Patent ID: 7588309

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a recording head having a nozzle surface provided with nozzles for ejecting ink; an endless conveyance belt for circulating around in order to convey a recording medium to a position that opposes the nozzle surface of said recording head; an absorber capable of coming into contact with said conveyance belt and absorbing cleaning liquid to be applied onto said conveyance belt; a first storing unit for storing cleaning liquid to be supplied to said absorber; and a passage forming member connected to said absorber and said first storing unit, forming a passage for supplying, to said absorber, cleaning liquid stored in said first storing unit, and having an air discharging hole for discharging, to the outside, air bubbles contained in said cleaning liquid, wherein said passage forming member comprises: a first passage forming member connected to said first storing unit and forming a first passage in which the cleaning liquid stored in said first storing unit flows; and a second passage forming member connected to the first passage forming member and said absorber, and forming a second passage for supplying, to said absorber, the cleaning liquid having flowed in from said first passage, and wherein said air discharging hole is formed in said second passage forming member, and said second passage forming member has an opening formed in a part thereof and an internal space that leads to the opening, wherein said absorber is retained so as to occupy a part of the internal space in a manner exposed through said opening.