Patent ID: 7703879
Filing Date: 2010-04-27
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An ink jet recording apparatus for performing image formation on a recording medium by using a recording head having plural discharge ports arranged to discharge ink from the discharge ports, comprising: preliminary discharging means for performing preliminary discharge by discharging ink from the discharge ports irrespective of the image formation; capping means for enabling a cap for capping the plural discharge ports to be in contact with or retracted from a discharge port surface of the recording head where the discharge ports are formed; suction means for effecting a suction operation of ink in the cap by applying negative pressure in the cap; wiping means for wiping the discharge port surface; and selection means for selecting a first mode, where the preliminary discharge is performed with the cap in contact with the discharge port surface, subsequent to a suction operation performed by said suction means with the cap in contact with the discharge port surface, and a second mode, where the preliminary discharge is performed with the cap retracted from the discharge port surface, wherein a number of ink discharges in the first mode, is greater than a number of ink discharges in the second mode, and wherein, in a case where the first mode has been selected, after the preliminary discharge is performed, a wiping and an additional preliminary discharge are performed.