Patent ID: 7416296
Filing Date: 2008-08-26
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A liquid ejection apparatus comprising: a liquid ejection head having a plurality of nozzles positioned on a liquid ejection surface, the liquid ejection surface located on a bottom end of the liquid ejection head; a platen plate opposing the liquid ejection surface; a recording object supported by the platen plate to receive liquid droplets ejected from the plurality of nozzles; and a conveying unit having a plurality of conveying belts arranged at predetermined intervals in a direction substantially perpendicular to a conveying direction of the recording object along a predetermined route to convey the recording object from a supply side of the liquid ejection head to a discharge side thereof, and within a region where the liquid droplets are ejected from the liquid ejection head, the plurality of conveying belts of the conveying unit is located below a bottom end of the platen plate away from the liquid ejection heads, wherein, the platen plate includes a plurality of ribs projecting upwardly from the bottom end of the platen plate, the plurality of ribs extend in the conveying direction of the recording object and are arranged at predetermined intervals along a width direction of the recording object, and the bottom end has a crenellated shape such that the plurality of ribs is shorter in depth in portions of the platen plate where the plurality of conveying belts is located below the bottom end of the platen plate, the recording object is supported by upper surfaces of the ribs outside of a region where the ejected liquid droplets land on the ejection object, thereby defining a distance between the recording object and a liquid ejection surface, and the upper surfaces of the ribs are inclined to increase in height in the conveying direction or the ribs do not exist in a region where the ejected liquid droplets land so that the upper surfaces of the ribs are not in contact with the recording object.