JP2019198997A - Liquid injection device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a liquid injection device capable of reducing a possibility that liquid continuously leaks from a nozzle when a meniscus of the nozzle is broken in a state where an attitude is tilted.SOLUTION: A liquid injection device comprises: a liquid injection head 32 constituted so as to inject liquid supplied from a liquid storage part 19 storing the liquid from a nozzle 31; a cap 42 constituted so as to form a closed space where the nozzle 31 opens; a waste liquid flow passage 43 of which an upstream end is connected to the cap 42; a suction mechanism 44 being provided in the middle of the waste liquid flow passage 43 and constituted so as to suck the liquid from the liquid injection head 32 via the cap 42; and a housing 20 accommodating at least the liquid injection head 32, the cap 42 and the suction mechanism 44. At least a part of the waste liquid flow passage 43 passes through a position higher than a height of a first liquid level L1 while the housing 20 is tilted to a predetermined angle at which the height of the first liquid level L1 in the liquid storage part 19 is brought into a state where it is higher than the nozzle 31 from a state where it is lower than the nozzle 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus such as a printer.

  As an example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, there is a recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, for example. The recording apparatus discharges ink, which is an example of a liquid supplied from an ink cartridge, which is an example of a liquid storage unit, from a nozzle and records it on a recording sheet.

JP 2017-177771 A

  In a recording apparatus that supplies ink by a water head, for example, if the meniscus of the nozzle is destroyed while the ink level in the ink cartridge is tilted so as to be positioned higher than the nozzle, the ink continues to leak from the nozzle. There is a fear.

  Such a problem may occur not only in a recording apparatus that ejects ink supplied from an ink cartridge from a nozzle, but also in a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid supplied from a liquid storage unit from the nozzle.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus that can reduce a possibility that liquid continuously leaks from a nozzle when the meniscus of the nozzle is broken in a state where the posture is inclined.

  A liquid ejecting apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention forms a liquid ejecting head configured to eject the liquid supplied from a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid from a nozzle, and a closed space in which the nozzle opens. A cap configured as described above, a waste liquid flow path whose upstream end is connected to the cap, and a structure in which the liquid is sucked from the liquid ejecting head through the cap. A suction mechanism, and at least the liquid ejecting head, the cap, and a housing that accommodates the suction mechanism, and at least a part of the waste liquid flow path is configured so that the housing is liquid in the liquid storage portion. It passes through a position higher than the height of the liquid surface until the height of the surface is inclined to a predetermined angle from a lower state to a higher state than the nozzle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a multifunction machine including the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a multifunction peripheral in which illustration of some cases is omitted. The schematic diagram which shows the internal structure in the liquid ejecting apparatus of a use attitude | position. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a tilted posture liquid ejecting apparatus. The schematic diagram of the use attitude | position of the liquid ejecting apparatus of the 1st modification. The schematic diagram of the inclination attitude | position of the liquid ejecting apparatus of the 1st modification. The schematic diagram of the use attitude | position of the liquid ejecting apparatus of the 2nd modification. The schematic diagram of the inclination attitude | position of the liquid ejecting apparatus of the 2nd modification. The schematic diagram of the liquid accommodating part of the 3rd modification. The schematic diagram of the liquid accommodating part of the 4th modification.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present embodiment is an ink jet printer that prints characters, images, and the like on a medium by ejecting ink that is an example of a liquid onto a medium such as paper.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 11 includes a liquid ejecting apparatus 12 and an image reading apparatus 13 disposed on the liquid ejecting apparatus 12, and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. In FIG. 1, assuming that the multifunction machine 11 is placed on the horizontal plane in a usage posture A suitable for use, the direction of gravity is indicated by the Z axis, and the direction along the horizontal plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity is indicated by the X axis and Shown on the Y-axis. The X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are orthogonal to each other. In the following description, the direction along the X axis is also called the width direction X, the direction along the Y axis is called the depth direction Y, and the direction along the Z axis is also called the height direction Z.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus 12 includes an operation panel 17 having an operation unit 15 and a display unit 16. The operation unit 15 includes buttons and the like for performing various operations of the multifunction machine 11. The display unit 16 displays information such as the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 and the multifunction machine 11.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus 12 includes at least one liquid storage unit 19 that stores a liquid and a housing 20 that stores the liquid storage unit 19. The casing 20 is formed with a window portion 21 that exposes a part of the liquid storage portion 19 to the outside. The housing 20 of the present embodiment accommodates five liquid storage portions 19, and five window portions 21 corresponding to the respective liquid storage portions 19 are formed.

