Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a platen holding a recording medium at a position opposed to a recording head, a suction generating member for suctioning the recording medium to the platen, a first recessed portion provided at a region on the platen and connected with the suction generating member, where the region faces a scanning area of the recording head, and a second recessed portion provided at a position on the platen and connected with the suction generating member, where the second recessed portion is provided on the downstream side of a region opposed to the scanning area and provided at a position corresponding to an end portion of the recording medium to be conveyed.

Abstract: Tray inserts are disclosed for production printing systems. The tray inserts rest in ink trays and hold ink absorbing elements. The tray inserts and ink absorbing elements collect ink when printheads print outside of the margin of a printable medium, or otherwise discharge ink that does not contact the medium, such as during a cleaning cycle. When the ink absorbing elements become saturated and excess ink collects in the tray inserts, the tray inserts may be lifted vertically out of the ink trays and the ink absorbing elements may be removed from the tray inserts. The excess ink may then be dumped or otherwise cleaned from the tray inserts. In one embodiment, the tray inserts include drains which are used to empty the excess ink.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising nozzles capable of ejecting a liquid onto a medium, a rotational drum including a circumferential surface having a holding area for holding the medium and a non-holding area provided with an opening, wherein the circumferential surface rotates while facing the nozzles, and an absorptive drum which is provided inside the rotational drum which is capable of absorbing the liquid ejected from the nozzles toward the opening of the outer circumference in order to perform a flushing operation.

Abstract: A maintenance sheet with a facing surface facing a nozzle formation surface of a liquid ejection head provided in a liquid ejecting apparatus is provided. The maintenance sheet includes a cap section that is brought into abutment with the nozzle formation surface to form a sealed space in cooperation with the nozzle formation surface when the facing surface and the nozzle formation surface have been made to approach each other relatively in a facing position where the facing surface faces the nozzle formation surface, and that is made variable in internal volume in the abutment state, a communication hole that is penetratingly formed so as to allow the inside and outside of the cap section to communicate with each other, and a valve that opens and closes the communication hole. The valve activates to open with a reduction in the internal volume of the cap section, while the valve activates to close with an increase in the internal volume of the cap section.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has a recording head, a platen, and a first hole. The recording head includes a dot formation element array, and the platen holds a recording medium opposite the recording head. The first hole is disposed in an area of the platen opposite a downstream portion of the dot formation element array and guides ink discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin. Alternatively or additionally, a second hole is formed in an area of the platen opposite an upstream portion of the dot formation element array, and the platen guides ink, which is discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin, to the second hole.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head, a liquid supply passage, a gas discharge passage, a gas-permeable film, a switching device, and a differential pressure valve. The gas-permeable film allows only gases to pass therethrough and provides a partition separating the gas discharge passage and the liquid supply passage. The switching device selectively connects a sucking device with one of the gas discharge passage and a liquid suction cap. The differential pressure valve is disposed in a portion of the gas discharge passage between the gas permeable film and the switching device and opens by a suction pressure from the sucking device to communicate the gas permeable film with the switching device when the sucking device is operating, and prevents communication between the gas permeable film and the switching device when the sucking device is not operating.

Abstract: Provided herein is a suction device that is provided in an inkjet liquid droplet ejection apparatus and sucks functional liquid while contacting with nozzle surfaces of the functional liquid droplet ejection heads. The suction device has a plurality of head caps, a suction channel having a plurality of individual channels, a plurality of channel opening/closing unit that is disposed on the individual channels and opens and closes the respective individual channels, a waste liquid tank, an ejector, a pressure adjustment unit that adjusts pressure of the compressed air at the primary side of the ejector, and a control unit that controls the pressure adjustment unit. The control unit controls the pressure adjustment unit according to the number of open-channel opening/closing units opened out of the plurality of channel opening/closing units such that a suction pressure is constant in the plurality of head caps.

Abstract: A protruding member is provided on a recording head side, a droplet receiving portion having a flat surface portion formed thereon is provided, and the flat surface portion of the droplet receiving portion is brought into contact with the protruding member on the recording head side to cap the recording head.

