Recording apparatus in which a plurality of carriages can be connected and separated

Claim 2

A recording apparatus having: a first carrier carrying a first recording head thereon and movable; a second carrier carrying a second recording head thereon and movable; a first recording mode in which said first carrier is moved to thereby effect recording; and a second recording mode in which said first carrier and said second carrier are both moved to thereby effect recording.

Claim 3

A recording apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the recording speed of said first recording mode is higher than the recording speed of said second recording mode.

Claim 4

A recording apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said second carrier is a carrier further carrying a third recording head and a fourth recording head thereon, and said second recording mode is a color recording mode differing from said first recording mode.

Claim 5

A recording apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said first recording mode is a black recording mode, said second recording mode is a color recording mode differing from the black recording mode, and the recording speed of said first recording mode is higher than the recording speed of said second recording mode.

Claim 6

A recording apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said first recording mode effects capping for the second recording head carried on said second carrier.

Claim 7

A recording apparatus according to Claim 1, further having means for connecting or separating said first carrier and said second carrier in conformity with a recording signal, and means for controlling the carrier connection or the carrier separation by said means by said first and second recording modes being selected in conformity with the recording signal.

Claim 8

A recording apparatus according to Claim 1, further having a standby mode for causing said first and second carriers to stand by at their home position outside a recording area, and wherein in said home position, said first carrier is positioned more adjacent to the recording area than said second carrier, and further having means for uniting said first carrier and said second carrier before said second recording mode is carried out, and control means for operating said uniting means only for said first and second carriers positioned at said home position.

Claim 9

A recording apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said first and second recording modes effect recording by the use of the first and second ink jet recording heads provided with electro-thermal convert­ing members generating heat energy.

Claim 10

A recording apparatus having: a first movable carrier for carrying a first recording head thereon; a second movable carrier for carrying thereon a second recording head for effecting recording differing from that effected by said first recording head; means for connecting and separating said first carrier and said second carrier; and control means for changing over in conformity with a recording signal a first recording mode in which said first carrier is moved to thereby effect recording and a second recording mode in which said first carrier and said second carrier as they are connected together by said connecting and separating means are moved to thereby effect recording; said control means discriminating a recording signal of one scan unit for moving the carriers, and determining said first and second recording modes for said one scan in conformity with the presence or absence of the record by said second recording head.

Claim 11

A recording apparatus having: a first movable carrier for carrying a first recording head thereon; a second movable carrier for carrying thereon a second recording head for effecting recording differing from that effected by said first recording head; means for connecting and separating said first carrier and said second carrier; and control means for changing over in conformity with a recording signal a first recording mode in which said first carrier is moved to thereby effect recording and a second recording mode in which said first carrier and said second carrier as they are connected together by said connecting and separating means are moved to thereby effect recording; said control means discriminating a recording signal of one scan unit for moving the carriers, and determining said first and second recording modes for said one scan in conformity with the presence or absence of the record by said second recording head.

Claim 12

A recording apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the recording speed of said first recording mode is higher than the recording speed of said second recording mode.

Claim 13

A recording apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein said first recording mode using said first recording head is a black printing mode, and said second recording mode using said second recording head is a color mode of a color differing from black.

Claim 14

A recording apparatus having: a first movable carrier for carrying a first recording head thereon; a second movable carrier for carrying thereon a second recording head for effecting recording differing from that effected by said first recording head; means for connecting and separating said first carrier and said second carrier; and control means for changing over in conformity with a recording signal a first recording mode in which said first carrier is moved to thereby effect recording and a second recording mode in which said first carrier and said second carrier as they are connected together by said connecting and separating means are moved to thereby effect recording; said control means discriminating a recording signal of one scan unit for moving the carriers, and rendering a recording mode for said one scan into said second recording mode in conformity with the rate of the record by said second recording head in the one scan recording signal when said record exceeds said rate, and changing over said first record­ing mode and said second recording mode during one scan in conformity with the recording signal when said record is below said rate.

Claim 15

A recording apparatus having: a first movable carrier for carrying a first recording head thereon; a second movable carrier for carrying thereon a second recording head for effecting recording differing from that effected by said first recording head; means for connecting and separating said first carrier and said second carrier; and control means for changing over in conformity with a recording signal a first recording mode in which said first carrier is moved to thereby effect recording and a second recording mode in which said first carrier and said second carrier as they are connected together by said connecting and separating means are moved to thereby effect recording; said control means discriminating a recording signal of one scan unit for moving the carriers, and rendering a recording mode for said one scan into said second recording mode in conformity with the rate of the record by said second recording head in the one scan recording signal when said record exceeds said rate, and changing over said first record­ing mode and said second recording mode during one scan in conformity with the recording signal when said record is below said rate.

Claim 16

A recording apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the recording speed of said first recording mode is higher than the recording speed of said second recording mode.

Claim 17

A recording apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said first recording mode using said first recording head is a black printing mode, and said second recording mode using said second recording head is a color mode of a color differing from black.

Claim 18

A color ink jet recording apparatus of the serial type which effects printing by a carrier movable along the direction of printing column and a plurality of printing heads carried on said carrier, characterized in that a printing head for black is carried on a first carrier, and a plurality of heads for other colors are carried on a second carrier.

Claim 19

A color ink jet recording apparatus of the serial type which effects printing by a carrier movable along the direction of printing column and a plurality of printing heads carried on said carrier, characterized in that a printing head for black is carried on a first carrier, and a plurality of heads for other colors are carried on a second carrier.

Claim 20

A color ink jet recording apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized in that the capping and suction recovery operations for the printing heads carried on said first carrier and said second carrier can be effected independently of each other.

Claim 21

A color ink jet recording apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized in that power for scanning is transmitted to said first carrier, and a connecting portion for separating and connecting said first carrier and said second carrier is provided.

Claim 22

A color ink jet recording apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized in that said first carrier and said second carrier are separated and connected by printing start color information.

Claim 23

A color ink jet recording apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized in that the presence or absence of the caps of the printing heads carried on said first carrier and said second carrier is controlled by printing start color information.

Claim 24

A color ink jet recording apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized in that the presence or absence of the idle discharge control or the suction recovery operation of the printing heads carried on said first carrier and said second carrier is controlled by printing start color information.

Claim 25

A color ink jet recording apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized in that the presence or absence of the temperature detection of the printing heads carried on said first carrier and said second carrier is changed by printing start color information.

Claim 26

A color ink jet recording apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized in that the presence or absence of the ink detection of the printing heads carried on said first carrier and said second carrier is changed by printing start color information.

Claim 27

A recording apparatus, comprising: means for holding a recording medium; first and second print heads each reciprocable relative to a medium so held; and means for selecting between a first mode of operation in which the first print head and the medium are relatively reciprocated and the second print head and the medium are not, and a second mode of operation in which either the second print head and the medium are relatively reciprocated and the first print head and the medium are not, or the first and second print heads are reciprocated in unison relative to the medium.

Claim 28

A recording apparatus, comprising: means for holding a recording medium; first and second print heads each reciprocable relative to a medium so held; and means for selecting between a first mode of operation in which the first print head and the medium are relatively reciprocated and the second print head and the medium are not, and a second mode of operation in which either the second print head and the medium are relatively reciprocated and the first print head and the medium are not, or the first and second print heads are reciprocated in unison relative to the medium.