JP2011104820A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recording device capable of efficiently storing waste ink discharged from a recording head and reducing the size. <P>SOLUTION: The ink jet recording device includes a gas-liquid separating mechanism 109 separating gas from the waste ink discharged from the recording head, and the separated waste ink is stored in a used ink tank 110 as a waste ink tank. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium by discharging ink introduced from an ink tank from a recording head.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium by discharging ink from the nozzles of the recording head, a recording head in which a plurality of liquid passages and discharge ports forming nozzles are integrated is used to improve the recording speed. It has been. In such a recording apparatus, in order to always stably eject ink from the nozzles of the recording head, a recovery process for discharging the thickened or fixed ink from the nozzles is performed. This recovery processing includes suction recovery processing and preliminary ejection. In the suction recovery process, the discharge port forming surface (also referred to as the nozzle surface) on which the discharge port is formed is capped with a cap, and a negative pressure generated by a pump or the like is introduced into the cap, thereby discharging the thickened ink into the nozzle. This is a process for sucking and discharging from the inside of the cap. On the other hand, the preliminary discharge is a process for discharging thickened ink from the nozzles by discharging ink that does not contribute to image recording from the nozzles.

  Normally, ink discharged by such suction recovery processing or preliminary discharge (hereinafter also referred to as “waste ink”) is stored in a waste ink storage unit in the recording apparatus. Many of the waste ink storage units have a configuration having a sufficient capacity for storing the waste ink discharged within the lifetime of the recording apparatus, or a replaceable configuration. When the former waste ink storage unit is provided, the recording apparatus main body may be increased in size due to the increase in capacity. On the other hand, when the latter waste ink storage unit is provided, the user is required to perform a complicated operation for replacing the waste ink storage unit during the lifetime of the recording apparatus. In addition, a burden on the service side of preparing a replacement waste ink storage unit and a burden on the user side of obtaining the waste ink storage unit are also generated.

  For this reason, there has been proposed a method of reusing a used exchangeable ink cartridge as a waste ink storage unit (Patent Document 1). In the case of the method described in Patent Document 1, one of the used ink cartridges is connected to the discharge port of the suction recovery processing mechanism of the recording apparatus main body, so that the ink cartridge is reused as a waste ink storage unit. The

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-304190

  However, Patent Document 1 does not describe handling of gas discharged from the discharge port of the suction recovery processing mechanism at the same time as waste ink, and only waste ink cannot be efficiently stored in a fully used ink tank. There is also a risk of containing gas at the same time. Further, there is no specific description about the detection means for detecting that the ink cartridge used as the waste ink storage unit is full with the waste ink, and the ink cartridge as the waste ink storage unit is not appropriately described. There is a possibility that it is not possible to know the replacement time.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of efficiently accommodating waste ink discharged from a recording head and reducing the size.

  An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes an ink tank provided with a negative pressure generating means for applying a negative pressure to ink accommodated therein, and an ink to which a negative pressure is applied from the ink tank. In an inkjet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium using a dischargeable recording head, recovery processing means for discharging ink that does not contribute to image recording as waste ink from the discharge port of the recording head; and A gas-liquid separation unit that separates gas from waste ink discharged by the recovery processing unit; a mounting unit on which a waste ink tank including a negative pressure generating unit for generating a negative pressure therein can be mounted; and the mounting unit Due to the negative pressure inside the waste ink tank attached to the waste ink tank, the waste ink separated by the gas-liquid separation means is stored in the waste ink tank. As, characterized in that it comprises, and introduction means for guiding the waste ink is separated into the waste ink tank by the gas-liquid separating means.

