JP2015047761A - Inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet recorder capable of attaching and detaching a waste ink tank in which a waste ink is filled fully easily.SOLUTION: An inkjet recorder 1 comprises a tray for supporting a waste ink tank 333. The tray is attached to a device housing 100 so that the waste ink tank can freely move between a storage position where the waste ink tank is stored in the device housing and a projection position where the waste ink tank projects from the device housing. At the storage position, the waste ink tank is attached to the device housing. At the projection position, the waste ink tank can be taken out from the tray.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus.

  An inkjet recording apparatus is a recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles provided in a nozzle head, and can perform high-speed printing with a simple structure. In an ink jet recording apparatus, it is necessary to make the nozzle diameter small in order to perform high-resolution printing. In this case, if the period during which printing is not performed is long, the ink viscosity increases and nozzle clogging is likely to occur. . When the nozzles are clogged, printing defects such as missing dots and vertical stripes occur.

  Therefore, in the ink jet recording apparatus, when printing is not performed, the nozzle head is covered with a cap to suppress drying of ink in the nozzle and mixing of dust into the nozzle. Also, during printing, the nozzle head is moved to the capping position every predetermined number or every predetermined time, and ink is ejected from all nozzles to prevent nozzle clogging. At that time, ink ejected from the nozzles (hereinafter referred to as “waste ink”) is stored in a waste ink tank. When the waste ink tank is full of waste ink, the user removes the waste ink tank from the ink jet recording apparatus, discards the waste ink in the waste ink tank, and loads the empty waste ink tank into the ink jet recording apparatus again ( Patent Document 1).

  Conventional ink jet recording apparatuses are often configured to open the front door of the ink jet recording apparatus and pull out the waste ink tank loaded in the ink jet recording apparatus forward to take out the waste ink tank.

JP 2008-119998 A

  In recent years, the internal capacity of the waste ink tank is increasing with the increase in speed and size of the ink jet recording apparatus. In that case, the conventional ink jet recording apparatus has a problem that the workability of the removal operation of the waste ink tank is deteriorated.

  That is, in the conventional inkjet recording apparatus, the internal volume of the waste ink tank is about 2 liters, whereas in the high-speed and large-scale inkjet recording apparatus, the internal volume of the waste ink tank may be about 4 liters. . In that case, it is considered that the work of pulling out the full waste ink tank loaded in the ink jet recording apparatus forward is a considerable burden on the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of easily attaching and detaching a full waste ink tank.

  The present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium using ink, the apparatus housing, a nozzle head that discharges the ink, a waste ink tank that stores waste ink of the ink, and the waste A tray that supports an ink tank, wherein the tray is disposed between a storage position where the waste ink tank is stored in the apparatus housing and a protruding position where the waste ink tank protrudes from the apparatus housing. At the storage position, the waste ink tank is mounted on the tray, and at the protruding position, the waste ink tank is attached to the tray so that the ink tank is movable. Can be taken out from.

  According to the present invention, a full waste ink tank can be easily attached and detached.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing of the structure of the maintenance apparatus and tank loading mechanism of the inkjet recording device shown by FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tank loading mechanism shown in FIG. 3. It is sectional drawing of the principal part of the tray shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing of the principal part of the rocking | fluctuating arm shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing of the principal part in the state by which the tray shown by FIG. 4 was fixed to the rocking | fluctuating arm. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a tray that supports a waste ink tank is housed in an apparatus housing. It is the A section enlarged view of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the usage method of the inkjet recording device shown by FIG.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes an apparatus housing 100, a paper feeding unit 200 disposed below the inside of the device housing 100, and an ink jet recording system disposed above the paper feeding unit 200. The image forming unit 300, the sheet conveying unit 400 disposed on one side of the image forming unit 300, and the sheet discharging unit 500 disposed on the other side of the image forming unit 300.

