JP2001018419A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain reliability in printing by this recorder by effectively removing bubbles staying at an upstream side of a filter member provided in an ink supply passage. SOLUTION: In this recorder, a deforming member 23 that is deformed to a side of a filter member 22 by receiving a negative pressure is provided right above the filter member 22 provided in an ink supply passage 21 and a fluid passage resistance varying means 26 for varying a fluid passage resistance in the ink supply passage is provided to a portion at the upstream side thereof. In a condition that the nozzle-formed face of the recording head 7 is sealed by a capping means 10, a negative pressure is applied by a suction pump 11 so that the deforming member 23 is deformed to the side of the filter member 22. As a result, a space 24 at the upstream side of the filter member 22 where residual bubbles tends to remain is closed and the residual bubbles are forced to the downstream side of the filter member 22 through the filter member 22 to be discharged from the recording head.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording head which receives ink from an ink cartridge and discharges ink droplets based on print data, and removes foreign matter in an ink supply path between the ink cartridge and the recording head. For an ink jet recording apparatus in which a filter member is arranged,
In particular, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus configured so that air bubbles remaining on the upstream side of a filter member can be easily removed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet recording apparatuses have been used in many types of printing including color printing in recent years, since noise at the time of printing is relatively small and small dots can be formed at a high density. Such an ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head that receives supply of ink from an ink cartridge, and a paper feeding unit that moves recording paper relative to the recording head, and records the recording head on a carriage. Recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets onto the recording paper while moving in the width direction of the paper.

On the carriage, a recording head capable of discharging black ink and each color ink of yellow, cyan, and magenta is mounted. In addition to printing text by black ink, the discharge ratio of each ink is changed to provide a full color. Printing is possible.

The above-mentioned ink jet recording head is
Since the ink pressurized in the pressure generating chamber is ejected from the nozzles as ink droplets onto the recording paper to perform printing, the ink viscosity increases due to evaporation of the solvent from the nozzle openings, the ink solidifies, and dust is generated. There is a problem that printing failure occurs due to adhesion and furthermore, mixing of bubbles.

[0005] For this purpose, the ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a capping means for sealing the nozzle opening of the recording head during non-printing and a wiping member for cleaning the nozzle plate if necessary. The capping means not only functions as a lid for preventing drying of the ink in the nozzle openings when printing is stopped, but also when the nozzle openings are clogged, seals the nozzle plate with a cap member, It also has a function of sucking and discharging ink from the nozzle openings by negative pressure from the suction pump to eliminate clogging due to solidification of the ink in the nozzle openings and ink ejection failure due to air bubbles entering the ink flow path.

[0006] The process of forcibly sucking and discharging ink to eliminate clogging of the recording head and mixing of air bubbles into the ink flow path is called a cleaning operation, which is performed after a long period of suspension of the apparatus. Is executed when the user recognizes that the quality of the recorded image has deteriorated, or operates a cleaning switch, for example, after the ink is discharged by negative pressure, and is formed of an elastic plate such as rubber. This is a process involving a wiping operation of the nozzle forming surface by the wiping member.

On the other hand, this type of consumer printing apparatus is configured such that each of the ink cartridges enclosing the black ink and the color ink can be detachably mounted on a carriage on which a printing head is mounted from above. Each cartridge is configured such that ink is supplied to the recording head via a hollow ink supply needle mounted upward on the carriage.

[0008]

By the way, in the above-described printing apparatus, the flow path of the ink in the printing head is extremely fine, and therefore, the ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to the printing head. Ink is required to be in a clean state free of foreign matter such as dust. That is, in the case where foreign matter such as dust is mixed in, there is a problem that the foreign matter is clogged in the ink supply port and the nozzle opening portion which are particularly narrow in the ink flow path of the recording head. Ink ejection cannot be performed, and in many cases, the function of the print head cannot be recovered.