Next, the liquid container 19 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid storage unit 19 includes a storage chamber 23 that can store a liquid. The storage chambers 23 store different types of liquids. Examples of the liquid include colors such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and colorants such as pigments and dyes. The liquid ejecting apparatus 12 may include a plurality of types of liquid storage units 19 having different storage capacities.

  The liquid storage unit 19 includes an injection unit 24 that can inject liquid into the storage chamber 23. The liquid storage unit 19 is made of a transparent or translucent resin, and the level of the first liquid level L1 shown in FIG. 3 of the liquid stored in the storage chamber 23 can be visually recognized from the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the liquid storage unit 19, a region corresponding to the window portion 21 of the housing 20 functions as a visual recognition surface 26 through which the ink in the storage chamber 23 can be viewed from the outside. The visual recognition surface 26 is provided with a lower limit scale 27 indicating a guideline for replenishing the storage chamber 23 with a liquid and an upper limit scale 28 indicating a guideline for the upper limit of the liquid that can be stored in the storage chamber 23. The height of the upper limit scale 28 coincides with the height of the first liquid level L1 in a state where the liquid storage unit 19 in the use posture A stores the maximum amount of liquid. The upper wall 23a of the storage chamber 23 is formed with a communication hole 23b that allows the storage chamber 23 to communicate with the outside. That is, the storage chamber 23 is configured to communicate with the atmosphere.

Next, the internal configuration of the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 includes a liquid ejecting head 32 that can eject liquid from a plurality of nozzles 31 that are open on the nozzle forming surface 30, and a liquid crystal head 32 that holds the liquid ejecting head 32 in the width direction X. And a carriage 33 that can reciprocate. The liquid ejecting head 32 ejects the liquid supplied from the liquid storage unit 19 and prints it on a medium (not shown).

  The liquid ejecting apparatus 12 includes a liquid supply unit 35 that supplies the liquid stored in the liquid storage unit 19 to the nozzle 31 and a maintenance unit 36 for maintaining the liquid ejecting head 32. The housing 20 houses the liquid ejecting head 32, the carriage 33, the liquid supply unit 35, and the maintenance unit 36.

  A plurality of liquid supply units 35 are provided corresponding to the liquid storage unit 19 individually, but in FIG. 3, one liquid storage unit 19 and the liquid storage unit 19 correspond to the drawing for simplification. One liquid supply unit 35 is illustrated. The liquid supply section 35 includes a liquid supply path 38 that supplies the liquid stored in the liquid storage section 19 to the nozzle 31, an intermediate storage body 39 that is provided in the liquid supply path 38 and can store the liquid, and foreign substances such as bubbles. And a filter 40 capable of collecting the.

  The maintenance unit 36 includes a cap 42 that covers the nozzle 31, a waste liquid channel 43 whose upstream end is connected to the cap 42, and a suction mechanism 44 that is provided in the middle of the waste liquid channel 43. The maintenance unit 36 includes a waste liquid storage unit 46 configured to introduce liquid discharged from the waste liquid channel 43 from the introduction port 45, and a guide unit 47 configured to guide the waste liquid channel 43. Prepare. The downstream end of the waste liquid flow path 43 is connected to the introduction port 45. In the use posture A, the introduction port 45 is positioned higher than the nozzle 31. The guide part 47 guides the waste liquid flow path 43 configured by, for example, a flexible tube.

  The cap 42 is provided so as to be movable between a position shown in FIG. 3 that contacts the liquid ejecting head 32 and a position (not shown) that is separated from the liquid ejecting head 32. The cap 42 contacts the liquid ejecting head 32 to cap the liquid ejecting head 32, and forms a closed space in which the nozzle 31 opens between the nozzle forming surface 30. The cap 42 caps the liquid ejecting head 32 during standby when the liquid ejecting head 32 does not print on the medium, and suppresses drying of the nozzles 31.

