Discharge recovery method for an ink jet recording head, recording head adopting the same method and ink jet recording apparatus adopting the same method

Abstract: In a discharge recovery method for an ink jet recording head (1), a recording head having discharge openings for discharging ink therethrough, liquid paths (2) in which recording energy generating members (3) generating energy for discharging the ink through the discharge openings are provided and which communicate with the discharge openings, and a liquid chamber (4) communicating with the liquid paths (2) for supplying the ink to the liquid paths is used to drive heat energy generating (5) means provided in the liquid chamber for generating heat energy for causing a change in the state of the ink in the liquid chamber (4) and creating a bubble, during non-­ recording, thereby causing the ink to be discharge through the discharge openings.

Description: This invention relates to a discharge recovery method for an ink jet recording head provided with discharge recovery means for recovery from unsatisfactory discharge of ink from the discharge openings of the ink jet recording head to thereby accomplish discharge recovery. It relates also to a recording head and to an ink jet recording apparatus each adapted for performing discharge recovery. An ink jet recording apparatus is such that ink is supplied into a recording head, a drive element provided correspondingly to at least one ink discharge opening formed in the front surface of the recording head is driven on the basis of a recording data signal to thereby cause the ink to be discharged through the ink discharge opening and form a flying liquid droplet toward a recording medium and such liquid droplet is caused to adhere to the recording medium to thereby accomplish recording. In the recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus of this type, unsatisfactory discharge is caused by the entry of the air into a liquid path communicating with the ink discharge opening or the adherence of paper dregs or viscosity-increased ink to the liquid path. In order to eliminate such unsatisfactory discharge and achieve the stability of discharge, as shown, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,600,931 issued to Terasawa and U.S. Patent No. 4,123,761 issued to Kimura, a gear pump or the like has been provided in an ink supply path communicating with the recording head and supplying ink to thereby forcibly pressurise the ink and cause the air and foreign materials in the liquid path to be discharged, or a pump mechanism or the like for sucking air and foreign materials from the discharge opening by negative pressure and causing them to be discharged has been provided. However, in the conventional recovery method for an ink jet recording head, it is necessary to discharge a great deal of ink to eliminate the air slightly stagnating in the liquid path or the viscosity-increased ink in the discharge opening and the liquid path. Also, much time is required for operating these drive systems (the pump, etc.) and as a result, it is necessary to stop recording temporarily, and it could not be said that efficient use was made. Also, discretely from the above-described-construction, a construction in which a drive element such as a piezoelectric element for discharge is driven during non-recording to thereby effect predischarge, as described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,925,788 issued to Kashio, U.S. Patent No. 3,925,789 issued to Kashio, U.S. Patent No. 4,183,030 issued to Kaieda et al., and U.S. Patent No. 4,176,363 issued to Kasahara has been proposed. However, in the above-described construction wherein pre-discharge is effected, the drive element used for recording is used also as the drive element for pre-discharge, and there have been technical tasks left to be solved in the points which will be described later. In the pre-discharge of the above-described construction, the drive element is used for the two purposes, and this is effective in the prevention of clogging or unsatisfactory discharge, but when unsatisfactory discharge has already occurred as may occur when recording is again effected from a long time of unused state, the effect of releasing it is not high. Also, a construction in which the pre-discharge of the above-described construction is effected with the driving conditions or the like changed is shown, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,466,005 issued to Yoshimura. However, in the construction described above in detail, there have been left the technical tasks that in the sense that the drive element is used for the two purposes, there are cases where discharge recovery cannot be completely accomplished, and that the technique which is effective because of a piezo-electric element being used as the drive element cannot be simply applied to a construction in which heat energy generating means generating heat energy is used as an element generating energy used for the discharge of ink. Mention also is made of Japanese laid open patent application No. JP-A-62-240558 (Canon KK) concerning an ink jet recording head and methods of recording and discharge recovery. The ink jet recording head therein described comprises: a chamber for containing ink having an inlet for admitting supplied ink, a plurality of discharge openings from which ink can be discharged, a plurality of discharge passages leading from said chamber to each respective discharge opening, a plurality of heat energy generating members corresponding respectively to each discharge passage, which members are operable selectively during recording to cause discharge of ink from said openings, and heat energy generating means located in said chamber for heating ink to generate a bubble. In the construction described the heat energy generating means comprises a plurality of electro-thermal converting members each located in the immediate vicinity of the inlet of each discharge passage. Notably at the time a selected heat energy generating member is energised and a liquid droplet is discharged a respective one of the electro-thermal converting members also is energised and ink is forcedly pushed towards the respective discharge opening. This allows recording to be performed at a high repetitive driving frequency. The present invention is intended as a remedy to the problems aforesaid. In accordance with the present invention the discharge recovery method is characterised by operating said heat energy generating means only for a non-recording mode of operation wherein ink is discharged from each of said discharge openings as a means of recovery and no recording is effected. Since an energy generating means is provided and is used as a means of recovery, the life of the energy generating members used for recording is prolonged. The amount of ink consumed for discharge recovery can be reduced compared with that consumed hitherto, and recovery time in many cases can be shorter. An ink jet recording head and an ink jet recording apparatus particularly adapted for the aforesaid method are defined in claims 8 and 20, respectively, of the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ink jet recording head to which the recovery method of the present invention is applied as it is seen from above; Figure 2 is a schematic plan view showing the details of the heater board of the recording head of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating the discharge recovery operation of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of a check valve that can be used in the head shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another ink jet recording head to which the recovery method of the present invention is applied as it is seen from above; Figure 6 is a schematic view for illustrating the operation of a back-flow preventing structure of the head shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a schematic view showing another example of an alternative back-flow preventing structure of the head shown in Figure 5; Figure 8 is a timing chart showing the operation of the head shown in Figure 1; Figure 9 is a timing chart showing the operation of the head shown in Figure 5; Figure 10 is a timing chart which is another example of the timing shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a block diagram schematically showing the structure of a control system for controlling the supply of electric power to heaters; Figure 12 is a schematic view showing portions of an ink jet recording apparatus for effecting discharge recovery according to the present invention; Figure 13 is a flow chart showing the automatization of the discharge recovery operation according to the present invention; Figure 14 is a flow chart showing another example of the automatization of the discharge recovery operation; Figure 15 illustrates the position of a heater for applying pressure; and Figure 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another example of recording head to which the present invention can be applied. To facilitate an understanding of this invention, preferred embodiments thereof will be described hereinbelow and reference will be made to the drawings aforesaid. The following description is given by way of example only. The present invention will hereinafter be specifically described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an ink jet recording head to which the recovery method of the present invention is applied. In Figure 1, the reference numeral 1 designates a recording head carrying thereon various members which will be described later and discharging ink to recording paper or the like to thereby form ink droplets, the reference numeral 2 denotes a plurality of liquid paths provided in the fore end portion of the recording head 1, the reference numeral 3 designates heaters for recording as electro-thermal converting elements disposed at the bottom correspondingly to the liquid paths 2 and supplied with electric power during recording to generate heat energy utilized for ink discharge, the reference numeral 4 denotes a common liquid chamber communicating with the rear ends of the liquid paths 2 and supplying ink to them, the reference numeral 5 designates a heater for applying pressure disposed at the bottom of the common liquid chamber 4 as shown in Figure 2, the reference numeral 6 denotes a check valve provided in an ink supply portion 7 for the common liquid chamber 4, the reference numeral 8 designates a