JP2013078872A - Liquid injection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve user friendliness by mounting an extension cassette when performing record in a plurality of sheets.SOLUTION: In the inkjet printer 1, a waste liquid tank 15 as an extension waste liquid reservoir is provided in an extension storage part for storing a medium to be injected or on the side of a sheet cassette 5B as the extension unit as well as a waste tank 13 provided on the side of a device body 2a so as to guide a waste ink from the side of the device body 2a to the side of the sheet cassette 5B. Accordingly, as the capacity for storing the waste ink is increased, a user is not forced to carry out frequent work (replacement work of the waste tank) for a short span, and can be improved in convenience even when printing is performed on the plurality of sheets.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto an ejected medium, and in particular, a liquid in which an ejected medium accommodating unit that accommodates an ejected medium is detachable from a liquid ejecting execution unit (apparatus main body). The present invention relates to an injection device. The present invention also relates to an extension unit configured to be detachable from the liquid ejecting apparatus and accommodating an ejected medium.

  An example of the liquid ejecting apparatus is a recording apparatus, and an example of the recording apparatus is an ink jet printer. In an ink jet printer, all ink ejected from an ink jet recording head does not necessarily land on a recording sheet as an example of an ejected medium, and may be intentionally discarded at a predetermined location.

  For example, in an ink jet printer that can perform so-called borderless recording on a recording sheet without margins, a groove is formed on the upper surface of a support member (platen) disposed opposite to the ink jet recording head. The ink ejected to the area off the edge of the recording paper is discarded. An ink discharge hole is provided at the bottom of the groove, and the ink discarded in the groove is discharged downward from the ink discharge hole and led to a waste liquid storage section (hereinafter referred to as “waste liquid tank”) for storing the waste liquid. It is burned.

  In addition, regardless of borderless recording, the inkjet printer is provided with maintenance means for maintaining the inkjet recording head. The maintenance means includes a capping unit that caps the ink jet recording head, and a pump unit that generates negative pressure in the cap. The maintenance means sucks ink from the ink discharge holes of the ink jet recording head and sucks the ink. The ink is discharged toward the waste liquid tank.

  Here, when the discharge of the waste tank as described above is repeated, the waste liquid tank is eventually filled with the waste liquid. When the waste tank is full, subsequent recording operations cannot be executed. In particular, since an inkjet printer for business use is required to have a long service life, management of the amount of waste ink stored in the waste liquid tank is important.

  Therefore, an ink jet recording apparatus has been proposed in which a waste liquid tank is detachably attached to the printer body, and the user can replace the waste liquid tank when the waste liquid tank is full of waste liquid (Patent Document 1). .

JP-A-6-234209

  By the way, in the recording apparatus, there is a case where a sheet storage means called “additional cassette” or the like for recording on a large number of sheets is prepared as an option. By using such an extension cassette, the user can perform recording on a large number of sheets without frequently replenishing the sheets.

  However, when printing on a large number of sheets using such an extension cassette, the waste tank fills up in a short period of time, so the user will need to replace the waste tank in a short period of time. Absent. Further, not only the waste liquid tank but also the ink cartridge storing the ink to be ejected needs to be replaced in a short period of time, which is similarly not preferable.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to improve user convenience when recording on a large number of sheets by mounting an additional cassette.

  In order to solve the above problems, a liquid ejecting apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto an ejected medium, and a main body-side waste liquid that can store waste liquid discarded from the liquid ejecting head. The liquid ejecting execution unit includes a storage unit and a main body-side ejected medium accommodating unit that accommodates an ejected medium before performing the liquid ejecting, and is configured to be detachable from the liquid ejecting executing unit, and the liquid ejecting An expanded ejected medium accommodating unit that accommodates an ejected medium before execution of liquid ejection, which is capable of feeding the ejected medium to the liquid ejecting execution unit in a state of being mounted on the execution unit, The storage section is provided with an additional waste liquid storage section capable of storing the waste liquid discarded from the liquid jet head, and configured to be able to guide the waste liquid from the liquid jet execution section side to the additional waste liquid storage section. And features.

