JP2002283588A - Waste ink tank for ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve reliability and safety in housing a waste ink. SOLUTION: An ink absorption body 2 made of, for example, a high polymer porous material having a high water absorption property is housed in a waste ink tank 1 and an ink discharge tube 3 is loaded on the ink absorption body 2 so as to equally partition the ink absorption body 2. The ink discharge tube 3 has multiple holes 3b arranged in the longitudinal direction and the waste ink discharged by an ejection recovering mechanism is introduced into the waste ink tank 1 from a connection hole 3a so that the waste ink is uniformly absorbed to the ink absorption body 2. A waste ink quantity detecting chamber 9 has a waste ink detecting means 10 for detecting presence or absence of the waste ink and detecting a quantity of the waste ink in the waste ink tank 1. The waste ink detecting means 10 is independently attached to a recorder to be separated from the waste ink tank 1 and it is positioned to the waste ink quantity detecting chamber 9 of the waste ink tank 1 when the waste ink tank is replaced so that it is possible to detect the quantity of the waste ink in the waste ink tank 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waste ink tank for an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly, to a method for processing waste ink in a short time and maintaining the reliability of waste ink suction even when used for a long time. The present invention relates to a structure of a waste ink tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an ink jet recording apparatus, recording is not performed for a long period of time and the recording head is not used, or the recording head is installed in a low-humidity environment for a long period of time. Viscosity increases. Ink with increased adhesion in this way and dust adhering to the nozzle surface of the head, etc.,
In some cases, clogging occurred in the ink ejection ports of the recording head. In order to eliminate these inconveniences, the ink jet recording apparatus usually discharges the thickened ink under pressure from inside the discharge port of the recording head, or sucks the ink through a cap for covering and protecting the recording head discharge port. And an ejection recovery mechanism for removing the thickened ink. Waste ink generated during the ejection recovery process is stored in a predetermined waste ink tank detachably attached to the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a waste ink tank of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus. In FIG. 12, an ink cartridge 22 containing four kinds of inks corresponding to color recording respectively has a recording head 23 corresponding to each. To supply ink. Ink is sucked from the recording head 23 by a suction pump 25 provided in the ejection recovery device, and the sucked waste ink is sent to a waste ink pipe 26.
And is collected by a waste ink absorber provided in the waste ink tank 21. In such a replaceable waste ink tank 21, the waste ink tank 21 is replaced according to a predetermined amount of waste ink or consumption of the ink tank. Generally, inside the waste ink tank 21, laminated paper, a porous or fibrous absorbent, a high-molecular absorbent polymer, etc. (for example, starch-based, acrylic acid, etc.) are provided in accordance with the shape of the waste ink tank 21. Grafted heavy compound, polychlorinated chlorine polymer, vinyl alcohol chlorinated acrylic polymer, PVA-based polymer, isobutylene-maleic anhydride-based polymer), and stabilizes the adsorption of collected waste ink by using the absorbing power of liquid. A waste ink recovery method has been adopted. As replaceable waste ink tanks, there are a type in which the waste ink tank can be replaced independently and a type in which the cartridge and the waste ink tank are integrated.

FIG. 13 shows another conventional system in which the waste ink tank is replaced alone. In FIG. 13, the waste ink tank 30 filled with the waste ink absorber 31 is always used.
A holding member 33 attached to the holding spring 32 is pressed against and fixed to the waste ink container fixing frame 34 by a spring force, and can be removed by moving the holding member 32 against the spring force. It has become.

FIG. 14 shows still another system in which a conventional cartridge and a waste ink tank are integrally housed.
In the drawing, the ink cartridge 30 is integrally stored in a waste ink tank 43 so that an ink set 41 containing ink and a waste ink absorber 42 are stacked. In this method, some of the ink cartridges 30 are replaced at the same time as the waste ink tank 43 in accordance with the consumption of the ink in the waste ink tank 43.

