JP2006168093A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure humidity in a cap for protecting an ink jet recording head. <P>SOLUTION: In order to store a predetermined quantity of ink in a cap and to sustaining the humidity in the cap, an outlet for discharging ink in the cap is located at a predetermined height from the bottom face of the cap. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to a cap mechanism of a recording head.

  In a conventional inkjet image forming apparatus, a recording head that ejects ink in a direction crossing the sheet material conveyance direction is moved in the image forming unit with respect to a sheet material that is a recording medium fed from a paper feeding unit. An image is formed by scanning and ejecting ink onto the sheet material, and the sheet material on which the image is formed is discharged to a discharge portion. In this type of image forming apparatus, if ink coagulation at the nozzle of the recording head due to drying during non-printing or clogging of the nozzle due to intrusion of air (bubbles), dust, or dust occurs, the ink will not be discharged at that nozzle. There is a problem in that ejection occurs, which causes image disturbance. Therefore, in general, a configuration has been used in which the nozzle surface for discharging ink during a standby period when no printing operation is performed is covered with a cap to protect the nozzle surface from drying and dust. Further, in order to prevent the nozzle surface from being dried, an absorber is provided inside the cap, and the humidity inside the cap covered with the cap is maintained by holding ink in the absorber.

  In addition, when ink actually solidifies at the nozzle, or when air (bubbles), dust, or dust enters the nozzle and the nozzle becomes clogged, a so-called recovery operation is performed to forcibly remove them. Is called. In a conventional inkjet image forming apparatus, a method of forcibly discharging solid ink, air (bubbles), dust, dust, etc. inside the nozzle by reducing the pressure inside the cap that is in contact with and covering the nozzle surface Has been taken. At this time, the ink itself is discharged from the nozzle together with the solidified ink, air (bubbles), dust and dust, but the ink is contaminated on the nozzle surface. In order to prevent printed matter from being adhered (transferred), ink discharged from the nozzle during the recovery operation must be quickly removed from the nozzle surface to reduce the amount of ink remaining on the nozzle surface. Therefore, in a conventional inkjet image forming apparatus, by reducing the pressure inside the cap with the absorber close to the nozzle surface, the amount of ink remaining on the nozzle surface can be reduced by sucking the ink discharged from the nozzle with the absorber. A configuration to reduce is taken.

By the way, in a printer using a conventional ink jet recording head, an image is formed by moving the recording head back and forth several times when forming an image on a single sheet of A4 size. It was about 2 to several sheets. However, in recent years, there has been a demand for an increase in printing speed, and in order to satisfy this requirement, recording is performed by arranging nozzles for ejecting ink over the entire width of the recording medium in the direction intersecting the sheet material conveyance direction. There has been invented an image forming apparatus equipped with a so-called full-line type ink jet recording head whose speed is improved to about several tens of sheets per minute. In the full-line type recording head having the above configuration, since the nozzles are arranged over the entire width of the recording medium, the number of nozzles is increased, and therefore the length of the recording head is longer than that of the conventional recording head. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the pressure on the nozzle surface covered with the cap and the internal space formed by the cap while reliably maintaining the sealing with the cap over the entire longitudinal direction of the recording head. At the same time, it becomes difficult to keep the distance between the absorber and the nozzle surface constant at an effective distance over the entire longitudinal direction of the recording head.
JP 2004-223733 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and provides an image forming apparatus having a cap mechanism for maintaining the recording head in a good state in the image forming apparatus using the ink jet recording head. Objective.

  In order to satisfy the above object, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention can form an image on a recording medium by arranging a plurality of nozzles that eject ink in a predetermined direction and ejecting ink from the nozzles. A recording head, a cap that is separable from the recording head and that can cover a nozzle surface in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging the ink of the recording head are arranged in a predetermined direction; and the cap A side surface of the cap for discharging the ink accumulated in the cap; and an ink guide disposed inside the nozzle surface so as to oppose the nozzle surface at a predetermined distance. An ink discharge port provided on the valve, a valve for opening and closing the ink discharge port, and a cap tilt capable of tilting the cap in a predetermined direction Characterized by providing a stage, a. Furthermore, the recording head is a full-line type long recording head capable of ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles to form an image in the width direction of the recording medium substantially simultaneously.

