The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2020-041595, filed Mar. 11, 2020, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to printers such as recording apparatuses.
There have been recording apparatuses that perform printing by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, from an ink jet head, which is an example of a liquid ejecting head. JP-A-2006-35662 discloses an example of such a recording apparatus. The recording apparatus includes an operation panel, a cartridge holder that holds an ink cartridge, and a waste liquid absorbing member as an example of a waste liquid container that absorbs waste liquid generated in maintenance. Since the operation panel and the cartridge holder are provided at front positions in the recording apparatus, the operator can easily perform operation. On the other hand, the waste liquid absorbing member is accommodated in a rear space in the recording apparatus.
The waste liquid container provided at a rear position in the recording apparatus is difficult to access for maintenance. However, the operation panel is provided at a front position in the recording apparatus. If the waste liquid container is arranged side by side with the operation panel in the depth direction at a front position in the recording apparatus, the recording apparatus increases in size in the depth direction.
A recording apparatus for solving the above problem includes an apparatus main body including: a transport unit that transports a medium; a liquid ejecting head that is provided above a transport path for the medium and performs recording by ejecting liquid onto the medium; and an accommodating unit that accommodates a waste liquid container configured to store waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head, wherein a front surface of the apparatus main body is provided with a front wall and an operation panel that can be operate various operations, which are adjacent to each other in a width direction, and the accommodating unit is located between the front wall and the liquid ejecting head in a depth direction at a position that does not overlap the operation panel in the width direction.
With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of a recording apparatus will be described below. A recording apparatus is, for example, an ink jet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink, which is an example of liquid, onto a medium such as a paper sheet.
Throughout the drawings, the X and Y axes indicate directions extending parallel to a horizontal plane, and the Z axis indicates the direction of gravity. A recording apparatus 11 is illustrated as being placed on the horizontal plane. The X, Y, and Z axes are orthogonal to each other. In the following description, a direction parallel to the X axis may also be referred to as a width direction X, a direction parallel to the Y axis may also be referred to as a depth direction Y, and a direction parallel to the Y and Z axes may also be referred to as a vertical direction Z.
As shown in
The recording apparatus 11 may further include a front cover 16 that openably covers the front surface of the apparatus main body 12, a power button 17 provided on the front wall 13, and a window 19 provided under the operation panel 14 so that a liquid container 18 is partially exposed therethrough. The window 19 allows the liquid stored in the liquid container 18 to be seen through the front surface of the apparatus main body 12. The recording apparatus 11 may further include a plurality of liquid containers 18 and a plurality of windows 19. The liquid container 18 may further include a front container 18a, which is a front portion and partially exposed through the window 19, and a rear container 18b, which is a rear portion located on a rear side of the front container 18a and has a dimension in the vertical direction Z larger than that of the front container 18a.
As shown in
When at the closed position, the image reading unit 21 and the operation panel 14 can be rotated about a shaft (not shown) provided parallel to the X axis on a rear side of the image reading unit 21 to thereby move to the open position. The image reading unit 21 located at the closed position closes the top of the apparatus main body 12. The image reading unit 21 located at the open position allows the inside of the apparatus main body 12 to be exposed through the top.
When the image reading unit 21 is located at the open position, the inner lid 20 becomes movable from a closed position shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The recording apparatus 11 includes a transport unit 30 that transports the medium 23. The recording apparatus 11 may further include a support unit 31 that supports the medium 23 transported along the transport path 26, and an output tray 32 that supports the medium 23 outputted from the apparatus main body 12. As the medium 23 is fed out by the feeding unit 25, the transport unit 30 transports the medium 23 along the transport path 26. The transport unit 30 transports the medium 23 from the medium storage unit 24 located upstream in the transport direction to the output tray 32 located downstream in the transport direction. The transport direction is a direction extending along the transport path 26.
The output tray 32 includes a support surface 33 that supports the medium 23, and a projection 34 that protrudes upward from the support surface 33 to support the medium 23. The output tray 32 may include a plurality of projections 34. The output tray 32 of the present embodiment includes two projections 34 spaced from each other in the width direction X. That is, in the output tray 32, a center portion of the medium 23 in the width direction X is supported by the support surface 33, while both ends of the medium 23 in the width direction X are supported by the projections 34. In the output tray 32, the medium 23 is curved so that both ends of the medium 23 in the width direction X are supported at positions higher than the center portion of the medium 23.