Therefore, generally, a filter member for removing foreign matter is arranged in an ink flow path between the print head and the ink supply needle, and the filter member prevents foreign matter from entering the print head. Have been.

On the other hand, recently, in order to increase the printing speed, the number of nozzles for ejecting ink has been increased, and a drive signal applied to an actuator for ejecting ink has been increasingly used at a higher frequency. Is being done. For this reason, the amount of ink consumption per unit time is also rapidly increasing.

Accordingly, the amount of ink passing through the filter member naturally increases, and the area of the filter member must be increased in order to suppress the dynamic pressure (pressure loss) of the filter member. For this purpose, for example, a tapered space is formed upstream of the filter member in the ink flow path in which the filter member is disposed. For this reason, there is a problem that air bubbles always stay in the tapered space on the upstream side of the filter member and cannot be discharged.

Therefore, at the time of initial filling of ink into the flow path of the recording head for the first time, or at the time of replacement cleaning performed when the ink cartridge is replaced, the nozzle forming surface of the recording head is suctioned to a negative pressure. Drive the suction pump at a high speed to increase the flow rate of the ink,
Attempts have been made to exhaust the residual air bubbles. However, the problem of the increase in the area of the filter member for suppressing the dynamic pressure of the filter member and the problem with the residual air bubbles are based on incompatible actions, and it is impossible to fundamentally remove the residual air bubbles. is there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the technical problems as described above. In particular, the present invention is to reduce the amount of air bubbles remaining upstream of a filter member as much as possible while realizing the use of a recording apparatus. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can eliminate the occurrence of printing defects due to the influence of the residual air bubbles.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus which achieves the above-described object and receives ink supplied from an ink cartridge and discharges ink droplets from nozzle openings. A recording head, a filter member disposed in an ink supply path between the ink cartridge and the recording head, for removing foreign matter, and a nozzle forming surface of the recording head sealed to form a negative pressure generating means. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a capping unit receiving a negative pressure; a flow path resistance variable unit disposed in an ink supply path between the ink cartridge and the filter member, the path resistance variable unit changing a flow path resistance in the ink supply path. Wherein the flow path resistance changing means is set to a predetermined flow path resistance state, and the recording head is In a state where negative pressure is applied to the nozzle formation surface, characterized by comprising a deformable member which is deformed to the filter member side receives a negative pressure.

In this case, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the deformable member is arranged upstream of the filter member, and the deformable member is deformed by receiving a negative pressure, so that the volume of space with the filter member is reduced. . Further, a configuration may be adopted in which the deformable member is disposed downstream of the filter member, and the deformable member is deformed by receiving a negative pressure, so that the effective filter area of the filter member is reduced. In particular, in the latter configuration, it is desirable that the deformable member is deformed so that at least a part thereof is in contact with the filter member.

Further, the deformable member comprises a first deformable member disposed upstream of the filter member and a second deformable member disposed downstream of the filter member. May be deformed to reduce the space volume with the filter member, and the second deformable member may be deformed by receiving a negative pressure, and at least a part thereof may be in contact with the filter member. . In any of the above-described configurations, a stretchable laminate film is preferably used as the deformable member.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the deformable member disposed on the upstream side of the filter member is configured to be located immediately above the filter member in the direction of gravity. The filter member receives ink supplied to a space between the filter member and the deformable member from a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity, and the ink supplied to the space is arranged in a horizontal direction. Is configured to pass through.

On the other hand, in a configuration in which the deformable member is disposed downstream of the filter member, the deformable member is in contact with the expandable and contractible thin film member and is attached to the member and receives the negative pressure to contact the filter member. Composed of contact members,
A form in which an ink circulation hole is formed in a part of the contact member may be employed.

In any of the above embodiments, the flow path resistance varying means is configured to close the ink supply path when the maximum flow path resistance is set. Alternatively, when the flow path resistance variable means is set to the state of the maximum flow path resistance, a configuration in which a part of the ink can flow without closing the ink supply path is appropriately adopted.

