Liquid jet recording apparatus having rotary transmitting member for recording medium

The present invention relates to a liquid jet recording apparatus in which a liquid discharge for recovery of a recording head is directly carried out by the conveying belt. A collecting effect of an ink mist generated at a recording area of the recording head is carried out by a charged conveying belt, a rotary member conveying the recording medium, preferably an electrostatically absorbing conveying belt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a liquid jet recording apparatus which is 
made compact by utilizing a rotary type conveying belt or roller as a 
conveying member of the recording medium, and especially relates to a full 
line recording apparatus whose recording head is enlarged, or full color 
recording apparatus whose recording area is increased. 
2. Related Background Art 
Liquid jet recording apparatuses (ink jet recording apparatuses) each of 
which can perform the recording of information such as characters and/or 
images by discharging recording liquid from a recording head have widely 
been known. 
A recording medium mainly receiving the recording comprising a paper or a 
plastic sheet has been used with the liquid jet recording apparatus of 
this kind. Such liquid jet recording apparatus has been adopted to a 
recording output apparatus of a computer, word processor and the like, 
since it has less noise in the recording operation and simpler mechanical 
construction and is more inexpensive, than other recording systems. 
However, in such liquid jet recording apparatus, since the recording is 
performed by directly discharging the recording liquid (referred to as 
"ink" hereinafter) from a nozzle of the recording head, special attention 
must be paid to always keep the ink in a dischargeable condition, which is 
not needed in other recording systems. 
That is to say, since the ink exists in the nozzle of the recording head 
even when the apparatus is in an inoperative condition, it's necessary to 
prevent the ink in the nozzle from drying, and the change in quality of 
the ink, for example, due to increase in the viscosity of ink caused by 
evaporation of moisture in the ink must also be prevented. To this end, a 
socalled capping means for covering the orifice of the recording head by 
means of a cap thereby preventing the drying and/or evaporation of the ink 
in the inoperative condition of the recording apparatus has been proposed. 
However, under the low moisture condition, or when the recording apparatus 
is not operated for a long time, the increase in the viscosity of ink 
cannot be avoided adequately only by the capping means. Accordingly, as 
well as the capping means, there has been provided a head restoring 
mechanism which produces the negative pressure in the orifice of the 
recording head by sucking the air within the cap covering the recording 
head so that the ink remaining in the nozzle of the recording head is 
drawn out or which produces the pressure in the nozzle by means of a pump 
and the like so that the deteriorated ink is discharged from the orifice 
of the recording head. 
Further, in some cases, the quality of the ink in the unused nozzle or 
nozzles is changed or deteriorated even during the recording operation. 
That is to say, in the ink jet recording apparatus having a plurality of 
recording heads, there will be a orifice or orifices which are not used 
for a long time even during the recording operation in accordance with the 
kind of the information to be recorded. More particularly, in some nozzle 
or nozzles, the time interval between the discharge of the ink and the 
next discharge of the ink will be very long. In this way, the discharge 
frequencies or periods of the ink from the respective nozzles vary in 
relation to each other. Therefore, in the nozzle having the lesser 
discharge frequency or longer time interval between two successive ink 
discharges, the viscosity of the ink will be increased due to the drying 
thereof according to the surrounding conditions such as humidity and/or 
temperature, which results in the unstable discharge or the non-discharge 
of the ink from the nozzle. 
To avoid this, the idle discharge, or pre-discharge has been carried out 
(for non-recording purpose) from each nozzle toward an ink absorbing 
member provided in the capping means for predetermined time intervals. 
