PURPOSE: To achieve the miniaturization of an ink jet recording apparatus and to enhance the reliability thereof by giving operation force at the time of the attachment and detachment of a head cartridge without upsizing the apparatus by providing a carrier rib.

CONSTITUTION: The tank case in a carrier 303 is moved in such a state that the projection of the case is engaged with the side end surface of the recording head 200 of an ink tank and a recording head 200 and the ink tank are moved in an integrated state. Since a positioning pin 225 is disengaged from the hole of the recording head 200 by this constitution, the recording head 200 and the ink tank can be integrally moved to be taken out of the carrier. At this time, the head tab attached to the recording head 200 is picked to be reaised up to easily take out the whole of a head cartridge.