In particular, the flow path resistance variable means in the latter configuration is preferably arranged in an ink supply path having a main flow path and an auxiliary flow path for ink, and when the state of the maximum flow path resistance is set, the main flow resistance is changed. A configuration in which only the road is closed is adopted.

Further, in any of the above-described embodiments, the ink cartridge and the recording head are mounted on the carriage, and the ink is moved between the ink cartridge and the filter member by moving the carriage to the home position. A configuration may be adopted in which the flow path resistance is increased by the flow path resistance varying means disposed in the supply path abutting on the operating body disposed in the home position.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus constructed as described above, the flow path resistance variable means which can change the flow path resistance is disposed in the ink supply path between the ink cartridge and the filter member. When the variable means is set to a predetermined flow path resistance state, and a negative pressure is applied to the nozzle forming surface of the recording head by the capping means, a deformable member deformed toward the filter member by receiving the negative pressure is provided. Therefore, air bubbles remaining on the upstream side of the filter member due to the deformation of the deformable member can pass through the downstream side of the filter member and be discharged.

In this case, when the deformable member is disposed on the upstream side of the filter member, the deformable member which has been subjected to the negative pressure is deformed toward the filter member and the space on the upstream side of the filter member where residual air bubbles tend to accumulate. Is made to close. Thereby, the residual air bubbles are forcibly pushed through the filter member to the downstream side of the filter member, and are discharged from the recording head.

When the deformable member is arranged on the downstream side of the filter member, the deformable member receiving the negative pressure is deformed toward the filter member to reduce the effective filter area of the filter member. As a result, a rapid flow of ink is generated in a part of the filter member, and the residual air bubbles existing on the upstream side of the filter member pass through the filter member on the locally generated rapid flow of ink, and are transmitted from the recording head. Is discharged.

As a result, the amount of air bubbles remaining on the upstream side of the filter member is reduced, and it is possible to eliminate the occurrence of printing defects due to the effects of the above-mentioned air bubbles when the recording apparatus is actually used.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a carriage, and the carriage 1 is a carriage motor 2
Is guided by a guide member 4 via a timing belt 3 driven by the motor, and is reciprocated in the axial direction of a platen 5.

An ink jet recording head 7 is mounted on the side of the carriage 1 facing the recording paper 6, and a black ink cartridge 8 for supplying ink to the recording head 7 and a color ink cartridge 9 is removably mounted.

In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes capping means arranged in a non-printing area (home position), which can seal the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 7 when the recording head 7 moves directly above. It is configured. Below the capping means 10, the capping means 1 is provided.
A suction pump 11 is provided as a negative pressure generating means for applying a negative pressure to the internal space 0.

The capping means 10 functions as a lid for preventing the nozzle openings of the recording head 7 from drying during the idle period of the recording apparatus, and also applies a driving signal unrelated to printing to the recording head to apply ink droplets. Functioning as an ink receiver at the time of a flushing operation in which the ink is ejected idly, and also has a function of a cleaning operation of sucking and discharging ink by applying a negative pressure from the suction pump 11 to the recording head 7.

In the vicinity of the capping means 10, a wiping member 12 made of an elastic plate such as rubber is disposed. When the carriage 1 reciprocates toward the capping means 10, the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 7 is formed. Is configured to perform a wiping operation for wiping.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of the capping means 10 mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the suction pump 11 and the like connected thereto. The capping means 10 includes a rectangular cap case 10a having an open upper surface, and a cap member 10b made of a flexible material such as a rubber material stored in the cap case 10a.
The upper end of the cap member 10b is formed to project slightly from the cap case 10a. An ink absorbing material 10c formed of a porous material is accommodated in the inner bottom of the cap member 10b, and the ink absorbing material 10c is held by a holder 10d formed integrally with the cap member 10b.

