A recovery system comprises a cap means for covering the discharging ports of a recording head to perform recording by discharging ink, and a wiper assembly for wiping the discharging port face of the recording head, the wiper assembly being a large-sized wiping member and a small-sized wiping member, wherein the small-sized wiping member is first in contact with the discharging port face of the recording head. A guide member guides the recording head and the cap at the time of mating and a holder holds the recording head and cap, which holder holds the recording head and said cap in such a manner that they can relatively be displaced in the direction crossing the contacting direction thereof. A cap unit with the cap and wiper assembly can be rotated within a rotational area of the recording head. Wiping by the wiper assembly is performed in such a manner that following the rotation of the recording head, the small-sized wiping member is first in contact therewith and subsequently, the large-sized wiping member is in contact therewith.