JP2007152643A - Liquid recovery device and liquid jet device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid recovery device by which a liquid discharged from a discharge port can be smoothly recovered and a liquid jet device. <P>SOLUTION: The ink recovery device 20 includes an upper side first ink absorbing body 23 and a lower side first ink absorbing body 31 having relatively high ink holding capacity and a second ink absorbing body 24 having relatively high ink dispersing capacity, and a recovering container 21 housing these absorbing bodies 23, 24, 31. In the recovering container 21 each of the absorbing bodies 23, 24, 31 is stacked in the order of the lower side first ink absorbing body 31, the second ink absorbing body 24, the upper side first ink absorbing body 23 from the lower side. A cover member 25 having an inner space 27 in which discharge port 62a of a discharged ink is disposed is arranged between the upper side first ink absorbing body 23 and the second ink absorbing body 24. Further, an infiltration preventing plate 32 is arranged for suppressing the infiltration of the discharged ink toward the lower side between the second ink absorbing body 24 and the lower side first ink absorbing body 31 in a zone corresponding to the cover member 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet printer and a liquid recovery apparatus provided in the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  Conventionally, an ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) is known as a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target. In this printer, in order to reduce ink ejection defects, cleaning is performed as appropriate to eject thickened ink from nozzles that eject ink. In this cleaning, after the nozzle forming surface on which the nozzle is formed is sealed with a cap (sealing means), a space (inside the cap) that is airtight between the nozzle forming surface and the cap is sucked with a suction pump. By setting the negative pressure, the ink with increased viscosity in the nozzle is discharged using this negative pressure.

  In such cleaning, the ink ejected from the nozzle is collected by the collection container after being sucked by the suction pump. The collection container contains an ink absorbing material (liquid absorbing material) inside, and the ink discharged from the suction pump (hereinafter referred to as “discharged ink”) is the ink absorbing material in the collecting container. To be absorbed. The recovery container volatilizes a part of the ink solvent in the recovered discharged ink from the opening of the recovery container, thereby reducing the capacity of the discharged ink and improving the recovery efficiency.

  In recent years, in such printers, pigment ink and high-density ink have been used in order to improve the storability and coloring of the printed image. In general, the ink components of such inks volatilize or are absorbed by the ink absorbing material, whereby the ink components (for example, pigments) aggregate and solidify. For this reason, when pigment ink or high-concentration ink is discharged into the collection container, solidified ink components, that is, ink residues, accumulate in the collection container (particularly near the discharge port from which the discharged ink is discharged). It becomes.

Accordingly, a collection container described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed to promote the diffusion of discharged ink. In the collection container of Patent Document 1, the discharged ink discharged from the discharge port flows and diffuses along the inclined bottom surface, and the diffused discharged ink is absorbed by the ink absorbing material.
JP 2004-34361 A

  By the way, since the entire upper part of the recovery container of Patent Document 1 is an opening, if the discharged ink is discharged from the discharge port into the recovery container, the ink solvent is not used before the discharged ink is diffused. May volatilize from the opening of the collection container. As a result, the ink component of the discharged ink is concentrated in the vicinity of the discharge port in the collection container, so that an ink residue that inhibits the diffusion (flow) of the discharged ink accumulates there, and the collection of the discharged ink in the collection container There was a risk of a decline in ability.

  In order to suppress such a decrease in the collected ability of the discharged ink, the ink absorbing material in the collecting container has a two-layer structure, and an upper ink absorbing material having a high ink holding ability is used. It is conceivable to use a material having a high ink diffusing capacity as the ink absorbing material on the side, and to discharge the discharged ink from the discharge port to the ink absorbing material on the lower side. When configured in this manner, the discharged ink is diffused by the lower ink absorbing material, then penetrates into the upper ink absorbing material and is absorbed and held, and then the discharged ink is absorbed and held by the upper ink absorbing material. Part of the ink solvent is volatilized from the opening of the collection container.

  However, in this case, since the discharged ink permeates from the lower ink absorbing material to the upper ink absorbing material against gravity, the upper portion of the collecting container is particularly long due to the space in the printer. There was a limit to the permeation amount of discharged ink in the direction (permeation amount from the lower ink absorbing material to the upper ink absorbing material). For this reason, the holding amount of the discharged ink by the upper ink absorbing material is reduced, so that the holding amount of the discharged ink in the lower ink absorbing material is increased, and when the lower ink absorbing material is dried in this state, The amount of ink residue deposited increases. In the vicinity of the discharge port, the amount of accumulated ink residue increases, and similarly to the case of the collection container of Patent Document 1, the accumulation of the discharged ink is hindered by the accumulated ink residue, and the amount of discharged ink in the collection container is reduced. There was a risk of reducing the recovery capability.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid recovery apparatus and a liquid ejection apparatus that can smoothly recover the liquid discharged from the discharge port.

