JP2011051116A - Liquid receiving device and liquid jetting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid receiving device which maintains favorably for a long period of time, a liquid receiving capacity for receiving a liquid ejected as a waste liquid from a liquid jetting head while restricting a consumption amount of a liquid with a function of suppressing a deposition of the liquid, and to provide a liquid jetting apparatus equipped with the liquid receiving device. <P>SOLUTION: A bottomed box body 32 is provided which can store the water with the function of suppressing deposition of the ink ejected from a recording head 29 and whose upper part is opened. The ink is ejected towards a liquid level of the stored liquid in the box body 32 from the recording head 29 in a state that the water is stored in the box body 32 and the recording head 29 is positioned above the box body 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

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

In general, an ink jet printer (hereinafter also simply referred to as “printer”) is known as a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid from a liquid ejecting head to a target.
In such a printer, when ink (liquid) is not ejected from a specific nozzle in a recording head (liquid ejecting head) during printing continuously for a long time, the viscosity of the ink proceeds in the nozzle. Or the surface of the ink meniscus may dry out, resulting in ink ejection failure. Therefore, when there is a nozzle that is not used for a long time during printing, maintenance called flushing is performed in which ink droplets are discharged as waste liquid from the inside of the nozzle based on a control signal unrelated to printing.

That is, at the time of flushing, the recording head is moved to a position outside the printing area, and ink is ejected toward a flushing box (liquid receiving device) disposed immediately below the printing head.
The ink ejected toward the flushing box in this way is absorbed by the absorbent disposed in the flushing box and is held in the absorbent.

By the way, when the printer is stopped for a long time, the ink absorbed in the absorbent during the flushing is dried and deposited as the solvent contained in the ink evaporates and accumulates on the absorbent. Sometimes. Therefore, as a flushing box that suppresses precipitation due to drying of ink adhering to the absorbent in the flushing box, for example, Patent Document 1
A flushing box as described in FIG. 10 has been proposed.

That is, the flushing box includes an absorbent material disposed in the flushing box and capable of absorbing ink, cleaning liquid supply means for supplying a cleaning liquid into the flushing box, and liquid (mixed liquid of ink and cleaning liquid) from the flushing box. ) Is discharged. The absorbing material that has absorbed the ink during the flushing is cleaned by the cleaning liquid supplied by the cleaning liquid supply means, and the ink is discharged together with the cleaning liquid, so that the generation of precipitates due to drying of the ink on the absorbing material is suppressed. It has become.

JP-A-8-150722

By the way, the flushing box in the above-mentioned patent document 1 includes an absorbing material for absorbing and holding ink and a cleaning liquid supply means including a pump and the like for cleaning the absorbing material in the flushing box by the cleaning liquid supply means. The cleaning liquid is supplied. Therefore, in the case of the flushing box of Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the consumption of the cleaning liquid for cleaning the absorbent material, that is, the liquid having the function of suppressing the precipitation of ink increases.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to consume a liquid having a function of suppressing the precipitation of the liquid with the ability to receive the liquid discharged from the liquid jet head as a waste liquid. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid receiving apparatus that can be maintained well over a long period of time while suppressing the amount, and a liquid ejecting apparatus including the liquid receiving apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, a liquid receiving apparatus according to the present invention has a bottomed open top that can store a second liquid having a function of suppressing deposition of the first liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head. A liquid receiver, wherein the second liquid is stored in the liquid receiver, and the liquid jet head is positioned above the liquid receiver, and the liquid stored in the liquid receiver from the liquid jet head The first liquid is discharged toward the liquid surface.

According to this configuration, when the first liquid is discharged as the waste liquid from the liquid ejecting head toward the liquid level of the stored liquid containing the second liquid in the liquid receiver, the first liquid is the second liquid in the stored liquid. It dissolves in the liquid and the precipitation is suppressed. Therefore, unlike the case where the absorbent material is disposed in the liquid receptor and the first liquid is discharged and absorbed on the absorbent material, the first liquid is deposited and deposited on the absorbent material by drying. There is nothing. Further, it is different from the configuration in which such an absorbing material can be made unnecessary and a large amount of cleaning liquid is consumed in order to avoid deposition due to deposition of the first liquid on the absorbing material. Therefore, the liquid receiving ability for receiving the liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head as the waste liquid can be favorably maintained over a long period while suppressing the consumption of the liquid having the function of suppressing the precipitation of the liquid.

