Patent ID: 9248651
Filing Date: 2016-02-02
CPC Classification: B41J

Claim Text:
1. A liquid discharge apparatus configured to discharge liquid, comprising: a liquid discharge head having a discharge-surface in which a plurality of nozzles is formed; a cap including an inner bottom surface facing the discharge-surface and, in contact with the discharge-surface, to cover the plurality of nozzles; a movement mechanism configured to move at least one of the liquid discharge head and the cap to selectively take a first contact state for the cap to contact with the discharge-surface, a second contact state for the inner bottom surface of the cap to contact with the discharge-surface and to come closer to the discharge-surface than in the first contact state, and a separated state for the cap to separate from the discharge-surface; and a suction mechanism, wherein the plurality of nozzles include: wherein the cap includes: wherein the communicative portion includes a part of the first surrounding projection of the first cap portion which is formed lower in the height from the inner bottom surface than the other portions of the first surrounding projections except the communicative portion, wherein the first cap portion is configured to seal up a first space between the first cap portion and the discharge-surface by causing the whole first surrounding projection to contact with the discharge-surface in the second contact state, wherein the second cap portion is configured to seal up a second space between the second cap portion and the discharge-surface by causing the whole second surrounding projection to contact with the discharge-surface in the second contact state, and wherein the part of the first surrounding projection of the communicative portion is separated from the discharge-surface in the first contact state, and contacts with the discharge-surface in the second contact state, and wherein the first and second cap portions and the communicative portions are configured to seal up the first and second spaces such that the first space is communicated with the second space via the communicative portion, in the first contact state.