  The paper feed unit 200 includes a paper feed cassette 201 detachably attached to the apparatus housing 100, a paper feed roller 202, and a guide plate 203. The paper feed roller 202 is disposed above one end side of the paper feed cassette 201. The guide plate 203 is disposed between the paper feed roller 202 and the paper transport unit 400.

  In the paper feed cassette 201, a plurality of sheets P as recording media are stacked and stored. The paper feed roller 202 takes out the paper P in the paper feed cassette 201 one by one. The guide plate 203 guides the paper P taken out by the paper feed roller 202 to the paper transport unit 400.

  The paper transport unit 400 includes a substantially C-shaped paper transport path 401, a transport roller pair 402 provided on the entrance side of the paper transport path 401, a registration roller pair 403 provided on the exit side of the paper transport path 401, A guide plate 404 disposed between the registration roller pair 403 and the image forming unit 300 is provided.

  The transport roller pair 402 sends the paper P to the paper transport path 401 across the paper P fed from the paper feed unit 200. The registration roller pair 403 performs skew correction of the paper P supplied from the paper transport path 401. The registration roller pair 403 temporarily waits for the paper P in order to synchronize the printing timing and the conveyance timing for the paper P, and then sends the paper P to the guide plate 404 in accordance with the printing timing. The guide plate 404 guides the paper P sent out by the registration roller pair 403 to the image forming unit 300.

  The image forming unit 300 includes a recording unit 310, a transport unit 320, a maintenance device 330, and a guide plate 340.

  The recording unit 310 includes a recording head 312 disposed above the transport unit 320 and a tank unit 316 disposed below the transport unit 320.

  The transport unit 320 includes a support roller 321, a drive roller 322, a transport belt 323, and a suction unit (not shown).

  The conveyor belt 323 is endless and is stretched between the support roller 321 and the drive roller 322. A plurality of through holes (not shown) penetrating the transport belt 323 in the thickness direction are perforated.

  The drive roller 322 is disposed with a gap in the paper transport direction with respect to the support roller 321. The driving roller 322 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown), and rotates the transport belt 323 in the transport direction of the paper P.

  Inside the suction unit, suction means such as a fan and a vacuum pump are installed. When the suction means is driven, negative pressure is generated inside the suction unit. The negative pressure acts on the paper P supported on one surface of the transport belt 323 through the plurality of through holes of the transport belt 323, and the paper P is sucked onto the transport belt 323.

  The recording head 312 is composed of four nozzle heads 312K, 312C, 312M, and 312Y arranged in parallel from the upstream side to the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction.

  The tank unit 316 includes four ink tanks 316K, 316C, 316M, and 316Y arranged in parallel from the upstream side to the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction.

  Each of the nozzle heads 312K, 312C, 312M, and 312Y includes a plurality of nozzles arranged in the width direction (Y direction) of the transport belt 323. The recording head 312 is called a line type. For example, the line type recording head 312 is fixed to the apparatus housing 100. The nozzle heads 312 </ b> K, 312 </ b> C, 312 </ b> M, and 312 </ b> Y form an image on the paper P by ejecting ink onto the paper P conveyed by the conveyance belt 323.

  Each of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle head 312K communicates with a pressurizing chamber (not shown) formed in the nozzle head 312K. The pressurizing chamber communicates with an ink liquid chamber (not shown) formed in the nozzle head 312K. The ink liquid chamber communicates with an ink supply pump (not shown). The ink supply pump communicates with the ink tank 316K.

  Each of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle head 312C communicates with a pressurizing chamber (not shown) formed in the nozzle head 312C. The pressurizing chamber communicates with an ink liquid chamber (not shown) formed in the nozzle head 312C. The ink liquid chamber communicates with an ink supply pump (not shown). The ink supply pump communicates with the ink tank 316C.

  Each of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle head 312M communicates with a pressurizing chamber (not shown) formed in the nozzle head 312M. The pressurizing chamber communicates with an ink liquid chamber (not shown) formed in the nozzle head 312M. The ink liquid chamber communicates with an ink supply pump (not shown). The ink supply pump communicates with the ink tank 316M.

