Ink jet recording apparatus, electronic apparatus using the same and change control method therefor

An ink jet recording apparatus includes a movable carriage capable of moving as designed while carrying, hereon, a plurality of different recording heads for discharging ink to record characters and/or images and a plurality of different ink tanks for storing ink to be supplied to the recording heads, the recording heads and the ink tanks being changeable; a restoring unit capable of restoring the recording heads; a detection unit for determining the type of the recording head or the ink tank; and a control unit for causing the restoring unit to restore the recording head in a case where the detection unit has detected change of the recording head or the ink tank to the recording head or the ink tank of the same type, and inhibiting the restoring unit from restoring the recording head in a case where the detection unit has detected change to the recording head or the ink tank of a different type.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus having a
 recording head and an ink tank mounted on a carriage thereof and arranged
 to move the carriage and supply an image signal to the recording head to
 discharge ink so as to record characters and/or images on a recording
 medium.
 2. Related Background Art
 In a computer, a word processor, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, a
 printer and the like, an ink jet recording apparatus has been widely used
 as means for recording information on a recording medium, such as paper,
 because noise generation can be prevented, data can be recorded at high
 speed and color images can easily be recorded.
 The ink jet recording apparatus has a structure including a recording head
 disposed to oppose a recording medium so that heat energy or the like is
 used to discharge ink. The ink jet recording apparatus has been
 accommodated in an individual case or integrally included in the case of
 an electronic apparatus structured to produce information to be recorded
 and transmit the information as exemplified by a word processor, a
 personal computer or a facsimile apparatus which receives information from
 outside.
 An ink jet recording apparatus for performing a color recording operation
 includes a recording head to be communicated with an ink tank or a
 recording head formed integrally with an ink tank. There have been widely
 used ink jet recording apparatuses of a type provided with a restoring
 apparatus arranged to be in contact with the recording head to absorb ink
 so as to restore the function of the recording head in order to maintain
 the quality of characters to be printed.
 The conventional ink jet recording apparatus prints color images or the
 like by using a color recording head including inks in four colors and
 prints monochrome characters, such as text data, by using a monochrome
 recording head. That is, the recording heads and ink tanks have been
 changed to be adaptable to the contents to be printed.
 Under the existing conditions, a restoring operation has been automatically
 performed regardless of the type of the recording head when the recording
 head has been changed.
 However, the conventional structure always and automatically performs the
 restoring operation whenever change from the color recording head to the
 monochrome recording head or that from the monochrome recording head to
 the color recording head is performed. Therefore, if the recording head
 has been changed frequently, the restoring operation is performed whenever
 the recording head is changed. As a result, ink is wasted excessively,
 thus causing ink to be consumed undesirably. In particular, since a
 portable recording apparatus must attain desired portability, the size of
 the recording head and that of the ink tank must be reduced as well as the
 size of the ink jet recording apparatus. Moreover, ink in the ink tank
 must be restored efficiently when the recording head is changed.
 Hitherto, the conventional apparatus usually includes an instruction means
 for controlling the recording apparatus to be capable of changing the
 recording head and to instruct the change of the recording head. The state
 where the change is enabled is exemplified by movement of the carrier for
 conveying the recording head to a position, at which the recording head
 can be changed. The instruction means sometimes consists of one or two
 keys and a variety of change modes are instructed by changing the
 combination of keys to be depressed or number of depressing operations.
 A recording apparatus of the type having the various change modes suffers
 from a problem in that the change mode cannot accurately be instructed,
 for example, in a case where the recording head, which is being used, is
 changed to a new type recording head or a new type recording substance
 supply means. In the foregoing case, there arise problems in that the
 quantity of the contained recording substances in the newly mounted
 recording head or the recording substance supply means or a discharge
 restoring process, to be performed prior to performing the recording
 operation, is inaccurate, and that an unnecessary process is performed.
 When the instruction means for instructing the change instructs to perform
 the control operation to enable the recording apparatus to be changed,
 another problem arises in that the change mode cannot be instructed and,
 therefore, the recording apparatus, the recording head of which has been
 changed, cannot be controlled accurately.
 If the instruction means for instructing the change consists of one or two
 keys, a problem arises in that the operation becomes too complicated. What
 is worse, the complicated operation causes an erroneous instruction to be
 performed.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording
 apparatus capable of satisfactorily saving time and reducing ink
 consumption when a restoring operation is performed due to change of a
 recording head.
 In order to achieve the foregoing object, according to one aspect of the
 present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus
 comprising: a movable carriage capable of moving as designed while
 carrying, thereon, a plurality of different recording heads for
 discharging ink to record characters and/or images and a plurality of
 different ink tanks for storing ink to be supplied to the recording heads,
 the recording heads and the ink tanks being changeable; restoring means
 for restoring the recording head; detection means for determining the type
 of the recording head or the ink tank; and control means for causing the
 restoring means to restore the recording head in a case where the
 detection means has detected change of the recording head or the ink tank
 to the recording head or the ink tank of the same type, and inhibiting the
 restoring means from restoring the recording head in a case where the
 detection means has detected change to the recording head or the ink tank
 of a different type.
 Since the detection means for detecting the type of the recording head is
 provided in the structure according to the present invention, the control
 means determines whether the restoring operation must be performed when
 the recording head has been changed. As a result, the quantity of ink to
 be consumed when the recording head is changed can be reduced.
 According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
 recording apparatus having display means for displaying the plurality of
 change modes concerning change to be performed in the recording apparatus
 and an electronic apparatus that can be electrically connected to the
 recording apparatus; instruction means for selecting a desired change mode
 from the plurality of change modes displayed on the display means; and
 control means for controlling the recording apparatus in accordance with
 an instruction issued by the instruction means.
 According to the present invention, a change mode selected from a variety
 of the change modes is instructed to be performed when the recording head
 or the recording substance supply means is changed. The recording
 apparatus is controlled in accordance with the instruction issued by the
 instruction means.
 Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be evident
 from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments
 described in conjunction with the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described.
 The embodiment of the present invention has a structure comprising
 recording means having a recording head mounted on a carriage, the
 structure of which is similar to that of the conventional ink jet
 recording apparatus, and arranged to discharge ink to a recording medium
 in order to record data; a restoring means for restoring the function of
 the recording head; and a control means for controlling the operation of
 the ink jet recording apparatus. The structure of this embodiment is
 characterized by a detection means for discriminating the type of the
 recording head or the ink tank; and the structure of the control means
 that has a function capable of reliably discriminating as to whether the
 recording head or the ink tank removed from the carriage has been changed
 to the same type recording head or the ink tank or a different type
 recording head or an ink tank so as to control the restoring means.
 The detection means may be adapted to a detection method for detecting
 contact of the recording head or the ink tank with the outer surface that
 becomes different depending upon the type of the recording head or the ink
 tank or a non-contact detection method.