Abstract: There are provided a printing apparatus and printing method capable of achieving high-quality printing by fine ink droplets, and collecting unwanted ink droplets. According to the method, ink droplets discharged from a printhead are negatively charged by the negative ions in printing. A printing medium is charged positively opposite to the polarity of ink droplets. By the electrostatic force, discharged ink droplets travel toward the printing medium, and the amount of ink droplets attached to the printing medium is increased. In addition, an ink mist collecting unit having a positive electrode is employed to collect floating ink mist.

Abstract: A printing system includes a printhead; a print drum for transporting print media in the printing system including to the printhead; and a spittoon disposed on the print drum for receiving ink from a spitting operation of the printhead. A method of performing a spitting operation for a printhead includes rotating a print drum with respect to the printhead, where the drum comprises a spittoon disposed on the drum for receiving ink ejected from the printhead during the spitting operation; aligning the spittoon on the drum with the printhead; and spitting ink with the printhead to the spittoon.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a brush, a suction unit, and a wiper. The brush brushes off matters adhering to an ink ejection face of an ink-jet head. The suction unit sucks the matters brushed off by the brush. The wiper has a contact face to be brought into contact with the ink ejection face to remove matters adhering to the ink ejection face. A brush moving mechanism is provided for moving the brush in parallel with the ink ejection face. A wiper moving mechanism is provided for moving the wiper in parallel with the ink ejection face. The wiper moving mechanism can move the wiper with bringing the contact face of the wiper into contact with the ink ejection face. A controller of the ink-jet recording apparatus controls the brush, the suction unit, and the wiper.

Abstract: Among various embodiments of the present disclosure, managing substantially solid materials in fluid waste can be performed by collecting the fluid waste in an accumulator. In various embodiments, the accumulator can be configured by positioning a number of input orifices for the fluid waste in a top region of a vertically oriented cavity in the accumulator, and positioning a number of output orifices in a bottom region of the vertically oriented cavity in the accumulator. As such, a flow of the fluid waste can contribute to transport of substantially solid material in the fluid waste from the top region into the bottom region and from the bottom region into at least one output orifice.

Abstract: A printer including a recording head, a flushing box and a movement mechanism is disclosed. The recording head has a nozzle-forming surface in which nozzle openings are defined and ejects a liquid through the nozzle openings. The flushing box has an opening corresponding to the nozzle openings and is capable of receiving the liquid ejected from the nozzle opening as a waste liquid. The movement mechanism moves the flushing box between a receiving position at which the flushing box is capable of receiving the waste liquid and a non-receiving position at which the flushing box is incapable of receiving the waste liquid. The receiving position is a position at which the opening is closely opposed to the nozzle-forming surface, and the non-receiving position is spaced from the receiving position.

Abstract: An ink-jet image forming apparatus includes a recording head in which a plurality of nozzle groups jetting an ink is formed, a carriage which is mounted on the recording head, and which is capable of reciprocating in a predetermined direction, a waste-ink tank which stores the ink discharged from a the nozzle groups, and an air guide section which expedites evaporation of waste-ink by guiding a flow of air generated by the carriage movement to the waste-ink tank. Accordingly, it is possible to make the waste-ink tank compact without reducing an amount to be received of the waste-ink.

Abstract: A fluid storage container features outstanding impact resistance and stores a plurality of fluids. The fluid storage container has a case body, a cover, and another cover. The case body has a divider that isolates a waste ink storage unit and an ink pack storage unit, and perimeter walls formed around the divider, thus forming a recess on each side of the divider. The case body is open at the outside edge part of each perimeter wall. The one cover covers the open part of the perimeter wall on the waste ink storage unit side. The other cover covers the open part of the perimeter wall on the ink pack storage unit side. At least one corner of the case can be rendered by an inside wall and an outside wall disposed with a gap there between.

Abstract: An amount of deposit in an ink receiving portion can be controlled using an inexpensive configuration which does not require any complicated mechanisms or control and which avoids increasing ink consumption. An ejection control section controls ejecting of ink from a printing section into an ink receiving portion. The printing section has a first ink ejecting portion that ejects ink that accumulates easily in the ink receiving portion and a second ink ejecting portion that ejects ink that is hard to accumulate in the ink receiving portion. The ejection control section changes the landing position, in the ink receiving portion, of the ink ejected from the ink ejecting portions depending on the status of accumulation of the ink in the ink receiving portion.

