Patent ID: 8152296

Claim:
A vacuum platen mechanism, comprising: a platen surface disposed opposite a fluid droplet discharge head; and a vacuum mechanism that creates suction to draw recording paper to the platen surface; wherein the platen surface includes a first suction area positioned approximately in a center of the platen surface in a width direction that is perpendicular to a direction in which the recording paper is conveyed, the first suction area including a plurality of first ribs extending in the recording paper transportation direction and a plurality of second ribs extending in the width direction defining a plurality of first chambers arranged in a grid layout, the first suction area defining a plurality of rectangular-shaped first suction holes, each rendered in a respective one of the first chambers, and a second suction area on each side of the first suction area, the second suction area defining a plurality of second suction holes that are non-rectangular-shaped, arranged in a different layout than the first suction holes, or both.