JP2008114568A - Liquid jet apparatus and its liquid storage portion - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid jet apparatus which can prevent the scattering, overflow and free-fall of a liquid remaining in a liquid passage, when or after a liquid storage portion is detached, and a waste liquid of the liquid jet apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This liquid jet apparatus 10 comprises: a liquid reception portion 21 which receives the liquid from a liquid jet head 30; the detachable liquid storage portions 40 and 140 for storing the liquid in the liquid reception portion 21; and the liquid passage 25 which guides the liquid in the liquid reception portion 21 into the liquid storage portions 40 and 140. The liquid storage portions 40 and 140 of the liquid jet apparatus 10 are equipped with an absorption portion 50 for absorbing the liquid 100, and scattering prevention portions 46 and 146 for preventing the scattering of the liquid 100. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid and a liquid container of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, an ink jet recording apparatus that is a liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ink jet recording head. In addition, the ink jet recording head is provided with a number of nozzles for ejecting ink onto recording paper or the like, and minute ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles onto the recording medium to obtain desired characters and graphics. The image is recorded.
In addition, this ink jet recording apparatus seals the nozzles to prevent the viscosity of the ink in the nozzles from increasing, or removes thickened ink that causes ejection failure by sucking ink or the like. Some have a cleaning mechanism.
The cleaning mechanism described above accommodates the sucked ink (hereinafter referred to as waste ink) in a waste ink tank in the ink jet recording apparatus via a tube (hereinafter referred to as pump tube). . This pump tube is an example of a liquid path that is a path of waste ink, which is an example of liquid, to a waste ink tank. The waste ink tank is an example of a liquid container.

The waste ink tank has a casing that is a waste ink tank main body, and is configured such that an absorption section that absorbs waste ink is disposed in the casing. The waste ink tank is configured to absorb and retain the waste ink in the absorption unit.
Conventionally, there has been disclosed a configuration in which an ink jet recording apparatus is disposed on a waste ink tank and a leaked ink receiver for receiving the waste ink is disposed in order to prevent the ink jet recording apparatus from being stained with ink. (For example, patent document 1).
JP 2004-188629 A (FIG. 1 etc.)

  However, waste ink may remain near the outlet of the pump tube, which is the path of the waste ink to the waste ink tank, and bubbles or the like are trapped in the waste ink remaining in the pump tube. There is. In such a case, the bubbles in the waste ink may bounce when the waste ink tank is removed, and the waste ink may be scattered around and contaminated. Also, if bubbles or the like are involved in the waste ink, when the waste ink is discharged to the absorbent material and absorbed, the apparent volume of the waste ink increases due to the bubbles, so it overflows around. As a result, the ink jet recording apparatus may be contaminated.

  Accordingly, the present invention solves the above-described problem, and can prevent liquid remaining in the liquid path from splashing or overflowing and spontaneously falling when the liquid container is removed or after the liquid container is removed. It aims at providing the waste liquid of an apparatus and a liquid injection apparatus.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid, a liquid receiving portion that receives the liquid from the liquid ejecting head, and a detachable liquid storage that stores the liquid in the liquid receiving portion. And a liquid path for conducting the liquid in the liquid receiving portion into the liquid storage portion, wherein the liquid storage portion absorbs the liquid, and the liquid splatters. This is achieved by a liquid ejecting apparatus comprising a splattering preventing unit for preventing the splattering.

  The configuration includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid, a liquid receiving portion that receives liquid from the liquid ejecting head, a detachable liquid containing portion that contains the liquid in the liquid receiving portion, and a liquid in the liquid receiving portion. The liquid container of the liquid ejecting apparatus having a liquid path that conducts into the liquid container includes an absorption part that absorbs the liquid and a splash prevention part that prevents the liquid from splashing.

According to this configuration, the liquid storage part has the splash preventing part that prevents the liquid from splashing.
Accordingly, when the liquid remains in the liquid path when the liquid container is removed from the liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid that receives the liquid from the liquid ejecting head or when the liquid is discharged from the liquid path. When the liquid from the receiving unit is stored in the liquid storage unit through the liquid path, bubbles or the like are involved in the liquid, and when the bubbles bounce and scatter when stored in the liquid storage unit through the liquid path, Even when the liquid itself scatters, it is possible to prevent the surroundings from being contaminated by the splattering preventing portion.
And an absorption part can make a liquid absorb. Moreover, since the apparent volume of the liquid is increased by entraining the bubbles in the liquid, it is possible to prevent the liquid from being overflowed and scattered when stored in the liquid storage portion through the liquid path.