In addition, in a recording apparatus adopting one of full line or color 
recording, or in full line scan type requiring high speed recording "fog" 
like mist is generated in the recording area space formed between the 
recording head and the recording medium upon recording because a large 
amount of ink advances toward the recording medium. The technique adopting 
attracting means for solving the above problem has been known. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide the liquid jet 
recording apparatus capable of removing or eliminating the ink which does 
not contribute to formation of the recording image but is inevitably 
generated upon recording, for example, ink for idle discharge, or 
pre-discharge or ink mist, and capable of being compact the recording 
apparatus. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide the liquid jet 
recording apparatus having the idle discharge, or pre-discharge mechanism 
so as not to deteriorate the recording speed, in view of the defect that 
the recording head should be retracted from the recording position for 
discharging the ink toward the ink attracting member in the capping means, 
which greatly deteriorates a through top in the continuous sheet supply, 
i.e., the recording speed. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide the liquid 
jet recording apparatus capable of being compact as well as efficient 
elimination of the ink mist, by utilizing a conveying belt conveying the 
recording medium, so that it eliminates the ink mist generated in the 
recording area from the space of recording area. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide the liquid jet 
recording apparatus including recording means for carrying out recording 
by discharging liquid rotary conveying means for conveying a recording 
medium to which the liquid is applied by said recording means; and 
recovery means for causing said recording means to carry out a liquid 
discharge onto a surface of said rotary conveying means. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide the liquid jet 
recording apparatus including recording means for discharging ink for 
recording; conveying means for conveying a recording medium to which the 
liquid is applied by said recording means, the conveying means having a 
conveying belt moving endlessly and conveying belt charging means 
electrostatically attracting the recording medium to said conveying belt; 
controlling means for supplying the conveying belt charged by the charging 
means to a recording area by the recording means by length with respect to 
the conveying direction, after completion of recording of the recording 
medium by said recording means; and cleaning means for cleaning said 
conveying means. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide the liquid jet 
recording apparatus including recording means for setting a liquid to a 
recording medium by forming an air bubble by a film boiling in the liquid 
by applying an electric signal corresponding to the recording signal to a 
recording head provided with an electro-thermal converting element for 
forming an air bubble by applying thermal energy into the liquid. The 
recording means is provided with a recording head having a discharge 
portion of a length corresponding to a width of said recording medium in 
the conveying direction thereof; an endless conveying belt for 
electrostatically attracting the recording medium; and charging means for 
charging the conveying belt including a surface thereof located between 
adjacent recording media in a plural recording media conveying mode of the 
conveying belt. 
The most significant object of the present invention is to provide the 
liquid jet recording apparatus, including recording means for discharging 
ink for recording; conveying means for conveying a recording medium to 
which the liquid is applied by said recording means, the conveying means 
having a conveying belt moving endlessly and conveying belt charging means 
electrostatically attracting the recording medium to the conveying belt; 
controlling means for supplying the conveying belt charged by said 
charging means to a recording area by the recording means by length with 
respect to the conveying direction, after completion of recording of the 
recording medium by the recording means; and cleaning means for cleaning 
the conveying means. 
A liquid ]et recording apparatus can be the one including recording means 
for jetting a liquid to a recording medium by forming an air bubble by a 
film boiling in the liquid by applying an electric signal corresponding to 
the recording signal to a recording head provided with an electro-thermal 
converting element for forming an air bubble by applying thermal energy 
into the liquid. The recording means is provided with a recording head 
having a discharge portion of a length corresponding to a width of the 
recording medium in the conveying direction thereof; an endless conveying 
belt for electrostatically attracting the recording medium; and charging 
means for charging the conveying belt including a surface thereof located 
between adjacent recording media in a plural recording media conveying 
mode of the conveying belt. 
The recording means includes controlling means for supplying the conveying 
belt charged by the charging means to a recording area by the recording 
means by length with respect to the conveying direction after completion 
of recording of the recording medium by the recording means, and cleaning 
means for cleaning the conveying means. 
The controlling means supplies the conveying belt until a surface of the 
conveying belt charged after completion of recording passes by a cleaning 
acting area by the cleaning means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The present invention will now be explained in connection with embodiments 
thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. 
A liquid jet recording apparatus according to the present invention shown 
in FIG. 1 comprises a recording head unit 1 which has 3456 nozzles at 
intervals of 16 dot/mm to record an image having a width of 216 mm in a 
line recording fashion and which includes four recording heads 1a, 1b, 1c 
and 1d for black ink, cyan ink, magenta ink and yellow ink, respectively. 
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the recording head which comprises an 
aluminum head base 31, a silicone substrate 32 including heating elements 
connected to nozzles 34, a glass cover 33 defining a common ink chamber 35 
and the nozzles 34, a driver 36 for activating the heating elements, and 
an ink return tube 37 for returning the ink supplied from an ink supply 
tube 5 into the ink chamber 35 to an ink tank. In this recording head, an 
orifice surface 40 is defined in front of the nozzles 34. Each recording 
head is supported by holders 2 in such a manner that the recording heads 
are positioned equidistantly in a direction to which a recording medium is 
fed. The recording head unit comprising the four recording heads and the 
holders can be shifted in an up-and-down direction by means of a head 
shifting means 24. 
