JP2006192732A - Inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fully secure a waste ink storage part which stores waste ink generated by the recovery operation in a compact inkjet recorder. <P>SOLUTION: In addition to a first waste ink storage member, the waste ink is stored also in a waste ink storage space of frameless recording within a platen which is a second waste ink storage part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a recording unit toward a recording material (recording medium).

  Recording devices with functions such as printers, copiers, facsimiles, etc., or recording devices used as output devices such as composite electronic devices including computers and word processors, and workstations, such as paper and plastic thin plates based on image information An image is recorded on a recording material (recording medium). The recording apparatus can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type, and the like according to a recording method.

  In a serial type recording apparatus that employs a serial scanning method in which main scanning is performed in a direction crossing the recording material conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction), the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and then along the recording material. The recording material is recorded (scanned) by the recording means mounted on the moving carriage, and after recording for one line is finished, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (recording material conveyance), and then the recording material is stopped again. On the other hand, by repeating the operation of recording (scanning) the next image, the entire recording material is recorded. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records only by sub-scanning in the conveyance direction of the recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and after recording for one line at a time, a predetermined amount The entire recording material is recorded by repeating the operation of performing the paper feeding (pitch feeding) and the recording of the next line all at once.

  Among the above recording apparatuses, an ink jet recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, and the recording means can be easily made compact. High-definition images can be recorded at high speed, and can be recorded on plain paper without the need for special processing. The running cost is low, and the non-impact method is low in noise. There is an advantage that it is easy to record a color image using colored ink. Among these, the line type using a full multi-type recording means in which a large number of ejection openings are arranged in the paper width direction can further increase the recording speed.

  In particular, an ink jet recording means (recording head) that discharges ink using thermal energy is subjected to a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, sputtering, and the like, an electrothermal transducer, an electrode, By forming the liquid channel wall, the top plate, etc., it is possible to easily manufacture a device having a high density liquid channel arrangement (discharge port arrangement), and to achieve further compactness.

  Incidentally, in an ink jet recording apparatus, a recovery operation (recovery operation) is generally performed in order to maintain or recover a stable ink ejection function. This recovery operation includes wiping to remove thickened ink and paper dust adhering to the vicinity of the discharge port of the printhead, and supplying fresh ink by removing thickened ink and bubbles in the printhead. For example, preliminary ejection for expelling thickened ink from unused nozzles during suction and printing operations.

  In particular, a large amount of ink is consumed by the suction operation and becomes waste ink. Suction is an operation that forcibly sucks out ink from the discharge port by generating negative pressure, and the recovery device for suction is equipped with a pump, and a so-called tube pump that crushes the tube with a roller or a piston inside the cylinder. A moving piston pump is used.

  Waste ink generated by these recovery operations is guided from the recovery device to a waste ink storage member provided inside the main body, and is held so as not to leak outside. As the waste ink storage member, a sheet member using fibers excellent in capillary absorption and diffusibility with respect to ink is often used.

  FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional inkjet printer.

  The conventional ink jet printer has an automatic paper feeding unit 100 that automatically feeds recording sheets to the in-body conveyance unit 200, and recording sheets that are sent one by one from the automatic paper feeding unit 100 to a desired recording position. A conveyance unit 200 that guides and discharges the recording sheet from the recording position, a discharge unit 300 positioned downstream of the conveyance unit 200, a recording unit 400 that performs desired recording on the recording sheet conveyed to the conveyance unit 200, and a recording unit And a recovery unit 600 that performs a recovery process for 400 and the like, and each mechanism unit is configured substantially integrally with a chassis 701 as a center.

  FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of a recovery device and a waste ink storage member of a conventional ink jet printer.

  In a conventional ink jet printer, as a layout inside the apparatus, a waste ink storage member 645 is arranged on the lower case 4 below the recovery unit 600, and after ink is dropped by gravity, it is diffused into the storage member by the capillary force of the storage member. It is structured to be held while further evaporating.

As another conventional example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 can be cited.
JP 05-096750 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-066875

  However, in recent years, there has been a demand for downsizing and improvement in portability of ink jet recording apparatuses.

  In order to meet this requirement, it is necessary to suppress the height (thickness) of the apparatus main body, and disposing a waste ink storage member under a conventional recovery apparatus increases the height of the apparatus main body, which is not preferable.