However, in the prior art shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the waste ink is not diffused from a portion where the waste ink is first absorbed to another portion in the vicinity of the opening of the waste ink tank. And because it does not absorb the next waste ink,
It took time to adsorb the waste ink. In the vicinity of the opening, the waste ink is repeatedly absorbed, evaporated, and dried. As the concentration of the waste ink increases, if the concentration further increases, the ink dye precipitates and the absorbing ability of the waste ink deteriorates. Come. As a result, even when the portion of the absorber located sufficiently away from the opening is in an unused state, the absorbing and diffusing ability becomes insufficient near the opening, and the function of absorbing waste ink cannot be performed at all. There is. That is, even if the waste ink tank as a whole has sufficient absorption capacity, the waste ink may not be collected, and the waste ink may flow out to the outside.

In view of this point, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 3-227658 proposes a waste ink tank having a water absorbing member having a high ink suction speed and a water retaining member having a high ink suction holding force in the waste ink tank. ing. In this waste ink tank, the function of the absorber is divided into two parts, that is, a water-retentive member such as a laminated paper having a large ink-suction and holding power and a water-absorbent member such as a blotter paper having a high ink-suction speed.
The above problems were solved. However, the same problem occurs when repeated evaporation and drying are performed, or when the waste ink tank is sufficiently enlarged. This is especially true
If the waste ink tank is not a regular replacement part but is of a type that is provided in the printing apparatus main body, it remains as a problem.

Further, when only the waste ink tank is replaced independently, it is necessary to appropriately notify the user of the replacement time. Furthermore, in the case of a type in which the waste ink is provided in the recording apparatus main body, it is necessary to detect the state of the waste ink tank, and to return to a normal state when an abnormal state occurs.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a waste ink tank that enhances the reliability and safety of storing waste ink in the waste ink tank. It is a thing.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides: (1) an ink absorbing device which has at least one waste ink amount detecting chamber and absorbs waste ink discharged from a recording means; A body is loaded except for the waste ink amount detection chamber, and a waste ink tank for storing waste ink. A waste ink detecting means for detecting the amount of waste ink in the waste ink tank when the waste ink tank is replaced and installed in the recording device separately from the waste ink tank, It is located in the detection chamber, and the amount of waste ink in the waste ink tank can be detected. (2) In the above (1), the replacement operation of replacing and mounting the waste ink tank allows the waste ink detection means Waste ink tank Cleaning the waste ink adhering to the waste ink detecting means with replacement of the waste ink tank by allowing the ink absorber loaded in the ink tank to come into contact with the ink absorber. In the ink absorber loaded in the waste ink tank, a substantial cut or groove is provided along the slide direction of replacement mounting of the waste ink tank, and the cut or groove of the ink absorber and the waste ink are provided. The detection means can be contacted on multiple surfaces,
With the replacement mounting of the waste ink tank, cleaning the waste ink attached to the waste ink detection means,
Further, (4) in the above (1), it has at least one waste ink detecting means and a waste ink evaporating means for heating and evaporating the waste ink, Activating the waste ink evaporating means based on the detection signal. (5) In (1), at least a part of the casing of the waste ink tank is provided with a radiator plate for cooling a heat source of the recording apparatus. It is characterized in that it also serves. Hereinafter, a description will be given based on examples of the present invention.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an example of a waste ink tank for an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a waste ink tank, and 2 denotes an ink absorber. Reference numeral 3 denotes a waste ink discharge tube.

The waste ink tank 1 is a housing attached below a discharge recovery mechanism (not shown) of the ink jet recording apparatus, and has an ink absorber 2 loaded therein.
The ink absorber 2 is a material having high water absorbency, for example, a felt material, a laminated paper, a polymer porous material, or a water absorbent resin, and these are used alone or in combination. In addition, these may be loaded into a plurality of parts that are divided according to the shape of the waste tank 1.

