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 and a discharge portion;
• detection means for detecting replacement of said recording head, with a replacement recording head, based on the identification information;
• discharge recovery means for effecting a discharge recovery operation on said replacement recording head to recover ink;
• and
• recovery control means for automatically causing said discharge recovery means to perform the discharge recovery operation on said replacement recording head in response to detection of replacement of said replaceable recording head by said detection means.

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

• at least one replaceable recording head having head characteristic operating information;
• detection means for detecting replacement of said recording head by a replacement recording head, said detection means including reading means for reading the head characteristic operating information from said recording head;
• memory means for storing said head characteristic operating information read by said reading means;
• discharge recovery means for effecting a discharge recovery operation on said recording head to recover ink discharge;
• recovery control means for automatically causing said discharge recovery means to perform the discharge recovery operation on said replacement recording head in response to detection of replacement of said replaceable recording head by said detection means;
• checking means for checking said recording apparatus to determine whether said recording apparatus is in a normal operating state before detection of a new replacement recording head by said detection means;
• driving means for outputting to said recording head a driving signal based on the head characteristic operating information a driving signal based on the head characteristic operating information stored in said memory means;
• and
• control means for causing said memory means to store head characteristic operating information read from said recording head in response to detection of a new replacement recording head by said detection means.

A method for controlling a discharge recovery operation in an ink jet recording apparatus having at least one replaceable recording head including head identification information, said method comprising the steps of:

• reading the head identification information from the recording head;
• comparing the head identification information from the recording head with identification information stored in the ink jet recording apparatus
• detecting replacement of the recording head based on a result of the comparison step;
• and
• executing a discharge recovery operation in response to said detecting replacement of the replaceable recording head.

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

• at least one replaceable recording head having head characteristic operating information;
• detection means for detecting replacement of said recording head by a replacement recording head, said detection means including reading means for reading the head characteristic operating information from said recording head;
• memory means for storing said head characteristic operating information read by said reading means;
• discharge recovery means for effecting a discharge recovery operation on said recording head to recover discharge;
• recovery control means for automatically causing said discharge recovery means to perform the discharge recovery operation on said replacement recording head in response to detection of replacement of said replaceable recording head by said detection means;
• checking means for checking said recording apparatus to determine whether said recording apparatus is in a normal operating state before detection of a new replacement recording head by said detection means;
• driving means for outputting to said recording head a driving signal based on the head characteristic operating information a driving signal based on the head characteristic operating information stored in said memory means;
• and
• control means for causing said memory means to store head characteristic operating information read from said recording head in response to detection of a new replacement recording head 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 operating information and head identification information, comprising the steps of:

• checking the ink jet apparatus to determine whether the apparatus is in a normal operating state;
• reading the head characteristic operating information and head identification information from the recording head when said apparatus is determined to be in a normal operating state in said checking step;
• detecting a new replacement recording head based on the head identification information;
• storing the head characteristic operating information of a newly detected replacement recording head in said memory means;
• detecting replacement of said recording head with said replacement recording head;
• effecting a discharge recovery operation on said recording head to recover ink discharge;
• automatically causing said discharge recovery means to perform the discharge recovery operation on said replacement recording head in response to the detecting of replacement of said recording head;
• delivering to the recording head a driving signal, based on the head characteristic operating information stored in the memory, to perform recording.

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

• checking the ink jet apparatus to determine whether the apparatus is in a normal operating state;
• reading the head characteristic operating information and head identification information from the recording head when said apparatus is determined to be in a normal operating state in said checking step;
• detecting a new replacement recording head based on the head identification information;
• storing the head characteristic operating information of a newly detected replacement recording head in said memory means;
• detecting replacement of said recording head with said replacement recording head;
• effecting a discharge recovery operation on said recording head to recover discharge;
• automatically causing said discharge recovery means to perform the discharge recovery operation on said replacement recording head in response to the detecting of replacement of said recording head;
• delivering to the recording head a driving signal, based on the head characteristic operating information stored in the memory, to perform recording.

An ink jet recording apparatus for recording information on a recording medium using a replaceable recording head, said apparatus comprising:

• detection means for detecting replacement of said recording head with a replacement recording head;
• discharge recovery means for effecting a discharge recovery operation on said recording head to recover ink discharge;
• and
• recovery control means for automatically causing said discharge recovery means to perform the discharge recovery operation on said replacement recording head in response to detection of replacement of said replaceable recording head by said detection means.

An ink jet recording apparatus for recording information on a recording medium using a replaceable recording head, said apparatus comprising:

• detection means for detecting replacement of said recording head, with a replacement recording head, based on the identification information;
• discharge recovery means for effecting a discharge recovery operation on said replacement recording head to recover ink discharge;
• and
• recovery control means for automatically causing said discharge recovery means to perform the discharge recovery operation on said replacement recording head in response to detection of replacement of said replaceable recording head by said detection means.

An ink jet recording apparatus for recording information on a recording medium using a replaceable recording head, said apparatus comprising:

• detection means for detecting replacement of said recording head by a replacement recording head, said detection means including reading means for reading the head characteristic operating information from said recording head;
• memory means for storing said head characteristic operating information read by said reading means;
• discharge recovery means for effecting a discharge recovery operation on said recording head to recover ink discharge;
• recovery control means for automatically causing said discharge recovery means to perform the discharge recovery operation on said replacement recording head in response to detection of replacement of said replaceable recording head by said detection means;
• checking means for checking said recording apparatus to determine whether said recording apparatus is in a normal operating state before detection of a new replacement recording head by said detection means;
• driving means for outputting to said recording head a driving signal based on the head characteristic operating information stored in said memory means;
• and
• control means for causing said memory means to store head characteristic operating information read from said recording head in response to detection of a new replacement recording head by said detection means.