  Further, regarding the volume of the waste ink storage member, there is a difference in the number of ejection recovery processes activated for the usage frequency of the recording apparatus and the product life depending on the application of the inkjet recording apparatus and the like. That is, in a recording apparatus intended for use that increases the amount of waste ink, a large-capacity waste ink tank is required, and the volume occupied by the waste ink tank in the apparatus increases. In recent years, the recording speed of an ink jet printer has been increased and the recording image quality has been increased, and the number of nozzles of the recording head has increased, so that the ink flow path volume in the recording head has been increasing year by year.

  On the other hand, however, the printing apparatus has been downsized in recent years, and it is difficult to create a new waste ink space, especially in a portable mobile printer or the like, because there is little free space inside the printing apparatus. Therefore, in order to ensure a sufficient capacity of the waste ink tank, a new contrivance must be made. Therefore, in this case, an object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized recording apparatus that can secure an appropriate amount of waste ink even in a small-sized recording apparatus by effectively utilizing the space of the waste ink storage section for the borderless recording in the platen. To do.

  The present invention has an object to solve such a problem, and for this purpose, the present invention includes a recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink onto a recording medium and is supported by a platen of the recording apparatus. An ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording on the end of the recording medium by ejecting ink from a recording head to a position protruding outside the end of the recording medium when performing edgeless recording on the end of the medium, A first waste ink storage unit for storing waste ink discharged by a recovery pump during discharge recovery processing for maintaining at least a good ink discharge state of the recording head, and a waste ink flow in the first waste ink storage unit An ink comprising: a second waste ink storage unit that is connected in series via a path and into which the waste ink overflowing due to being unable to be stored in the first waste ink storage unit is introduced In the jet recording apparatus, the first waste ink storage unit is arranged using an empty space in the ink jet recording apparatus, and the second waste ink storage unit is provided in the platen. The waste ink overflowing due to being unable to be accommodated in the storage medium and the waste ink ejected to a position protruding from the end of the recording medium during borderless recording are stored.

  The second waste ink storage unit has a primary absorber that receives ink ejected to the outside of the recording medium, and a first capillary that has a greater capillary force than the primary absorber that is provided in contact with the primary absorber. And a secondary ink absorber, and a waste ink flow path from the first storage unit is connected to the secondary absorber.

  The first waste ink storage unit is at least one waste ink storage unit that stores only the waste ink discharged by the recovery pump.

  An ink absorber is provided inside the first and second waste ink storage units, and the first and second waste ink storage units have a part of their surfaces opened, and these openings are respectively opened. The interior of each waste ink storage member and the atmosphere communicate with each other through a provided ventilation cloth.

  The waste ink flow path connecting between the first ink storage unit and the second ink storage unit is a tube or an ink absorber.

[Action]
According to this configuration, the waste ink discharged during the discharge recovery process is accommodated in the first waste ink storage unit, and moisture in the waste ink gradually evaporates into the atmosphere via the vent cloth.

  If a large amount of waste ink continues to be discharged into the first waste ink storage unit regardless of the evaporation of the moisture in the waste ink, the waste ink overflows because it cannot be stored in the first waste ink storage unit. Since the second waste ink storage part is accommodated in the second waste ink storage part connected to the first waste ink storage member, the second waste ink storage part overflows ahead of the first waste ink storage part and has no marginal recording. This prevents the recording medium and the inside of the recording apparatus from being soiled due to insufficient storage of the ink.

  Further, since the connection flow path is connected to the secondary absorber side of the second waste ink storage unit and has a stronger capillary force than the primary absorber at a position facing the recording head, there is a problem such as a malfunction of the recording head. Even if the ink is continuously discharged for the reason and the discharged amount exceeds the absorbed amount, it is held by the secondary absorber and is not absorbed and diffused to the primary absorber side. Even at the time of borderless recording immediately after the recording, the ink is prevented from being stored and the recording medium and the inside of the recording apparatus are prevented from being soiled.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the small inkjet recording apparatus, the waste ink generated by the recovery operation is added to the first waste ink storage member, and the second waste ink storage part in the platen. By accommodating the waste ink storage space for borderless recording, an appropriate amount of waste ink can be secured even in a small recording apparatus.

