JP2003011379A - Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink-jet recording apparatus capable of saving the ink consumption in the initial filling operation. SOLUTION: In an ink-jet recording apparatus comprising a recording head having a head main body 10 provided with a nozzle for ejecting ink droplets and a head holder 11 with the head main body 10 mounted and an ink cartridge 2 loaded, with a channel in the head main body 10 filled with a consignment liquid 19, since the consignment liquid 19 existing in the channel of the head main body 10 is vacuumed preliminarily so as to be replaced by the air in the initial filling operation for filling the head main body 10 with the ink in the ink cartridge 2 at the time of the initial use, the ink initial filling operation is executed after replacing the consignment liquid 19 in the head main body 10 by the air so that the ink consumption amount can be saved compared with the case of replacement while mixing the ink and the consignment liquid 19.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink cartridge having a recording head for ejecting ink supplied from an ink cartridge as ink droplets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 10, a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus supplies a head main body 51 for ejecting ink as ink droplets and an ink of an ink cartridge (not shown) to the head main body 51. And a head holder 53 in which a holder flow path 52 is formed.

The head holder 53 has an ink supply needle 54 which is inserted into an ink supply port of an ink cartridge to receive ink supply, and a filter 55 which filters ink flowing from the ink supply needle 54 to the holder flow path 52. Is provided. On the other hand, the head main body 51 is formed with a head channel 58 that communicates with the holder channel 52 and replenishes the filtered ink to the reservoir 57 near the nozzle plate 56.

On the upper surface of the head main body 51, the piezoelectric vibrator 6 of the head main body 51 is interposed via a flexible circuit board 62.
3 is provided with a head substrate 60 that sends a drive signal. . Further, between the head substrate 60 and the head holder 53, a seal plate 59 is provided which connects the holder flow path 52 and the head flow path 58 and seals the joint portion thereof.

The recording head is mounted on a carriage (not shown) together with an ink cartridge, and the carriage reciprocates in the width direction of the recording paper to eject ink droplets from nozzles 61 provided on a nozzle plate 56. Then, the ink consumed by the printing is discharged from the ink cartridge to the ink supply needle 54 and the holder flow path 5.
2. It is supplied to the reservoir 57 communicating with the nozzle 61 through the head flow path 58.

[0006]

In the above recording apparatus, a print test for actually ejecting ink is carried out in a product inspection before shipment. After such a printing test, if the ink is left in the flow path of the recording head before shipping, the ink in the flow path is dried and remains as a solid matter, which may cause ejection failure. For this reason, after the printing test, the flow path of the recording head is filled with a delivery liquid which has a viscosity higher than that of ink and is hard to dry, and then the product is shipped. Then, when the ink cartridge is mounted at the start of use of the recording apparatus, an initial ink filling operation is performed to fill the flow path of the recording head with the ink.

However, when the initial filling operation of ink is executed while the recording head is filled with the delivery liquid, the ink to be filled is replaced in the flow path while being mixed with the delivery liquid, which is necessary for the initial filling. There is a problem that the amount of ink becomes large and a large amount of ink is consumed only by the initial filling operation. Further, since the viscosity of the delivery liquid is higher than that of the ink, if there is variation in the flow path resistance for each nozzle, there will be some nozzles where the delivery liquid remains after the initial filling, and the ejection characteristics at the beginning of use will deteriorate. There was a risk of

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink cartridge which can reduce the ink consumed in the initial filling operation.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is provided with a head main body provided with nozzles for ejecting ink droplets, and the head main body is attached and an ink cartridge is mounted. An ink jet type recording apparatus having a recording head having a head holder, wherein the flow path of the head body is filled with a delivery liquid at the time of shipment, and the ink of the ink cartridge is applied to the head body at the time of first use. The gist is that the liquid to be delivered existing in the flow path of the head body is replaced with gas in advance during the initial filling.

