JP4906109B2 - Waste liquid container and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a waste liquid storage container and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a waste liquid storage container that stores a waste liquid generated by a maintenance and recovery operation of a recording head that discharges droplets, and an image forming apparatus including the waste liquid storage container.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, or a multifunction machine of these, for example, a recording head composed of a liquid discharge head that discharges liquid droplets is used. The recording medium, the recording medium, the transfer material, and the recording paper are also used synonymously.) While transporting the liquid, the liquid is attached to the paper to form an image (recording, printing, printing, Some prints are also used synonymously.)

  In the present invention, the “image forming apparatus” means an apparatus that forms an image by discharging a liquid onto a medium such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics or the like. In addition, “image formation” not only applies an image having a meaning such as a character or a figure to a medium, but also applies an image having no meaning such as a pattern to the medium (liquid is applied to the medium). It also means to attach). In addition, “ink” is not limited to ink in a strict sense, but is used as a general term for liquids that can perform image formation in the above sense, such as what is called ink, resist, DNA sample, and the like. .

  In such an image forming apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as “inkjet recording apparatus”), an ink cartridge is often used to supply ink to a recording head. In order to reduce the labor of exchanging the ink cartridge, it is detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion so that ink can be supplied to the sub-tank on the recording head side via the supply tube.

  In addition, the recording head performs recording by ejecting ink pressurized in the pressure generating chamber from the nozzle onto the paper, so that the ink viscosity increases due to evaporation of the solvent from the nozzle, the ink solidifies, and dust adheres. In addition, there is a problem in that a recording failure occurs due to a discharge failure due to air bubbles and the like.

  Therefore, a capping unit for sealing the nozzles of the recording head at the time of non-recording, a wiping member for cleaning the nozzle forming surface as necessary, and an empty discharge receiver for performing empty discharge that does not contribute to recording are provided. ing. The capping unit not only functions as a lid for preventing the ink of the nozzle from drying, but also when the nozzle is clogged, the nozzle forming surface is sealed by the capping unit, and the negative pressure from the suction pump is used. Also, it has a function of eliminating nozzle clogging by sucking and discharging ink (head suction) from the nozzle.

  The forcible suction and discharge process of ink performed to eliminate clogging of the recording head is called a cleaning operation. For example, when recording is resumed after a long pause of the recording apparatus, or at predetermined intervals during recording. Or when the user recognizes a recording state failure and operates the cleaning switch, and after the ink is discharged from the recording head, the wiping member made of an elastic member such as rubber causes the nozzle surface (nozzle of the recording head) This is accompanied by a cleaning operation for wiping off the surface on which is formed. During recording, idle ejection is performed at a required timing.

  The waste liquid from the recording head discharged into the capping means in accordance with the above-described cleaning operation can be discharged to a waste liquid tank (also referred to as a waste liquid storage container) by driving the suction pump. In addition, the ink droplets ejected in an empty state are discharged as a waste liquid into a waste liquid tank. In this waste liquid tank, a waste liquid absorber (absorber) generally made of a porous material is accommodated, and the waste liquid is absorbed and held by the waste liquid absorber.

By the way, since the ink is required to have a fast drying property due to an increase in recording speed, a pigment-based ink having a high viscosity (5 cP or more is defined as a high viscosity) is used. In waste liquid tanks that contain waste ink that has a significant increase in ink viscosity, such as high-viscosity inks such as pigment-based inks with high pigment concentrations, color materials such as pigments and dyes contained in the ink accumulate and grow. If the growth of the deposit is left unattended, the grown deposit comes into contact with the recording head and the suction tube, causing a malfunction. In addition, when the waste liquid tank is filled with ink accumulated in the waste liquid tank, there is a problem that the waste liquid overflows outside the waste liquid tank.
JP 2003-094692 A

Therefore, Patent Document 2 has a liquid dispersion means for dispersing the liquid in the liquid storage means, and the liquid dispersion means rotatably holds a plurality of liquid reception means and a plurality of liquid reception means. And holding means.
JP 2007-034881 A

