JP2002086759A - Ink-jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that ink drops discharged by a flushing operation are turned to mist and float, thereby staining the periphery. SOLUTION: A casing-like ink collection unit 21 is set to a flushing region provided to an end of a movement path of a carriage 1. A lid body 30 for opening/closing an opening part 22 of the collection unit 21 is disposed to the opening part 22. The lid body 30 is opened at a flushing operation time, and ink drops emptied by the flushing operation are captured in the collection unit 21 via the opening part 22. Since the opening part 22 is shut by the lid body 30 as the flushing operation ends, the ink mist generated by the flushing operation can be sealed in the collection unit 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention includes an ink jet recording head for forming an image on a recording sheet by discharging ink droplets from nozzle openings, and ink droplets discharged when a flushing drive signal is supplied to the recording head. In particular, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus in which a flushing region receiving the light is arranged on a moving path of a recording head, and in particular, an unnecessary ink mist (fog ink) due to minute ink droplets generated during a flushing operation can be effectively collected. The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus.

[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 because noise during printing is relatively small and small dots can be formed at a high density. Such an ink jet recording apparatus is generally mounted on a carriage and scans in the width direction of a recording sheet, and an ink jet recording head;
A paper feeding means for moving the recording paper in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction of the recording head is provided, and recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets from the recording head to the recording paper in accordance with print data.

[0003] By constructing such that black ink and each color ink of yellow, cyan and magenta can be continuously supplied to the recording head,
Not only text printing with black ink but also full-color printing is possible by changing the discharge ratio of each color ink.

In such an ink jet recording head, the ink pressurized in the pressure generating chamber is ejected as ink droplets from a nozzle opening onto recording paper to perform printing. There is a problem that printing failure occurs due to an increase in viscosity, solidification of the ink, adhesion of dust, and mixing of air bubbles. For this purpose, the ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a capping means for sealing the nozzle openings of the recording head during non-printing and a wiping member for wiping and cleaning the nozzle forming surface as required.

[0005] The capping means not only functions as a lid for preventing the ink in the nozzle openings of the recording head from drying when printing is stopped, but also when the nozzle openings are clogged, the nozzle formation is performed by the capping means. The surface is sealed, and ink is suctioned and discharged from the nozzle opening by negative pressure from the suction pump to prevent clogging due to solidification of the ink in the nozzle opening and defective ejection of ink droplets due to air bubbles entering the ink flow path. It also has a function to cancel.

[0006] Forcible suction and discharge of ink for eliminating the clogging of the recording head and the mixing of air bubbles into the ink flow path is called a cleaning operation. This is executed when printing is restarted or when the user operates the cleaning switch after recognizing that the quality of the printed image has deteriorated, and is made of an elastic plate such as rubber after sucking and discharging ink from the recording head. An operation of wiping the nozzle forming surface of the recording head by the wiping member is involved.

The recording head also has a function of applying a drive signal irrelevant to printing to eject ink droplets. This function is called a flushing operation, and a wiping operation by a wiping member at the time of a cleaning operation is carried out. To recover uneven meniscus generated near the nozzle opening,
In addition, this operation is performed at regular intervals for the purpose of preventing clogging due to thickening of ink at a nozzle opening where ejection of ink droplets is small during printing.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus configured to discharge ink droplets in a flushing area sandwiching the above-described capping means and printing area during a flushing operation. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 denotes a carriage. The carriage 1 is guided by a guide shaft 4 supported by left and right frames 2 and 3 via a timing belt driven by a carriage motor (not shown), and reciprocates in the guide axis direction. It is configured to be moved.

An ink jet recording head 5 is mounted on the carriage 1 downward, and a black ink cartridge 6 for supplying ink to the recording head 5 and a color ink cartridge 7 are detachably mounted on an upper portion thereof. It is installed. And the recording head 5
A paper guide member 8 is disposed below the paper guide member 8 corresponding to the scanning direction, and the recording paper 9 placed on the paper guide member 8 is disposed below the paper guide member 8.
Can be sequentially conveyed in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction of the recording head 5 by a paper feeding means (not shown).

