Abstract:
An ink-jet recovery device includes a rotation member, an ink absorbing member, a moving unit and a rotation unit. The rotation member is adapted to rotate on a predetermined rotation shaft. The ink absorbing member is arranged around the rotation shaft of the rotation member. The ink absorbing member can absorb ink from a tip of the nozzle member when abutted to the nozzle member. The nozzle member is provided in a recording head of an ink-jet recording apparatus and ejects ink toward a recording medium. The moving unit brings a part of the ink absorbing member into abutment with the nozzle member. The rotation unit rotates the rotation member on the rotation shaft to switch the part of the ink absorbing member to be brought into abutment with the nozzle member by the moving unit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-317048 filed Oct. 31, 2005 in the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference,  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     This invention relates to an ink-jet recovery device that recovers ejection failure of a nozzle in a recording head of an ink-jet recording apparatus.  
         [0003]     A conventional image recording apparatus includes an ink-jet recovery device that removes ink or foreign substance clogging a nozzle of a recording head.  
         [0004]     This type of ink-jet recovery device is known to be provided with an ink absorbing member including a porous body. When a recovery operation is performed to recover ejection failure of the nozzle, the recording head is moved to a position (recovery position) where the ink absorbing member is to be located. The ink absorbing member is then lifted by a lifting device to be brought into contact with the nozzle of the recording head. Thereby, foreign substance clogging the nozzle is absorbed with ink to the ink absorbing member by capillary action.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     In such a conventional ink-jet recovery device, part of the ink absorbing member abutted to the nozzle in recovery operation is generally switched per color of ink ejected from the nozzle. This is because color mixture may be caused if the same part of the ink absorbing member is used to the nozzles for different colors of ink.  
         [0006]     Particularly, the ink absorbing member is provided with the same number of ink absorbers as the ink colors. Each of the ink absorbers is brought into contact with the nozzle for one specific color.  
         [0007]     The plurality of ink absorbers constituting the ink absorbing member are, however, arranged in line along an arrangement direction (linearly extending direction) of the nozzles for the plurality of colors in the recording head at the recovery position.  
         [0008]     Accordingly, there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size of the conventional ink-jet recovery device since the ink absorbers are arranged in a linear fashion.  
         [0009]     It would be desirable to achieve miniaturization of an ink-jet recovery device that recovers ejection failure of a nozzle in a recording head of an ink-jet recording apparatus.  
         [0010]     It is desirable that an ink-jet recovery device of the present invention may include a rotation member, an ink absorbing member, a moving unit and a rotation unit. The rotation member is adapted to rotate on a predetermined rotation shaft. The ink absorbing member is arranged around the rotation shaft of the rotation member. The ink absorbing member can absorb ink from a tip of a nozzle member when abutted to the nozzle member. The nozzle member is provided in a recording head of an ink-jet recording apparatus and ejects ink toward a recording medium. The moving unit brings a part of the ink absorbing member into abutment with the nozzle member. The rotation unit rotates the rotation member on the rotation shaft to switch the part of the ink absorbing member to be brought into abutment with the nozzle member by the moving unit.  
         [0011]     According to the ink-jet recovery device of the present invention, the same effect can be obtained as in a conventional ink-jet recovery device that the part of the ink absorbing member to be abutted to the nozzle member can be switched.  
         [0012]     Moreover, in the present ink-jet recovery device, the ink absorbing member is not arranged in a linear fashion but arranged around the rotation shaft of the rotation member. Accordingly, reduction in size of the ink-jet recovery device can be achieved. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     The invention will now be described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a multi function apparatus according to a first embodiment;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional side view of the multi function apparatus according to the first embodiment;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the multi function apparatus without an image reader;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are explanatory views illustrating an internal structure of a maintenance mechanism;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a control processor;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a recovery process executed in the control processor according to the first embodiment;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 7A  to  7 F are explanatory views illustrating operation of the recovery process by the control processor;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are explanatory views illustrating an internal structure of a maintenance mechanism according to a second embodiment  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a recovery process executed in the control processor according to the second embodiment; and  
         [0023]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are explanatory views illustrating an internal structure of a maintenance mechanism according to a variation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     First Embodiment  
       [0024]     A multi function apparatus  1  (MFD) of the present embodiment is provided with a printer function, a copying function, a scanner function and a facsimile function. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an image reader  12  used for scanning and reading a document is provided above a housing  2 .  