That is, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus in which the flow path of the head main body is filled with the delivery liquid at the time of shipment, and the ink of the ink cartridge is used for the first time of use. In the initial filling for filling the main body, the delivery liquid existing in the flow path of the head main body is replaced with gas in advance. Therefore, since the ink is initially filled after the delivery liquid in the head body is once replaced with gas, the amount of ink consumed by the initial filling is higher than that of the ink and the delivery liquid being replaced while being mixed. Can be significantly reduced. Further, even if there is some variation in the flow path resistance among the nozzles, almost no product liquid remains in the flow path after the initial filling, and the discharge characteristics at the initial stage of use can be stabilized.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the initial filling control means for controlling the above-mentioned initial filling operation is configured to execute the suction operation for sucking the inside of the flow path of the head main body from the nozzle. Since the initial filling operation is executed after the delivery liquid in the head main body is suctioned and removed, the amount of ink consumed in the initial filling can be significantly reduced.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the recording head has an ink flow path for supplying the ink of the ink cartridge to the head body, and at least a part of the ink flow path is replaced with the delivery liquid. If a gas is placed in the
The delivery liquid remaining in the head body is replaced with the gas existing in the ink flow path, and the ink is initially filled from that state, so that the amount of ink consumed by the initial filling can be significantly reduced.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, a filter for filtering ink is provided in the ink flow path, and a gas to be replaced with the delivery liquid is arranged in the ink flow path upstream of the filter. Due to the action of the surface tension acting on the liquid surface of the filter portion, the product delivery liquid is retained in the ink flow path and the head body, and the product delivery liquid is prevented from flowing out during transportation and the like.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the ink flow path includes a hollow portion of a hollow ink supply needle for receiving the ink supplied from the ink cartridge, and a delivery liquid is supplied to the hollow portion of the ink supply needle. When the gas to be replaced is placed, the volume of the hollow portion of the ink supply needle is sufficiently larger than the flow path volume of the head body, so the delivery liquid in the head body is sufficiently gas before the initial filling of ink. Is replaced by

The ink cartridge of the present invention has a recording head having a head body for ejecting ink droplets, and a head holder to which the head body is attached and which is provided with an ink supply needle for supplying ink from the ink cartridge. An ink cartridge used in an ink jet recording apparatus including: wherein a gas that replaces a liquid existing in a flow path of a head main body is present near a connection portion with an ink supply needle. .

That is, in the ink cartridge of the present invention, a gas that replaces the liquid existing in the flow path of the head body is present near the connection portion with the ink supply needle.
For this reason, since the delivery liquid in the head main body is once replaced with the gas in the ink cartridge, the ink is initially filled, so that the ink and the delivery liquid are replaced while being mixed with each other. The amount of ink used can be significantly reduced. Further, even if there is some variation in the flow path resistance among the nozzles, almost no product liquid remains in the flow path after the initial filling, and it is possible to stabilize the ejection characteristics at the initial stage of use.

In the ink cartridge of the present invention, when a gas that replaces the liquid existing in the flow path of the head body is present in the space into which the ink supply needle is inserted,
Since the volume of the space is sufficiently larger than the flow path volume of the head body, the delivery liquid in the head body is sufficiently replaced with gas before the initial filling of ink.

In the ink cartridge of the present invention, a valve that can be pushed up by the insertion of the ink supply needle to open the ink filling portion of the ink cartridge is provided in the space into which the ink supply needle is inserted. A sealing member that seals the opening when the gas that replaces the liquid existing in the flow path of the head body is present in the space where the ink is inserted, or in the opening where the ink supply needle is inserted. If a gas that replaces the liquid existing in the flow path of the head body is present between the valve and the sealing member, the air in the space and other It is possible to prevent contact with a part of the ink, the air in the space is retained, and the degassing degree of the ink is also retained.

In the ink cartridge of the present invention, when the flow path for opening the ink filling portion of the ink cartridge by pushing up the valve is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the ink filling portion, the valve is opened. At times, it is possible to prevent air in the space from leaking from the space to the ink filling section.

In the ink cartridge of the present invention, a gas-filled bag is provided which communicates with the space into which the ink supply needle is inserted, and a gas existing in the flow path of the head body is replaced with the gas filled in the gas-filled bag. When present, the volume of the bag is made sufficiently larger than the flow path volume of the head body, so that the delivery liquid in the head body is sufficiently replaced with gas before the initial filling of the ink. Further, the bag is deformed and crushed during the initial filling operation, and does not affect the subsequent suction and use.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

1 and 2 are views showing an example of the peripheral structure of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. This apparatus includes a carriage 3 on which an ink cartridge 2 is mounted and a recording head 1 is mounted.

