Patent ID: 7766449

Claim:
An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink-jet head having an ink ejection surface which has a plurality of ink ejection ports formed therethough; a cap comprising: a base; and an annular protrusion which extends from the base in a protruding direction, wherein the annular protrusion has a recess formed therein, and when the annular protrusion contacts the ink ejection surface, an enclosed space is defined therebetween; a first movement mechanism configured to move the cap toward and away from the ink-jet head in a first plane which is parallel to the ink ejection surface to selectively position the annular protrusion in a first position in which the annular protrusion opposes the ink ejection surface, and a second position in which the annular protrusion is offset from the ink ejection surface in the protruding direction; and a brush that is arranged in tandem with the ink-jet head with respect to a moving direction of the cap, the brush comprising a plurality of flexible needle members.