Ink jet recording apparatus with cleaning means that cleans lighter-ink discharge portions before darker-ink discharge portions

An ink jet recording apparatus for recording using plural inks, the apparatus comprising:

• first cleaning means;
• plural ink discharge portions for discharging different inks, said ink discharge portions being disposed for cleaning by said cleaning means in succession, wherein said plural ink discharge portions are arranged successively in the order of a discharge portion for discharging relatively light ink always followed by a discharge portion for discharging relatively dark ink, a given ink being lighter than another ink if the color of a mixture of those two inks is closer to the color of the other ink than to the color of the given ink;
• driving means for driving said cleaning means and said ink discharge portions relative to each other in a predetermined single direction so that said ink discharge portions are cleaned only in said order of lighter to darker inks;
• and
• second cleaning means for cleaning said first cleaning means after said discharge portions have been cleaned, wherein said second cleaning means is disposed at a position opposed to said first cleaning means and includes an ink absorbing member and a plate-like member abutting said ink absorbing member and having an opening therein for causing ink droplets adhered to said plate-like member to be drawn into said ink absorbing member by capillary action.

An ink jet recording apparatus for recording using plural inks, the apparatus comprising:

• first cleaning means;
• plural ink discharge portions for discharging different inks, said ink discharge portions being disposed for cleaning by said cleaning means in succession, wherein said plural ink discharge portions are arranged successively in the order of a discharge portion for discharging relatively light ink always followed by a discharge portion for discharging relatively dark ink, a given ink being lighter than another ink if the color of a mixture of those two inks is closer to the color of the other ink than to the color of the given ink;
• driving means for driving said cleaning means and said ink discharge portions relative to each other in a predetermined single direction so that said ink discharge portions are cleaned only in said order of lighter to darker inks;
• and
• second cleaning means for cleaning said first cleaning means after said discharge portions have been cleaned, wherein said second cleaning means slidingly abuts said first cleaning means to remove ink attached to said first cleaning means.