  In order to achieve the above object, a liquid recovery apparatus according to the present invention includes a liquid absorber composed of a plurality of layers that absorbs a liquid, and a recovery container that accommodates the liquid absorber, and the liquid container includes the liquid absorber. In the liquid recovery apparatus in which a discharge port for discharging the liquid is disposed, and a part of the liquid discharged from the discharge port and absorbed by the liquid absorber is volatilized through a container opening provided in the recovery container, the liquid absorption The body includes a first liquid absorber having a relatively high liquid holding ability and a second liquid absorber having a relatively high liquid diffusing ability in which the first liquid absorber is laminated on the lower side. (2) A cover member that secures and forms a space of a certain volume is disposed above the liquid absorber, and the discharge port is disposed in a space that is secured by the cover member, and the second liquid absorber and the first Liquid in the space between the liquid absorber There were arranged to suppress permeation suppression member from penetrating downward.

  According to this invention, the liquid discharged from the discharge port onto the second liquid absorber is suppressed in volatilization by the cover member, and before being diffused in the second liquid absorber by the permeation suppression member. Infiltration into the liquid absorber is suppressed. That is, after the liquid discharged from the discharge port onto the second liquid absorber is sufficiently diffused by the second liquid absorber, the liquid is stacked on the first liquid absorber stacked below the second liquid absorber. Permeates and is absorbed and retained. For this reason, the humidity of the space formed by the cover member is suitably maintained, so that the amount of liquid residue deposited in the vicinity of the discharge port is reduced. Therefore, when the liquid discharged from the discharge port penetrates into the second liquid absorber, it is less likely to be hindered by deposits of liquid residues. As a result, the liquid discharged from the discharge port can be collected smoothly.

In the liquid recovery apparatus of the present invention, the cover member is disposed so that at least the entire cover member is accommodated on the permeation suppression member in a plan view.
According to this invention, the liquid discharged onto the second liquid absorber in the space secured by the cover member penetrates the first liquid absorber before being diffused by the second liquid absorber by the permeation suppression member. Is effectively suppressed. Therefore, the time during which the liquid is held in the second liquid absorber is lengthened, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in the humidity of the space secured by the cover member.

  In the liquid recovery apparatus of the present invention, the permeation suppression member is configured such that an occupied area in a plan view in the recovery container is smaller than an occupied area in a plan view of the second liquid absorber. Yes.

According to this invention, the liquid that has permeated and diffused into the second liquid absorber can be surely permeated into the first liquid absorber laminated on the lower side of the second liquid absorber and absorbed and retained. It becomes possible.
In the liquid recovery apparatus of the present invention, at least one first liquid absorber is disposed above the second liquid absorber.

According to this invention, since the liquid permeates and is absorbed and held also in the first liquid absorber disposed on the upper side of the second liquid absorber, the amount of the liquid that can be absorbed and held can be increased.
In the liquid recovery apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of layers of the first liquid absorber are laminated on the lower side of the second liquid absorber.

  According to the present invention, depending on the place where the liquid recovery apparatus is disposed, the recovery container may have to be formed in a vertically long shape. In such a case, the first liquid absorber is particularly laminated in a plurality of layers. By doing so, it becomes possible to secure a sufficient amount of liquid that can be absorbed and retained. In this case, since the first liquid absorber is disposed below the second liquid absorber, even if the first liquid absorber is laminated in a plurality of layers, the first liquid absorber is changed from the second liquid absorber. The penetration of liquid into the surface is promoted by gravity. For this reason, the penetration amount of the liquid from the second liquid absorber to the first liquid absorber is not limited, and the liquid is sufficiently absorbed and held by each first liquid absorber.

In the liquid recovery apparatus of the present invention, the permeation suppression member has a sheet shape.
According to this invention, since the permeation suppression member has a sheet shape, the permeation suppression member can be disposed between the second liquid absorber and the first liquid absorber without being bulky. For this reason, it becomes possible to contribute to size reduction of a liquid recovery apparatus.