  A second ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording head capable of arranging a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink in a predetermined direction and ejecting ink from the nozzles to form an image on a recording medium. A cap that is separable from the recording head and can cover a nozzle surface in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting the ink of the recording head are arranged in a predetermined direction; and a cap provided inside the cap And an ink guide disposed so as to oppose the nozzle surface on the nozzle surface at a predetermined distance, and is provided on the cap for discharging the ink accumulated in the cap. One ink discharge port, a first valve for opening and closing the first ink discharge port, and the cap for discharging ink accumulated in the cap. A second ink discharge port provided in, characterized in that a, a second valve for opening and closing of the second ink outlet. Further, the first ink discharge port and the second ink discharge port are provided on a side surface of the cap, and the horizontal positions of the first ink discharge port and the second ink discharge port are different from each other. Features. One of the first ink discharge port and the second ink discharge port is provided on a side surface of the cap, and the other is provided on a bottom surface of the cap. Furthermore, the recording head is a full-line type long recording head capable of ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles to form an image in the width direction of the recording medium substantially simultaneously.

  As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, a predetermined amount of ink is contained in the cap so that the cap is moisturized, and the ink is prevented from drying and sticking on the nozzle portion and nozzle surface of the recording head. I can do it. In addition, the configuration in which the ink contained in the cap can be appropriately replaced can prevent an increase in the viscosity of the ink contained in the cap and adhesion.

  The configuration and operation of the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram viewed from the front of a full-line printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 and 3 are schematic configuration diagrams of the recording head unit, the cap portion, and the cleaning mechanism for the nozzle surface of the recording head as viewed obliquely. 4, 5, and 6 are schematic configuration diagrams viewed from the side for illustrating the configuration and operation for cleaning the nozzle surface of the recording head. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of the cap portion. FIG. 9 is an enlarged explanatory view of the cap portion. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view when the cap portion is inclined.

  In FIG. 1, a recording sheet P, which is a sheet material of a recording medium accommodated in a sheet feeding cassette 1 in a printer S, is fed from the top sheet by a pickup roller 2 and separated and fed one by one by the action of a separation pad 3. Sent. The recording paper P fed from the paper feed cassette 1 is transported by the transport roller pair 4 to the resist roller pair 5 whose rotation is stopped. A manual feed tray 6 is provided on the side of the printer S. The manual feed tray 6 is fed out by the pickup roller 2B, separated and fed one by one by the separation pad 3B, and conveyed to the registration roller pair 5.

  The recording paper P conveyed to the registration roller pair 5 is sent to the belt conveyance unit 7 at a predetermined timing, and is electrostatically adsorbed to the conveyance belt 8 just before the adsorption roller 9. The conveyor belt 8 is wound around a driving roller 10 that is a downstream conveyor roller, a conveyor roller 11 that is an upstream conveyor roller, and a pressure roller 12. A driving force is transmitted to the driving roller 10 from a driving source (not shown), whereby the conveying belt 8 is rotated. At this time, the surface of the conveyor belt 8 is given a potential by the charger 13. When the recording paper P placed on the transport belt 8 reaches the grounded suction roller 9, the recording paper P and the transport belt 8 are maintained in close contact with each other by the electrostatic suction force. Moves in close contact with the conveyor belt 8 together with the conveyor belt 8.