 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording
 apparatus according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a
 carriage 2 for detachably carrying a recording head cartridge 1 is
 supported by a guide shaft 5 and a guide rail 12, the two ends of each of
 which are secured to a frame 4 and which are disposed to run parallel to
 each other, the carriage 2 being allowed to slide in a direction
 perpendicular to a direction, in which a recording medium P is moved,
 which is in parallel to the surface of the recording medium P. The
 carriage 2 is connected to a portion of a carriage drive belt 11 arranged
 between a drive pulley 13, secured to an output shaft of a carriage drive
 motor 10, and a rotative follower pulley (not shown). As a result, when
 the carriage drive motor 10 is rotated, the carriage drive belt 11 is
 rotated so that the carriage 2 is allowed to reciprocate in the foregoing
 directions.
 The recording head cartridge 1 is an ink tank holder having a nozzle
 portion serving as a recording head for discharging ink in response to a
 recording signal, which is an electric signal for causing ink to be
 discharged; and a mono-color holder. An ink tank 30 for containing ink is
 detachably held by the mono-color holder. The nozzle portion is formed in
 the bottom (at the lower end of FIG. 1) of the recording head cartridge 1
 so that ink is discharged downwards. The recording signal, to be supplied
 to the nozzle portion, is transmitted from a control board (not shown) for
 controlling the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus through a
 flexible cable 3 arranged in the carriage 2. The flexible cable 3 is
 arranged in a direction, in which the carriage 2 is moved, in such a
 manner that the flexible cable 3 forms a loop due to the movement of the
 carriage 2. The recording head cartridge 1 and the carriage 2 will be
 described later.
 The recording mediums P are stacked on a pressing plate 8 having two ends
 rotatively supported by the frame 4. The pressing plate 8 is, by an urging
 means (not shown), urged to a pickup roller 9 so that the recording
 mediums P stacked on the pressing plate 8 are pressed against the pickup
 roller 9. When the pickup roller 9 is rotated following a paper-supply
 command, the frictional force generated between the pickup roller 9 and
 the recording medium P pushes the recording medium P. The pressing plate 8
 has a separating means (not shown), such as a separating claw which has
 been employed in a conventional automatic paper-supply apparatus, so that
 the separating means acts to feed the uppermost recording medium P.
 The recording medium P, fed by the pickup roller 9, is, while being held by
 a conveying roller 6 and a pinch roller 7 provided for a base 14, moved to
 a position below the carriage 2. Information is recorded on the recording
 medium P at the foregoing position. A paper-discharge roller 15 and a
 wheel 16 opposing to each other are disposed downstream of the carriage 2
 in the direction, in which the recording medium P is moved, so that the
 recording medium P passed below the carriage 2 is held between the
 paper-discharge roller 15 and the wheel 16 before the recording medium P
 is discharged. The pickup roller 9, conveying roller 6 and the
 paper-discharge roller 15 are rotated by a paper-feeding motor (not
 shown).
 In the following description, the upstream direction with respect to the
 direction, in which the recording medium P is moved, is called a forward
 portion, the forward surface is called a back surface, the downstream
 direction is called a rearward portion, and the rearward surface is called
 a front surface.
 FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the ink jet recording
 apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is accommodated in a case for the apparatus. As
 shown in FIG. 2, the case consists of an upper case 17 and a lower case
 18. The case accommodates the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
 The upper case 17 includes, in the forward portion thereof, a top cover 19
 for covering the upper case 17, the top cover 19 being permitted to be
 opened/closed as desired. The upper case 17 has an opening at a position
 corresponding to the pressing plate 8. When the top cover 19 is opened,
 the top cover 19 serves as a tray for setting the recording medium P on
 the pressing plate 8. The upper case 17 further comprises an opening
 formed from the central portion thereof to the front surface thereof.
 Thus, the recording head cartridge 1 or the ink tank 30 can be
 mounted/removed through the foregoing opening. Therefore, when the
 recording head cartridge 1 or the ink tank 30 is changed, the carriage 2
 is moved to the central portion of the movable range for the carriage 2
 due to a predetermined operation. In front of the opening for changing the
 recording head cartridge 1 or the ink tank 30, there is disposed a head
 cover 20, permitted to be opened/closed as desired, and arranged to cover
 a portion or the front surface of the opening. When the recording head
 cartridge 1 or the ink tank 30 is not changed, the head cover is closed to
 protect the recording head cartridge 1.
 FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the recording head cartridge 1 of the ink jet
 recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective
 view showing an essential portion of a nozzle portion 50 of the recording
 head cartridge 1 shown in FIG. 3.
 The recording head cartridge 1 is a mono-color cartridge having the nozzle
 portion 50 for discharging ink; and a mono-color holder 60 having an
 opening on the top surface thereof and formed into a box-like shape, the
 nozzle portion 50 and the mono-color holder 60 being formed integrally.
 The mono-color holder 60 includes an ink tank 30 for containing mono-color
 ink.
 The nozzle portion 50 is, as shown in FIG. 4 in an enlarged manner, formed
 by securing a groove-formed member 52, having a plurality of liquid
 passages 50d and grooves forming a common liquid chamber 50c, to a base
 plate 51 made of metal, such as aluminum. A discharge port surface 50a
 opposing the recording medium P (see FIG. 1) has a plurality of discharge
 ports 50b serving as opening ends of the liquid passages 50d. The liquid
 passages 50d are formed at predetermined pitches, and electrothermal
 converters (heat resistors or the like) 50e for generating energy for
 discharging ink are disposed on the base plate 51 to correspond to the
 liquid passages 50d. The common liquid chamber 50c is communicated with
 the ink tank 30, to which ink is supplied from the ink tank 30. Each
 elecrothermal converter 50e is electrically connected to a head terminal
 portion through electric wires (not shown).
 The head terminal portion is an electric board secured to the base plate 51
 and made of epoxy glass or the like. The wire connected to each
 elecrothermal converter 50e is connected to the head terminal portion by
 wire bonding. The base plate 51 is, as shown in FIG. 3, attached such that
 it is inclined to make an angle of 1.degree. to 4.degree. with respect to
 the direction in which the recording medium P is moved. Therefore, the row
 of the discharge ports 50b is inclined by an angular degree of 1.degree.
 to 4.degree. with respect to the direction in which the recording medium P
 is moved.
 Ink, supplied from the ink tank 30 to the common liquid chamber 50c and
 temporarily stored there, is introduced into the liquid passages 50d due
 to capillarity and forms meniscus at each of the discharge ports 50b so
 that a state is maintained in which the liquid passages 50d are filled
 with the ink. When electric power is supplied to the electrothermal
 converters 50e in response to the recording signal transmitted to the head
 terminal portion and, therefore, the electrothermal converter 50e generate
 heat, the ink placed on the electrothermal converters 50e is rapidly
 heated and film-boiled. As a result, bubbles are generated in the liquid
 passages 50d, and expansions of the bubbles cause the ink to be discharged
 through the discharge ports 50b. Although the electrothermal converters
 50e are employed as the energy generators for generating energy, the
 present invention is not limited to the electrothermal converters 50e.
 Piezoelectric devices for generating mechanical energy, with which
 discharging pressure is spontaneously applied, may be employed.