  According to this aspect, the additional ejection target medium storage unit is provided with the additional waste liquid storage unit capable of storing the waste liquid discarded from the liquid jet head, and guides the waste liquid from the liquid jet execution unit side to the additional waste liquid storage unit. Even in the case where the capacity for storing the waste liquid is increased because the additional waste liquid storage section is provided in addition to the main body side waste liquid storage section, and the liquid is ejected to a large number of ejection target media. The user's convenience can be improved without forcing the user to perform a short-term work (for example, replacement work of the waste liquid storage unit).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the waste liquid discharge destination is configured to be selectable between the main body side waste liquid storage section and the additional waste liquid storage section.
According to this aspect, since the waste liquid discharge destination is configured to be selectable to either the main body side waste liquid storage section or the additional waste liquid storage section, for example, the main body side waste liquid storage section is temporarily filled. In this case, by switching the discharge destination of the waste liquid to the additional waste liquid storage unit, it is possible to continuously perform the liquid ejection without performing any work by the user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the additional waste liquid storage section and the main body side waste liquid storage section are configured to be detachable and compatible.
According to this aspect, since the additional waste liquid storage section and the main body side waste liquid storage section are configured to be detachable and have compatibility, the user can replace the additional waste liquid storage section and the main body side waste liquid storage section as replacement members. There is no need to prepare a dedicated one for each of these, and the convenience for the user is further improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, when the waste liquid is discharged, the main body side waste liquid storage section and the additional waste liquid storage section are alternately used.
The waste liquid storage unit may be provided with an absorbent material for holding the waste liquid therein. However, if the discharge amount of the waste liquid per unit time exceeds the absorption capacity of the absorbent material, the waste liquid may overflow.

  However, according to this aspect, the liquid ejecting apparatus alternately uses the main body side waste liquid storage section and the additional waste liquid storage section when discharging the waste liquid, so that when one absorbs the waste liquid, the waste liquid is discharged to the other. By doing so, the occurrence of overflow as described above can be effectively prevented.

  A liquid ejecting apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto a medium to be ejected, a main body-side liquid reservoir that stores liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head, and a target before the liquid ejection is performed. A liquid ejection execution unit having a main body side ejection medium accommodation unit for accommodating an ejection medium, and the liquid ejection execution unit configured to be detachable from the liquid ejection execution unit, and in a state of being mounted on the liquid ejection execution unit An additional ejected medium accommodating unit that accommodates an ejected medium before execution of liquid ejection, capable of feeding the ejected medium to the ejection performing unit, and the additional ejected medium accommodating unit includes a liquid ejecting head. An additional liquid storage section that stores liquid to be ejected is provided, and is configured to be able to supply liquid from the additional ejected medium storage section side to the liquid ejecting head.

  According to this aspect, the additional ejection medium accommodating unit is provided with the additional liquid storage unit that stores the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head, and the liquid can be supplied from the additional liquid storing unit to the liquid ejecting head. As a result, the storage capacity of the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head as a whole increases, and even when performing liquid ejecting on a large number of ejected media, the user can perform a short-term operation (for example, the liquid reservoir The user's convenience can be improved.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the supply source of the liquid when supplying the liquid to the liquid jet head can be selected from the main body side liquid storage unit and the additional liquid storage unit. It is configured.

  According to this aspect, since the liquid supply source can be selected from either the main body side liquid storage unit or the additional liquid storage unit, for example, if the main body side liquid storage unit is empty In this case, by switching the liquid supply source to the additional liquid storage unit, the liquid can be continuously ejected without any work by the user.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the additional liquid storage section and the main body side liquid storage section are configured to be detachable and have compatibility.
According to this aspect, since the additional liquid storage unit and the main body side liquid storage unit are configured to be detachable and compatible, the user can replace the additional liquid storage unit and the main body side liquid storage as a replacement member. There is no need to prepare a dedicated one for each part, and the convenience for the user is further improved.

  An eighth aspect of the present invention is configured to be detachable from a liquid ejecting apparatus that includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto an ejected medium and an ejected medium accommodating unit that accommodates an ejected medium before performing liquid ejecting. An additional unit for storing the ejection target medium before the liquid ejection is performed, and includes an additional waste liquid storage unit capable of storing the waste liquid discarded from the liquid ejection head.