Cap unit 3 includes caps 3a-3d mounted on the respective orifice surfaces 
40 of the respective recording heads 1a-1d constituting nozzles liquid jet 
recording apparatus is not in use. As shown in FIG. 3 (this Figure 
illustrates a condition that the recording head unit 1 is aligned with the 
cap unit 3 in a single plane), each cap has a sponge ink absorbing member 
29 therein, which member serves to receive the ink discharged for non 
recording purpose. Further, the cap is provided at its upper surface with 
a nozzle holder rubber 30 extending along the length of the nozzle array. 
The cap unit 3 can be shifted in a direction X (FIG. 1) by means of a cap 
shifting means 25 (FIG. 1). 
Ink tanks 4 are provided, which include ink tanks 4a-4d corresponding to 
the recording heads 1a-1d. The ink in each ink tanks 4a-4d is supplied to 
the corresponding recording head 1a-1d through the corresponding ink 
supply tube 5a-5d. The supply of the ink is effected by the use of 
capillarity of the nozzle of the recording head, and the liquid level 
(water head) of the ink in each ink tank is so set as to be maintained 
lower than the nozzle surface by a predetermined distance. The ink tanks 
4a-4d are associated with corresponding ink circulating pumps 38a-38d, 
respectively, by which the ink under pressure is supplied from the ink 
tanks to the corresponding recording heads. Further, the ink tanks 4a-4d 
are connected to the corresponding recording heads 1a-1d, respectively, 
through ink return tubes 37a-37d through which the pressurized ink in the 
recording heads is returned to the corresponding ink tanks 4a-4d. 
The liquid jet recording apparatus further includes a seamless belt 6 for 
feeding or conveying the recording medium 27. The seamless belt 6 has an 
outer high resistive (10 .OMEGA.cm or thereabout) layer having a thickness 
of the order of 50 .mu.m and an inner surface earthed through idle rollers 
9. The belt is charged by means of a charger 12a so that the outer surface 
of the belt becomes about 1500 volts. The recording medium 27 is also 
charged to have the negative or minus charge by means of a charger 12b so 
that the recording medium can be electrostatically attracted to the 
seamless belt 6, whereby the recording medium is conveyed in the direction 
X in response to the movement of the sealless belt 6. The belt 6 is 
rotated or turned in the direction X by means of a belt driving roller 7 
driven by a motor 8. 
A tension roller 10 is provided for applying the constant tension to the 
belt 6. Pinch rollers 11a and 11b are arranged on opposite sides of the 
charger 12b and are associated with the idle rollers 9a, 9b with the 
interposition of the belt portion so as to aid the attraction of the 
recording medium 27 to seamless belt 6. Particularly, the pinch roller 11a 
can also serve as a regist roller against which the leading edge of the 
recording medium is abutted to form a loop of the recording medium in a 
guide 13 thereby improving the perpendicularity of the leading edge of the 
recording medium 27 to the direction X. The recording media or recording 
papers 27 are fed from a cassette 26 one by one by means of a feed roller 
16 and more directed to the regist roller 11a by means of a feeding roller 
14 and a pinch roller 15. 
Further, a cleaning unit 17 is provided for removing the paper powder 
and/or the non-recording discharged ink from the outer surface of the 
seamless belt 6. Incidentally, the reference numeral 18 designates an 
ejector tray for receiving the recording paper on which the image has been 
recorded. 
Next, an operation of the liquid jet recording apparatus designed as 
mentioned above will be explained. 
FIGS. 4 to 9 are side views showing the recording head unit and the 
associated caps. More particularly, FIG. 4 shows a condition that a power 
source of the apparatus is turned OFF, where the orifice surfaces of the 
recording heads 1a-1d are closed or covered by the corresponding caps 
3a-3d, whereby the evaporation of ink from the nozzle tips is prevented. 
Under the circumstances, when the power source of the apparatus is turned 
ON, the recording head unit including the recording heads 1a-1d is lifted 
by the head shifting means 24 by 1 mm or thereabout (FIG. 5). In this 
condition, if a circulating signal is emitted, the cap unit including the 
caps 3a-3d is shifted by the cap shifting means 25 to a direction opposite 
to the direction X by a distance corresponding to a distance L shown in 
FIG. 3 (FIG. 6), and then, the head unit is lowered (FIG. 7). In this 
condition, the ink is circulated (between the ink tanks and the 
corresponding recording heads) by activating the ink circulating pumps 
38a-38d (FIG. 1). Then, the recording head unit is lifted again (FIG. 6), 
and thereafter, the cap unit is returned to its original position (FIG. 