Abstract: A waste ink liquid absorber for a waste ink tank of an inkjet-type recording apparatus, which includes: an impregnation liquid containing at least one of the following: a water-hardly-soluble resin; a water-soluble resin; or both of a moisturizing agent and a base. The impregnation liquid is included at least a part including a surface coming into contact with a waste ink Also, a waste ink tank having the waste ink liquid absorber, and an inkjet-type recording apparatus having the waste ink liquid absorber.

Abstract: A drip bib for use with a printhead of an imaging device includes a plate having an upper surface having an upper edge, an intermediate surface angled with respect to the upper surface, and a lower edge. The intermediate surface includes a plurality of fastener openings. The lower edge includes a drip point projecting from the lower edge with remaining portions of the lower edge being upturned and angled downwardly from at least one end of the lower edge toward the drip point. A plurality of protrusions protrudes from a back side of the upper surface. The protrusions in the plurality of protrusions are spaced from each other and proximate the upper edge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluidic arrangement for a printer. The arrangement includes an ink tank for storing ink, and an ink distribution assembly in fluid communication with the ink tank for supplying printhead integrated circuits (ICs) positioned thereon with ink from the ink tank. The arrangement also includes a valve arranged in an ink line between the ink distribution assembly and the ink tank, said valve configured to isolate ink in the ink tank from the printhead ICs whenever the printer is powered down. Further included is a pump located downstream from the ink distribution assembly, and a sump arranged in fluid communication with the pump for receiving excess ink from the ink distribution assembly.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance facility with a core that mounts in an inkjet printer for movement relative to an inkjet printhead. The core has a plurality of maintenance station mounting sites, each with engagement formations. The core also has a plurality of maintenance structures for operation with the printhead, the plurality of maintenance structures each being mountable to at least one other of the plurality of maintenance station mounting sites.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a liquid ejection head which ejects photo-curable liquid from nozzles; a first light applicator which applies light to an ejection target having received liquid ejected by the liquid ejection head; a waste tank which reserves therein liquid discharged from the liquid ejection head; and a second light applicator which applies light to liquid in the waste tank.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head having a nozzle configured to jet a liquid drop of ink; a cap member configured to be moved between a sealing position where a nozzle surface of the recording head is sealed and an opening position where the nozzle surface is opened; a waste liquid tank movably provided and configured to receive a waste liquid of the ink, the waste liquid being generated by idle-ejecting the liquid drop not contributing to image forming from the recording head; and a moving part configured to move the waste liquid tank tied to movement of the cap member. A position of the waste liquid tank in a case of idle-ejection being performed from the recording head last time and another position of the waste liquid tank in a case of idle-ejection being performed from the recording head this time are different.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head is adapted to eject liquid toward a target medium, A transporter is adapted to transport a tray on which the target medium is mounted toward a region facing the liquid ejecting head via a transporting path. A tray guide is disposed in a front side of the liquid ejecting apparatus, and having a supporting face adapted to support the tray thereon. The tray guide is movable between a first position connecting the supporting face with the transporting path to allow the transporter to transport the tray to the transporting path and a second position escaping the supporting face from the transporting path. The supporting face is kept being parallel to the transporting path when the tray guide is moved between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for spitting are disclosed.

Abstract: A waste liquid tank is arranged outside a printer. A connection port arranged at an upstream end of a duct extending from the waste liquid tank is connected to a transfer device. The transfer device is connected to a discharge side of a suction pump for drawing in ink from a nozzle of a recording head of the printer through a duct.

Abstract: The image recording apparatus includes a recording head ejecting ink for image recording, a rotatable platen facing the head and has recording medium support surfaces supporting one or more recording media during the image recording, respectively, a driver rotating the platen and a controller controlling the driver so as to rotate the platen in such a way that a predetermined surface selected from the surfaces is stopped at a position facing the recording head. The surfaces support the one or more recording media transported in accordance with different transport patterns, respectively and have ink receivers receiving the ink having reached outside both sides of each of the one or more recording media transported during the image recording and being disposed in positions corresponding to vicinities of both sides of each of the one or more recording media.