  A recording head unit 14 for forming an image based on image information is provided on the downstream side of the conveyance roller 11 in the recording sheet conveyance direction. A recording head 15 for forming an image by ejecting ink in the recording head unit 14 is arranged in the order of 15K (black), 15C (cyan), 15M (magenta), and 15Y (yellow) from the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording paper P. Arranged at a predetermined interval and attached to the head holder 16. This recording head 15 has an electric heat energy converter such as a heater and can apply heat to the ink. This heat causes the ink to boil and is caused by the growth or contraction of bubbles due to the film boiling. Ink is ejected from the nozzles 47 arranged on the nozzle surface 46 of the recording head 15 by pressure change, and an image is formed on the recording paper P. When the recording paper P passes through the belt conveyance section 7, an image is recorded by recording heads 15K (black), 15C (cyan), 15M (magenta), and 15Y (yellow) of each color arranged in the recording head unit 14. Is done. Each recording head 15 uses a full-line type ink jet recording head 15 in which a plurality of nozzles 47 are arranged in the entire width in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording paper P. In addition, as a method of ejecting ink, there is a method of ejecting ink by changing the volume of the ink liquid chamber using a piezo element, and a recording head of any other method may be used.

  Each recording head 15 is fixed to a head holder 16, and the head holder 16 is moved up and down by a motor 17 and a head up / down guide 18. Further, a moving distance of the head holder 16 in the vertical movement is defined by a sensor 19 provided in the vicinity of the head vertical guide 18 in the recording head unit 14.

  In addition, when each recording head 15 is not ejecting ink for image formation, in order to prevent ink from being solidified at the nozzle 47 and adhering dust and dust to the nozzle surface 46 due to drying of the ink. It is protected by a cap 20. That is, when the image is not formed, the caps 20K (black), 20C (cyan), 20M (magenta), and 20Y (yellow) are the recording heads 15K (black) and 15C (15C) for each color as shown in FIG. The nozzle faces 46K (black), 46C (cyan), 46M (magenta), and 46Y (yellow) of cyan, 15M (magenta), and 15Y (yellow) are respectively held at capping positions that protect them. When forming an image, the head holder 16 is moved by a predetermined amount by a motor 17, a head vertical guide 18, and a sensor 19, and caps 20K (black), 20C (cyan), 20M (magenta), and 20Y are driven by a drive source (not shown). (Yellow) is moved to a retracted position that does not hinder the ejection of ink from the recording heads 15 to the recording paper P as shown in FIG. 3, and the head holder 16 is again moved by the motor 17, the head vertical guide 18, and the sensor 19. After moving the nozzle surface 46 of the recording head 15 and the recording paper P on the conveying belt 8 until the distance (paper interval) reaches a specified value, each color ink is ejected to form an image on the recording paper P.

  Ink is ejected from the recording head 15 from the nozzles 47 provided in the recording head 15 in synchronization with the recording belt P moving under the recording head unit 14 together with the conveying belt 8 in close contact with the conveying belt 8. An image is formed on the recording paper P.

  The recording paper P on which an image has been formed in the recording head unit 14 is separated from the transport belt by the separation guide 21 and guided to the nip portion between the paper discharge reversing roller 22 and the spur 23. On the other hand, the recording head 15, the head holder 16, and the cap 20 that have finished discharging ink are returned to the initial positions where the nozzle surface 46 of the recording head 15 is protected by the cap 20.

  Here, the recording paper P after the image formation is nipped and conveyed by the paper discharge reversing roller 22 and the spur 23, but the single-sided printing mode in which an image is formed only on one side of the recording paper or the images on both the front and back sides of the recording paper. Depending on the double-sided printing mode to be formed, in the former case, the paper is discharged as it is to the paper discharge unit 24, and in the latter case, the paper is sent to the paper refeed unit 25 and returned to the machine again to form an image on the back side. It is sent to the paper section 24 and discharged outside the machine.

  In the single-sided printing mode, the recording paper P after image formation passes through the paper discharge path 26 from the paper discharge reverse roller 22 and the spur 23, and is nipped and conveyed by the paper discharge roller 27 and the spur 28 facing the paper discharge tray 27. To be discharged.

  On the other hand, in the double-sided printing mode, the timing is controlled by the sensor 30 provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper discharge roller 27 and the spur 28, and immediately before the trailing edge of the recording paper P passes through the nip between the paper discharge roller 27 and the spur 28. When the paper discharge roller 27 and the spur 28 are reversed, the recording paper P passes through the paper discharge path 26 and is guided to the switchback path 32 by the paper discharge reverse roller 22 and the spur 31. The recording paper P that has advanced on the switchback path 32 is sent to the refeed path 33. The recording paper P is sent again to the registration roller pair 5 by the refeed rollers 34a and 34b, and an image is formed on the back surface in the same manner as the front surface. The recording paper P on which the image of the back side has been formed is guided to the paper discharge path 26 as in the single-sided printing mode, is nipped and conveyed by the paper discharge roller 27 and the spur 28 opposed thereto, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 29.