In the liquid receiving apparatus of the present invention, the liquid level of the stored liquid is lower than the opening at the upper end of the liquid receiver, and the first liquid is targeted from the liquid ejecting head. Liquid that can be adjusted to a set liquid level height that is closer to the liquid jet head in the vertical direction than the support surface height of the support member that supports the back surface of the target when jetting to the surface of the target. Surface height adjusting means is provided.

According to this configuration, when the first liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head toward the liquid level of the stored liquid in the liquid receiver, the distance between the liquid level of the stored liquid and the liquid ejecting head becomes very close.
It can suppress that the discharged 1st liquid atomizes. Therefore, it can suppress that the circumference | surroundings of a liquid receiving apparatus are contaminated with the 1st liquid which scatters in a mist form.

In the liquid receiving apparatus of the present invention, when the liquid level of the stored liquid decreases from the set liquid level to a replenishment liquid level that is higher than the support surface height of the support member. Liquid replenishing means for replenishing the second liquid into the liquid receiver is further provided.

According to this configuration, when the liquid level in the liquid receiver evaporates and the liquid level decreases,
When the liquid level drops to the replenishment liquid level, the second liquid is replenished into the liquid receiver by the liquid replenishing means. Therefore, the liquid level of the stored liquid in the liquid receiving body is favorably adjusted to a desired set liquid level that can suppress atomization when the first liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head. Can do.

Further, the liquid receiving apparatus of the present invention can store the second liquid therein and can flow the second liquid at a position lower than the set liquid level with respect to the liquid receiver. A liquid reservoir connected by a connecting pipe, wherein the liquid replenishing means replenishes the second liquid into the liquid receiving body via the liquid reservoir and the connecting pipe.

According to this configuration, when the liquid level in the liquid receiving body evaporates and the liquid level decreases, the liquid level of the second liquid stored in the liquid storage body similarly decreases. When the liquid level of the stored liquid is reduced to the replenishment liquid level, the liquid replenishing unit replenishes the second liquid with the liquid replenishing means, thereby receiving the liquid from the liquid reservoir through the connecting pipe. The second liquid is supplied into the body. Therefore, by managing the liquid level height of the stored liquid in the liquid reservoir, it is possible to satisfactorily adjust the liquid level height of the stored liquid in the liquid receiver to a desired set liquid level height.

In the liquid receiving apparatus of the present invention, the liquid receiver is configured to prevent the stored liquid in the liquid receiver from splashing out of the liquid receiver when the liquid receiver is displaced. Scatter suppression means is provided.

According to this configuration, even if the stored liquid in the liquid receptor ripples based on the displacement of the liquid receptor and attempts to scatter from the opening to the outside of the liquid receptor, the scattering of the stored liquid is suppressed by the scatter suppressing means. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the periphery of the liquid receiving device from being inadvertently contaminated.

In the liquid receiving apparatus of the present invention, the scattering suppression means is provided at a position lower than the set liquid level height in the liquid receiver, and the stored liquid flows from the liquid receiver to the opening side. In this case, the flow resistance member functions as a flow resistance.

According to this configuration, since the flow resistance member that constitutes the scattering suppression means is located below the liquid level of the stored liquid in the liquid receptor, the first liquid ejecting head faces the liquid level of the stored liquid in the liquid receiver.
When the liquid is discharged, the flow resistance member does not get in the way. In addition, even if the stored liquid tries to flow toward the opening according to the displacement of the liquid receptor, the flow resistance member existing below the liquid surface of the stored liquid becomes a flow resistance and restricts the flow of the stored liquid. It is possible to avoid the possibility that the stored liquid scatters from the part.

According to another aspect of the invention, a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid and the liquid receiving apparatus configured as described above that receives the liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head as waste liquid.
According to this configuration, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the invention relating to the liquid receiving device.

