Patent ID: 8322818

Claim:
A maintenance device for maintaining a liquid ejection head in a liquid ejection apparatus in which the liquid ejection head includes a nozzle forming surface provided with nozzles that eject a liquid, the maintenance device comprising: a cap movable between a capping position, in which the cap contacts the liquid ejection head so as to surround the nozzles, and a retreat position, in which the cap is separated from the liquid ejection head; a support member for supporting the cap; a wiper which is capable of wiping the nozzle forming surface by moving relative to the liquid ejection head in a wiping direction that is parallel to the nozzle forming surface; a head guide portion which positions the cap relative to the liquid ejection head so that the cap is parallel to the nozzle forming surface when arranged at the capping position and positions the wiper relative to the liquid ejection head so that the wiper is parallel to the nozzle forming surface during the wiping, the head guide portion being movable relative to the support member; a first drive portion which moves the head guide portion and the support member during capping such that the head guide portion is moved to a position where the head guide portion engages the liquid ejection head; and a second drive portion which moves the head guide portion away from the support member during wiping such that the head guide portion is moved to a position where the head guide portion engages the liquid ejection head, wherein the head guide portion includes an opening located at a position corresponding to the cap, the cap moves through and out of the opening of the head guide portion and contacts the nozzle forming surface during the capping, and the wiper slides along the nozzle forming surface through the opening so as to pass by a wiping route located at a nozzle forming surface side of the cap that is arranged at the retreat position during the wiping.