Abstract: A method of recycling waste phase change ink includes collecting waste phase change ink in a container in a phase change ink imaging device. The waste phase change ink comprises melted phase change ink emitted by at least one print head in the phase change ink imaging device. The collected waste phase change ink is removed from the phase change ink imaging device, and at least a portion of the collected waste phase change ink removed from the imaging device is added to a quantity of melted phase change ink.

Abstract: A fluid storage container enables the easy removal of recovered fluid and reuse of the container without incurring the added costs of disassembly and replacing an absorbent material. In one exemplary embodiment, an ink cartridge 17 can have an ink storage unit 45 that stores waste ink, an ink inlet/outlet 55 disposed in a frame part 52 that can be the outside wall of the ink storage unit 45, an ink path 53 of which one end 53a communicates with the ink inlet/outlet 55 and the other end 53b is disposed opening into the ink storage unit, wall parts 54 that divide the ink storage unit 45 into an upper air chamber 61 and a lower fluid chamber 62 that communicate with each other through a communication path 58, and an outside air channel 87, of which one end 87a communicates with the air chamber 61 and the other end 87b enables communication with the outside at a position further from the air chamber 61 than the fluid chamber 62. Other embodiments of fluid storage containers are also disclosed.

Abstract: A trough support rib for improved edge-to-edge printing having a media feedpath extending in a first direction, a printhead reciprocally movable in a second direction, the second direction defining a print zone, an ink trough, at least one support rib beneath the print zone within the ink trough, the at least one support rib having an upper angled edge for engaging print media defined by two beveled surfaces, the rib further including a notch for removal of overspray ink to the ink trough.

Abstract: A waste liquid recovery apparatus includes a container body; a liquid absorbing body which is accommodated in the container body and absorbs liquid discharged as a waste liquid; and a sealing member which seals the container body, wherein a first space into which liquid is discharged from a liquid ejecting head and a second space which links with the outside through a ventilation hole formed in the sealing member are formed in a space closed by the container body and the sealing body, and the first space and the second space are connected with each other at the ventilation hole side.

Abstract: There are provided a sucking unit having a recording medium transportation surface including a plurality of sucking holes, a decompression chamber communicating with the sucking holes and a sucking device for sucking air in the decompression chamber, and a delivering device for sucking a recording medium supplied onto the recording medium transportation surface of the sucking unit onto the recording medium transportation surface through the sucking hole by the sucking device, and delivering the recording medium from an upstream side of the sucking unit to a downstream side thereof. Each sucking hole of the sucking unit is formed by a through hole section communicating with the decompression chamber and a sucking chamber having a larger area of a sucking surface opposed to the recording medium than a sectional area of the through hole section.

Abstract: A maintenance method that discharges liquid L collected in a liquid receiver 15 of a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a first step of causing a nozzle opening face 43a of a liquid ejecting head 3 to be disposed facing the liquid receiver 15 in a non-contact state and applying an electric field between both, a second step of ejecting liquid D from a nozzle 47 to the liquid receiver 15, a third step of detecting a voltage change based on electrostatic induction at the time of ejecting the liquid D to the liquid receiver 15, a fourth step of determining a liquid level height H of the liquid L collected in the liquid receiver on the basis of a result of detection of the voltage change, and a fifth step of discharging the liquid L collected in the liquid receiver when the liquid level height H reaches a predetermined height.

Abstract: A case body of an ink cartridge has a recording ink storage chamber containing a recording ink and a waste-ink storage chamber containing an ink coagulant. The recording ink is supplied to a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus. A head cleaning unit collects waste-ink from the recording head and feeds it to the waste-ink storage chamber. A heater heats the waste-ink and the ink coagulant in the waste-ink storage chamber, so that the ink coagulant melts and mixes with the waste-ink. The mixture of the ink coagulant and the waste-ink is cooled and solidified into gel. The gelled mixture of the waste-ink and the ink coagulant can be easily taken out of the waste-ink storage chamber by heating to liquefy it again, facilitating recycling the case body.