  Each of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle head 312Y communicates with a pressurizing chamber (not shown) formed in the nozzle head 312Y. The pressurizing chamber communicates with an ink liquid chamber (not shown) formed in the nozzle head 312Y. The ink liquid chamber communicates with an ink supply pump (not shown). The ink supply pump communicates with the ink tank 316Y.

  The guide plate 340 guides the paper P sent out by the transport unit 320 to the paper discharge unit 500.

  The maintenance device 330 includes a cap unit 331, an ink tube 332, a waste ink tank 333, and a pump 334.

  The cap unit 331 includes four caps 331K, 331C, 331M, and 331Y that are arranged in parallel from the upstream side to the downstream side in the paper transport direction. Each of the four caps 331K, 331C, 331M, and 331Y is formed in a tray shape.

  The cap unit 331 is movable in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction with respect to the recording head 312 by a drive mechanism (not shown). The recording head 312 that has finished discharging ink is capped by the cap unit 331. That is, the nozzle head 312K is capped by the cap 331K, the nozzle head 312C is capped by the cap 331C, the nozzle head 312M is capped by the cap 331M, and the nozzle head 312Y is capped by the cap 331Y.

  The ink tube 332 allows the cap unit 331 and the waste ink tank 333 to communicate with each other. The pump 334 suctions each nozzle of the nozzle heads 312K, 312C, 312M, and 312Y to forcibly eject ink. As a result, nozzle clogging is suppressed. Further, the bubbles in the nozzle heads 312K, 312C, 312M and 312Y are removed. Waste ink discharged from the nozzle heads 312K, 312C, 312M, and 312Y is stored in a waste ink tank 333.

  The paper discharge unit 500 includes a discharge roller pair 501 and a discharge tray 502. The discharge tray 502 is fixed to the apparatus casing 100 so as to protrude outside from the discharge port 101 formed in the apparatus casing 100.

  The paper P that has passed through the transport unit 320 is sent in the direction of the discharge port 101 by the discharge roller pair 501, guided to the discharge tray 502, and discharged to the outside of the apparatus housing 100 through the discharge port 101.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. The ink jet recording apparatus 1 further includes a tank loading mechanism 600. The tank loading mechanism 600 includes a storage position (FIG. 2A) where the waste ink tank 333 is stored in the apparatus housing 100, and a protruding position (FIG. 2B) where the waste ink tank 333 protrudes from the apparatus housing 100. ))), The waste ink tank 333 is configured to be movable. The detailed structure of the tank loading mechanism 600 will be described later.

  Next, details of the maintenance device 330 and the tank loading mechanism 600 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the maintenance device 330 and the tank loading mechanism 600.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the maintenance device 330 further includes a wiper mechanism 335. The wiper mechanism 335 includes a plurality of wipe members 335a. As the wiper mechanism 335 moves along the Y-axis direction, the plurality of wipe members 335a are brought into sliding contact with the lower surface of the recording head 312 to remove waste ink residues.

  In the capping position where the cap unit 331 caps the recording head 312, nozzle cleaning is performed to eject ink from all nozzles of the recording head 312. At that time, the cap unit 331 receives waste ink ejected from the recording head 312. The pump 334 sucks the waste ink flowing into the cap unit 331 and sends the waste ink into the waste ink tank 333 via the ink tube 332.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tank loading mechanism 600. As shown in FIG. 4, the tank loading mechanism 600 includes a tray 610, a guide mechanism 620, a base 630, a pair of left and right side walls 640, a compression spring 650, and a tank detector 660 (FIG. 4). 3) and a full detector 670 as a full detection means.

  The tray 610 includes a tank support portion 611, a tank pressing portion 612, and a pair of guide walls 614. The tank support portion 611 has a U-shaped cross section, and is formed, for example, by pressing a metal plate. The tank support 611 includes a bottom wall 611a, a front end wall 611b formed at the front end thereof, a rear end wall 611c formed at the rear end of the bottom wall 611a, and a through hole 611d formed in the bottom wall 611a (see FIG. 5) and an opening 611e formed in the rear end wall 611c. The tray 610 will be described in more detail later with reference to FIG.