  Next, a wiping operation for cleaning the nozzle surface 46 of the recording head 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning mechanism 35 for cleaning the nozzle surface 46 of the recording head 15 comprises a porous absorber for abutting the nozzle surface 46 and absorbing ink drops remaining on the surface of the nozzle surface 46. The absorber 36 and the entire wiper 37 made of an elastic body having a width capable of wiping the entire nozzle surface 46 of the recording head 15 for removing ink droplets remaining on the surface of the nozzle surface 46 and the nozzle surface 46 of the recording head 15 The nozzle wiper 38 has a width capable of wiping a region where the nozzles 47 are arranged, and a support member 39 that integrally supports the absorber 36, the entire surface wiper 37, and the nozzle wiper 38. The support member 39 is moved on the rail 40 by driving from a drive source (not shown), and can reciprocate below the recording head 15.

  The nozzle surface of the recording head 15 from a controller (not shown) in the printer S is formed after image formation on the recording paper P by ink discharge or after recovery operation by forced ink discharge to eliminate clogging of the nozzles 47. When a command to execute a wiping operation for cleaning 46 is sent, the cap 20 comes into contact with the nozzle surface 46 of the recording head 15 and the nozzle surface 46 is covered with the cap 20 as shown in FIG. From a certain position, the head holder 16 is raised by the motor 17 and the head vertical guide 18, and the recording head 15 as shown in FIG. At this time, the height position of the nozzle surface 46 is maintained at a position higher than the tip positions of the entire surface wiper 37 and the nozzle wiper 38. Further, the support member 39 is moved from the A end on one end side of the recording head 15 which is the initial position to the B end on the other end side which is the wiping start position by driving from a driving source (not shown).

  Next, the head holder 16 is lowered by the motor 17 and the head vertical guide 18 to a position where the absorber 36, the entire surface wiper 37 and the nozzle wiper 38 abut against the nozzle surface 46 as shown in FIG. It is moved from the B end, which is the wipe start position, toward the A end, which is the initial position, as indicated by the arrow. At this time, the absorber 36 contacts the nozzle surface 46 and absorbs ink droplets and the like adhering to the surface of the nozzle surface 46, and the entire surface wiper 37 and the nozzle wiper 38 are in contact with the nozzle surface 46 and bend to form the surface of the nozzle surface 46. The nozzle surface 46 of the recording head 15 is cleaned by scraping and removing ink droplets that could not be absorbed by the remaining absorber 36. When the support member 39 advances to the A end, which is the initial position, and the wiping of the nozzle surface 46 of the recording head 15 is completed, the head holder 16 is lowered by the motor 17 and the head vertical guide 18 and again the cap 20 as shown in FIG. To return the recording head 15 to the protected state and complete a series of wiping operations.

  Next, the structure of the cap part 41 is demonstrated using FIG.7, FIG.8, FIG.9 and FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, an ink guide 42 is supported by an ink guide holder 43 inside the cap 20. The ink guide 42 is disposed so as to face the position where the nozzles 47 of the nozzle surface 46 of the recording head 15 are arranged. The ink guide holder 43 is held in the cap 20 by a spring 44 so as to be movable up and down. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, when the cap 20 contacts and covers the nozzle surface 46 of the recording head 15 (during capping), the tip of the ink guide holder 43 contacts the nozzle surface 46, so that the nozzle The surface 46 and the ink guide 42 are always kept at a constant distance L as shown in FIG. In order to eliminate image defects caused by clogging of the nozzle 47 due to ink solidified in the nozzle 47 and bubbles accumulated in the nozzle 47, a command for executing a recovery operation by forced ink ejection is in the printer S (not shown). When sent from the controller, ink is forcibly pushed out from each nozzle 47 on the nozzle surface of the recording head 15 by a pump (not shown). At this time, ink solidified in the nozzle 47 and bubbles accumulated in the nozzle 47 are also ink. At the same time, it is pushed out of the nozzle 47. When the ink pushed out from each nozzle 47 comes into contact with the ink guide 42, it is pulled down into the cap 20 along the ink guide 42 by capillary force and gravity.