Inside the waste ink tank 1, a waste ink discharge tube 3 having a number of openings 3b in the longitudinal direction is provided.
Preferably, it is swirled so as to pass through the waste ink tank 1 evenly. The waste ink discharge tube 3 is connected to a suction pump (not shown) for discharge recovery to introduce waste ink into the waste ink discharge tube 3, but in FIG.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a replaceable waste tank 1 having a and a recorder that can be separated from the recorder main body. Connected directly.

In FIG. 1, a waste ink discharge tube 3
Is turned around the inside of the waste ink tank 1 from the connecting portion 3a to the side facing the connecting portion 3a, but as shown in FIG. 1, the waste ink tube is formed by a single tube. Or a combination of a plurality of tubes.

FIG. 2 is a plan view for explaining another example of the waste ink tank to which the present invention is applied. The waste ink discharge tube 3 has, for example, a large number of openings 3b in the longitudinal direction. Waste ink discharge tubes 3-2, 3-3, and 3
-4 are disposed in parallel in the waste ink tank 1, and one end thereof is connected so as to be branched from the connection pipe 3-1 communicating with the connection port 3a. The pipe diameter, arrangement, and opening 3a
The waste ink can be evenly discharged by the selection.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are partially enlarged views for explaining the shape and arrangement of the opening of the waste ink discharge tube, and FIG. 3A shows that the shape of the opening 3b is square. In FIG. 3B, the openings 3b are circular in shape and the openings are alternately and evenly formed in the tube wall in the longitudinal direction.

As described above, when a large number of openings 3b are opened in the longitudinal direction, the ejection recovery mechanism operates, and when the ejection recovery process is executed, waste ink is generated at that time, and the waste ink is discharged through the waste ink discharge tube. Is absorbed and collected by the ink absorber, but if there is no opening 3b, the waste ink discharge tube 3
If a large amount of waste ink is discharged from the ink, the time required for the ink absorber 2 to adsorb the waste ink is exceeded, and the processing cannot be completed. However, even in that case, since the waste ink discharge tube 3 has a plurality of openings 3b in the longitudinal direction, the first ink outlet tube 3 is opened at a position closest to the connection port 3a.
If the absorption of the absorber at the opening 3b is delayed, the waste ink flows further to the second, third,... Opening 3b, and the ink near the second, third,. Absorbent absorption is performed by the absorber 2. Further, when the waste ink is repeatedly absorbed and evaporated and dried after long-term use, the opening 3
b, the absorption capacity deteriorates. In this case, even if the absorption of the ink absorber 2 by the first opening 3b becomes impossible, the second, third,. The ink is absorbed near 3b.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view for explaining an example of a fixed waste ink tank, and FIG. 5 is an assembly view of FIG.
In the figure, 4 is a waste ink tank, 5 is an ink absorber, and 6 is a discharge tube.

When the degree of freedom in shape design is small because the waste ink tank is constructed and arranged using the empty space of the recording apparatus, a waste ink discharge tube having only one opening has a waste ink discharge tube. If the shape of the tank is complicated, there is a problem that the waste ink cannot be collected before the waste ink is effectively absorbed by the ink absorber in the waste ink tank to the back.

The waste ink tank shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 eliminates the disadvantages of the conventional fixed waste ink tank described above, and the waste ink tank 4 has, for example, a U-shaped planar shape. are doing. In the waste ink tank 4, rectangular parallelepiped ink absorbers 5a, 5b and 5c which are divided according to the shape are loaded. Ink absorbers 5a, 5b and 5c
Cut grooves 5d, 5e and 5 each open at the upper end face.
f is disposed, and a waste ink discharge tube 6 that opens the opening 6a in the longitudinal direction is fitted. Waste ink discharge tube 6
One end of the opening 4 is formed at one end of the waste ink tank 4.
Section a is connected to a suction pump for discharge recovery.