The carriage 3 is provided with a timing belt 4
It is connected to the stepping motor 5 via a guide bar 6, and is reciprocally moved in the paper width direction (main scanning direction) of the recording paper 7 by being guided by the guide bar 6. The carriage 3 has a box shape that opens to the upper part, and is mounted so that the nozzle surface of the recording head 1 is exposed on the surface (the lower surface in this example) facing the recording paper 7, and the ink cartridge 2 is mounted. It is like this. And the carriage 3
A lid member 25 is attached to the upper end portion of the above to hold down the upper portion of the ink cartridge 2 with the ink cartridge 2 accommodated therein and to cover the opened upper portion of the carriage 3.

Ink is supplied to the recording head 1 from the ink cartridge 2, and ink droplets are ejected onto the upper surface of the recording paper 7 while the carriage 3 is moved to cause the recording paper 7 to move.
It is designed to print images and characters by dot matrix. In FIG. 1, 8 is a cap that seals the nozzles of the recording head 1 while printing is stopped, and 9 is a suction that applies a negative pressure to the cap 8 that seals the nozzle surface to suck the inside of the flow path of the recording head 1 from the nozzles. It is a pump. Further, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 26 is a guide hole through which the guide bar 6 is inserted.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the recording head 1. The recording head 1 includes a head body 10 and a head holder 11 to which the head body 10 is attached.

The head holder 11 is provided with a plurality of ink supply needles 13 (only one is shown in the figure) which are inserted into the ink cartridge 2 to receive ink supply. The ink supply needle 13 is hollow and has an ink hole 14 at its tip. The ink supply needle 13
A filter 15 for filtering the ink supplied from the ink cartridge 2 is provided at the root portion of the.

The head holder 11 is formed with a holder channel 17 which communicates with the ink supply needle 13 and also communicates with the channel of the head body 10 to introduce the ink of the ink cartridge 2 into the head body 10. Has been done. The holder flow path 17 and the hollow portion 16 of the ink supply needle 13 form the ink flow path of the present invention.

A flexible cable 12 for sending a drive signal from a substrate (not shown) to the ejection element of the head body 10 is connected to the side surface of the head body 10 opposite to the nozzle surface.

The recording head 1 is shipped with the hollow portion 16 of the ink supply needle 14 and the holder channel 1.
7. In each flow path (not shown) in the head body 10,
The delivery liquid 19 is filled.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram showing the ink jet recording apparatus.

The recording apparatus described above is a print control means 2 for creating bitmap data based on a print signal from a host.
8 and carriage control means 33 for controlling the stepping motor 5 to move the carriage 3 in the main scanning direction.
Head drive means 32 for inputting a drive signal to the head body 10 based on a signal from the print control means 28 to eject ink droplets from the head body 10.

Further, the recording apparatus is equipped with suction control means 30 for moving the carriage 3 to a position where the head body 10 faces the cap 8 and controlling the suction pump 9 to control suction from the nozzles. .

Further, in the recording apparatus, an initial filling operation for sucking the inside of the flow path of the recording head 1 by the suction pump 9 to fill the ink in the ink cartridge 2 into the head main body 10 at the time of first use is executed and controlled. A filling control means 29 is provided. Here, when the power switch 31 is turned on for the first time and the power is turned on, the initial filling control means operates the suction pump 9 before inserting the ink cartridge 2 for the first time so that the inside of the flow path of the head body 10 is discharged from the nozzle. A suction operation of sucking is performed to suck the delivery liquid filled in the recording head 1 and replace it with air.

Next, the initial filling operation of the ink jet recording apparatus will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

First, when the power switch 31 is turned on to turn on the power (S10), it is detected whether the power is turned on for the first time (S20). When the power is turned on for the first time, the initial filling control means 29 firstly, the suction control means 30.
By controlling the suction pump 9 to apply a negative pressure to the nozzle of the recording head 1 to fill the hollow portion 16 of the ink supply needle 14 of the recording head 1, the holder channel 17, and the channels of the head body 10. The sent product liquid 19 is sucked and discharged, and the inside of the flow path is replaced with air (S30). At this time, the recording head 1 is arranged at a position where the nozzle surface 18 faces the cap 8.

