Patent ID: 8491090

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a recording head having an array of nozzles disposed on a nozzle face of the recording head to eject liquid droplets from the nozzles, the nozzle face of the recording head arranged vertically in the image forming apparatus; a suction cap to cover the nozzle face of the recording head, the suction cap having a contact portion to contact the nozzle face of the recording head; a cap holder movable relative to the recording head to movably hold the suction cap, the cap holder having: an elastic member connected to the suction cap; and a guide member to slidably contact a lower outer wall of the recording head; an induction member provided between a lower inner wall of the cap holder and a lower outer wall of the suction cap to receive liquid dropping from the suction cap; and a discharge channel connected to the induction member through which the liquid retained by the induction member is discharged externally, wherein the suction cap is first removed from the nozzle face of the recording head while the induction member still remains in contact with the nozzle face of the recording head so that the induction member receives liquid dropping from the suction cap upon retraction of the cap holder from the recording head.