         [0025]     The image reader  12  is designed to be opened and closed with respect to the housing  2  about a not shown pivot shank provided at a left end of the image reader  12 . A cover  13  which covers the upper surface of the image reader  12  is turnably attached so as to be opened and closed with respect to the image reader  12  about a pivot shaft  12   a  (see  FIG. 2 ) provided at a rear end of the cover  13 .  
         [0026]     A glass plate  16  is provided on the upper surface of the image reader  12 . When the cover  13  is opened up, a document can be set on the glass plate  16  to be read. A contact image scanner (CIS)  17  for reading a document is provided below the glass plate  16 . The contact image scanner  17  can reciprocate along a guide shaft  44  which extends in a direction orthogonal to the sheet surface of  FIG. 2  drawing (right and left direction).  
         [0027]     An operation panel  14  including operation buttons  14   a  for input operation and a liquid crystal display (LCD)  14   b  for displaying various information is provided at the front of the image reader  12 .  
         [0028]     A feeding unit  11  for feeding recording paper P is provided at the bottom of the housing  2 . The feeding unit  11  includes a paper cassette  3  which can be attached to or detached from the housing  2  in a cross direction via an opening  2   a  which is formed at the front side of the housing  2 . In the present embodiment, the paper cassette  3  is designed to store a plurality of recording paper P in A4, letter, legal, and postcard sizes in a stack (accumulated manner). The recording paper P is arranged such that its narrow sides (width) extend in a direction (main scanning direction or right and left direction) orthogonal to a paper feeding direction (sub-scanning direction, cross direction, or direction of an arrow A).  
         [0029]     A tilted separator  8  for recording paper separation is disposed at the back (rear end) side of the paper cassette  3 . The tilted separator  8  is formed into a convex curvature in a plan view so as to protrude at the middle and to be dented toward the right and left ends in a width direction (right and left direction) of the recording paper P. A saw-edged elastic separation pad is provided at a region corresponding to the middle in the width direction of the recording paper P. The separation pad abuts the front edge of the recording paper P to expedite separation.  
         [0030]     Behind the feeding unit  11 , a feed arm  6   a  for feeding the recording paper P from the paper cassette  3  is turnably attached so as to swing up and down on its anchor end. A rotational driving force from an LF (conveying) motor  131  (Bee  FIG. 5 ) is transmitted to a feed roller  6   b  provided at a tip end of the arm  6   a  via a gear transmission mechanism  6   c  provided inside the feed arm  6   a.  The recording paper P stacked in the paper cassette  3  is separately conveyed sheet by sheet by the feed roller  6   b  and the aforementioned elastic separation pad of the tilted separator  8 . The recording paper P which is separated to advance along the paper feeding direction (direction of the arrow A) is fed to a recording unit  7  via a paper feeding path  9  which includes a U-turn path formed in a space between a first feeding guide  60  and a second feeding guide  52 . The recording unit  7  is provided above the paper cassette  3 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the multi function apparatus  1  without the image reader  12 .  
         [0032]     As seen from  FIG. 3 , the recording unit  7  is provided between a main frame  21  formed into a box opened upward, and first and second plate-like guide members  22  and  23  which are supported by a pair of right and left side boards  21   a  of the main frame  21  and extend in right and left direction (main scanning direction). The recording unit  7  includes an ink-jet recording head  4  (see  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) which ejects ink from the bottom side to record an image onto the recording paper P, and a carriage  5  which mounts the recording head  4  thereon.  
