Patent ID: 7841691

Claim:
An image forming apparatus equipped with a maintenance mechanism comprising: a recording head group including a plurality of recording heads in a first direction; a recording medium conveying mechanism which conveys a recording medium on a conveyance path in a state where the mechanism is opposed to the recording head group; an ink supply route for supplying ink to the recording head group; a plurality of sealing members to be in contact with nozzle surfaces in each of which an ink ejection nozzle of each of the recording heads is formed, and arranged in the first direction; and a holding member which holds the plural sealing members divided into groups, which can be moved at a position or positions between the groups so as to be folded into an accordion-shape, and which is configured to be able to be moved between a nozzle surface sealing position, and a retraction position at which the holding member is stored beneath the conveyance path so as to be stored, and which is in an expanded state in the sealing position, and which is in a folded state in the retraction position.