In the lower bottom portion of the cap case 10a,
A suction port 10e and an air opening port 1f are formed so as to penetrate the cap case 10a and the cap member 10b, respectively. And the cap case 10
A suction pump 11 is connected to the suction port 10e of FIG. 1A via a tube T1. The discharge side of the suction pump 11 is connected to a waste ink tank 13. Further, a tube T2 is connected to the atmosphere opening port 10f of the cap case 10a.
The atmosphere release valve 14 is connected via the.

On the other hand, reference numeral 7 in FIG. 2 denotes a recording head. When the recording head 7 is located above the capping means 10 as the carriage moves, the nozzle forming surface 7a is sealed by the cap member 10b. It is configured to be stopped (capping). A plurality of nozzle openings 7b are formed in the nozzle forming surface 7a, and black ink and each of yellow, cyan, magenta, and the like are generated by the vibration action of a piezoelectric vibrator 7c arranged corresponding to each nozzle opening 7b. It is configured to eject color ink.

In the above configuration, the discharging operation of the remaining air bubbles in the recording head or the ink supply path and the suction operation of the ink for eliminating the clogging of the nozzle openings are performed by recording the cap member 10b as shown in FIG. This is performed in a state in which the air release valve 10 is closed while the nozzle 7 is brought into close contact with the nozzle plate 7 a of the head 7.

By operating the suction pump 11 in this state, a negative pressure is applied to the internal space of the cap member 10b, and ink is sucked and discharged from the nozzle openings 7b of the recording head 7. When the atmosphere release valve 14 is opened when the negative pressure inside the cap member has decreased to some extent, the atmosphere is introduced into the cap member and the internal negative pressure is released. Subsequently, by operating the suction pump 11 again with the atmosphere release valve 14 opened, the ink discharged into the cap member is sent to the waste ink tank 13 via the tube T1.

Next, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment according to the present invention in a path from an ink cartridge (the black ink cartridge 8 in the figure) to the suction pump 11. In FIG. 3, parts corresponding to the parts described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 3, a filter member 22 for removing foreign matter is arranged in the ink supply path 21 between the ink cartridge 8 and the recording head 7. The filter member 22 is formed in a flat plate shape, and is formed in a mesh shape with fine openings formed throughout. This allows the ink to flow and acts to prevent foreign matter. A stretchable elastic material (laminated film) is provided immediately above the filter member 22 in the direction of gravity.
Is formed in a state of being adhered, and a bowl-shaped space portion 24 is formed between the deformable member 23 and the filter member 22.

FIG. 4 shows a state seen through in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
An introduction hole 25 is formed in the space portion 24 formed between the first and second portions so as to receive supply of ink from a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity.

On the other hand, on the upstream side of the filter member 22, that is, on the ink supply path between the ink cartridge 8 and the filter member 22, there is provided a flow path resistance varying means 26 capable of varying the flow path resistance in the ink supply path. Are located. The flow path resistance varying means 26 acts to give a predetermined flow path resistance to the ink supply path, and an example of the configuration is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ink supply path is formed by forming an arc-shaped main flow path 21a and a sub-flow path 21b having a smaller radius on the side wall of the main flow path 21a. An elastic member 27 (laminate film) that can be expanded and contracted is arranged at the opening of the main flow path 21a. An operating body 28 having a semi-cylindrical or semi-spherical tip is in contact with a substantially central portion of the elastic member 27.

Therefore, according to the above-described configuration, the flow path resistance varying means 26 operates in the maximum flow path when the operating body 28 abuts against the elastic member 27 and the elastic member 27 is deformed to close the main flow path 21a. A state of resistance is made. At this time, due to the presence of the sub flow path 21b, a part of the ink is
1b.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the sub flow path 21b is formed.
Is removed, the flow path resistance varying means 26 can completely close the ink supply path when set to the state of the maximum flow path resistance, and such a configuration is appropriately adopted. be able to.