  The suction mechanism 44 is configured to suck the liquid from the liquid ejecting head 32 via the cap 42. That is, the maintenance unit 36 drives the suction mechanism 44 with the liquid ejecting head 32 capped, and depressurizes the closed space formed between the cap 42 and the nozzle forming surface 30. Accordingly, the maintenance unit 36 discharges foreign matters such as bubbles in the liquid jet head 32 and the like from the nozzle 31 together with the liquid. The liquid discharged from the nozzle 31 is received by the cap 42 and stored in the waste liquid storage unit 46 via the waste liquid channel 43.

  Of the waste liquid channel 43, the upstream side of the suction mechanism 44 is referred to as an upper channel 43a, and the downstream side of the suction mechanism 44 is referred to as a lower channel 43b. The upper flow path 43a and the lower flow path 43b communicate with each other during standby in order to suppress a change in pressure in the cap 42 due to a change in ambient temperature. The waste liquid channel 43 includes a folded portion 43c in which a part of the lower channel 43b is folded. The folded portion 43c is a portion where the waste liquid channel 43 is bent at an acute angle.

Next, the posture of the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the usage posture A is a state where the housing 20 is placed on a horizontal plane. In the usage posture A, the nozzle forming surface 30 is positioned at the lower end of the liquid ejecting head 32 and becomes horizontal, and the liquid ejecting head 32 ejects liquid in the direction of gravity.

  In the use posture A, the height of the first liquid surface L <b> 1 in the liquid container 19 is lower than that of the nozzle 31. That is, in the liquid storage unit 19 in the use posture A, at least a part of the viewing surface 26, the upper limit scale 28, and the lower limit scale 27 are located at positions lower than the nozzle 31. In the use posture A, the opening in the accommodation chamber 23 of the upper wall 23 a and the communication hole 23 b may be located at a position lower than the nozzle 31. In the usage posture A, the liquid ejecting head 32 is located at a position between the liquid storage unit 19 and the waste liquid storage unit 46 in the depth direction Y.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the posture of the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 is inclined so that the front side on which the liquid storage unit 19 is disposed is higher than the rear side on which the waste liquid storage unit 46 is disposed. B. In the inclined posture B, the height of the first liquid surface L1 is higher than that of at least one nozzle 31. FIG. 4 illustrates a posture in which the housing 20 is inclined by 30 degrees, which is an example of a predetermined angle from the use posture A. When the heights of the first liquid level L1 and the upper limit scale 28 coincide with each other in the use posture A, the first liquid level L1 in the inclined posture B becomes equal to or lower than the height of the upper limit scale 28. Therefore, the upper limit scale 28 is positioned higher than the nozzle 31. In the inclined posture B of the present embodiment, the upper wall 23 a, the opening in the accommodation chamber 23 of the communication hole 23 b, the visual recognition surface 26, and the lower limit scale 27 are positioned higher than the nozzle 31.

  When the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 is in the inclined posture B, at least a part of the waste liquid channel 43 is located at a position higher than the first liquid level L1. In the present embodiment, when the liquid ejecting device 12 is inclined to the inclined posture B in a state where the liquid storage unit 19 stores the maximum amount of liquid, the waste liquid channel 43 is positioned higher than the first liquid level L1. The part to be positioned is defined as a high part 43d. The folded part 43c is located at the high part 43d.

  In other words, the high portion 43d provided on the downstream side of the suction mechanism 44 is the first liquid level L1 in the storage chamber 23 until the housing 20 is inclined at 30 degrees from the use posture A to the inclined posture B. It goes through a position higher than the height. The guide part 47 guides the waste liquid flow path 43 so that the folded part 43c is positioned higher than the height of the first liquid level L1 of the liquid storage part 19 until the housing 20 is inclined by 30 degrees.

  In the use posture A and the inclined posture B, the height portion 43d is located at a position higher than the first liquid level L1. Therefore, when the housing 20 is tilted to a predetermined angle so that any one of the first liquid level L1, the lower limit scale 27, and the upper limit scale 28 has the same height as the nozzle 31, It is located at a position higher than the first liquid level L1.