Abstract: A device cleans an inkjet printhead in a franking and/or addressing machine. The inkjet printhead is disposed in a stationary manner such that it can be pivoted in a printing window of a guide plate for the print carrier. A cleaning and sealing device is disposed behind the guide plate such that it can be displaced toward and away from the inkjet printhead. This improves the print quality, prolongs service life, and provides a high throughput rate. Spraying clear is possible both during the print carrier transport and in a rest position without the letter run being soiled. The cleaning and sealing device is disposed underneath the inkjet printhead to be displaced by an associated displacement device. A matched baffle piece is disposed underneath the inkjet printhead such that it can pivot and is coupled to the latter.

Abstract: A liquid container including: a containing portion, adapted to store liquid; a liquid outlet port, adapted to flow out the liquid from the containing portion therethrough; an outer wall, having a liquid supply opening for exposing the liquid outlet port to an outside, and covering a periphery of the liquid outlet port while the outer wall keeps a predetermined gap from an outer end of the liquid outlet port; and a first liquid absorption member, disposed at the predetermined gap so as to absorb the liquid.

Abstract: A plate-shaped main body, has a first face formed with a recess portion defined by a bottom face and side walls and a second face which is opposite to the first face. The plate-shaped main body is formed with a through hole connecting the bottom face and the second face. An overhanging portion, is provided on at least one of the side walls in the vicinity of the first face, and is located so as to at least partially hang over the through hole.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus including: a cartridge mounting portion, on which an ink cartridge having a waste ink containing portion containable a waste ink can be mounted; a waste ink introduction portion, adapted to connect to a waste ink introduction port of the waste ink containing portion of the ink cartridge so as to introduce the waste ink; a waste ink introduction portion holder, supporting the waste ink introduction portion; and a cartridge moving mechanism, operable to move the ink cartridge to a cartridge replacement position, located on an outside of the cartridge mounting portion where the ink cartridge can be attached to or detached from the cartridge mounting portion, and a cartridge use position located on an inside of the cartridge mounting portion, wherein the waste ink introduction portion holder is constructed to move integrally with the ink cartridge between the cartridge replacement and the cartridge use position while the waste ink introduction portion is connected to the waste ink i

Abstract: A method of removing particulates from an ink ejection face of a printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) flooding the face with ink from the printhead, thereby dispersing the particulates into the flooded ink; and (b) transferring the flooded ink, including the particulates, onto a transfer surface moving past the face. Damage to the face is avoided since the transfer surface does not contact the face.

Abstract: A printing system includes an ink dispenser configured to dispense ink upon a print medium, a condenser configured to condense vapor into a condensate and a receptacle configured to collect the condensate. The receptacle is perforated to permit a portion of the condensate to evaporate.

Abstract: First, second, and third ink absorbing bodies are accommodated in a container of a recovery reservoir in this order from the side corresponding to a bottom surface of the container, so that an introduction chamber is defined in the middle of a recovery space. A lid having a shutter plate and a communication hole is located over the third ink absorbing body. The upper side of the introduction chamber is covered by the shutter plate to suppress volatilization of solvent element of waste ink introduced into the introduction chamber. In addition, the communication hole is located in a portion of the upper surface of the third ink absorbing body, so that solvent element of ink absorbed by the third ink absorption body volatilizes.