The components from the ink cartridge to the recording head are mounted on the carriage 1,
Therefore, by disposing the operating body 28 at the home position, the operating body 28 abuts on the elastic member 27 constituting the flow path resistance varying means 26 by moving the carriage 1 to the home position, and the flow path resistance is increased. It can be configured as follows. In other words, as the carriage 1 moves to the home position and the nozzle forming surface 7a of the recording head 7 is sealed by the capping means 10, the flow path resistance changing means 26 also changes to the state of the maximum flow resistance. Can be set.

In the above arrangement, when the carriage 1 moves to the home position, the capping means 10 rises with the movement of the carriage 1 to the home position.
The nozzle forming surface 7a of the recording head 7 is sealed. At this time, as described above, the elastic member 27 constituting the flow path resistance varying means 26 is provided by the operating body 2 disposed at the home position.
8 is brought into the state of the maximum flow path resistance.

Here, when the suction pump 11 operates, a negative pressure is applied to the nozzle forming surface of the recording head by the capping means, and this negative pressure is also applied to the ink supply path via the recording head. Therefore, a negative pressure also acts on the space 24 formed between the deformable member 23 and the filter member 22, and the deformable member 23 receives the negative pressure, and the lower bottom portion of the bowl-shaped, that is, the entire surface thereof is a The space 24 is deformed so as to contact the space 22 so that the space 24 is almost completely closed.

As a result, the residual air bubbles existing in the space 24 are forcibly pushed out through the filter member 22 to the downstream side of the filter member 22. Then, under the action of the negative pressure, the ink flows through the sub-flow path 21b, and the bubbles pushed to the downstream side of the filter member 22 by the flow of the ink are discharged from the recording head 7.

Next, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment according to the present invention in a path from the ink cartridge 8 to the suction pump 11. In FIG. 6, parts corresponding to the parts described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a deformable member 31 formed of a stretchable thin film member (laminated film) is disposed downstream of the filter member 22. A contact member 32 that receives the negative pressure and contacts the filter member 22 is attached to a surface of the deformable member 31 that faces the filter member 22. This contact member 32
Is formed, for example, in a disk shape, and has an ink circulation hole 32a formed so as to communicate in a circumferential direction from the center of the upper surface.

In the above configuration, when a negative pressure is applied by the suction pump 11 in the same manner as described above, the deformable member 31 is deformed and acts to reduce the volume of the space with the filter member 22. The member 32 is the filter member 22
, From the lower surface so as to cover almost the entire surface of the filter member 22.

In the center of the contact member 32, there is formed an ink circulation hole 32a communicating in the circumferential direction. Therefore, in the filter member 22 corresponding to the ink circulation hole 32a, the rapid flow of the ink locally occurs. appear. Therefore, the residual air bubbles existing on the upstream side of the filter member 22 pass through the filter member 22 on the rapid flow of locally generated ink, and the air bubbles passing on the downstream side of the filter member 22 are discharged from the recording head 7. Is done.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the ink circulation holes 32a are formed at the center of the contact member 32, but the arrangement position of the ink circulation holes 32a can be appropriately selected. Also, the diameter of the contact member 32 can be reduced without providing the ink circulation holes 32a.
By setting the effective area (diameter) to be slightly smaller than the effective area (diameter), a rapid flow of ink can be generated on the peripheral side of the filter member 22. With such a configuration, the same operation and effect as described above can be obtained.

Also, a configuration in which a first deformable member is disposed upstream of the filter member and a second deformable member is disposed downstream of the filter member, that is, the configuration shown in FIG.
Can be adopted.