The fixed waste ink tank shown in the drawing can be selected in an arbitrary shape because it is installed in a recording apparatus using an empty space. Further, the waste ink discharge tube 6 and the plurality of openings 6b provided therein effectively utilize the ink absorber 5 throughout the waste ink tank 4 having a complicated shape.
Can work. Also, at this time, the waste ink discharge tube 6 is in direct communication with a discharge recovery mechanism (not shown), and there is no relay point or connection point on the way, so that there is no danger of liquid leakage. At this time, the ink absorber 5 is adjusted according to the waste ink tank 4 having a complicated shape.
What is necessary is just to divide appropriately. Further, as shown in the figure, cut grooves 5d to 5f for holding tubes may be provided in the ink absorber in accordance with the tubes for discharging waste ink.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of the holding means of the ink absorber in FIG. 5, wherein 7 is a lid and 8 is a holding member.

In FIG. 5, the waste ink discharge tube 6 is buried in the cut grooves 5d to 5f provided in the ink absorber 6, but is attached along the shape to the lid 7 of the waste ink tank 4 in FIG. The holding member 8 has a U-shaped holding member 8 and is elastically held between the opening arms 8a.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view for explaining one embodiment of the waste ink tank according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a plan view.
In the figure, 9 is a waste ink detection chamber, 10 is a waste ink detection means,
Numeral 11 denotes a lid, and portions having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

The waste ink tank shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has a waste ink amount detection chamber 9 disposed therein, and the waste ink tank 1 has an ink absorber 2 loaded therein. An empty chamber 2a for installing a waste ink amount detection chamber 9 for detecting the amount of waste ink is opened in a part thereof. Ink absorber 2
In this case, the waste ink is absorbed and collected. However, when the amount of waste ink increases, the amount of waste ink exceeds the amount that can be absorbed by the ink absorber 2, and eventually overflows. This overflow occurs first in the waste ink amount detection chamber 9. By providing the waste ink amount detection chamber 9, by detecting the waste ink flowing into the waste ink amount detection chamber 9, it is possible to know the collection state of the waste ink in the waste ink tank.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the waste ink detecting means 10 includes two electrodes 10 provided in a waste ink amount detecting chamber 9.
The detection is performed based on the change in the electric resistance value and the change in the electric capacity between the points a and 10b. However, only the detection unit 10 may be installed in the recording apparatus main body.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the waste ink tank according to the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a waste ink detecting unit. In FIG. Is a groove, and the parts which operate in the same way as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 are given the same reference numerals as in FIG.

The detecting means shown in FIG.
Is installed in the main body of the recording apparatus so that the waste ink is detected by the detection electrodes 10c and 10d provided in the main body of the recording apparatus. Sometimes, the detection means 10 does not need to be discarded at the same time, so that not only a low-cost simple detection method considering disposable but also various methods can be selected. In addition, it is economical because it is not discarded.

When the waste ink tank 1 collects a sufficiently large amount of waste ink and the detecting means 10 detects the overflowed ink, depending on the structure of the detecting means such as the electrodes 10c and 10d, the waste ink is discharged. Contact the detection means directly. Even if this is left as it is and replaced with a new waste ink tank, there is a high possibility that the detecting means malfunctions.
In order to eliminate such erroneous operation, it is necessary to clean the detection means in connection with the attachment / detachment operation when replacing the waste ink tank.

In the waste ink tank 1 shown in FIG. 9, when the waste ink tank 1 is replaced, cleaning of the detecting means can be performed. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 11 denotes a lid of the waste ink tank 1, and 11a denotes the lid
And 12 are grooves provided through the ink absorber 2 and the wall surface of the waste ink tank from the waste ink detection chamber 9 toward the recording apparatus main body where the detection means 10 is installed.
When pulling out the waste ink tank for replacement and installing a new waste ink tank, the electrode 10
By exchanging c and 10d through these grooves, cleaning is performed by moving the detection electrodes 10c and 10d while being elastically pressed against the ink absorber 2.