Further, in Patent Document 3, the liquid storage means is configured in a vertically long shape in the vertical direction, and a plurality of liquid absorption portions arranged corresponding to the vertically long shape of the liquid storage means, and the liquid absorption portions are liquid. And a liquid absorbing portion moving means for moving along the vertically long shape of the containing means.
JP 2007-083480 A

  However, in the configuration in which the rotating body is provided in the waste liquid storage container and the ink is dispersed in the plurality of partitions as described in Patent Document 1 described above, ink accumulation occurs at the dispersed locations. However, there is a problem that the ink rotator mechanism itself may be locked due to an increase in the weight of the rotator or ink accumulation after ink induction.

  In addition, as described in Patent Document 2, in a configuration in which a plurality of waste liquid tanks are arranged and used sequentially, the machine (device) becomes larger and the mechanism itself becomes complicated, depending on the number of arranged waste tanks. To do. In addition, there is a problem that a plurality of items need to be replaced even when the replacement container is configured to be replaced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to stably reduce the accumulation of waste liquid over a long period of time without complicating the configuration of the waste liquid storage container.

In order to solve the above problems, the waste liquid storage container according to the present invention is:
A container main body from which liquid waste generated by the maintenance and recovery operation of the recording head that discharges droplets is discharged;
A plurality of waste liquid moving means for moving the waste liquid discharged in the container body,
And a scraping means for scraping at least a portion of the waste liquid adhering to the waste liquid moving means,
The plurality of waste liquid moving means are selected by moving the container main body .
The waste liquid container according to the present invention is
A container main body from which liquid waste generated by the maintenance and recovery operation of the recording head that discharges droplets is discharged;
A plurality of waste liquid moving means for moving the waste liquid discharged into the container body;
Scraping means for scraping off at least part of the waste liquid adhering to the waste liquid moving means,
The plurality of waste liquid moving means are selected by moving the waste liquid discharge position.
The configuration.

Here, the scraping means may be configured to be an absorber that absorbs the waste liquid disposed in the container body .

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the waste liquid container according to the present invention.

According to the liquid container according to the present invention, the container main body, the plurality of waste liquid moving means for moving the waste liquid discharged into the container main body, and the scraping that scrapes off at least a part of the waste liquid adhering to the waste liquid moving means. And a plurality of waste liquid moving means are selected by moving the container body, or a plurality of waste liquid moving means are selected by moving the discharge position of the waste liquid. Without complicating the configuration of the container, it is possible to stably reduce the accumulation of waste liquid over a long period of time.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the waste liquid storage container according to the present invention is provided, the waste liquid storage container can be used for a long time.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an example of an image forming apparatus that supplies ink by the ink supply system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view for explaining the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the apparatus.
This image forming apparatus is a serial type ink jet recording apparatus, and a carriage 33 is slidable in a main scanning direction by main and sub guide rods 31 and 32 which are guide members horizontally mounted on the left and right side plates 21A and 21B of the apparatus main body 1. It is held and moved and scanned in the direction indicated by the arrow (carriage main scanning direction) in FIG. 2 via a timing belt by a main scanning motor (not shown).

  The carriage 33 has recording heads 34a and 34b for discharging ink droplets of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) (“recording head 34” when not distinguished). Are arranged in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and the ink droplet ejection direction is directed downward.

  Each of the recording heads 34 has two nozzle rows. One nozzle row of the recording head 34a has black (K) droplets, the other nozzle row has cyan (C) droplets, and the recording head 34b has one nozzle row. One nozzle row ejects magenta (M) droplets, and the other nozzle row ejects yellow (Y) droplets.

  The carriage 33 is also equipped with sub tanks 35a and 35b (second tank 35 when not distinguished) that are second ink supply units for supplying ink of each color corresponding to the nozzle rows of the recording head 34. is doing. From the ink cartridges 10 y, 10 m, 10 c, and 10 k that are the first ink supply portions of the respective colors that are detachably attached to the cartridge loading portion 4, the sub-tank 35 is supplied through the supply tubes 36 of the respective colors by the supply pump unit 5. The recording liquid of each color is replenished and supplied.