The recording apparatus 11 includes a liquid ejecting head 37 that performs recording by ejecting liquid from nozzles 36 onto the medium 23. The liquid ejecting head 37 is provided above the support unit 31. A top of the support unit 31 constitutes part of the transport path 26. For this reason, the liquid ejecting head 37 is provided above the transport path 26 for the medium 23. The liquid ejecting head 37 may be mounted on a carriage 38 that is movable in the width direction X. As the carriage 38 moves, the liquid ejecting head 37 reciprocates in the X axis direction above the support unit 31. The recording apparatus 11 may further include a liquid relay unit 39 provided on the carriage 38, and a tube 40 that communicates the liquid relay unit 39 with the liquid container 18.
The recording apparatus 11 may further include a disk tray 43 above the transport path 26 to support a disk 42 that stores information. The liquid ejecting head 37 can perform recording onto a label surface 44 of the disk 42 supported by the disk tray 43 by ejecting liquid onto the label surface 44. The disk tray 43 is configured to reciprocate in the Y axis direction. When the liquid ejecting head 37 performs recording onto the disk 42, the disk tray 43 moves to a position between the liquid ejecting head 37 and the support unit 31 so that the label surface 44 faces the liquid ejecting head 37. When the liquid ejecting head 37 performs printing onto the medium 23, the disk tray 43 is retracted from a position under the liquid ejecting head 37 so that the medium 23 supported by the support unit 31 faces the liquid ejecting head 37.
The medium storage unit 24, the output tray 32, and the disk tray 43 are accommodated behind the front cover 16 located at the closed position as shown in
As shown in
The tube 40 has an upstream end joined to the liquid container 18 and a downstream end joined to the liquid relay unit 39. As liquid is supplied from the liquid container 18 to the liquid relay unit 39 via the tube 40, the liquid relay unit 39 feeds the liquid to the liquid ejecting head 37. The liquid ejecting head 37 ejects liquid supplied from the liquid container 18 via the tube 40 and the liquid relay unit 39 to thereby perform recording on the medium 23 or the disk 42.
The recording apparatus 11 may be an apparatus that includes a plurality of liquid containers 18 and a plurality of tubes 40 corresponding to the respective liquid containers 18 to perform color printing by ejecting a plurality of types of liquids. The recording apparatus 11 may also be an apparatus that includes one liquid container 18 and one tube 40 to perform monochrome printing by ejecting one type of liquid. The liquid container 18 may be a cartridge that is detachably attached to the recording apparatus 11, or a tank that can be replenished with liquid.
The tube 40 has a curved portion 46 that is curved, an upstream portion 47 located between the curved portion 46 and the liquid container 18, and a downstream portion 48 located between the curved portion 46 and the liquid relay unit 39. The curved portion 46 is a portion that deforms while the carriage 38 moves between the home position HP and a full position FP indicated by the dot-dot-dashed line in
The recording apparatus 11 may include a maintenance unit 50 that performs maintenance of the liquid ejecting head 37 located at the home position HP. The recording apparatus 11 includes an accommodating unit 52 configured to accommodate a waste liquid container 51 configured to store waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head 37. The waste liquid container 51 may be detachably accommodated in the accommodating unit 52. The maintenance unit 50 may discharge waste liquid from the nozzles 36 by applying a negative pressure or a positive pressure to the liquid in the liquid ejecting head 37. The waste liquid container 51 communicates with the maintenance unit 50 via a waste liquid flow path (not shown) and stores waste liquid discharged from the maintenance unit 50. The waste liquid container 51 may also store waste liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head 37 for maintenance.
As shown in
As shown in
The accommodating unit 52 may be located at a position that does not overlap the liquid container 18 in the width direction X, and accommodate the waste liquid container 51 at this position. The waste liquid container 51 accommodated in the accommodating unit 52 may overlap the liquid container 18 in the depth direction Y and the vertical direction Z.
The accommodating unit 52 may also be located at a position that does not overlap the liquid ejecting head 37 and the carriage 38 in the width direction X while the liquid ejecting head 37 and the carriage 38 are located at the home position HP, and accommodate the waste liquid container 51 at this position. The accommodating unit 52 may also be located above the output tray 32 and the disk tray 43, and accommodate the waste liquid container 51 at this position. The accommodating unit 52 may also be located above the projection 34, and accommodate the waste liquid container 51 at this position.
As shown in
Operations of the present embodiment will be described below. As shown in
In replacement of the waste liquid container 51, the operator first moves the waste liquid container 51 along the X axis in a direction away from the home position HP. Thus, the waste liquid container 51 can be pulled out upward. In attachment of the waste liquid container 51, the operator places the waste liquid container 51 on the accommodating unit 52, and moves it along the X axis in a direction approaching the home position HP. Thus, the waste liquid container 51 is accommodated in the accommodating unit 52, and becomes ready to store waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head 37.