[0053]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the flow path resistance variable means capable of changing the flow path resistance in the ink supply path between the ink cartridge and the filter member. The flow path resistance varying means is set to a predetermined flow path resistance state, and in a state where a negative pressure is applied to the nozzle forming surface of the recording head by the capping means, the negative pressure is applied to the filter member side. Since the deformable member is provided, air bubbles remaining on the upstream side of the filter member due to the deformation of the deformable member can pass through the downstream side of the filter member and be discharged.
Therefore, the amount of bubbles remaining on the upstream side of the filter member can be significantly reduced, and during the actual use of the printing apparatus, the occurrence of printing failure due to the influence of the above-described remaining bubbles can be eliminated. Printing reliability is guaranteed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a basic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of capping means mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and peripheral devices thereof.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a path from an ink cartridge to a suction pump.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view seen in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a flow path resistance varying unit in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment in a path from an ink cartridge to a suction pump.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carriage 6 Recording paper 7 Recording head 7a Nozzle formation surface 7b Nozzle opening 8 Ink cartridge for black 9 Ink cartridge for color 10 Capping means 11 Suction pump (negative pressure generating means) 12 Wiping member 13 Waste ink tank 14 Air release valve 21 Ink Supply path 21a Main flow path 21b Sub flow path 22 Filter member 23 Deformation member 24 Space 25 Ink introduction hole 26 Flow path resistance variable means 27 Elastic member 28 Actuator 31 Deformation member 32 Contact member 32a Ink circulation hole

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording head that receives ink supply from an ink cartridge and discharges ink droplets from nozzle openings, and is disposed in an ink supply path between the ink cartridge and the recording head to remove foreign matter. And a capping unit for sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head and receiving a negative pressure from a negative pressure generating unit, wherein the ink cartridge, the filter member and A flow path resistance varying unit that is arranged in the ink supply path between and varies a flow path resistance in the ink supply path; and the flow path resistance variable means is set to a predetermined flow path resistance state, and is provided by the capping means. In a state where a negative pressure is applied to the nozzle forming surface of the recording head, a deforming portion that receives the negative pressure and deforms toward the filter member side An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by comprising a. 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the deformable member is arranged on the upstream side of the filter member, and the deformable member is deformed by receiving a negative pressure, so that a space volume between the deformable member and the filter member is reduced. Inkjet recording device. 3. The filter member according to claim 1, wherein the deformable member is disposed downstream of the filter member, and the deformable member is deformed by receiving a negative pressure, so that an effective filter area of the filter member is reduced. Inkjet recording device. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said deformable member is deformed so that at least a part thereof is in contact with said filter member. 5. The deformable member includes a first deformable member disposed on the upstream side of the filter member and a second deformable member disposed on the downstream side of the filter member.
The deformable member is deformed, the space volume with the filter member is reduced, and the second deformable member is deformed by receiving a negative pressure, and at least a part thereof is configured to be in contact with the filter member. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to 1. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said deformable member is formed of a stretchable laminate film. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the deformable member arranged on the upstream side of the filter member is located immediately above the filter member in the direction of gravity. . 8. A space between the filter member and the deformable member is supplied with ink from a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity, and the ink supplied to the space is arranged in a horizontal direction. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is configured to pass through the filter member. 9. A deformable member disposed on the downstream side of the filter member includes a stretchable thin film member, and a contact member attached to the member and contacting the filter member under negative pressure. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an ink circulation hole is formed in a part of the member. 10. The ink supply path according to claim 1, wherein the flow path resistance varying means is configured to close the ink supply path when the flow path resistance is set to the maximum flow path resistance. Inkjet recording device. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow path resistance varying means is configured to allow a part of ink to flow without closing an ink supply path when the state is set to a maximum flow path resistance. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 9. 12. The flow path resistance varying means is disposed in an ink supply path having a main flow path and a sub flow path for ink, and closes only the main flow path when the state is set to a maximum flow path resistance. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is configured to be in a state. 13. A flow path resistance varying means which is mounted on a carriage, wherein the ink cartridge and the recording head are mounted on a carriage, and which is moved to a home position by an ink supply path between the ink cartridge and the filter member. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the flow path resistance is increased by contacting an operating body disposed at a home position.