Patent ID: 7857419

Claim:
An image recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of liquid ejection heads respectively having ejection faces which are arranged in such a manner that the ejection faces form two rows extending in one direction and in addition two of the ejection faces included in different rows do not overlap each other along a direction perpendicular to the one direction with respect to an in-plane direction of the ejection faces, the plurality of liquid ejection heads being divided into a plurality of head groups each including two of the liquid ejection heads corresponding to the different rows; a recording medium conveyance mechanism which conveys a recording medium in the one direction while making the recording medium opposed to the ejection faces; a plurality of wipers which wipe the ejection faces of the liquid ejection heads; and a movement mechanism which moves two of the wipers for wiping two ejection faces of the two liquid ejection heads belonging to each head group, in opposite directions with respect to the perpendicular direction while keeping the two wipers in contact with the ejection faces, wherein, when in a wiper withdrawal position not opposed to the ejection face, the wiper associated with one of the liquid ejection heads belonging to each head group is positioned so as to overlap the one liquid ejection head along the perpendicular direction and in addition overlap the other of the liquid ejection heads along the one direction, while, when in the wiper withdrawal position, the wiper associated with the other liquid ejection head is positioned so as to overlap the other liquid ejection head along the perpendicular direction and in addition overlap the one liquid ejection head along the one direction.