Patent ID: 6578949
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink jet recording device including an ink jet recording head which is mounted on a carriage being reciprocatively movable from a print region to a home position, ejects ink drops in accordance with print data and includes a nozzle forming surface, the ink jet recording device comprising:a capping unit which seals up the nozzle forming surface and is capable of sucking and discharging ink from the recording head under a negative pressure received from a suction pump, the capping unit including, a drive unit controlled so as to approach and separate from the nozzle forming surface, a cap holder mounted on the drive unit, a cap member which is disposed on the cap holder and is capable of being brought into contact with the nozzle forming surface with a movement of the drive unit for sealing up the nozzle forming surface, a wiping member which is mounted on the cap holder at a side of the print region and is slidably contactable on the nozzle forming surface, and a cap retaining member which is selectively moved to and from a moving path of the cap holder and is capable of blocking a movement of the cap holder when the cap holder moves.