  The ink accumulated in the cap 20 is guided from an ink discharge port 45 provided on the side wall of the cap 20 to a waste ink tank (not shown) by a pump (not shown). The ink discharge port 45 is provided at a position where the liquid level of the ink accumulated in the cap 20 does not reach the ink guide 42, the ink guide holder 43, and the spring 44, so that the ink accumulated in the cap 20 is fixed. The ink guide 42 is prevented from moving up and down. In addition, a certain amount of ink remains in the cap 20 up to the height indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 8, and the humidity in the cap 20 is maintained by this ink. I can do it.

  By the way, the viscosity of the ink remaining in the cap 20 increases due to the evaporation of moisture with the passage of time, and thickening / fixing occurs after being left for a long time. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent thickening and sticking by replacing the ink remaining in the cap 20 at certain intervals.

  When a command for executing the operation of replacing the ink in the cap 20 is sent from a controller (not shown) in the printer S, the cap 20 receives driving from a driving source (not shown) and the ink discharge port 45 as shown in FIG. Is tilted so that is on the lower side. Further, by being sucked by a pump (not shown), ink remaining in the cap 20 is discharged to a waste ink tank (not shown). After a predetermined time has elapsed, the cap 20 is returned to a parallel state, and a recovery operation by forced ink ejection and a wiping operation are performed, so that a predetermined amount of ink can be returned to the state in which the cap 20 is contained.

  Next, the configuration of the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 11 and FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the cap portion according to the present embodiment. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view for explaining another example of the cap portion according to the present embodiment.

  The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the cap part 41 according to the first embodiment, in order to replace the ink remaining in the cap 20, the cap 20 is inclined and discharged so that the ink discharge port 45 side is the lower side. As shown in FIG. 12, the cap 48 in the embodiment includes a first ink discharge port 49 on the side surface and a second ink discharge port 50 on the bottom surface. The ink accumulated in the cap 48 is guided to a waste ink tank (not shown) by a pump (not shown). Here, the path of the second ink discharge port 50 is normally blocked by the second valve 52, and therefore the cap 48 has a height up to the height of the first ink discharge port 49 (position indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 11). Ink has accumulated.

  The ink remaining in the cap 48 increases in viscosity due to evaporation of moisture over time, and increases in viscosity and sticks after being left for a long time. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent thickening and sticking by replacing the ink remaining in the cap 48 at certain intervals.

  When a command for executing the operation of replacing the ink in the cap 48 is sent from a controller (not shown) in the printer S, the first valve 51 is closed and the path between the first ink discharge port 49 and the waste ink tank (not shown). The second valve 52 is opened, a path between the second ink discharge port 50 and a waste ink tank (not shown) is opened, and is further sucked by a pump (not shown) to remain in the cap 48. Ink is discharged to a waste ink tank (not shown). After a predetermined time has elapsed, the second valve 52 is closed to shut off the path between the second ink discharge port 50 and a waste ink tank (not shown), and the recovery operation by forced ink ejection and the wiping operation are performed. It is possible to return to a state where a predetermined amount of ink is contained in the cap 48 again.

  The second ink discharge port 50 is not necessarily the bottom surface of the cap 48, but the first ink discharge port 49b on the side surface of the cap 48b as in the third embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. The second ink discharge port 50b and the second valve 52b may be provided at a position below the position where the first valve 51b is provided, and may not be on the same side as long as the same effect can be obtained. .