Effects of the present embodiment will be described below.
(1) The accommodating unit 52 accommodates the waste liquid container 51 at a position between the front wall 13 and the liquid ejecting head 37 in the depth direction Y. Accordingly, the waste liquid container 51 can be easily accessed for maintenance from the front side of the apparatus main body 12. The accommodating unit 52 accommodates the waste liquid container 51 at a position that does not overlap the operation panel 14 in the width direction X. Accordingly, the apparatus main body 12 can be reduced in size in the depth direction Y compared with a case, for example, where the waste liquid container 51 and the operation panel 14 are arrayed in the depth direction Y. Accordingly, maintenance of the waste liquid container 51 can be facilitated while preventing the apparatus main body from increasing in size.
(2) For example, an external force, when applied to the carriage 38, may affect movement of the carriage 38. In this regard, the accommodating unit 52 accommodates the waste liquid container 51 at a position between the front wall 13 and the carriage 38 in the depth direction Y. Accordingly, when the waste liquid container 51 is accessed for maintenance from the front side of the apparatus main body 12, the possibility that the operator applies an external force to the carriage 38 can be reduced. The accommodating unit 52 accommodates the waste liquid container 51 at a position above the transport path 26. Accordingly, the waste liquid container 51 can be easily accessed for maintenance from above the apparatus main body 12.
(3) For example, an external force, when applied to the tube 40, may affect liquid supply from the liquid container 18 to the liquid relay unit 39. In this regard, the accommodating unit 52 accommodates the waste liquid container 51 at a position between the front wall 13 and the tube 40 in the depth direction Y. Accordingly, when the waste liquid container 51 is accessed for maintenance from above the apparatus main body 12, the possibility that the operator applies an external force to the tube 40 can be reduced. The downstream portion 48 of the tube 40 is located above the upstream portion 47. Accordingly, the apparatus main body 12 can be reduced in size in the depth direction Y compared with a case where the downstream portion 48 and the upstream portion 47 are arrayed in the depth direction Y.
(4) A curved position in the tube 40 varies with movement of the carriage 38. The lower end 51a of the waste liquid container 51 accommodated in the accommodating unit 52 is located under the lower end 46a of the curved portion 46. Accordingly, the possibility that the tube 40, which deforms with movement of the carriage 38, abuts with the liquid container 51 can be reduced.
(5) The accommodating unit 52 accommodates the waste liquid container 51 at a position that does not overlap the liquid container 18 in the width direction X. Accordingly, the apparatus main body 12 can be reduced in size in the depth direction Y compared with a case, for example, where the waste liquid container 51 and the liquid container 18 are arrayed in the depth direction Y.
(6) For example, when the output tray 32 is smaller in size than the medium 23, a portion of the medium 23 protruding from the output tray 32 may sag down when the medium 23 is supported by the output tray 32, and the medium 23 may fall off from the output tray 32 due to the weight of the medium itself. In this regard, the output tray 32 has the projection 34 that protrudes upward from the support surface 33. That is, the output tray 32 can support the medium 23 while causing the medium 23 to be curved by the support surface 33 and the projection 34. Therefore, the medium 23 can be prevented from sagging down, which reduces the possibility of the medium 23 falling off from the output tray 32. The accommodating unit 52 accommodates the waste liquid container 51 at a position above the projection 34 of the output tray 32. Accordingly, the waste liquid container 51 can be easily accessed for maintenance from above the apparatus main body 12.
(7) The accommodating unit 52 accommodates the waste liquid container 51 at a position above the disk tray 43. Accordingly, the waste liquid container 51 can be easily accessed for maintenance from above the apparatus main body 12.
The present embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The present embodiment and the following modifications can be implemented in combination with each other as long as they are not technically inconsistent.
The following describes technical ideas and their effects and advantages obtained from the above embodiments and modifications.
(A) A recording apparatus includes an apparatus main body including: a transport unit that transports a medium; a liquid ejecting head that is provided above a transport path for the medium and performs recording by ejecting liquid onto the medium; and an accommodating unit that accommodates a waste liquid container configured to store waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head, wherein a front surface of the apparatus main body is provided with a front wall and an operation panel that can be operate various operations, which are adjacent to each other in a width direction, and the accommodating unit is located between the front wall and the liquid ejecting head in a depth direction at a position that does not overlap the operation panel in the width direction.
