Patent ID: 8419180

Claim:
A fixed material transportation apparatus comprising: a transportation surface on which a fixed material is transported in a transportation direction while being sucked, a pair of delivery rollers located upstream of the transportation surface in the transportation direction, and a pair of discharging rollers located downstream of the transportation surface in the transportation direction, wherein the transportation surface includes: a first surface including an area where liquid is ejected from a head to the fixed material; a second surface located downstream of the first surface in the transportation direction; and a step portion through which the first surface is connected to the second surface, wherein the second surface is formed such that the fixed material is transported on the transportation surface at the second surface, wherein the first surface extends to the step portion, wherein, in the transportation direction, a length of the second surface is longer than a length of the first surface, wherein a plurality of sucking holes are formed on the first surface and the second surface, wherein the second surface is disposed between the step portion and the pair of discharging rollers, and wherein the second surface is planar over the entire length thereof in the transportation direction.