US Patent 8038256 Discharging apparatus and removing method

When different liquids are charged in a plurality of nozzles, the liquids are drawn by suction or pushed out reliably from the nozzles, so that the liquids collected by suction or pushing out can be reused. For this purpose, a removing unit, which has a cap that operates to cover nozzle discharge ports and to come into tight contact with a head, is provided. Suction is performed from each nozzle separately. Different collection tubes and collection tanks are provided for the removing unit. A liquid having the same liquid composition is accumulated in one collection tank for the same liquid composition via the collection tube of a liquid channel for the same liquid composition.