  On the other hand, as a paper feeding unit for feeding the papers 42 stacked on the paper stacking unit (pressure plate) 41 of the paper feed cassette (or paper feed tray) 2, the papers 42 are separated and fed one by one from the paper stacking unit 41. A half paddle (feed roller) 43 to be fed and a separation pad 44 made of a material having a large friction coefficient are provided opposite to the feed roller 43, and this separation pad 44 is urged toward the feed roller 43 side.

  In order to feed the paper 42 fed from the paper feeding unit to the lower side of the recording head 34, a guide member 45 for guiding the paper 42, a counter roller 46, a transport guide member 47, and a tip pressure roller. And a holding belt 48 which is a conveying means for electrostatically attracting the fed paper 42 and conveying it at a position facing the recording head 34.

  The transport belt 51 is an endless belt, and is configured to wrap around the transport roller 52 and the tension roller 53 and circulate in the belt transport direction (sub-scanning direction). Further, a charging roller 56 that is a charging unit for charging the surface of the transport belt 51 is provided. The charging roller 56 is disposed so as to come into contact with the surface layer of the transport belt 51 and to rotate following the rotation of the transport belt 51. The transport belt 51 rotates in the belt transport direction of FIG. 2 when the transport roller 52 is rotationally driven through timing by a sub-scanning motor (not shown).

  Further, as a paper discharge unit for discharging the paper 42 recorded by the recording head 34, a separation claw 61 for separating the paper 42 from the conveying belt 51, a paper discharge roller 62, and a spur 63 that is a paper discharge roller. And a paper discharge tray 3 below the paper discharge roller 62.

  A duplex unit 71 is detachably mounted on the back surface of the apparatus body 1. The duplex unit 71 takes in the paper 42 returned by the reverse rotation of the conveyance belt 51, reverses it, and feeds it again between the counter roller 46 and the conveyance belt 51. The upper surface of the duplex unit 71 is a manual feed tray 72.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 for maintaining and recovering the state of the nozzles of the recording head 34 is disposed in the non-printing area on one side of the carriage 33 in the scanning direction. The maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 includes cap members (hereinafter referred to as “caps”) 82a and 82b (hereinafter referred to as “caps 82” when not distinguished from each other) for capping the nozzle surfaces of the recording head 34, and nozzle surfaces. A wiper member (wiper blade) 83 for wiping the recording medium, an empty discharge receiver 84 for receiving liquid droplets when performing empty discharge for discharging liquid droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the thickened recording liquid, and a carriage And a carriage lock 87 for locking 22.

  In addition, a waste liquid tank 100 for storing waste liquid generated by the maintenance and recovery operation is replaceably mounted on the lower side of the head maintenance and recovery mechanism 81 and disposed on the opposite side of the cartridge loading unit 4. ing.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, in the non-printing area on the other side in the scanning direction of the carriage 33, idle discharge is performed to discharge liquid droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the recording liquid thickened during recording or the like. An empty discharge receiver 88 for receiving the liquid droplets at the time is disposed, and the empty discharge receiver 88 is provided with an opening 89 along the nozzle row direction of the recording head 34.

  In this image forming apparatus configured as described above, the sheets 42 are separated and fed one by one from the sheet feed tray 2, and the sheet 42 fed substantially vertically upward is guided by the guide 45, and includes the transport belt 51 and the counter. It is sandwiched between the rollers 46 and conveyed, and the leading end is guided by the conveying guide 37 and pressed against the conveying belt 51 by the leading end pressing roller 49, and the conveying direction is changed by approximately 90 °.