In the liquid recovery apparatus of the present invention, the cover member has a box shape opened to the lower side, and a lower end thereof is in contact with the second liquid absorber.
According to this invention, since the humidity of the internal space of the cover member is kept high, the amount of liquid residue deposited in the vicinity of the discharge port is effectively reduced. For this reason, the liquid discharged from the discharge port quickly penetrates and diffuses into the second liquid absorber.

In the liquid recovery apparatus of the present invention, the cover member includes an enlarged contact portion at a lower end thereof that enlarges a contact area with the second liquid absorber.
According to the present invention, since the expansion contact portion is provided, a decrease in humidity in the internal space of the cover member is further suppressed, so that accumulation of liquid residue in the vicinity of the discharge port can be suppressed for a long time. .

In the liquid recovery apparatus of the present invention, the expansion contact portion is a flange portion that extends outward from the lower end of the cover member along the upper surface of the second liquid absorber.
According to this invention, since the flange part which is a part of cover member functions as an expansion contact part, it becomes possible to suppress the humidity fall of the internal space of a cover member, without increasing a number of parts.

In the liquid recovery apparatus of the present invention, a protrusion having a height lower than the thickness of the second liquid absorber is provided on the lower surface of the flange portion.
According to this invention, since the second liquid absorber is compressed by the flange portion by urging the cover member downward until the protruding portion contacts the permeation suppression member, the second liquid in the compressed portion is compressed. The pores in the absorber are crushed and become smaller, and the amount of liquid retained in the portion where the second liquid absorber is compressed is increased, making it difficult for gas to flow. For this reason, the airtightness of the internal space of a cover member improves, and the humidity fall of the internal space of a cover member is suppressed effectively.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes a liquid storing unit that stores a liquid, a liquid ejecting head that ejects the liquid, a sealing unit that can seal a nozzle forming surface provided in the liquid ejecting head, and the seal. In the liquid ejecting apparatus including the liquid recovery means for recovering the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head toward the stop means, the liquid recovery means is configured by the liquid recovery apparatus having the above configuration.

  According to this invention, the liquid discharged from the discharge port onto the second liquid absorber is suppressed in volatilization by the cover member, and before being diffused in the second liquid absorber by the permeation suppression member. Infiltration into the liquid absorber is suppressed. That is, after the liquid discharged from the discharge port onto the second liquid absorber is sufficiently diffused by the second liquid absorber, the liquid is stacked on the first liquid absorber stacked below the second liquid absorber. Permeates and is absorbed and retained. For this reason, the humidity of the space formed by the cover member is suitably maintained, so that the amount of liquid residue deposited in the vicinity of the discharge port is reduced. Therefore, when the liquid discharged from the discharge port penetrates into the second liquid absorber, it is less likely to be hindered by deposits of liquid residues. As a result, the liquid discharged from the discharge port can be collected smoothly.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention is embodied in an ink jet printer will be described with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the front-rear direction, the up-down direction, and the left-right direction in the following description are the same as the front-rear direction, the up-down direction, and the left-right direction based on the ink jet printer shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an ink jet printer 10 as a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a main body case 11 having a bottomed substantially long rectangular box shape. A rod-shaped guide member 12 is installed between the left and right side walls in the main body case 11 so as to extend in the left-right direction. A carriage 13 is inserted into and supported by the guide member 12 so as to be movable in the left-right direction along the guide member 12. The carriage 13 is connected to a carriage motor 15 via a timing belt 14, and is moved in the left-right direction along the guide member 12 by driving the carriage motor 15.

  A recording head 16 as a liquid ejecting head is mounted below the carriage 13. The lower surface of the recording head 16 is a nozzle forming surface 16a, and a plurality of nozzles (not shown) are provided on the nozzle forming surface 16a. An ink cartridge 17 as a liquid storage unit is detachably mounted on the carriage 13 above the recording head 16. In the ink cartridge 17, a plurality of colors of ink as liquids are accommodated so as to be supplied to the recording head 16.

  A platen 18 extending in the left-right direction is provided below the carriage 13. The platen 18 is a support base for supporting the recording paper P as a target, and a paper feed mechanism (not shown) is provided on the upper surface thereof. This paper feed mechanism feeds the recording paper P forward by driving a paper feed motor 19 provided in the main body case 11.

  Then, when a piezoelectric element (not shown) provided in the recording head 16 is driven based on the print data while the carriage 13 is reciprocatingly moved along the guide member 12, each ink is supplied from each nozzle of the nozzle forming surface 16a. Printing is performed on the recording paper P by being jetted to the recording paper P fed forward.