1 is a schematic front view of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment. (A) is a schematic top view of the flushing box in embodiment at the time of the non-use state which is not storing water, (b) is a schematic front sectional view of the flushing box. The typical front sectional view of the flushing box in the embodiment at the time of use which stored water. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a distance between a liquid level of a stored liquid in a flushing box and a recording head in comparison with a platen gap.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a lateral ink jet printer will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, when referring to “front-rear direction”, “left-right direction”, and “up-down direction”, the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 is used as a reference.

As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet printer 11 as a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a rectangular parallelepiped main body case 12. In the main body case 12, a feeding unit 14 that feeds out a continuous continuous paper (target) 13, a printing chamber 15 that performs printing by ejecting ink (first liquid) onto the continuous paper 13, and printing thereof Thus, there are provided a drying device 16 that performs a drying process on the continuous paper 13 to which the ink has adhered, and a winding unit 17 that winds the continuous paper 13 that has been subjected to the drying process.

That is, at a position slightly above the central portion in the vertical direction in the body case 12,
A plate-like base 18 that vertically divides the inside of the main body case 12 is provided, and a region above the base 18 supports a rectangular plate-like platen (support member) 19 on the base 18. The printing chamber 15 becomes. In the region below the base 18, the feeding portion 14 is disposed at the position on the left side on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the continuous paper 13, and at the position on the right side on the downstream side. A drying device 16 and a winding unit 17 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, a winding shaft 20 extending in the front-rear direction is rotatably provided in the feeding portion 14, and the winding shaft 20 is wound on the winding shaft 20 in a state where the continuous paper 13 is previously wound in a roll shape.
And is supported so as to rotate together. In other words, the continuous paper 13 is fed from the feeding section 14 and conveyed downstream in the conveying direction when the winding shaft 20 rotates. Further, on the right side of the feeding portion 14, a first roller 21 that converts the conveying direction of the continuous paper 13 to the vertically upward direction by winding the continuous paper 13 fed from the winding shaft 20 from the lower right side is wound. It is provided so as to extend in the front-rear direction in a manner parallel to the shaft 20.

On the other hand, in the printing chamber 15, the second roller 22 is front and rear in a manner parallel to the lower first roller 21 at a position on the left side of the platen 19 and corresponding to the lower first roller 21 in the vertical direction. It is provided to extend in the direction. Then, the continuous paper 13 whose transport direction is converted to the vertically upward direction by the first roller 21 is wound around the second roller 22 from the lower left side, so that the transport direction is converted to the horizontal right direction, and the platen 19 It is configured to come into sliding contact with the support surface 19a which is the upper surface.

In the printing chamber 15, on the right side of the platen 19, a third roller 23 that faces the second roller 22 on the left side in the left-right direction across the platen 19 extends in the front-rear direction in a manner parallel to the second roller 22. It is provided as follows. In addition, the position where each 2nd roller 22 and the 3rd roller 23 are installed so that the top part of each surrounding surface may become the same height as the support surface 19a which is the upper surface of the platen 19 is adjusted.

Therefore, the continuous paper 13 whose transport direction has been changed to the horizontal right direction by the left second roller 22 in the printing chamber 15 is the right side that is in the downstream side while the back surface is in sliding contact with the support surface 19 a that is the upper surface of the platen 19. Then, it is wound around the third roller 23 from the upper right side, so that the transport direction is changed to the vertically downward direction and transported toward the drying device 16 below the base 18. Yes. The continuous paper 13 that has been dried by passing through the drying device 16 is further conveyed vertically downward.

Below the drying device 16 is a continuous paper 1 that passes through the drying device 16 and is conveyed vertically downward.
4 is provided so as to extend in the front-rear direction, and the winding unit 17 is provided on the right side of the fourth roller 24. Is arranged. The take-up portion 17 is provided with a take-up shaft 25 extending in the front-rear direction in a manner parallel to the fourth roller 24 so as to rotate based on the driving force of a conveyance motor (not shown). On the other hand, the leading end that is the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the continuous paper 13 is wound.