5). Incidentally, the bubbles in the ink supply tubes 5 and in the 
recording heads are removed by the ink circulation. 
On the other hand, if a non-recording discharging signal is emitted, the 
ink is discharged for the non-recording purpose (idle discharge, or 
pre-discharge from all of the nozzles by predetermined times. In this 
case, since the non-recording discharge of ink is effected before the 
recording operation is started, the ink is discharged toward the ink 
absorbing members 29 in the caps 3a-3d. Incidentally, although the 
non-recording discharge of ink is normally effected when the power source 
is turned ON or after a predetermined number of recording papers have been 
recorded, if the uneven or irregular recording occurs during the recording 
operation, the non-recording discharge of ink may be effected by pushing 
an appropriate start button. 
Next, the cap unit is shifted by means of the cap shifting means 25 to the 
direction opposite to the direction X to displace the caps 3a-3d from the 
moving paths of the recording heads 1a-1d (FIG. 8) Thereafter, the 
recording head unit is lowered between the caps so that the nozzles tips 
of the recording heads are positioned above the seamless belt 6 by about 4 
mm (FIG. 9). 
Then, a paper feeding motor (not shown) for rotating the feed roller 16 is 
activated to pick up the uppermost recording paper in the cassette 26 by 
means of the feed roller 16. The recording paper is guided by the guide 13 
and is pinched by the feeding roller 14 and the pinch roller 15. The 
leading edge of the recording paper is detected by a photo-sensor (not 
shown) arranged immediately ahead of the regist roller 11a, and the paper 
feeding motor is turned OFF when a predetermined time is elapsed after the 
leading edge of the recording paper has reached the regist roller 11a. 
Meanwhile, the leading or front portion of the recording paper is curved 
or looped in the inverted V-shaped guide 13 so that the leading edge of 
the recording paper is positively abutted against the regist roller due to 
the rigidity of the recording paper to ensure the perpendicularity of the 
leading edge of the recording paper to the paper feeding direction X. 
Then, the belt driving motor 8 and the chargers 12a, 12b are activated. The 
recording paper is introduced below the charger 12b while being pressed 
against the belt 6 by the pinch roller 11a. The outer surface of the belt 
6 is charged to have the voltage of about 1500 V by means of the charger 
12a, whereas, the recording paper is charged to have the minus charge by 
means of the charger 12b. Therefore, the recording paper is 
electrostatically attracted to the belt due to the electrostatic force 
caused by the positive or plus charge on the belt and the minus charge on 
the recording paper. Further, since the recording paper is pressed aqainst 
the belt 6 by means of the pinch roller 11b after it has passed through 
the charger 12b, the attraction of the recording paper to the belt is 
further ensured. The movement of the recording paper is counted by an 
appropriate counter activated in synchronization with the activation of 
the belt driving motor, so that the recording operation is started 
immediately after the leading edge of the recording paper has reached the 
recording heads. 
After the recording operation regarding the recording paper has been 
finished, the recording paper is separated from the belt 6 at a bent 
portion of the belt wound around the belt driving roller 7, and then is 
ejected onto the ejector tray 18. After the recording paper has been 
ejected, the belt driving motor 8 is turned OFF and the chargers 12a, 12b 
are also deactivated. 
Now, if the next recording operation is not desired, the recording head 
unit is lifted (FIG. 8), and then, the cap unit is returned to its 
original position (FIG. 5), and thereafter, the recording head unit is 
lowered, whereby the recording heads are covered by the corresponding caps 
(FIG. 4). In this point, the power source is turned OFF. 
On the other hand, if the next recording operation is desired, first of 
all, it is detected or judged whether the non-recording discharge signal 
is emitted or not. If such signal is emitted, the ink is discharged for 
the non-recording purpose onto the belt while maintaining the recording 
heads in the condition shown in FIG. 9, and then the feed roller 16 is 
rotated; whereas, if such signal is not limited the feed roller is rotated 
without effecting the non-recording discharge of ink. In this way, the 
recording paper regarding the next recording paper is repeated in the same 
manner as mentioned above. The ink discharged on the belt is removed from 
the belt by means of the cleaning unit 17. 
