This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-256499 filed on Dec. 28, 2016, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Aspects disclosed herein relates to a liquid ejection apparatus including a waste liquid reservoir configured to retain therein liquid discharged from a head.
A known liquid ejection apparatus includes a head configured to eject ink from nozzles onto a sheet to thereby record an image on the sheet, a pump configured to draw ink from the nozzles to prevent ink clogging in a passage connected to the nozzles, and a waste liquid reservoir configured to retain ink drawn by the pump.
In response to recent demands for compact design, the waste liquid reservoir includes a fixed waste liquid reservoir fixed to a housing of the apparatus, and a movable waste liquid reservoir removable from the housing. The fixed liquid reservoir includes a fixed waste liquid container and a fixed retainer disposed in the fixed waste liquid container and configured to retain waste liquid discharged from the head. The movable waste liquid reservoir includes a movable waste liquid container and a movable retainer disposed in the movable waste liquid container and configured to retain waste liquid discharged from the head. The fixed waste liquid retainer and the movable waste liquid retainer contact each other when the movable waste liquid reservoir is attached to the housing.
It may be beneficial to provide a liquid ejection apparatus including a fixed waste liquid retainer and a movable waste liquid retainer which are configured to reliably contact each other to allow smooth conveyance of waste liquid from the fixed waste liquid retainer to the movable waste liquid retainer.
According to one or more aspects of the disclosure, a liquid ejection apparatus comprises a housing, a head configured to eject liquid, a passage member configured to convey therethrough liquid discharged from the head, a first waste liquid reservoir, and a second waste liquid reservoir. The first waste liquid reservoir is disposed in the housing and includes a first container connected to the passage member, and a first retainer having a first contact portion and disposed in the first container. The first retainer is configured to retain the liquid conveyed through the passage member. The second waste liquid reservoir is disposed in the housing and includes a second container, and a second retainer having a second contact portion and disposed in the second container such that the second contact portion is in contact with the first contact portion of the first retainer. The second retainer is configured to retain the liquid conveyed through the passage member. The second waste liquid reservoir is movable in a first direction, and one of the first waste liquid reservoir and the second waste liquid reservoir is movable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. At least one of the first retainer and the second retainer protrudes in the second direction from corresponding at least one of the first container and the second container.
Aspects of the disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not by limitation in the accompanying figures in which like reference characters indicate similar elements.
Hereinafter, illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<Overall Configuration of Multifunction Device>
As shown in
As illustrated in
The printer P is configured to print an image on recoding media such as a sheet, based on image data input from external devices, such as a computer, a digital camera, and a USB memory, connected to the multifunction device 1, and image data input from various memory media such as a memory card.
The printer P disposed at a lower portion of the multifunction device 1 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 2. The hosing 2 has, at a central portion in the right-left direction of its front face 11, the sheet supply/discharge opening 4. A sheet cassette 20 and a discharge tray 21 are disposed in the sheet supply/discharge opening 4. The sheet cassette 20 is removably inserted from the front face 11 into the sheet supply/discharge opening 4, which is an example of a cassette opening. An operation panel 13 is disposed at the front face 11 and includes various operation buttons and a liquid-crystal display.
As shown in
The feed roller 25 is rotatably supported by the feed arm 26 and is driven by a motor (not shown) through a drive transmission mechanism 27 such as a gear train. The conveying path 23 is defined to curve upward from a rear end of the sheet cassette 20 and extend straight toward the front of the hosing 2. The conveying path is defined at a substantially center of the housing 2 in the right-left direction. The convey roller pair 28, which is disposed at the conveying path 23, is configured to convey the sheet 10 fed by the feed roller 25.
The recording unit 24, which is disposed downstream of the convey roller pair 28 in a conveying direction, is configured to record an image on the sheet 10 conveyed by the convey roller pair 28 to the recording unit 24. The discharge roller pair 29, which is disposed downstream of the recording unit 24 in the conveying direction, is configured to discharge the sheet 10 having the image recorded thereon onto the discharge tray 21.