Guide rails 2 extending in the left-right direction are provided on the front and rear sides of the platen 19 in the printing chamber 15.
6 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) are provided in pairs. The upper surface of the guide rail 26 is higher than the support surface 19 a that is the upper surface of the platen 19, and both the guide rails 26.
A rectangular carriage 27 is supported on the upper surface of the upper and lower sides of the carriage 27 in a state in which the carriage 27 can reciprocate in the left-right direction along both guide rails 26 based on driving of a driving mechanism (not shown). A recording head (liquid ejecting head) 29 is supported on the lower surface side of the carriage 27 via a support plate 28.

In the printing chamber 15, a certain range from the left end to the right end of the platen 19 is a printing area, and the continuous paper 13 is intermittently conveyed in units of the printing area. Then, ink is ejected from the recording head 29 along with the reciprocating movement of the carriage 27 onto the surface of the continuous paper 13 that is stopped on the platen 19 by the intermittent conveyance in units of the printing area, and is thus applied to the continuous paper 13. On the other hand, printing is applied. The recording head 29
Is the so-called platen gap PG (FIG. 4) which is the distance between the recording head 29 and the support surface 19a of the platen 19 with respect to the continuous paper 13 supported on the support surface 19a of the platen 19.
Ink is ejected while moving in the main scanning direction in a state of being opposed to each other with reference to each other. In the printing chamber 15, a maintenance mechanism 30 for performing maintenance of the recording head 29 at the time of non-printing is provided in a non-printing area on the right side of the third roller 23. Further, the right and left sides of the platen 19 are discharged during so-called flushing in which ink is discharged as waste ink (waste liquid) from a nozzle opening (not shown) of the recording head 29 based on a control signal unrelated to printing during printing. A pair of left and right flushing boxes (liquid receiving devices) 31 for receiving the ink to be used are provided.

Next, the configuration of the flushing box 31 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the left flushing box 31 and the right flushing box 31 are arranged.
And the configuration is the same.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIG. 3, the flushing box 31 includes the recording head 2.
It has a box body 32 as a bottomed box-like liquid receiver that extends long in the front-rear direction parallel to the nine nozzle opening rows (not shown) and has an upper end opened. As shown by a solid line in FIG. 4, the box body 32 is moved to a position above the box body 32 during flushing.
The ink discharged from the nozzle 9 can be received through the opening 33 at the upper end, and the inside thereof serves as a reservoir 34 capable of storing water as a second liquid having a function of suppressing the precipitation of the ink. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the box body 32 penetrates the bottom wall of the box body 32 at a position near one end in the longitudinal direction in the storage portion 34 (position near the front end portion in the present embodiment). A cylindrical overflow pipe 41 extending in the vertical direction is provided. The overflow pipe 41 opens at a height position where the water intake (inlet) 41a is slightly below (for example, about 2 mm below) the opening 33 of the box body 32 in the reservoir 34, and the drainage thereof. The mouth (outlet) 41b opens to the lower side of the bottom wall of the box body 32 (that is, outside the box body 32) at a position lower than the water intake port 41a. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the water is stored in the storage portion 34 of the box body 32, the stored liquid containing water (
The liquid surface height of the liquid surface 50 a of the water 50 or the mixed liquid of water and ink) is higher than the water intake port 41 a of the overflow pipe 41 due to the surface tension of the stored liquid 50 and the upper end of the box body 32. The opening 33 is set slightly lower (for example, about 1 mm).

In the present embodiment, the liquid surface height of the liquid surface 50a of the stored liquid 50 in the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a so-called platen gap PG (see FIG. 4) when flushing the recording head 29.
By facing a so-called flushing gap FG (see FIG. 4) which is a shorter gap, the set liquid level height H is set at which the atomization of the ink ejected from the recording head 29 can be suppressed.
In other words, the set liquid level height H of the liquid level 50 a of the stored liquid 50 is such that when the ink is ejected from the recording head 29 onto the surface of the continuous paper 13, the support surface 19 a of the platen 19 that supports the back surface of the continuous paper 13. The height is set so that the distance from the recording head 29 is closer in the vertical direction than the height (the height of the support surface).