Abstract: A platen for supporting a reverse surface of a recording medium under a recording head capable of performing image recording with ink droplets on the recording medium, which is conveyed along a specified direction in a main body of an inkjet recording apparatus. The platen comprises an ink receiving portion which receives ink and an ink guiding portion. The ink guiding portion guides the ink received by the ink receiving portion to an ink absorbing member. Specifically, the ink guiding portion guides the ink to an ink guide groove provided in an upper surface of a placement portion, on which the ink absorbing member is placed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head configured to jet droplets of recording liquid; a maintenance device configured to maintain/restore a condition of the recording head, whereby the maintenance device is detachably attached to a body of the image forming apparatus; and a waste liquid tank configured to hold waste liquid collected by the maintenance device, whereby the waste liquid tank is disposed adjacent to the maintenance device. The maintenance device has a jetting tube configured to discharge the waste liquid into the waste liquid tank. The waste liquid tank includes an induction opening surrounding the jetting tube, whereby the induction opening has a notch through which the jetting tube passes when the maintenance device is detached from the body. The image forming apparatus further includes a wall member configured to block at least part of the notch when the maintenance device is attached in the body.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus which prints an image on a printing medium by alternately performing printing of an image on the printing medium by using a printing unit and conveyance of the printing medium relative to the printing unit, the conveyance amount in conveyance is corrected by using first and second parameters for correcting the conveyance amount in accordance with different factors. This makes it possible to correct the conveyance amount in accordance with the deviation of the printing position due to the different factors.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium including: at least one recording head for unused-ink having a nozzle array made of a plurality of nozzles that selectively ejects unused-ink; at least one recording head for recycled-ink having a nozzle array made of a plurality of nozzles that selectively ejects recycled-ink of an equivalent color to the unused-ink ejected from the recording head for unused-ink; a collector that collects ink discharged from the recording head for unused-ink and the recording head for recycled-ink so as to restore an ejectable state of the recording heads; and a recycled-ink supplier that supplies ink, collected by the collector, to the recording head for recycled-ink as recycled-ink.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance station comprises a maintenance roller having an elastically deformable contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead. The roller is rotatable and moveable between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from face. An ink removal system removes ink from the contact surface when the maintenance roller is rotated.

Abstract: A waste ink treatment system employed for an ink jetting system having a jetting head includes a rotating member and a scraping member. The rotating member, rotatable in a given rotation direction, receives ink discharged from the jetting head. The discharged ink adheres to the rotating member. The scraping member, disposed adjacent to the rotating member, removes the discharged ink adhering to the rotating member while the rotating member is rotated. The scraping member disperses the removed ink over multiple discontinuous areas along the rotation direction of the rotating member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus prevents the problem of reduced utilization efficiency of a waste fluid tank caused by the storage of waste fluids with high and low viscosities in the same open-type waste fluid tank. The image forming apparatus includes a first waste fluid tank for storing waste ink fluid ejected from a recording head, and a second waste fluid tank for storing waste ink fluid ejected into a cap of the recording head. The waste ink fluid ejected into the cap is guided to the second waste fluid tank via a tube. The second waste fluid tank is an airtight structure having an inlet at one end to which the tube is detachably connected via a needle or a valve. At the other end of the second waste fluid tank, there is disposed an opening communicating the inside and the outside of the tank.

Abstract: An inkjet image forming apparatus including an inkjet head including a nozzle portion having a length in a main scanning direction that is at least the same as a width of a paper to be fed therein, a platen to move between a printing position facing the nozzle portion and to support a rear surface of paper and a maintenance position that is apart from the printing position in a sub-scanning direction, and including a receiving portion to receive waste ink, a waste ink container, and a pumping unit to operate by linking with a moving operation of the platen to pump the waste ink from the receiving portion to the waste ink container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus can improve an accuracy of conveyance of a recording medium with a simple structure and prevent a reverse flow of mist so as to stably form a high-quality image. A conveyance belt (21) conveys a recording medium (12) by attracting the recording medium by an electrostatic force generated by electric charges applied thereto. A recording head (7) discharges droplets of a recording liquid toward the recording medium (12). An amount of electric charges induced on a surface of the recording medium (12), which has been conveyed to a recording position where the droplets of the recording liquid are discharged from the recording head (7) toward the recording medium (12), is adjusted in accordance with a resistance value of the recording medium (12).

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a maintenance recovery unit for maintaining and recovering a state of the recording head, a waste liquid tank removably loaded to the maintenance recovery unit to store a waste liquid from the maintenance recovery unit, a shutter mechanism arranged between the maintenance recovery unit and the waste liquid tank and including a shutter member which moves between a closed position at which the maintenance recovery unit is isolated from the waste liquid tank and an open position at which the maintenance recovery unit is linked to the waste liquid tank and a close mechanism which causes the shutter member to stay at the closed position, and a holding member removably inserted to the ink jet recording apparatus in a first direction and causes the shutter member to move to the open position in a second direction opposite to the first direction.