  The waste liquid container 46 is provided so as to be positioned at a position lower than the liquid ejecting head 32 when the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 assumes the inclined posture B. In the inclined posture B, the introduction port 45 is located at a position lower than the height of the first liquid level L1.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the usage posture A where the first liquid level L <b> 1 is positioned lower than the nozzle 31, when liquid is ejected or discharged from the nozzle 31, the negative pressure in the liquid ejecting head 32 increases. . Due to this negative pressure, the liquid in the liquid container 19 is drawn into the liquid ejecting head 32, and the consumed liquid is replenished from the liquid container 19.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the posture of the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 is changed from the use posture A to the tilted posture B, the first liquid level L1 is positioned higher than the nozzle 31 and the liquid in the liquid storage unit 19 Is supplied to the liquid jet head 32 by the water head. Therefore, for example, when vibration is applied to the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 and the meniscus of the nozzle 31 is destroyed, the liquid supplied from the liquid storage unit 19 to the liquid ejecting head 32 may leak from the nozzle 31. The liquid leaking from the nozzle 31 is received by the cap 42 and flows into the waste liquid channel 43.

  The height portion 43d is located at a position higher than the first liquid level L1 even in the inclined posture B. Therefore, the flow of the liquid in the waste liquid flow path 43 stops when the height of the second liquid level L2 in the waste liquid flow path 43 and the height of the first liquid level L1 in the storage chamber 23 are aligned. In the inclined posture B, the folded portion 43c is positioned higher than the first liquid level L1. The liquid flowing through the waste liquid flow path 43 is blocked by the second liquid level L2 positioned upstream of the folded portion 43c. When the flow of the liquid in the waste liquid channel 43 stops, the leakage of the liquid from the nozzle 31 also stops.

  The introduction port 45 is located at a position lower than the height of the first liquid surface L1 in a state where the housing 20 is inclined in the inclined posture B. Therefore, for example, when the second liquid level L2 is shaken and the liquid has climbed over the high portion 43d, the liquid that has climbed over is stored in the waste liquid storage section 46.

The effect of this embodiment will be described.
(1) The height portion 43d passes through a position higher than the height of the first liquid surface L1 in the liquid storage portion 19 until the housing 20 is inclined at a predetermined angle. Therefore, even when liquid leaks from the nozzle 31 with the housing 20 tilted, the liquid leaking from the nozzle 31 can be retained in the waste liquid flow path 43. Accordingly, when the meniscus of the nozzle 31 is broken while the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 is tilted, the possibility that the liquid continues to leak from the nozzle 31 can be reduced.

  (2) The height portion 43d passes through a position higher than the height of the first liquid surface L1 in the liquid storage portion 19 that stores the maximum amount of liquid until the housing 20 is inclined at a predetermined angle. For this reason, even when the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 is tilted in the state where the maximum amount of liquid is stored in the liquid storage unit 19, the possibility that the liquid continues to leak from the nozzle 31 can be reduced.

  (3) In the waste liquid channel 43, the height portion 43d in the lower channel 43b on the downstream side of the suction mechanism 44 is the first liquid level L1 in the liquid storage unit 19 until the housing 20 is inclined at a predetermined angle. Via a higher position. Therefore, the length of the waste liquid channel 43 upstream of the suction mechanism 44 can be maintained, and a decrease in the suction ability of the suction mechanism 44 for sucking liquid from the liquid ejecting head 32 can be suppressed.

  (4) The introduction port 45 configured to introduce the liquid into the waste liquid storage unit 46 is located at a position lower than the height of the first liquid surface L1 in the liquid storage unit 19 when the housing 20 is tilted. To do. Therefore, for example, even when the liquid leaking from the nozzle 31 cannot be blocked in the waste liquid flow path 43, the liquid can be stored in the liquid storage unit 19.

  (5) When the storage chamber 23 communicates with the atmosphere, atmospheric pressure is applied to the first liquid level L1 in the storage chamber 23. Therefore, when the first liquid level L <b> 1 in the storage chamber 23 is positioned higher than the nozzle 31, the liquid is likely to leak from the nozzle 31. In that respect, at least a part of the waste liquid flow path 43 passes through a position higher than the height of the first liquid level L1 in the storage chamber 23 until the housing 20 is inclined at a predetermined angle. Therefore, even when the storage chamber 23 is configured to communicate with the atmosphere, the risk of liquid continuing to leak from the nozzle 31 can be reduced.

  (6) For example, the maximum inclination angle of a slope and the maximum inclination angle when the airplane takes off are about 20 degrees, and the bank angle when the airplane turns is less than 30 degrees. Therefore, by setting the predetermined angle to 30 degrees with reference to the state where the casing 20 is placed on a horizontal plane, the possibility that liquid continues to leak even when the casing 20 is tilted during transportation can be reduced.