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, an opening 33 at the upper end on the inner surface of the box body 32.
From a position that is lower than a predetermined distance (for example, about 5 mm), a projecting piece-shaped inward flange 42 that forms a quadrangular ring shape in a plan view is provided in a horizontal direction in the storage portion 34. That is,
The inward flange 42 is provided at a position lower than the water intake 41 a of the overflow pipe 41 that defines the set liquid level height H of the liquid level 50 a of the stored liquid 50 in the storage unit 34.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, when the stored liquid 50 is stored in the storage portion 34 of the box body 32 so that the height of the liquid level 50 a is set to the set liquid level height H, The direction flange 42 is positioned below the liquid level 50 a of the stored liquid 50.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a liquid replenishing device 51 having a liquid replenishing function is disposed on the side of the flushing box 31. The liquid replenishing device 51 includes a first tank 52 as a bottomed box-shaped liquid reservoir as a main component. The upper end of the first tank 52 is an open opening 53, and the inside of the first tank 52 is a second liquid having a function of suppressing ink precipitation as in the case of the box body 32 of the flushing box 31. It becomes the storage part 54 which can store the water as. Between the first tank 52 and the box body 32,
A connecting pipe 55 that communicates between the storage portions 34 and 54 so as to allow the stored liquid 50 to flow.
Is built.

Specifically, the connection pipe 55 communicates between the lower regions of the storage section 34 in the box body 32 and the storage section 54 in the first tank 52, and the intake port of the overflow pipe 41 in the box body 32. It is installed at a position lower than 41a. That is, the connecting pipe 55 has a liquid level 50 a of the stored liquid 50 whose height is defined by the water intake 41 a of the overflow pipe 41.
The storage section 34 in the box body 32 and the storage section 54 in the tank 52 are connected at a position lower than the set liquid level height H.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, during the use state in which the stored liquid 50 is stored in the storage portion 34 of the box body 32 of the flushing box 31 so that the height of the liquid level 50a is the set liquid level height H. The liquid 50 is also stored in the storage part 54 of the first tank 52 of the liquid replenishing device 51.
Is set to a set liquid level height H. That is, above the first tank 52 in the liquid replenishing device 51, the stored liquid 50 made of water is placed in the first tank 52.
The 2nd tank 56 stored so that replenishment is possible is arranged.

The second tank 56 has an open upper end and a side surface having a downward conical shape. A tapered lower end portion is formed with pores 56a for allowing the stored liquid 50 stored therein to flow out. ing. Below the second tank 56, a float member 57 made of, for example, styrene foam is floated on the liquid surface 50 a of the stored liquid 50 stored in the storage portion 54 of the first tank 52. And as shown in FIG. 4, the storage part 54 of the 1st tank 52.
When the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 is the set liquid level height H, the float member 57
In the state where a part thereof (the part near the lower end) is buried in the stored liquid 50, its buoyancy is applied as an urging force so as to be in close contact with the pore 56 a of the second tank 56, so that the pore 56 a becomes a float member. 57 is closed.

Next, the operation of the flushing box 31 configured as described above will be described.
Now, during printing, for example, a predetermined time (for example, 5 to 2) from the end of the previous flushing.
After 0 second), the recording head 29 moves to the flushing position (the position above either the right or left flushing box 31) as the carriage 27 moves. At the flushing position, waste ink is ejected from the nozzle opening of the recording head 29 into the box body 32 of the flushing box 31. Then, the ejected ink lands on the liquid surface 50 a of the stored liquid 50 stored in the storage section 34 of the box body 32 and dissolves in the water contained in the stored liquid 50.

If the number of times flushing is performed during printing, the amount of waste ink that is discharged from the recording head 29 and dissolved in the water in the stored liquid 50 in the storing section 34 also increases, so that the stored liquid in the storing section 34 in the box body 32 is increased. The amount of 50 increases. Then, the storage part 34 of the box body 32.
Inside, the liquid level height of the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 gradually increases.

And in the storage part 34 of the box body 32, when the liquid level of the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 exceeds the surface tension and becomes higher than the water intake port 41a of the overflow pipe 41,
The increased amount of the stored liquid 50 flows into the overflow pipe 41 from the water intake port 41a, and is discharged out of the box body 32 from the drain port 41b via the overflow pipe 41. for that reason,
Since the liquid level 50 a of the stored liquid 50 stored in the storage section 34 does not get over the opening 33 of the box body 32, the stored liquid 50 does not overflow from the box body 32. In this respect, the overflow pipe 41 functions as an overflow suppression unit that suppresses the stored liquid 50 from overflowing from the box body 32.