         [0033]     The carriage  5  is slidably supported between the first guide member  22  located upstream and the second guide member  23  located downstream in a discharge direction (direction of an arrow B). The carriage  5  is designed to reciprocate in right and left direction. In order to reciprocate the carriage  5 , a timing belt  24  makes a loop on the upper side of the second guide member  23  in a manner to extend in the main scanning direction (right and left direction). A CR (carriage) motor  132  (see  FIG. 5 ) which drives the timing belt  24  is fixed to the down side of the second guide member  23 .  
         [0034]     A flat platen  26  is provided below the recording head  4  of the carriage  5  in the recording unit  7 . The flat platen  26  faces the recording head  4  and extends in right and left direction. The platen  26  is fixed to the main frame  21  between the guide members  22  and  23 .  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a driving roller  50  and a nip roller  51  are provided on the- upstream side in the discharge direction (direction of the arrow B) of the platen  26 . The driving roller  50  is a conveying (resist) roller which conveys the recording paper P to the under side of the recording head  4 . The nip roller  51  is biased to the driving roller  50  side to face the driving roller  50 . A discharge roller  28  and a spur roller (not shown) are provided on the downstream side of the discharge direction (direction of the arrow B) of the platen  26 . The discharge roller  28  is driven to convey the recording paper P which has passed the recording unit  7  to the discharge unit  10  along the discharge direction (direction of the arrow B). The spur roller is biased to the discharge roller  28  side to face the discharge roller  28 .  
         [0036]     The discharge unit  10  is disposed above the feeding unit  11 . The recording paper P after recorded in the recording unit  7  is discharged to the discharge unit  10  with its recording surface upward. A discharge hole  10   a,  together with the opening  2   a,  opens toward the front of the housing  2 . The recording paper P discharged along the discharge direction (direction of the arrow B) from the discharge unit  10  is accumulated and stored on the discharge tray  10   b  located inside the opening  2   a.    
         [0037]     A not shown ink storage is provided on the right end at the front of the housing  2  below the image reader  12 . Four ink cartridges are provided in the ink storage, which respectively store black (Bk) ink, cyan (C) ink, magenta (M) ink, and yellow (Y) ink for full color recording. The respective ink cartridges can be attached to and detached from the ink storage when the image reader  12  is opened upward. The respective ink cartridges are connected to the recording head  4  via four flexible ink supply tubes. Ink stored in the respective ink cartridges is supplied to the recording head  4  via the ink supply tubes.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the recording head  4  is provided with a nozzle member  4   a  which ejects ink toward the recording paper P. The nozzle member  4   a  includes a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m.  Each of the nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m  is provided with a plurality of nozzles arranged along a conveying direction (discharge direction or sub-scanning direction) of the recording paper P.  
         [0039]     Particularly, the nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m  are disposed from left to right in this order and respectively eject one of the four colors of ink (i.e., black (Bk) ink, cyan (C) ink, yellow (Y) ink, and magenta (M) ink) for full color recording. Each of the nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m  is arranged along the conveying direction of the recording paper P and composed of the nozzles which eject the same color of ink.  
         [0040]     A maintenance mechanism  80  is provided below the right end in a traveling path of the carriage  6 . The nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m  and the maintenance unit  80  are provided on the down side of the recording head  4 , and thus, in  FIG. 3 , they are shown in dotted lines.  
         [0041]     Next, a structure of the maintenance mechanism  80  is explained by way of  FIGS. 4A and 4B .  
         [0042]      FIG. 4A  shows the maintenance mechanism  80  viewed from the front side of the multi function apparatus  1 .  FIG. 4B  shows the maintenance mechanism  80  viewed from the left or right side of the multi function apparatus  1 .  
         [0043]     The maintenance mechanism  80  recovers ejection failure of the nozzle of the recording head  4  by capillary action. As shown in  FIGS. 3, 4A  and  4 B, the maintenance mechanism  80  includes a rotation member  81 , an ink absorbing member  82 , a rotation motor  86 , a lift  87 , and a position sensor  88  (see  FIG. 5 ).  
         [0044]     The rotation member  81  is formed into a nearly longitudinal shape. The rotation member  81  is arranged such that its rotation shaft  81   a  is parallel to the conveying direction (arrangement direction of the nozzles).  