  On the bottom surface of the main body case 11 on the lower side of the platen 18, an ink recovery device 20 constituting a liquid recovery device as a liquid recovery means is provided. The ink recovery device 20 has a container opening 21a on the upper side. A recovery container 21 having a substantially rectangular bottom box shape is provided. A communication hole 22 that communicates the inside and outside of the collection container 21 is formed at the center of the right side wall of the collection container 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the collection container 21, a lower first ink absorber 31 as a first liquid absorber and a first layer stacked on the upper side of the lower first ink absorber 31. A second ink absorber 24 as a two-liquid absorber and an upper first ink absorber 23 as a first liquid absorber stacked on the upper side of the second ink absorber 24 are accommodated.

  That is, the lower first ink absorber 31 is disposed on the bottom surface in the collection container 21, and the second first ink absorber 31 is thinner on the lower first ink absorber 31 than the lower first ink absorber 31. An ink absorber 24 is laminated, and an upper first ink absorber 23 having a thickness larger than that of the lower first ink absorber 31 is laminated on the second ink absorber 24.

  The lower first ink absorber 31, the upper first ink absorber 23, and the second ink absorber 24 are all made of porous members, and the upper surface of the upper first ink absorber 23 and the collection container 21. The top surface is flush with each other. In the present embodiment, the thickness of the second ink absorber 24 is set to 3 mm.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a non-printing area (home position) where printing is not performed is provided at the right end in the main body case 11, and a cleaning mechanism 60 is provided in this non-printing area. ing. The cleaning mechanism 60 includes a cap 61 as a sealing unit, a discharge tube 62, and a suction pump 63.

  The cap 61 has a substantially square box shape with an upper surface opened, and is reciprocated in the vertical direction by a driving force of a lifting motor (not shown) provided in a non-printing area. A suction hole 61a penetrating the bottom wall in the vertical direction is formed in the bottom wall of the cap 61, and a substantially rectangular frame-shaped portion 61b made of a flexible material is provided at the upper end of the cap 61. Yes.

  When the cap 61 is moved upward in a state where the carriage 13 has moved to the non-printing area, the frame-shaped portion 61b is brought into contact with the nozzle forming surface 16a of the recording head 16, and this contact makes the contact. In the cap 61, an in-cap space that is a space for sealing each nozzle (not shown) is formed.

  One end of the discharge tube 62 is connected to the suction hole 61 a, and the other end passes through the communication hole 22 and is accommodated in the collection container 21. A front end opening of the discharge tube 62 in the collection container 21 is a discharge port 62 a, and ink can be discharged from the above-described cap inner space into the collection container 21 through the discharge tube 62.

  A suction pump 63 is provided at an intermediate portion of the discharge tube 62. Then, by driving the suction pump 63 in a state where the cap 61 seals the nozzle forming surface 16a, each thickened ink in the recording head 16 is discharged from each nozzle (not shown) into the space inside the cap and from the nozzle. The recording head 16 is cleaned by being discharged into the collection container 21 from the discharge port 62a through the tube 62.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a recess 23 a is formed on the lower surface of the upper first ink absorber 23 in a portion slightly to the right of the central portion in the left-right direction. In the recess 23a, a cover member 25 made of a synthetic resin formed so as to form a substantially pentagonal bottomed box shape whose outer shape corresponds to the shape in the recess 23a and opened downward (see FIG. )) Is housed.

  In the cover member 25, a side wall 25 b is provided downward from the periphery of the substantially pentagonal top plate 25 a and is disposed between the upper first ink absorber 23 and the second ink absorber 24. The lower end 25 c of the side wall 25 b of the cover member 25 is in contact with the upper surface of the second ink absorber 24.

  Further, an insertion hole 26 that communicates the inside and outside of the cover member 25 is provided in a part of the side wall 25 b of the cover member 25. In the present embodiment, polypropylene having a high ink volatilization suppressing effect is used as the material of the cover member 25, but a material other than polypropylene may be used as long as the material has a high ink volatilization suppressing effect. Good.

  The communication hole 22 of the collection container 21 and the insertion hole 26 of the cover member 25 communicate with each other via a communication path 23 b provided in the upper first ink absorber 23, and the discharge tube 62 inserted from the communication hole 22. The front end portion of the cover reaches the internal space 27 of the cover member 25 through the communication passage 23 b and the insertion hole 26. That is, the discharge port 62 a is disposed in an internal space 27 secured by the cover member 25 between the upper first ink absorber 23 and the second ink absorber 24.

