Patent ID: 8297733

Claim:
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a recording head that extends in a direction perpendicular to a recording-medium-conveying direction, and configured to eject ink onto a recording medium; a recovery device configured to perform recovery processing of the recording head, the recovery device having a cap portion that is configured to cover at least a portion of an ink ejection surface of the recording head, and a wiping portion configured to wipe at least a portion of the ink ejection surface; a driving device configured to move the recovery device along the recording-medium-conveying direction between a mounting position in which the cap portion can be mounted on or removed from the recording head, and a withdrawn position in which the cap portion withdraws when the recording head performs printing on the recording medium, the driving device comprising a driving shaft and a driven shaft; and a conveying unit configured to convey the recording medium, the conveying unit comprising a driving roller and a driven roller, wherein the driving shaft and the driven shaft are disposed closer to the recording head than the driving roller and the driven roller; wherein the recording head is operable to form an image on the recording medium that is conveyed by the conveying unit, and the driving device is supported by the conveying unit; and wherein the recovery device moves along the recording-medium-conveying direction, and when the recovery device moves along the recording-medium-conveying direction, the wiping portion wipes the ink ejection surface while moving along the recording-medium-conveying direction.