Patent ID: 7771038

Claim:
A printing apparatus for forming a dot in a desired position of a printing sheet by ejecting an ink droplet from a nozzle, comprising: a static electricity eliminating mechanism, which eliminates static electricity generated on the printing sheet by a conductive portion that is arranged in a position to which the ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle or an upstream side of such position on a path through which the printing sheet passes; wherein the conductive portion is formed in at least one of a sheet feed roller and an idle, roller that carries the printing sheet; wherein the sheet feed roller or the idle roller comprises a conductive rod-shaped member having an insulating coating on a surface thereof; wherein the sheet feed roller or the idle roller comprises stripped-off portions where the insulating coating is stripped off so as to expose the conductive rod-shaped member; wherein the stripped-off portions are configured to substantially eliminate static electricity of the printing sheet; wherein the insulating coating is configured to apply a friction force between the sheet feed roller or the idle roller and the printing sheet; wherein the friction force is substantially uniform in a longitudinal direction of the sheet feed roller or the idle roller; wherein the stripped-off portions are configured to transfer static electricity of the printing sheet to the conductive rod-shaped member; and wherein the stripped-off portions are configured such that the conductive rod-shaped member contacts the printing sheet during operation of the printing apparatus.