In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes capping means arranged in a non-printing area (home position). When the recording head 5 moves directly upward, it moves upward to change the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5. It is configured to be able to be sealed. A suction pump 11 for applying a negative pressure to the internal space of the capping unit 10 is disposed below the capping unit 10.

The capping means 10 functions as a lid for preventing the nozzle openings of the recording head 5 from drying during the idle period of the recording apparatus, and also applies a drive signal unrelated to printing to the recording head to apply ink droplets. Functioning as a first flushing area during a flushing operation, ie, a first flushing area, in which a negative pressure from the suction pump 11 is applied to the recording head 5 to suction and discharge ink. Also serves as.

A wiping member 12 made of an elastic plate such as rubber is disposed on the printing area side adjacent to the capping unit 10. When the carriage 1 reciprocates toward the capping unit 10, The wiping operation for wiping the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5 is performed.

On the other hand, a second flushing area 13 is formed in the vicinity of the other end facing the capping means 10 via the central printing area. The second flushing area 13 is constituted by an opening hole formed so as to penetrate the paper guide member 8. A part of a waste liquid absorber 14 for absorbing and holding ink discharged from the capping means 10 via a pump 11 is disposed at the inner bottom of the opening hole forming the flushing area 13. 14 is contained in a waste liquid tank 15 arranged along the paper guide member 8.

[0014]

As described above, in such a recording apparatus, flushing is periodically performed in order to prevent a discharge failure due to ink thickening at an unused nozzle during printing. It is configured to: In particular, in recent models, flushing of about several tens of shots / one nozzle is performed on average every few seconds. This flushing may be performed to prevent color mixing at the timing after the cleaning operation, or at the timing at the start of printing, and may periodically discharge thousands to tens of thousands of shots from each nozzle during printing. .

The flushing may be performed in the capping means 10 as the first flushing area, or may be performed in the second flushing area 13 by the opening formed in the paper guide member 8. This includes the reason that when the flushing is executed only in the capping unit 10, the inside of the capping unit 10 becomes full of ink and the problem that the ink overflows is avoided.

In recent models, the recording head is connected to the capping means 1 in order to improve the throughput.
0, and return to the second
There is also provided a model that employs a sequence for executing flushing in the flushing area. Also, when the interval required for regular flushing is short, when the paper size is large and it takes time to move the carriage, and when the printing direction and the timing at which flushing is required do not mesh, the second flushing area is used. Flushing is performed.

As the second flushing area 13, FIG.
In the case where the opening hole is formed in the paper guide member 8 as shown in (1), the distance from the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 5 to the waste liquid absorbing material 14 is about several tens mm, and the flying distance of the ink droplet increases. Is inevitable. For this reason, a part of the ink droplet ejected from the nozzle opening of the recording head becomes an ink mist (fog-like ink) due to air resistance before reaching the absorbing material 14, and floats as indicated by the arrow, and the recording is performed. There is a problem that the inside and outside of the apparatus including paper are contaminated.

In order to prevent such a problem from occurring, it is conceivable to arrange a waste liquid absorbing material at a position close to the recording head. In reality, it is not possible to secure a sufficient volume. In addition, the ink droplets discharged from the nozzle openings are not less charged, and are affected by static electricity generated in a driving unit in the recording apparatus, and further, an air flow by an exhaust fan arranged to suppress a temperature rise in the apparatus, Alternatively, it is accelerated by an air flow generated by the movement of the carriage.

Under the influence of the charging and the air flow, the ink mist spreads over a wide area, and as described above, there remains a problem that the inside and outside of the recording paper and the recording apparatus are contaminated. Especially in order to realize high image quality,
In a recent recording apparatus in which the amount of each ink droplet is controlled as small as possible, ink mist is more likely to occur, and such a problem appears more remarkably.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and particularly provides an ink jet recording apparatus capable of effectively collecting ink mist floating as fine droplets during a flushing operation. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which does not contaminate the inside and the outside of the apparatus and has excellent commercial value.