 An operation of attaching/detaching the ink tank 30 to the mono-color
 holder 60 will now be described.
 When the ink tank 30 is attached to the mono-color holder 60, a member for
 sealing the ink supply port is separated. Then, the ink tank 30 is, as
 shown in FIG. 5, inserted diagonally as indicated by an arrow of FIG. 5,
 from a portion, in which a separation preventive claw 32d is formed, so
 that a stepped portion 31a of the ink tank 30 is inserted below each
 projections 60f of the mono-color holder 60. Then, the separation
 preventive claw 32d of the ink tank 30 is hooked by a tank separation
 preventive hole of the mono-color holder 60 so that the ink tank 30 is
 located roughly. Since the ink tank 30 has an inclined surface 32g to
 serve as a guide for making the inclined surface 32g to be in parallel to
 the bottom surface of the mono-color holder 60, the ink tank 30 can be
 inserted into the mono-color holder 60 in such a manner that the stepped
 portion 31a of the ink tank 30 can easily be inserted below the
 projections 60f. Since the mono-color holder 60 and the ink tank 30 have
 inclined surfaces 60k and 32g corresponding to each other, an ink tank of
 a different type cannot be mounted. Thus, unintentional mounting of an ink
 tank can be prevented.
 FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a color recording head cartridge, to
 be mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and two ink
 tanks to be mounted on the foregoing color recording head cartridge. The
 color recording head cartridge 101 has a structure enabling a black ink
 tank 130 for containing black ink and a color ink tank 140 for containing
 yellow, magenta and cyan inks to be mounted/removed so that four color
 inks are discharged. Therefore, a nozzle portion 150 is sectioned into a
 black ink discharge port group 150B, a yellow ink discharge port group
 150Y, a magenta ink discharge port group 150M and a cyan ink discharge
 port group 150C (not shown). To divide regions on which the black ink tank
 130 and the color ink tank 140 are mounted, a partition plate 165 is
 integrally formed with the bottom wall of the color holder 160.
 A head plate 151 and a head terminal portion 153 have the same structures
 as those of the mono-color recording head cartridge 1. Also the color
 holder 160 has substantially the same external shape as that of the
 mono-color recording head cartridge 1 except for delicate differences. In
 particular, the color holder 160 has the same structure such that its
 shape relating to the carriage 2 and the position of a head
 attaching/detaching operation portion 160c serving as a portion, which is
 hooked by the finger when the color recording head cartridge 101 is
 removed from the carriage 2, are the same. Therefore, the color recording
 head cartridge 101 can be mounted/removed with respect to the carriage 2,
 which is the same as the foregoing carriage 2 on which the mono-color
 recording head cartridge 1 is mounted. That is, a user is permitted to
 select and mount either of the mono-color recording head cartridge 1 or
 the color recording head cartridge 101 on one ink jet recording apparatus.
 FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a restoring sequence to be performed when
 the head is changed in the structure of the first embodiment. Referring to
 FIG. 7, the characterized operation of this embodiment will now be
 described.
 When a head change key (not shown) is depressed, the type (ID) of the
 recording head mounted on the recording apparatus is discriminated. The
 carriage (CR) is moved to the position, at which the recording head is
 changed, in accordance with a change command. Assuming that ink, which is
 being used, has been consumed and the printing operation has not been
 completed, only the ink tank is changed and the recording head is not
 changed. Since, generated bubbles, however, exist in the ink passage in
 the recording head, the operation proceeds along a route (1) when only the
 ink tank has been changed so that a restoring operation corresponding to
 the type of the recording head is performed.
 An assumption is now made that the recording head has been changed. In the
 trend of using color personal computers, the printing operations are
 performed to be adaptable to the case where a monochrome printing
 operation is desired to print a report or the like and the case where a
 color printing operation is desired at the time of performing a
 presentation or writing new year cards so that the running cost is reduced
 significantly. When a recording head having color ID (identification code)
 A has been changed to a recording head having monochrome ID code B for
 example, ID A and ID B are different from each other in step (2), the
 operation proceeds along route (3) so that the carriage (CR) is returned
 to the home position (HP) and, therefore, monochrome printing is enabled.
 Since the monochrome recording head is a used recording head in this case,
 printing can be performed even if the restoring operation is not
 performed. Also in the case where a monochrome recording head has been
 changed to a color recording head, the restoring operation is not
 performed similarly.
 Therefore, the restoring operation is not required whenever the recording
 head is changed, so that the quantity of consumption of ink in the ink
 tank is reduced. Moreover, the capacity of the ink tank can be reduced,
 the quantity of waste ink to be stored in the recording apparatus after
 the restoring operation has been performed can be reduced. As a result,
 the size of the recording apparatus can be reduced and, therefore,
 satisfactory portability can be realized. Since no restoring operation is
 performed, the printing operation can be performed immediately after the
 change has been performed.
 FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a control operation to be performed when the
 recording head is changed in the structure according to a second
 embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is intended to
 satisfy the desired portability and a requirement for use as the desk top
 type ink jet recording apparatus. In a case where the portability is
 required, a recording head having a small-size tank is used and it is
 subjected to the restoring operation as has been done in the first
 embodiment.
 In a case where hundreds of sheets are recorded or ink is consumed in a
 large quantity per one sheet, it is convenient to use a recording head
 exhibiting a capacity for containing ink larger than the foregoing
 recording head. If the foregoing recording head is given ID code C, the
 restoring operation is not performed if a recording head of a different
 type has been mounted. Therefore, ink consumption at the time of changing
 the recording head can be prevented. In the foregoing case, the
 arrangement is effective on the promise that the recording head to be
 changed is in a state where it is able to perform the printing operation.
 Referring to the flow chart shown in FIG. 8, whether ID A=ID C is
 determined in step (4). If ID C indicates a large capacity head and,
 therefore, its type is different from the head having ID A, the operation
 proceeds along route 5. Since no restoring operation is performed, the
 object of the second embodiment can be achieved.
 As described above, according to the present invention, the detection means
 for determining the type of the recording head is provided to determine
 whether the restoring operation must be performed at the time of changing
 the recording head. Therefore, the ink tank mounted on the recording head
 can efficiently be restored and the quantity of ink, which is consumed due
 to the restoring operation, can be reduced.
 Since the number of the restoring operations can be decreased, the space
 for storing the waste ink sucked due to the restoring operation can be
 reduced and, therefore, the size of the recording apparatus can be
 reduced. Since the printing operation can be performed immediately after
 the change has been performed, the time required to restore the recording
 state can be omitted.
 FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an essential portion of an ink jet
 recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the present
 invention. Referring to FIG. 9, reference numeral 501 represents a head
 cartridge having an ink jet recording head and provided for a recording
 apparatus in such a manner that it can be changed to mount a monochrome
 recording head when a monochrome recording operation is performed and to
 mount a color recording head when a color recording operation is
 performed. The recording head, which is not being used, is stored in a
 storage box (not shown). Reference numeral 502 represents a carrier for
 carrying the head cartridge 501 to carry the same in a direction S.
