Patent ID: 9156264
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting droplets onto the recording medium, said apparatus comprising: (a) a head assembly including (a- (b) a plurality of annular protrusions each of which is to be brought into contact with said head assembly, so as to surround said plurality of nozzles opening in a corresponding one of said nozzle opening surfaces exposed in said head frame, upon contact of each of said annular protrusions with said head assembly; (c) a supporting tray supporting said annular protrusions, and elongated in a supporting-tray longitudinal direction in which each of said nozzle opening surfaces of said recording heads is also elongated, such that a dimension of said supporting tray as measured in the supporting-tray longitudinal direction is larger than a dimension of said supporting tray as measured in a supporting-tray width direction which is perpendicular to the supporting-tray longitudinal direction and which is parallel to an opening surface plane that contains said nozzle opening surfaces, (d) a movement mechanism configured to move at least one of said head assembly and said supporting tray, so as to selectively establish a contact state in which said annular protrusions are in contact with said head assembly and a non-contact state in which said annular protrusions are not in contact with said head assembly; and (e) a first pin projecting from a first pin-located portion of said supporting tray, in a direction perpendicular to the opening surface plane, wherein said first pin-located portion of said supporting tray is outside said annular protrusions that are disposed on said supporting tray, and is located in a center of said supporting tray in the supporting-tray longitudinal direction, wherein said head frame has a first hole, into which said first pin is to be introduced upon contact of each of said annular protrusions with said head assembly, wherein said image recording apparatus further comprising at least one second pin projecting from a second-pin-located portion of said supporting tray in the direction perpendicular to said opening surface plane, wherein said second-pin-located portion is outside said annular protrusions that are disposed on said supporting tray, and is distant from said first pin-located portion, wherein said head frame further comprises at least one second hole, into which said at least one second pin is to be introduced upon contact of each of said annular protrusions with said head assembly, wherein said at least one second hole, into which said at least one second pin is to be introduced, has an elongated-shaped opening that is elongated in an elongated direction, which is parallel to a line passing through said first pin and said at least one second pin when said contact state is being established, wherein each of said first and second pins has a circular cross-sectional shape, wherein said first hole, into which said first pin is to be introduced, has a circular-shaped opening that is different in shape from said elongated-shaped opening of said at least one second hole, wherein said first pin is to be fitted in said first hole, without clearance between said first pin and said first hole, and wherein said at least one second pin is to be introduced in said at least one second hole, with clearance between said at least one second pin and said at least one second hole in said elongated direction.