  According to the present invention, the ink jet recording apparatus can be reduced in size by separating the gas from the waste ink discharged from the recording head and then efficiently storing the waste ink. In addition, a used ink tank can be used as a waste ink tank for storing waste ink. In that case, by storing the amount of ink used and the amount of waste ink stored in the ink tank, when the used ink tank is used as a waste ink tank, the stored information is used, The time when the waste ink tank is full can be detected.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a discharge port portion of a recording head provided in the recording apparatus of FIG. It is the schematic diagram which looked at the suction mechanism and gas-liquid separation mechanism in FIG. 1 from the arrow A direction. (A) is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge in FIG. 1 when full, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge when it is used up. FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a control system of the recording apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of stored data of a used ink cartridge used in the recording apparatus of FIG. 1. (A) is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge used in the second embodiment of the present invention when it is full, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge when it is used up.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus 100. In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes an ink cartridge (ink tank). In this example, four ink cartridges 101 each storing 12.0 g of four color inks, that is, black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) ink are used. As shown in FIG. 2, the recording head 102 is formed with nozzle rows for ejecting ink supplied from the ink cartridges 101. The four ink cartridges are connected to the recording head 102 so as to be replaceable. The recording head 102 can introduce ink to which negative pressure is applied from the ink cartridge 101 and eject it from the nozzle.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the discharge ports forming the nozzles as viewed from the direction of the arrow Z in FIG. Reference numeral 201 denotes an ejection port for forming nozzles for ejecting yellow ink. On the ejection port forming surface (hereinafter, also referred to as “nozzle surface”) of the recording head 102, d is a density of D nozzles per inch. Individually formed. For example, the ejection ports 201 are 600 nozzles per inch with a nozzle density of 600 dpi (for example, 512 nozzles are formed, and constitute nozzles capable of ejecting 5.5 ng of yellow ink per dot. The discharge energy generating element is composed of a discharge port, a liquid path, and a discharge energy generating element, and an electrothermal conversion element (heater), a piezo element, etc. can be used as the discharge energy generating element. The ink can be ejected from the ejection port by utilizing the foaming energy when the ink is foamed by the heat generation 202, 203, and 204 are magenta ink, cyan ink, and black ink, respectively. This is a discharge port for discharging, and constitutes a nozzle in the same manner as the discharge port 201 for yellow ink.

  Referring to FIG. 1 again, the paper feed roller 103 conveys the recording medium P in the arrow Y direction (sub-scanning direction) by rotating in the direction of the arrow in the figure while holding the recording medium P together with the auxiliary roller 104. . Reference numeral 105 denotes a pair of paper feed rollers for feeding the recording medium P, and, like the rollers 103 and 104, rotates while holding the recording medium P. The pair of paper feed rollers 105 can apply tension to the recording medium P by making the rotation speed lower than that of the paper feed roller 103. Reference numeral 106 denotes a carriage on which the four ink cartridges 101 and the recording head 102 are detachably mounted, and is reciprocated in the main scanning direction of an arrow X that intersects (in the present example, orthogonal) with the sub-scanning direction. For example, when ink is ejected from the recording head 102 at an ejection frequency of 15 kHz while the carriage 106 is moving at a speed of 25 inches / second during a recording operation, an image with a resolution of 600 dpi in the main scanning direction on the recording medium P. Can be recorded. The carriage 106 moves immediately above the suction mechanism 107 during a non-recording operation or when the recording head 102 is restored. This recovery process can include a suction recovery process for sucking and discharging thickened ink from the nozzles, and preliminary discharge for discharging ink that does not contribute to image recording from the nozzles.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the recording head 102, the suction mechanism 107, and the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109 as viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, an ink supply port 301 for supplying ink to the recording head 102 is formed in the ink cartridge 101 mounted on the carriage 106. A memory (storage means) 302 for recording and holding the amount of ink used in the ink cartridge 101 is provided below the ink cartridge 101, and the memory 302 includes a contact portion 303 provided in the carriage 106. Electrically connected. The memory 302 includes first and second storage units described later. A pressure contact portion 304 provided in the carriage 106 is in pressure contact with an ink absorber described later provided in the ink supply port 301. As a result, ink flows from the ink cartridge 101 through the ink supply port 301 and the pressure contact portion 304, and the ink is supplied to the recording head 102 via the ink flow path 305.