 Reference numeral 503 represents a hook for attaching the head cartridge
 501 to the carrier 502. Reference numeral 504 represents a lever for
 operating the hook 503. Reference numeral 505 represents a support plate
 for supporting an electrical connection portion with respect to the head
 cartridge 501. Reference numeral 506 represents an FPC (Flexible Printing
 Circuit) for establishing the connection between the foregoing electrical
 connection portion and a control unit in the body of the apparatus.
 Reference numeral 507 represents a guide shaft for guiding the carrier
 502, the guide shaft 507 being inserted into a shaft receiver 508 of the
 carrier 502. Reference numeral 509 represents a timing belt, on which the
 carrier 502 is mounted, and arranged to transmit power to move the carrier
 502 in the direction S, the timing belt 509 being arranged between pulleys
 510A and 510B disposed at the two ends of the apparatus. The pulley 510B
 receives drive force from a carrier motor 511 through a transmission
 mechanism, such as gears. Reference numeral 512 represents a conveyance
 roller for controlling the recording surface of the recording medium, such
 as paper, and for controlling the recording medium when the recording
 operation is performed, the conveyance roller 512 being rotated by a
 conveyance motor 513. Reference numeral 514 represents a paper pan for
 guiding the recording medium P to a recording position. Reference numeral
 515 represents a pinch roller disposed at an intermediate position of a
 passage, through which the recording medium is moved, and arranged to
 press the recording medium against the conveyance roller 512 so as to move
 the recording medium. Reference numeral 516 represents a platen opposing
 the discharge ports of the head cartridge 501 and controlling the
 recording surface of the recording medium. Reference numeral 517
 represents a paper-discharge roller discharged downstream from the
 recording position in the direction, in which the recording medium is
 moved, and arranged to discharge the recording medium to a discharge port
 (not shown). Reference numeral 518 represents a wheel disposed to
 correspond to the paper-discharge roller 517 and presses the
 paper-discharge roller 517 through the recording medium in order to cause
 the paper-discharge roller 517 to generate the force for moving the
 recording medium. Reference numeral 519 represents a suspension lever for
 suspending urging performed by the pinch roller 515 and the wheel 518 when
 the recording medium is set. The platen 516 is, at the two ends thereof,
 rotatively supported by the shaft of the paper-discharge roller 517, and
 urged toward a front surface 521 of the paper pan 514 from a position at
 which right and left plates 520 are stopped. A plurality of portions 512A
 of the conveyance roller 512, each having a diameter smaller than the
 outer diameter of the conveyance roller 512, are in contact with the
 inside of a front surface 521 of the paper pan 514. Reference numeral 522
 represents a cap opposing the surface of the recording head, in which the
 discharge ports are formed, and made of an elastic material, such as
 rubber, the cap 522 being supported so as to be brought into contact
 with/separated from the recording head. The cap 522 protects the recording
 head when the recording operation is not performed and when the operation
 for restoring discharge of the recording head is performed. The discharge
 restoring operation is an operation (previous discharge) having steps of
 causing the cap 522 to oppose the surface, in which the ink discharge
 ports are formed, and operating the energy generating devices, disposed in
 the ink discharge port, to discharge ink through all of discharge ports so
 as to remove factors preventing discharge of ink, such as bubbles, dust or
 ink, the viscosity of which has been raised excessively when used in a
 recording operation. The discharge restoring operation includes an
 operation having a step of forcibly discharging ink through the discharge
 ports in a state where the surface, in which the ink discharge ports are
 formed, is covered with the cap 522 to remove the factors to prevent
 discharge. Reference numeral 523 represents a pump for causing suction
 force for forcibly discharging ink and for sucking ink received in the cap
 522 when the discharge restoring operation is performed by the forcible
 discharge or the discharge restoring operation by the previous discharge.
 Reference numeral 524 represents a waste-ink tank for storing waste ink
 sucked by the pump 523. The waste-ink tank 524 is connected to the pump
 523 through a tube 528. Reference numeral 525 represents a blade for
 wiping the surface of the recording head, in which the ink discharge ports
 are formed, the blade 525 being supported in such a manner that it can be
 moved between a position, at which it projects toward the recording head
 to wipe the surface during the movement of the carrier 502, and a position
 moved away from the surface in which the ink discharge ports are formed.
 Reference numeral 526 represents a restoring system motor. Reference
 numeral 527 represents a cam unit for receiving power from the restoring
 system motor 526 to operate the pump 523 and move the cap 522 and the
 blade 525. The head cartridge 501 will now be described in detail.
 FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the head cartridge 501 formed by
 integrating a discharge unit 501J, serving as the body of the ink jet
 recording head, and an ink tank 501K, serving as a recording substance
 supply means for containing ink, which is the recording substance, and
 supplying the ink to the recording head. The ink tank 501K of the head
 cartridge shown in FIG. 10 is structured to be changeable with respect to
 the head cartridge by a mechanism (not shown). The color recording head
 cartridge has a black ink tank for supplying black ink and a color ink
 tank for supplying color ink in such a manner that they can be changed.
 The color ink tank contains yellow, magenta and cyan inks in such a manner
 that the ink can be supplied. Referring to FIG. 10, a claw 501L is hooked
 by a hook 503 formed on the carrier 502 when the head cartridge 501 is
 mounted. As can be understood from FIG. 10, the claw 501L is disposed on
 the inner surface of the outermost surface of the head. In front of the
 head cartridge 501 and near the discharge unit 501J, there is disposed a
 locating stopper (not shown). A head opening 501M is formed through which
 the support plate 505 is inserted, the support plate 505 being stood erect
 on the carrier 502 and arranged to support the flexible board (electrical
 connection portion) and the rubber pad.
 FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the structure of a control circuit of
 the recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
 invention. Arrows shown in FIG. 11 indicate directions in which signals
 are transmitted. Reference numeral 300 represents a host unit, such as a
 computer or a word processor. Reference numeral 3001 represents an MPU for
 controlling the overall operations of the host unit 300, the MPU 3001
 having a timer portion 3002 for counting time lapse in performing the
 control. The host unit 300 is controlled by a control program or a variety
 of data items stored in a ROM 3003 or an external storage unit 3006, such
 as a floppy disk or a hard disk. Reference numeral 3004 represents a RAM
 to serve as a work area when the control is performed or a buffer area for
 storing data input from an input unit 3005, such as a keyboard. Reference
 numeral 3007 represents a display unit, such as a CRT or an LCD, and
 arranged to display information relating to recording, such as information
 to be recorded by the recording apparatus. Reference numerals 3008, 3009
 and 3010 represent drives for respectively controlling or operating the
 input unit 3005, the external storage unit 3006 and the display unit 3007.
