Patent ID: 6550888
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink jet recovery apparatus for use with an ink jet head for discharging ink, comprising:a cap for receiving ink which is located opposite to said ink jet head when maintaining and recovering ink discharge from said ink jet head; a waste ink tank for receiving ink exhausted from said cap; an ink pump for transporting ink received by said cap to said waste ink tank by performing idle suction, said ink pump performing the idle suction a number of times; and a control unit for controlling said ink pump to vary the number of times of the idle suction of said ink pump, wherein the idle suction includes idle suction for recovery suction and idle suction for idle discharge, the recovery suction being suction of ink when said cap caps said ink jet head and the idle suction being suction of ink when said cap is communicated with atmosphere, and the number of times of the idle suction is less for the idle suction for idle discharge than for the idle suction for recovery suction.