Patent ID: 8038151
Filing Date: 2011-10-18
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A medium holding apparatus, comprising: a medium holding device which includes: flow channel forming sections having openings respectively and provided according to a prescribed arrangement pattern on a medium holding surface on which a medium is fixed and held; flow channel control sections each of which adjoins one of the flow channel forming sections in a lengthwise direction of said one of the flow channel forming sections, is connected to said one of the flow channel forming sections, has a smaller cross-sectional area in a first cross-sectional plane taken perpendicularly to the lengthwise direction of said one of the flow channel forming sections than a cross-sectional area of said one of the flow channel forming sections in a second cross-sectional plane taken perpendicularly to the lengthwise direction of said one of the flow channel forming sections, and thereby restricts a flow rate of air flowing in said one of the flow channel forming sections, the medium holding surface having non-opening parts which prevent the flow channel control sections from having openings on the medium holding surface; and a pressure generating section connected to the flow channel forming sections via the flow channel control sections; and a suction pressure generating device which generates suction pressure that is applied to the medium held on the medium holding device.