Patent ID: 8905513

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a recording head having a nozzle configured to discharge droplets; a carriage configured to move reciprocally, on which the recording head is mounted; a rotary conveyance body disposed opposite the recording head and configured to convey a recording medium; a maintenance unit for the recording head; and a drive transmission unit to transmit rotation of the rotary conveyance body to the maintenance unit, the drive transmission unit comprising: a drive transmission gear movable between a connection position connecting a recovery gear to drive the maintenance unit and a release position at which connection to the recovery gear is released; and a gear moving unit configured to move the drive transmission gear between the connection position and the release position, the gear moving unit comprising: moving means to move the drive transmission gear to the connection position when the carriage is moved in a first direction; and a retainer to retain the drive transmission gear at the connection position as the carriage is moved in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the moving means comprises a coil spring and a lever, wherein: the lever is movable by the carriage when the carriage moves in the first direction, so that the drive transmission gear displaces to a position movable to the connection position; and the retainer regulates a position of the lever to retain the drive transmission gear at the connection position when the carriage moves to the second direction and releases the lever when the carriage moves again in the first direction and the lever is pressed, wherein the retainer comprises: a stopper rotatably disposed on the lever; and a guide member including a groove portion along which the stopper can move, and wherein a posture of the stopper is changed to regulate a position of the lever at an end of the groove portion of the guide member when the carriage moves in the first direction, and the posture of the stopper is changed to release the positional regulation of the lever at the end of the groove portion of the guide member when the carriage again moves in the first direction.