Patent ID: 9004671
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a conveyor configured to convey a recording medium through a conveyance path in a conveyance direction; a first applicator configured to apply a first liquid to the recording medium that is conveyed by the conveyor; and a second applicator disposed downstream of the first applicator in the conveyance direction and configured to apply a second liquid to the recording medium that is conveyed by the conveyor, wherein the first liquid acts on the second liquid, causing one of coagulation and precipitation of a component of the second liquid, wherein the first applicator is configured to eject the first liquid on the recording medium such that a landing position of the first liquid is a same position on which the second liquid ejected from the second applicator lands, wherein the conveyor comprises: a first pair of rollers, a second pair of rollers, and at least one third pair of rollers each having an upper roller and a lower roller between which the recording medium is held, the second pair of rollers being disposed adjacent to and downstream of the first pair of rollers in the conveyance direction, and the at least one third pair of rollers being disposed upstream of the first pair of rollers in the conveyance direction, wherein the second applicator is disposed between the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers, and wherein the first pair of rollers and the at least one third pair of rollers constitute a plurality of upstream-side pairs of rollers disposed upstream of the second pair of rollers in the conveyance direction, wherein a distance by which respective adjacent two upper rollers of adjacent two of the plurality of upstream-side pairs of rollers are spaced apart from each other in the conveyance direction is larger than a distance by which the upper roller of the first pair of rollers and the upper roller of the second pair of rollers are spaced apart from each other in the conveyance direction, and a distance by which respective adjacent two lower rollers of the adjacent two of the plurality of upstream-side pairs of rollers are spaced apart from each other in the conveyance direction is larger than a distance by which the lower roller of the first pair of rollers and the lower roller of the second pair of rollers are spaced apart from each other in the conveyance direction, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a first guide member and a second guide member each configured to guide the recording medium, the first guide member being disposed between first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers, and the second guide member being disposed between the adjacent two of the plurality of upstream-side pairs of rollers, wherein a length of the second guide member in the conveyance direction is larger than that of the first guide member in the conveyance direction.