  According to this aspect, the capacity for storing the waste liquid is increased by mounting the extension unit on the liquid ejecting apparatus, and even when performing liquid ejecting on a large number of ejected media, the user can perform short-term work (for example, The user's convenience can be improved without compelling the replacement operation of the waste liquid storage unit.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention is configured to be detachable from a liquid ejecting apparatus that includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto an ejected medium and an ejected medium accommodating unit that accommodates an ejected medium before execution of liquid ejection. An additional unit that accommodates the ejected medium before the liquid ejection is performed, and includes an additional liquid storage unit that stores the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head.

  According to this aspect, the capacity of the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head is increased by mounting the extension unit in the liquid ejecting apparatus, and even when performing liquid ejecting on a large number of ejected media, the user can perform a short-term operation. The user's convenience can be improved without forcing (for example, replacement work of the liquid reservoir).

The perspective view which looked at the ink jet printer concerning the present invention from the device front side. 1 is a schematic side sectional view of an ink jet printer according to the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an ink supply system and an ink discharge system of an ink jet printer according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing control during ink discharge. 6 is a flowchart illustrating control during ink supply.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described below, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims. Assuming that these are also included in the scope of the present invention, one embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium as an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention, and an inkjet printer 1 as an example of the recording apparatus as viewed from the front side of the apparatus. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of the ink jet printer 1, FIG. 3 is a view showing an ink supply system and an ink discharge system, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control when discharging ink, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control when supplying ink. It is.

  In the following, first, the overall configuration of the inkjet printer 1 will be outlined. 1 and 2, reference numeral 2 denotes a recording unit as a liquid jet execution unit that performs ink jet recording on recording paper, reference numeral 3 denotes a scanner unit provided on the upper part of the recording unit 2, and reference numeral 4 denotes an upper part of the scanner unit 3. 1 shows an automatic document feeder provided in the printer 1. In other words, the inkjet printer 1 is configured as a multifunction machine having a scanner function in addition to an inkjet recording function.

  Reference numerals 5A and 5B on the front side of the apparatus are detachable paper cassettes for storing recording paper as an example of the ejected medium, and “detachable medium accommodating portion”. Reference numeral 6 is the ejected paper. Reference numeral 7 denotes a paper discharge receiving tray for receiving the discharged recording paper.

  Reference numeral 8 denotes a front cover for exposing the paper conveyance path when a paper jam occurs. Reference numeral 9 denotes a power button, operation buttons for performing various print settings / recording, print setting contents, preview display of a print image, and the like. An operation panel including a display unit and the like. Further, in the scanner device at the top of the apparatus, reference numeral 10 indicates a document setting tray, and reference numeral 11 indicates a document receiving tray for receiving the discharged document.

  Next, the paper transport path in the recording unit 2 will be outlined with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 2 schematically shows the configuration of the recording unit 2, and does not show all configurations, and illustration of components that are not necessary for the description is omitted.

  The apparatus main body 2a constituting the recording unit 2 includes three sheet feeding units. One is a sheet feeding from a sheet cassette 5A serving as a “main body side ejected medium storage unit” provided at the lower part of the apparatus. A path (second sheet feeding unit 34), and the other is a sheet feeding path (third sheet feeding unit 38) from the sheet cassette 5B as an "additional ejected medium storage unit" mounted on the bottom of the apparatus. ). The other is a sheet feeding path from the support member 30 provided on the back side of the apparatus (right side in FIG. 2) (first sheet feeding unit 29).

  The paper cassette 5B can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 2a, and paper can be fed also from the paper cassette 5B by being attached to the apparatus main body 2a. The broken line P2 indicates the passage trajectory of the paper sent out from the paper cassette 5A, the reference symbol P3 shows the passage trajectory of the paper sent out from the paper cassette 5B, and the broken line P1 shows the passage trajectory of the paper sent out from the support member 30. Yes.

  More specifically, the paper cassette 5B is detachably attached to a unit main body 41 as an extension unit that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 2a, and the apparatus main body 2a is provided via the unit main body 41. It becomes removable with respect to. However, this is only an example, and the paper cassette 5B may be provided so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body 2a.