  (7) Since the waste liquid flow path 43 has the folding | returning part 43c, the length of the waste liquid flow path 43 can be shortened compared with the case where it surrounds around other members, for example. Since the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 includes the guide portion 47 configured to guide the folded portion 43c, at least a part of the waste liquid channel 43 can be easily held at a position higher than the height of the first liquid surface L1.

This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The present embodiment and the following modifications can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.
First Modification Example As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the folded-back portion 43 c and the height portion 43 d may be disposed between the liquid ejecting head 32 and the liquid storage portion 19 in the depth direction Y. The waste liquid channel 43 may be routed along the side surface of the liquid storage unit 19. The guide part 47 may guide the waste liquid channel 43 along the side surface of the liquid storage part 19.

Second Modified Example As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the waste liquid channel 43 may be provided with a folded portion 43 c and a height portion 43 d in the upper channel 43 a upstream of the suction mechanism 44. The waste liquid flow path 43 may pass through a position where the height portion 43d of the upper flow path 43a is higher than the height of the first liquid level L1 until the housing 20 is tilted from the use posture A to the inclined posture B.

  In the waste liquid flow path 43, the height portion 43d of the upper flow path 43a on the upstream side of the suction mechanism 44 is higher than the first liquid level L1 in the liquid storage section 19 until the housing 20 is inclined at a predetermined angle. Via position. Therefore, the waste liquid channel 43 can block the liquid flow at a position close to the cap 42, and the amount of liquid leaking from the nozzle 31 can be reduced.

  When the folded portion 43c and the high portion 43d are disposed between the liquid ejecting head 32 and the liquid storage portion 19, the folded portion 43c and the height portion 43c are higher than when disposed at a position farther from the liquid housing portion 19 than the liquid ejecting head 32. The height of the portion 43d can be reduced. Thereby, since the length of the waste liquid flow path 43 can be shortened, the liquid can hardly remain in the waste liquid flow path 43 as compared with the case where the length of the waste liquid flow path 43 is long.

-3rd modification As shown in FIG. 9, the liquid storage part 19 of embodiment is good also as the bag 50 which has flexibility. The bag body 50, which is an example of a liquid storage unit, may be stored in the case 51. The liquid stored in the bag body 50 is led out of the case 51 from the lead-out portion 52. The bag body 50 does not communicate with the atmosphere in the space for storing the liquid, and the bag body 50 is deformed as the liquid to be stored decreases. Atmospheric pressure is applied to the liquid contained in the bag body 50 through the bag body 50. In the usage posture A, the bag body 50 may be arranged such that the dimension in the height direction Z is smaller than the dimensions in the width direction X and the depth direction Y. The lead-out part 52 may be located in the center of the bag body 50 in the height direction Z. When the liquid is stored in the bag body 50, the height of the lead-out portion 52 can be regarded as the height of the first liquid surface L1.

-4th modification As shown in FIG. 10, the injection | pouring part 24 is provided in the front side away from the nozzle 31 rather than the center of the storage chamber 23 in the depth direction Y, and may have several injection | pouring flow paths 54. . The liquid container 19 is refilled with the use posture A. The plurality of injection channels 54 of the injection unit 24 have the same height in the use posture A at the lower end, which is the end on the storage chamber 23 side. For example, when a refill bottle 55 that stores liquid is connected to the injection unit 24, the plurality of injection flow paths 54 replenish the inflow passage that allows the liquid in the refill bottle 55 to flow into the storage chamber 23 and the air in the storage chamber 23. And an exhaust path to be sent into the bottle 55. When the first liquid level L1 is positioned at the lower end of the exhaust path, air is not sent into the refill bottle 55, the pressure in the refill bottle 55 is reduced, and the flow of liquid from the refill bottle 55 into the storage chamber 23 is stopped. Therefore, in this configuration, the height of the lower ends of the plurality of injection channels 54 included in the injection unit 24 is the height of the first liquid surface L1 in a state where the liquid storage unit 19 stores the maximum amount of liquid. In this configuration, when the housing 20 is tilted to the inclined posture B so that the lower limit scale 27 and the nozzle 31 are located at the same height, the height portion 43d is positioned higher than the lower end of the injection channel 54. To position. When the heights of the first liquid surface L1 and the lower end of the injection flow channel 54 coincide with each other in the use posture A, the first liquid surface L1 in the inclined posture B becomes equal to or lower than the height of the lower end of the injection flow channel 54. Therefore, the waste liquid flow path 43 can reduce a possibility that the liquid will continue to leak from the nozzle 31 when the meniscus of the nozzle 31 is destroyed via a position higher than the height of the first liquid level L1.

