Abstract: A cleaning apparatus and method for removing a recording ink from a surface of a recording material conveying belt of a recording apparatus. The method includes the steps of contacting a blade member to a surface of the recording material conveying belt and contacting an ink absorber member to a surface of the recording material conveying belt, thus removing from the belt surface an improper discharge of recording ink.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image by discharging ink from an ink jet recording head to a recording medium at a recording position, the apparatus being capable of recording the image on different recording media having different absorptivities. The apparatus conveys the recording medium along a conveyance route from the recording position, and heats the recording medium at a predetermined position in the conveyance route of the recording medium. In a first operational mode, an operative condition corresponds to a recording medium with a first absorptivity. In a second operational mode, a non-operative condition corresponds to a recording medium with a second absorptivity higher than the first absorptivity. In the invention, the ink jet recording apparatus enters the first operational mode after an electrical power is applied thereto.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus and method for removing a recording ink from a surface of a recording material conveying belt of a recording apparatus. The method includes the steps of contacting a blade member to a surface of the recording material conveying belt and contacting an ink absorber member to a surface of the recording material conveying belt, thus removing from the belt surface an improper discharge of recording ink.

Abstract: A recording apparatus builds an image at high quality without occurrence of malfunctions attributable to raised/recessed spots on the surface of a conveyance belt and insufficient dimensioning for the width of the conveyance belt, while preventing the interior of the recording apparatus from being contaminated with erroneously ejected ink. The recording apparatus includes a conveyance belt for conveying a recording sheet below four kinds of recording heads, and the conveyance belt has a joint line along which the opposite ends of a band-shaped material are joined to each other. In addition, the conveyance belt has a band-shaped colored portion which is located remote from the joint line by a predetermined distance. The colored portion is detected by an optical sensor, and a control unit controls the driving of the conveyance belt in response to a signal derived from the detection of the optical sensor.

Abstract: Image recording apparatus characterized by being equipped with the carriers to carry recording sheet, recording head, carrier guides which is so arranged as placing the carriers in between the guides and the recording heads and pushing members provided in between the recording heads and the carrier guides, the carrier guides being rotatively supported.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus is equipped with a conveying belt member for carrying a sheet member, a recording head holding member for holding a head for recording on the sheet member, and guide members for supporting and guiding the conveying belt member. The first guide member is provided upstream of the recording head holding member, the second guide is provided downstream of the first guide, and the third guide is provided between the first and second guides. The third guide member displaces the conveying belt member toward the recording head holding member.

Abstract: A cleaning method for removing a recording ink from a surface of a recording material conveying belt of a recording apparatus. The method includes the steps of detecting a recording material jam; press contacting a cleaning member to a surface of the recording material conveying belt in response to the detected jam, thus removing from the belt surface an improper discharge of recording ink; and separating the cleaning member from the surface of the conveying belt after cleaning for a period of time. The period of time is determined based upon an amount of the recording ink discharged onto the conveying belt surface.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a fixing unit which heats a recording medium at a location in a conveyance route following recording to fix the recorded image. The fixing unit has a first heating member which heats a recording surface of a recording medium, a second heating member which heats a reverse surface of the recording medium, and a fan which blows air from the first heating member location in the conveyance route. A timer delays turning on the fan after energization of the first heating member.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus comprising a conveying means for a recording medium in a substantially horizontal direction, a head holding means for holding a plurality of ink jet heads in such a manner that the ink jet heads discharge ink vertically downward toward the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means in the substantially horizontal direction, a vertical shifting means for shifting the head holding means in a substantially vertical direction, a head recovery means for recovering and preventing the non-discharge of ink from the plurality of ink jet heads, in a condition opposed to the plurality of ink jet heads, and a horizontal shifting means for shifting the head recovery means in the substantially horizontal direction into a spatial area provided above the recording medium by lifting the head holding means in the substantially vertical direction by means of the vertical shifting means, so that the head recovery means is opposed relation to the plurality of ink

Abstract: An ink jet apparatus has an ink jet head with a heat generating resistance element, which head discharges ink droplets by causing a state change in ink using heat generated by the resistance element, conveying means for conveying a recording medium to be recorded upon in a conveyance direction so that a predetermined recording image is formed on the recording medium by ink droplets from the head, heat exchanging means for exchanging heat with the head, this exchanging means being attached to the side of the head where the element is provided, and heating means for heating the exchanging means, the heating means being part of the heat exchanging means. It also includes a cooling means for cooling the heat exchanging means, temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the heat exchanging means, and control means for controlling driving of the heating means and cooling means according to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means.