Then, the initial filling control means 29 controls the carriage control means 33 so that the carriage 3 is moved to the mounting position of the ink cartridge 2 (S4).
0). Next, when the ink cartridge 2 is mounted on the carriage 3 arranged at the cartridge mounting position (S5
0), the carriage 3 is moved to the position of the cap 8 again, the suction pump 9 is operated, and the nozzle is moved from the nozzle to the recording head 1.
By sucking the inside of the flow path of the ink cartridge 2
The ink is filled in the hollow portion 16 of the ink supply needle 14, the holder flow passage 17, and the flow passages of the head body 10 to execute the initial filling operation (S60).

Upon completion of the initial filling operation, the print standby state is set, and the input of the print signal is waited (S7).
0). On the other hand, when the power switch 31 is not turned on for the first time in step 20, the process proceeds to step 70,
Wait for the input of print signal in the print standby state.

As described above, in the above recording apparatus, at the time of initial filling, the delivery liquid 19 existing in advance in the head main body 10 is sucked and once replaced with air, and then the head main body 10 is replaced.
Since the ink is initially filled after the delivery liquid 19 therein is discharged, the ink amount consumed by the initial filling can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where the ink and the delivery liquid 19 are replaced while being mixed. Further, even if there is some variation in the flow path resistance among the nozzles, almost no product liquid 19 remains in the flow path after the initial filling, and the ejection characteristics at the initial stage of use can be stabilized.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

In this recording apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6B, at the time of shipment, the delivery liquid 19 in the hollow portion 16 of the ink supply needle 13 in the flow path of the recording head 1 is replaced with air in advance. There is.

Such a recording device can be manufactured, for example, as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 6A, the hollow portion 16 of the ink supply needle 13 of the recording device,
The delivery liquid 19 is filled so that the holder flow passage 17 and each flow passage in the head body 10 are filled with the delivery liquid 19. In this state, the delivery liquid 19 in the flow path is held by the surface tension acting on the liquid surface (meniscus) of the opening of the ink hole 14 of the ink supply needle 13.

Then, when a small amount of the delivery liquid 19 is sucked from the nozzle in this state, the meniscus at the opening of the ink hole 14 is broken, the delivery liquid 19 is naturally discharged from the nozzle by gravity, and the liquid surface gradually decreases. . Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the liquid surface is lowered to the height of the filter 15, the surface tension acts in a state where the liquid surface is held by the filter 15 part, the liquid surface is stopped from being lowered, and the holder flow The delivery liquid 19 in the passage 17 and the head body 10 is retained.

When the ink cartridge 2 is shipped in this state and the ink cartridge 2 is mounted and a normal initial filling operation is executed at the time of initial use, first, the delivery liquid 19 in the head main body 10 is sucked to the inside of the ink supply needle 13. The air in the head cartridge 10 is filled with the ink in the ink cartridge 2 after that.

As described above, in the recording apparatus, the normal initial filling operation is executed without performing the suction operation before the ink cartridge 2 is mounted, so that the delivery liquid 19 remaining in the head main body 10 becomes ink. Since the air in the supply needle 13 is replaced with the air, and the ink is initially filled from that state, the amount of ink consumed in the initial filling can be significantly reduced.

Further, in the above recording apparatus, since the delivery liquid 19 on the upstream side of the filter 15 is replaced with air in advance, the surface tension acting on the liquid surface held by the filter 15 causes the head main body 10 to operate. The delivery liquid 19 in the inside is retained, and the delivery liquid 19 is prevented from flowing out during transportation or the like. Moreover, in the above recording apparatus, since the delivery liquid 19 in the hollow portion 16 of the ink supply needle 13 is previously replaced with air, the volume of the hollow portion 16 of the ink supply needle 13 is larger than the flow passage volume of the head body 10. Since it is sufficiently large, the delivery liquid 19 in the head body 10 is sufficiently replaced with air before the initial filling of the ink.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the ink cartridge of the present invention.

The ink cartridge 2 has a head body 10 for ejecting ink droplets, and a head holder 11 to which the head body 10 is attached and an ink supply needle 13 for supplying ink from the ink cartridge 2 is provided. It is used for an ink jet type recording apparatus equipped with the recording head 1.

In the ink cartridge 2, the head body 1 is placed in the space 21 into which the ink supply needle 13 is inserted.
Air that replaces the delivery liquid 19 filled in the 0 flow path is present.

