Patent ID: 7748820

Claim:
An image recording apparatus comprising: an ink-jet head having a plurality of nozzles which are open in a surface thereof so as to provide a nozzle opening surface and through which ink is ejected; a cap which is operable to cover the nozzle opening surface of the ink-jet head so as to surround the plurality of nozzles and which includes (a) a peripheral portion that comes into close contact with the nozzle opening surface at an end thereof when the cap covers the nozzle opening surface and (b) an outlet formed at a part of the peripheral portion, the part being located at a lower position when the image recording apparatus is kept in a posture for transportation thereof; and an ink absorbing device which is disposed outside of and separately from the cap and which comprises an ink absorber that communicates with the outlet via a discharge passage and a container that accommodates the ink absorber therein, wherein the container is configured to prevent ink absorbed by the ink absorber from leaking out of the container at least when the image recording apparatus is in a first position and when the image recording apparatus is in a second position, wherein in the first position, the nozzle opening surface is substantially aligned with a horizontal plane, and wherein in the second position, the nozzle opening surface is substantially aligned with a vertical plane.