The liquid container 19 may be configured not to include at least one of the lower limit scale 27 and the upper limit scale 28.
The housing 20 may not store the liquid storage unit 19. The liquid container 19 may be fixed or attached to the outside of the housing 20.

  The liquid storage unit 19 may be a cartridge type that can be attached to and detached from the liquid ejecting apparatus 12. The liquid storage part 19 is good also as a temporary storage part which stores the liquid supplied from the liquid supply source temporarily. The liquid ejecting apparatus 12 may include a mounting portion on which a cartridge type liquid storage portion 19 is detachably mounted. The waste liquid channel 43 may be provided along the side surface of the mounting unit or the side surface of the liquid storage unit 19 mounted on the mounting unit. The guide portion 47 may be provided on the side surface of the mounting portion.

The liquid ejecting device 12 may be configured not to include the guide portion 47.
The liquid ejecting apparatus 12 may be provided with a mark indicating the arrangement of the waste liquid channel 43 in the housing 20, the liquid storage unit 19, the waste liquid storage unit 46, and the like. The liquid ejecting apparatus 12 may be provided with a mark indicating the arrangement of the high portion 43d and the folded portion 43c. By providing the mark, the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 can be easily assembled, and the reliability can be improved.

-The waste liquid flow path 43 is good also as a structure which is not provided with the folding | returning part 43c.
-The angle of the inclination posture B with respect to the use posture A may be arbitrarily changed. For example, the tilted posture B may be a state tilted 10 degrees from the use posture A, and the tilted posture B may be tilted 20 degrees from the use posture A.

The liquid ejecting device 12 may be configured not to include the waste liquid storage unit 46. The waste liquid storage unit 46 may be provided outside the housing 20.
The introduction port 45 may be positioned at the same height as the first liquid level L1 in the inclined posture B. The inlet 45 may be located at a position higher than the first liquid level L1 in the inclined posture B.

The introduction port 45 may be located at a position lower than the nozzle 31 in the use posture A.
In the inclined posture B, the waste liquid channel 43 may be located at a position higher than the first liquid level L1.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus 12 may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges liquid other than ink. The state of the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting apparatus as a minute amount of liquid droplets includes granular, tear-like, and thread-like ones. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected from the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, the liquid may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals ( Metal melt). The liquid includes not only a liquid as one state of a substance but also a liquid in which functional material particles made of solid materials such as pigments and metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent. Typical examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. As a specific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, a liquid containing a material such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, or a color filter in a dispersed or dissolved form. There is a device to inject. The liquid ejecting apparatus may be an apparatus that ejects a bio-organic matter used for biochip manufacturing, an apparatus that ejects a liquid that is used as a precision pipette, or a sample, a printing apparatus, a micro dispenser, or the like. Liquid injection device is a transparent resin such as UV curable resin to form a pinpoint lubricant device for precision machines such as watches and cameras, micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used for optical communication elements, etc. It may be a device that ejects the liquid onto the substrate. The liquid ejecting apparatus may be an apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali in order to etch a substrate or the like.

Below, the technical idea grasped | ascertained from embodiment mentioned above and the example of a change, and its effect are described.
[Thought 1]
A liquid ejecting head configured to eject the liquid supplied from a liquid storage unit that stores liquid from a nozzle;
A cap configured to form a closed space in which the nozzle opens;
A waste liquid channel whose upstream end is connected to the cap;
A suction mechanism provided in the middle of the waste liquid flow path and configured to suck the liquid from the liquid jet head via the cap;
A housing that houses at least the liquid ejecting head, the cap, and the suction mechanism;
With
At least a part of the waste liquid channel is formed on the liquid surface until the casing is inclined at a predetermined angle at which the height of the liquid surface in the liquid storage unit is lower than the nozzle. A liquid ejecting apparatus characterized by passing through a position higher than the height.

