Ink jet recording apparatus and method using replaceable recording heads

An ink jet recording apparatus for recording information on a recording medium, comprising:

• at least one replaceable recording head having identification information;
• detection means for detecting replacement of said recording head on the basis of the identification information;
• discharge recovery means for effecting a discharge recovery operation on said recording head to recover ink based on discharge characteristics of said recording head;
• and
• recovery control means for causing said discharge recovery means to perform the discharge recovery operation when a new replacement recording head is detected by said detection means.

An ink jet recording method for recording information with an ink jet recording apparatus having at least one replaceable recording head with head identification information, comprising the steps of:

• reading the head identification information from the recording head;
• detecting replacement of the recording head by comparing the head identification information from the recording head with head identification information stored in the ink jet recording apparatus;
• and
• executing a discharge recovery operation when replacement of the recording head is detected.

An ink jet recording apparatus for recording information on a recording medium, comprising:

• at least one replaceable recording head having head characteristic information;
• checking means for checking a normal operating state of said recording apparatus;
• detection means for detecting replacement of said recording head, said detection means including reading means for reading the head characteristic information from said recording head, with said checking means checking the normal operating state after detection of a new replacement recording head by said detection means;
• memory means for storing said head characteristic information read by said recording means;
• driving means for outputting to said recording head a driving signal based on the head characteristic information stored in said memory means;
• and
• control means for causing said memory means to store head characteristic information read from said recording head when a new replacement recording head is detected by said detection means.

An ink jet recording method for recording information with an ink jet recording apparatus having at least one replaceable recording head with head characteristic information and head identification information, comprising the steps of:

• checking a normal operating state of the ink jet recording apparatus;
• reading the head characteristic information and head identification information from the recording head;
• detecting a new replacement recording head on the basis of the head identification information;
• storing the head characteristic information of a newly detected replacement recording head in a memory;
• and
• delivering to the recording head a driving signal based on the head characteristic information stored in the memory to perform recording.