Preferably, the splash preventing part is an introduction dropping part for dropping the liquid in the liquid path and guiding it to the absorption part.
According to this configuration, the splash prevention part is an introduction dripping part for dripping the liquid in the liquid path and guiding it to the absorption part.
Therefore, even when bubbles are involved in the liquid remaining in the liquid path or the viscosity is increased, the remaining liquid is forcibly dropped by the introduction dropping unit which is the scattering prevention unit. And it can be made to absorb to an absorption part, without being transmitted through an introduction dripping part and contaminating the circumference. In addition, when the liquid container is attached or detached, the liquid remaining in the liquid path is forcibly dropped, so that the waste liquid can be prevented from being scattered and the liquid ejecting apparatus from being contaminated.

  Preferably, the scattering prevention unit is a liquid ejecting apparatus that is disposed at a position corresponding to a position of the liquid path part when the liquid storage unit is installed in the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  According to the configuration, the scattering prevention unit is disposed at a position corresponding to the position of the liquid path portion when the liquid storage unit is installed in the liquid ejecting apparatus. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently prevent liquid scattering and the like.

Preferably, in the liquid ejecting apparatus, the scattering prevention unit is disposed so as to surround the liquid path.
According to this configuration, since the splash preventing part is arranged so as to surround the liquid path, the splash preventing effect is further improved, and the liquid remaining in the liquid path can be forcibly dropped. .

  Preferably, the splash preventing part is provided so as not to come into contact with the liquid path when the liquid container is attached to and detached from the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  According to the above configuration, the splash prevention unit is provided so as not to come into contact with the liquid path when the liquid container is attached to and detached from the liquid ejecting apparatus. Accordingly, even when the liquid is entrained in the attachment / detachment, the liquid is absorbed while being dropped onto the absorption part by the scattering prevention part, so that the surroundings of the liquid storage part are not contaminated.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid, a liquid receiving portion that receives the liquid from the liquid ejecting head, and a detachable liquid storage that stores the liquid in the liquid receiving portion. A liquid storage part of a liquid ejecting apparatus, and a liquid storage part that absorbs the liquid; and a liquid path that conducts the liquid in the liquid receiving part into the liquid storage part. It is achieved by a liquid container of a liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising: a splatter prevention unit that prevents the liquid from splattering.

  According to the above configuration, the liquid storage unit of the liquid ejecting apparatus includes the absorption unit that absorbs the liquid and the scattering prevention unit that prevents the liquid from scattering. Therefore, when the bubbles are trapped in the liquid and discharged from the liquid path, the scattering prevention unit can prevent the surroundings from being contaminated by the scattering of bubbles or the scattering of ink. Can absorb waste ink.

  Preferably, the liquid storage unit has a liquid storage unit main body having an open surface that opens a part of a surface corresponding to the liquid path, and the absorption unit is disposed inside the liquid storage main unit. The splash prevention part is achieved by the liquid container of the liquid ejecting apparatus, which is provided on the open surface and is disposed at a position corresponding to the liquid path.

According to the above configuration, the liquid container of the liquid ejecting apparatus includes the liquid container main body having an open surface that opens a part of the surface corresponding to the liquid path, and the interior of the liquid container main body. The absorbing portion is disposed, and the splash preventing portion is provided on the open surface and is disposed at a position corresponding to the liquid path.
Therefore, when the liquid container is installed in the apparatus, it corresponds to the position at which the liquid is discharged, so that the liquid can be efficiently prevented from scattering.

  Preferably, the splattering prevention unit is achieved by a liquid storage unit of a liquid ejecting apparatus which is an introduction / dropping unit for dropping the liquid in the liquid path and guiding the liquid to the absorption unit.

  Therefore, even when air bubbles are involved in the ink remaining in the liquid path or the viscosity is increased, the residual ink is dropped by the introduction dripping portion which is the scattering prevention portion, and is transmitted through the introduction lower portion, It can be absorbed by the absorption part without contaminating the surroundings.

