Recording medium transport device and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a recording medium transport device;
• and
• a platen disposed to face a nozzle surface of an ink-jet recording head at a downstream side in a recording medium transport direction;
• wherein the recording medium transport device comprises:
• a transport roller unit that nips a recording medium and transports the recording medium in a recording medium transport direction to a recording area, the transport roller unit including a transport roller and plural pinch rollers for nipping and transporting the recording medium;
• an integrally formed pinch roller holder body that pivotally supports the plural pinch rollers to be pressed to the transport roller, the pinch roller holder body including;
• a base portion that is immovably fixed to a frame;
• plural support portions for supporting the plural pinch rollers respectively;
• plural intermediate portions located between the base portion and the support portions, the intermediate portions being smaller in thickness than the base portion and the support portions and elongating in a direction orthogonal to the recording medium transport direction;
• and
• plural urging units directly contacting the plural support portions respectively for elastically urging a tip side of each of the plural support portions toward the transport roller.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a transport roller unit that nips a recording medium and transports it to a recording area, the transport roller unit including a transport roller and plural pinch rollers;
• a frame including a standing wall disposed at an upstream side of the transport roller unit in a recording medium transport direction and plural spring support pieces, each individually and separately extending from the standing wall to a downstream side in the recording medium transport direction;
• a pinch roller holder body including a base portion to be attached to the standing wall and plural support portions extending from the base portion to the downstream side along a lower surface of the plural spring support pieces respectively and supporting the plural pinch rollers respectively;
• and
• an urging spring body including a pair of press foot portions and a center portion connecting the press foot portions, the urging spring body being astride the plural spring support pieces and one of the plural support portions to press one of the plural support portions toward the transport roller by the press foot portions.

A recording medium transport device comprising:

• a transport roller supported by a frame;
• a holder having a fixed end, a plurality of free ends and a plurality of extending portions each extending between the fixed end and a respective one of the plurality of free ends, and the fixed end being immovably fixed to the frame, each of the plurality of extending portions having a thickness-reduced portion being smaller in thickness than the fixed end and a respective one of the plurality of free ends;
• a plurality of pinch rollers each supported by a respective one of the plurality of free ends;
• a plurality of springs directly contacting and urging the extending portions at first positions between the thickness-reduced portions and the free ends to thereby urge the plurality of pinch rollers toward the transport roller.