Abstract: A recovery method for recovering proper operation of an ink jet recording head having a plurality of discharge ports and a plurality of thermal energy generating elements each corresponding to each of the discharge ports includes providing a recovery device for performing recovery according to a first recovery mode for only applying pressure to the discharge ports to effect suction of ink from the discharge ports while the discharge ports are capped by a capping device, and a second recovery mode for concurrently applying pressure to the discharge ports and driving the thermal energy generating elements to forcibly exhaust ink from the discharge ports while the discharge ports are capped by the capping means. The method also includes selectively performing recovery according to one of the first recovery mode and the second recovery mode.

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, 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.