Patent ID: 8425000

Claim:
An image recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of heads each of which has an ejection face, the heads being arranged so that their ejection faces make a first array and a second array each of which extends in a first direction and comprises a plurality of ejection faces of respective heads, and ejection faces belonging to the different arrays do not overlap each other with respect to a second direction parallel to the ejection faces and perpendicular to the first direction; a conveyance mechanism configured to convey a recording medium in the first direction in a state that the recording medium is facing the ejection faces; a plurality of caps configured to contact with the respective ejection faces to cover the ejection faces; and a moving mechanism configured to move the caps, along the second direction, between capping positions where the caps are opposed to the respective ejection faces with respect to a third direction perpendicular to the ejection faces, and withdrawal positions where the caps are not opposed to the respective ejection faces with respect to the third direction, when the caps are at their withdrawal positions, the caps corresponding to the respective heads constituting the first array being disposed so as to overlap the heads of the first array with respect to the second direction, and overlap the heads of the second array with respect to the first direction, and the caps corresponding to the respective heads constituting the second array being disposed so as to overlap the heads of the second array with respect to the second direction, and overlap the heads of the first array with respect to the first direction, wherein the moving mechanism is configured to move the caps corresponding to the respective heads constituting the first array from their withdrawal positions to their capping positions in the second direction and the moving mechanism is configured to move the caps corresponds to the respective heads constituting the second array from their withdrawal positions to their capping positions in a direction opposite of the second direction.