  The cover member 25 has an outward flange portion 28 as an enlarged contact portion extending outwardly from the lower end 25c (see FIG. 5B) of the side wall 25b of the cover member 25 along the upper surface of the second ink absorber 24. Is provided over substantially the entire circumference of the cover member 25. In the present embodiment, the width of the flange portion 28 is set to 10 mm.

  Protrusions 29 (three in this embodiment) as a plurality of projecting portions extending downward are provided at positions near the outer end on the lower surface of the flange portion 28. The protrusions 29 are arranged at intervals such that the lines connected to each other draw a substantially equilateral triangle when viewed from the bottom surface of the cover member 25. In the present embodiment, the height of each protrusion 29 is set to 2.5 mm.

  Between the lower first ink absorber 31 and the second ink absorber 24, a sheet shape as a permeation suppression member that suppresses permeation of the ink in the internal space 27 into the lower first ink absorber 31. A permeation suppression plate 32 is arranged. The permeation suppression plate 32 is made of a synthetic resin having low moisture permeability (polypropylene in the present embodiment) and has substantially the same shape as the cover member 25 in plan view (see FIG. 4). That is, the permeation suppression plate 32 is disposed so that the entire cover member 25 can be accommodated on the permeation suppression plate 32 in plan view.

  The cover member 25 crushes the corresponding portion of the second ink absorber 24 with the protrusion 29 by the tip of each protrusion 29 by the weight of the cover member 25 itself and the weight of the upper first ink absorber 23. The flange portion 28 is pressed downward so as to compress the second ink absorber 24 and come close to the upper surface of the permeation suppression plate 32. In this case, since the protrusion 29 having a height of 2.5 mm functions as a spacer, the flange portion 28 of the cover member 25 has the second ink absorber 24 having a thickness of 3 mm and is inserted into the second ink absorber 24 by 0.5 mm. The ink absorber 24 is in close contact.

  The upper first ink absorber 23 and the lower first ink absorber 31 are made of a material having a relatively high ink holding capacity in comparison with the second ink absorber 24, and the second ink absorber 24 In comparison with the one ink absorber 23 and the lower first ink absorber 31, it is made of a material having a relatively high ink diffusion capability.

  For example, the density of the upper first ink absorber 23 and the lower first ink absorber 31 is made larger than that of the second ink absorber 24, or the upper first ink absorber 23, the lower first ink absorber 31, If the second ink absorber 24 is fibrous, the fiber diameters of the upper first ink absorber 23 and the lower first ink absorber 31 may be larger than those of the second ink absorber 24. Good. Alternatively, the upper first ink absorber 23 and the lower first ink absorber 31 may be a felt material or a pulp material, and the second ink absorber 24 may be a porous member. The upper first ink absorber 23 and the lower first ink absorber 31 are made of the same material.

  Further, the second ink absorber 24 is impregnated with the antifoaming liquid 30. The antifoaming liquid 30 is a liquid composed of an antifoaming agent, an antiseptic, an alkali adjusting agent, and a moisturizing agent, and eliminates bubbles contained in the discharged ink discharged from the discharge port 62a.

  As the antifoaming agent, for example, polyether-modified silicone as a silicone surfactant can be used. In this embodiment, KF-6017 (trade name) manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. is used. This antifoaming agent constitutes 0.1% by mass of the antifoaming liquid 30. The preservative suppresses the denaturation of the ink absorbed by the second ink absorber 24. For example, a thiazoline compound can be used, and in this embodiment, Proxel XL2 (trade name) manufactured by Avisia Corporation is used. It is used. This preservative constitutes 0.3% by mass of the antifoaming liquid 30.

  The alkali adjusting agent is for redispersing the ink components, and triethanolamine is used in this embodiment. This alkali adjusting agent constitutes 1.0% by mass of the antifoaming liquid 30. The humectant suppresses drying of various components of the ink and the antifoaming liquid 30, and glycerin is used in this embodiment. This humectant constitutes 98.6% by mass of the antifoaming liquid 30.

  The mass ratio of the various components constituting the antifoaming liquid 30 and the various components constituting the antifoaming liquid 30 moisturizes the discharged ink discharged from the discharge port 62a, and the bubbles contained in the discharged ink disappear. If possible, the present invention is not limited to this and may be changed as appropriate.