  In addition, waste ink that has overflowed due to being unable to be stored in the first waste ink storage unit is stored in the second waste ink storage unit through the tube connected to the upper end of the first waste ink storage member. Thus, it is possible to prevent the waste ink storage unit 2 from overflowing before the first waste ink storage unit and storing the borderless recording ink without contaminating the inside of the recording medium or the recording apparatus.

  Further, since the connection flow path is connected to the secondary absorber side of the second waste ink storage unit and has a stronger capillary force than the primary absorber at a position facing the recording head, there is a problem such as a malfunction of the recording head. Even if the ink is continuously discharged for the reason and the discharged amount exceeds the absorbed amount, it is held by the secondary absorber and is not absorbed and diffused to the primary absorber side. Even during borderless recording immediately after the recording, there is an excellent effect of preventing the ink from being stored and the inside of the recording medium and the recording apparatus from being soiled.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The exterior and parts not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The exterior and parts not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

  Briefly describing the overall configuration of the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, an automatic sheet feeding unit 100 that feeds recording sheets (recording media) one by one into the apparatus main body, and a recording sheet sent from the automatic sheet feeding unit 100 Is transported to the recording position by a transport unit (recording medium transport means) 200 that discharges from the recording position, a discharge unit 300 positioned downstream of the transport unit 200, and the transport unit 200. A recording unit 400 including an inkjet recording head 400a that performs desired recording on a recording sheet and a recovery unit 600 that performs recovery processing on the inkjet recording head 400a and the like of the recording unit 400 are attached to the chassis 701 and the like so as to interlock appropriately. It has become. A drain pack 642 serving as a first waste ink storage unit is located behind the automatic paper feeding unit 100. A platen 203 that supports and guides a recording sheet is provided at a recording position facing the recording unit 400, and a second waste ink storage unit is attached inside the platen. In FIG. 1, the conveyance direction of the recording sheet is indicated by an arrow A, and the scanning direction (reciprocating direction) of the recording unit 400 is indicated by an arrow B.

  First, the recovery unit and the first storage unit will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the recovery unit and the waste ink storage unit. The ink discharged from the discharge port of the piston pump 640 passes through a waste ink flow path 641 formed by welding a PG base lid member 643 to the PG base 604, and in the drain pack 642 disposed at the rear of the main body mechanism unit. Absorbed into the waste ink storage member 645 by capillary action. The drain pack 642 is a product in which a waste ink storage member 645 excellent in ink absorption and diffusion is housed in a drain pack case member 647 and a drain pack lid member 653 is welded and sealed.

  3 and 4 are perspective views of parts extracted to show the waste ink flow path.

  The waste ink storage member 645 is almost fully packed in the drain pack 642. The waste ink flow path 641 provided in the PG base 604 is a space having a length of about 80 mm, a cross section of about 4 mm and a width of 4 mm, and one end where the discharge port of the piston pump 640 is closely arranged and the inside of the main body drain pack 642. The PG base cover member 643 shown in FIG. 2 is sealed to the PG base 604 except for one end connected to the waste ink storage member 645. A flow path storage member 644 having a thickness of 2 mm is installed inside the waste ink flow path 641, and the flow path storage member 644 is made of the same material as the waste ink storage member 645, and one end thereof is the waste ink of the drain pack 642. It contacts and is connected to the storage member 645.

  Normally, the ink discharged from the pump unit is absorbed by the flow path storage member 644 and then absorbed and diffused into the waste ink storage member 645 by capillary action. Although the absorption and diffusion speed varies depending on the product posture, the waste ink is absorbed and diffused from the recovery portion to the drain pack.

  When the ink is continuously discharged due to a recording head failure or the like and the discharge amount exceeds the absorption speed of the flow path storage member 644, the overflowed ink is temporarily held in the sealed space in the waste ink flow path 641, and thereafter Is absorbed into the flow path storage member 644 and the waste ink storage member 645 as time passes.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the drain pack case member.

  Two ribs 3 extend from one end connected to the PG base 604 to the welded portion of the drain pack lid member 643. At the time of assembly, a very narrow space is formed on the inner wall of the storage member and the drain pack case member 647 at the base of the rib 3.

  FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the drain pack case member and the drain pack lid member extracted.