The recording unit 24 includes a recording head 31, a carriage 32, and a platen 33. The recording head 31, which is an example of head, is configured to eject ink, which is an example of liquid. The recording head 31 is mounted on the carriage 32 which is disposed above the conveying path 23. A belt drive mechanism (not shown) driven by the above-mentioned motor moves the carriage 32 along a guide rail (not shown) extending in the right-left direction. The platen 33 is disposed below the recording head 31.
The platen 33 extends across a moving zone of the carriage 32 in the right-left direction and is configured to support a lower surface of the sheet 10 being conveyed along the conveying path 23. The recording head 31 faces the platen 33 and is configured, when the carriage 32 moves in the right-left direction, to selectively eject ink onto the sheet 10 supported on the platen 33, thereby recording an image on the sheet 10.
As shown in
The multifunction device 1 includes a refill unit 40 including ink cartridges which store inks of corresponding colors. Each ink cartridge is fluidly connected to the recording head 31.
The multifunction device 1 includes a maintenance unit 50 configured to draw ink from the nozzles 35 of the recording head 31. The maintenance unit 50 includes a movable unit 51, a cam mechanism 52 configured to move the movable unit 51 in the top-bottom direction, a pump 53, caps 54, 55 disposed at the movable unit 51, and a tube 56. The tube 56 is an example of a passage member through which ink discharged from the recording head 31 is conveyed.
The caps 44, 45, which may be made of an elastic material such as rubber, are disposed so as to face the lower surface of the recording head 31 in the top-bottom direction when the carriage 32 is located right above the movable unit 51. The cam mechanism 52 is driven by the above-mentioned motor to move the movable unit 51 in the top-bottom direction. The caps 54, 55 contacts the lower surface of the recording head 31 when the movable member 51 moves up, and leaves away from the lower surface of the recording head 31 when the movable member 51 moves down.
The caps 44, 45 respectively cover an array of the nozzles 35 for ejecting a black ink and arrays of the nozzles 35 for ejecting cyan, magenta, and yellow inks. The caps 54, 55 in contact with the lower surface of the recording head 31 define enclosed spaces. One end of the tube 56 is connected to each of the caps 54, 55. The tube 56 may be, for example, a flexible resin member.
The pump 53 may be a rotary tube pump which is driven by a motor (not shown). When the caps 54, 55 are in contact with the lower surface of the recording head 31, the pump 54 is in fluid communication with the spaces enclosed by the caps 54, 55 and the lower surface of the recording head 31.
When the pump 53 is driven in a state where the caps 54, 55 contacts the lower surface of the recording head 31 to cover the nozzles 35, the spaces enclosed by the caps 54, 55 become lower in pressure than the atmospheric pressure. This causes ink to be discharged from the nozzles 35. The caps 54, 55 receive the ink discharged from the nozzles 35. The pump is actuated to convey the ink received by the caps 54, 55, through the tube 56, into a waste liquid reservoir 60 to which the other end of the tube 56 is connected.
As shown in
A replacement opening 5 is open at a right end portion of the front face 11 of the housing 2. The housing 2 includes a cover 22 to open and close the replacement opening 5. The cover 22 is pivotable about a pivot axis 22a between a closed position at which the cover 22 closes the replacement opening 5 and an open position at which the cover 22 opens the replacement opening 5.
The cover 22 includes an openable plate 22b and an extending portion 22. When the cover 22 is at the closed position, the openable plate 22b closes the replacement opening 5, and the extending portion 22 extends rearward from right and left ends of the openable plate 22b. When the cover 22 is at the open position, the extending portion 22 extends upward from the openable plate 22b. When the cover 22 is at the open position, the replacement opening 5 allows therethrough ink cartridges to be inserted into and removed from the refill unit 40. The replacement opening 5 is an example of a cartridge opening through which ink cartridges are attached are detached.