Next, the operation of the ink recovery device 20 will be described.
When the recording head 16 is cleaned, each thickened ink in the recording head 16 passes from the nozzles (not shown) through the space in the cap and the discharge tube 62 to the cover member 25 from the discharge port 62a. Are discharged onto the second ink absorber 24. At this time, since the cover member 25 is made of polypropylene having an ink volatilization suppressing effect, the discharged discharged ink permeates the second ink absorber 24 without volatilizing.

  Here, if a long time elapses, a part of the solvent component of the discharged ink discharged onto the second ink absorber 24 volatilizes, but even if it volatilizes, it fills the internal space 27 of the cover member 25. The humidity of the internal space 27 becomes high.

  In addition, the distance from the internal space 27 of the cover member 25 to the upper first ink absorber 23 and the lower first ink absorber 31 through the second ink absorber 24 is reduced by the flange portion 28. It is longer by the width. For this reason, the airtightness of the internal space 27 is improved by the flange portion 28 being suitably sandwiched between the upper first ink absorber 23 and the second ink absorber 24. In addition, the portion of the second ink absorber 24 compressed by the flange portion 28 of the cover member 25 is compressed with small pores, so that the retention rate of the discharged ink at this portion is increased. Thereby, the circulation of the gas inside and outside the internal space 27 via the second ink absorber 24 is effectively suppressed, and the airtightness of the internal space 27 is further improved.

  For this reason, since the internal space 27 is kept at high humidity for a long time, the discharged ink discharged onto the second ink absorber 24 is difficult to dry, and is difficult to accumulate and solidify. As a result, the discharged ink is smoothly absorbed into the second ink absorber 24 corresponding to the internal space 27 without being hindered by the deposit of the discharged ink. The discharged ink absorbed in the second ink absorber 24 is prevented from penetrating downward by the permeation suppression plate 32, and the horizontal direction along the permeation suppression plate 32 in the second ink absorber 24. The bubbles contained in the discharged ink are eliminated by the antifoaming liquid 30 while being permeated and diffused into the ink.

  In addition, since the discharged ink absorbed in the second ink absorber 24 is moisturized by the defoaming liquid 30, it is difficult to dry and solidify in the second ink absorber 24. The discharged ink diffused in the second ink absorber 24 flows between the flange portion 28 and the permeation suppression plate 32 and gradually permeates the upper first ink absorber 23 and the lower first ink absorber 31. To do. The discharged ink is absorbed and held by the upper first ink absorber 23 and the lower first ink absorber 31, and then gradually from the upper surface of the upper first ink absorber 23 through the container opening 21a. Volatilized outside.

As described above, according to the embodiment described in detail, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Between the second ink absorber 24 and the lower first ink absorber 31, a permeation suppression plate 32 that suppresses the permeation of the discharged ink in the internal space 27 downward is disposed. For this reason, the discharged ink discharged from the discharge port 62a onto the second ink absorber 24 immediately penetrates into the second ink absorber 24, but immediately below the second ink absorber 24. It does not penetrate the side first ink absorber 31. That is, the discharged ink that has permeated into the second ink absorber 24 gradually permeates the lower first ink absorber 31 or the upper first ink absorber 23 so as to go around the permeation suppression plate 32. Therefore, the discharged ink that has permeated into the second ink absorber 24 penetrates into the lower first ink absorber 31 or the upper first ink absorber 23 after being sufficiently diffused within the second ink absorber 24. Then absorbed and retained. As a result, a decrease in humidity in the internal space 27 is suitably suppressed, so that the amount of ink residue deposited in the vicinity of the discharge port 62a can be reduced. Therefore, when the discharged ink discharged from the discharge port 62a penetrates into the second ink absorber 24, it can be made difficult to be inhibited by the deposit of ink residue, and the discharged ink can be collected smoothly. .

  (2) The cover member 25 is disposed so that the entire cover member 25 fits on the permeation suppression plate 32 in a plan view. Therefore, before the discharged ink that has permeated into the second ink absorber 24 from above the second ink absorber 24 in the internal space 27 is diffused in the second ink absorber 24 by the permeation suppression plate 32. It is possible to effectively prevent the lower first ink absorber 31 or the upper first ink absorber 23 from penetrating. Therefore, since the time during which the discharged ink is held by the second ink absorber 24 can be lengthened, a decrease in humidity in the internal space 27 can be reliably suppressed.

  (3) Since the upper first ink absorber 23 is laminated on the upper side of the second ink absorber 24, the upper first ink absorber 23 can also absorb and hold discharged ink. Therefore, the amount of discharged ink that can be absorbed and retained can be increased.