  Next, the guide mechanism 620 will be described. The guide mechanism 620 includes a swing frame 621 and a plurality of rollers 622. The swing frame 621 has a U-shaped cross section and is formed, for example, by pressing a metal plate. The swing frame 621 includes a bottom wall 621a, a pair of left and right side walls 621b erected on both sides of the bottom wall 621a, and a rear wall 621c erected on the back side of the bottom wall 621a. The plurality of rollers 622 are rotatably attached to the inner surfaces of the pair of side walls 621b. An opening 621ca is formed in the back wall 621c.

  Each of the pair of guide walls 614 of the tray 610 engages with the plurality of rollers 622, so that the tray 610 is guided by the guide mechanism 620 to be slidable in the longitudinal direction. By sliding the tray 610 in the longitudinal direction with respect to the guide mechanism 620, the tray 610 can be taken in and out of the apparatus housing 100. The tray 610 includes a waste ink tank 33 between a storage position where the waste ink tank 333 (see FIG. 3) is stored in the apparatus housing 100 and a protruding position where the waste ink tank 333 protrudes from the apparatus housing 100. It is attached to the apparatus housing 100 so as to be movable. When the waste ink tank 333 is in the storage position, the waste ink tank 333 is loaded in the apparatus housing 100 and receives waste ink supplied via the ink tube 332. When the waste ink tank 333 is in the protruding position, the waste ink tank 333 can be detached from the tray 610.

  The swing frame 621 is swingably supported on the pair of side walls 640 via a horizontal support shaft (not shown) extending in the direction of the X axis (see FIG. 3). The swing frame 621 is swingable in a vertical plane, and the swing frame 621 has a waste ink tank (see FIG. 3) having an upper end position (see FIG. 10A) and a lower end position (see FIG. 10B). ).

  The compression spring 650 biases the swing frame 621 upward. When the waste ink tank 333 (see FIG. 3) is in the storage position and the inside of the waste ink tank 333 is not full of waste ink, the compression spring 650 tilts the swing frame 621 to waste the ink tank 333. Is positioned above the lower end position. When the waste ink tank 333 is filled with waste ink, the compression spring 650 is compressed, the swing frame 621 becomes horizontal, and the waste ink tank 333 is positioned at the lower end position.

  The tank detector 660 is attached to an opening 621ca formed in the back wall 621c of the swing frame 621. The tank detector 660 is constituted by a limit switch, for example, and has a detector 661 at one end. The tank detector 660 is attached to the back wall 621c so that the detection unit 661 protrudes from the opening 621ca. When the waste ink tank 333 moves to the storage position, the detection unit 661 of the tank detector 660 enters the opening 611e formed in the rear end wall 611c of the tray 610, and the waste ink tank 333 supported on the tank support 611. The tank detector 660 operates in contact with

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the tray 610. As shown in FIG. 5, the tray 610 further includes a spring 613. The tank pressing portion 612 includes a swing member 612a, a pressing member 612b, and a support shaft 612c. The swing member 612a has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and is formed, for example, by pressing a metal plate. The swing member 612a is attached to the tank support 611 via a support shaft 612c, and can swing within a vertical plane with the support shaft 612c as a center. The spring 613 biases the swing member 612a in the counterclockwise direction.

  A triangular engagement portion 612aa is formed at one end of the swing member 612a. The pressing member 612b is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section, and is formed, for example, by pressing a metal plate having elasticity. One end of the pressing member 612b is fixed to the swinging member 612a, and presses the waste ink tank 333 supported on the tank support portion 611 in the left direction in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the swing frame 621, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the main part in a state where the tray 610 is fixed to the swing frame 621. As shown in FIG. 6, an engagement hole 621 e is formed in the front end portion of the bottom wall 621 a of the swing frame 621. An engaging portion 612aa (see FIG. 5) of the swinging member 612a is detachably engaged with the engaging hole 621e. When the tray 610 protruding from the apparatus housing 100 is pushed into the apparatus housing 100, the engaging portion 612aa comes into contact with the front end portion of the swing frame 621 and the swing member 612a rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. .

