Patent ID: 6123407
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising plural ink jet heads, each having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink on a recording medium, a carriage on which the ink jet heads are mounted, rendered movable as facing the recording medium, and a sucking mechanism for recovering an ink ejection state by sucking ink from the inside of the ink jet heads, the apparatus further comprising:a first cap selectively covering the nozzles of one of the ink jet heads, the first cap being connected with the sucking mechanism and used for both a protecting operation of the nozzles of the one ink jet head and a sucking operation in cooperation with the sucking mechanism;a plurality of second caps covering the nozzles of the ink jet heads except the nozzles of the one ink jet head covered by the first cap, the second caps being arranged adjacent to the first cap and used only for the protecting operation;first means for advancing said second caps toward the nozzles of the ink jet heads when said carriage is moved to a protecting position, thereby covering the nozzles of the ink jet heads except the nozzles of the one ink jet head;second means for advancing said first cap interlockingly with the advancing motion of the second caps, thereby covering the nozzles of the one ink jet head not covered with any of said second caps; andthird means for advancing the first cap toward the nozzles of the one ink jet head independently from the second caps when the carriage is moved to a sucking position.