  Preferably, the splash prevention unit is achieved by a liquid container of the liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the liquid container is disposed so as to surround the liquid path when the liquid container is installed in the liquid ejecting apparatus. The

  Preferably, the splattering prevention unit is achieved by the liquid container of the liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the liquid container is provided so as not to come into contact with the liquid path when the liquid container is detached from the liquid ejecting apparatus. The

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following description. As long as there is no description which limits, it is not restricted to these aspects.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “recording apparatus”) 10 according to an embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention. The recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is also called an inkjet printer.
The recording apparatus 10 has a main body 1. The main body 1 includes a guide rail 17, a platen 12, a carriage 14, an ink suction device 20, and a recording head 30. The recording head 30 is an example of a liquid ejecting head that ejects ink (an example of liquid) onto a recording sheet (hereinafter also referred to as “ejection”), and is also referred to as a print head.

A recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called on-carriage type recording apparatus, and has a configuration in which a plurality of ink cartridges 2, 3, 4, and 5 can be detachably mounted on the carriage 14. The ink cartridge 2 or the like stores ink that is an example of a liquid. The ink cartridge 2 stores black ink, the ink cartridge 3 stores cyan ink, the ink cartridge 4 stores yellow ink, and the ink cartridge 5 stores magenta ink. Is stored.
A recording head 30 is provided below the carriage 14. The nozzle plate surface 30 a that the recording head 30 faces the paper 29 is provided with nozzle openings for ejecting ink.

  The carriage 14 is connected to a motor 16 via a belt 15. When the motor 16 operates, the carriage 14 reciprocates along the guide rail 17 in the main scanning direction T that is the axial direction of the platen 12. As the carriage 14 reciprocates in the main scanning direction T while ejecting ink from the recording head 30, an image is recorded on a sheet 29 that is an example of a recording medium.

  A home position 18 is disposed at one end of the guide rail 17. The home position 18 is a non-printing area at the end of the carriage travel path. An ink suction device 20 is disposed at the home position 18. The ink suction device 20 is also called a capping system or a capping unit, and is an example of a liquid receiving unit. The recording head 30 of the carriage 14 in FIG. 1 faces the cap body 21 of the ink suction device 20 by moving to the home position 18 along the T1 direction. The ink suction device 20 is in close contact with the nozzle plate surface 30a where the nozzle openings of the recording head 30 are provided.

The ink suction device 20 has a function of preventing ink from drying at the nozzle openings of the recording head 30 while being in close contact with the recording head 30, and a negative pressure from the suction pump 19 is applied to the nozzle openings to cause ink to be discharged from the nozzle openings. It has a function to forcibly suck and discharge.
That is, the ink suction device 20 cleans the recording head 30 by discharging ink through a pump tube 25 (see FIG. 3) described later in a state where the nozzle openings of the recording head 30 are sealed.
The series of steps is an example for cleaning the recording head 30.

  In other words, the recording head 30 that is an example of a liquid ejecting head that discharges ink that is an example of liquid, and the cap of the ink suction device 20 that is an example of a liquid receiving unit that receives ink discharged from the nozzle openings of the recording head 30 A main body, a waste ink tank 40 which is an example of a detachable liquid storage portion that discharges and stores ink in the cap main body 21 by the suction pump 19, and a cap main body and the waste ink tank 40 of the ink suction device 20. The recording head 30 is cleaned as described above from the pump tube 25, which is an example of a liquid path that is connected to conduct ink in the cap of the ink suction device 20 to the waste ink tank 40.

The suction pump 19 described above is a component of the ink suction device 20. This ink suction is an example of ink discharge. The pump tube 25 is an example of a liquid path.
In addition, a wiper 23 is provided beside the ink suction device 20. The wiper 23 wipes ink on the nozzle plate surface 30a of the recording head 30 as necessary.
The waste ink tank 40 is an example of a liquid storage unit.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the waste ink tank 40.
As shown in FIG. 2, the waste ink tank 40 has a housing that is a waste ink tank main body having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and has an open surface 40 a that opens an upper portion thereof. For this reason, the ink in the waste ink tank 40 is easily evaporated.
And this open surface 40a is provided in the surface corresponding to the pump tube exit part 25a of the pump tube 25 which is a liquid path | route (refer Fig.3 (a)). As shown in FIG. 2, a cylindrical rib 46 is provided on the open surface 40a side.
The waste ink tank 40 is configured such that the absorbent material 50 is disposed inside the casing. Here, the absorbing material 50 is an example of an absorbing portion that absorbs waste ink.