         [0045]     The ink absorbing member  82  includes a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  separately arranged around the rotation shaft  81   a  of the rotation member  81  per predetermined angle (90 degrees in the present embodiment) via a partition wall  81   b.  Each of the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  is designed to abut one of the nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m  in the recording head  4  to absorb ink from tips of the nozzles in the abutted nozzle row  4   k,    4   c,    4   y,    4   m.    
         [0046]     The rotation motor  86  rotates the rotation member  81  on the rotation shaft  81   a.  The lift  87  raises and lowers the rotation member  81  (and the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d ). The position sensor  88  detects a reference position of the rotation member  81 .  
         [0047]     Each of the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  is composed of an inner porous body  83  provided on the inward side (rotation shaft  81   a  side) and an outer porous body  84  provided on the outward side of the inner porous body  83 .  
         [0048]     The outer porous body  84  and the inner porous body  83  are made of plastic (e.g., polypropylene). The outer porous body  84  has a plurality of fine holes smaller than the diameter of each nozzle in the nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m.  The inner porous body  83  has a plurality of fine holes smaller than the holes of the outer porous body  84 .  
         [0049]     Accordingly, when the ink absorber  82   a  to  82   d  is brought into contact with the nozzles in the corresponding nozzle row  4   k,    4   c,    4   y,    4   m,  ink or foreign substance clogging the nozzle is absorbed into the ink absorber  82   a  to  82   d  which is in contact with the nozzles.  
         [0050]     An ink discharge opening  85  is connected to the inner porous body  83  of the respective ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d.  Ink absorbed into the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  is carried by its own weight to an ink collector (not shown) that collects used ink via the ink discharge opening  85 .  
         [0051]     A gear  86   b  that rotates the rotation member  81  is attached to an output shaft  86   a  of the rotation motor  86 . The gear  86   b  is engaged with a gear  81   c  which is connected to the rotation shaft  81   a  of the rotation member  81 .  
         [0052]     Accordingly, when the rotation motor  86  is driven, the gears  86   b  and  81   c  are rotated so that the rotation member  81  is rotated on the rotation shaft  81   a.    
         [0053]     The lift  87  is provided on each end side of the rotation shaft  81  (see  FIG. 4B ). The lift  87  includes a support member  87   a  that rotatably supports the rotation member  81  around the rotation shaft  81   a  and an actuator (electromagnetic solenoid in the present embodiment)  87   b  that is connected to the support member  87   a  to raise and lower the support member  87   a  (and the rotation member  81 ). The electromagnetic solenoid  87   b  expands and contracts by being electrically controlled by a later explained control processor  70 , and raises and lowers the rotation member  81 .  
         [0054]     The position sensor  88  includes a light interceptor provided around the rotation shaft  81   a  of the rotation member  81 , a light emitter and a light receiver.  
         [0055]     The light interceptor has a disc-like shape. The light interceptor includes a convex portion which is integrally formed and protrudes radially outward.  
         [0056]     The light emitter and the light receiver together composes a light sensor. The light emitter and the light receiver are arranged to face each other on the opposite sides of the convex portion of the light interceptor. Thereby, the convex portion of the light interceptor passes between the light emitter and the light receiver when the rotation member  81  is rotated.  
         [0057]     The position sensor  88  is designed such that the convex portion blocks off light from the light emitter to the light receiver only when the ink absorber  82   d  is in a position facing upward as shown in  FIG. 4A . In this manner, the position sensor  88  detects whether the rotation member  81  is in the reference position (position where the ink absorber  82   d  faces upward in the present embodiment).  
         [0058]     Hereinafter, a structure of the control processor  70  of the multi function apparatus  1  is explained by way of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0059]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the control processor  70  mainly includes a microcomputer constituted of a CPU  71 , a ROM  72 , a RAM  73 , and an EEPROM  74 . A resist sensor  111  that detects the position of the fed recording paper P, a media sensor  112  that detects front and rear ends and ends in a width direction of the recording paper P, a conveying encoder  113  that detects rotation amount of the driving roller  50 , a carriage encoder  114  that detects travel distance of the carriage  5 , the operation buttons  14   a,  the liquid crystal display  14   b,  and the position sensor  88  are connected to the control processor  70 .  
