JPH09300638A - Ink-jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fully suck ink from a recording head without increasing both capping pressure and the number of parts by a method wherein the predetermined stand-by time is set between the abutment of an ink delivering port and a cap and the start of the suction of ink. SOLUTION: When a cap 9 reaches the position abutting against a recording head by turning the cap 9 to the direction abutting against the recording head, a pump cam gear 16 rotates so as to separate a cylinder controlling part from the cam part 16A of the pump cam gear 16, resulting in abutting the cap 9 against the recording head by the spring pressure of a compression coiled spring 14 provided at the lower part of a cap holder 10. Thus, under the condition that the enclosed pressure is kept by abutting the cap 9 against the recording head, after the certain predetermined time of standing-by, ink is sucked through the cap 9 from the delivering port of the recording head. By separating the cap 9 from the recording head after the completion of ink suction, the non-delivery recovering driving of the recording head completes.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus, and more particularly to an inkjet recording apparatus for performing a recovery operation of a recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having functions such as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile, or a recording device used as an output device of a composite type electronic device including a computer, a word processor, etc. An image is recorded on a recording material (recording medium) such as a plastic thin plate. These recording devices are ink jet type,
It can be classified into a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type and the like.

Generally, in a serial type recording apparatus which employs a serial scan system in which main scanning is performed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is at a predetermined recording position. After being set to, the carriage carrying the recording head, which is a recording means, moves on the recording material to record an image on the recording material in the main scanning direction.

When the recording of one line is completed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (pitch conveyance), and then the image of the next line is recorded on the stopped recording material in the main scanning direction. To be done.

By repeating the above-mentioned operation, recording is performed on the entire recording material.

Among the recording devices, an inkjet recording device (inkjet recording device) in which recording is performed by ejecting ink from a recording head, which is a recording means, onto a recording material has the following advantages. There is.

(1) It is easy to make the recording means compact.

(2) High-definition images can be recorded at high speed.

(3) It is possible to record on plain paper without requiring special processing.

(4) The running cost is low.

(5) Since it is a non-impact system, it produces less noise.

(6) It is easy to record a color image using multicolor inks.

Further, the recording material conveying direction (sub-scanning direction)
In a line type recording apparatus equipped with a line type recording head in which a large number of ejection openings are arranged, it is easy to further increase the speed of recording.

Among the above-mentioned ink jet recording apparatuses, the ink jet type recording means (recording head) for ejecting ink by utilizing thermal energy is subjected to a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, evaporation and sputtering,
By forming the electrothermal converter formed on the substrate, the electrode, the liquid path wall, the top plate, etc., it is possible to easily manufacture those having a high-density liquid path arrangement (ejection opening arrangement), Further compactness can be achieved. Further, by utilizing the advantages of the IC technology and the micro processing technology, it becomes easy to make the recording means long and planar (two-dimensional), and it becomes easy to make the recording means full-multi and high-density mounting. .

In the above ink jet recording apparatus,
If foreign matter such as paper dust or dust adheres to the ink ejection port of the recording head, or if the ink at the ejection portion dries and thickens or sticks, clogging occurs at the ejection port and ejection failure (including non-ejection) ) May occur.

Therefore, in order to prevent clogging, the ink ejection port of the recording head is sealed with a cap at the time of non-recording, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port through the cap by a suction means such as a pump. A recovery device that is designed to be normalized is used. In the serial type ink jet recording apparatus as described above, the sealing operation by the cap (cap operation) is
This is performed by moving the recording head to a capping position provided outside the recording area and bringing the ink ejection port into contact with the cap at the capping position. Also,
A plunger type pump is mainly used as a suction means such as a pump. This type of pump reciprocates only the piston as a seal member in the cylinder,
The negative pressure generated in the forward stroke of the piston sucks the ink from the recording head into the cylinder, and in the backward stroke, the ink in the cylinder is discharged to the discharge system.

