A service station device for an ink-jet printer wherein a case is disposed at a service area of the ink jet printer, and a capping member is moved along first guide slots formed at the case by a carriage moved to the service area. A wiping member is moved along second guide slots and along a slope guiding surface of a pair of guide plates of the case by the capping member, and the wiping member has a wiper for cleaning a surface of the nozzle while the nozzle is moved toward a printing area and the cap is returned to an initial position thereof. The wiping member is held in a position for cleaning the nozzle by a locking member moved together with the wiping member. The locking member is locked into a locker provided in the case, and returned to an initial position thereof by an elastic member of which one end is secured to the case when the carriage is moved to the printing area.