  (4) Since the permeation suppression plate 32 has a sheet shape, the permeation suppression plate 32 can be disposed between the second ink absorber 24 and the lower first ink absorber 31 without being bulky. This can contribute to the downsizing of the ink recovery device 20.

  (5) Since the volatilization of the discharged ink discharged from the discharge port 62a onto the second ink absorber 24 is suppressed by the cover member 25, the amount of ink residue deposited in the vicinity of the discharge port 62a can be reduced. That is, accumulation of ink residue can be suppressed in the vicinity of the discharge port 62a. For this reason, when the discharged ink discharged from the discharge port 62a penetrates into the second ink absorber 24, it is less likely to be hindered by the deposits of ink residues, and the discharged ink is kept upward from the second ink absorber 24 without stagnation. The first ink absorber 23 and the lower first ink absorber 31 can be absorbed and held. Therefore, the discharged ink discharged from the discharge port 62a can be collected smoothly.

  (6) The cover member 25 has a box shape opened to the lower side, the lower end of the side wall 25b is in contact with the upper surface of the second ink absorber 24, and the flange portion 28 has the weight of the cover member 25 and Since the weight of the upper first ink absorber 23 is in close contact with the upper surface of the second ink absorber 24, the humidity of the internal space 27 of the cover member 25 can be kept high. For this reason, the accumulation amount of the ink residue in the vicinity of the discharge port 62a can be effectively reduced.

  (7) Since the flange portion 28 that is a part of the cover member 25 functions as an enlarged contact portion that enlarges the contact area of the cover member 25 with the upper surface of the second ink absorber 24, the cover member 25 does not increase the number of components. The humidity reduction of the internal space 27 can be suppressed.

(8) The second ink absorber 24 is compressed by the flange portion 28 of the cover member 25, and the pores in the second ink absorber 24 at the compressed portion are crushed and become smaller. In this case, the amount of ink retained in the portion compressed by the flange portion 28 can be increased to reduce the gas flowability. For this reason, the airtightness of the internal space 27 of the cover member 25 can be further improved, and the humidity reduction of the internal space 27 can be effectively suppressed.
(Example of change)
In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.

-You may comprise the cover member 25 so that the rectangular box shape opened to the lower side as shown in FIG. 6 may be made.
As shown in FIG. 7, the permeation suppression plate 32 is made as large as possible in the collection container 21 in plan view, and the permeation suppression plate 32 and the cover member 25 do not overlap with the permeation suppression plate 32 in plan view. You may make it provide the through-hole 32a in a part. In this case, the permeation suppression plate 32 may be configured such that the occupation area in the plan view in the collection container 21 is smaller than the occupation area in the plan view of the second ink absorber 24. Furthermore, in this case, the size, shape, and number of the through holes 32a provided in the permeation suppression plate 32 may be arbitrary. In this way, the discharged ink that has permeated and diffused into the second ink absorber 24 is passed through each of the through holes 32a into the lower first ink absorber 31 stacked below the second ink absorber 24. It can be surely permeated through and absorbed and retained.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality (seven in this case) of lower first ink absorbers 31 may be stacked below the second ink absorber 24. In this case, depending on the place where the ink recovery device 20 is disposed in the ink jet printer 10, the recovery container 21 may have to be in a vertically long shape. In this case, in particular, the lower first By stacking a plurality of ink absorbers 31, it is possible to ensure a sufficient amount that the discharged ink can be absorbed and retained. In this case, since the lower first ink absorber 31 is disposed below the second ink absorber 24, the second ink absorption can be achieved even when a large number of the lower first ink absorbers 31 are stacked. The permeation of the discharged ink from the body 24 to each lower first ink absorber 31 can be promoted by gravity. For this reason, the amount of discharged ink penetrating from the second ink absorber 24 to each lower first ink absorber 31 is not limited, and the discharged ink is sufficiently absorbed and held by each lower first ink absorber 31. can do.

-You may make the penetration suppression board 32 into a block shape.
The upper first ink absorber 23 may be omitted.
Each protrusion 29 in the cover member 25 may be omitted, or may be two or less or four or more.

  The flange portion 28 of the cover member 25 may be omitted, the thickness of the side wall 25b of the cover member 25 may be the same as the width of the flange portion 28, and the side wall 25b may be an enlarged contact portion.