<Waste Liquid Reservoir of Printer in First Illustrative Embodiment>
The waste liquid reservoir 60 of the printer P in the first illustrative embodiment will now be described in detail. As shown in
The waste liquid unit 80 is movable in the front-rear direction, which is an example of a first direction, between an attached position and a displaced position. The waste liquid unit 80, when at the attached position, is attached to the casing 61. The waste liquid unit 180, when at the displaced position, is displaced toward the front from the attached position. When the cover 22 is at the open position, the replacement opening 5 allows therethrough the waste liquid unit 80 to be inserted into and removed from the casing 61. The replacement opening 5 is an example of an opening. In the first illustrative embodiment, the replacement opening 5 is provided commonly as an opening for inserting and removing ink cartridges relative to the refill unit 40 and as an opening for inserting and removing the waste liquid unit 80 relative to the casing 61. The waste liquid sub-unit 70 is supported by the casing 61 movably in the top-bottom direction which is an example of a second direction.
As shown in
The waste liquid sub-case 71 is shaped like a box open upward and has an opening 71a at a central portion of its lower face. Four protruding pieces 71b protrude downward from front and rear end portions of right and left side faces of the waste liquid sub-case 71. Two bosses 72 protrude toward each other in the right-left direction from respective front right and front left protruding pieces 71b. Two bosses 72 protrude toward each other in the right-left direction from respective rear right and rear left protruding pieces 71b. Each boss 72 is an example of a protrusion formed in the waste liquid sub-case 71.
The flat foam member 73 has a shape in conformity with an inner space of the waste liquid sub-case 71 and is disposed in the liquid sub-case 71. The flat foam member 73 has a hole 73a formed therethrough at its central portion.
The protruding foam member 74 includes a fitted portion 74a and a protruding portion 74b. The fitted portion 74a has a shape in conformity with the shape of the hole 73a and is to be fitted into the hole 73a. The protruding portion 74b protrudes downward from a lower surface of the fitted portion 74a. The protruding portion 74b has a smaller dimension in the front-rear direction than the fitted portion 74a and has a shape in conformity with the opening 71a. When the fitted portion 74a is fitted in the hole 73a of the flat foam member 73 disposed in the waste liquid sub-case 71, the protruding portion 74b protrudes beyond the lower face of the waste liquid sub-case 71.
The lid 75 is attached, by welding or the like, to the waste liquid sub-case 71 to shield an upper face of the waste liquid sub-case 71. The lid 75 has a communication hole 75a which communicates in and out of the waste liquid sub-case 71. The other end of the tube 56 is connected to the communication hole 75a. Ink discharged from the recording head 31 flows, through the tube 56, into the waste liquid sub-case 71 and is absorbed by and retained in the flat foam member 73 and the protruding foam member 74.
As shown in
A cam 83 protrudes rightward from a right side face of the waste liquid case 81 and another cam 83 protrudes leftward from a left side face of the waste liquid case 81. Each cam 83 extends in the front-rear direction. The cam 83 has a front end portion 83a and a rear end portion 83c which are level with each other, and a central portion 83b which is above the front end portion 83a and the rear end portion 83c. An inclined surface, which increases in height toward the rear, interconnects the front end portion 83a and the central portion 83b, and an inclined surface, which decreases in height toward the rear, interconnects the central portion 83b and the rear end portion 83c. A cam surface defined by the front end portion 83a and the rear end portion 83c and a cam surface defined by the central portion 83a are offset from each other in the top-bottom direction.
The sealing film 85 is a film member to cover an upper face of the waste liquid case 81 and is attached to the waste liquid case 81 by welding or the like. The sealing film 85 has an opening 85a at its central portion. The opening 85a has a shape in conformity with the shape of the protruding portion 74b and allows the protruding portion 74b to enter the waste liquid case 81 therethrough.
When the lower face of the waste liquid sub-unit 70 is placed closer to the upper face of the waste liquid unit 80 such that the protruding portion 74b of the protruding foam member 74 enters the waste liquid case 81 through the opening 85a, a contact portion of the protruding portion 74b and a contact portion of the waste liquid foam member 84 contact each other. Consequently, ink retained by the flat foam member 73 and the protruding foam member 74 moves to the waste liquid foam member 84 through the contact portions and the ink is retained by the waste liquid foam member 84.
In the waste liquid unit 80, the sealing film 85 has the opening 85 through which the protruding portion 74b of the protruding foam member 74 contacts the waste liquid foam member 84. The sealing film 85 covers the upper face of the waste liquid case 81 while a relatively small area of the upper face exposed through the opening 85. This may prevent the ink retained by the waste liquid foam member 84 from leaking from the upper face of the waste liquid case 81.