[0021]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is mounted on a carriage which scans a recording sheet in a width direction and ejects ink droplets from nozzle openings. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet recording head for forming an image on a recording sheet; and a flushing area for receiving ink droplets when a flushing drive signal is supplied to the recording head, arranged on a moving path of the recording head. In the flushing area, an opening through which an ink droplet ejected from a nozzle opening of a recording head by a flushing operation can pass is formed, and an internal space sufficiently larger than the opening through the opening is formed. A housing-shaped ink recovery unit is formed, which is formed as an ink recovery storage section. The opening of the dot and the ink droplets ejected along with the flushing operation, the induction means for inducing the ink recovery reservoir portion is disposed and configurations.

In this case, preferably, the guiding means is configured to be movable during a flushing operation. In a preferred first mode, the guiding means is configured to close the opening of the ink recovery unit during a non-flushing operation and open the opening of the ink recovery unit during a flushing operation.

In this case, the guiding means is preferably configured to open the opening of the ink recovery unit by receiving a driving force accompanying movement of the carriage on which the recording head is mounted to the flushing area. In a preferred embodiment in this case, the guiding means is constituted by a lid that closes an opening of the ink recovery unit during a non-flushing operation, and receives a driving force accompanying movement of the carriage to a flushing area. The opening of the ink recovery unit is opened by sliding in the moving direction of the carriage.

An operating member is arranged on a part of the carriage, and an abutting member for sliding the lid is arranged on the lid in contact with the operating member accompanying the movement of the carriage. In addition, the lid is urged by a spring member so that the opening of the ink recovery unit is closed.

On the other hand, in a preferred second mode, the guiding means rises from the opening of the ink recovery unit during a flushing operation, and forms a guide path for ink droplets between the recording head and the opening. It is composed of a shape. In this case, the tubular body is preferably configured to rise from the opening of the ink recovery unit toward the recording head by receiving a driving force accompanying movement of the carriage on which the recording head is mounted to the flushing area.

An operating member is arranged on a part of the carriage, and the cylindrical body has an inclined surface which comes into contact with the operating member accompanying the movement of the carriage and raises the cylindrical body toward the recording head. It is configured to be held by a holding member having the same. In addition, the tubular body is configured to be urged by a spring member in a direction to descend into the opening of the ink recovery unit.

Further, in any of the first and second embodiments, it is desirable to dispose a waste liquid absorbing material at the lower bottom of the ink recovery unit.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the first embodiment configured as described above, when the carriage on which the recording head is mounted moves toward the flushing area where the ink recovery unit is disposed, the opening of the ink recovery unit is opened. Act to be released. That is,
The lid disposed so as to close the opening of the ink recovery unit slides in the moving direction of the carriage upon receiving the driving force of the carriage, and opens the opening of the ink recovery unit.

In this state, a flushing operation for idly discharging ink droplets from the nozzle openings of the recording head is performed. As a result, the ink droplets discharged from the nozzle openings are introduced into the collection unit through the openings formed in the ink collection unit. When the flushing operation is completed, the carriage moves to the printing area side, and the lid closes the opening of the ink recovery unit by the urging force of the spring member.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, even if some of the ink droplets ejected by the flushing operation change to ink mist, most of them are confined in the ink recovery unit. As a result, the ink mist adheres to the inner wall surface of the ink recovery unit, or is absorbed and collected by the waste liquid absorbent disposed at the lower bottom of the recovery unit.

On the other hand, according to the ink jet type recording apparatus of the second embodiment configured as described above, when the carriage on which the recording head is mounted moves toward the flushing area where the ink recovery unit is disposed, the ink recovery unit is moved. The cylindrical body constituting the guide path for the ink droplets arranged at the opening of the ink droplet acts to rise toward the recording head.

