To enhance reliability with regard to ink leakage of a recording head in physical distribution by keeping moisture surely in the nozzle of a recording head.
A cap unit 212 for protecting an ink jet recording head comprises a protective cap 212a having claw parts 217 and 218 engaging with a recording head (not shown) removably, a resilient cap 212b abutting against the ink ejection opening forming surface of the recording head to enclose the area of the recording head where the ink ejection opening is formed, and water absorbing resin 212c provided in the resilient cap 212b such that a specified gap is formed between the water absorbing resin 212c and the ink ejection opening forming surface of the recording head. The surface of the water absorbing resin 212c facing the ink ejection opening forming surface of the recording head consists of a first surface facing the area of the ink ejection opening forming surface where the ink ejection opening is formed, and a second surface facing the area of the ink ejection opening forming surface where the ink ejection opening is not formed wherein the first surface is formed higher than the second surface.
YAMANAKA AKIHIRO
Katsuhiro Ito
Ishibashi Masayuki
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