  The space formed at the base of the rib 3 is connected to the welding positioning rib 2 of the drain pack lid member 653, and the gap at the base of the welding positioning rib 2 communicates with the atmosphere through the hole 1 provided in the drain pack case member 647. Accordingly, the space of the waste ink channel 641 provided in the PG base 604 communicates with the atmosphere through the space of the drain pack.

  As a result, since the discharge port of the piston pump 640 communicates with the atmosphere from the space of the waste ink flow path 641 through the gap of the drain pack, the flow resistance on the ink discharge side of the piston pump 640 is kept low, and Since the waste ink is absorbed by the waste ink storage member 645 while passing through the gap, it does not leak to the outside until it is saturated.

  Next, the configuration of the platen that is the second waste ink storage unit will be described.

  This recording apparatus can perform borderless recording. Borderless recording refers to recording without margins on the entire surface of the recording sheet. Specifically, an area slightly larger than the recording sheet in consideration of cutting sheet cutting errors, transport errors, skew feeding, etc. In this recording mode, recording is performed without a margin on the entire surface of the recording sheet by ejecting ink. At this time, the ink ejected outside the edge of the recording sheet becomes waste ink without contributing to the recording on the recording sheet. In the present invention, in order to appropriately handle the waste ink in such borderless recording, a platen 203 and an ink collecting means 260 having a configuration described in detail below are provided. In addition, any other known method can be employed for the recording sheet conveyance operation, ink ejection operation, etc., and the mechanism of each part for these operations may be a known one. Is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the platen 203 of the recording apparatus of the present embodiment is provided with an ink recovery means 260 for recovering waste ink during borderless recording. As shown in FIG. 8, the ink recovery means 260 is positioned on the front surface of the platen 203 and is exposed to the primary absorber 261 (see FIG. 9) exposed to be opposed to the ink jet recording head 400a of the recording unit 400. The secondary absorbers 262 and 263 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) disposed on the back side of the platen 203 in contact with the primary absorber 261 and the platens that hold the absorbers 261, 262, and 263, respectively. It is comprised from the fixing plate 264 (refer FIG. 12) fixed to 203. FIG.

The primary absorber 261 is a part that directly receives ink droplets ejected from the ink jet recording head 400a, and in particular, receives ink droplets ejected outside the edge of the recording sheet when performing borderless recording. The primary absorber 261 is poor in ink retention, but has a property of quickly absorbing and diffusing, for example, an ether-based material having a hydrophilic treatment density of 0.02 to 0.05 g / cm ³ . It consists of urethane foam etc., and convex parts 261a and 261b are provided on both sides of the main body part.

On the other hand, the secondary absorbers 262 and 263 have a capillary force greater than that of the primary absorber 261 and a density of 0.01 to 0.03 g / cm made of a material having a large ink holding force, for example, pulp fibers. ^{3 or} the like. The secondary absorbent body 262 has fitting recesses 262a corresponding to the convex portions 261a on one side of the primary absorbent body 261, respectively.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the primary absorbent body 261 is made of urethane foam, and the secondary absorbent bodies 262 and 263 are mainly made of pulp.

  The fixed plate 264 is made of polypropylene having excellent chemical resistance and flexibility, and is formed in a plate shape having a thickness of about 0.3 mm.

  Then, the respective convex portions 261a on one side of the primary absorbent body 261 are fitted into the respective concave portions 262a of the secondary absorbent body 262, whereby the two absorbent bodies 261 and 262 are joined to each other, and substantially. It is integrated with. Another secondary absorber 263 is in surface contact with the primary absorber 261 and the secondary absorber 262 from the back side. Each absorber 261, 262, 263 is supported by a fixed plate 264 and fixed to the platen 203. These fixing methods will be described later.