  Subsequently, in the second paper feeding unit 34, a roller indicated by a reference numeral 36 provided at a position facing the paper cassette 5A is a feeding roller, and the feeding roller 36 swings around a swing shaft 35a. It is provided on the swing member 35 that can be moved, and can be moved back and forth with respect to the paper cassette 5 </ b> A through the swing of the swing member 35. The feeding roller 36 rotates in contact with the uppermost sheet stored in the sheet cassette 5A, thereby feeding the uppermost sheet downstream.

  Similarly, the third paper feeding unit 38 including the paper cassette 5B, which is an additional cassette, is also provided with a feeding roller 40. The feeding roller 40 can swing around a swinging shaft 39a. The feeding roller 40 can be moved forward and backward with respect to the paper cassette 5B through the swinging of the swinging member 39. The feeding roller 40 rotates in contact with the uppermost sheet stored in the sheet cassette 5B, thereby feeding the uppermost sheet downstream.

  The paper fed from the paper cassettes 5 </ b> A and 5 </ b> B is curved and reversed by the large-diameter reversing roller 43, and then reaches the transport driving roller 46 and the transport driven roller 47. Reference numeral 44 denotes a separation roller that separates the sheet by nipping the sheet with the reversing roller 43.

  On the other hand, in the first paper feeding unit 29, the support member 30 supports the paper in an inclined posture and swings around a swing shaft (not shown) at the top so that the uppermost one of the supported paper is supported. Is brought into pressure contact with the feeding roller 31. The feed roller 31 rotates to feed the press-contacted paper to the downstream side. Reference numeral 32 denotes a separation roller that separates a sheet by nipping the sheet with the feeding roller 31.

  The transport driving roller 46 and the transport driven roller 47 are a pair of rollers for precisely feeding the paper to the downstream side, and an ink jet recording head 49 and a support member 50 for supporting the paper are disposed on the downstream side of the roller pair. Opposed.

  The recording head 49 as a liquid ejecting head is provided at the bottom of the carriage 48 that can reciprocate in the main scanning direction (the front and back direction in FIG. 2), and ejects (jets) ink onto the paper while moving in the main scanning direction. ) Is recorded.

  A maintenance unit (not shown) is provided at the home position (not shown) of the carriage 48. The maintenance unit includes a cap unit 12 (FIG. 3) that caps the recording head 49 and a pump unit (not shown) that generates a negative pressure in the cap unit 12. Ink is sucked from an ink discharge nozzle (not shown) by generating a negative pressure in the cap unit 12 in a state where the cap is capped. The sucked ink is discharged as waste liquid to a waste liquid tank (14, 16) as a waste liquid storage section described later.

  In the present embodiment, an ink cartridge is not mounted on the carriage 48, so-called off-carriage type, and a fixed ink cartridge (described later) and a recording head 49 are connected by a flexible ink tube. However, it goes without saying that a so-called on-carriage type in which an ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage 48 is also included in the scope of the present invention.

  Next, on the downstream side of the recording head 49, reference numeral 52 is a driven roller for preventing the paper from floating, reference numeral 53 is a discharge driving roller for discharging the paper by rotating, and reference numeral 54 is a discharge driving roller 53. A discharge driven roller that nips the paper between the two. By these roller pairs, the recorded paper is discharged toward the paper discharge receiving tray 7.

The above is the general configuration of the inkjet printer 1, and the waste liquid discharge system and the ink supply system will be described below.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 13 denotes an ink cartridge as a “main body side liquid storage part”, and reference numeral 15 denotes an ink cartridge as an “addition side liquid storage part”. The ink cartridge 13 is detachable from the apparatus main body 2a, and the ink cartridge 15 is detachable from the paper cassette 5B (unit main body 41). The ink cartridges 13 and 15 are independent for each color of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), K (black), for example, and can be attached and detached (replaced) for each color. .

  Reference numeral 17A indicates a valve to which the ink cartridge 13 is connected, and reference numeral 17B indicates a valve to which the ink cartridge 15 is connected. You can choose whether to use the supplier.

  The valves 17A and 17B are connected to the recording head 49 via ink tubes. Reference numeral 19 denotes a flow path connecting portion, which connects an ink flow path between the ink cartridge 15 and the recording head 49 when the paper cassette 5B is attached to the apparatus main body 2a.