By doing so, the ink cartridge 2 carries out the normal initial filling operation without performing the suction operation before the ink cartridge 2 is mounted, so that the product remaining in the head body 10 can be transported. Liquid 19
Is replaced with air in the space 21 of the ink cartridge 2, and the ink is initially filled from that state, so that the amount of ink consumed by the initial filling can be significantly reduced. Further, since the volume of the space 21 is sufficiently larger than the flow channel volume of the head body 10, the delivery liquid 19 in the head body 10 is sufficiently replaced with air before the initial filling of ink.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the ink cartridge 2 is provided with a vertically movable valve 27 in the ink supply portion of the ink cartridge 2, and has the space 21 and the ink filling portion 34. The ink flow path 24 that is communicated is provided so as to be inclined downward toward the ink filling portion 34. The valve 27 is biased downward by a biasing member 35 and locked by a locking member 36. And
In the space 21 between the valve 27 locked by the locking member 36 and the seal member 37 that seals the opening into which the ink supply needle 13 is inserted, air to be replaced with the delivery liquid is allowed to exist. There is.

As described above, the valve 27 is provided in the ink supply portion and the air is allowed to exist in the space 21 between the valve 27 and the seal member 37. It is possible to prevent contact with the ink in the portion of. As a result, the air in the space 21 is retained, and the degassing degree of the ink is also retained.

When the ink cartridge 2 is mounted, the valve 27 is set to the ink supply needle 1 as shown in FIG. 8B.
It is pushed up by the insertion of 3 and released. And
By providing the ink flow path 24, which connects the space 21 and the ink filling portion 34, with a downward slope toward the ink filling portion 34, the air in the space 21 moves from the space 21 to the ink filling portion 34 when the valve 27 is opened. It is designed so that it can be prevented from leaking out.

Here, a porous foam (not shown) for holding the ink is inserted in the ink filling portion 34 of the ink cartridge 2, and the ink is held by the capillary force of the foam. A negative pressure is generated in the ink in the space 21. Therefore, at the time of suction, the air in the space 21 is first sucked, and then the ink is sucked. The negative pressure generating means for generating a negative pressure in the ink in the ink filling section 34 is not limited to the foam, and various negative pressure generating means such as a differential pressure valve can be applied.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the second embodiment of the ink cartridge of the present invention.

The ink cartridge 2 is provided with a bag 22 for gas filling which communicates with a space 21 into which the ink supply needle 13 is inserted. In the figure, 23 is the space 21
Is a communication path for communicating the bag 22 with the bag. By doing so, in the ink cartridge 2, the normal initial filling operation is performed without performing the suction operation before the ink cartridge 2 is mounted, so that the delivery liquid 19 remaining in the head main body 10 is removed. The air in the bag 22 of the ink cartridge 2 is replaced and the ink is initially filled from that state, so that the amount of ink consumed in the initial filling can be significantly reduced. Further, by making the volume of the bag 22 sufficiently larger than the flow path volume of the head body 10, the delivery liquid 19 in the head body 10 is sufficiently replaced with air before the initial filling of ink. Further, the bag 22 is deformed and crushed during the initial filling operation, and does not affect the subsequent suction and use.

When a porous foam (not shown) is inserted as a negative pressure generating means for applying a negative pressure to the ink inside the ink cartridge 2, the foam has a portion where the bag 22 is inserted. It is hollowed out. Since negative pressure is applied to the ink in the ink filling section 34 and the flow resistance of the air is smaller than the flow resistance of the ink, the air in the bag 22 and the space 21 is preferentially filled in the head main body during the initial filling. 10 is drawn into the flow path.

At this time, the bag 22 is made of a sufficiently soft material and is deformed and crushed by the suction of air. By providing the bag 22, the amount of air flowing increases by the volume of the bag 22 as compared with the ink cartridge 2 shown in FIG. 7, and replacement of the delivery liquid 19 with air becomes more reliable.

Further, these ink cartridges 2 are
In addition to the initial filling, the same operational effect can be obtained when switching to different colors such as ink color and dye ink and pigment ink.

In each of the above embodiments, as the ejection element for ejecting ink from the nozzle of the head body 10, for example, a longitudinal vibration mode piezoelectric vibrator or a lateral vibration mode piezoelectric vibrator can be used. . A heating element that heats and vaporizes the ink in the flow path of the head body 10 can also be used.