flexible cable containing therein a driving signal line connected to each of the heaters 3 for recording, and the reference numeral 9 denotes a wiring portion connected to the heater 5 for applying pressure. The present invention can be suitably applied to an ink jet recording apparatus of the type in which a recording head and an ink tank for containing therein ink to be supplied to the recording head are integrally and removably carried relative to a carriage. This is because in the apparatus of the above-described type in which a decrease in the amount of consumed ink and compactness of the apparatus are desired, limitation of the construction of recovery means is desired. Also, in such a head, the ink tank may be removably mounted. The check valve 6 is made of plastic film, metal foil or a shape memorizing alloy on the boundary surface between the ink supply portion 7 and the common liquid chamber 4, and prevents the ink from flowing from the common liquid chamber 4 back to the ink supply portion 7 side when bubbles are made in the common liquid chamber 4 by the heater 5 for applying pressure. Where plastic film, metal foil or the like is used for the check valve 6, if the plate thickness is of the order of 50 µm, there will be obtained a check valve excellent in the responsiveness to the fluctuation of applied pressure. In the above-described construction, the ink supplied from the ink supply portion 7 fills the common liquid chamber 4 and the liquid paths 2. During recording, the heater 5 for applying pressure is not supplied with electric power on the basis of a signal generated by means for generating a recording signal, but only the heaters 3 for recording are supplied with electric power in conformity with the recording signal. On the surfaces of those of the heaters 3 for recording which have been supplied with electric power, bubbles are created by film boiling, and with these bubbles as the pressure force, ink droplets fly out from the fore ends of the liquid paths 2 toward recording paper. New ink is supplied into the liquid paths in which the bubbles have been produced, due to negative pressure created in the liquid paths with the flight of the ink droplets, and an amount of ink corresponding to the decrement is supplied form the ink supply portion 7 to the common liquid chamber 4 through the check valve 6. Next, where the recovering operation is to be performed, when the supply of electric power to all of the heaters 3 for recording is stopped and electric power is supplied to the heater 5 for applying pressure on the basis of a pre-discharge signal generated by means for generating a pre-discharge signal, a bubble is created in the common liquid chamber 4 and pressure is applied to the interiors of the respective liquid paths 2 by the pressure resulting from the expansion of the bubble, and as shown in Figure 3, the air 14, the remaining bubble 15 and the ink in the liquid paths 2 are forced out of the liquid paths 2, whereby clogging of the liquid paths can be eliminated. At the same time, the liquid pressure by the bubble created by the heater 5 for applying pressure presses the check valve 6 to thereby close the outlet of the ink supply portion 7 and prevent the back flow of the ink, thus enhancing the discharging force of the ink. The check valve is not restricted to the construction of Figure 1, but may also be of a structure as shown in Figure 4 wherein the fore end portion thereof is formed by an elastic member adapted to be closed by ink pressure and a filter 11 for removing any dust contained in the ink is provided in the ink paths. By doing so, any dust which may cause clogging of the discharge openings to be common liquid chamber 4 and of the liquid paths can be removed. The check valve can also be designed as other construction than a valve mechanism, as shown in Figure 5. That is, a heater 12 for checking is provided on the bottom surface of the common liquid chamber 4 which is near the outlet of the ink supply portion 7. The reference numeral 9 designates a lead connected to the heater 5 for applying pressure and the heater 12 for checking. In this case, when electric power is to be supplied to the heater 5 for applying pressure, electric power is supplied to the heater 12 for checking for the order of 10 µ sec. to increase the heater temperature to several hundred degrees, and thereby film-boils the ink on the upper surface of the heater 5 for applying pressure. Thereby, a bubble 13 is created as shown in Figure 6 and the outlet of the ink supply portion 7 can be closed. This bubble 13 disappears in 20 - 30 µ sec. by cutting of the supply of electric power to the heater 12 for checking, and the subsequent supply of the ink to the common liquid chamber 4 can be accomplished without any hindrance. In the construction of Figure 5, a slit opening 16 may be provided at the fore end of the ink supply portion 7, as shown in Figure 7, and may be used instead of the heater 12 for checking having a length greater than the widthwise dimension of the slit opening. By adopting such a construction, the back flow to the ink supply portion 7 can be prevented even when the height of the bubble by the heater 17 for checking is low. The power supply timing of the heater 5 