  At this time, a positive output and a negative output are alternately repeated with respect to the charging roller 56, that is, an alternating voltage is applied, and a charging voltage pattern in which the conveying belt 51 alternates, that is, in a sub-scanning direction that is a circumferential direction. , Plus and minus are alternately charged in a band shape with a predetermined width. When the paper 42 is fed onto the conveyance belt 51 charged alternately with plus and minus, the paper 42 is attracted to the conveyance belt 51, and the paper 42 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the circular movement of the conveyance belt 51.

  Therefore, by driving the recording head 34 according to the image signal while moving the carriage 33, ink droplets are ejected onto the stopped paper 42 to record one line, and after the paper 42 is conveyed by a predetermined amount, Record the next line. Upon receiving a recording end signal or a signal that the trailing edge of the paper 42 has reached the recording area, the recording operation is finished and the paper 42 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 3.

  When performing the maintenance and recovery of the nozzles of the recording head 34, the nozzle 33 performs the suction from the nozzles by moving the carriage 33 to a position facing the maintenance and recovery mechanism 81 which is the home position and performing capping by the cap member 82. By performing a maintenance and recovery operation such as idle ejection for ejecting droplets that do not contribute to image formation, image formation by stable droplet ejection can be performed.

  A first embodiment of the present invention applied to this image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is a perspective explanatory view of a waste liquid tank as a waste liquid storage container according to the embodiment, FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory view of the waste liquid tank except for a lid member, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main part of the waste liquid tank. FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the waste liquid tank.

  The waste liquid tank 100 includes a container main body (case main body) 101, an absorbent member (absorber) 102 including a laminated body (four layers here) that absorbs the liquid waste liquid stored in the case main body 101. A lid member 103 that covers the upper part of the case body 101 is provided.

  In the waste liquid tank 100, ink waste liquid 202 discharged from the empty discharge receiver 84 in the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 and ink waste liquid 202 discharged from a suction pump (not shown) via a tube are provided on the lid member 103. Then, it is introduced (discharged) from the waste liquid inlet 104. A space 105 in which the absorber 102 is not provided is formed corresponding to the portion into which the waste liquid is input through the waste liquid input port 104.

  The case main body 101 is formed with ribs 107 that are partition walls that partition the side wall surface of the space 105. As a result, a part 102a of the absorbing member 102 faces the space 105, and the liquid waste liquid penetrates into the absorbing member 102 only from the wall surface part of the part 102a.

  Further, a waste liquid full detection means for detecting that the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank 100 is full, which also serves as a waste liquid tank presence sensor for detecting whether or not the waste liquid tank 100 is mounted on the lid member 103. A waste liquid full sensor 108 composed of a reflective photosensor is disposed on the portion 102b of the absorbing member 102 with the rib 107 of the waste liquid inlet 104 interposed therebetween.

  Further, in the space 105, a screw member 111 is disposed as a waste liquid moving means for moving the introduced waste liquid toward the absorber 102 below the waste liquid inlet 104. One end of the screw member 111 is rotatably held on the part 102a side of the absorber 102, and the other end extends outside the case body 101 and is driven to rotate via a gear and a drive source (not shown). Is done.

  In this case, since one end of the screw member 111 is held on the absorber 102 side, the waste liquid of the ink adhering to the screw member 111 is scraped off by the absorber 102. That is, the absorber 102 that absorbs the waste liquid also serves as a scraping means for scraping off the waste liquid adhering to the screw member 111 as the waste liquid moving means. An absorber 109 is also provided on the other end side of the screw member 111 so that the waste liquid adhering to the screw member 111 can be scraped off even when the waste liquid moves in the direction opposite to the direction in which the screw member 111 moves. Yes.

  Since the waste liquid 202 discharged from the maintenance and recovery mechanism 81 is discharged from the waste liquid inlet 104 of the waste liquid tank 100 into the waste liquid tank 100 as shown in FIG. Is moved (transferred) to the absorber 102 side as the screw member 111 rotates, and is scraped off from the screw member 111 and absorbed by the absorber 102 by contacting the absorber 102.

  As a result, the waste liquid of the ink that is input from the waste liquid input port 104 is absorbed from the part 102a of the absorber 102 by the screw member 111 before the liquid remains deposited, so that the deposition in the space 105 may occur. To reduce.