  The suction mechanism 107 is provided with a cap 306 for capping the nozzle surface of the recording head 102, and the cap 306 can be moved in the vertical direction (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3) by a driving mechanism (not shown). During the suction recovery process of the recording head 102, the cap 306 moves upward to cap the nozzle surface of the recording head 102. Further, when the carriage 106 moves from above the suction mechanism 107 to start a recording operation or the like, the cap 306 moves downward to open the nozzle surface. The inside of the cap 306 is connected to the tube pump 307 through the pump tube 309. When the tube pump 307 of the suction mechanism 107 is driven during the suction recovery process, the roller 308 presses against the pump tube 309 and squeezes it in the rotational direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. Accordingly, negative pressure can be generated in the closed space formed by the nozzle surface of the recording head 102, the cap 306, and the pump tube 309, and ink can be sucked and discharged from the nozzles of the recording head 102 into the cap 306. Further, at the time of preliminary ejection, ink that does not contribute to image recording is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 102 into the cap 306, and the ink accumulated in the cap 306 is similarly ejected by the tube pump 307 and the cap 306. It can be discharged from within. The ink discharged into the cap 306 by such suction recovery processing and preliminary discharge is discharged from the tube pump 307 through the discharge tube 108 together with the air in the cap 306 and the tube pump 307.

  Ink and air in the discharge tube 108 are discharged to the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109. Inside the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109 is a tank (waste ink reservoir) that temporarily stores the discharged ink as waste ink 311. The discharged waste ink 311 is stored in the lower part, and the gas discharged at the same time is the upper part. Separated. A gas discharge port 310 is provided in the upper part of the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109. As a result, the ink and gas are discharged from the discharge tube 108 into the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109, and the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109 is pressurized. At the same time, the gas is discharged to the outside through the gas discharge port 310. . On the other hand, the discharged waste ink 311 is absorbed by a waste ink absorber 312 provided in the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109. The upper part of the waste ink absorber 312 is exposed at the upper part of the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109, and has ink absorbability that can absorb the waste ink 311 up to the upper part.

  At the upper part of the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109, a mounting portion is provided in which a used ink cartridge 110 can be mounted as a waste ink tank. The gas-liquid separation mechanism 109 and the used ink cartridge 110 are joined so that the waste ink absorber 312 and a later-described ink absorber provided in the ink supply port 301 are brought into pressure contact with each other. Therefore, the waste ink 311 absorbed by the waste ink absorber 312 can be accommodated in the used ink cartridge 110 by a negative pressure inside the used ink cartridge 110 described later. That is, the negative pressure due to the capillary force of the waste ink absorber 312 is set to be smaller than the negative pressure in the used ink cartridge 110 (negative pressure in the waste ink tank). Further, the memory 302 provided in the used ink cartridge 110 is electrically joined to the contact portion 313 provided in the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109.

  Only one waste ink reservoir in the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109 is formed as one section. On the other hand, the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109 holds four used ink cartridges 110 corresponding to four colors of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow ink. The waste ink 311 discharged into the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109 is not evenly absorbed and stored in each used ink cartridge 110, but an amount corresponding to the negative pressure of each used ink cartridge 110 is absorbed and stored. .

  4 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 101 cut along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3, wherein (a) shows the ink cartridge 101 when full, and (b) shows a used empty cartridge. Ink cartridge (used ink cartridge) 110 is shown.

  In FIG. 4A, 401 is ink accommodated inside, and is held in a space surrounded by the ink supply port 301 provided with the ink absorber 301A, the ink cartridge exterior 402, the ink bag 405, and the pressure plate 404. Is done. A spring (spring member) 403 having one end fixed to the ink cartridge exterior 402 urges the pressure plate 404 to the right in FIG. 4 (in the direction in which the inner volume of the ink bag increases). Thereby, a negative pressure is generated inside the ink cartridge 101, and the ink cartridge 101 accommodates the ink without leaking to the outside by the negative pressure. Since the absorber 301 provided in the ink supply port 301 generates a negative pressure due to capillary force, air does not enter from the ink supply port 301 due to the negative pressure in the ink cartridge 101.

  In the used ink cartridge 110 of FIG. 4B, the ink bag 405 contracts due to the use of ink, and the spring 403 contracts accordingly. Therefore, the biasing force of the spring 403 against the pressure plate 404 is increased, and a larger negative pressure is generated in the ink cartridge 110 than in the ink cartridge 101 when full as shown in FIG.

