Transport apparatus, image recording apparatus and transport method

An image recording apparatus comprising:

• a transport apparatus for transporting an elongated strip-shaped recording medium along the length thereof;
• and
• a recording head for recording an image on a surface of said recording medium transported by said transport apparatus,
• said transport apparatus including
• a detector for detecting a widthwise position of said recording medium,
• a correction mechanism for correcting the widthwise position of said recording medium, based on a detection result from said detector, and
• a meandering attenuator for attenuating the periodic meandering of said recording medium in a position upstream or downstream of said correction mechanism as seen in a transport direction,
• said meandering attenuator including a plurality of attenuation rollers rotating while being in contact with said recording medium.

A method of transporting an elongated strip-shaped recording medium along the length thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) detecting a widthwise position of said recording medium;
• b) correcting the widthwise position of said recording medium in a correction position, based on a detection result obtained in said step a);
• and
• c) attenuating the periodic meandering of said recording medium in a position upstream or downstream of said correction position as seen in a transport direction,
• wherein a plurality of attenuation rollers are rotated while being in contact with said recording medium in said step c).