The waste ink tank 40 is detachably disposed below the suction pump 19 in the recording apparatus 10 so that the waste ink tank 40 can be removed in the direction of the arrow W1 when the absorbing power of the absorbent 50 is saturated with waste ink. It has become.
As will be described later, the cylindrical rib 46 prevents the waste ink 100 in the pump tube 25 from scattering, and forcibly absorbs the waste ink 100 remaining in the pump tube 25 when the waste ink tank 40 is removed. It is also configured so that it can be dropped on the material 50 to prevent scattering.
That is, the cylindrical rib 46 is an example of a scattering prevention member.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic cross section of the waste ink tank 40.
FIG. 3A is a schematic sectional view taken along line AA of the waste ink tank 40 of FIG. FIG. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the waste ink tank 40 and the pump tube 25 in a state where the waste ink tank 40 is installed in the recording apparatus 10.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the pump tube 25 is disposed above the open surface of the waste ink tank 40 at a position corresponding to the position of the cylindrical rib 46 provided on the waste ink tank 40. It has become. That is, the pump tube 25 is disposed at a position where the cylindrical rib 46 of the waste ink tank 40 is provided in a state where the waste tank 40 is installed in the recording apparatus 10. And in this Embodiment, as shown to Fig.3 (a), the pump tube exit part 25a of the pump tube 25 is arrange | positioned in the cylindrical rib.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3A, the absorbent 50 is arranged inside the waste ink tank 40 main body. This absorbent material 50 has a concave absorbent material recess 50 a in the vicinity of the approximate center of the casing of the waste ink tank 40.
That is, the position of the absorbent recess 50a is such that the waste ink that has been conducted through the pump tube 25 drops from the pump tube outlet 25a toward the absorbent 50 in a state where the waste ink tank 40 is installed in the recording apparatus 10. Match the range.
And the waste ink 100 dripped at the absorber recessed part 50a is disperse | distributed and absorbed inside the absorber 50, for example, as shown by arrow P1, P2, and P3.

When the distance between the pump tube outlet 25a and the absorbent 50 existing on the open surface 40a side of the waste tank 40 is short, the waste ink 100 dropped on the absorbent 50 accumulates and the pump tube outlet The portion 25a may be blocked.
Therefore, it is preferable that the distance from the pump tube outlet portion 25a to the absorbent 50 is somewhat long.
For this reason, in a state where the waste ink tank 40 is installed in the recording apparatus 10, the position of the absorbent recess 50a corresponds to the position of the pump tube outlet 25a above the open surface 40a of the waste tank 40. It has become. For this reason, the distance from the pump tube outlet portion 25a to the absorbent 50 can be secured to some extent, and the blockage of the pump tube outlet portion 25a by the waste ink 100 can be prevented. The pump tube 25 is made of a flexible material such as silicone rubber and is hollow.

  The waste ink tank 40 includes absorbing material pressing portions 42 a and 42 b for fixing the absorbing material 50 and a cylindrical rib 46. The absorbent material holding portions 42a and 42b are an example for fixing the absorbent material 50. In some cases, the cylindrical rib 46 also functions to fix the absorbent 50.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3A, the waste ink 100 may remain near the pump tube outlet 25a in the pump tube 25, and the remaining waste ink 100 is not shown. May involve air bubbles. The phenomenon that the waste ink 100 remains in the vicinity of the pump tube outlet 25a is particularly likely to occur when bubbles are mixed in the waste ink.

FIG. 3B is a schematic plan view of the waste ink tank 40 viewed from the direction of the arrow Z1 in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the absorbent material pressing portions 42a and 42b and the cylindrical rib 46 are integrally formed, and are configured by the wall portions 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, and 41e of the waste ink tank 40. And a housing that is a waste ink tank main body 41 of the waste ink tank 40 is formed.
FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram showing the height of each part of the waste ink tank 40. The relationship between the pump tube outlet 25a, the absorbent recess 50a, the cylindrical rib 46, and the like will be described in a little more detail using this schematic diagram.

