior of the tube with the atmosphere and is provided separately from the communicating valve.