Patent ID: 7900920

Claim:
An image recording apparatus comprising: a) an image recording part for recording an image on recording media; and b) a recording medium transport device for transporting said recording media stocked in a predetermined stocking part, said recording medium transport device including b-1) a plurality of tables for holding said recording media thereon, b-2) a supply part for supplying said recording media to each of said plurality of tables, b-3) a plurality of linear motor mechanisms for transporting said plurality of tables in a first transport section including at least an area in which said image recording part records an image on said recording media, b-4) an endless transport mechanism for transporting said plurality of tables in at least a second transport section contiguous with said first transport section and capable of transporting said plurality of tables in said first transport section, and b-5) an unused linear motor mechanism determination part for determining an unused linear motor mechanism to be unused for the transport of said plurality of tables from among said plurality of linear motor mechanisms, said plurality of linear motor mechanisms and said endless transport mechanism being provided so that said plurality of tables are used sequentially and circularly for the transport in said first transport section, wherein, when said unused linear motor mechanism is not determined, all of said plurality of linear motor mechanisms are used for the transport of said plurality of tables in said first transport section, and wherein, when said unused linear motor mechanism is determined, said endless transport mechanism is used as an alternative to transport at least one of said plurality of tables which is to be transported in said first transport section but which is able to be transported by none of said plurality of linear motor mechanisms.