In this state, a flushing operation is performed in which ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle openings of the recording head. Thus, the ink droplets discharged from the nozzle openings pass through the cylindrical body, are guided to the openings of the ink recovery unit, and are introduced into the recovery unit. And
When the above-mentioned flushing operation is completed, the carriage moves to the printing area side, and the lid body is lowered to the opening side of the collection unit by the urging force of the spring member.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, even if a part of the ink droplet ejected by the flushing operation changes to an ink mist, most of the ink droplet is collected by the action of the cylindrical body constituting the guide path. Can be introduced into the unit. As a result, the ink mist adheres to the inner wall surface of the unit, or is absorbed and collected by the waste liquid absorbent disposed at the lower bottom of the collection unit.

[0034]

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 employing the first embodiment in a sectional state. In FIG. 1, parts corresponding to the respective parts in FIG. 7 already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 1, the waste liquid tank 15 disposed below the paper guide member 8 is configured to have a size that is approximately half the moving direction of the carriage as compared with the conventional example shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, it is arranged in the right half of the recording apparatus.

On the other hand, an ink recovery unit indicated by reference numeral 21 is disposed in the left half below the paper guide member 8. The recovery unit 21 is formed of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing, and an opening 22 through which ink droplets ejected from a nozzle opening of the recording head 5 can pass by a flushing operation is formed upward. ing. As a result, the opening 22 forms a second flushing area for receiving ink droplets when a flushing drive signal is supplied to the recording head 5. The interior of the ink recovery unit 21 has an internal space that is sufficiently larger than the opening through the opening 22 as an ink recovery storage 21a. In addition, a sheet-like waste liquid absorbing material 23 is arranged at a lower bottom portion of a housing constituting the ink collecting unit 21.

As shown in FIG. 2 in an enlarged manner, the opening 22 is provided with a lid 30 as a guiding means for guiding ink droplets ejected during a flushing operation into the ink collecting and storing section 21a. , Are arranged so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction. The cover 30 is formed of a single plate-like member. The guide member 31 having a straight guide groove 31a that can guide and slide the cover 30 in the horizontal direction is used as the cover 30. Are arranged on both sides in the sliding direction.

On the side of the second flushing area of the carriage 1, an operating member 32 is attached so as to hang vertically, and on the upper surface of the lid 30, the moving member 32 moves with the movement of the carriage 1. An abutting member 33 that abuts the operating member 32 and slides the lid 30 in the moving direction of the carriage is disposed. One end of a rod member 34 is attached to the contact member 33 disposed on the upper surface of the lid 30. The other end of the rod member 34 passes through the left frame 2 and It is configured to be able to slide.

A coil-shaped spring member 35 is disposed so as to wind the rod member 34, and the spring member 35 urges the contact member 33 toward the center, so that the contact member 33 The lid 30 is positioned above the opening 22 of the collection unit via 33 so that the opening 22 is closed. At the right end of the guide member 31 in FIG. 2, a stopper member 31b is disposed so as to bury the guide groove 31a, whereby the lid 30 closes the opening 22 immediately above. Located in the state.

In the above configuration, when the carriage 1 moves to the left in the figure, the operating member 32 disposed on the carriage is replaced with the contact member 3 disposed on the upper surface of the lid 30.
Contact 3 When the carriage 1 still moves to the left in the figure, as shown in FIG.
Is pushed in the traveling direction against the urging force of the spring member 35.
Along with this, the lid 30 located in a closed state right above the opening 22 is slid in the same direction to open the opening 22.

In this state, a drive signal for executing a flushing operation is supplied to the recording head 5, and an idle discharge of ink droplets is performed from a nozzle opening of the recording head 5. By this flushing operation, most of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzle opening are moved from the opening 22 to the ink collecting and storing section 21a in the collecting unit 21 as shown by a broken line in FIG.
And reaches the sheet-like waste liquid absorbing member 23 arranged at the lower bottom portion of the unit 21 and is absorbed by the waste liquid absorbing member 23.