In addition, when printing is stopped for a long time, in the box body 32 whose upper end is opened by the opening 33, the amount of the stored liquid 50 is reduced by the evaporation of the stored liquid 50 stored in the storage unit 34. As a result, the height of the liquid surface 50a decreases. Then, the storage part 34 of the box body 32.
Similarly, the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 is lowered in the storage section 54 of the first tank 52 connected to the first tank 52 via the connecting pipe 55, and the lower end of the float member 57 buried in the stored liquid 50. The offset portion is gradually exposed on the liquid surface 50a. As a result, the float member 57 gradually weakens its adhesion force with its buoyancy against the pores 56a of the second tank 56 as an urging force.

Then, when the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 decreases from the set liquid level height H to a predetermined replenishment liquid level (as an example, in the case of the present embodiment, the same height as the support surface 19a of the platen 19)
In the first tank 52, the float member 57 is floated with the substantially entire surface exposed to the liquid level 50 a of the stored liquid 50 and is separated from the pores 56 a of the second tank 56.
Then, the pore 56a of the second tank 56 is opened, and the second tank 56 is passed through the pore 56a.
The stored liquid 50 made of water falls into the first tank 52 from the inside and is replenished.

Then, the liquid level 50 a of the stored liquid 50 rises in the storage part 54 of the first tank 52, and is connected to the storage part 54 via the connecting pipe 55 as the liquid level 50 a in the storage part 54 rises. The stored liquid 50 is replenished from the storage portion 54 of the first tank 52 into the storage portion 34 of the box body 32 that has been made. As a result, the liquid level 50 a of the stored liquid 50 rises even in the storage part 34 of the box body 32.

In this regard, the first tank 52, the second tank 56, the float member 57, and the connecting pipe 55 allow the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32 to be lower than the set liquid level height H. A liquid replenishing device (liquid replenishing means) 51 for replenishing the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32 when the replenishing liquid level is lower than the height of the support surface 19a of the platen 19 is configured. Further, the liquid level height of the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32 is set by the liquid replenishing device 51 functioning as such a liquid replenishing means and the overflow pipe (overflow suppressing means) 41. The liquid level height adjusting means that can be adjusted to H is configured.

By the way, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the box body 32 in the flushing box 31, the liquid level of the stored liquid 50 is slightly lower than the opening 33 of the box body 32. It is stored in a substantially full state with respect to the storage portion 34 so that the set liquid level height H is obtained. Therefore, if an external impact is applied to the printer 11,
Since the flushing box 31 is displaced by being vibrated or tilted, the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32 may swell and splash out of the box body 32 from the opening 33.

However, in this embodiment, the flushing box 31 is displaced and the box body 32 is displaced.
When the stored liquid 50 in the inner wall is swayed to make the liquid surface 50 a undulate, the inward flange 42 restricts the flow of the stored liquid 50 toward the opening 33 in the box body 32. That means
The inward flange 42 is below the liquid surface 50 a of the stored liquid 50 and functions as a flow resistance member that regulates the flow of the stored liquid 50. As a result, it is suppressed that the stored liquid 50 stored almost fully up to the set liquid level height H gets over the opening 33 of the box body 32 and scatters outside. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the scattering suppressing means is configured to suppress the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32 from scattering from the opening 33 to the outside of the box body 32 when the box body 32 of the flushing box 31 is displaced. Has been.

According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The recording head 29 toward the liquid surface 50a of the stored liquid 50 including water in the box body 32.
When the ink is discharged as waste ink from the ink, the ink is dissolved in the water in the stored liquid 50 and the precipitation is suppressed. Therefore, unlike the case where an absorbent material is disposed in the box body 32 and ink is ejected and absorbed on the absorbent material, the ink is not deposited and deposited on the absorbent material by drying. Further, such an absorbing material can be made unnecessary, and it is different from a configuration in which a large amount of cleaning liquid is consumed in order to avoid deposition due to ink deposition on the absorbing material. Therefore, the liquid receiving ability for receiving the ink ejected from the recording head 29 as waste ink can be maintained well over a long period of time while suppressing the consumption of water having the function of suppressing ink precipitation.