  These ink cartridges 13 and 15 are provided on the front side of the apparatus, and are configured to be attached and detached from the front side of the apparatus. On the other hand, a waste liquid tank 14 as a “main body side waste liquid storage part” is detachably provided on the rear part of the apparatus main body 2a. Further, a waste liquid tank 16 as an “additional side waste liquid storage section” is detachably attached to the paper cassette 5B (unit main body 41) at the rear part of the paper cassette 5B (unit main body 41).

  Reference numeral 18A denotes a valve to which the waste liquid tank 14 is connected, and reference numeral 18B denotes a valve to which the waste liquid tank 16 is connected, and either of the waste liquid tanks 14 and 16 is capped by opening / closing control of these valves. It is possible to select whether the waste ink is discharged from the unit 12 or not.

  The valves 18A and 18B have one side flow path connected to the cap unit 12 and the other side flow path connected to the waste liquid tanks 14 and 16 via ink tubes. Reference numeral 20 denotes a flow path connecting portion for connecting a waste liquid flow path between the waste liquid tank 16 and the valve 18B when the paper cassette 5B is mounted on the apparatus main body 2a. By closing the valve 18B, it is possible to prevent waste liquid from leaking even if the paper cassette 5B is removed from the apparatus main body 2a.

  Reference numeral 23 denotes a control unit, and these valves 17A, 17B, 18A, and 18B are controlled to be opened and closed by the control unit 23. Reference numeral 22 denotes a connection sensor, and the control unit 23 can recognize from the detection signal from the connection sensor 23 that the paper cassette 5B (unit main body 41) is mounted on the apparatus main body 2a.

  The control unit 23 calculates the ink discharge amount based on the print data generated by the printer driver, and calculates the remaining amount (remaining amount for each color) of the ink cartridges 13 and 15 based on the calculated ink discharge amount. An ink remaining amount calculation unit 24 is provided. Further, the control unit 23 calculates the remaining capacity of the waste liquid tanks 14 and 16 based on the ink discharge capacity when ink is ejected (flushing) or when ink is sucked from the recording head 49 via the cap unit 12. The calculating part 25 to provide is provided.

  Note that the remaining capacity (or total ink usage) of each ink cartridge and the remaining capacity (or total ink discharge amount) of each waste liquid tank are appropriately written and held in storage means such as a non-volatile memory (not shown). It has become like that.

  In the ink jet printer 1 having the above configuration, control when waste ink is generated is as shown in FIG. That is, the control unit 23 calculates the ink discharge amount (step S101), and then selects the ink discharge destination (step S102).

  The selection of the ink discharge destination is to select one of the waste liquid tanks that can be discharged (not full) based on the remaining capacity of the waste liquid tanks 14 and 16. The waste liquid tank can be selected from, for example, a waste liquid tank having a large remaining capacity (a larger amount of waste liquid can be stored). Alternatively, a waste liquid tank that is different from the previous discharge destination may be selected. Note that the waste liquid tank information of the previous discharge destination is stored in, for example, a volatile memory (not shown) or a nonvolatile memory (not shown), and the control unit 23 refers to the information.

  Next, the valve is switched so that the waste ink is discharged to the selected waste liquid tank (step S103), and data relating to the total ink discharge amount (remaining capacity) for the selected waste liquid tank is updated (step S104).

  For example, when printing continuously on a large number of sheets, the waste liquid tanks 14 and 16 are alternately arranged every predetermined number of sheets, every predetermined time, or every predetermined ink discharge amount. It is also possible to select (switch).

  That is, although each of the waste liquid tanks 14 and 16 is provided with an ink absorbing material for holding the waste ink inside (not shown), the amount of waste ink discharged per unit time is the absorption capacity of the ink absorbing material. If it exceeds the limit, waste ink may overflow from each waste liquid tank.

  However, as described above, when the waste ink is discharged, the waste liquid tanks 14 and 16 are alternately used, and when one side absorbs the waste ink, the waste ink is discharged to the other, thereby causing the overflow as described above. It can be effectively prevented.