  FIG. 3C shows the height viewed from the direction of the arrow Z2 in FIG. 2, and the heights h1 to h6 are based on the waste ink tank bottom 40b (see FIG. 3A).

h1 is the height from the waste ink tank bottom 40b to the surface side of the absorbent material recess 50a, the surface corresponding to the pump tube outlet 25a on the upper surface in the drawing.
h2 is the height from the waste ink tank bottom 40b to the surface disposed on the open surface of the waste ink tank 40 on the surface side of the absorbent 50 other than the absorbent recess 50a.
h3 is the height (see FIG. 2) from the waste ink tank bottom 40b to the upper surface side 41a1 of the rear wall (see FIG. 3 (a)).
h4 is the height from the waste ink tank bottom portion 40b to the upper surface sides 42a1 and 42b1 of the absorber pressing portions 42a and 42b. h5 is the height from the waste ink tank bottom portion 40b to the pump tube outlet portion 25a.
h6 is the height from the waste ink tank bottom 40b to the cylindrical rib upper surface 46b which is the upper surface of the cylindrical rib 46.
As shown in FIG. 3 (c), the height h1 and the like are defined such that Expression 1 of h1 <h2 <h3 ≦ h4 <h5 <h6 holds.

The waste ink tank 40 is configured as described above.
As described above, the relationship between h5 caused by the pump tube outlet 25a and h6 caused by the height of the cylindrical rib 46 is h5 <h6.
That is, in a state where the waste ink tank 40 is installed in the recording apparatus 10, the pump tube outlet 25a of the pump tube 25 that is a liquid path is located inside the upper surface of the cylindrical rib 46, and the pump tube 25 is in the cylindrical rib. 46 so as to partially overlap with 46. Accordingly, a cylindrical rib 46 is provided so as to surround the pump tube 25. More specifically, the vicinity of the pump tube outlet 25 a of the pump tube 25 is surrounded by the inner peripheral wall surface 46 a of the cylindrical rib 46.

Here, it demonstrates, referring FIG. 4 which is a partially expanded sectional view which shows the relationship between the pump tube 25 and the cylindrical rib 46 of FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 4, when the waste ink 100 remains in the pump tube 25, the waste ink tank 40 is moved in the arrow W1 direction in order to remove the waste ink tank 40 from the recording apparatus. Let Then, the pump tube 25 comes into contact with the cylindrical rib 46 and bends. (See Fig. 4 (b))
This is because, as described above, the height h6 to the cylindrical rib 46 (see FIG. 3C) is configured to be higher than the height h5 to the pump tube outlet portion 25a.
In other words, the height h6 of the cylindrical rib 46 is defined so as to come into contact with the pump tube 25 when the waste ink tank 40 is removed from the recording apparatus 10.
Thereby, the waste ink 100 remaining in the pump tube 25 is forcibly discharged and removed as schematically shown in FIG.

  In addition, when bubbles are mixed in the waste ink 100, the bubbles in the waste ink 100 hit the inner peripheral wall surface 46a of the cylindrical rib 46 and scatter. The bounced waste ink 100 hits the inner peripheral wall surface 46 a of the cylindrical rib 46, travels along the inner peripheral wall surface 46 a of the cylindrical rib 46, and reaches the absorber 50. (See Fig. 4 (b))

  Further, when the waste ink 100 is discharged from the pump tube 25 to the waste ink tank 40, if the bubbles are caught in the waste ink 100, this cylindrical rib 46 is used even when the waste ink 100 is scattered. The ink splashed on the inner surface 46a of the cylindrical rib 46 hits the inner peripheral wall surface 46a of the cylindrical rib 46, reaches the absorber 50 and is absorbed.

  That is, in order to remove the waste ink 100 remaining in the pump tube 25, in order to apply some force in the vicinity of the pump tube outlet 25a where the waste ink 100 remains, the cylindrical rib 46 is provided with a pump tube. In addition, the pump tube 25 is bent further in contact with the nozzle 25, whereby a force for removing the remaining waste ink 100 is applied to the pump tube 25.

