Patent ID: 8292422

Claim:
An image recording apparatus comprising: a conveying device having a supporting surface, and configured to convey a recording medium that is supported by said supporting surface, in a conveying direction; a recording head disposed to be opposed to said supporting surface, and configured to record an image on the conveyed recording medium; a nip roller disposed to be opposed to said supporting surface, and is movable to be brought into contact with the conveyed recording medium when the conveyed recording medium has a portion positioned in a contactable position in said conveying direction; a moving device configured to move said nip roller, so as to place said nip roller selectively in a gripping state and a releasing state, such that said nip roller, while being placed in said gripping state, is held in contact with the conveyed recording medium so as to cooperate with said supporting surface to grip the conveyed recording medium therebetween when the conveyed recording medium has a portion positioned in said contactable position, and such that said nip roller, while being placed in said releasing state, is not in contact with the conveyed recording medium even when the conveyed recording medium has a portion positioned in said contactable position; and a controlling device configured to control said moving device such that said nip roller is placed in one of said gripping state and said releasing state which is selected depending on a position of the conveyed recording medium in said conveying direction, wherein said nip roller is moved in a direction that includes a component parallel to said conveying direction, when said nip roller is placed by said moving device from said releasing state to said gripping state.