         [0060]     Also connected to the control processor  70  are a driving circuit  76   a  that drives the LF motor  131 , a driving circuit  76   b  that drives the CR motor  132 , a driving circuit  76   c  that drives the aforementioned rotation motor  86 , a driving circuit  76   d  that drives the recording head  4 , and a driving circuit  76   e  that drives the electromagnetic solenoid  87   b.  In the present embodiment, a personal computer  77  (PC  77 ) can be also connected to the control processor  70 .  
         [0061]     The control processor  70  (particularly, CPU  71 ) performs image forming onto the recording paper P as follows. The control processor  70  executes a paper end detection process for detecting positions of the ends of the recording paper P, upon receipt of recording directives to record onto the recording paper P from the PC  77  or other functioning blocks like copying and facsimile functioning portions in the multi function apparatus  1 . Then, the control processor  70  performs a recording process in which an image is formed onto the recording paper P based on results of the paper end detection process. If recording onto the next recording paper P is necessary, the control processor  70  again performs the paper end detection process and the recording process. If recording onto the next recording paper P is not necessary, the process is ended.  
         [0062]     Since known techniques are applied to the paper end detection and the recording process, detailed explanation on the same is omitted.  
         [0063]     The control processor  70  also performs a recovery process for absorbing ink or foreign substance clogging the nozzles in the respective nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m  which correspond to the color(s) specified by the recovery directives, upon receipt of recovery directives. The recovery directives are given from the user via the PC  77  or the operation buttons  14   a.  The recovery directives may be given on regular basis so that ink is absorbed from the nozzles in all the nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m  at regular intervals. In this case, for example, ink is absorbed in this order of color: M, Y, C, Bk.  
         [0064]     Hereinafter, the recovery process executed by the control processor  70  is explained in detail by way of  FIG. 6  and  FIGS. 7A  to  7 F.  FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating the recovery process in the present embodiment.  FIGS. 7A  to  7 F are explanatory views partially illustrating steps in the recovery process according to the present embodiment.  
         [0065]     In the recovery process, one of the color(s) specified by the present recovery directives is selected in S 110 .  
         [0066]     Next in S 120 , the CR motor  132  is driven to move the carriage  5  such that one of the nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m  corresponding to the color selected in S 110  is moved to a predetermined position (hereinafter, referred to as a recovery position) to face the maintenance mechanism  80  (more particularly, the rotation shaft  81 a of the rotation member  81 ).  
         [0067]     In S 130 , the rotation motor  86  is driven to rotate the rotation member  81  such that the one of the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  corresponding to the color selected in S 110  faces the recording head  4  (i.e., faces the one of the nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m  located at the recovery position).  
         [0068]     In S 130  of the present embodiment, if the color selected in S 110  is black (Bk), the rotation member  81  is rotated such that the ink absorber  82   a  faces the recording head  4 . If the color selected in S 110  is cyan (C), the rotation member  81  is rotated such that the ink absorber  82   b  faces the recording head  4 . If the color selected in S 110  is yellow (Y), the rotation member  81  is rotated such that the ink absorber  82   c  faces the recording head  4 . If the color selected in S 110  is magenta (M), the rotation member  81  is rotated such that the ink absorber  82   d  faces the recording head  4 .  
         [0069]     If the one of the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  corresponding to the color selected in S 110  already faces the recording head  4 , the rotation motor  86  is not driven and the process moves to S 140 .  
         [0070]     Subsequently in S 140 , the electromagnetic solenoid  87   b  is driven to raise the rotation member  81  such that one of the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  facing the recording head  4  is brought into contact with the nozzles in the one of the nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m  located at the recovery position. As a result, ink or foreign substance clogging the nozzles in contact to the one of the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  is absorbed due to capillary action.  