  Thus, the liquid container is provided with a waste liquid moving means for moving the waste liquid discharged into the container body, and a scraping means for scraping at least a part of the waste liquid attached to the waste liquid moving means. It is possible to reduce the accumulation of waste liquid in the interior, and it is possible to effectively use the space in the liquid storage container with a simple configuration, and without complicating the configuration of the waste liquid storage container over a long period of time. It is possible to stably reduce the accumulation of waste liquid. In this case, the waste liquid can be efficiently accommodated by using an absorber that absorbs the waste liquid disposed in the container body as the scraping means.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is an explanatory plan view of a main part excluding the lid member of the waste liquid tank according to the embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional explanatory view of the waste liquid tank.
Here, in the space 105, a disc-shaped rotating plate (rotating member) 112 as a waste liquid moving means for moving the introduced waste liquid toward the absorber 102 is disposed below the waste liquid inlet 104. Yes. The rotating plate 112 is disposed with a part facing the inside of the absorber 102 on the opposite side via the space 105 and the rib 107 through the notch 107 a of the rib 107. The rotating plate 112 is rotatably held by a shaft member 112a, and rotates by receiving a driving force from an upper driving source (not shown) via a lid member 103 of the case body 101. In addition, the part corresponding to the rotating plate 112 of the absorber 102 is removed.

  Since the waste liquid 202 discharged from the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 is discharged into the waste liquid tank 100 from the waste liquid inlet 104 of the waste liquid tank 100 as shown in FIG. As the rotating body 112 rotates, the waste liquid having a high viscosity moves (transfers) to the absorber 102 side, and is scraped off from the rotating body 112 by contacting the absorber 102, and is absorbed by the absorber 102. Absorbed.

  As a result, since the waste liquid of the ink charged from the waste liquid inlet 104 is absorbed by the absorber 102 by the rotating body 112 before the liquid remains deposited, the occurrence of the deposition in the space 105 is reduced and simplified. With this configuration, the space in the liquid storage container can be used effectively, and the accumulation of the waste liquid can be stably reduced over a long period without complicating the configuration of the waste liquid storage container.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is an explanatory plan view of a main part excluding the lid member of the waste liquid tank according to the embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional explanatory view of the waste liquid tank.
Here, in the space 105, a rotating blade (rotating member) 114 having a shape in which a disk as a waste liquid moving means for moving the introduced waste liquid toward the absorber 102 is cut down to the waste liquid inlet 104. Is arranged. The rotating blade 114 is arranged with a part of the rotating blade 114 facing the rotation region through the space 105 and the rib 107 through the notch 107 a of the rib 107.

  Here, the three rotary blades 114 are arranged at different positions in the vertical direction on the shaft member 114a that is rotatably arranged. Further, the rotating blade 114 is rotated by a driving force transmitted from a driving source (not shown) to the shaft member 114a through the lid member 103 of the case body 101. In addition, the part corresponding to each rotary blade 114 of the absorber 102 is removed.

  Since the waste liquid 202 discharged from the maintenance and recovery mechanism 81 is discharged into the waste liquid tank 100 from the waste liquid inlet 104 of the waste liquid tank 100 as shown in FIG. When 114 is located, it is dripped onto the rotor blade 114, and with the rotation of the rotor blade 114, the waste liquid with high viscosity is moved (transferred) to the absorber 102 side, and rotates by contacting the absorber 102. It is scraped off from the wing 114 and absorbed by the absorber 102.

  As a result, the waste liquid of the ink introduced from the waste liquid inlet 104 is absorbed by the absorber 102 by the rotor blades 114 before being deposited in a liquid state, so that the occurrence of deposition in the space 105 is reduced and simplified. With this configuration, the space in the liquid storage container can be used effectively, and the accumulation of the waste liquid can be stably reduced over a long period without complicating the configuration of the waste liquid storage container.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of the waste liquid tank according to the embodiment.
Here, scraping members 116a, 116b, and 116c are sequentially arranged in the space 105 along the waste liquid transfer (movement) direction as scraping means for scraping the waste liquid adhered to the screw member 111. These scraping members 116 a, 116 b, 116 c are sequentially increased in height from the scraping member 116 a close to the waste liquid input site (empty discharge receptacle 84 and the waste liquid tube of the suction pump), that is, a gap with the screw member 111. (Distance) is arranged to be small.

