An ink jet recorder includes a recording head, a carriage for reciprocating the head, a sheet conveying roller, a motor for driving the roller, a maintenance mechanism and an ink supply mechanism. The driving force from the motor can be transmitted through a first clutch to the maintenance mechanism, and through a second clutch to the ink supply mechanism. One of the clutches is connected to a turn lever, and the other is connected to a shift lever. Each of the clutches can be switched mechanically by the carriage engaging with the associated lever. The single motive power source can drive a plurality of mechanisms. There is no need of a special switch for changing over the source.