 Similarly to the host unit 300, the recording apparatus 310 comprises an
 MPU 3101 for controlling the recording apparatus 310, a timer portion
 3102, a ROM 3103 and a RAM 3104. An EEPROM 3105 is an electrically
 erasable ROM for storing recorded data even if the power supply to the
 apparatus is turned off, the EEPROM 3105 storing the quantity of
 consumption of the recording substance or the residual quantity of the
 same. When the recording operation is performed, recording information 320
 transmitted from the MPU 3001 of the host unit 300 is stored in the RAM
 3104 of the recording apparatus 310. Then, the MPU 3101 and the timer
 portion 3102 control the corresponding portions of the recording apparatus
 310 to perform the recording operation. In the recording apparatus 310,
 the MPU 3101, at the time of performing the recording operation, controls
 the head cartridge 501, the carrier motor 511, the conveyance motor 513
 and the restoring system motor 526. The head cartridge 501 is operated by
 a discharge heater driver 3106, while the carrier motor 511, the
 conveyance motor 513 and the restoring system motor 526 are operated by
 motor drivers 3107, 3108 and 3109. In accordance with results of
 detections performed by a carrier home sensor 3110, a paper sensor 3111
 and a restoring system home sensor 3112, the MPU 3101 detects the position
 of the carriage, whether paper exists, and the cap position. The RAM 3104
 has regions for storing the number MD11 of dots recorded by the monochrome
 recording head, the number CD11 of dots recorded by the color recording
 head, and data HD of the recognized current recording head. The RAM 3004
 has regions for storing displayed residual quantity MDD in the monochrome
 recording head and displayed residual quantity CDD in the color recording
 head. The EEPROM 3105 has regions for storing MD11 and CD11 (hereinafter
 the foregoing regions are indicated by RMD11, RCD11, RHD, RMDD, RCDD,
 EMD11 and ECD11). The display unit 3007 displays the residual quantity of
 each of the monochrome recording head and the color recording head (330
 and 331). The foregoing display is performed such that the number of
 recordable dots (HMAX) of a new recording head is, as data, previously
 stored in the ROM 3103; the number of dots (MD11 and CD11) by each of the
 current monochrome recording head and the color recording head are
 sequentially counted; the differences (HMAX-MD11) and (HMAX-CD11) are, as
 state information 321 of the recording apparatus, transmitted to the host
 unit 300; MDD and CDD corresponding to the differences are stored in RMDD
 and RCDD in the RAM 3004; and the stored MDD and CDD are displayed on the
 display unit 3007. In a case where an operation that changes the residual
 quantity is performed, for example, the discharge restoring operation is
 performed as well as the recording operation, the quantity, which is
 changed due to the foregoing operation, is converted into the number of
 recorded dots. The values of MD11 and CD11 are stored in the EMD11 and
 ECD11 of the EEPROM 3105 when the power source for the apparatus has been
 turned off so as to be again stored in the MD11 and RCD11 after the power
 source has been turned on.
 FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the structure of a
 circuit for detecting as to whether or not the recording head (the head
 cartridge 501) has been mounted. An end of a signal ID, detecting a result
 of detecting whether or not the recording head has been mounted, is
 connected to a portion HS1 on which the head cartridge 501 will be
 mounted. When the head cartridge 501 has been mounted, the HS1 is
 electrically connected to a portion HS2 which is connected to the ground
 (GND) of the control portion in the body of the apparatus. Other ends of
 the signal ID are connected to an end of an input terminal IP, at which
 the MPU 3101 is able to detect the high level or the low level, and an end
 of a resistor R, respectively. Another end of the resistor R is connected
 to a power source (VCC) for the control portion in the body of the
 apparatus. As a result of the foregoing structure, if the head cartridge
 501 has not been mounted on the carrier 502, the input terminal IP detects
 a high level. If the head cartridge 501 has been mounted, the input
 terminal IP detects a low level. Since each of the monochrome recording
 head and the color recording head comprises the foregoing circuit,
 detections of the monochrome recording head and the color recording head
 can be further performed (signal 3113 indicating a result of detection
 whether or not the monochrome recording head has been mounted and a signal
 3114 indicating a result of detection whether or not the color recording
 head has been mounted).
 FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example of an electronic apparatus
 having the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 9. Reference numeral
 3005 represents an input unit for inputting information to be recorded by
 the recording apparatus. A display means 3007 is a display unit formed by
 an LCD and arranged to display inputted information and information about
 the recording operation. A keyboard 3005 according to this embodiment as
 well as serves as an instruction means for instructing change of the
 recording head and the recording substance supply means. The display means
 3007 displays recording information, recording condition and the mode for
 changing the recording head and the recording substance supply means.
 FIG. 14 shows the case where the information about the recording condition
 is displayed on the display means 3007.
 A display window 4001 at the center of FIG. 14 has a structure with which a
 variety of conditions can be set. An item 4002 in the display window 4001
 is arranged with which the number of copies is set such that it indicates
 the number of copies of a sequence of recording information items. The
 number of copies is set to one as a default. An item 4003 is used to set
 "partial printing" with which the pages of a plurality of pages of the
 information to be recorded is instructed. An item 4004 displays the "type
 of paper" with which the type of the recording medium for use in the
 recording operation is instructed. The set type of paper is
 invert-displayed. An item 4005 is used to set the "grade of printing" with
 which the method of forming the information on the recording medium is
 instructed. In this embodiment, "STANDARD" is a mode in which a
 predetermined region to be recorded is scanned once by the recording head
 to record information, "FINE" is a mode in which a predetermined region to
 be recorded is scanned by a plurality of times by the recording head to
 record information, and "ECONOMY" is a mode for forming a predetermined
 information to be recorded by thinning the same. With an item 4006, "COLOR
 PRINTING" is set with which whether edited information to be recorded is
 printed in a monochrome color or color-printed is set. An item 4007 is
 used to set "RECIPROCATIVE PRINTING" with which whether information is
 recorded by scanning in one direction, that is, forward direction (a
 scanning direction from the right portion to the left portion of FIG. 9)
 or reverse direction (a scanning direction from the left portion to the
 right portion of FIG. 9) or the same is recorded by both forward direction
 and the reverse direction is set.
 An item 4008 ("MOUNTED CARTRIDGE") shown in the lower left portion of FIG.
 14 indicates the type of the present head cartridge mounted, the present
 head cartridge being a result of detection performed by the detection
 circuit of the head cartridge shown in FIG. 12. Icons 4009 and 4010
 indicate ink bottles respectively correspond to a monochrome ink residual
 quantity indicator 300 and a color ink residual quantity indicator 310
 shown in FIG. 11 such that the quantities of contained inks, which are the
 recording substances, are indicated in accordance with the residual
 quantity displayed data MDD and CDD.
 FIG. 14 shows display indicating that the color recording head cartridge
 has been mounted at present, the mounted head cartridge containing black
 ink in a quantity of 75% or more to not more than 100% the quantity of ink
 in a new head cartridge and color ink in a quantity of 0% or more to not
 more than 25% the quantity of ink in a new head cartridge.