  Since the ink collecting means 260 configured as described above is provided on the platen 203 that supports and guides the recording sheet at a recording position facing the recording unit 400, the ink collecting unit 260 is ejected from the inkjet recording head 400a of the recording unit 400, Ink droplets that have fallen outside the edge of the recording sheet are received by the primary absorber 261. If the ink absorbed in the primary absorber 261 continues to stay in the same position, an ink pool is formed in the primary absorber 261 and rebounds when a subsequent ink droplet lands, resulting in the inside of the recording apparatus. Or the recording sheet may be soiled. However, in this embodiment, since the secondary absorbers 262 and 263 having a larger capillary force are joined to the primary absorber 261, the ink received by the primary absorber 261 is It moves quickly to the secondary absorbers 262, 263. Therefore, the primary absorber 261 cannot have a large ink reservoir, and contamination due to ink splashing does not occur.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the primary absorber 261 and the secondary absorber 262 are joined by the fitting of a large number of convex portions 261a and concave portions 262a. Is promoted. Furthermore, the width of each convex portion 261a on one side of the primary absorbent body 261 shown in FIG. 9 is larger than the width of each corresponding concave portion 262a of the secondary absorbent body 262 shown in FIG. For this purpose, each convex portion 261a of the primary absorbent body 261 is fitted in a compressed state. Therefore, in the assembled state shown in FIG. 8, the density of the convex portions 261a in the primary absorbent body 261 is partially increased, and the capillary force is increased in the portion where the density is increased by being compressed. As a result, the ink flows inside the primary absorber 261, and the ink easily collects on the convex portion 261a. The ink collected on the convex portion 261a moves smoothly from the compressed side surface 261c of the convex portion 261a to the secondary absorber 262 having a large capillary force.

  As described above, in the configuration of the present embodiment, since the shape and dimensions of the convex portion 261a and the concave portion 262a are devised, the second position from the ink landing position of the primary absorber 261 via the convex portion 261a and the concave portion 262a. The effect of introducing the ink to the next absorber 262 is very large.

  In the present embodiment, the primary absorber 261 and the other secondary absorber 263 are in contact with each other in a stacked state, so that the contact area between the primary absorber 261 and the other secondary absorber 263 is large, and the movement of ink is promoted. Furthermore, as will be described later, the convex portions 261b on the other side of the primary absorber 261 are sandwiched between the back surface of the platen 203, the fixed plate 264, and the secondary absorber 263. Since it is held, as described above, it is compressed and the density is partially increased, and the capillary force is increased. As a result, the ink easily collects in the convex portion 261b inside the primary absorber 261, and the ink moves smoothly to the secondary absorber 262 having a large capillary force. That is, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the effect of introducing ink from the ink landing position of the primary absorber 261 to the secondary absorber 263 via the convex portion 261b is great.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the primary absorbent body 261 and the secondary absorbent body 262 have concave and convex shapes (convex portions 261a and concave portions 262a) that can be engaged with each other at the respective contact portions. And the width | variety of the convex part 261a of the primary absorber 261 is larger than the width | variety of the recessed part 262a of the secondary absorber 262. FIG. The contact portion of the primary absorber 261 contacts the secondary absorbers 262 and 263 in a compressed state.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, contamination due to ink splashing can be prevented, and the ink is firmly held by the secondary absorbers 262 and 263 having a large holding force. Can prevent splashing and leakage. In particular, since the secondary absorbers 262 and 263 are located on the back side of the platen 203, the ink held by the secondary absorbers 262 and 263 has an advantage that the recording sheet cannot be contaminated. Compared to the case where the absorber is provided only on the surface side, the degree of freedom of arrangement is relatively large and the size can be easily increased, so that a configuration capable of holding a large amount of ink can be obtained.

  Further, as described above, in this embodiment, the convex portion 261a on one side of the primary absorbent body 261 is formed wider than the concave portion 262a of the corresponding secondary absorbent body 262, and is compressed. Since it is designed to be fitted in a state, even if there is a slight dimensional error, it is absorbed, and there is also an effect that the convex portion 261a and the concave portion 262a contact each other without causing a gap.

  Next, a method for attaching the ink recovery means 260 to the platen 203 will be described.

  First, the main body portion of the primary absorbent body 261 is disposed on the surface side of the platen 203 shown in FIG. 7, and the primary absorbent body 261 made of an elastic member is bent and deformed so that the convex portions 261 a and 261 b are It arrange | positions through the opening part at the back surface side of the platen 203 shown in FIG. Thus, the primary absorber 261 is fixed to the platen 203 in a state where the convex portions 261a and 261b are embedded in the back surface side.