  According to this configuration, at least a part of the waste liquid flow path passes through a position higher than the height of the liquid surface in the liquid container until the housing is inclined at a predetermined angle. Therefore, even when the liquid leaks from the nozzle with the casing tilted, the liquid leaking from the nozzle can be retained in the waste liquid flow path. Therefore, when the meniscus of the nozzle is broken while the liquid ejecting apparatus is tilted, the possibility that the liquid continues to leak from the nozzle can be reduced.

[Thought 2]
In a state where the liquid storage portion stores the maximum amount of the liquid, at least a part of the waste liquid flow path is higher than the height of the liquid level until the housing is inclined at the predetermined angle. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to [Idea 1], which passes through a position.

  According to this configuration, at least a part of the waste liquid flow path passes through a position higher than the height of the liquid surface in the liquid storage unit that stores the maximum amount of liquid until the casing is inclined at a predetermined angle. Therefore, even when the liquid ejecting apparatus is tilted in a state where the maximum amount of liquid is stored in the liquid storage portion, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the liquid continues to leak from the nozzle.

[Thought 3]
The waste liquid flow path is characterized in that at least a part on the downstream side of the suction mechanism passes through a position higher than the height of the liquid level until the housing is inclined at the predetermined angle. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to [Idea 1] or [Idea 2].

  According to this configuration, the waste liquid flow path passes through a position where at least a part on the downstream side of the suction mechanism is higher than the liquid level in the liquid storage portion until the casing is inclined at a predetermined angle. For this reason, the length of the waste liquid channel upstream of the suction mechanism can be maintained, and a decrease in the suction ability of the suction mechanism for sucking the liquid from the liquid ejecting head can be suppressed.

[Thought 4]
The waste liquid flow path is characterized in that at least a part on the upstream side of the suction mechanism passes through a position higher than the height of the liquid level until the casing is inclined at the predetermined angle. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to [Idea 1] or [Idea 2].

  According to this configuration, the waste liquid flow path passes through a position where at least a part on the upstream side of the suction mechanism is higher than the liquid level in the liquid storage portion until the casing is inclined at a predetermined angle. Therefore, the waste liquid flow path can block the liquid flow at a position close to the cap, and the amount of liquid leaking from the nozzle can be reduced.

[Thought 5]
A waste liquid storage unit configured to introduce the liquid discharged from the waste liquid channel from an inlet;
The introduction port is located at a position lower than the height of the liquid level in a state where the casing is inclined at the predetermined angle, and any one of [Idea 1] to [Idea 4]. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to one.

  According to this configuration, the inlet configured to introduce the liquid into the waste liquid storage unit is located at a position lower than the height of the liquid level in the liquid storage unit in a state where the casing is inclined. Therefore, for example, even when the liquid leaking from the nozzle cannot be blocked in the waste liquid flow path, the liquid can be stored in the liquid storage portion.

[Thought 6]
The liquid storage portion is configured such that a storage chamber for storing the liquid communicates with the atmosphere,
Until the casing is inclined at the predetermined angle, at least a part of the waste liquid flow path passes through a position higher than the height of the liquid level in the storage chamber [Idea 1] to The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of [Idea 5].

  When the storage chamber communicates with the atmosphere, atmospheric pressure is applied to the liquid level in the storage chamber. Therefore, when the liquid level in the storage chamber is positioned higher than the nozzle, the liquid easily leaks from the nozzle. In this regard, according to this configuration, at least a part of the waste liquid flow path passes through a position higher than the liquid level in the storage chamber until the casing is inclined at a predetermined angle. Therefore, even when the storage chamber is configured to communicate with the atmosphere, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the liquid continues to leak from the nozzle.

[Thought 7]
In a state where the housing is placed on a horizontal plane, the liquid level is located at a position lower than the nozzle,
In a state where the casing is inclined by 30 degrees from the state where the casing is placed on the horizontal plane, the liquid level is positioned higher than the nozzle, and at least a part of the waste liquid flow path is higher than the height of the liquid level. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of [Thought 1] to [Thought 6], wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus passes through a higher position.

  For example, the maximum inclination angle of a hill and the maximum inclination angle when an airplane takes off are about 20 degrees, and the bank angle when the airplane turns is less than 30 degrees. Therefore, by setting the predetermined angle to 30 degrees with reference to the state where the casing is placed on a horizontal plane, it is possible to reduce the possibility that liquid will continue to leak even when the casing is tilted during transportation.

