US Patent 7467845 Image forming apparatus

The image forming apparatus comprises: a discharging head which has a nozzle surface on which nozzles for discharging liquid droplets are formed; a medium supporting device which supports a recording medium, the medium supporting device being disposed in a position opposing the nozzle surface of the discharging head, the medium supporting device including a liquid collecting device having inclined surfaces along which liquid entering from a side of the discharging head is slidable downwards, and openings formed at bases of the inclined surfaces and connecting to a rear surface of the medium supporting device; and a suctioning device which suctions the liquid through the openings in the liquid collecting device.