for applying pressure and the heater 12 for checking will now be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. In Figure 8, the recovery mode is automatically assumed after the switch operation of the recording apparatus during unsatisfactory discharge or a predetermined amount of discharging operation, whereby the heater 5 for applying pressure is heated and the check valve 6 is operated by a bubble resulting therefrom and the air, the remaining bubble, etc. in the liquid paths are removed as shown in Figure 2. When the heater 5 for applying pressure is turned off, the created bubble begins to disappear and negative pressure begins to be created in the common liquid chamber 4. Thereby, the check valve 6 is opened and also, the retraction of the meniscus of the liquid paths 2 is prevented by the meniscus holding force of about 50 µm of the discharge openings and the low flow path resistance of the ink supply portion having a large diameter relative to the inner diameter of the discharge openings of the liquid paths. The power supply timing of the heater 5 for applying pressure and the heater 12 for checking in the construction of Figure 5 will now be described with reference to Figure 9. When the recovery mode assumes its ON state, the heater 12 for checking is supplied with electric power by means for generating a checking signal and a bubble 13 is created as shown in Figure 6, whereby the ink supply to the common liquid chamber 4 is cut off. The heater 5 for applying pressure is then supplied with electric power to cause a bubble to be created in the common liquid chamber 4 as shown in Figure 3, and the ink is forced into the respective liquid paths 2. At this point of time, the heater 12 for checking is turned off and the ink supply portion 7 is connected to the common liquid chamber 4. When the heater 5 for applying pressure is then turned off, the bubble thereby disappears and negative pressure is created and thus, the ink flows from the ink supply portion 7 into the common liquid chamber 4. Thereby, in the common liquid chamber 4, pressure is kept uniform with the meniscus of the discharge openings maintained. The power supply timing of the heater 5 for applying pressure and the heater 12 for checking in the construction of Figure 5 will now be described with refernece to Figure 10. When the recovery mode assumes its ON state, the heater 12 for checking is supplied with electric power and a bubble 13 is created as shown in Figure 6, whereby the ink supply to the common liquid chamber 4 is cut off. The heater 5 for applying pressure is then supplied with electric power to thereby cause a bubble to be created in the common liquid chamber 4 as shown in Figure 3, and the ink is forced into the respective liquid paths 2. At this point of time, the heater 12 for checking is turned off and the ink supply portion 7 is connected to the common liquid chamber 4. When the heater 5 for applying pressure is then turned off, the bubble thereby disappears and negative pressure is created, and the ink flows from the ink supply portion 7 into the common liquid chamber 4. Thereby, in the common liquid chamber 4, pressure is kept uniform with the meniscus of the discharge openings of the liquid paths maintained. As described above, for the unsatisfactory discharge of the recording head, discharge recovery can be achieved by controlling only the heater in the common liquid chamber, and the amount of ink discharged from the discharge openings can be made very small. Also, since the present invention does not depend on any mechanical construction, the recovery time depends only on the refill of the ink and the operating time can be made very short, and can be kept within such a degree of time that the use of the recovery mode cannot be recognized by the user. By controlling the heater 12 for checking during the supply of electric power thereto so that as shown in Figure 10, it assumes a pulse P1 of continuous power supply during the turn-on thereof and a pulse P2 of short pulse width is assumed on the OFF side, it becomes possible to prevent overheating of the heater 12 for checking and slightly delay the disappearance of the bubble. As a result, the pressure applying effect by the heater 5 for applying pressure is enhanced and the control of the heating time becomes easy. Likewise, by providing a short pulse P3 on the Off side duirng the supply of electric power to the heater 5 for applying pressure, it becomes possible to delay the disappearance of the bubble and it becomes possible to prevent overheating. The pulses P2 and P3 are chiefly directed to the maintenance of the temperature of the heater portion and therefore need not be as great as the heat energy during the formation of a bubble. The control of the supply of electric power can be accomplished not only by a method using a variation in the pulse width, but also by a reduction in the on-duty or a reduction in the voltage applied to the heater resistor. The heaters for recording are designed such that as the condition of the input pulse for forming an ink droplet, they are controlled so that as shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,345,262 issued to Shirato, the input cycle is at least three times a pulse width of 0.1 