Ink jet recording apparatus and method of recovery ink discharging condition of the same

Abstract

An ink jet recording apparatus has a recording head provided with a plurality of ink discharging openings, ink paths leading to the ink discharging openings and an ink chamber commonly connected to the ink paths. Each ink path has a recording thermal energy generating element for causing film boiling of ink in the ink path so as to form a bubble of the ink vapor thereby discharging an ink droplet from the discharging opening. In order to recover from any ink discharging failure caused by bubbles stagnating in the ink paths, the recording thermal energy generating element can be driven in a specific driving condition with a smaller thermal energy input rate than in the recording operation. Tiny bubbles generated in each ink path as a result of the driving form a comparatively large void with which at least a part of the ink in each ink path is replaced so that stagnant bubbles are merged in the void and, hence, extinguished. The void is then discharged by sucking or application of a pressure so that the ink paths are refilled with the ink. The recording head can have an assisting thermal energy generating element which cooperates with the recording thermal energy generating element to ensure good discharge of the ink droplet. The assisting thermal energy generating element element also may be driven for recovery purposes purpose.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.