With this configuration, the accommodating unit accommodates the waste liquid container at a position between the front wall and the liquid ejecting head in the depth direction. Accordingly, the waste liquid container can be easily accessed for maintenance from the front side of the apparatus main body. The accommodating unit accommodates the waste liquid container at a position that does not overlap the operation panel in the width direction. Accordingly, the apparatus main body can be reduced in size in the depth direction compared with a case, for example, where the waste liquid container and the operation panel are arrayed in the depth direction. Accordingly, maintenance of the waste liquid container can be facilitated while preventing the apparatus main body from increasing in size.
(B) In the recording apparatus, the liquid ejecting head may be mounted on a carriage that is movable in the width direction, and the accommodating unit may be located between the front wall and the carriage in the depth direction at a position above the transport path.
For example, an external force, when applied to the carriage, may affect movement of the carriage. With this configuration, the accommodating unit accommodates the waste liquid container at a position between the front wall and the carriage in the depth direction. Accordingly, when the waste liquid container is accessed for maintenance from the front side of the apparatus main body, the possibility that the operator applies an external force to the carriage can be reduced. The accommodating unit accommodates the waste liquid container at a position above the transport path. Accordingly, the waste liquid container can be easily accessed for maintenance from above the apparatus main body.
(C) The recording apparatus may further includes: a liquid relay unit mounted on the carriage; and a tube that communicates the liquid relay unit with a liquid container, wherein the tube may include a curved portion that is curved, an upstream portion located between the curved portion and the liquid container, and a downstream portion located between the curved portion and the liquid relay unit, the downstream portion being located above the upstream portion, and the accommodating unit may be located between the front wall and the tube in the depth direction.
For example, an external force, when applied to the tube, may affect liquid supply from the liquid container to the liquid relay unit. With this configuration, the accommodating unit accommodates the waste liquid container at a position between the front wall and the tube in the depth direction. Accordingly, when the waste liquid container is accessed for maintenance from above the apparatus main body, the possibility that the operator applies an external force to the tube can be reduced. The downstream portion of the tube is located above the upstream portion. Accordingly, the apparatus main body can be reduced in size in the depth direction compared with a case where the downstream portion and the upstream portion are arrayed in the depth direction.
(D) In the recording apparatus, the accommodating unit may accommodate the waste liquid container with a lower end of the waste liquid container being located under a lower end of the curved portion. A curved position in the tube varies with movement of the carriage. With this configuration, the lower end of the waste liquid container accommodated in the accommodating unit is located under the lower end of the curved portion. Accordingly, the possibility that the tube, which deforms with movement of the carriage, abuts with the liquid container can be reduced.
(E) In the recording apparatus, the accommodating unit may be located at a position that does not overlap the liquid container in the width direction, the liquid container being provided under the operation panel. With this configuration, the accommodating unit accommodates the waste liquid container at a position that does not overlap the liquid container in the width direction. Accordingly, the apparatus main body can be reduced in size in the depth direction compared with a case, for example, where the waste liquid container and the liquid container are arrayed in the depth direction.
(F) The recording apparatus may further includes an output tray that supports the medium outputted from the apparatus main body, wherein the output tray may include a support surface that supports the medium and a projection protruding upward from the support surface to support the medium, and the accommodating unit may be located above the projection.
For example, when the output tray is smaller in size than the medium, a portion of the medium protruding from the output tray may sag down when the medium is supported by the output tray, and the medium may fall off from the output tray due to the weight of the medium itself. With this configuration, the output tray has the projection that protrudes upward from the support surface. That is, the output tray can support the medium while causing the medium to be curved by the support surface and the projection. Therefore, the medium can be prevented from sagging down, which reduces the possibility of the medium falling off from the output tray. The accommodating unit accommodates the waste liquid container at a position above the projection of the output tray. Accordingly, the waste liquid container can be easily accessed for maintenance from above the apparatus main body.
(G) The recording apparatus may further include a disk tray that supports a disk which stores information, wherein the liquid ejecting head may be configured to record onto a label surface of the disk supported by the disk tray, and the accommodating unit may be located above the disk tray.
With this configuration, the accommodating unit accommodates the waste liquid container at a position above the disk tray. Accordingly, the waste liquid container can be easily accessed for maintenance from above the apparatus main body.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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JP2020-041595 | Mar 2020 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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20050151782 | Ishida et al. | Jul 2005 | A1 |
20190263126 | Tanaka | Aug 2019 | A1 |
20200290380 | Miyagawa et al. | Sep 2020 | A1 |
20200290381 | Yoda et al. | Sep 2020 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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2006-035662 | Feb 2006 | JP |
2020-146920 | Sep 2020 | JP |
2020-146921 | Sep 2020 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20210283918 A1 | Sep 2021 | US |