Patent ID: 8087745

Claim:
An image forming apparatus which forms an image by jetting an ink toward a medium, comprising: a recording head in which a plurality of nozzle groups, each including a plurality of nozzles, is formed; a waste-liquid discharging mechanism which includes: a plurality of suction caps being contactable with the recording head to cover the nozzle groups respectively; a suction mechanism provided in common to the suction caps and sucking the ink in the nozzles of the recording head through the suction caps; a plurality of first channels communicating with the suction caps via through holes formed in the suction caps, respectively; and a second channel communicating with the first channels commonly at one end of the second channel and communicating with the suction mechanism at the other end of the second channel; and an ink flow-rate control mechanism which controls a flow rate of the ink flowing through each of the first channels, so that ink flows through the first channels simultaneously, wherein the ink flow-rate control mechanism is the second channel which has a channel resistance higher than a channel resistance of each of the first channels.