The flange portion 28 of the cover member 25 may be an inward flange portion that extends inwardly along the upper surface of the second ink absorber 24 from the lower end 25c of the side wall 25b.
-The cover member 25 does not need to be formed in a box shape. That is, the cover member may be made of, for example, a film having a shape-retaining property as long as an internal space 27 having a certain volume can be secured and formed between the upper first ink absorber 23 and the second ink absorber 24. .

The flange portion 28 of the cover member 25 may be configured by a member different from the cover member 25.
The upper first ink absorber 23 on the upper side of the top plate 25a corresponding to the top plate 25a of the cover member 25 may be omitted. That is, a hole having the same shape as the top plate 25a may be formed in the upper first ink absorber 23 on the upper side of the top plate 25a of the cover member 25 so that the top plate 25a is exposed.

The second ink absorber 24 may not be impregnated with the antifoaming liquid 30.
-At least one of the upper first ink absorber 23 and the second ink absorber 24 may have a plurality of layers.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus is embodied as the ink jet printer 10. However, for example, the liquid ejecting apparatus may be used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display or pixel formation such as an organic EL display. Good.

1 is a perspective view of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment. Sectional drawing of the printer. Sectional drawing of the ink collection | recovery apparatus of the printer. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. (A), (b) is a perspective view of the cover member of the printer. The perspective view of the cover member of the example of a change. Sectional drawing of the ink collection | recovery apparatus of the example of a change. Sectional drawing of the ink collection | recovery apparatus of the example of a change.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Inkjet printer as a liquid ejecting apparatus, 16 ... Recording head as a liquid ejecting head, 16a ... Nozzle forming surface, 17 ... Ink cartridge as a liquid storage means, 20 ... Liquid recovery apparatus as a liquid recovery means Ink recovery device, 21 ... recovery container, 21a ... container opening, 23 ... upper first ink absorber as a first liquid absorber constituting the liquid absorber, 24 ... second liquid absorber constituting the liquid absorber 25... Cover member, 25 c. Lower end of the side wall of the cover member, 28. Flange portion as an enlarged contact portion, 29... Projection as a projecting portion, 31. Lower first ink absorber as a liquid absorber, 32 ... a permeation suppression plate as a permeation suppression member, 61 ... a cap as a sealing means, 62a ... discharge .

Claims (11)

A liquid absorber comprising a plurality of layers for absorbing liquid; and a recovery container for storing the liquid absorber. A discharge port for discharging the liquid is disposed in the recovery container, and is discharged from the discharge port. In the liquid recovery apparatus for volatilizing a part of the liquid absorbed by the liquid absorber through a container opening provided in the recovery container,
The liquid absorber includes a first liquid absorber having a relatively high liquid holding capability and a second liquid absorber having a relatively high liquid diffusion capability in which the first liquid absorber is stacked on the lower side. ,
A cover member that secures and forms a space of a certain volume is disposed above the second liquid absorber, and the discharge port is disposed in a space that the cover member secures and forms,
A liquid recovery apparatus, wherein a permeation suppression member that suppresses the permeation of the liquid in the space downward is disposed between the second liquid absorber and the first liquid absorber. The liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is disposed so that at least the entire cover member is accommodated on the permeation suppression member in a plan view. The osmosis suppression member is configured such that an occupied area in a plan view in the collection container is smaller than an occupied area in a plan view of the second liquid absorber. 2. The liquid recovery apparatus according to 2. 4. The liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one first liquid absorber is disposed above the second liquid absorber. 5. 5. The liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of layers of first liquid absorbers are stacked below the second liquid absorber. 6. . The liquid recovery apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the permeation suppression member has a sheet shape. The said cover member has comprised the box shape opened on the lower side, The lower end is contacting the said 2nd liquid absorber, The claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. The liquid recovery apparatus as described. The liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cover member includes an enlarged contact portion that expands a contact area with the second liquid absorber at a lower end thereof. The liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the enlarged contact portion is a flange portion that extends outward from the lower end of the cover member along the upper surface of the second liquid absorber. The liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a protrusion having a height lower than the thickness of the second liquid absorber is provided on the lower surface of the flange portion. Liquid storage means for storing liquid, liquid jet head for jetting the liquid, sealing means capable of sealing a nozzle forming surface provided in the liquid jet head, and the liquid jet toward the sealing means In a liquid ejecting apparatus comprising a liquid recovery means for recovering the liquid discharged from the head,
A liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the liquid recovery means includes the liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 1.

Images