         [0071]     In S 150 , it is determined whether a predetermined time has passed since the step of S 140  is completed. If it is determined that the predetermined time has passed (S 150 : YES), the process moves to S 160 .  
         [0072]     In S 160 , the electromagnetic solenoid  87   b  is driven to lower the rotation member  81  (to the previously located position).  
         [0073]     Next in S 170 , it is determined whether all the color(s) specified by the present recovery directives are selected in S 110 .  
         [0074]     If it is determined that not all the colors are selected in S 110  (S 170 : NO), the process returns to S 110 . The color other than already selected is selected in S 110 . Here, if the present recovery process is not the process triggered by the operation of the user but the process performed at regular intervals, the steps from S 110  to S 160  are repeated until the recovery process is performed to the nozzles in all the nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m.  On the other hand, if it is determined that all the colors are selected in S 110  (S 170 : YES), the recovery process is ended.  
         [0075]     As note above, in the multi function apparatus  1  of the first embodiment, when the recovery process is performed, one (e.g., magenta) of the color(s) specified by the recovery directive is firstly selected (S 110 ). Then, the carriage  5  is moved such that the nozzle row (e.g.,  4   m ) corresponding to the selected color comes to the recovery position (S 120 ).  
         [0076]     Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 7A , the rotation member  81  is rotated such that the ink absorber  82   d  and the nozzle row  4   m  face each other (S 130 ) when the selected color is magenta. The rotation member  81  is raised, as shown in  FIG. 7B , so that the ink absorber  82   d  and the nozzle row  4   m  are in contact with each other (S 140 ).  
         [0077]     After the predetermined time has passed (S 150  YES), the rotation member  81  is returned to the previously located position (S 160 ). If not all the color(s) specified by the recovery directive are selected (S 170 : NO), another color specified by the recovery directive (e.g., yellow) is selected and the carriage  5  is moved such that the nozzle row (e.g.,  4   y ) corresponding to the selected color comes to the recovery position. Next, as shown in  FIG. 7C , the rotation member  81  is rotated so that the ink absorber  82   c  and the nozzle row  4   y  face each other when the selected color is yellow. Then, as shown in  FIG. 7D , the rotation member  81  is raised so that the ink absorber  82   c  abuts the nozzles in the nozzle row  4   y.  After the predetermined time has passed, the rotation member  81  is returned to the previously located position.  
         [0078]     Hereinafter, until all the color(s) specified by the recovery directive are selected, the steps of S 110  to S 160  are repeated ( FIGS. 7B and 7F ).  
         [0079]     According to the multi function apparatus  1  of the present embodiment, the same function as before can be achieved using one of the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  corresponding to each color. Since there is no necessity to arrange the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  in a line, miniaturization of the maintenance mechanism  80  (and the multi function apparatus  1 ) can be achieved.  
         [0080]     Also in the present embodiment, each of the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  is composed of the inner porous body  83  and the outer porous body  84 . The inner porous body  83  has smaller holes than the outer porous body  84 .  
         [0081]     Accordingly, ink can smoothly absorbed from the nozzles in the respective nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m  in the recovery process, and thus, performance of the maintenance mechanism  80  is enhanced.  
         [0082]     That is, in capillary action, it is known that the smaller the diameter of holes in an absorber is, the higher the absorbency of the absorber is. Therefore, the absorbency of ink from the outer porous body  84  toward the inner porous body  83  is increased. Ink can be smoothly absorbed into the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d.    
         [0083]     Additionally, the respective ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  are attached to the rotation member  80  separated by the partition wall  81   b.  The different ink absorber  82   a  to  82   d  is used for a different color. Thus, color mixture can be prevented in the recovery process.  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0084]     A second embodiment is explained hereinafter by way of  FIGS. 8A  to  8 B and  9 .  
         [0085]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are explanatory views illustrating an internal structure of a maintenance mechanism  90  according to the second embodiment.  FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a recovery process executed in the control processor  70  according to the second embodiment.  
         [0086]     In  FIGS. 8A  to  8 B and  9 , the same reference numbers are given to the same components or steps as in the first embodiment, and thus detailed explanation on the same is not repeated.  