4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing an example of the suction operation in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a state during suction, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a state after suction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the recovery device in this conventional example is formed of an elastic material having elasticity such as chlorinated butyl rubber to seal the ejection port of the recording head, and is held integrally with the cap holder 10. A cylinder 101 which has a cap 9, a piston 102 and a piston shaft 105 inside and which sucks ink of a recording head, and an ink suction port 101A which connects the cap 9 and the cylinder 101 to each other.
An arm 108 that rotatably supports the cap holder 10 with respect to the cylinder 101, a cylinder control unit 101D that controls the operation of the cylinder 101, and a cylinder 101 by being press-fitted into the ink suction port 101A with a tightening margin. It is composed of a joint portion 9A for coupling the cap 9 in a sealed state, an idle gear 17 and a pump cam gear 16 for transmitting the rotation of a motor (not shown) to the cylinder control portion 101D.

A cylinder controller 101D is formed integrally with the cylinder 101, and the cylinder controller 10D
The tip of 1D is in contact with the cam portion 16A of the pump cam gear 16. Therefore, the rotational position of the cylinder 101 is set by the cam portion 16A of the pump cam gear 16.

That is, the pump cam gear 16 is rotationally driven to swing the cylinder control section 101D along the cam section 16A, whereby the cap 9 can be used for capping and releasing capping of the recording head. The pump cam gear 16 is connected to the idle gear 17, so that the drive of the paper feed motor (not shown) is driven by the idle gear 1.
It is transmitted to the pump cam gear 16 via 7.

In the ink jet recording apparatus constructed as described above, when ink is sucked from the ink ejection port of the recording head, the piston 102 movably provided in the closed cylinder 101 is shown in FIG. 4 (a). Middle arrow A
It is performed by moving in the direction.

When the piston 102 moves in the direction of arrow A, the initial volume in the cylinder 101 increases in a sealed state and a negative pressure is generated in the cylinder 101.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the piston 102 passes through the ink suction port 101A provided in the cylinder 101, the negative pressure generated in the cylinder 101 causes ink or air to be ejected from the ink suction port 101A. Space 103 upstream of piston 102 (right side in the figure)
Sucked into.

Therefore, the cap 9 is connected to the ink suction port 101A provided in the cylinder 101, and the piston 1 with the recording head sealed by the cap 9 is provided.
When 02 is operated to pass through the ink suction port 101A, ink can be sucked from the recording head.

The operation of bringing the cap 9 into contact with the recording head in the ink jet recording apparatus having the above structure will be described below.

5A and 5B are views for explaining the operation of bringing the cap 9 shown in FIG. 4 into contact with the recording head. FIG. 5A shows the state before the contact, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the state in the process of making, (c) is a figure which shows a contact state.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the operation shown in FIG.

First, when it is determined that the ink ejection from the recording head 1 is in a non-ejection state, an ejection recovery command for the recording head 1 is output from a drive control unit (not shown) of the recording apparatus (step S101).

Next, in order to bring the cap 9 into contact with the recording head 1, the carriage 2 on which the recording head 1 is mounted moves to a capping position where the cap 9 and the recording head 1 can come into contact (step S102). ).

When the recording head 1 moves to the capping position, the pump cam gear 16 rotates, which causes the cylinder control portion 101D, which is in contact with the cam portion 16A of the pump cam gear 16, to swing, and the cap 9 causes the recording head 1 to move. It rotates in the direction of contact with (FIG. 5 (a)).

Next, the pump cam gear 16 further rotates and reaches the position where the cap 9 contacts the recording head 1 (step S103). At this time, the cap holder 10 that integrally holds the cap 9 is
Since it is rotatably held by the arm portion 01 of 01, the cap 9 is the face surface 1 having the ejection port of the recording head 1.
When it comes into contact with A, it comes into contact with the face surface in correspondence with a slight inclination (FIG. 5B).

Next, the pump cam gear 16 is further rotated, the cylinder control portion 101D is separated from the cam portion 16A of the pump cam gear 16, and the cap 9 is held by the cap holder 10.
The recording head 1 is brought into contact with the recording head 1 by the spring pressure of the compression coil spring 14 provided in the lower part of the recording head 1 (step 104).

In the state where the cap 9 is in contact with the recording head 1 and the sealing pressure is maintained, ink is sucked from the ejection port of the recording head 1 through the cap 9 by the recovery means shown in FIG. 5 (step S105) (FIG. 5 (c)).