  Further, the selection of the waste liquid tank can be controlled so that, for example, the respective waste liquid tanks 14 and 16 are full at the same time, that is, the replacement time comes at the same time. By controlling in this way, for example, it is possible to prevent the need to replace the other waste liquid tank soon after replacing one of the waste liquid tanks, that is, the user can replace the two waste liquid tanks at the same time. Improves.

  On the other hand, for the ink cartridges 13 and 15, similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 23 calculates the amount of ink used (step S201), and then selects the ink supply source (step S202). The selection of the ink supply source is based on the remaining amount of the ink cartridges 13 and 15 and selects any ink cartridge that can be supplied (the remaining amount is not zero).

  For this ink cartridge selection, for example, an ink cartridge with a large remaining amount can be selected. Alternatively, an ink cartridge that is different from the previous supply source may be selected. Note that the ink cartridge information of the previous supply source is stored in, for example, a volatile memory (not shown) or a nonvolatile memory (not shown), and the control unit 23 refers to the information.

  Next, valve switching is performed so that ink is supplied from the selected ink cartridge (step S203), and data relating to the remaining amount of ink for the selected ink cartridge is updated (step S204).

  The selection of the ink cartridge can be controlled such that, for example, the remaining amount of each of the ink cartridges 13 and 15 becomes zero, that is, the replacement time comes at the same time. By controlling in this way, for example, it is possible to prevent the need to replace the other ink cartridge soon after replacing one ink cartridge, that is, the user can replace two ink cartridges at the same time. Improves.

  As described above, the inkjet printer 1 is provided with the waste liquid tank 15 as the additional waste liquid storage unit on the side of the paper cassette 5B as the additional ejection medium storage unit or the expansion unit, and from the apparatus main body 2a side to the paper cassette 5B side. Since waste ink can be guided to the top, the capacity to store waste ink is increased, and even when printing on a large number of sheets, users can perform frequent work in a short time (replacement of waste liquid tank) ) To improve user convenience.

  In addition, by switching the waste liquid tank to be used, even if one is full, the other can be used, and the user can continue printing on a large number of sheets without having to replace the waste liquid tank. It can be carried out.

  The waste liquid tanks 13 and 15 are preferably configured according to the same standard and have compatibility. In this way, the user does not need to prepare a dedicated waste liquid tank as a replacement member for each of the apparatus main body 2a and the paper cassette 5B, which is convenient for the user. Further improvement.

  Similarly, an ink cartridge 16 as an additional liquid storage unit is provided on the side of the paper cassette 5B as an additional ejected medium storage unit or an expansion unit for the ink cartridge, and ink is supplied from the paper cassette 5B side to the apparatus main body 2a side. Since it is configured to supply, the ink capacity of the entire device increases, and even when printing on a large number of sheets, the user is not forced to perform frequent work (replacing the ink cartridge) for a short period of time. User convenience can be improved.

  In addition, by switching the ink cartridge to be used, even if one becomes empty, the other can be used, and the user can continuously print on a large number of sheets without replacing the ink cartridge. It can be carried out.

  Furthermore, if the ink cartridges 14 and 16 are configured according to the same standard and have compatibility, the user can use the ink cartridge as a replacement member for the apparatus main body 2a and the paper cassette 5B. There is no need to prepare a dedicated one for each of these, and the convenience for the user is further improved.

  In the embodiment described above, the waste ink is discharged from the cap unit 12. However, in a recording apparatus that performs recording with no margins on the four sides of the paper, the ink discarding groove is formed in the support member 50 that is disposed to face the recording head 49. A hole is formed. Therefore, in a recording apparatus that performs recording with no margins on the four sides of the paper, the support member 50 is also an ink discharge source.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a recording apparatus as an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus and an ink jet printer as an example of the liquid ejecting apparatus. However, the present invention can also be applied to other liquid ejecting apparatuses in general.

  Here, the liquid ejecting apparatus uses an ink jet recording head, and is not limited to a recording apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine that discharges ink from the recording head to perform recording on a recording medium. And a device for ejecting a liquid corresponding to the application from a liquid ejecting head corresponding to the ink jet recording head to an ejected medium corresponding to the recording medium, and attaching the liquid to the ejected medium.