As shown in
In a case where each boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with a front or rear end portion of a corresponding cam 83, the waste liquid sub-unit 70 is located adjacent to the waste liquid unit 80 and the protruding foam member 74 is in contact with the waste liquid foam member 84. In this case, the protruding portion 74b of the protruding foam member 74 protrudes downward into the waste liquid case 81 and is in press-contact with the waste liquid foam member 84.
Because the protruding foam member 74 protrudes from the waste liquid sub-case 71 toward the waste liquid foam member 84, the protruding foam member 74 reliably press-contacts the waste liquid foam member 84. This allows ink to flow smoothly from the flat foam member 73 and the protruding foam member 74 to the waste liquid foam member 84.
Alternatively, the waste liquid foam member 84 may be configured to protrude toward the protruding foam member 74. Still alternatively, the waste liquid foam member 84 may be configured to protrude toward the protruding foam member 74 while the protruding foam member 74 is configured to protrude from the waste liquid sub-case 71 toward the waste liquid foam member 84. In these cases also, the protruding foam member 74 and the waste liquid foam member 84 are reliably in press-contact with each other.
In the first illustrative embodiment, the waste liquid sub-case 71 includes the bosses 72 while the waste liquid case 81 includes the cams 81. Alternatively, the waste liquid case 81 may include the bosses 72 while the waste liquid sub-case 71 may include the cams 83.
Compression springs 62 are disposed between the waste liquid sub-unit 70 and an upper plate of the casing 61 to urge the waste liquid sub-unit 70 downward such that each boss 72 is pressed against a corresponding cam 83. The compression springs 62 are each an example of an urging member which urges the waste liquid sub-unit 70 in the top-bottom direction such that the protruding foam member 74 and the waste liquid foam member 84 press-contact each other. The waste liquid sub-unit 70 is urged by the compression spring 62 in such a direction that the protruding foam member 74 and the waste liquid foam member 84 press-contact each other. This may reliably allow the protruding foam member 74 and the waste liquid foam member 84 to be maintained in a press-contact state.
The waste liquid sub-unit 70 is disposed above the waste liquid unit 80. When ink flows into the waste liquid sub-case 71 from the tube 56, the waste liquid sub-unit 70 increases in weight and exerts an increased load such that the protruding foam member 74 press-contacts the waste liquid foam member 84. This may more reliably allow the protruding foam member 74 and the waste liquid foam member 84 to press-contact each other.
The cam 83 at the right side of the waste liquid case 81 is symmetric, about a centerline in the right-left direction of the waste liquid case 81, to the cam 83 at the left side of the waste liquid case 81. The front and rear bosses 72 at the right side of the waste liquid sub-case 71 are symmetric, about a centerline in the right-left direction of the waste liquid sub-case 71, to the front and rear bosses 72 at the left side of the waste liquid sub-case 71. Given such symmetric configurations, the following description, referring to
When the waste liquid unit 80 is moved by horizontally pulling the waste liquid unit 80 frontward, along the casing 61, from a state shown in
When the front boss 72 engages the central portion 83b, which is located above the front end portion 83a, the front boss 72 moves up against an urging force of the compression springs 62. In this case, the rear boss 72 at the right side of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is in a released state from the rear end portion 83c of the cam 83.
When the front boss 72 engages the central portion 83b to cause the waste liquid sub-unit 70 to move up, the waste liquid sub-unit 70 translates upward without tilting relative to a horizontal plane.
In a state where the front boss 72 is engaged with the central portion 83b and the waste liquid sub-unit 70 is raised, a lower end of the protruding portion 74b of the protruding foam member 74 is located above an upper end of the waste liquid case 81, and the protruding foam member 74 is spaced apart from the waste liquid foam member 84. This may prevent the protruding foam member 74 from frictionally contacting the waste liquid foam member 84 during frontward movement of the waste liquid unit 80, and thus may reduce surface roughness and deterioration of the protruding foam member 74. In addition, a distance in the top-bottom direction between the front end portion 83a and the central portion 83b is greater than an entering length in the top-bottom direction of the protruding portion 74b into the waste liquid case 81 when the waste liquid unit 80 is attached to the casing 61. This may prevent the sealing film 85 from contacting the protruding portion 74b during insertion and removal of the waste liquid unit 80 relative to the casing 61.