When the suction of the ink from the ejection port of the recording head 1 is completed, the cap 9 is separated from the recording head 1 (step S106), and when the cap 9 is completely separated from the recording head, the recording head 1 fails. The ejection recovery drive is completed (step S107).

[0035]

Generally, the amount of ink sucked from the recording head is affected by the airtightness between the recording head and the cap, but the recording head and the cap in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus as described above. The airtightness is secured by pressing the cap against the recording head (hereinafter referred to as cap pressure) and elasticity of the cap. Further, as a means for further improving the airtightness, the cap is rotatably held to prevent uneven contact of the cap with the face surface of the recording head and to uniformly distribute the cap pressure. In such a structure, increasing the cap pressure is the best means for improving the airtightness between the recording head and the cap.

However, when the cap pressure is increased, the adverse effect of accelerating the wear deterioration of the component parts occurs.

For example, in the capping mechanism as described above, the wear between the cam portion 16A of the pump cam gear 16 and the cylinder control portion 101D of the cylinder 101 and the wear between the platen 15 and the cylinder 101 are promoted. .

As a result, in the drive source for driving the capping mechanism, it is necessary to set the torque in anticipation of the increase in torque after wear. Therefore, the paper feed motor that is the drive source is required to increase the torque by the torque loss.

Further, as a measure to prevent abrasion, it is necessary to apply a lubricant to the sliding portion.

Further, as the cap pressure increases, the strength of parts must be increased.

For example, when the cap 9 is separated from the recording head 1, the separation distance between the cap 9 and the recording head 1 is between the cam portion 16A of the pump cam gear 16 and the cylinder control portion 101D of the cylinder 101. It is determined by the rotational position of the cam portion 16A. However, if the spring pressure of the compression coil spring 14 is strong, the cylinder 10
The cylinder control unit 101D and the arm unit 108 of No. 1 are deformed, and the separation distance between the cap 9 and the recording head 1 becomes shorter than the setting, and the recording head 1 and the cap 9 may come into contact with each other. .

Therefore, it is necessary to further increase the strength of the component to which the spring force is applied.

As described above, increasing the cap pressure in order to satisfy the hermeticity of the cap requires the specification of the parts constituting the capping mechanism to be increased at the same time.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the above-mentioned conventional technique, and it is possible to sufficiently suck the ink from the recording head without increasing the cap pressure and the number of parts. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording device that can be used.

[0045]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a recording head for recording on a recording material by ejecting ink from an ink ejection port according to a recording signal. A carriage that reciprocates along a recording material, and the ink ejection port that comes into contact with the ink ejection port during recovery operation of the ink ejection port that is performed to maintain the ink ejection performance of the recording head in a normal state. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a cap that covers the ink ejection port; and a cylinder section that sucks ink from the recording head through the cap in a state where the ink ejection port is covered by the cap. There is a predetermined waiting time from the contact with the cap to the start of the suction of the ink.

The standby time is 0.5 seconds or more.

Further, the recording head is characterized by being provided with an electric converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink.

Further, the recording head is characterized in that the ink is ejected from the ejection port by utilizing the heat boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter.

(Operation) In the present invention configured as described above, when the recovery operation of the ink ejection port for maintaining the ink ejection performance of the recording head in a normal state is performed, the ink ejection port contacts the cap. The ink is sucked from the ink ejection port through the cap by the cylinder portion in a state of being in contact with and covered, but since the ink is sucked after waiting for a certain time after the cap is brought into contact with the ink ejection port, Suction is started when the cap is completely in contact with the ink ejection port.

Therefore, a sufficient suction amount by the cap pressure can be obtained from the time when the suction of the ink is started.

[0051]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

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

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a recording head 1 for recording on a recording sheet 8 which is a recording medium by ejecting ink from an ink ejection port according to a recording signal,
A carriage 2 on which the recording head 1 is mounted, and the carriage 2 in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording sheet 8 and
A guide shaft 3 and a guide rail 4 slidably supported in a direction parallel to the surface of the recording sheet 8, and a timing belt 7 for reciprocating the carriage 2 in a linear direction.
It is composed of a carriage motor 5 and a motor pulley 6. Further, outside the recording area, a recovery device including a cap 9 and the like for performing a recovery operation of the ink ejection port that is performed to maintain the ink ejection performance of the recording head 1 in a normal state is provided.