(2) When ink is ejected from the recording head 29 toward the liquid surface 50a of the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32, the distance between the liquid surface 50a of the stored liquid 50 and the recording head 29 becomes very short. The formed ink can be prevented from being atomized. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the vicinity of the flushing box 31 from being contaminated with ink that may be sprayed in a mist state during flushing.

(3) When the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32 evaporates and the liquid level 50a is lowered, the liquid functioning as liquid replenishing means when the height of the liquid level 50a is lowered to the replenishment liquid level. The replenishing device 51 replenishes the stored liquid 50 made of water into the box body 32.
Accordingly, the height of the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32 is adjusted favorably to a desired set liquid level height H that can suppress the atomization when ink is ejected from the recording head 29. can do.

(4) When the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32 evaporates and the liquid level 50a is lowered, the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 made of water stored in the first tank 52 is similarly lowered. It will be. When the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 is lowered to the replenishment liquid level, the stored liquid 50 made of water is replenished from the second tank 56 to the first tank 52 in the liquid replenishing device 51. The stored liquid 50 is supplied into the box body 32 from the inside of the first tank 52 through the connecting pipe 55. Therefore, by managing the height of the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 in the first tank 52, the height of the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32 is good at the desired set liquid level height H. Can be adjusted.

(5) Even when an external impact is applied to the printer 11, even if the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32 undulates based on the displacement of the box body 32 and tries to splash out of the box body 32 from the opening 33, Such scattering of the stored liquid 50 is suppressed by the inward flange 42 that functions as scattering suppression means. Therefore, carelessly flushing box 3
It is possible to suppress contamination around 1.

(6) Since the inward flange 42 as the flow resistance member constituting the scattering suppressing means is located below the liquid surface 50 a of the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32, the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32.
When the ink is ejected from the recording head 29 toward the liquid surface 50a, the ejected ink does not adhere to the inward flange 42 and does not get in the way. Box body 3
Even if the stored liquid 50 tries to flow toward the opening 33 according to the displacement of 2, the inward flange 42 existing below the liquid surface 50a of the stored liquid 50 becomes a flow resistance and restricts the flow of the stored liquid 50. In addition, it is possible to avoid the possibility that the stored liquid 50 is scattered from the opening 33.

The above embodiment may be changed to another embodiment as described below.
-In this embodiment, the storage part 3 of the box body 32 in the flushing box 31
In order to suppress evaporation of the stored liquid 50 stored in 4, a lid can be provided at the opening 33 of the box body 32 so as to be openable and closable, and the opening 33 may be closed by the lid except during flushing. In this case, the lid in the state in which the opening 33 is closed is a scattering suppressing means for suppressing the stored liquid 50 in the box body 32 from splashing out of the box body 32 from the opening 33 when the box body 32 is displaced. Will function as.

In the present embodiment, the second liquid having a function of suppressing the precipitation of the first liquid (ink) discharged as the waste liquid from the recording head 29 is a liquid other than water, for example, an ink solvent or a dispersion medium. You may use the liquid (functional liquid) which has the same component, the mixed liquid of liquid other than an ink, and water, or the mixed liquid of water and a functional liquid.

In the present embodiment, for example, a plurality of plate-like vertical ribs are installed at predetermined intervals between the left and right side walls along the longitudinal direction of the box body 32, and each of these vertical ribs is a displacement of the box body 32. It may be made to function as a flow resistance member which controls that the stored liquid 50 in the storage part 34 flows to the opening part 33 side, and tries to swell, and suppresses scattering outside.

In the present embodiment, the replenishment liquid level is lower than the set liquid level H and is equal to or higher than the height of the support surface 19 a (support surface height) that is the upper surface of the platen 19. Any height may be used. In this case, the shape and size of the float member 57, the buoyancy characteristics, and the like are adjusted so that the contact state and the separation state with respect to the pores 56a of the second tank 56 are switched.