µsec. - 500 µsec., but according to the present embodiment, by using the heater for applying pressure discretely from the heaters for recording, it becomes possible to apply a signal which is not subjected to said limitation, and this leads to the merit that the range of the selection of the driving condition of the heater for applying pressure becomes wider. Figure 11 schematically shows the construction of a control system for controlling the supply of electric power to the heaters. The output of a control unit 16 is connected to the heater 5 for applying pressure, and this control unit 16 uses the output signal of a temperature detecting thermistor (Th) 18 provided in the head 1 as a feedback signal and controls the power supply time by the set time of a timer 17. The reference numeral 19 designates an ink supply source. Figure 12 shows the position of the head when discharge recovery is effected. A platen 20 for conveying recording paper 21 as a recording medium in conformity with the printing situation is rotatably supported on the body, and a guide shaft 22 is fixedly disposed parallel to the front portion of the platen 20 and in a horizontal direction. A carriage 23 is slidably engaged with the guide shaft 22, and is reciprocally moved on the guide shaft 22 in conformity with the printing condition, with a carriage motor, not shown, as a drive source. The recording head 1 is mounted on the carriage 23, and discharge recovery is executed when the recording head 1 is in its home position (H.P.). The reference numeral 24 designates a wiping blade having a plate-like elastic member for wiping away the ink adhering to the surface of the head after the completion of the discharge recovery when the carriage 23 is moved. As previously described, the discharge recovery operation according to the present invention is performed within a very short time and therefore, the time required for the discharge recovery operation, including the time required for returning the carriage 23 to its home position, may be less than one second. Accordingly, the user will not be caused to feel actually the interruption of recording. Figure 13 is a flow chart in a case where the discharge recovery according to the present invention is automatically effected. After the power source switch is closed, the recording operation is performed (step 31), and in that process, whether a period during which the discharge recovery operation is necessary has come is judged (step 32). When it is judged that printing for a predetermined time has been done, the carriage 23 is returned to its home position (step 33), and electric power is supplied to the heater 5 (or depending on the timing of Figure 10, to the heater 12 and the heater 5) and the discharge recovery operation by the bubble created thereby is performed (step 34). Then, the carriage 23 is moved rightwardly as viewed in Figure 12, and in that process, the surface of the head (which is near the discharge openings) is cleaned by the blade 24 (step 35). After this treatment, return is made to the step 31, where the recording operation is resumed. Although at the step 32, the judgment condition has been "printing for a predetermined time", it may also be "stoppage of printing for a predetermined time". Also, the "recording operation" of the step 31 after the closing of the power source switch has been made reliable, but a recovery operation of the same content as the step 34 may be inserted before the step 31. If this is done, even if the apparatus remains unused for a long time before the closing of the power source switch, unsatisfactory discharge will not be caused in the recording at the step 31. Also, the step 32 may be the condition for the completion of printing of a predetermined number of sheets (or a predetermined number of pages), instead of the process content of Figure 13. Further, as shown in Figure 14, step 36 may be provided with a view to remove any remaining air created by the heaters 3 for recording with the rise of the head temperature caused by the continuous use of the nozzle. As the driving condition for the heater for applying pressure, the pre-discharge operation is effected a plurality of times as one recovery operation, and in order to make the amount of heat energy produced by the heater for applying pressure in one pre-discharge operation greater than the amount of heat energy produced by the heaters for recording in one discharge operation, where the materials and the film thicknesses of said heaters are the same, design is made such that the following relation is established when the area of the heaters k for recording is a k and the area of the heater for applying pressure is b: (N is the number of heaters for recording.) and more preferably, whereby-the frequency of application of the pre-discharge signal could be reduced. The position of the heater for applying pressure will now be described with reference to Figure 15. The recording head schematically shown in Figure 15 is a head of the type in which ink is discharged in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the heat generating portion of the heaters for recording (the direction of arrow AA). When the length of said heat generating portion in the direction of discharge (the arrow AA) is ℓ k and the spacing between the heaters 3 for recording and the heater 5 for applying pressure is m k , it is desirable to determine the positions of these heaters so as to satisfy the relation that m k ≧ ℓ k or m k ≧ √ a k . This is because the bubbles created by the heat generation of the heaters for recording tend to stagnate within the range of the distance ℓ k rearward of the heaters for recording, and according to the heater for applying pressure thus disposed, said stagnant bubbles can be discharged well through the discharge openings, or by the cavitation action of the heater for applying pressure, there works strongly the action of catching and gathering the bubbles in the liquid chamber if the bubbles are not discharged through the discharge openings, and exhausting the bubbles from a vent hole or the like, not shown, to the outside. Also, as a recording head to which the present invention is applicable, in a head of the type which discharges ink in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the heat generating portion of the heaters for recording (the direction of arrow BB in Figure 16), it is rarely the case that the stagnation of bubbles occurs at a position greatly spaced apart from the surface of the heat generating portion and therefore, the above-described position is not restrictive, but it is still preferable to provide a heater for applying pressure at a similar position. As is apparent from the foregoing description, in the present invention, by providing the heater for applying pressure discretely from the heaters for recording, unsatisfactory discharge which could not be released by the conventional pre-discharge operation can be released to thereby accomplish a good discharge recovery operation without shortening the life of the heaters for recording. Further, the heater for applying pressure can be made into desired structure and moreover can be disposed more adjacent to the heaters for recording and therefore, it becomes possible to produce a pressure force at a location whereat bubbles or foreign materials are ready to stagnate, and the efficiency of discharge recovery can be remarkably improved without discharging a great deal of ink.

Claims: A discharge recovery method for an ink jet recording head (1) which includes a chamber (4) for containing ink, a plurality of discharge openings from which ink can be discharged, a plurality of discharge passages (2) leading from said chamber (4) to each respective discharge opening, a plurality of heat energy generating members (3) corresponding respectively to each discharge passage (2), which members (3) are operable selectively during recording to cause discharge of ink from said openings, and heat energy generating means (5) for heating ink in said chamber (4) for causing generation of a bubble; which method is characterised by operating said heat energy generating means (5) only for a non-recording mode of operation wherein ink is discharged from each of said discharge openings as a means of recovery and no recording is effected. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat energy generating means (5) is operated after recording operation has ceased for a predetermined time. A method according to claim 1, wherein said heat energy generating means (5) is operated after a predetermined amount of recording has been effected. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein back-flow of ink from said chamber (4) is prevented during operation of said heat energy generating means (5). A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said recording heat includes an additional heat energy generating means (12) arranged at a supply inlet (7) to said chamber (4) and said additional heat energy generating means (12) is operated preceding operation of said heat energy generating means (5) to generate a bubble the effect of which is to prevent back-flow of ink from said chamber (4) during operation of said heat energy generating means (5). A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said heat energy generating means (5) is operated to apply a first heat pulse followed by a second heat pulse smaller in pulse width than said first heat pulse to prevent overheating and to delay disappearance of the bubble generated by said heat energy generating means. A method as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein said additional heat energy generating means (12) is operated to apply a first heat pulse followed by one or more second heat pulses smaller in pulse width than said first pulse signal to prevent overheating and to delay disappearance of the bubble generated by said additional heat energy generating means. An ink jet recording head comprising: a chamber (4) for containing ink having an inlet (7) for admitting supplied ink; a plurality of discharge openings from which ink can be discharged; a plurality of discharge passages (2) leading from said chamber (4) to each respective discharge opening; a plurality of heat energy generating members (3) corresponding respectively to each discharge passage (2), which members are operable selectively during recording to cause discharge of ink from said openings; and heat energy generating means (5) located in said chamber (5) for heating ink to generate a bubble; which head is characterised in that: said heat energy generating means (5) is a heater of large area extending across the entire width of the plurality of discharge passages (2), whereby a bubble can be generated to effect discharge of ink from each of said discharge openings as a means of recovery. A head as claimed in claim 8 wherein said heat energy generating members (3) and means (5) are electro-thermal converting members. A head as claimed in claim 9 wherein said heat energy generating means (5) has capacity to generate more heat than each heat energy generating member (3). A head as claimed in any preceding claim 8 to 10 comprising: flow arresting means (6; 10 & 11; 12) located at said inlet (7) for preventing back flow of ink from said chamber (4) into said inlet (7) while a bubble is generated by said heat energy generating means (5) for causing ink to be discharged. A head as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flow arresting means is a check valve (6; 10 & 11). A head as claimed in claim 11 including, as flow arresting means, an additional heat energy generating means (12) capable of generating a bubble to prevent back-flow of ink from said chamber (4) into said inlet (7). A head as claimed in claim 13, wherein said additional heat energy generating means (12) is an electro-thermal converting member. A head as claimed in any of claims 8 to 14, further having integrally therewith an ink tank for containing therein the ink to be supplied to said liquid chamber (4). A head as claimed in claim 15, wherein said recording head and said ink tank are removably mountable. A head as claimed in claim 9, wherein the distance between said heat energy generating means (5) and each heat energy generating member (3) is equal to or greater than the length of each heat energy generating member (3). A head as claimed in claim 9, arranged such that ink shall be discharged in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the heat generating portion of each heat energy generating member (3). A head as claimed in claim 9, arranged such that ink shall be discharged in a direction intersecting the surface of the heat generating portion of each respective heat energy generating member (3). An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a recording head having a chamber (4) for containing ink having an inlet (7) for admitting supplied ink; a plurality of discharge openings from which ink can be discharged; a plurality of discharge passages (2) leading from said chamber (4) to each respective discharge opening; a plurality of heat energy generating members (3) corresponding respectively to each discharge passage (2), which members are operable selectively during a recording mode to cause discharge of ink from said openings; and heat energy generating means (5) for heating the ink in said chamber (5); recording signal generating means (16) for inputting a recording signal to each of said heat energy generating members (3) and causing ink to be discharged from selected ones of said discharge openings to thereby effect recording; and signal generating means (16) for inputting a signal to said heat energy generating means (5) and causing generation of a bubble; characterised in that: said signal generating means (16) is operable to input a pre-discharge signal to operate said heat energy generating means (5) only for a non-recording mode of operation wherein ink is discharged from each of said discharge openings as a means of recovery and no recording is effected. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further provided with a carriage for carrying said recording head thereon and being movable and wherein said signal generating means (16) is operable to generate a pre-discharge signal when said carriage is positioned in a non-recording position. An apparatus as claimed in either of claims 20 and 21, wherein said recording signal generating means (16) and said signal generating means (16) include a control circuit (17,18). An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 20 to 22, wherein said signal generating means (16) is operable to generate a first pulse pre-discharge signal and thereafter a second pulse pre-discharge signal shorter in pulse width than said first pulse pre-discharge signal to prevent overheating and to delay disappearance of a bubble generated by operation of said heat energy generating means (5). An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 20 to 23, wherein said recording head has an ink tank for containing therein ink to be supplied to said recording head, and a carriage for removably carrying said ink tank. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 20 to 24, wherein said heat energy generating members (3) and means (5) are electro-thermal converting members. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 20 to 25, wherein said recording head is provided with temperature detecting means (18), and said signal generating means (16) is operable to generate a pre-discharge signal on the basis of the temperature detected.

Inventors: TERASAWA KOJI, YAMAGUCHI HIDEKI, TERASAWA, KOJI, YAMAGUCHI, HIDEKI
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B41J2
IPC codes: B41J2