Patent ID: 8308287
Filing Date: 2012-11-13
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image recording apparatus comprising: a transfer unit having a transfer surface for holding a recording medium and configured to transfer the recording medium held on the transfer surface; a recording head opposed to the transfer unit and configured to record images on the recording medium transferred by the transfer unit; at least one suction-force changing unit configured to draw the recording medium; a support member provided at substantially the same height as the transfer surface of the transfer unit and supporting the suction-force changing unit; and a suction unit configured to draw the recording medium to a surface of the support member, via the suction-force changing unit, wherein: the suction-force changing unit includes an air passage unit that includes an opening area, and enables air to be drawn from the recording medium side to the suction unit side, and a valve that opens or closes the opening area of the air passage unit in accordance with a pressure difference between the recording medium side and the suction unit side; the valve closes the air passage unit, setting the opening area of the air passage unit to value B (0<B), when the pressure in the suction unit side is lower than the pressure at the recording medium side, and opens the air passage unit, setting the opening area of the air passage unit to value A (B<A), when the pressure at the recording medium side approaches the pressure in the suction unit side; and the suction-force changing unit draws air from the recording medium side to the suction unit side through the air passage unit having the opening area B, thereby opening the valve that closes the air passage unit because the pressure in the suction unit side is lower than the pressure at the recording medium side, thus lowering the pressure at the recording medium side toward the pressure in the suction unit side.