As described above, the waste liquid sub-unit 70 is movable in the top-bottom direction between a contact position at which the protruding portion 74b of the protruding foam member 74 is in press-contact with the waste liquid foam member 84, and a spaced position at which the protruding portion 74b is spaced apart from the waste liquid foam member 84. Also, the waste liquid unit 80 is movable from an attached position at which the waste liquid unit 80 is attached to the casing 61, to a displaced position at which the waste liquid unit 80 is displaced frontward from the attached position.
When the waste liquid sub-unit 56 movable in the top-bottom direction is at the contact position, the front boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with the front end portion 83a of the cam 83, and the rear boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with the rear end portion 83c of the cam 83. When the waste liquid sub-unit 56 movable in the top-bottom direction is at the spaced position, the front boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with the central portion 83b of the cam 83.
When the waste liquid unit 80 movable in the front-rear direction is at the attached position, the front boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with the front end portion 83a of the cam 83, and the rear boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with the rear end portion 83c of the cam 83. When the waste liquid unit 80 is at the displaced position, the waste liquid unit 80 is displaced frontward from the attached position and the front boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with the central portion 83b of the cam 83.
In the waste liquid reservoir 60, the waste liquid sub-unit 70 is at the contact position when the waste liquid unit 80 is at the attached position, and the waste liquid sub-unit 70 is at the spaced position when the waste liquid unit 80 is at the displaced position.
When the waste liquid unit 80 is moved further frontward from a state where the front boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with the central portion 83b of the cam 83, the front boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 engages the rear end portion 83c of the cam 83, and then the waste liquid unit 80 is removed entirely from the casing 61. When the front boss 72 is released from the central portion 83b and engages the rear end portion 83c, the waste liquid sub-unit 70 translates downward.
On the other hand, when the waste liquid unit 80 is inserted into the casing 61 from an exterior of the casing 61, the front boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 engages the rear end portion 83c of the cam 83, and then the waste liquid sub-unit 70 translates upward. When the waste liquid unit 80 is moved rearward from a position shown in
As describe above, when the waste liquid unit 80 is moved in the front-rear direction between the attached position and the displaced position, the waste liquid sub-unit 70 moves in the top-bottom direction between the contact position and the spaced position but the waste liquid unit 80 does not move in the top-bottom direction. This allows a user to operate the waste liquid unit 80 smoothly with improved operability.
The waste liquid sub-unit 70 translates in the top-bottom direction without tilting relative to the horizontal plane. This may not cause fluctuations of the level of ink retained by the flat foam member 73 and the protruding foam member 74 in the waste liquid sub-case 71 and may prevent leakage of ink from the protruding portion 74b of the protruding foam member 74.
As shown in
The replacement opening 5, through which the waste liquid unit 80 is inserted and removed, serves also as an opening through which ink cartridges are inserted and removed relative to the refill unit 40. The replacement opening 5 is formed at the front face 11 of the housing 2, and the front face 11 has a sheet supply/discharge opening 4 through which the sheet cassette 20 is inserted and removed. This front access design allows a user to readily replace the waste liquid unit 80.
<Waste Liquid Reservoir of a Printer in a Second Illustrative Embodiment>
In the waste liquid reservoir 60 of the printer P in the first illustrative embodiment, the waste liquid sub-unit 70 is movable in the top-bottom direction. However, the waste liquid sub-unit 70 may be disposed immovably in the top-bottom direction and the waste liquid unit 80 may be movable in the top-bottom direction.