  Subsequently, the secondary absorbers 262 and 263 are fixed to the platen 203. Each concave portion 262a is engaged with each convex portion 261a of the primary absorbent body 261 fixed to the back surface side of the platen 203 shown in FIG. The next absorbent body 262 is joined. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, another secondary absorber 263 is overlaid so as to cover the convex portions 261 a and 261 b and the secondary absorber 262 located on the back surface of the platen 203, and further fixed to the back surface. A plate 264 is attached. Since the positioning projection 203h and the engaging projections 203a to 203g are provided on the back surface of the platen 203, the positioning projection 203h of the platen 203 is fitted into the positioning recess 264a of the fixing plate 264 shown in FIG. Then, the fixing plate 264 is aligned, the fixing plate 264 made of an elastic member is bent and deformed, and the engaging projections 203a to 203g of the platen 203 are hooked on the outer peripheral portion thereof, whereby the fixing plate 264 is moved as shown in FIG. Secure to the platen 203. Thereby, the convex portions 261a and 261b and the secondary absorbers 262 and 263 interposed between the fixing plate 264 and the platen 203 are fixed.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main part of the platen and ink recovery means shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the secondary absorbers 262 and 263 are located on the back side of the platen 203. On the other hand, the primary absorber 261 is attached to the platen 203, and a first portion (main body portion) exposed at a position facing the ink jet recording head 400a and a second portion located on the back side of the platen 203. (Convex portions 261a, 261b).

  That is, since the convex portions 261 a and 261 b on both sides of the primary absorbent body 261 having the main body portion located on the surface side of the platen 203 are embedded in the back surface side of the platen 203, the primary absorption is performed. The body 261 is firmly held by the platen 203 and is not easily detached from the platen 203 even when subjected to an impact such as when the recording apparatus is dropped. This is particularly effective in a portable recording apparatus.

  Next, a waste ink connection flow path connected to the drain pack of the first waste ink storage unit and the platen of the second waste ink storage unit will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a waste ink flow path that connects the drain pack of the first waste ink storage unit and the platen of the second waste ink storage unit. In the drawing, a waste ink channel connection port 647r is formed on the side of the drain pack 647 facing the recovery portion, and a waste ink connection port 203r is formed on the platen 203. A flexible tube 648 is connected to each of these two connection ports. Further, a flow path absorber 652 is provided inside the flexible tube, and both ends of the flow path absorber 649 are inserted into the waste ink connection ports 647r and 203r to form a waste ink flow path. ing.

  FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the first waste ink storage part, and shows the inside of the connection part of the waste ink channel by removing a part of the drain pack lid member 643 and the waste ink absorber. It is what I did. Waste ink discharged from a recovery unit (not shown) located on the left side in the drawing is absorbed and diffused by the absorber 645, and the waste ink is transmitted in the direction indicated by the bold arrow in the drawing.

  Here, the waste ink absorber 654a indicated by the broken line located on the rightmost side and the flow path absorber 652 are provided in contact with each other. Although not shown, the platen side end of the flow path absorber 652 is arranged so as to contact the secondary absorber in the platen similarly.

  Here, when the discharge of the waste ink from the recovery unit proceeds and the absorption and diffusion of the drain pack progresses, and the S portion indicated by the broken line in FIG. 17 of the waste ink absorber 654a is saturated with the waste ink, the waste ink enters the flow path absorber 652. Is absorbed and waste ink is transmitted in the Z direction in FIG. Further, since the flow path absorber 652 is covered with a flexible tube, it can follow the vertical movement of the platen when adjusting the paper interval, and is discarded in the platen 203 without leaking out of the connection flow path. Ink is transmitted.

  Temporarily, the waste ink from the recovery unit is connected to the second absorber, and a configuration of a connection channel and a first absorber on the downstream side can be considered. In that case, the second waste ink storage unit is provided. The ink overflows before the first waste ink storage unit, and the recording medium and the inside of the recording apparatus are stained without being able to store the borderless recording ink.

  Therefore, in the present case, by adopting the above-described configuration, the waste ink that cannot be stored in the first waste ink storage unit and overflows from the tube connected to the upper end portion of the first waste ink storage member is used for the second. Since the second waste ink storage unit overflows before the first waste ink storage unit because it is accommodated in the waste ink storage unit, the recording medium and the recording apparatus cannot store the borderless recording ink. The inside was prevented from getting dirty.

