An image forming apparatus includes recording heads, a maintenance device, a carriage, cap members, cams, a cam shaft, a feeler member, a home position detection device, and a cap position determination device. The feeler member has a first portion to detect a home position of the cam shaft with the home position detection device and a second portion to determine with the cap position determination device whether the cap members are at a raised position or a lowered position. When the cap position determination device determines that a suction cap is at the raised position, the suction cap is lowered to the lowered position before the carriage mounting the recording heads moves for scanning in a first direction. When the cap position determination device determines that the suction cap is at the lowered position, the carriage is permitted to move to a print start position.