The recovery operation of the recording head in this embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the recovery operation in the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

First, when it is judged that the ink ejection from the recording head 1 is in a non-ejection state, an ejection recovery command for the recording head 1 is output from a drive controller (not shown) of the recording apparatus (step S1).

Next, in order to bring the cap 9 into contact with the recording head 1, the carriage 2 on which the recording head 1 is mounted moves to a capping position where the cap 9 and the recording head 1 can contact (step S2). ).

When the recording head 1 moves to the capping position, the pump cam gear 16 rotates, which causes the cylinder control portion 101D, which is in contact with the cam portion 16A of the pump cam gear 16, to swing, and the cap 9 causes the recording head 1 to move. And the cap 9 reaches a position where it comes into contact with the recording head 1 (step S3).

Next, the pump cam gear 16 is further rotated, the cylinder control portion 101D is separated from the cam portion 16A of the pump cam gear 16, and the cap 9 is held by the cap holder 10.
The recording head 1 is brought into contact with the recording head 1 by the spring pressure of the compression coil spring 14 provided in the lower part of the recording head 1 (step S4).

Then, the cap 9 is brought into contact with the recording head 1 and the sealing pressure is maintained, and the recording head 1 stands by for a predetermined time (step S5).

After waiting for a predetermined period of time, the cap 9 is brought into contact with the recording head 1 and ink is sucked from the ejection port of the recording head 1 through the cap 9 while the sealing pressure is maintained. (Step S6).

When the suction of the ink from the ejection port of the recording head 1 is completed, the cap 9 is separated from the recording head 1 (step S7), and when the cap 9 is completely separated from the recording head 1, the recording head 1 fails. The ejection recovery drive is completed (step S8).

FIG. 3 is a graph for explaining the change in the amount of ink sucked from the recording head in the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. In the graph shown in FIG. 3, the vertical axis represents the amount of ink sucked from the recording head, and the horizontal axis represents the time after the recording head 1 and the cap 9 come into contact with each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the suction of the recording head 1 is performed by the cap pressure P1, the suction amount becomes V1 at the time when the suction is started, and thereafter, the suction amount gradually increases, and after a certain time elapses. It becomes V0 and becomes constant.

Further, the cap pressure is reduced to P
When the suction of the recording head 1 is performed by 2, the suction amount at the time when the suction is started becomes V2, and thereafter, the suction amount gradually increases and becomes constant after a lapse of a certain time.

Here, from the start of suction until the suction amount increases and reaches a constant value, the contact between the recording head 1 and the cap 9 is incomplete (a part of the cap is completely in contact with the head). However, if suction is performed in that state, it is not possible to obtain a sufficient amount of ink suction due to the cap pressure.

Therefore, if suction is started after waiting for a certain period of time after the recording head 1 and the cap 9 are brought into contact with each other, a sufficient suction amount can be obtained from the time when suction is started.

For example, when suction is performed with the cap pressure P1, if suction is started after waiting for a certain time after the recording head 1 and the cap 9 are contacted with each other, the suction amount is V1.
Therefore, the suction amount of V0 can be obtained from the time when suction is started.

It should be noted that, as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that the above-mentioned constant waiting time is 0.5 seconds or more.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described by using the printer in which the inkjet recording head is mounted on the carriage. The description of the present invention can be preferably used even for an information processing apparatus that includes a scanner unit that is compatible with a recording head and that can be mounted on a carriage, and that can read image information from a document sheet supported by a platen. .

The present invention brings excellent effects particularly in an ink jet type recording head and a recording apparatus which form flying droplets by utilizing thermal energy among the ink jet recording systems.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which This is effective because heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, causing film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, and as a result, air bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding one-to-one to this drive signal can be formed. It is. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make the driving signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be ejected.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.

