# US 5,710,580 A · Ink jet recording head and ink jet recording apparatus provided with the recording head > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,710,580 A - Document ID: US5710580A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/789,060 - Filed: 1997-01-28 - Granted: 1998-01-20 - Earliest claimed: 1990-08-24 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Naoji Otsuka; Hiromitsu Hirabayashi; Atsushi Arai; Hirofumi Hirano; Kentaro Yano; Hitoshi Sugimoto; Masaharu Ikado - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5710580A ## CPC - B41J 2/1652: {by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head} - B41J 2/16538: {with brushes or wiper blades perpendicular to the nozzle plate} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract An ink jet recording head mountable in a recording apparatus, provided with a cleaning member capable of cleaning the ink discharging port formation surface of the recording head for discharging ink, in which there is provided for the ink jet recording head a concavity or a plurality of concavities in the traveling path of the cleaning member on the discharging port formation surface cleaned by the cleaning member at the upstream side in the traveling direction from the discharging port formation area for discharging ink; thus removing the foreign particle on the discharging port surface reliably to perform a stable recording. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ink jet recording head mountable on a recording apparatus having a cleaning member which moves, relative to the ink jet recording head, into contact with a surface provided with an ink discharge port and having an area provided with said ink discharge port for discharging ink and which serves to clean said area, said recording head comprising: a recessed portion provided at said area and in a vicinity of said ink discharge port, said recessed portion being positioned in a route of said cleaning member moving in contact with said ink discharge port and upstream of said ink discharge port with respect to a moving direction of said cleaning member as it moves relative to the ink jet recording head and relative to the surface provided with the ink discharge port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein said recessed portion is larger than said discharge port. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An ink jet recording head according to claim 2, wherein said recessed portion is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharge port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) An ink jet recording head according to claim 2, wherein if said recessed portion is larger than the size of said discharge port, one recessed portion or more are provided and if said recessed portion is substantially a same size as said discharge port or smaller, three recessed portions or more are provided. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) An ink jet recording head according to claim 2, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein said recessed portion is of substantially a same size as said discharge port, and a plurality of the recessed portions are provided. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An ink jet recording head according to claim 6, wherein said recessed portion is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharge port. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) An ink jet recording head according to claim 6, wherein if said recessed portion is larger than the size of said discharge port, one recessed portion or more are provided and if said recessed portion is substantially the same size of said discharge port or smaller, three recessed portions or more are provided. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) An ink jet recording head according to claim 6, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein said recessed portion is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharge port. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein if said recessed portion is larger than the size of said discharge port, one recessed portion or more are provided and if said recessed portion is substantially a same size as said discharge port or smaller, three recessed portions or more are provided. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 13 An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording by discharging ink for a recording head, wherein said ink jet recording apparatus comprises: a cleaning member which moves, relative to the ink jet recording head, into contact with a surface provided with an ink discharge port and having an area provided with said ink discharge port for discharging ink and which serves to clean said area; and a supporting member for mounting therein the recording head, said recording head comprising a recessed portion provided at said area and in a vicinity of said ink discharge port, said recessed portion being positioned in a route of said cleaning member moving in contact with said ink discharge port and upstream of said ink discharge port with respect to a moving direction of said cleaning member as it moves relative to the ink jet head and relative to the surface on which the ink discharge port is formed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said recessed portion is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharge port. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein if said recessed portion is larger than the size of said discharge port, one recessed portion or more are provided and if said recessed portion is substantially a same size as said discharge port or smaller, three recessed portions or more are provided. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) An ink jet recording apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said cleaning member travels relatively in the direction parallel to the direction in which said recording head travels to scan. ### Claim 18 An ink jet recording head mountable on a recording apparatus having a cleaning member which moves, relative to the ink jet recording head, into contact with a surface provided with an ink discharge port and having an area provided with said ink discharge port for discharging ink and which serves to clean said area, said recording head comprising: a recessed portion provided at said area and in a vicinity of said surface provided with said ink discharge port, said recessed portion being positioned in a contact moving route of said cleaning member moving in contact with said surface provided with said ink discharge port and upstream of said ink discharge port with respect to a moving direction of said cleaning member as it moves relative to the ink let recording head and relative to the surface provided with the ink discharge port. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) An ink jet recording head according to claim 18, wherein said recessed portion is larger than said discharge port. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An ink jet recording head according to claim 19, wherein said recessed portion is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharge port. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) An ink jet recording head according to claim 19, wherein if said recessed portion is larger than the size of said discharge port, one recessed portion or more are provided and if said recessed portion is substantially a same size as said discharge port or smaller, three recessed portions or more are provided. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) An ink jet recording head according to claim 19, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) An ink jet recording head according to claim 18, wherein said recessed portion is of substantially a same size as said discharge port, and a plurality of the recessed portions are provided. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) An ink jet recording head according to claim 23, wherein said recessed portion is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharge port. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) An ink jet recording head according to claim 23, wherein if said recessed portion is larger than the size of said discharge port, one recessed portion or more are provided and if said recessed portion is substantially the same size of said discharge port or smaller, three recessed portions or more are provided. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) An ink jet recording head according to claim 23, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 27 (depends on 18) An ink jet recording head according to claim 18, wherein said recessed portion is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharge port. ### Claim 28 (depends on 18) An ink jet recording head according to claim 18, wherein if said recessed portion is larger than the size of said discharge port, one recessed portion or more are provided and if said recessed portion is substantially a same size as said discharge port or smaller, three recessed portions or more are provided. ### Claim 29 (depends on 18) An ink jet recording head according to claim 18, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 30 An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording by discharging ink from a recording head, wherein said ink jet recording apparatus comprises: a cleaning member which moves, relative to the ink jet recording head, into contact with a surface provided with an ink discharge port and having an area provided with said ink discharge port for discharging ink and which serves to clean said area; a supporting member for mounting therein the recording head, said recording head comprising a recessed portion provided at said area and in a vicinity of said ink discharge port, said recessed portion being positioned in a route of said cleaning member moving in contact with said surface provided with said ink discharge port and upstream of said ink discharge port with respect to a moving direction of said cleaning member as it moves relative to the ink jet recording head and relative to the surface provided with the ink discharge port; and means for discharging ink from said recessed portion. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said means for discharging ink from said recessed portion is a pressure generating means for discharging ink which is provided in an ink path connectively communicating said recessed portion with an ink liquid chamber. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said recessed portion is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharge port. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 31, wherein if said recessed portion is larger than the size of said discharge port, one recessed portion or more are provided and if said recessed portion is substantially a same size as said discharge port or smaller, three recessed portions or more are provided. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said means for discharging ink from said recessed portion is a recovery means which is in contact with said surface provided with said ink discharge port to constitute a space between the discharging port formation surface and said means and enables an inside of said space to be pressurized negatively. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said recessed portion is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharge port. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 35, wherein if said recessed portion is larger than the size of said discharge port, one recessed portion or more are provided and if said recessed portion is substantially a same size as said discharge port or smaller, three recessed portions or more are provided. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 39 (depends on 30) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said recessed portion is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharge port. ### Claim 40 (depends on 30) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 30, wherein if said recessed portion is larger than the size of said discharge port, one recessed portion or more are provided and if said recessed portion is substantially a same size as said discharge port or smaller, three recessed portions or more are provided. ### Claim 41 (depends on 30) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 42 (depends on 30) An ink jet recording apparatus as in claim 30, wherein said cleaning member travels relatively in the direction parallel to the direction in which said recording head travels to scan. ### Claim 43 An ink jet recording apparatus capable of mounting therein a recording head having ink discharging ports arranged along the gravity direction, at a same time, performing the recording by discharging ink from said discharging ports while moving on a recording medium in a direction intersecting a direction in which said recording medium is conveyed, wherein said ink jet recording apparatus comprises: a cleaning member movable along a gravity direction from a top to a bottom to clean a surface provided with said ink discharging ports; and a supporting member for mounting therein the recording head provided with a plurality of concavities of substantially a same size as said discharging ports in a moving path of the cleaning member on the surface provided with said ink discharging ports cleaned by said cleaning member at an upstream side from a discharging port formation area for discharging ink. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said concavity is connectively communicated through ink path with an ink liquid chamber with which said discharging ports is connectively communicated. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said concavity is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharging ports. ### Claim 46 (depends on 43) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 43, wherein if said concavity is larger than the size of said discharging ports, one concavity or more are provided and if said concavity is substantially the same size of said discharging ports or smaller, three concavities or more are provided. ### Claim 47 (depends on 43) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 48 An ink jet recording apparatus capable of mounting therein a recording head having ink discharging ports arranged along a gravity direction at a same time, performing the recording by discharging ink from said discharging ports while moving on a recording medium in a direction intersecting a direction in which said recording medium is conveyed, wherein said ink jet recording apparatus comprises: a cleaning member movable along the gravity direction from a bottom to a top to clean a surface provided with said ink discharging ports; and a supporting member for mounting therein the recording head provided with a plurality of concavities of substantially a same size as said discharging ports in the moving path of the cleaning member on said surface provided with said ink discharging ports cleaned by said cleaning member at the upstream side from the discharging port formation area for discharging ink. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said concavity is connectively communicated through ink path with an ink liquid chamber with which said discharging ports is connectively communicated. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) An ink jet recording head according to claim 48, wherein said concavity is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharging ports. ### Claim 51 (depends on 48) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 48, wherein if said concavity is larger than the size of said discharging ports, one concavity or more are provided and if said concavity is substantially the same size of said discharging ports or smaller, three concavities or more are provided. ### Claim 52 (depends on 48) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 53 An ink jet recording head mountable in a recording apparatus provided with a cleaning member capable of cleaning a surface provided with a plurality of ink discharging ports of the recording head for discharging ink by moving relatively in a direction intersecting a direction in which said discharging ports are arranged, wherein said ink jet recording head is provided with one concavity larger than said discharging ports positioned in the moving path of the cleaning member on the surface provided with said ink discharging ports cleaned by said cleaning member at an upstream side in a moving direction from a discharging port formation area for discharge ink. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) An ink jet recording head according to claim 53, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 55 An ink jet recording apparatus capable of mounting therein a recording head having ink discharging ports arranged along a gravity direction, at the same time, performing the recording by discharging ink from said discharging ports while moving on a recording medium in a direction intersecting a direction in which said recording medium is conveyed, wherein said ink jet recording apparatus comprises: a cleaning member for cleaning a surface provided with said ink discharging ports by moving relatively in a direction parallel to a direction in which said recording head travels to scan; and a supporting member for mounting therein the recording head provided with a concavity in the moving path of the cleaning member on the surface provided with said ink discharging ports cleaned by said cleaning member at an upstream side in a moving direction from a discharging port formation area for discharging an ink. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said concavity is connectively communicated through ink path with an ink liquid chamber with which said discharging ports is connectively communicated. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 56, wherein said concavity is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharging ports. ### Claim 58 (depends on 56) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 56, wherein if said concavity is larger than the size of said discharging ports, one concavity or more are provided and if said concavity is substantially a same size as said discharging ports or smaller, three concavities or more are provided. ### Claim 59 (depends on 56) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 56, wherein, said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 60 (depends on 55) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 55 wherein said concavity is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of said discharging ports. ### Claim 61 (depends on 55) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 55, wherein if said concavity is larger than the size of said discharging ports, one concavity or more are provided and if said concavity is substantially a same size as said discharging ports or smaller, three concavities or more are provided. ### Claim 62 (depends on 55) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 55, wherein, said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 63 A cartridge member mountable on a recording apparatus having a cleaning member which moves, relative to an ink jet recording head, said ink jet recording head being provided on said cartridge member, into contact with a surface provided with an ink discharge port and having an area provided with said ink discharge port for discharging ink and which serves to clean said area, said cartridge member comprising: a recessed portion provided at said area and in a vicinity of said ink discharge port, said recessed portion being positioned in a route of said cleaning member moving in contact with said ink discharge port and upstream of said discharge port with respect to a relative moving direction of said cartridge member and said cleaning member; and an ink tank for storing an ink which is discharged from said ink discharge port. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) A cartridge member according to claim 63, wherein said recessed portion is larger than said discharge port. ### Claim 65 (depends on 64) A cartridge member according to claim 64, wherein said recessed portion is of a size which is between 0.5 and 3 times that of said discharge port. ### Claim 66 (depends on 64) A cartridge member according to claim 64, wherein if said recessed portion is larger than the size of said discharge port, at least one recessed portion is provided and if said recessed portion is substantially a same size as said discharge port or smaller, at least three recessed portions are provided. ### Claim 67 (depends on 64) A cartridge member according to claim 64, wherein said cartridge member discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 68 (depends on 64) A cartridge member according to claim 64, wherein said cartridge member discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 69 (depends on 63) A cartridge member according to claim 63, wherein said recessed portion is of substantially a same size as said discharge port, and a plurality of said recessed portions are provided. ### Claim 70 (depends on 69) A cartridge member according to claim 69, wherein said recessed portion is of a size which is between 0.5 and 3 times that of said discharge port. ### Claim 71 (depends on 69) A cartridge member according to claim 69, wherein if said recessed portion is larger than the size of said discharge port, at least one recessed portion is provided and if said recessed portion is substantially a same size as said discharge port or smaller, at least three recessed portions are provided. ### Claim 72 (depends on 63) A cartridge member according to claim 63, wherein said recessed portion is of a size which is between 0.5 and 3 times that of said discharge port. ### Claim 73 (depends on 63) A cartridge member according to claim 63, wherein if said recessed portion is larger than the size of said discharge port, at least one recessed portion is provided and if said recessed portion is substantially a same size as said discharge port or smaller, at least three recessed portions are provided. ### Claim 74 (depends on 63) A cartridge member according to claim 63, wherein said cartridge member discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 75 An ink jet recording head mountable on a recording apparatus having a cleaning member which moves, relative to the ink jet recording head, into contact with a surface provided with an ink discharge port and having an area provided with said ink discharge port for discharging ink and which serves to clean said area, said recording head comprising: a non-discharging nozzle having said ink discharge port, said non-discharging nozzle being positioned in a route of said cleaning member moving in contact with said ink discharge port and upstream of other said ink discharge ports with respect to a moving direction of said cleaning member as it moves relative to the ink jet recording head and relative to the surface provided with the ink discharge port. ### Claim 76 (depends on 75) An ink jet recording head according to claim 75, wherein said discharge port corresponding to said non-discharging nozzle is larger than other said discharge ports. ### Claim 77 (depends on 75) An ink jet recording head according to claim 75, wherein said discharge port corresponding to said non-discharging nozzle is of substantially a same size as other said discharge ports, and a plurality of the discharge ports are provided. ### Claim 78 (depends on 75) An ink jet recording head according to claim 75, wherein said discharge port corresponding to said non-discharging nozzle is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of other said discharge ports. ### Claim 79 (depends on 76) An ink jet recording head according to claim 76, wherein said discharge port corresponding to said non-discharging nozzle is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of other said discharge ports. ### Claim 80 (depends on 77) An ink jet recording head according to claim 77, wherein said discharge port corresponding to said non-discharging nozzle is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of other said discharge ports. ### Claim 81 (depends on 75) An ink jet recording head according to claim 75, wherein if said discharge port corresponding to said non-discharging nozzle is larger than the size of other said discharge ports, at least one recessed portion or more are provided and if said non-discharging nozzle is substantially a same size as other said discharge ports or smaller, at least three recessed portions are provided. ### Claim 82 (depends on 76) An ink jet recording head according to claim 76, wherein if said discharge port corresponding to said non-discharging nozzle is larger than the size of other said discharge ports, at least one recessed portion or more are provided and if said non-discharging nozzle is substantially a same size as other said discharge ports or smaller, at least three recessed portions are provided. ### Claim 83 (depends on 77) An ink jet recording head according to claim 77, wherein if said discharge port corresponding to said non-discharging nozzle is larger than the size of other said discharge ports, at least one recessed portion or more are provided and if said non-discharging nozzle is substantially a same size as other said discharge ports or smaller, at least three recessed portions are provided. ### Claim 84 (depends on 75) An ink jet recording head according to claim 75, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 85 (depends on 76) An ink jet recording head according to claim 76, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 86 (depends on 77) An ink jet recording head according to claim 77, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 87 An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording by discharging ink for a recording head, wherein said ink jet recording apparatus comprises: a cleaning member which moves, relative to the ink jet recording head, into contact with a surface provided with an ink discharge port and having an area provided with said ink discharge port for discharging ink and which serves to clean said area; and a supporting member for mounting therein the recording head, said recording head comprising a non-discharging nozzle provided at said area and in a vicinity of said ink discharge port, said non-discharging nozzle being positioned in a route of said cleaning member moving in contact with said ink discharge port and upstream of other said ink discharge ports with respect to a moving direction of said cleaning member as it moves relative to the ink jet head and relative to the surface on which the ink discharge port is formed. ### Claim 88 (depends on 87) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 87, wherein said discharge port corresponding to said non-discharging nozzle is of a size which is 0.5 times or more and 3 times or less that of other said discharge ports. ### Claim 89 (depends on 87) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 87, wherein if said discharge port corresponding to said non-discharging nozzle is larger than the size of other said discharge ports, at least one recessed portion or more are provided and if said non-discharging nozzle is substantially a same size as other said discharge ports or smaller, at least three recessed portions are provided. ### Claim 90 (depends on 87) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 87, wherein said ink jet recording head discharges ink droplets by utilization of heat generated by an electrothermal converting element. ### Claim 91 (depends on 87) An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 87, wherein said cleaning member travels relatively in the direction parallel to the direction in which said recording head travels to scan.