On the other hand, a part of the ink droplet ejected from the nozzle opening changes into an ink mist due to the air resistance at a position just passing through the opening 22 of the collection unit. However, when the flushing operation is completed, the carriage 1 moves to the printing area again, and the lid 30 closes the opening 22 as shown in FIG. As a result, the ink mist is confined in the collection unit 21 and falls on the waste liquid absorbent 23 with the passage of time, or adheres to the inner wall surface of the unit 21 and is captured. Therefore, according to the above configuration, it is possible to solve the problem that the ink mist generated by the flushing floats in the apparatus and contaminates the recording paper and the inside and outside of the apparatus.

Next, FIG. 4 shows the main part of the second embodiment partially omitted, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show the main part in an enlarged manner. 4 to 6
In FIG. 7, parts corresponding to the parts already described are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the second embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (2), a tubular body 40 is provided in the opening 22 of the ink recovery unit 21 as guide means so as to be movable in the vertical direction. This cylindrical body 40
Acts to form an ink droplet guide path between the recording head 5 and the opening 22 of the ink recovery unit 21 during a flushing operation as described later.

As shown also in FIG. 5, an operating member 41 is attached to the second flushing area side of the carriage 1 so as to hang vertically. And a rod-shaped locking portion 41a is attached so as to protrude in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, the cylindrical member 40 is provided with the operating member 4 as the carriage 1 moves.
Holding member 42 having an inclined surface 42a that comes into contact with the first locking portion 41a and raises the cylindrical body 40 toward the recording head.
Is held by

5 and FIG.
As shown in (1), one end of a rod member 43 is attached, and the rod member 43 is configured to be slidable through a plate constituting a part of the ink recovery unit 21. A coil-shaped spring member 44 is disposed so as to wind the rod member 43 that has penetrated the plate body, and the spring member 44 urges the rod member 43 downward. The configuration is such that the state body 40 can be held in the state shown in FIG.

In the above configuration, when the carriage 1 moves leftward in the figure from the state shown in FIG. 4, the rod-shaped locking portion 41a of the operating member 41 attached to the carriage 1 as shown in FIG. It comes into contact with the vicinity of the upper end of the inclined surface 42a formed on the holding member 42 that holds the cylindrical body 40. When the carriage 1 still moves to the left in the figure, the rod-shaped locking portion 41a enters along the inclined surface 42a formed on the holding member 42, and the holding member 42 is pulled up in the vertical direction. .

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, the tubular body 40 also rises from the opening 22 of the ink recovery unit 21 toward the recording head 5. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the periphery of the recording head 5 is surrounded and bent by the inner wall surface of the tubular body 40.

In this state, a drive signal for executing a flushing operation is supplied to the recording head 5, and an idle discharge of ink droplets is performed from a nozzle opening of the recording head 5. As a result of this flushing operation, the ink droplets ejected from the nozzle openings are guided through the cylindrical body 40 as shown by the broken lines in FIG. To enter. Then, most of the ink droplets reach the sheet-like waste liquid absorbing member 23 arranged at the lower bottom of the unit 21 and are absorbed thereby.

Further, a part of the ink droplet discharged from the nozzle opening changes to an ink mist due to air resistance.
However, due to the presence of the tubular body 40, the ink mist is prevented from moving in the horizontal direction, guided by the tubular body 40, and naturally descends into the collection unit 21.
It is captured on the waste liquid absorbent 23 as it is, or adhered to the inner wall surface of the unit 21 and captured.

After the above-described flushing operation is performed, the carriage 1 moves to the printing area again, so that the cylindrical member 40 is lowered by the action of the spring member 44 and the inner wall surface of the cylindrical member 40 is moved. Accordingly, the state in which the periphery of the recording head 5 is bent is released. Therefore, according to the configuration described above, it is possible to solve the problem that the ink mist generated by the flushing operation floats in the apparatus and contaminates the recording paper and the inside and outside of the apparatus.

