Patent ID: 8721039
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a print head, including nozzle heads, configured to discharge ink droplets upward and movable between an image forming area in which images are formed on a recording medium and an idle discharge area in which idle discharge of the ink droplets is performed to clean the nozzles; an endless belt ink receiving member, disposed above the print head in the idle discharge area in which the print head performs idle discharge and configured to hold the idly-discharged ink; an ink receiving member driver operatively connected to the ink receiving member to circularly drive the ink receiving member; and a cleaner disposed downstream of the idle discharge area in the direction of rotation of the ink receiving member and configured to remove the ink from the ink receiving member, wherein when the print head is disposed in the idle discharge area, a distance between the ink receiving member and the nozzle heads is less than 5 mm, and a controller configured to control the apparatus such that the ink receiving member and the nozzle heads which are configured to discharge the ink droplets upward towards the ink receiving member move relative to each other during the idle discharge of the ink droplets.