As described above, the cleaning of the detecting means 10 is performed by replacing the absorber 2, which is provided in the waste ink tank 1 and also serves as cleaning, with the replacement of the waste ink tank 1.
It is preferable that the detection is performed by bringing the detection means 10 into contact with the detection means 10. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 7, at the time of replacing the waste ink tank 1, the waste ink absorber 2 also functions as a cleaning absorber, without increasing the number of parts and reducing costs. It is optimal because it does not invite up. Generally, about 80 to 95% of the water-soluble ink used in the ink jet recording apparatus is composed of water. Accordingly, the absorption function of the waste ink collected in the ink absorber 2 in the waste ink tank 1 can be sufficiently recovered by evaporating the water.

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining still another embodiment of the present invention in which waste ink is detected by using a photosensor. FIG. FIG. 11 (b) is a perspective view when the detection absorber is being inserted, and FIG. 11 (b) is a cross-sectional view after the waste ink detection absorber has been inserted. As shown in the figure, a waste ink detecting absorber 9 is inserted into a waste ink detection chamber 9 and a photo sensor 10f is provided above the sensor. Photo sensor 10f
Is composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element (not shown). Light emitted from the light emitting element is reflected by the waste ink detecting absorber 10e, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving element. The amount of ink absorbed by the ink detection absorber 10e can be known.

That is, when waste ink flows into the waste ink detection chamber 9, the color of the waste ink detection absorber 10e changes, and the amount of reflected light changes.
By detecting the change in the light amount by f, the collection state of the waste ink in the waste ink tank can be known.

As described above, in the replaceable waste ink tank 1, the replacement may be performed after the detecting means 10 detects that the waste ink recovery amount is over. When the means 10 detects the recovery amount excess, it is necessary to restore the function. If the detecting means 10 at this time is arranged at a plurality of locations to notify the collection state in multiple stages and to execute the operation for function recovery earlier, the recording operation is not interrupted, which is convenient. good. In addition, by recovering the absorption function in the replaceable waste ink tank 1 in the same manner, safety against troubles such as ink leakage can be improved, and the waste ink tank 1 itself can be downsized. .

In the above description, the waste ink is the ink absorber 2
Although it was shown that leakage was safely prevented by absorbing water, it was also possible to process waste ink and recover its function by evaporating the water content of the ink, and the waste ink evaporating means for function recovery was heated. It can be performed by means and blowing means. As the heating means, use of a heater, electromagnetic waves, or a heat source of a recording apparatus can be used. Also,
As the air blowing means, air blowing generated by using a main scanning operation force of a fan or a recording apparatus can be used. By using these means alone or in combination, the absorption function can be recovered by evaporating the water content of the collected waste ink in the operation after detection by the detection means.

If the above-mentioned heating means can be simply and effectively realized at low cost without using a special device, it is preferable to use the heat source of the recording apparatus. This means that heat generated from an electric circuit, a transformer, a motor, and the like necessary for operating the recording apparatus main body is used as a heating source. Usually, these heat sources are provided with a heat sink or the mounting board itself serves as a heat sink. In order to positively use these as the heating means, it is effective that at least a part of the casing of the waste ink tank 1 also serves as the heat radiating plate.

Although the above description has been made with respect to the apparatus fixed to the apparatus main body, the present invention can be applied without any problem to the apparatus in which the waste ink tank 1 moves with the scanning of the carriage. Further, the present invention is applicable not only to a device that forms an image by scanning a carriage, but also to a device equipped with a full-line type recording head having discharge ports provided over the entire width of a recording area of a recording material, as a waste ink tank. Is also possible.

In an apparatus of the type which forms an image by carriage scanning, it is mounted on the main body of the recording apparatus, so that it can be electrically connected to the main body of the recording apparatus and supply ink from the main body of the recording apparatus. A replaceable chip-type recording head, or a cartridge-type recording head provided integrally with the recording head itself, or a cartridge-type recording head further integrated with a waste ink tank, mounted on a carriage The present invention is also effective for a unit in which an ink tank and a waste ink tank that can be exchangeably mounted on a recording head are integrated.