Incidentally the above-mentioned operation of the liquid jet recording 
apparatus is shown in a flow chart of FIG. 10. 
When the non-recording ink discharge operation is effected whenever each 
recording operation has been finished, the ink may be discharged for the 
non-recording recording purpose, for example, several times. Accordingly, 
in the liquid jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, 
the non-recording ink discharge can be effected onto the belt portion 
between two successive recording papers fed along the belt, and, thus, the 
through-top, i.e., the recording speed in the continuous paper feeding 
system is not reduced. Incidentally, since the non-recording ink discharge 
is required every 1-2 minutes, the non-recording ink discharge may be 
effected whenever several or ten-odd recording papers have been recorded 
in accordance with the recording speed of the liquid jet recording 
apparatus. 
Further, in the illustrated embodiment, since it is designed that the 
recording paper is electrostatically attracted to the seamless belt, the 
ink mist generated during the non-recording ink discharge can also be 
attracted to the belt, thus preventing the ink mist from contaminating the 
interior of the apparatus and improving the reliability of the operation 
of the apparatus. 
Incidentally, in the illustrated embodiment, while an example that the 
electrostatic force between the recording paper and the seamless belt is 
utilized as the paper conveying means was explained, the present invention 
is not limited to this example. It should be noted that the paper 
conveying means may be constituted by an air suction force, a drum or the 
like. 
According to the present invention, since the liquid jet recording 
apparatus includes a conveying means for conveying the recording medium, a 
cleaning means for cleaning the conveying means, and a control means for 
discharging the recording liquid for non-recording purpose onto the 
conveying means, it is not needed to retract the recording heads from the 
recording position and the through top, i.e. the recording speed in the 
continuous recording system is not reduced, thus permitting the high speed 
recording. 
Further, when the recording medium is conveyed by the electrostatic force 
between the recording medium and the belt, the ink mist generated during 
the non-recording ink discharge can be attracted to the belt, thus 
preventing the ink mist from contaminating the interior of the apparatus 
and improving the reliability of the operation of the apparatus. 
Some explanation will be added for the above embodiment. 
Although the ink supply to the recording head is carried out only through 
the tubes 5 (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), it is possible and preferable to supply the 
ink to the head through the tubes 5, 37 (the discharge tubes 37 (37a, 37b, 
37c, 37d) are so constructed that they can supply the ink from the ink 
tank) by capillary force generated corresponding to ink consumption by the 
head. 
As for the construction of ink head shifting means 24 in the above 
embodiment, it is enough to cause the group of heads move upwardly and 
downwardly integrally. In detail, on-off control of a plunger for lift, or 
means utilizing a cam as motion transmitting member can be adopted. As for 
the construction of cap shifting means 25, it is enough to move the group 
of caps integrally. In detail, a slide mechanism utilizing a rail or the 
like for parallel shifting, or a mechanism comprising a guiding rack and a 
pinion can be adopted. 
In the above embodiment, since the charge to the conveying belt 6 
electrostatically attracting the recording medium is carried out until 
discharge completion of the recording medium, the conveying belt 6 charged 
is presented in the small gap between the belt of recording area formed by 
the recording heads 1a to 1d, and the recording head even after completion 
of recording. Accordingly, the ink mist generated upon recording can be 
attracted to the conveying belt as well as the ink mist upon said idle 
discharge, or pre-discharge. 
In other words, even if the ink mist is presented at the recording area 
after completion of recording, it will be attracted by the charged 
conveying bolt. Thus, preferable environment suitable for next recording 
can be formed. There is no recording medium presented in the recording 
area after completion of recording, the ink mist upon recording can be 
removed by causing the surface of charged conveying belt to be passed or 
presented. By charging the conveying belt by the area which is larger than 
the length corresponding to the recording area in the conveying direction, 
the above advantage becomes more remarkable. 
In addition, the conveying belt has a length which is longer than the 
recording medium, and the area which is larger than the conveyable 
recording medium is charged, so the ink mist effect can be fully realized 
by sufficiently utilizing the tendency of the ink mist advancing toward 
the end. By selecting the maximum charging width larger than the maximum 
sheet size conveyable, the ink mist removing effect can be fully shown, 
which means excellent recording can be maintained without complicating the 
apparatus construction. The ink mist adhered to the recording head itself 
needs the cleaning recording head by the cleaning blade as recovery means, 
which leads to increase of recording interruption, or increase of ratio of 
the idle discharge, or pre-discharge, but such disadvantages can be 
overcome or solved by the present invention. 