 Menus F1, F2, F3 and F4 shown in the upper portion of FIG. 14 indicate
 functions assigned to function keys F1, F2, F3 and F4 (not shown) of the
 keyboard 3005. The menu F1 is an instruction means for setting further
 detailed conditions of the recording conditions. The menu F2 is an
 instruction means assigned to menu "CLEANING" with which the discharge
 restoring operation is instructed and performed. Menus F3 and F4 are
 instruction means assigned to menus "HEAD CHANGE" and "INK CHANGE" with
 which change of the recording head and that of the ink tank serving as the
 recording substance supply means are instructed.
 When the "HEAD CHANGE" assigned to the menu F3 is selected and instructed
 with the function key F3 provided for the keyboard 3005, further detailed
 contents of the change are displayed on the display means 3007 as shown in
 FIG. 15. As shown in FIG. 15, the menu F3 is selected so that the "HEAD
 CHANGE" assigned to the menu F3 is inversely displayed and further
 detailed menu is displayed as a pull down menu 4011. By employing the pull
 down menu, a required menu can be displayed as the need arises and menu
 selection can be performed easily. Three items are displayed, which are
 "1. CHANGE TO MONOCHROME HEAD", "2. CHANGE TO COLOR HEAD" and "3. CHANGE
 TO NEW HEAD". The "CHANGE TO MONOCHROME HEAD" indicates change of the
 current color head to the monochrome head, "CHANGE TO NEW HEAD" indicates
 change of the current color head to a new monochrome head or a new color
 head. Since the color head is mounted on the recording apparatus at
 present, the change from the present color head to a color head, which is
 not a new head, is not performed. Therefore, the menu "2. CHANGE TO COLOR
 HEAD" is hidden to prevent selection and instruction. FIG. 15 shows a
 state where the menu "2. CHANGE TO COLOR HEAD" is displayed in a thin
 color to prevent the menu from being selected and instructed. The method
 of indicating the item that cannot be selected is not limited to that
 employed in this embodiment. For example, a message that selection and
 instruction cannot be performed may be shown when the selecting operation
 has been performed. In the case where a monochrome head has been mounted,
 change from the monochrome head to a monochrome head, which is not a new
 head, is not performed. Therefore, the change to the monochrome head is
 prevented by hiding the display. Also the "INK CHANGE" is selected by the
 function key F4 provided for the keyboard 3005. The detailed contents of
 the change shown in FIG. 16 are displayed in the pull down menu 4012. The
 displayed contents of the change concern the head mounted at present and
 are "CHANGE TO BLACK INK (COLOR) (the ink tank in the color head is
 changed to a black ink tank), "CHANGE TO COLOR INK", the ink tank in the
 color head is changed to a color ink tank, and changes to black and color
 ink tanks. The display of change of a black ink tank in the monochrome
 head is hidden. In the case where the monochrome head has been mounted,
 the menu F4 displays only the change of the ink tank in the monochrome
 head to a black ink and the other contents are hidden.
 Referring to FIG. 17, the method of changing the head cartridge and a
 control sequence for displaying the residual quantity of ink according to
 this embodiment will now be described.
 Referring to FIG. 17, symbol R indicates normal completion of the
 operation, and symbol W indicates abnormal completion or incompletion of
 the operation. The description will be performed hereinafter about a case
 where change to a new color recording head is performed in a state where a
 monochrome head cartridge has been mounted on the recording apparatus
 although change to a new monochrome head cartridge was attempted. However,
 similar control may be adapted to the reverse case.
 If the recording condition of the head cartridge 1 has deteriorated, that
 is, if a state not suitable to recording has been realized (for example,
 if a discharged ink droplet cannot reach a desired position on the
 recording medium), a user selects "CLEANING" displayed in the upper
 portion of the display means 3007 so that the cleaning operation which is
 the discharge restoring process is performed. Selection of the menu F3 can
 be performed by selecting and depressing the function key F3 (not shown)
 of the keyboard 3005. If the head cartridge is not suitable to performing
 the recording operation even after the foregoing operation has been
 performed, change of the head cartridge to a new head cartridge is
 permitted in a case where the user has determined that the life of the
 head cartridge has been depleted.
 When change to a new head cartridge is performed, the key F3 is used in
 this embodiment to instruct the head change and "CHANGE TO NEW HEAD" in
 the pull down menu 4011 shown in FIG. 15 is selected. If "CHANGE TO NEW
 HEAD" in the pull down menu 4011 shown in FIG. 15 is selected, a
 determination is performed in step S102 that change to a new head has been
 instructed. Then, the operation proceeds to step S103. Thus, the head
 cartridge change sequence starts (1) so that information HD indicating
 whether or not a head cartridge has been mounted and the type of the
 mounted head cartridge is detected by the circuit shown in FIG. 12 (in the
 foregoing case a monochrome head cartridge being mounted is detected); and
 the information HD is stored in the RHD. In step S103 a message of
 removing the head cartridge is displayed. If removable of the head
 cartridge has been detected by the foregoing circuit, either of RMDD or
 RCDD, that corresponds to the foregoing case, is initialized and the
 indication of the residual quantity, that is, the contents of indication
 are cleared to zero (in this case RMDD is cleared). In step S104 a message
 that the head cartridge must be changed is displayed. If no head cartridge
 being mounted has been detected at the start (1) of the head cartridge
 change sequence, step S103 is omitted but information about this has been
 stored in the RHD when the recording head has been removed.
 When the type of the mounted head cartridge has been detected by the
 circuit shown in FIG. 12 (if a color head mounted unintentionally is
 detected), the indication of the residual quantity, that is, the contents
 to be indicated are, as CCD having the value HMAX, stored in the RCDD to
 correspond to mounting of the color head cartridge (in the foregoing case,
 the MAX value is stored in the RCDD as shown in (6) of FIG. 17). The value
 stored in the RMD11 and RCD11, that is, the number of recorded dots (the
 count) is not initialized but is maintained. After the display of the
 residual quantity, that is, the contents to be indicated have been changed
 to MAX, a message indicating completion of the head cartridge is displayed
 in step S106 to cause the user to confirm this.
 If the user confirms erroneous mounting of the color cartridge in
 accordance with the display of the type of the mounted head cartridge and
 the residual quantity of the color head cartridge indicating the MAX value
 in step S106 and, therefore, the user performs a predetermined input, the
 operation returns to step S104.
 If a correct head cartridge has been mounted due to the foregoing process
 and YES has been selected and inputted in step S105 or S106, the value of
 the RMD11 or that of RCD11 is thus initialized (in the foregoing case, the
 value of the RMD 11 is initialized as indicated by (7) of FIG. 17).
 To cancel the operation, "CANCEL" is selected so that the values of the
 RMD11 and RCD11 are again stored in the RMDD and RCDD in accordance with
 the information HD at the start of the head cartridge change sequence. As
 a result of the foregoing procedure, the display of the residual quantity,
 that is, the contents to be indicated, can be restored to the display of
 the residual quantity (the contents to be indicated) in the state before
 the head cartridge is changed.
