Ink jet recording apparatus comprising mechanism for conveying sheet-like cleaning medium to a recording region, discharge recovery treatment method employed in the same, and cleaning sheet also employed in the same

An ink jet recording apparatus including a recording head capable of discharging ink and recording on a recording medium conveyed along a conveyance route and in no contact with said recording head, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

• first means for accommodating a sheet-like ink absorber;
• recovery treatment means for performing discharge recovery treatment by causing said recording head to discharge ink when said ink absorber faces said recording head;
• second means for accommodating said sheet-like ink absorber which has absorbed said discharged ink;
• and
• conveyance means for conveying, in accordance with said discharge recovery treatment, said ink absorber from said first accommodating means through at least a part of said conveyance route so as to make said ink absorber in contact with said recording head and clean said recording head, and then for introducing said ink absorber into said second accommodating means.

A method of discharge recovery treatment of an ink jet recording apparatus comprising steps of:

• conveying a sheet-like ink absorber by a mechanism for conveying a recording medium and absorbing ink discharged from a discharge port of a recording head by said ink absorber which has reached a position confronting said discharge port of said recording head;
• absorbing said ink discharged from said discharge port by bringing said ink absorber into contact with said discharge port;
• and
• exhausting said ink absorber which has a region in which said ink is not absorbed.