Furthermore, upon conveyance of the continuous recording medium, the 
predetermined gap is formed between adjacent recording media normally, it 
is needless to say the ink mist removing effect relative to the whole 
width of the recording area can be obtained by charging the surface of the 
conveying belt of predetermined gap even upon the conveying mode without 
carrying out the idle discharge or pre-discharge. 
Incidentally, in the case the conveying belt receives the idle discharge or 
predischarge or attracts the ink mist, it is desirable to clean such area. 
For this reason, even after the recording medium conveyance becomes 
unnecessary by the discharge, it is desirable to move the conveying belt 
until the above area passes by the cleaning acting area. Cleaning means 
can be constructed b providing the ink attracting layer on the conveying 
belt and reducing or restricting it not by the cleaning member but by a 
pair of reducing rollers as ink removing means. 
It is noted the present invention covers the part or combination or the 
above embodiments. 
In the above embodiment since the recording medium is charged itself, the 
uncharged conductive ink has the effect of attracting the ink mist because 
it is subject to generation of the induction charge. 
This is especially effective for the scan type recording head. 
The present invention renders excellent advantages especially in the 
recording head, apparatus of bubble jet type among the ink jet recording 
system. In detail, according to the present invention the defects that, in 
the case carrying out idle discharge or pre-discharge by moving the 
recording head and in the case forming air flow for increasing the air 
flow amount for effectively eliminating the ink mist, the recovery time 
becomes longer due to large heat loss near the recording head. In 
particular, since the ink mist increase can be substantially decreased, 
the above advantages is remarkable even when eliminating the ink mist 
together with the air flow. 
As for typical construction and principle therefor, U.S. Pat. Nos. 
4,723,129 and 4,740,796 can be advisable. The system can be applied to 
so-called on-demand type as well as continuous type, but the former is 
more desirable for the following reasons. In the case of on-demand type, 
the electro-thermal converting member is exposed to the liquid path on the 
liquid (ink) is held. At least one actuating signal giving sudden 
temperature increase corresponding to he recording information over the is 
applied, to generate the thermal energy at the electro-thermal converting 
member to thereby cause the film boiling at the acting surface of the 
recording head, so that the air bubble in the liquid (ink) can be formed 
exactly corresponding to the actuating signal. The liquid (ink) is 
discharged through the discharge opening due to growth and shrinkage of 
the air bubble to thereby form at least one droplet. Using the actuating 
signal as the pulse configuration is convenient to carry out the ink 
discharge with excellent in response since the growth and shrinkage of the 
air bubble is carried out immediately and properly. The actuating signals 
of this pulse configuration which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. In the case where the conditions 
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,124 which is related to the temperature 
increase at the heat acting surface is used, more excellent recording can 
be effected. 
Incidentally, in addition to the construction of recording head comprising 
the combination of discharge opening, liquid path and electro-thermal 
converter which is described in the above patents (linear liquid path or 
normal liquid path, the construction in which the heat acting surface is 
disposed in the bent or curl area which is for example disclosed in U.S. 
Pat. Nos. 4,558,333 and 4,459,600 is included in the present invention. 
Furthermore, the construction in which the slit common to plural 
electro-thermal converter is made the discharge portion for the 
electro-thermal converter which is for example disclosed in Japanese 
Patent Laid-open No. 59-123670, and the construction in which he opening 
or absorbing the pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to the 
discharge portion which is for example disclosed in Japanese Patent 
Laid-open No. 59-138461 can be adapted to the present invention. 
As for the full-line type recording head, having a length corresponding to 
the maximum width of recording medium capable of being recorded by the 
recording device, the construction can be achieved by the integral 
combination of plural recording heads of the construction of the single 
recording head. In any case, the above advantage can be shown according to 
the present invention. 
Furthermore, as for the recording mode of the recording device, in addition 
to the recording mode only for the main color such as black or the like, 
the present invention can be applied to the device having at least one of 
the colors of or full color by mixing colors which is made by constructing 
the recording head integrally or combining plural recording heads. 
The endless rotary member having enough flatness, which is evenly charged 
and does not pass through the ink is suitable for the conveying member of 
the present invention.