When the waste ink tank 40 is further moved in the direction of the arrow W1, the bending of the pump tube 25 returns.
At this time, the waste ink 100b removed from the pump tube 25 is scattered in the direction of the rear wall 41a due to the return of the deflection of the pump tube 25, and may not be dripped into the absorbent recess 50a.
However, even in such a case, the scattered waste ink 100 is further removed from the rear wall portion 41a by the absorbing material pressing portion 42b acting as a wall for receiving ink, and the waste ink tank. The outer peripheral wall of the housing, which is the main body of 40, is not contaminated. As described above, the absorbent material pressing portion 42b disposed between the cylindrical rib 46 and the rear wall portion 41a also functions as a wall for receiving the waste ink 100.

Further, when the waste ink tank 40 moves in the direction of the arrow W1, the pump tube 25 has a relationship of h3 <h5 as described above, and therefore the pump tube outlet portion 25a and the upper surface side 41a1 of the rear wall portion. Pass over without touching.
For this reason, the ink does not adhere to the upper surface side 41a1 of the rear wall portion, and the attached ink is not transmitted to the outer peripheral wall surface of the waste ink tank 40 and is not contaminated.
After the waste ink tank 40 is removed from the recording apparatus 10, the pump tube outlet 25 a does not face the waste ink tank 40, but the waste ink 100 remaining in the pump tube 25 has already been discharged. Therefore, the waste ink 100 does not fall into the recording apparatus 10 after the waste ink tank 40 is removed. Therefore, the inside of the recording apparatus 10 is not contaminated.

  As described above, the height h <b> 6 (see FIG. 3C) of the cylindrical rib 46 is defined so as to come into contact with the pump tube 25 when the waste ink tank 40 is removed from the recording apparatus 10. For this reason, when the waste ink tank 40 is removed from the recording apparatus 10, the waste ink 100b remaining in the pump tube 25 is removed by the cylindrical rib 46 when the waste ink 100 remaining in the pump tube 25 as a liquid path is removed. It is forcibly excluded. That is, the waste ink 100 pushed out from the pump tube 25 hits the inner peripheral wall surface 46a of the cylindrical rib 46, and when bubbles are caught in the waste ink, the bubbles bounce off and hit the inner peripheral wall surface 46a. It is transmitted through the peripheral wall surface 46a and dropped to the absorbent 50 and absorbed.

Thereby, when the waste ink tank 40 is removed or after the waste ink tank 40 is removed, it is possible to prevent the waste ink remaining in the pump tube 25 from scattering and spontaneously falling. In addition, when bubbles appear in the waste ink 100 and the apparent bulk of the waste ink 100 is increased, the cylindrical rib 46 allows the waste ink 100 in which the bubbles are involved to be received. Thus, it functions as a splattering prevention means for preventing the ink from splattering. The dropped ink travels along the inner peripheral wall surface 46 a of the cylindrical rib 46 and is guided to the absorbent material 50. Accordingly, the cylindrical rib 46 also functions as an introduction dripping portion that guides the waste ink to the absorber.
In addition, the cylindrical rib 46 can function as a fixing means necessary for fixing the absorbent 50 to the waste ink tank 40.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. Since the second embodiment has many configurations in common with the first embodiment, the common parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the like, and the description below will focus on differences from the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the waste ink tank 140.
FIG. 6A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the waste ink tank 140 of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the pump tube outlet portion 25 a is disposed so as to be positioned substantially in the same plane as the upper surface 146 b of the scattering prevention rib 146.
FIG. 6B is a schematic plan view of the waste ink tank 140 viewed from the direction of the arrow Z1 in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6B, the absorbent material pressing portions 42a and 42b and the scattering prevention rib 146 are integrally formed, and are constituted by the wall portions 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, and 41e of the waste ink tank 140. Is fitted to a box-shaped upper end side to form a casing which is a waste ink tank main body 41 of the waste ink tank 40.
When bubbles or the like are involved in the waste ink 100 remaining in the pump tube 25, the waste ink 100 may overflow from the pump tube outlet 25a.
In such a case, if the waste ink tank 140 is moved in the direction of W1 in order to remove the waste ink tank 140 from the recording apparatus 10, bubbles entrained in the waste ink 100 may be bounced off and scattered. There is a possibility that the surroundings of the waste ink tank 140 may be contaminated by being pulled by the tube 25.