In the present embodiment, the liquid replenishing device 51 including the first tank 52, the second tank 56, the float member 57, and the connecting pipe 55 may be omitted. In this case, a liquid level sensor that detects the height of the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 is disposed in the storage portion 34 of the box body 32, and
When the liquid level sensor detects a decrease in the liquid level 50a of the stored liquid 50 to the replenishment liquid level, a pump for supplying the stored liquid 50 to the replenishment part 34 is provided in the storage unit 34. The liquid replenishing means may be configured as described above.

In the present embodiment, the set liquid level height H is lower than the opening 33 at the upper end of the box body 32 and is closer to the recording head 29 in the vertical direction than the height of the support surface 19 a in the platen 19. Any height may be used as long as it is high.

In each of the above embodiments, the liquid ejecting apparatus is embodied in the ink jet printer 11, but a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges liquid other than ink may be employed.
The present invention can be used for various liquid ejecting apparatuses including a liquid ejecting head that ejects a minute amount of liquid droplets. In addition, a droplet means the state of the liquid discharged from the said liquid ejecting apparatus, and is granular, tear-like,
Including thread-tailed tails. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, it may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ) And a liquid as one state of a substance, as well as a material in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent. Further, typical examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. As a specific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, a liquid containing a material such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, or a color filter in a dispersed or dissolved form. It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a bio-organic material used for biochip manufacturing, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid as a sample used as a precision pipette, a textile printing apparatus, a microdispenser, or the like. In addition, transparent resin liquids such as UV curable resin to form liquid injection devices that pinpoint lubricant oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto the substrate or a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali to etch the substrate or the like may be employed. The present invention can be applied to any one of these liquid ejecting apparatuses.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Inkjet printer as a liquid ejecting apparatus, 13 ... Continuous paper as a target, 19 ... Platen as a supporting member, 19a ... Support surface, 29 ... Recording head as a liquid ejecting head, 31 ... Flushing as a liquid receiving apparatus Box, 32 ... Box body as liquid receiver, 33, 53 ... Opening, 41 ... Overflow pipe constituting liquid level height adjusting means, 42 ... Inward flange as flow resistance member constituting scattering suppression means, 50
... Stored liquid, 50a... Liquid level, 51... Liquid replenishing device as liquid replenishing means constituting liquid level height adjusting means, 52... First tank as a liquid reservoir constituting liquid replenishing means, 55. A connecting pipe constituting the means; 56 a second tank constituting the liquid replenishing means; 57 a float member constituting the liquid replenishing means; H a set liquid level height.

Claims (7)

A bottomed liquid receiver capable of storing a second liquid having a function of suppressing deposition of the first liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head is provided, and the second liquid is provided in the liquid receiver. And discharging the first liquid from the liquid jet head toward the liquid level of the stored liquid in the liquid receiver in a state where the liquid jet head is positioned above the liquid receiver. Liquid receiving device characterized. The liquid level of the stored liquid is lower than the opening at the upper end of the liquid receiver, and when the first liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head onto the surface of the target, It has a liquid level height adjusting means that can be adjusted to a set liquid level height that is closer to the liquid jet head in the vertical direction than the support surface height of the support member that supports the back surface. The liquid receiving apparatus according to claim 1. When the liquid level of the stored liquid is lowered from the set liquid level to a replenishment liquid level that is higher than the support surface height of the support member, the second liquid is contained in the liquid receiver. The liquid receiving apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising liquid replenishing means for replenishing water. A liquid reservoir connected by a connecting pipe capable of storing the second liquid therein and allowing the second liquid to flow at a position lower than the set liquid level with respect to the liquid receiver. 4. The liquid receiving apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a body, wherein the liquid replenishing means replenishes the second liquid into the liquid receiving body through the liquid storage body and the connecting pipe. The liquid receiver is provided with a splash suppressing means for suppressing the stored liquid in the liquid receiver from splashing out of the liquid receiver when the liquid receptor is displaced. The liquid receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid receiving apparatus is a liquid receiving apparatus. The scattering suppression means is a flow resistance member that is provided at a position lower than the set liquid level height in the liquid receiver and functions as a flow resistance when the stored liquid flows from the liquid receiver to the opening side. The liquid receiving apparatus according to claim 5, comprising: A liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid, and the liquid receiving device according to claim 1 that receives the liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head as waste liquid. A liquid ejecting apparatus.

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