  Further, when the tray 610 is pushed into the apparatus housing 100, the engaging portion 612aa engages with the engaging hole 621e as shown in FIG. In this state, the tray 610 is fixed to the swing frame 621 and cannot be pulled out from the apparatus housing 100. When the user presses the upper end of the swinging member 612a in the clockwise direction to rotate the swinging member 612a, the engaging portion 612aa is detached from the engaging hole 621e, and the tray 610 is pulled out from the apparatus housing 100. It becomes possible.

  Next, the detailed structure of the full detector 670 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tray 610 supporting the waste ink tank 333 is housed in the apparatus housing 100, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. The full detector 670 includes a photoelectric detector 671 and a tongue piece 672 as an object to be detected. The full detector 670 detects the waste ink tank 333 in a state where the waste ink tank 333 is in the storage position.

  The photoelectric detector 671 is attached to the outer surface of one side wall 640 of the tank loading mechanism 600. The tongue piece 672 is attached to the outer surface of one side wall 621 b of the swing frame 621. The tongue piece 672 is formed by pressing a metal plate, for example, and protrudes laterally through an opening 640a formed in the side wall 640. The tongue piece 672 and the opening 640a function as a stopper of the present invention.

  When the tray 610 is protruded from the apparatus housing 100, the lower edge of the tongue piece 672 is pressed against the lower edge of the inner peripheral portion of the opening 640a by the weight of the waste ink tank 333 filled with waste ink. Since the waste ink tank 333 full of waste ink has a weight of, for example, about 4 kg, the tongue piece 672 is strongly pressed against the lower edge of the inner peripheral portion of the opening 640a, and rattling of the swing frame 621 is suppressed. The As a result, the tray 610 supported by the swing frame 621 is stabilized, and the ink in the waste ink tank 333 can be prevented from scattering when the waste ink tank 333 is detached from the tray 610.

  The photoelectric detector 671 has a slit 671a, and the photoelectric detector 671 is activated by inserting the tongue piece 672 into the slit 671a. FIG. 9A shows a state where the tongue piece 672 is outside the slit 671a, and FIG. 9B shows a state where the tongue piece 672 is inserted into the slit 671a. As shown in FIG. 9A, the photoelectric detector 671 is inoperative when the tongue 672 is outside the slit 671a, and the tongue 672 is inserted into the slit 671a as shown in FIG. 9B. Then, the photoelectric detector 671 is activated. The photoelectric detector 671 is inexpensive and is a non-contact type sensor, and thus has an advantage of higher durability than the contact type sensor.

  The full detector 670 operates only when the waste ink tank 333 is located at the lower end position, and does not operate when the waste ink tank 333 is located above the lower end position. It is configured as follows.

  Next, a method of using the ink jet recording apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a method for using the inkjet recording apparatus 1.

  The waste ink tank 333 disposed at the tank loading position stores waste ink generated by nozzle cleaning. In a state where the waste ink tank 333 is not full of waste ink, the waste ink tank 333 is above the lower end position, and the tray 610 is inclined as shown in FIG. In that state, the photoelectric detector 671 does not detect the tongue piece 672.

  When the waste ink tank 333 is filled with waste ink, the swing frame 621 (see FIG. 4) rotates downward to position the waste ink tank 333 at the lower end position, as shown in FIG. The tray 610 becomes horizontal. In this state, the photoelectric detector 671 is activated, and a display unit (not shown) displays that the waste ink tank 333 is full of waste ink. The user opens a door (not shown) provided at the lower front of the apparatus housing 100 (see FIG. 2), pulls the tray 610 forward, and installs the waste ink tank 333 as shown in FIG. Position it in the protruding position.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10D, the user lifts the waste ink tank 333 by hand and removes it from the tray 610. After the ink in the waste ink tank 333 is discarded, the empty waste ink tank 333 is placed on the tray 610. Then, the tray 610 is pushed into the apparatus housing 100, and the waste ink tank 333 is disposed at the storage position. When the waste ink tank 333 is disposed at the storage position, the tank detector 660 detects the waste ink tank 333 and displays on the display unit that the loading of the waste ink tank 333 into the apparatus housing 100 is completed. .