In addition, JP-A-59-123670, which discloses a structure in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a pressure wave of thermal energy is absorbed. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which an opening corresponds to a discharge portion.

Further, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length can be increased by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. The present invention can exert the above-mentioned effects more effectively, although it may have a configuration that satisfies the above requirement or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, by being attached to the apparatus main body, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and can be supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by a replaceable chip type recording head or the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge-type recording head provided with an ink tank is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If you list these specifically,
Capping means, wiping member, pressurizing or sucking means for the recording head, preheating means by an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof, and a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection other than recording It is also effective to perform stable recording.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for a device provided with at least one of full colors by color mixing.

In the embodiment of the present invention described above,
Although the ink is described as a liquid, it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower, and softens at room temperature, or is a liquid, or in the inkjet method described above, the ink itself is heated to 30 ° C or more and 70 ° C or less. Generally, the temperature is adjusted within the range and the temperature is controlled so that the viscosity of the ink is in the stable ejection range. Therefore, it is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, the temperature rise due to the thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy for the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink is solidified in the standing state for the purpose of preventing the evaporation of the ink. In some cases, such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat energy according to a recording signal and ejected as a liquid ink, or one that has already started to solidify when it reaches a recording medium. The use of an ink having a property of being liquefied only by heat energy is also applicable to the present invention. In such a case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-5684.
No. 7 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-71260, in which the porous sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter while being held in a liquid or solid state in the concave portions or through holes of the porous sheet. It is good. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as a form of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to one provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a word processor or a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader, and It may take the form of a facsimile machine having a transmission / reception function.

[0083]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects.

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, since the ink is sucked after waiting for a certain time after the cap is brought into contact with the ink ejection port, the cap is completely attached to the ink ejection port. The suction can be started in the state of being in contact with.

As a result, it is possible to improve the airtightness between the recording head and the cap at the time when ink suction is started, and it is possible to stabilize the suction amount with a smaller cap pressure.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the recording head is provided with the electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink, it is possible to achieve ejection of ink with excellent responsiveness. You can

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the recording head has a function of ejecting the ink from the ejection port by utilizing the film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. The same effect as that of the item 3 is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

2 is a flowchart showing a recovery operation in the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a graph for explaining a change in the amount of ink suctioned from the recording head in the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a suction operation in a conventional inkjet recording apparatus, (a) is a diagram showing a state during suction, and (b) is a diagram showing a state after suction.

5A and 5B are views for explaining the operation of bringing the cap shown in FIG. 4 into contact with the recording head, in which FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a state before the contact, and FIG. The figure which shows a state, (c) is a figure which shows a contact state.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation shown in FIG.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1 recording head 1A face surface 2 carriage 3 guide shaft 4 guide rail 5 carriage motor 6 motor pulley 7 timing belt 8 recording sheet 9 cap 9A joint part 10 cap holder 14 compression coil spring 15 platen 16 pump cam gear 16A cam part 17 Idle gear 101 Cylinder 101A Ink suction port 101D Cylinder control unit 102 Piston 103 Space 105 Piston shaft 108 Arm

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Takehiko Kiyohara 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hitoshi Nakamura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (72) Inventor Hideaki Kawakami 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takeshi Iwasaki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. ( 72) Inventor Atsushi Noda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kawa ▲ ▼ ▼ Noriko 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A carriage that carries a recording head for recording on a recording material by ejecting ink from an ink ejection port according to a recording signal, and a carriage that reciprocates along the recording material, and the recording head. A cap that covers the ink ejection port by contacting the ink ejection port during the recovery operation of the ink ejection port performed to maintain the ink ejection performance in a normal state, and the ink ejection port is covered by the cap. In an ink jet recording apparatus having a cylinder portion that sucks ink from the recording head through the cap in a closed state, from when the ink ejection port and the cap come into contact with each other until the suction of the ink is started. In addition, the inkjet recording apparatus is characterized by having a predetermined waiting time. 2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waiting time is 0.5 seconds or more. 3. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the recording head includes an electric converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink. apparatus. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording head ejects ink from an ejection port by utilizing thermal boiling generated in ink by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by the above.