As shown in
The waste liquid sub-unit 70 is supported by the casing 61 immovably in the top-bottom direction. The waste liquid unit 80 is insertable and removable relative to the casing 61 through a replacement opening 5. The waste liquid sub-unit 70 and the waste liquid unit 80 have the same or similar configurations to those in the first illustrative embodiment, a redundant description thereof will be omitted. The following description, referring to
As shown in
When the waste liquid unit 80 is inserted further into the casing 61, a central portion 83b of the cam 83 of the waste liquid unit 80, instead of the rear end portion 83c, contacts the front boss 72, and the waste liquid unit 80 is pushed down against the urging force of the compression springs 63, as shown in
In a state shown in
When the waste liquid unit 80 is inserted further into the casing 61 from the state shown in
In contrast, when the waste liquid unit 80 is moved frontward from a state shown in
As described above, in the waste liquid reservoir 60 of the printer P in the second illustrative embodiment, the waste liquid unit 80 is movable in the top-bottom direction between the contact position at which the protruding portion 74b of the protruding foam member 74 and the waste liquid foam member 84 are in press-contact with each other, and the spaced position at which the protruding portion 74b and the waste liquid member 84 are spaced apart from each other. In the second illustrative embodiment also, the waste liquid unit 80 is movable between the attached position at which the waste liquid unit 80 is attached to the casing 61 and a displaced position at which the waste liquid unit 80 is displaced frontward from the attached position.
When the waste liquid unit 80 movable in the top-bottom direction is at the contact position, the front boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with the front end portion 83a of the cam 83, and the rear boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with the rear end portion 83c of the cam 83. When the waste liquid unit 80 movable in the top-bottom direction is at the spaced position, the front boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with the central portion 83b of the cam 83.
When the waste liquid unit 80 movable in the front-rear direction is at the attached position, the front boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with the front end portion 83a of the cam 83, and the rear boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with the rear end portion 83c of the cam 83. When the waste liquid unit 80 movable in the front-left direction is at the displaced position, the front boss 72 of the waste liquid sub-case 71 is engaged with the central portion 83b of the cam 83.
In the waste liquid reservoir 60 of the printer P in the second illustrative embodiment, the waste liquid unit 80 is located at the contact position when the waste liquid unit 80 is at the attached position, and located at the spaced position when the waste liquid unit 80 is at the displaced position.
<Waste Liquid Reservoir of a Printer in a Third Illustrative Embodiment>
In the waste liquid reservoir 60 of the printer P in the first and second illustrative embodiment, the waste liquid unit 80 is insertable and removable in the front-rear direction. However, the waste liquid unit 80 may be insertable and removable in the top-bottom direction.
In a waste liquid reservoir 60 of an printer P in a third illustrative embodiment, a waste liquid sub-unit 70 and a waste liquid unit 80 may be disposed in a casing 61 side by side in the right-left direction. The waste liquid sub-unit 70 may be movable in the right-left direction while the waste liquid unit 80 may be movable in the top-bottom direction so as to be inserted and removed in the top-bottom direction relative to a top or bottom face of a housing 2.
In this case, the waste liquid sub-unit 70 is movable in the right-left direction between a contact position at which a protruding portion 74b of a protruding foam member 74 and a waste liquid foam member 84 are in press-contact with each other, and a spaced position at which the protruding portion 74b is spaced apart from the waste liquid foam member 84. The waste liquid unit 80 is movable between an attached position at which the waste liquid unit 80 is attached to the casing 61, and a displaced position at which the waste liquid unit 80 is displaced upward or downward from the attached position. The waste liquid sub-unit 70 is located at the contact position when the waste liquid unit 80 is at the attached position, and located at the spaced position when the waste liquid unit 80 is at the displaced position.
Alternatively, when the waste liquid unit 80 is configured to be inserted and withdrawn in the top-bottom direction, the waste liquid sub-unit 70 may be disposed immovably in the right-left direction while the waste liquid unit 80 is configured to move in the top-bottom direction and in the right-left direction. The waste liquid unit 80, when at the attached position, may be configured to be located at the contact position and, when at the displaced position, may be configured to be located at the spaced position.
