Patent ID: 6938981

Claim:
An image formation apparatus having a print head with an ink discharge face where ink discharge orifices are provided, whereby ink is discharged from said ink discharge orifices so as to form an image on a recording medium, said image formation apparatus comprising: a cleaning member cylindrically formed of a material having elasticity; moving means for effecting relative motion between a peripheral face of said cleaning member and the ink discharge face of said print head, with both in contact one with another; and driving control means for controlling the driving of said moving means; wherein, each time a predetermined number of sheets of said recording medium have images formed thereupon following starting of operations for forming images, the image formation operations are temporarily interrupted, and said moving means are driven under the control of said driving control means, and the peripheral face of said cleaning member is moved over the surface of said ink discharge face while in contact therewith, thereby suctioning the ink within said ink discharge orifices.