Therefore, in order to prevent such a phenomenon, when the waste ink tank 140 moves in the arrow W1 direction, the waste ink 100 comes into contact with the scattering prevention rib 146, and the waste ink 100 is excluded by the scattering prevention rib 146. The absorbent material 50 is reached through the peripheral wall surface 146a (see FIGS. 6A, 7A, and 7B).
The inner peripheral wall surface 146a of the scattering prevention rib 146 functions as a receiving portion when the bubbles bounce and scatter when the bubbles are entrained in the waste ink 100 or the like.
Here, FIG. 7A is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a relationship among the scattering prevention rib 146, the pump tube 25, the pump tube outlet 25a, and the waste ink 100 in FIG. 6A.
FIG. 7B is a schematic explanatory view showing a state when the waste ink tank 140 is moved in the removal direction of W1 in the partially enlarged sectional view shown in FIG.

  Further, when the waste ink 100 is discharged from the pump tube 25, if bubbles or the like are involved, the volume increases and the absorbent material 50 may overflow. Even in such a case, the presence of the scattering prevention rib 146 allows the discharged waste ink 100 to be received in the scattering prevention rib 146 and not overflow. That is, the scattering prevention rib 146 exists in correspondence with the position of the pump tube outlet portion 25 a of the pump tube 25 when the waste ink tank 140 is disposed in the recording apparatus 10. The scattering prevention rib 146 is provided at a position corresponding to the position where the cylindrical rib 46 of the waste ink tank 40 of the first embodiment is provided.

Accordingly, the scattering prevention rib 146 is located at a position where the waste ink 100 is discharged and dropped, and functions as a receiving portion when the waste ink 100 is scattered.
Here, the height of each part such as the waste ink tank 140 will be described. The difference from the first embodiment is the relationship between h5 and h6 in FIG.
In the second embodiment, as described with reference to FIGS. 6B and 7, the anti-scattering rib 146 is used instead of the cylindrical rib of h <b> 6 at the height viewed from the direction of the arrow Z <b> 2 in FIG. In this case, h6 indicates the height from the waste ink tank bottom 41b to the upper surface of the anti-scattering rib 146.

The difference between the height h6 up to the upper surface of the scattering prevention part and the height up to the pump tube outlet 25a of the pump tube 25 of h5 is that h5 = h6.
That is, Expression 1 showing the height relationship in the first embodiment is defined in the waste ink tank 146 so that h1 <h2 <h3 ≦ h4 <h5 = h6.
Even in such a relationship, it is possible to prevent the waste ink 100 from being scattered from the pump tube 25 as described above.

  FIG. 8 shows a modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing the relationship between the pump tube 25 and the scattering prevention rib 146. The difference from the second embodiment is that a pump tube mounting plate 125 is provided at the pump tube outlet portion 25a. Since the subsequent configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted.

  The pump tube mounting plate 125 is for fixing the pump tube outlet portion 25a. In this way, the pump tube outlet plate 125 prevents the ink from being scattered when the waste ink 100 is discharged from the pump tube 25. The vicinity of 25a is not contaminated. However, on the other hand, if the pump tube mounting plate 125 is present, the waste ink 100 may spread toward the pump tube mounting plate 125 if bubbles or the like are involved in the waste ink 100. .

However, even in such a case, since the anti-scattering rib 146 is provided, the waste ink 100 does not contaminate the inside of the recording apparatus 10 or the periphery of the waste ink tank 141.
That is, even if the waste ink 100 spreads on the pump tube mounting plate 125 in this way, when the waste ink tank 141 is moved in the direction of W1 when the waste ink tank 141 is removed from the recording apparatus 10, this scattering prevention is performed. The rib 146 causes the waste ink 100 near the pump tube mounting plate 125 to hit the scattering prevention rib 146. Then, the waste ink 100 hits the inner peripheral wall surface 146a of the scattering prevention rib 146, and the waste ink and the like, which are scattered by air bubbles and the like, are guided along the inner peripheral wall surface 146a and guided to the absorbent 50.
Therefore, the waste ink 100 can be removed, and it will not be scattered and contaminated.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the cylindrical rib 46 and the scattering prevention rib 146 may have a well shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, or an elliptical shape other than the illustrated shapes, and prevent the waste ink 100 from scattering. Thus, it is sufficient if the absorbing material 50 is high enough to guide ink, and even if the absorbing material is in contact with the scattering preventing portion that prevents scattering of ink, such as the cylindrical rib 46 and the scattering preventing rib 146, it is separated. May be. Further, these scattering prevention portions may be integrated with the casing of the waste ink tank or the like, or may be separate.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as a recording apparatus, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments may be combined with each other. The present invention is not limited to a recording apparatus, but a recording head used in an image recording apparatus such as a printer, a color material ejecting head used in manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, and an FED (surface emitting display). The present invention can also be applied to a liquid ejecting apparatus using a liquid ejecting head for ejecting liquid, such as an electrode material ejecting head used for electrode formation, a bioorganic matter ejecting head used for biochip manufacturing, a sample ejecting apparatus as a precision pipette, etc. .