  The absorber 301A provided in the ink supply port 301 of the used ink cartridge 110 and the absorber 312 of the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109 that sucks up the waste ink 311 are in pressure contact with each other, thereby forming an ink communication path therebetween. Is done. At this time, the waste ink 311 in the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109 can be absorbed and stored in the used ink cartridge 110 by the negative pressure generated in the used ink cartridge 110.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control circuit of the inkjet recording apparatus 100.

  In FIG. 5, the CPU 500 executes control and data processing of each part of the recording apparatus via the main bus line 505. That is, the CPU 500 performs data processing, head driving, and carriage driving via the following units in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 501. In addition, the CPU 500 can perform communication processing with the host device 520 via the interface 518. The RAM 502 is used as a work area for data processing or the like by the CPU 500, and can temporarily store the ink consumption information described above. The image input unit 503 temporarily holds image data input from the host device 520 via the interface 518. The image signal processing unit 504 executes data processing such as color conversion and binarization.

  Reference numerals 512 and 514 denote first and second storage units in the memory 302 (see FIG. 3) provided in the ink cartridge 101. The first storage unit 512 is a non-volatile storage unit that mainly reads and writes when the ink cartridge 101 is held on the carriage 106, and stores the ink usage of the ink cartridge 101. The second storage unit 514 is a non-volatile storage unit that is mainly read and written when the ink cartridge 101 is held on the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109 as the used ink cartridge 110. The operation unit 506 is provided with keys and the like, and allows an operator to input instructions and data.

  The recovery system control circuit 507 controls recovery operations such as preliminary ejection and suction operation in accordance with a recovery processing program stored in the RAM 502. That is, the recovery motor 508 drives the recording head 513, the cap 306 and the cleaning blade 509 that move relative to the recording head 513, and drives the suction mechanism 107. The cleaning blade 509 wipes the nozzle surface by moving relative to the recording head 513. The head drive control circuit 515 drives an ejection energy generating element (for example, an electrothermal conversion element or a piezo element) of the recording head 513 to eject ink from the nozzles for image recording and preliminary ejection. A carriage drive control circuit 516 and a paper feed control circuit 517 control the movement of the carriage 160 and the conveyance of the recording medium P in accordance with a program stored in the RAM 502.

  The first storage unit 512 stores “0” as the amount of ink used when the ink cartridge 101 is shipped. Thereafter, when the ink cartridge 101 is moved to the carriage 106 and ink in the ink cartridge 101 is used by an image recording operation, a recovery processing operation, or the like, the used amount is stored in the first storage unit 512 each time. It is added to the amount of ink used. The recovery processing operation includes a suction recovery processing operation and a preliminary discharge operation. The amount of ink used by the image recording operation can be obtained based on image data, for example. That is, the ink usage amount can be obtained for each ink cartridge based on the count value of the number of ejected inks to be ejected based on the image data and the ejection amount at the time of one ink ejection. Further, the amount of ink used by the suction recovery operation can be obtained based on, for example, the amount of ink suction by one suction recovery operation and the number of times of performing the suction recovery operation. In addition, the amount of ink used for preliminary ejection can be obtained based on, for example, the amount of ink ejected by one preliminary ejection and the number of times of preliminary ejection. The CPU 500 executes such ink usage calculation processing and processing for adding the calculated ink usage to the ink usage stored in the first storage unit 512 in accordance with a program stored in the RAM 502. can do. The CPU 500 has a function as first control means for storing the amount of ink used in the ink cartridge 101 (the amount of ink used in the ink tank) in the first storage unit 512. The timing for adding the amount of ink used may be during or after the image recording operation or the recovery processing operation.

  When the amount of ink used stored in the first storage unit 512 of the ink cartridge 101 exceeds a predetermined specified value, the CPU 500 determines that the ink in the ink cartridge 101 has been used up and determines that the ink has run out. Notify Thereafter, the used ink cartridge 101 is mounted on the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109 as a used ink cartridge 110 by the user. The four used ink cartridges 110 attached to the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109 contained any of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) ink. There may be a plurality of inks containing the same color ink. In FIG. 1, these four used ink cartridges 110 are represented as containing black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) ink.