  According to the ink jet recording apparatus 1, the operation of inserting / removing the tray 610 into / from the apparatus housing 100 becomes easier as compared with the case where the user manually inserts / removes the waste ink tank 333.

  Further, according to the inkjet recording apparatus 1, the full detector 670 detects that the waste ink tank 333 is filled with the waste ink. Therefore, the user opens the door of the apparatus housing 100 and the waste ink tank 333. There is no need to check the amount of ink inside.

  Further, according to the ink jet recording apparatus 1, the tank detector 660 detects that the waste ink tank 333 has been correctly loaded into the apparatus housing 100, so that the loading operation of the waste ink tank 333 is facilitated.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 and various modifications can be made to the present embodiment.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the case where the full detection unit is configured by a photoelectric detector has been described. However, the full detection unit may be configured by another device (for example, a limit switch).

  In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to an ink jet recording apparatus including a line type recording head fixed to the apparatus casing has been described. However, the present invention is applied to such an ink jet recording apparatus. It is not limited to. For example, the present invention may be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a recording head that moves relative to the apparatus housing. For example, the present invention may be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a serial type recording head.

  In this embodiment, the case where the inkjet recording apparatus forms an image on a sheet has been described. However, the recording medium on which the inkjet recording apparatus forms an image is other than a sheet (for example, a plastic sheet or a fabric). Also good.

  In addition, various modifications can be made to the present embodiment without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 100 Apparatus housing | casing 312K, 312C, 312M, 312Y Nozzle head 330 Maintenance apparatus 333 Waste ink tank 600 Tray loading mechanism 610 Tray 620 Guide mechanism 640a Opening (stopper)
650 Compression spring 660 Tank detector (tank detection means)
670 Full detector (full detection means)
672 Tongue piece (object to be detected, stopper)
P paper (recording medium)

Claims (6)

An inkjet recording apparatus that records on a recording medium with ink,
A device housing;
A nozzle head for discharging the ink;
A waste ink tank for storing waste ink among the inks;
A tray for supporting the waste ink tank,
The tray is configured such that the waste ink tank is movable between a storage position where the waste ink tank is stored in the apparatus housing and a protruding position where the waste ink tank protrudes from the apparatus housing. Attached to the device housing;
In the storage position, the waste ink tank is loaded in the apparatus housing,
The inkjet recording apparatus, wherein the waste ink tank can be taken out from the tray at the protruding position.
A tank detecting means for detecting the waste ink tank;
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tank detection unit detects the waste ink tank in a state where the waste ink tank is in the storage position.
A full detection means for detecting whether or not the waste ink tank is full of the waste ink;
3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the full detection unit detects whether the waste ink tank is full with the waste ink in a state where the waste ink tank is in the storage position. 4.
A swing frame that slidably supports the tray, and a biasing means that biases the swing frame upward;
The swing frame is swingable in a vertical plane so that the waste ink tank can move between an upper end position and a lower end position,
The biasing means is configured such that the waste ink tank is positioned at the lower end position when the waste ink tank is full of the waste ink, and the waste ink tank is not filled with the waste ink when the waste ink tank is not full. The ink tank is formed to be located above the lower end position,
4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the full detection unit detects the waste ink tank only when the waste ink tank is located at the lower end position.
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the full detection unit includes a photoelectric detector and an object to be detected detected by the photoelectric detector.
  The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a stopper that restricts the swing frame from moving downward in a state where the waste ink tank is in the protruding position.

Images