         [0087]     The multi function apparatus  1  in the second embodiment is only different from the multi function apparatus  1  in the first embodiment in that the maintenance mechanism  80  is replaced with the maintenance mechanism  90 , and a recovery process in  FIG. 9  is performed instead of the recovery process in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0088]     The maintenance mechanism  90  includes the rotation member  81 , an ink absorber  82 , the rotation motor  86 , the lift  87 , and the position sensor  88 . The ink absorber  82  includes ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   h  which are separately arranged around the rotation shaft  81   a  of the rotation member  81  per 45 degrees by the partition wall  81   b.    
         [0089]     Each of the ink absorbers  82   e  to  82   h  (second ink absorbers), like each of the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  (first ink absorbers), is also composed of two porous bodies, i.e., an inner porous body  91  and an outer porous body  92 . The sizes (diameters) of the holes in the respective porous bodies  83 ,  84 ,  91  and  92  (hereinafter, referred to as d 83 , d 84 , d 91  and d 92 , respectively) are different from each other, By comparison, the inner porous body  91  has the smallest holes, the inner porous body  83  has the smallest holes next after the inner porous body  91 , the outer porous body  92  has the largest holes next after the outer porous body  84 , and the outer porous body  84  has the largest holes (i.e., d 91 &lt;d 83 &lt;d 92 &lt;d 84 ).  
         [0090]     Accordingly, the absorbency of the ink absorbers  82   e  to  82   h  is higher than the absorbency in the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d.    
         [0091]     Now, a recovery process performed by the control processor  70  according to the present embodiment is explained by way of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0092]     When the control processor  70  starts the recovery process in  FIG. 9  and the steps of S 110  and S 120  are performed, it is determined in S 210  whether the recovery process is repeated more than predetermined times (two times, for example) within a predetermined time.  
         [0093]     If it is determined in S 210  that the recovery process is not performed more than the predetermined time (S 210 : NO), the process moves to S 220 . The rotation motor  86  is driven to rotate the rotation member  81  such that one of the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  with lower absorbency corresponding to the color selected in S 110  faces the recording head  4 . The process Lnoves to S 140 .  
         [0094]     On the other hand, if it is determined in S 210  that the recovery process is performed more than the predetermined time (S 210 : YES), the process moves to S 230 . The rotation motor  86  is driven to rotate the rotation member  81  such that one of the ink absorbers  82   e  to  82   h  with higher absorbency corresponding to the color selected in S 110  faces the recording head  4 . The process moves to S 140 .  
         [0095]     As noted above, in the multi function apparatus  1  according to the second embodiment, when the recovery process is performed more than the predetermined times (two times in the present embodiment) within the predetermined time, the ink absorbers  82   e  to  82   h  with higher absorbency are selected instead of the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  with lower absorbency.  
         [0096]     Accordingly, ejection failure of the nozzle which cannot be possibly recovered using the ink absorbers  82 a to  82   d  with lower absorbency may be recovered using the ink absorbers  82   e  to  82   h  with higher absorbency.  
         [0097]     According to the multi function apparatus  1  of the second embodiment, recovery operation can be performed using the ink absorbers with different absorbencies, depending on the degree of ejection failure of the nozzle.  
         [0098]     That is, the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  with predetermined ink absorbencies are used in normal recovery operation. Only to the nozzle of which degree of ejection failure is relatively high, the ink absorbers  82   e  to  82   h  with higher absorbencies are used.  
         [0099]     Therefore, the amount of ink absorbed from the respective nozzles in the recording head  4  can be reduced in the recovery operation. The multi function apparatus  1  (ink-jet recording apparatus) can use more ink for forming an image onto the recording paper P.  
         [0100]     The embodiments of the present invention are described in the above. However, it should be noted that the present invention can be practiced in various manners.  
         [0101]     In the above embodiments, the maintenance mechanism  80 ,  90  is provided in the multi function apparatus  1  including the ink cartridges for four colors of ink. However, the multi function apparatus  1  may include ink cartridges for more than four colors of ink.  