  In the used ink cartridge 110 attached to the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109, the second storage unit 514 is mainly read and written. The second storage unit 514 stores data obtained by adding the amount of waste ink stored in the used ink cartridge 110. Each time the recovery processing operation (suction recovery processing operation, preliminary ejection operation, etc.) of the ink jet recording apparatus is performed, the CPU 500 obtains the amount of waste ink discharged by the recovery operation, and stores the amount in the second storage unit 514. Add to the stored amount of waste ink. The amount of waste ink discharged by the suction recovery processing operation can be obtained based on, for example, the amount of ink sucked by one suction recovery operation and the number of times of performing the suction recovery operation. The CPU 500 has a function as a second control unit that stores the amount of waste ink stored in the second storage unit 514. Further, the amount of waste ink discharged by the preliminary ejection operation can be obtained based on, for example, the amount of ink ejected by one preliminary ejection and the number of times of preliminary ejection.

  The amount of waste ink is added separately to the second storage units 514 of the four used ink cartridges 110 attached to the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109. The ratio of dividing the amount of waste ink is determined according to the value {(ink usage amount A1) − (waste ink storage amount A2)}. The ink use amount A1 is an ink use amount (ink use amount stored in the first storage unit 512) when the used ink cartridge 110 is used as the ink cartridge 101. Further, the waste ink storage amount A2 is the storage amount of waste ink currently stored in the used ink cartridge 110 (the waste ink amount stored in the second storage unit 512).

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example in which the waste ink amount is divided and added to the second storage unit 514 of the four used ink cartridges 110. In this example, the four used ink cartridges 110 attached to the gas-liquid separation mechanism 109 are, for convenience, black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y )). These four used ink cartridges 110 are represented as “black”, “cyan”, “magenta”, and “yellow” in FIG. Hereinafter, they are also referred to as “used ink cartridge (K)”, “used ink cartridge (C)”, “used ink cartridge (M)”, and “used ink cartridge (Y)”.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the ink use amount A1 of the four used ink cartridges is 14.0 g, and the values of the used ink cartridges (K), (C), (M), and (Y) (A1-A2) ) Are 8.0 g, 1.0 g, 2.0 g, and 4.0 g. The added total waste ink amount (As) is the total amount of waste ink discharged by the recovery processing operation (the suction recovery processing operation, the preliminary discharge operation, etc.) performed this time. This amount As is allocated to the used ink cartridges (K), (C), (M), and (Y) in proportion to the value of (A1-A2), and as an added waste ink amount (Ad). It is added to the amount A2 of each used ink cartridge. In this example, the amount As is 150 mg, and the amount Ad (80 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg) obtained by distributing 150 mg at a ratio of 8: 1: 2: 4 is used ink cartridges (K), (C). , (M), and (Y) are added to the quantity A2. In this way, at each recovery processing operation, the amount As of waste ink discharged by the recovery processing operation is allocated to the four used ink cartridges in proportion to the value of (A1-A2), and those inks are used. It is added to the waste ink storage capacity A2 of the cartridge. The method of determining the distribution ratio of the quantity As is not limited to the method of determining in proportion to the value of (A1-A2) as in this example. For example, the negative pressure in each used ink cartridge is determined. You may allocate according to the degree.

  When the waste ink storage amount A2 of the used ink cartridge reaches the ink use amount A1, it is determined that the used ink cartridge is full with the waste ink, and a notification is issued to prompt the user to replace it. Such a notification and the series of data processing of the waste ink amount described above can be executed by the CPU 500 in accordance with a program stored in the RAM 502. The CPU 500 has a function as a determination unit that determines whether the used ink cartridge is full due to waste ink.

  As described above, the waste ink discharged from the suction mechanism is separated from the gas by the gas-liquid separation mechanism and then stored in the used ink cartridge, whereby the waste ink can be efficiently stored. In addition, by using the memory (storage means) provided in the ink cartridge, it is possible to detect when the used ink cartridge is full due to the waste ink and notify the replacement timing. As a result, the ink jet recording apparatus can be reduced in size and performance.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, a spring is used as a negative pressure generating mechanism for generating a negative pressure inside the ink cartridge. In the present embodiment, an ink absorber is used as the negative pressure generating mechanism.

  FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge when full, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the used ink cartridge. In FIG. 7A, an absorber 601 provided in the exterior 402 of the ink cartridge absorbs and holds the ink 401 by its capillary force. The absorbent body 301 </ b> A provided in the ink supply port 301 has a denser porous portion than the absorbent body 501 and has a stronger capillary force than the absorbent body 501. Therefore, when the ink 401 held by the absorber 301A flows out from the ink supply port 301, the ink 401 in the absorber 601 flows into the absorber 301A due to the negative pressure generated by the strong capillary force of the absorber 301A. In this way, the ink 401 absorbed and held by the absorber 601 is supplied from the ink supply port 301 to the recording head 102 through the absorber 301A. As the ink in the ink cartridge is consumed, the ink 401 absorbed and held by the absorber 601 decreases. When the ink 401 is used up, the state shown in FIG. 7B is obtained. The liquid level of the ink 401 absorbed and held in the absorber 601 is lower in FIG. 7B than in FIG. 7A, and the ink head difference is different between the two. Therefore, the negative pressure applied to the ink 401 is larger when the ink is used up in FIG. 7B than when the tank is full in FIG. 7A.

  In this example, an absorber is used as the negative pressure generating mechanism of the ink cartridge, and the absorber is filled in the entire interior of the ink cartridge. However, an absorber may be provided as a negative pressure generating mechanism in a part of the ink cartridge.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention can be applied not only to the above-described serial scan type recording apparatus, but also to a full line type recording apparatus using a long recording head. In short, the present invention can be widely applied to various recording apparatuses in which ink that does not contribute to image recording is discharged from the recording head.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Inkjet cartridge 102 Recording head 107 Suction mechanism 109 Gas-liquid separation mechanism 306 Cap 500 CPU
501 ROM
502 RAM
P Recording medium

Claims (7)

An ink tank provided with a negative pressure generating means for applying a negative pressure to the ink accommodated therein, and a recording head capable of discharging the ink supplied with the negative pressure from the ink tank and discharging the ink from the discharge port. In an inkjet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium,
Recovery processing means for discharging ink that does not contribute to image recording from the discharge port of the recording head as waste ink;
Gas-liquid separation means for separating gas from waste ink discharged by the recovery processing means;
A mounting portion on which a waste ink tank having a negative pressure generating means for generating a negative pressure inside can be mounted;
By the gas-liquid separation means, the waste ink separated by the gas-liquid separation means is accommodated in the waste ink tank by the negative pressure inside the waste ink tank attached to the attachment portion. Introducing means for guiding the separated waste ink to the waste ink tank;
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste ink tank is the ink tank after the internal ink is used.   3. The negative pressure generating means provided in the ink tank includes an ink bag for storing ink, and a spring member that urges the ink bag in an increasing direction of an internal volume. Inkjet recording apparatus.   3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the negative pressure generating means provided in the ink tank is an ink absorber that absorbs and holds ink. The introduction means includes a waste ink absorber that guides the waste ink separated by the gas-liquid separation means to the waste ink tank while absorbing and holding the waste ink.
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a negative pressure due to a capillary force of the waste ink absorber is smaller than a negative pressure in the waste ink tank. The waste ink tank is the ink tank after the ink inside is used,
The ink tank includes first and second storage means,
The ink jet recording apparatus comprises:
First control means for causing the first means to store the amount of ink used in the ink tank;
Second control means for storing the amount of waste ink stored in the second storage means when the ink tank is used as the waste ink tank;
When the ink tank is used as the waste ink tank, the difference between the amount of ink used stored in the first storage unit and the amount of waste ink stored in the second storage unit Determination means for determining whether or not the waste ink tank is full with waste ink, based on
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: The introduction means introduces the waste ink separated by the gas-liquid separation means into the plurality of waste ink tanks,
The second control means determines the amount of waste ink discharged by the recovery processing means when the plurality of ink tanks are used as the plurality of waste ink tanks. Each of the two storage means is distributed and stored, and the ratio of the distribution is the amount of ink used stored in the first storage means, the amount of waste ink stored in the second storage means, The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is determined according to the difference.

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