The recording head may be constructed by using an electrothermal transducer or an electric mechanism displacement transducer as an energy source for discharging droplets, using an electrostatic force, or opening and closing a valve by pressurized ink. This is effective in that the recording can be performed reliably and efficiently regardless of the form of the recording head, in addition to the ejection of the recording head.

Further, generation of waste ink and treatment thereof are as follows.
The present invention is effective for a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressurizing or sucking unit, a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from recording, a related operation, a maintenance operation, and the like.

[0041]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects. (1) Effect corresponding to the first aspect: Since the waste ink amount detection chamber is provided at a place where the ink absorber is not loaded, the waste ink recovery state can be detected reliably. Also, since the waste ink detecting means is of a fixed type which is installed in the recording apparatus main body,
Do not use it as a replacement waste part when replacing the waste ink tank.
Further, various methods can be selected as the detection method, which is economical. (2) Effect corresponding to claim 2: Since the waste ink detecting means can be cleaned, the tone quality is improved. (3) Effect corresponding to claim 3: The above (2) can be easily and reliably performed. (4) Effect according to the fourth aspect: It is possible to reliably prevent ink leakage from the waste tank. (5) Effect corresponding to claim 5: The recovery of the waste ink absorbing function of the waste ink tank can effectively utilize and utilize the heat source generated in the recording apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a waste ink tank for an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view for explaining another example of a waste ink tank to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view for explaining another example of a waste ink discharge tube to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view for explaining an example of a fixed waste ink tank to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is an assembly diagram for explaining an example of a fixed waste ink tank to which the present invention is applied.

6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a holding unit of the ink absorber in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view for explaining one embodiment of a waste ink tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view for explaining another embodiment of the waste ink tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the waste ink tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a waste ink detection unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining still another embodiment of the waste ink tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional waste ink tank of an inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 13 shows a conventional system in which a waste ink tank is replaced independently.

FIG. 14 shows a conventional system in which a cartridge and a waste ink tank are housed integrally.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... waste ink tank, 2 ... ink absorber, 3 ... waste ink discharge tube, 4 ... waste ink tank, 5 ... ink absorber, 6 ... discharge tube, 7 ... lid, 8 ... holding member, 9 ...
Waste ink detection chamber, 10: waste ink detection means, 11: lid.

Claims (5)

[Claims] An ink absorber having at least one waste ink amount detection chamber and absorbing waste ink discharged from recording means is loaded except for a part of the waste ink amount detection chamber, and the waste ink is removed. A waste ink tank for accommodating the waste ink; a waste ink detecting means for detecting presence / absence of waste ink in the waste ink amount detection chamber and detecting a waste ink amount in the waste ink tank; Separated from the tank and installed independently in the recording apparatus, when the waste ink tank is replaced and mounted, it is located in the waste ink amount detection chamber of the waste ink tank, and the amount of waste ink in the waste ink tank can be detected. A waste ink tank for an ink jet recording apparatus, characterized by comprising: 2. A replacement operation for replacing and mounting a waste ink tank allows the waste ink detecting means and an ink absorber loaded in the waste ink tank to come into contact with each other. 2. The waste ink tank for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste ink attached to the ink detecting means is cleaned. 3. The ink absorber loaded in the waste ink tank is provided with a substantial cut or groove along a sliding direction for replacement mounting of the waste ink tank, and the cut or groove of the ink absorber is formed. 3. The ink-jet apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the waste ink detecting means can be contacted on a plurality of surfaces, and the waste ink attached to the waste ink detecting means is cleaned with replacement of the waste ink tank. Waste ink tank for recording devices. 4. At least one waste ink detecting means,
Waste ink evaporating means for heating and evaporating the waste ink,
2. The waste ink tank for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the waste ink amount is detected to be equal to or more than a predetermined amount, the waste ink evaporating means is operated based on the detection signal. 5. The waste ink tank for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of a casing of the waste ink tank also serves as a heat radiating plate for cooling a heat source of the recording apparatus.