Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus includes a maintenance device configured to minimize the occupied space. The maintenance device includes a movable cap carriage supporting a cap and including two guide pins. The cap is engageable with an ink jet head of the ink jet printing apparatus. A cover surrounds the cap carriage and includes two guide slots receiving the two guide pins of the cap carriage, respectively. When a printing carriage engages a printing carriage engaging member of the maintenance device, the guide pins are caused to ride in the guide slots, enabling the movable cap carriage to be shifted from a recessed position to an engaged position where the cap engages the ink jet head. The two guide slots are inclined at different angles to minimize the frictional resistance during the shift from the recessed position to the engaged position.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus includes a maintenance device configured to minimize the occupied space. The maintenance device includes a movable cap carriage supporting a cap and including two guide pins. The cap is engageable with an ink jet head of the ink jet printing apparatus. A cover surrounds the cap carriage and includes two guide slots receiving the two guide pins of the cap carriage, respectively. When a printing carriage engages a printing carriage engaging member of the maintenance device, the guide pins are caused to ride in the guide slots, enabling the movable cap carriage to be shifted from a recessed position to an engaged position where the cap engages the ink jet head. The two guide slots are inclined at different angles to minimize the frictional resistance during the shift from the recessed position to the engaged position.