[0050]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet type recording apparatus of the present invention, the ink recovery having the opening through which the ink droplet ejected from the nozzle opening of the recording head can pass by the flushing operation is formed. A unit is arranged, and the opening of this ink recovery unit is
Since the guiding means for guiding the ink droplets ejected in accordance with the flushing operation into the ink collecting and storing section is arranged, the ink mist generated by the flushing operation can be effectively guided into the ink collecting unit. Therefore, it is possible to solve the problem that the ink mist floats inside the apparatus and contaminates the inside and outside of the apparatus including the recording paper.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a basic configuration of a recording apparatus that employs a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. 1 during a non-flashing operation.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of FIG. 1 during a flushing operation.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a recording apparatus that employs a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. 4 during a non-flashing operation.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of FIG. 4 during a flushing operation.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a basic configuration of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carriage 4 Guide shaft 5 Recording head 6 Black ink cartridge 7 Color ink cartridge 8 Paper guide member 9 Recording paper 10 Capping means 11 Suction pump 12 Wiping member 15 Waste liquid tank 21 Ink recovery unit 21a Ink recovery storage part 22 Opening 23 Waste liquid absorption Material 30 Lid (guiding means) 32 Operating member 33 Contact member 34 Rod member 35 Spring member 40 Tubular body (guiding means) 41 Operating member 41a Locking part 42 Holding member 42a Inclined surface 43 Rod member 44 Spring member

Claims (12)

[Claims] An ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage that scans in the width direction of the recording paper and ejects ink droplets from nozzle openings to form an image on the recording paper; and a flushing drive signal is sent to the recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus in which a flushing area for receiving an ink droplet when supplied is disposed on a movement path of the recording head, wherein the flushing area includes an ink droplet ejected from a nozzle opening of the recording head by a flushing operation. Is formed, and a housing-like ink recovery unit is formed, in which an internal space sufficiently larger than the opening is formed as an ink recovery storage section through the opening. In the opening, ink droplets ejected in accordance with the flushing operation are introduced into the ink collecting and storing section. An ink jet recording apparatus induction means for is located. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said guiding means is movable during a flushing operation. 3. The ink-jet apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said guiding means is configured to close an opening of the ink recovery unit during a non-flushing operation and to open an opening of the ink recovery unit during a flushing operation. Expression recording device. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guide unit is configured to open an opening of the ink recovery unit by receiving a driving force accompanying a movement of a carriage on which the recording head is mounted to a flushing area. Ink jet recording device. 5. The carriage according to claim 1, wherein the guiding unit includes a lid that closes an opening of the ink recovery unit during a non-flushing operation, and receives a driving force accompanying the movement of the carriage to a flushing area, and moves the carriage in a moving direction. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said ink jet recording apparatus is configured to slide to open an opening of said ink recovery unit. 6. An operating member is disposed on a part of the carriage, and an abutting member is disposed on the lid to abut the operating member accompanying the movement of the carriage and slide the lid. Item 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to item 5. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lid is urged by a spring member so as to close an opening of the ink recovery unit. 8. The flushing device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding means rises from an opening of the ink recovery unit during a flushing operation,
3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is constituted by a cylindrical body that forms an ink droplet guide path between a recording head and the opening. 9. The ink jet printer according to claim 8, wherein the tubular body is configured to rise from the opening of the ink recovery unit toward the recording head by receiving a driving force associated with the movement of the carriage on which the recording head is mounted to the flushing area. Item 10. An ink jet recording apparatus according to item 8. 10. An operating member is disposed on a part of the carriage, and the cylindrical body has an inclined surface which comes into contact with the operating member accompanying movement of the carriage and raises the cylindrical body toward a recording head. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 9, which is held by a holding member. 11. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tubular body is urged by a spring member in a direction to descend into the opening of the ink recovery unit. 12. A method according to claim 12, wherein:
The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a waste liquid absorbing material is disposed.