 Although the foregoing description has been performed about the case where
 change is performed to a new head cartridge of the same type as that of
 the head cartridge, which has been mounted on the recording apparatus, a
 similar operation is performed in a case where the head cartridge mounted
 on the recording apparatus is changed to a new head cartridge of a
 different type (for example, change from a monochrome head cartridge to a
 color head cartridge). In the case where change to a head cartridge of a
 different type is performed, "CHANGE TO MONOCHROME HEAD" or "CHANGE TO
 COLOR HEAD" shown in FIG. 15 is selected by using the key F3. The residual
 quantity of ink is displayed when the head cartridge has been changed to a
 color head cartridge such that the difference (HMAX-CD11) is transmitted
 to the host unit as the state information 321 of the recording apparatus,
 the difference (HMAX-CD11) being the difference between the number of
 recorded dots (CD11) stored in the RAM 3104 or the EEPROM 3105 when the
 color head cartridge has been mounted and used and the number of
 recordable dots (HMAX). The foregoing value CDD is stored in RCDD of the
 RAM 304; and in accordance with the value CDD, the residual quantity is
 displayed on the display unit 3007.
 When the ink tank changeably mounted on the head cartridge is changed,
 selection of "INK CHANGE" from the menu F4 enables a similar instruction
 to be performed to change the ink tank.
 The initial quantity of ink is sometimes different between the case where
 change to a new ink tank is performed to change ink and the case where
 change to a new head cartridge is performed to change the head. When only
 the ink tank is changed, the change can be performed in a state where the
 tank is filled with ink. New heads are sometimes shipped from a
 manufacturing plant after the state of discharge from the head has been
 tested. Therefore, the residual quantity of ink in a head mounted newly is
 smaller than the residual quantity of ink in a new ink tank. As a result,
 it is preferable that the initial values of the residual quantity of inks
 after the changes have been performed be changed between the two cases.
 As described above, this embodiment has the structure such that the change
 mode is displayed on the display unit 3007; instruction means
 corresponding to the change modes to be displayed are provided for the
 keys of the keyboard 3005; and the change is instructed by the instruction
 means. Therefore, an error in the change can be prevented, and the control
 of the display of the residual quantity of ink can be performed
 accurately.
 The foregoing embodiment has the structure such that the residual quantity
 of ink is displayed in accordance with the change instruction issued from
 the instruction means, that is, the contents to be indicated are changed
 (in the foregoing embodiment, the display of the residual quantity is
 changed to the MAX value when the head is changed to a new head). Then,
 the description will be made about a structure in which the head cartridge
 is subjected to a discharge restoring process in accordance with an
 instruction to change the head cartridge issued from the instruction
 means.
 FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing a process in which the discharge restoring
 operation is performed in accordance with the mode for changing the head
 cartridge or the ink tank. Discharge restoring operations 1 to 5 of the
 discharge restoring process will be described later, and the flow to the
 restoring operation will now be described.
 Whether or not the change is the head change or the change of the ink tank
 is determined in step S201. If a determination has been made in step S201
 that the head has been changed, whether or not the operation is to change
 the head cartridge to a new one is determined in step S202. If a
 determination has been performed in step S202 that the change to a new
 head has been carried out, the type of the head cartridge is determined in
 step S203. If a determination has been performed in step S203 that a color
 head cartridge has been mounted after the change, the operation proceeds
 to step S204 so that the restoring operation 1 is performed. If a
 determination has been performed in step S203 that the change to a
 monochrome head has been carried out, the operation proceeds to step S205
 so that the restoring operation 2 is performed.
 Correspondence to each instruction means displayed on the display unit 3007
 is established such that the determinations in steps S201 and S202 are
 determined in accordance with the result of instruction of the menu
 corresponding to the function key F3; and the determination of the type of
 the head in step S203 is performed in accordance with the information HD,
 which is detected by the detection circuit shown in FIG. 12.
 If a determination has been performed in step S202 that change to a head,
 which is not a new head, is performed (if change to a head of a different
 type is performed), whether or not the restoring operation is performed is
 determined in step S206. If the foregoing operation is performed, the
 operation proceeds to step S207 so that the restoring operation 3 is
 performed.
 The determination in step S206 is performed in accordance with a lapse of
 time from the moment at which the head mounted after the change has been
 subjected to the discharge restoring process. In this embodiment, the
 recording operation is performed if 72 or longer hours are elapsed from
 the previous discharge restoring operation. The time, at which the
 discharge restoring operation has been performed, is stored in the RAM
 3104 and the EEPROM 3105 whenever the discharge restoring operation is
 performed. The stored time and the time, at which the changing operation
 has been completed, are used to calculate the elapsed time. In this
 embodiment, the time is measured by a timer 3002. In this embodiment,
 whether or not the recording operation is performed in accordance with
 whether or not 72 hours have been elapsed from the removal from the
 recording apparatus. The reason for this is that rise in the viscosity of
 the ink and the quantity of dust and the like adhered to the surface of
 the discharge ports of the head cartridge are allowable and, therefore,
 the discharge restoring operation is not required. If the discharge
 restoring operation is always performed, the quantity of consumed ink
 becomes too large. Therefore, the excessive discharge restoring operation
 must be prevented to reduce the running cost. Although the determination
 is performed depending upon whether or not 72 hours have elapsed in this
 embodiment, the contents of the discharge restoring operation may be
 divided into a plurality of levels which are arranged to be performed in
 accordance with the time lapse.
 If a determination has been performed in step S201 that change except the
 head change (change of the ink tank) is performed, the operation proceeds
 to step S208 so that whether or not the change of a black ink tank is
 performed is determined. If the change of the black ink tank is performed,
 whether or not the ink tank is a tank for a monochrome head cartridge is
 determined in step S209. If the tank is that for the monochrome head
 cartridge, the recording operation 2 is performed in step S205. If a
 determination has been performed that the head cartridge is not the
 monochrome head cartridge, the operation proceeds to step S204 so that the
 restoration operation 1 is performed. If a determination is performed in
 step S208 that the change is not change of the black ink tank, a
 determination is performed in step S210 as to whether or not the change is
 change of the color tank. If the change is change of the color ink tank,
 the restoration operation 1 is performed simultaneously with step S204. If
 a determination is performed in step S210 that the change is not change of
 the color ink tank, a determination is performed in this embodiment that
 the change is an operation of changing the color ink tank and the
 monochrome ink tank. Then, the operation proceeds to step S211 so that the
 restoration operation 4 is performed.
 If the head is changed, if the ink tank is changed, if change to a
 monochrome ink or a color ink is performed or if change to a new head is
 performed, an appropriate restoration operation is performed.
 Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, the discharge restoring process will now be
 described. FIG. 19 shows the flow of the discharge restoring operation.
 FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a state of rotation of a pump gear of a
 restoring system unit for performing the discharge restoring process. As
 shown in FIG. 9, the restoring system unit comprises the cap 522 opposing
 the surface of the head cartridge 501 in which the ink discharge ports are
 formed; the pump 523 for generating sucking force to suck ink received in
 the cap 522; the waste ink tank 524 for storing ink sucked by the pump 523
 and unsuitable to the recording operation; the wiper 525 for wiping the
 surfaces of the discharge ports; and the cam unit 527 for receiving
 transmitted drive force to move the pump 523, the cap 522 and the wiper
 525. The operation of the restoring system unit is divided into a capping
 operation, a wiping operation and a pumping operation.
