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 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: In the discharge recovery device for use in an ink jet recording apparatus utilizing plural different inks, there are provided caps for covering the recording heads, in a number corresponding to the number of inks, but suction pumps are provided in a fewer number and made selectively connectable to the caps, in order to simplify the recovery device.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes traveling means for traveling in the recording directions by holding it for recording on a recording medium, guiding means for guiding the traveling means, and reading means detachably held by the guiding means. This printing apparatus further includes electrical connectors provided for the reading means and printing apparatus, respectively, for electrically connecting them, which are arranged to be installed or removed simultaneously by the operation of mounting the reading means on or demounting it from the guiding means, and also, detecting means for detecting a state of the reading means being mounted on the printing apparatus, controlling means for holding the power-supply to the traveling means and recovery means for recovering the performance of the recording means in a state of being cut off in accordance with the detection of the detecting means when the reading means is mounted on the printing apparatus.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head for performing recording by discharging ink by forming a bubble by applying thermal energy to a heat acting portion of an ink holding portion of the recording head. Thermal energy is generated in the recording head and a cap sealingly caps a discharge opening forming surface of the recording head. Ink is sucked from the cap and positive recovery is effected so that 10.sup.4 or more times of preliminary discharges are performed toward the cap which is detached from the recording head, by supplying energy greater than energy at a recording condition by predetermined multiples of a minimum energy E.sub.o required for generating the bubble, and for causing the ink to be sucked in the cap that is open to atmosphere.

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.

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: An ink jet recording apparatus has a carriage mounted with a recording head for conducting desired recording by discharging ink droplets onto a recording medium, a wiping member which comes in contact with the discharge-port surface of the recording head and makes a relative movement for wiping the discharge-port surface, and a cap member which comes in contact with the recording head for providing a capping state. The ink jet recording apparatus is characterized in that the carriage has a groove portion in a region adjacent to the recording head, the wiping surface side of the wiping member sliding on a part of the groove portion, and the cap member is provided, in a region adjacent thereto, with ink absorbing member which comes in contact with the groove portion.

Abstract: A recording or reproducing apparatus includes a holder which is arranged to move a recording medium containing jacket from a position where the jacket is removable to a predetermined loading position, a stabilizing member which stabilizes a recording medium contacting state of a head when the stabilizing member is in an operating position where the member is opposed to the head across the recording medium, a positioning member which positions the jacket by engaging the engaging part of the jacket in the loading position, and a support member which is arranged to set the stabilizing member in the operating position by engaging the positioning member.