Patent ID: 8899742
Filing Date: 2014-12-02
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image recording apparatus comprising: a platen configured to receive a sheet conveyed in a conveying direction; a recording head configured to eject ink droplets from nozzles onto the sheet held by the platen; a plurality of first upper contact portions disposed upstream of the nozzles with respect to the conveying direction and spaced apart from each other with respect to a width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and wherein the plurality of upper contact portions are configured to contact an upper surface of the sheet; a first lower contact portion disposed between a pair of first upper contact portions of the plurality of first contact upper portions with respect to the width direction, and wherein the first lower contact portion is configured to contact a lower surface of the sheet to form a corrugated shape in the sheet in conjunction with the plurality of first contact portions; a plurality of second upper contact portions disposed downstream of the nozzles with respect to the conveying direction and spaced apart from each other with respect to the width direction, and wherein the plurality of second upper contact portions are configured to contact the upper surface of the sheet; a second lower contact portion disposed downstream of the recording head with respect to the conveying direction and between a pair of second upper contact portions with respect to the width direction, wherein the second lower contact portion is configured to contact the lower surface of the sheet to form a corrugated shape in the sheet in conjunction with the plurality of second upper contact portions; a plurality of third upper contact portions disposed downstream of the second lower contact portion and the plurality of second upper contact portions with respect to the conveying direction and spaced apart from each other with respect to the width direction, wherein the plurality of third upper contact portions are configured to contact the upper surface of the sheet; a third lower contact portion disposed downstream of the second lower contact portion and the plurality of second upper contact portions with respect to the conveying direction and between a pair of third upper contact portions with respect to the width direction, wherein the third lower contact portion is configured to contact the lower surface of the sheet to form a corrugated shape in the sheet in conjunction with the plurality of third upper contact portions, the third lower contact portion comprising a drive roller disposed below a following roller; and a guide member disposed outside of each side of the drive roller with respect to the width direction, the guide member configured to guide the sheet to a nip point of the drive roller and the following roller and to rotate about a shaft of the drive roller, wherein the image recording apparatus further comprises a defining member configured to define a part of a conveying path, wherein the guide member is a part of the defining member, and wherein none of the plurality of third upper contact portions is disposed at a position, with respect to the width direction, corresponding to each endmost first upper contact portion of the plurality of first upper contact portions with respect to the width direction.