Abstract: A belt driving apparatus for carrying material to be recorded to a plurality of image recording units. In the belt driving apparatus, the distance of movement of material to be recorded corresponding to one rotation of the belt driving roller has been set to n (an integer)-times (where n=2, 3, 4 . . . ) as long as a distance between each image recording unit. A distance between one image recording unit and another recording unit is equal to or an integral fraction of .pi.(D+2 t), wherein D is the diameter of a drive roller driving the belt and t is the thickness of the belt.

Abstract: A temperature control device comprises a first heat exchange unit, for exchanging heat, which is thermally joined with a recording head for recording onto a recording medium by the use of heat energy, a second heat exchange unit for exchanging heat with the atmosphere, which is connected to the first heat exchange unit, working fluid contained within the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit, and a partition plate for almost separating the interior of the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit into a working fluid existing region and a vapor existing region where the working fluid and its vapor component exist together.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for recording information by ejecting ink fluid onto a recording medium has a recording head, a head drive part, a capping unit, a first moving unit, an ink receiver and a second moving unit. The recording head having an orifice ejects an ink fluid from the orifice. The head drive part drives the recording head to eject an ink fluid. The capping part covers up the orifice of the recording head, the part being installed so as to be able to move relative to the recording head. The first moving unit moves the capping unit and the recording head relative to each other. The ink receiver receives an ink fluid ejected from the recording head. The second moving unit moves the ink receiver and the recording head relative to each other and enables this movement independent of the movement established by the first moving unit.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus records by discharging ink from plural recording heads toward a recording medium. Each of the recording heads has a heat pipe mounted thereon, and protruding therefrom so as to have a length which is greater than the recording width of the corresponding recording head. The protruding portions of each heat pipe extending from the recording heads have a heat discharging member attached thereto. That member constitutes a single blower fan for applying an air stream to the heat discharging members corresponding to the recording head, and plural air stream control means for applying the air stream produced by the blower fan to the heat discharging members individually or independently.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus with plural full-line type recording heads has a heat pipe associated with each recording head. The heat pipes are connected together at a common portion in various ways, such as by a heat-conductive block, one or more additional heat pipes or a container with a heat transferring liquid medium. Such an arrangement enables more efficient and compact temperature control of the recording heads.

Abstract: A recording medium in the sheet form is supplied into a designated direction guided by a sheet supply roller. An ink jet recording head in which a plurality of ink jet discharging orifices are arranged is placed in parallel with a surface of the recording sheet and in the direction perpendicular to the designated direction of supplying the recorded sheet. An adjustment screw is placed for correcting a warped shape of the ink jet recording head by means of displacing a neighbor of a central portion of a longer side of the ink jet recording head in the designated direction of supplying the recording sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recording apparatus that includes a conveying device for conveying a recording sheet in a conveying direction, a recording device confronting the conveying device for recording an image on the sheet being conveyed and a supporting device for shiftably supporting at least one of the conveying device and the recording device for movement between a recording position where the conveying device and the recording device are in parallel contact with the recording sheet therebetween and a non-recording or separated position where the conveying device is separated from the recording device. In one embodiment, the recording device and the conveying device are separated in parallel in the non-recording position and the supporting device causes the at least one of the conveying device and the recording device to be non-parallel during movement from the non-recording position to the recording position.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus is equipped with a carrier for carrying a recording sheet, a recording head for recording on the recording sheet, carrier guides so arranged as to place the carrier in between the guides and the recording heads, and pushing members provided in between the recording heads and the carrier guide. The carrier guides are rotatively supported.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording apparatus comprising a conveyor for conveying a sheet while contacting therewith, a recording device for recording an image by discharging ink onto the sheet conveyed by the conveyor, a cleaning device for sweeping the ink adhered to the conveyor by slidingly contacting therewith, and an absorbing member for absorbing the ink adhered to the conveyor.

Abstract: A transport device for use in a recording apparatus is disclosed. The transport device includes a conveyor belt having at least three layers. The upper layer of the belt is a conductive or semiconductive layer that is discriminable from a recording material by a detector. Below the first conductive or semiconductive layer is an insulating layer and below the insulating layer is a third conductive layer. The first layer has a volume resistivity value of from 10.sup.14 to 10.sup.17 .OMEGA.cm. The detectors are positioned upstream and downstream of the recording region and disposed downstream of that recording region is a cleaning blade and absorber which together work under control of a controller to clean ink from the conveyor before it soils the charging roller or the next recording sheet. The controller also controls the cleaning operation in accordance with the amount of ink that was unnecessarily jetted onto the conveyor belt.