  In addition to the recording head, as a liquid ejecting head, a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, and an electrode material (conductive paste) used for forming an electrode such as an organic EL display or a surface emitting display (FED) Examples thereof include an ejection head, a bioorganic matter ejection head used for biochip production, and a sample ejection head as a precision pipette.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer, 2 recording part, 2a apparatus main body, 3 scanner part, 4 automatic document conveyance part, 5A paper cassette (main body side), 5B paper cassette (addition side), 6 paper discharge port, 7 discharge receiving tray, 8 Front cover, 9 Operation panel, 10 tray, 11 Document receiving tray, 12 Cap unit, 13 Ink cartridge (main body side), 14 Waste liquid tank (main body side), 15 Ink cartridge (addition side), 16 Waste liquid tank (extension side) , 17A, 17B valve, 18A, 18B valve, 19 flow path connection section, 20 flow path connection section, 22 connection sensor, 23 control section, 24 ink remaining amount calculation section, 25 waste liquid tank remaining capacity calculation section, 29 first sheet Feed unit, 30 paper support member, 31 feed roller, 32 separation roller, 34 second paper feed unit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Oscillating member, 36 Feeding roller, 38 3rd paper feeding part, 39 Oscillating member, 40 Feeding roller, 41 Unit main body, 43 Inversion roller, 44 Separation roller, 46 Conveyance drive roller, 47 Conveyance driven roller, 48 carriage, 49 inkjet recording head, 50 support member, 52 driven roller, 53 discharge driving roller, 54 discharge driven roller, P1, P2, P3 recording paper

Claims (8)

Liquid ejecting head for ejecting liquid onto the ejected medium, main body side waste liquid storing section capable of storing waste liquid discarded from the liquid ejecting head, and main body side ejected medium accommodating section for accommodating the ejected medium before performing liquid ejecting A liquid jet execution unit comprising:
The medium to be ejected before the liquid ejection is performed and configured to be attachable to and detachable from the liquid ejection performing unit and capable of feeding the medium to be ejected to the liquid ejection performing unit while being attached to the liquid ejection performing unit. An expanded ejected medium accommodating portion for accommodating
The additional ejected medium storage unit is provided with an additional waste liquid storage unit capable of storing the waste liquid discarded from the liquid jet head, and can guide the waste liquid from the liquid jet execution unit side to the additional waste liquid storage unit. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising the liquid ejecting apparatus. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge destination of the waste liquid is configured to be selectable to either the main body side waste liquid storage unit or the additional waste liquid storage unit.
A liquid ejecting apparatus. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the additional waste liquid storage unit and the main body side waste liquid storage unit are configured to be detachable and have compatibility.
A liquid ejecting apparatus. In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, when the waste liquid is discharged, the main body side waste liquid storage section and the additional waste liquid storage section are alternately used.
A liquid ejecting apparatus. A liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto an ejected medium, a main body-side liquid storage section that stores liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head, and a main body-side ejected medium accommodating section that accommodates an ejected medium before liquid ejection is performed. A liquid jet execution unit,
The medium to be ejected before the liquid ejection is performed and configured to be attachable to and detachable from the liquid ejection performing unit and capable of feeding the medium to be ejected to the liquid ejection performing unit while being attached to the liquid ejection performing unit. An expanded ejected medium accommodating portion for accommodating
The additional ejected medium accommodating portion is provided with an additional liquid storage portion for storing liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head, and configured to be able to supply liquid from the additional ejected medium accommodating portion side to the liquid ejecting head. A liquid ejecting apparatus. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a liquid supply source when supplying the liquid to the liquid ejecting head can be selected from the main body side liquid storage unit and the additional liquid storage unit. ,
A liquid ejecting apparatus. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the additional liquid storage unit and the main body side liquid storage unit are configured to be detachable and have compatibility.
A liquid ejecting apparatus. A liquid ejecting head that is configured to be detachable from a liquid ejecting apparatus that includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto a medium to be ejected and a medium to be ejected that contains a medium to be ejected before performing liquid ejection. An expansion unit for accommodating the ejection medium,
An additional waste liquid storage unit capable of storing waste liquid discarded from the liquid jet head;
An extension unit characterized by that.

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