<Waste Liquid Reservoir of a Printer in a Fourth Illustrative Embodiment>
In a waste liquid reservoir 60 of a printer P in a fourth illustrative embodiment, a waste liquid unit 80 may be configured to be inserted and removed in the right-left direction relative to a right or left side face of a housing 2. In this case, the waste liquid sub-unit 70 is movable in the to-bottom direction between a contact position at which a protruding portion 74b of a protruding foam member 74 and a waste liquid foam member 84 are in press-contact with each other, and a spaced position at which the protruding portion 74b and the waste liquid foam member 84 are spaced apart from each other. The waste liquid unit 80 is movable between an attached position at which the waste liquid unit 80 is attached to a casing 61, and a displaced position at which the waste liquid unit 80 is displaced rightward or leftward from the attached position. The waste liquid sub-unit 70 is located at the contact position when the waste liquid unit 80 is at the attached position, and located at the spaced position when the waste liquid unit 80 is at the displaced position.
Alternatively, when the waste liquid unit 80 is configured to be inserted and withdrawn in the right-left direction, the waste liquid sub-unit 70 may be disposed immovably in the top-left direction and the waste liquid unit 80 may be movable in the right-left direction and in the top-bottom direction. The waste liquid unit 80, when at the attached position, may located at the contact position and, when at the displaced position, may be located at the spaced position.
<Waste Liquid Reservoir of a Printer in a Fifth Illustrative Embodiment>
As shown in
In the waste liquid reservoir shown in
In the fifth embodiment, a bottom plate 66 of the casing 61 has a first inclined surface 66a, a second inclined surface 66b, and a horizontal surface 66c. The first inclined surface extends from a front end of the casing 61 and is inclined downward toward a rear end of the casing 61. The second inclined surface 66b extends from the rear end of the first inclined surface 66a and is inclined upward toward the rear end of the casing 61. The horizontal surface 66c extends from the rear end of the second inclined surface 66b to the rear end of the casing 61.
A front end of the first inclined surface 66a is level with the horizontal surface 66c. A vertical dimension h2 between the horizontal surface 66c (or the front end of the first inclined surface 66a) and a lower end of the protruding portion 74b of the protruding foam member 74 is less than a vertical dimension h1 of the waste liquid unit 80. A joint between the first inclined surface 66a and the second inclined surface 66b is located below the front end of the first inclined surface 66a and the horizontal surface 66c. A vertical dimension h3 between the joint and the lower end of the protruding portion 74b is set to be greater than the vertical dimension h1 of the waste liquid unit 80.
In thus configured waste liquid reservoir 60, as shown in
As shown in
When the waste liquid unit 80 is moved further rearward from a state shown in
On the other hand, when the waste liquid unit 80 is moved frontward from the attached position shown in
In each of the above-described illustrative embodiments, this fifth illustrative embodiment, the waste liquid unit 80 is movable in the front-rear direction between the attached position at which the rear end of the waste liquid unit 80 is located on the horizontal surface 66c, and a displaced position at which the rear end of the waste liquid unit 80 is located at the joint between the first inclined surface 66a and the second inclined surface 66b. The waste liquid unit 80 is movable also in the top-bottom direction between a contact position at which the rear end of the waste liquid unit 80 is located on the horizontal surface 66c, and a spaced position at which the rear end of the waste liquid unit 80 is located at the joint between the first inclined surface 66a and the second inclined surface 66b.
<Effects>
In each of the above-described illustrative embodiments, at least one of the contact portion of the protruding foam member 74 and the contact portion of the waste liquid foam member 84 is configured to protrude from corresponding at least one of the waste liquid sub-case 71 and the waste liquid case 81 in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the waste liquid unit is inserted and removed relative to the housing 2.
With this configuration, the protruding foam member 74 and the waste liquid foam member 84 reliably contact each other, thereby allowing ink to be conveyed smoothly from the protruding foam member 74 to the waste liquid foam member 84.
The waste liquid unit 80 including the waste liquid foam member 84 is removable from the housing 2 and replaceable with a new one. This may prolong the service life of the waste liquid reservoir 60.
While the disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments, various changes, arrangements and modifications may be applied therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2016-256499 | Dec 2016 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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20160103414 | Ohnishi | Apr 2016 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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2003-11394 | Jan 2003 | JP |
2013-147039 | Aug 2013 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20180178519 A1 | Jun 2018 | US |