1 is a front view illustrating an overall schematic configuration of a full-line inkjet printer that is a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the head unit and cap portion of the full-line inkjet printer that is the first embodiment of the present invention and the cleaning mechanism for the nozzle surface of the recording head as viewed obliquely. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the head unit and cap portion of the full-line inkjet printer that is the first embodiment of the present invention and the cleaning mechanism for the nozzle surface of the recording head as viewed obliquely. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram viewed from a side surface for explaining the configuration and operation of the recording head cleaning unit of the full-line type inkjet printer that is the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram viewed from a side surface for explaining the configuration and operation of the recording head cleaning unit of the full-line type inkjet printer that is the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged view seen from a side surface for explaining the configuration and operation of the recording head cleaning unit of the full-line inkjet printer that is the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording head and a cap portion of a full-line type ink jet printer that is a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the side. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording head and a cap portion of a full-line type ink jet printer that is a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the side. It is the outline enlarged view which looked at the recording head and cap part of the full line type ink jet printer which is the first embodiment of the present invention from the side. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording head and a cap portion of a full-line type ink jet printer that is a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the side. It is the schematic block diagram which looked at the recording head and cap part of the full line type | mold inkjet printer which is 2nd embodiment of this invention from the side surface. It is the schematic block diagram which looked at the recording head and cap part of the full line type | mold inkjet printer which is 2nd embodiment of this invention from the side surface.

Explanation of symbols

S Printer P Recording paper
1 Paper cassette
2, 2B Pickup roller
3, 3B separation pad
4 Conveying roller pair
5 Registration roller pair
6 Bypass tray
7 Belt conveyor
8 Conveyor belt
9 Suction roller
10 Drive roller
11 Transport roller
12 Pressure roller
13 Charger
14 Recording head unit
15 Recording head
16 Head holder
17 Motor
18 Head up / down guide
19 Sensor
20 cap
21 Separation guide
22 Discharge reversing roller
23 Spur
24 Output section
25 Refeed section
26 Output path
27 Output roller
28 spurs
29 Output tray
30 sensors
31 Spur
32 Switchback path
33 Refeed path
34a, 34b Re-feed roller
35 Cleaning mechanism
36 Absorber
37 Full wiper
38 Nozzle wiper
39 Support member
40 rails
41 Cap section
42 Ink guide
43 Ink guide holder
44 Spring
45 Ink outlet
46 Nozzle surface
47 nozzles
48 cap
49 First ink outlet
50 Second ink outlet
51 First valve
52 Second valve
48b cap
49b First ink outlet
50b Second ink outlet
51b 1st valve
52b Second valve

Claims (6)

A plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink arranged in a predetermined direction, and a recording head capable of forming an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from the nozzles; A cap capable of covering a nozzle surface in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging the ink of the recording head are arranged in a predetermined direction;
An ink guide disposed inside the cap and arranged to face the nozzle array on the nozzle surface at a predetermined distance;
In an inkjet recording apparatus having
An ink outlet provided on the side surface of the cap for discharging ink accumulated in the cap;
A valve for opening and closing the ink discharge port;
Cap tilting means capable of tilting the cap in a predetermined direction;
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:   2. The full-line type long recording head capable of ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles to form an image in the width direction of a recording medium substantially simultaneously. Inkjet recording apparatus. A plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink arranged in a predetermined direction, and a recording head capable of forming an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from the nozzles; A cap capable of covering a nozzle surface in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging the ink of the recording head are arranged in a predetermined direction;
An ink guide disposed inside the cap and arranged to face the nozzle array on the nozzle surface at a predetermined distance;
In an inkjet recording apparatus having
A first ink outlet provided in the cap for discharging ink accumulated in the cap;
A first valve for opening and closing the first ink outlet;
A second ink outlet provided in the cap for discharging ink accumulated in the cap;
A second valve for opening and closing the second ink discharge port;
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:   The first ink discharge port and the second ink discharge port are provided on a side surface of the cap, and the horizontal positions of the first ink discharge port and the second ink discharge port are different from each other. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3.   4. The inkjet according to claim 3, wherein one of the first ink discharge port and the second ink discharge port is provided on a side surface of the cap and the other is provided on a bottom surface of the cap. Recording device.   6. The full-line type long recording head capable of forming an image in the width direction of a recording medium substantially simultaneously by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to 1.

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