[0060]

As described above, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the ink is initially filled after the delivery liquid in the head body is once replaced with gas.
Compared to the replacement of the ink and the delivery liquid while mixing, the amount of ink consumed in the initial filling can be significantly reduced. In addition, even if there is some variation in the flow path resistance for each nozzle,
Almost no product liquid remains in the flow path after the initial filling, and the discharge characteristics at the initial stage of use can be stabilized.

Further, according to the ink cartridge of the present invention, since the product liquid in the head body is once replaced with the gas in the ink cartridge, the ink is initially filled, so that the ink and the product liquid are mixed. The amount of ink consumed in the initial filling can be significantly reduced compared to replacement. Further, even if there is some variation in the flow path resistance among the nozzles, almost no product liquid remains in the flow path after the initial filling, and it is possible to stabilize the ejection characteristics at the initial stage of use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a recording head used in the ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram showing the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control method of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of an ink cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of an ink supply unit of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the ink cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional recording head.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 recording head 2 ink cartridge 3 carriage 4 Timing belt 5 Stepping motor 6 Guide bar 7 Recording paper 8 caps 9 Suction pump 10 head body 11 head holder 12 Flexible cable 13 Ink supply needle 14 ink holes 15 filters 16 Hollow part 17 Holder flow path 18 Nozzle surface 19 Delivery liquid 21 space 22 bags 23 communication passage 24 ink channels 25 Lid member 26 Guide hole 27 valves 28 Print control means 29 Initial filling control means 30 suction control means 31 Power switch 32 head driving means 33 carriage control means 34 Ink filling section 35 biasing member 36 Locking member 37 Seal member 51 head body 52 Holder flow path 53 head holder 54 Ink supply needle 55 Filter 56 nozzle plate 57 Reservoir 58 head flow path 59 Seal plate 60 head substrate 61 nozzles 62 flexible circuit board 63 Piezoelectric vibrator

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A recording head having a head main body provided with nozzles for ejecting ink droplets and a head holder to which the head main body is attached and an ink cartridge is mounted, and the flow of the head main body at the time of shipment. An ink jet type recording device in which the delivery liquid is filled in the passage, and in the initial filling for filling the ink of the ink cartridge into the head main body at the time of first use, the delivery liquid existing in the flow passage of the head main body in advance is used. An ink jet recording apparatus, characterized in that it is configured to replace gas. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the initial filling control means for controlling the initial filling operation is configured to perform a suction operation for sucking the inside of the flow path of the head main body from the nozzle. . 3. The recording head has an ink flow path for supplying the ink of the ink cartridge to a head body, and a gas to be replaced with a delivery liquid is arranged in at least a part of the ink flow path. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The ink jet recording according to claim 3, wherein a filter for filtering ink is provided in the ink flow path, and a gas replacing the delivery liquid is arranged in the ink flow path upstream of the filter. apparatus. 5. The ink flow path includes a hollow portion of a hollow ink supply needle for receiving the ink of the ink cartridge, and a gas to be replaced with a delivery liquid is arranged in the hollow portion of the ink supply needle. The ink jet type recording apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus provided with a recording head having a head body for ejecting ink droplets and a head holder to which the head body is attached and which is provided with an ink supply needle for supplying ink from an ink cartridge. An ink cartridge used for, wherein a gas that replaces the liquid existing in the flow path of the head body is present in the vicinity of the connection portion with the ink supply needle. 7. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein a gas replacing the liquid existing in the flow path of the head main body is present in the space into which the ink supply needle is inserted. 8. A valve, which can be pushed up by the insertion of the ink supply needle to open the ink filling portion of the ink cartridge, is provided in a space into which the ink supply needle is inserted, and an opening into which the ink supply needle is inserted. The ink cartridge according to claim 7, wherein a gas that replaces the liquid existing in the flow path of the head body is present in the side space. 9. An opening for inserting an ink supply needle is provided with a sealing member for sealing the opening, and a liquid existing in the flow path of the head body is replaced between the valve and the sealing member. The ink cartridge according to claim 8, wherein a gas to be generated is present. 10. The flow path for opening the ink filling portion of the ink cartridge by pushing up the valve is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the ink filling portion.
Or the ink cartridge according to item 9. 11. A gas filling bag is provided which communicates with a space into which the ink supply needle is inserted, and a gas which replaces the liquid existing in the flow path of the head body is present in the gas filling bag. The ink cartridge according to 6 or 7.