  Further, here, the connection flow path 652 is connected to the secondary absorber in the platen, and is held on the second absorber side due to the above-described difference in capillary force. For this reason, even when the continuous ink discharge is performed and the discharge amount exceeds the absorption amount, it is not absorbed and diffused to the primary absorber side, and particularly during borderless recording immediately after the waste ink is discharged continuously. It is possible to prevent the inside of the recording medium and the recording apparatus from being soiled without being able to store the ink.

  FIG. 18 is an external perspective view of the recording apparatus. FIG. 19 is a perspective view in which the recovery unit 600 of the recording apparatus and the periphery of the lower case 4 can be clearly seen.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view showing a recovery part and a waste ink storage part. The perspective view which extracted the components in order to represent the flow path of waste ink. The perspective view which extracted the components in order to represent the flow path of waste ink. The perspective view of a drain pack case member. The fragmentary sectional perspective view which extracted the drain pack case member and the drain pack cover member. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the surface side of the platen and ink recovery means of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view of the ink collection | recovery means shown in FIG. The perspective view of the primary absorber of the ink collection | recovery means shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one secondary absorber of the ink collection unit shown in FIG. 8. The perspective view of the other secondary absorber of the ink collection means shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fixing plate of the ink recovery unit shown in FIG. 8. The perspective view of the back surface side of the state which attached the primary absorber to the platen shown in FIG. The principal part schematic sectional drawing of the platen and ink collection | recovery means shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the back side of the platen and ink recovery means shown in FIG. 2. The perspective view showing the structure of the conventional inkjet printer. The perspective view of the recovery apparatus of a conventional inkjet printer, and a waste ink storage member. 1 is an external perspective view of a recording apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view in which the recovery unit 600 of the recording apparatus and the periphery of the lower case 4 can be clearly seen.

Explanation of symbols

1 hole 2 welding positioning rib 3 rib 4 lower case 100 automatic paper feed unit 200 transport unit (recording medium transport unit)
203 platen 203a to 203g engaging protrusion 203h positioning convex portion 206 LF motor 260 ink recovery means 261 primary absorber 261a, 261b convex portion 261c side 262 secondary absorber 262a concave portion 263 secondary absorber 264 fixing plate 264a Positioning concave portion 300 Discharge portion 301 Discharge roller 400 Recording portion 400a Inkjet recording head 600 Recovery portion 640 Piston pump 641 Waste ink flow path 642 Drain pack 643 PG base lid member 644 Flow path storage member 645 Waste ink storage member 647 Drain pack Case member 652 Flow path absorber 653 Drain pack lid member 701 Chassis

Claims (5)

A recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink to a recording medium, and when performing borderless recording on the end of the recording medium supported by a platen that guides the recording medium, is provided outside the end of the recording medium. An inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording on an end portion of the recording medium by ejecting ink from a recording head to a position that protrudes,
A first waste ink storage unit for storing waste ink discharged by a recovery pump during discharge recovery processing for maintaining a good ink discharge state of the recording head;
A second waste ink storage section connected in series to the first waste ink storage section via a waste ink flow path, into which waste ink overflowing because it cannot be stored in the first waste ink storage section is introduced;
In an inkjet recording apparatus comprising:
The first and second waste ink storage units are arranged using an empty space in the ink jet recording apparatus, and the second waste ink storage unit is provided in the platen, and the first waste ink storage unit is provided in the first waste ink storage unit. An ink jet recording apparatus that stores waste ink that cannot be stored and overflows, and waste ink that is ejected to a position that protrudes beyond the edge of the recording medium during borderless recording.   The second waste ink storage unit has a primary absorber that catches the ink discharged to the outside of the recording medium and a capillary force that is greater than the primary absorber provided so as to be in contact with the primary absorber. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary absorber, wherein the waste ink flow path from the first storage unit is connected to the secondary absorber.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first waste ink storage unit is at least one waste ink storage unit that stores only the waste ink discharged by the recovery pump.   An ink absorber is provided inside the first and second waste ink storage units, and the first and second waste ink storage units have a part of their surfaces opened, and these openings are respectively opened. 3. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interior of each waste ink storage member and the atmosphere communicate with each other through a provided ventilation cloth.   2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste ink flow path connecting between the first ink storage unit and the second ink storage unit is a tube or an ink absorber.

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