[Thought 8]
A guide portion configured to guide the waste liquid flow path;
The waste liquid flow path has a folded portion that is partially folded,
The guide portion guides the waste liquid flow path so that the folded portion is located at a position higher than the liquid level of the liquid storage portion until the housing is inclined at the predetermined angle. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of [Thought 1] to [Thought 7].

  According to this configuration, since the waste liquid flow path has the folded portion, for example, the length of the waste liquid flow path can be shortened as compared with the case of routing around other members. Since the liquid ejecting apparatus includes a guide portion configured to guide the folded portion, it is possible to easily hold at least a part of the waste liquid flow path at a position higher than the liquid level.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... MFP, 12 ... Liquid ejecting apparatus, 13 ... Image reading device, 15 ... Operation part, 16 ... Display part, 17 ... Operation panel, 19 ... Liquid storage part, 20 ... Housing, 21 ... Window part, 23 ... Storage chamber, 23a ... upper wall, 23b ... communication hole, 24 ... injection part, 26 ... viewing surface, 27 ... lower limit scale, 28 ... upper limit scale, 30 ... nozzle forming surface, 31 ... nozzle, 32 ... liquid jet head, 33 ... Carriage, 35 ... Liquid supply section, 36 ... Maintenance section, 38 ... Liquid supply path, 39 ... Intermediate reservoir, 40 ... Filter, 42 ... Cap, 43 ... Waste liquid flow path, 43a ... Upper flow path, 43b ... Lower flow path, 43c ... folded portion, 43d ... high portion, 44 ... suction mechanism, 45 ... introduction port, 46 ... waste liquid storage portion, 47 ... guide portion, 50 ... bag body as an example of liquid storage portion, 51 ... case, 52 ... Deriving part, 54 ... injection flow path, 55 ... replenishment Torr, A ... usage posture, B ... inclined posture, X ... width direction, Y ... depth direction, Z ... height direction, L1 ... first liquid level, L2 ... second liquid level.

Claims (8)

A liquid ejecting head configured to eject the liquid supplied from a liquid storage unit that stores liquid from a nozzle;
A cap configured to form a closed space in which the nozzle opens;
A waste liquid channel whose upstream end is connected to the cap;
A suction mechanism provided in the middle of the waste liquid flow path and configured to suck the liquid from the liquid jet head via the cap;
A housing that houses at least the liquid ejecting head, the cap, and the suction mechanism;
With
At least a part of the waste liquid channel is formed on the liquid surface until the casing is inclined at a predetermined angle at which the height of the liquid surface in the liquid storage unit is lower than the nozzle. A liquid ejecting apparatus characterized by passing through a position higher than the height.   In a state where the liquid storage portion stores the maximum amount of the liquid, at least a part of the waste liquid flow path is higher than the height of the liquid level until the housing is inclined at the predetermined angle. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus passes through a position.   The waste liquid flow path passes through a position where at least a part on the downstream side of the suction mechanism is higher than the height of the liquid level until the casing is inclined at the predetermined angle. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   The waste liquid flow path passes through a position where at least a part on the upstream side of the suction mechanism is higher than the height of the liquid level until the casing is inclined at the predetermined angle. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A waste liquid storage unit configured to introduce the liquid discharged from the waste liquid channel from an inlet;
5. The introduction port according to claim 1, wherein the introduction port is located at a position lower than a height of the liquid surface in a state where the casing is inclined at the predetermined angle. The liquid ejecting apparatus described. The liquid storage portion is configured such that a storage chamber for storing the liquid communicates with the atmosphere,
The at least part of the waste liquid flow path passes through a position higher than the height of the liquid surface in the storage chamber until the housing is inclined at the predetermined angle. Item 6. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of Items 5 above. In a state where the housing is placed on a horizontal plane, the liquid level is located at a position lower than the nozzle,
In a state where the casing is inclined by 30 degrees from the state where the casing is placed on the horizontal plane, the liquid level is positioned higher than the nozzle, and at least a part of the waste liquid flow path is higher than the height of the liquid level. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus passes through a higher position. A guide portion configured to guide the waste liquid flow path;
The waste liquid flow path has a folded portion that is partially folded,
The guide portion guides the waste liquid flow path so that the folded portion is located at a position higher than the liquid level of the liquid storage portion until the housing is inclined at the predetermined angle. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is a liquid ejecting apparatus.