         [0102]     For example, the multi function apparatus  1  may include ink cartridges for six colors (e.g., Bk, C, Y, M, light cyan and light magenta) of ink. In this case, as shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , six ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d,    82   i  and  82   j  may be separately arranged around the rotation shaft  81   a  per 60 degrees by the partition wall  81   b  in a maintenance mechanism  100 .  
         [0103]     Also in the above embodiments, the LF motor  131  and the rotation motor  86  are used to rotate the feed roller  6   b,  the driving roller  50 , the discharge roller  28  and the rotation member  81 . However, the feed roller  6   b,  the driving roller  50 , the discharge roller  28  and the rotation member  81  may be designed to be rotated only by a single motor.  
         [0104]     In the second embodiment, the ink absorbers  82   e  to  82   h  with higher absorbency are selected instead of the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  with lower absorbency when the recovery process is repeated more than the predetermined times within the predetermined time. However, which of the ink absorbers  82   e  to  82   h  or the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  to use may be determined in accordance with directives from the user.  
         [0105]     Also in the second embodiment, the sizes of the holes in the respective porous bodies  83 ,  84 ,  91  and  92  are different from each other (i.e., d 91 &lt;d 83 &lt;d 92 &lt;d 84 ). However, the sizes of the holes in the respective porous bodies  83 ,  84 ,  91  and  92  may be arbitrarily determined. It is preferable that the size of the holes in the respective porous bodies  83 ,  84 ,  91  and  92  are smaller than the size of the holes of the nozzles in the recording head  4 . It is further preferable that the inner porous bodies  83  and  91  respectively have the smaller holes than the outer porous bodies  84  and  92 .  
         [0106]     For example, the sizes of the holes in the inner porous bodies  83  and  91  may be the same, and the sizes of the holes in the outer porous bodies  84  and  92  may be the same (i.e., d 91 =d 83 &lt;d 92 =d 84 ). Or, the sizes of the holes of only one of the above pairs may be the same (i.e., d 91 =d 83 &lt;d 92 &lt;d 84  or d 91 &lt;d 83 &lt;d 92 =d 84 ).  
         [0107]     The lift  87  may be composed of any mechanisms, in the case where the rotation member  81  is raised and lowered such that the ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  (and  82   e  to  82   h ) can be brought into contact with the nozzles in the respective nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m.  For example, the lift  87  may be designed as a mechanism made of a motor and a link.  
         [0108]     In the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to the recording head  4  mounted on the carriage  5  which can reciprocate in a predetermined direction, that is, a recording head for a serial printer. However, the present invention can be also applied to a recording head for a line printer in which the recording head is arranged in a fixed position.  
         [0109]     Also in the above embodiments, the ink absorbing member  82  absorbs ink using capillary action. However, the ink absorbing member  82  may absorb ink in a different manner (e.g., by suction using negative pressure, wiping, etc.).  
         [0110]     Also in the above embodiments, the rotation shaft  81   a  of the rotation member  81  is arranged substantially parallel in the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles in the respective nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m.  However, the rotation shaft  81   a  may be arranged so as not to be parallel to the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles.  
         [0111]     Also in the above embodiments, the partition wall  81   b  is provided to separate each one of the plurality of ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  ( 82   a  to  82   h ) from the others. However, the partition wall  81   b  may not be provided at all.  
         [0112]     For example, the plurality of ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  ( 82   a  to  82   h ) may be composed as a single unit.  
         [0113]     In order to effectively prevent different colors of ink from migrating among the surfaces of the plurality of ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  ( 82   a  to  82   h ), it is preferable that each one of the plurality of ink absorbers  82   a  to  82   d  ( 82   a  to  82   h ) is provided at least partially separated from the others.  
         [0114]     In the above embodiments, the color of ink ejected from the nozzles in each of the nozzle rows  4   k,    4   c,    4   y  and  4   m  is different from the color of ink ejected from a the nozzles in the other nozzle rows. However, the nozzles in at least two nozzle rows may eject the same color of ink.