US Patent 7244019 Ink jet recording apparatus

An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by discharging an ink onto a recording medium to be recorded, has a first ink tank for containing a first ink, a second ink tank for containing a second ink different from the first ink, and a holder enabling the ink tanks to be loaded therein. The ink tanks are provided with distinguishing members so that the holder is, though capable of being loaded with both of these two types ink tanks in a state before loading the ink tanks into the holder, loaded with one of the ink tanks with the result that the other ink tank becomes unable to be loaded into the holder. The holder is provided with a changeover mechanism corresponding to the distinguishing members of the ink tanks.