 The capping operation is an operation using the cap 522 to automatically
 cap the head cartridge 501 at a reference position (at a position shown in
 FIG. 20, at which the capping sensor is turned off, hereinafter called a
 "home position") in order to prevent ink in the nozzle from being dried
 and adhesion of dust and paper dust. The foregoing operation is
 automatically performed when the power source for the word process has
 been turned off or when a predetermined time has elapsed in a cap opened
 state (no capping state).
 The wiping operation is an operation using the wiper 525 projecting toward
 the head cartridge 501 and supported movably at the position, at which
 wiping is performed during the movement of the carrier 503, and the
 position, at which the wiper 525 is moved away from the surface in which
 the discharge ports are formed, in order to wipe dust and paper dust
 adhered to the discharge ports of the head cartridge 501. The wiping
 operation is performed when the power source for the recording apparatus
 is turned off, in a cap opened state, before the cap closed state (before
 the capping state), before printing each page, immediately after the
 capping operation, and after a predetermined number of dots have been
 recorded and after a predetermined time has passed. In particular, small
 ink droplets adhere to the surfaces of the discharge ports after the
 restoring operation, in which discharge of ink is performed, is performed.
 To prevent deterioration in the discharging condition caused from this,
 the wiping operation is performed after the restoring operation in which
 discharge of ink is performed so that the restoring operation is reliably
 completed.
 Moreover, a process (previous discharge) is performed in which the cap is
 allowed to face the surface in which the discharge ports are formed, and
 energy generating devices disposed at the discharge ports to discharge ink
 are operated so that ink is discharged from the nozzle to remove factors
 causing the discharge to become defective, such as bubbles, dust and ink,
 the viscosity of which has been raised excessively to be used in the
 recording operation. Another process is performed in which ink is forcibly
 discharged through the discharge ports by using a sucking means, such as
 the pump 523, to remove the factors causing the discharge to become
 defective.
 In the restoring system in the capping state at the home position as shown
 in FIG. 19, the piston is operated so that the pumping operation is
 performed (operation (1)). In the foregoing state, the operation is paused
 for 3 seconds to sufficiently suck ink (operation (2)). Then, all nozzles
 are caused to discharge ink previously in a state where the cap is opened
 (operation (3)). Then, idle sucking is performed four times to discharge
 ink filled in the pump (operation (4)). Then, the head cartridge 501 is
 moved to the position, at which the wiper is turned on, and wiping is
 performed (operation (5)). Then, the wiper cleaning is performed
 (operation (6)), and the head cartridge 501 is returned to the capping
 position to cap the discharge ports (operation (7)). The foregoing wiper
 cleaning is an operation in which the carrier is moved in a state where
 the wiper is in contact with a cleaner member (not shown) disposed to
 oppose the wiper 525 and provided for the carriage 503 in such a manner
 that the cleaner member is able to be in contact with the wiper 525 in
 order to clean the wiper 525.
 The restoring operations 1, 2, 3 and 4 shown in FIG. 18 will now be
 described with reference to FIG. 21.
 The number of ink sucking operations corresponding to the restoring
 operation shown in FIG. 21 is achieved by repeating the sequence of
 discharge restoring operations shown in FIG. 19 by a predetermined number
 of times. The number of the previous discharging operations is achieved by
 performing the discharging operations to be performed in (3) shown in FIG.
 19 by the number of times shown in FIG. 21. The reason why a large number
 of ink sucking operations and that of previous discharge operations are
 performed in the restoring operation 1 and the restoring operation 4 as
 compared with other restoring operations is that the head cartridge to be
 subjected to the foregoing processes is the color head cartridge and the
 color ink tank. Since the ink passage in the color head cartridge
 according to this embodiment is longer than that in the monochrome head
 cartridge, ink must be sucked in a large quantity. The reason why the
 number of previous discharging operations is large is that mixture of ink
 in another color with the nozzle for discharging color ink must be
 prevented. The number of ink sucking operations is set to 1, which is the
 smallest number, because ink must be sucked in a small quantity when a
 restoring operation is performed due to a lapse of time.
 The foregoing restoring operations are not limited to the those according
 to this embodiment. As a matter of course, an appropriate arrangement to
 be suitable to the structure of the head cartridge and the like may be
 employed. It is preferable that the restoring operation 3 to be performed
 in step S207 shown in FIG. 18 is arranged to be different in the case
 where the change of the head to a different head between the case where
 change to a monochrome head cartridge is performed and the case where
 change to the color head cartridge is performed.
 Another example of the flow chart shown in FIG. 18 will now be described.
 FIG. 22 shows an example of the flow chart shown in FIG. 18. The same
 processes as those shown in FIG. 18 are given the same step numbers.
 In the flow chart shown in FIG. 22, if a determination has been performed
 in step S201 that the change is change of the ink tank, the type of the
 mounted head is determined in step S213 in place of determining the type
 of the tank to be changed. In the flow chart shown in FIG. 18, if the
 determination has been performed that the change of the ink tank is
 performed, the type of the ink tank to be changed is determined. In the
 foregoing viewpoint, the flow chart shown in FIG. 18 is different from
 that shown in FIG. 22.
 The determination of the head in step S213 is performed in accordance with
 the information HD detected by the detection circuit shown in FIG. 12.
 Since the type of the head to be mounted can be detected without an
 instruction from a user, the restoring operation can be set such that the
 instruction from the user is simplified if a monochrome head will be
 mounted. As a result, the process required to the moment at which the
 restoring operation is determined in the case where the ink tank is
 changed can be achieved by a smaller number of steps as compared with the
 flow chart shown in FIG. 18. Thus, the instructions required for the user
 can be decreased.
 As described above, when a recording head or a recording substance supply
 means of a recording apparatus is changed, the change can accurately be
 instructed and control of the recording apparatus after it has been
 changed can accurately be performed. Since control of the recording
 apparatus after the change can accurately be performed, wasteful
 consumption of the recording substance can be prevented if the recording
 substance in the recording substance supply means is used in an operation
 except the recording operation to be performed after the change has been
 performed.
 Although the electronic apparatus including the recording apparatus has
 been described, the present invention may be adapted to an electronic
 apparatus having a structure comprising a display unit, an information
 processing apparatus for editing and processing information to be
 recorded, and a recording apparatus in such a manner that they are
 individually disposed and they are connected to one another through
 interface cables.
 Although the ink jet recording apparatus has been described, the present
 invention may be adapted to an electrophotographic copying machine or a
 laser printer of a type using toner as the recording substance and the
 cartridge for supplying the recording substances is changeably provided.
 The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is not
 limited to an image output unit of an information processing apparatus,
 such as a computer. For example, the present invention may be adapted to a
 copying machine combined with an image reader or an apparatus in the form
 of a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting function and a receiving
 function.
 Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a
 certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present
 disclosure of the preferred form can be changed in the details of
 construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts without
 departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter
 claimed.