1 is a schematic perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus. It is a schematic perspective view which shows a waste ink tank. It is the schematic which shows the cross section etc. of a waste ink tank. It is a schematic diagram showing a partially enlarged view of a waste ink tank or the like. It is a schematic perspective view which shows a waste ink tank. It is the schematic which shows the cross section etc. of a waste ink tank. It is a schematic diagram showing a partially enlarged view of a waste ink tank or the like. It is the schematic which shows the partially expanded view etc. of modifications, such as a waste ink tank.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Inkjet recording device, 20 ... Ink suction device, 21 ... Cap body, 19 ... Suction pump, 25 ... Pump tube, 25a ... Pump tube outlet part, 30 ... Recording head, 30a ... nozzle plate surface, 40, 140 ... waste ink tank, 40a ... open surface, 41, 141 ... waste ink tank body (housing), 41a ... rear wall 41a1 ... upper surface side of the rear wall part, 41b ... waste ink tank bottom part, 41c, 41d, 41f ... wall part, 42a, 42b ... absorber pressing part, 42a1, 42b1 ... Upper surface side of the absorbent material pressing portion, 46... Cylindrical rib, 46 a... Inner wall surface of the cylindrical rib, 50... Absorbent material, 50 a. Pump tube mounting , 146 ... shatterproof ribs, 146a ... shatterproof rib inner circumferential wall

Claims (10)

A liquid jet head for discharging liquid;
A liquid receiving portion for receiving the liquid from the liquid ejecting head;
A detachable liquid storage portion for storing the liquid in the liquid receiving portion;
A liquid path for conducting the liquid in the liquid receiving portion into the liquid containing portion;
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:
The liquid container is
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: an absorbing portion that absorbs the liquid; and a splash preventing portion that prevents the liquid from splashing.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the splash prevention unit is an introduction dripping unit for dripping the liquid in the liquid path and guiding the liquid to the absorption unit.   3. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scattering prevention unit is disposed at a position corresponding to a position of the liquid path when the liquid container is installed in the liquid ejecting apparatus. .   4. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scattering prevention unit is disposed so as to surround the liquid path. 5.   The said splash prevention part is provided so that when the said liquid accommodating part is attached or detached from the said liquid ejecting apparatus, it does not contact with the said liquid path | route. The liquid ejecting apparatus described. A liquid jet head for discharging liquid;
A liquid receiving portion for receiving the liquid from the liquid ejecting head;
A detachable liquid storage portion for storing the liquid in the liquid receiving portion;
A liquid path for conducting the liquid in the liquid receiving portion into the liquid containing portion;
A liquid container of a liquid ejecting apparatus having
The liquid container is
An absorption part for absorbing the liquid;
A splash preventing part for preventing the liquid from splashing;
A liquid container of a liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: The liquid storage unit has a liquid storage unit main body having an open surface that opens a part of a surface corresponding to the liquid path, and the absorption unit is arranged inside the liquid storage unit main body. ,
The liquid container of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the splash prevention unit is provided on the open surface and is disposed at a position corresponding to the liquid path.   The liquid container of the liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the splash prevention unit is an introduction dripping unit for dripping the liquid in the liquid path and guiding the liquid to the absorption unit. .   9. The splattering prevention unit is disposed so as to surround the liquid path when the liquid storage unit is installed in the liquid ejecting apparatus. 9. A liquid container of the liquid ejecting apparatus.   9. The splattering prevention unit is provided so as not to come into contact with the liquid path when the liquid storage unit is attached to and detached from the liquid ejecting apparatus. A liquid container of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

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