Patent ID: 7594711

Claim:
A recording apparatus comprising: a carriage capable of reciprocating with respect to a recording medium; a recording head including an ink discharge surface and detachably attached on the carriage, the recording head being movable such that the ink discharge surface is movable by a first moving distance in a direction of ink discharge when the recording head is detached from or attached to the carriage; and a preliminary-discharge receiving unit disposed at a position opposite the ink discharge surface when the recording head attached on the carriage moves to a preliminary discharge position for performing preliminary discharge, wherein a distance between the preliminary-discharge receiving unit and the ink discharge surface is smaller than the first moving distance, wherein the preliminary-discharge receiving unit is movable in the direction of the ink discharge, and wherein the preliminary-discharge receiving unit is in contact with the ink discharge surface and moving in a direction remote from the carriage when the recording head is detached or attached on the carriage.