  Thus, the transfer function of the screw member 111 can be maintained over a long period of time by sequentially reducing the gap between the scraping members 116a to 116c and the waste liquid moving means (screw member 111) along the moving direction of the waste liquid. it can. That is, if the gap between the first scraping member 116a and the screw member 111 is made small (narrow), the waste liquid adheres only to the first scraping member 116a, and the waste liquid adheres to the first scraping member 115a. The scraping function will be reduced. On the other hand, the waste liquid can be gradually scraped by gradually narrowing the gap.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of the waste liquid tank according to the embodiment.
Here, a plurality of, for example, two first and second screw members 111A and 111B are arranged as two waste liquid transfer means. On the other hand, the waste liquid tube 201 from the suction pump (not shown) of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 moves between the waste liquid discharge position shown in FIG. 12 (a) and the waste liquid discharge position shown in the solid line in FIG. 12 (b). Arranged to be possible.

  Thus, when the waste liquid tube 201 is at the position shown in FIG. 12A, the waste liquid is discharged as shown by an arrow toward the screw member 111A. When the waste liquid tube 201 is at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. The waste liquid is discharged as shown by the arrow toward the screw member 111B. That is, the screw members 111A and 111B are selected by changing the waste liquid discharge position.

  In this way, the waste liquid transfer function can be maintained over a long period by providing a plurality of waste liquid moving means, and the part of the absorber that absorbs the waste liquid transferred by the waste liquid moving means will be dispersed, The accumulation of waste liquid can be reduced more efficiently, and the life of the waste liquid tank can be extended.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of the waste liquid tank according to the embodiment.
Here, a plurality of, for example, two first and second screw members 111A and 111B are arranged as two waste liquid transfer means. On the other hand, a waste liquid tube 201 from a suction pump (not shown) of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 is disposed at a waste liquid discharge position shown in the drawings. Accordingly, the waste liquid tank 100 is arranged so as to be movable between a position shown by a solid line shown in FIG. 13A and a position shown by a solid line shown in FIG. 13B by a moving mechanism (not shown).

  As a result, when the waste liquid tank 100 is in the position shown in FIG. 13A, the waste liquid is discharged toward the screw member 111A as shown by the arrow, and when the waste liquid tank 100 is in the position shown by the solid line in FIG. The waste liquid is discharged as shown by the arrow toward the screw member 111B. That is, by changing the position of the waste liquid tank 100, the plurality of screw members 111A and 111B are selected. Therefore, the same effect as the fifth embodiment can be obtained.

  In these fifth and sixth embodiments, the rotating members 112 and 114 as described in the second and third embodiments described above can be used as the waste liquid moving means.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a mechanism part of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing of the mechanism part. It is a perspective explanatory view showing an example of a waste liquid tank concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is an isometric view similarly shown except a cover member. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a main part of the waste liquid tank. It is typical sectional explanatory drawing of the waste liquid tank. It is a typical principal plane top view of the waste liquid tank which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is typical sectional explanatory drawing of the waste liquid tank. It is a typical principal plane top view of the waste liquid tank which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is typical sectional explanatory drawing of the waste liquid tank. It is side surface typical explanatory drawing of the waste liquid tank which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a typical explanatory view of a waste liquid tank concerning a 5th embodiment of the present invention. It is a typical explanatory view of a waste liquid tank concerning a 6th embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Ink cartridge 33 ... Carriage 34a, 34b ... Recording head 81 ... Maintenance recovery mechanism 100 ... Waste liquid tank 101 ... Tank case main body 102 ... Absorbing member (scraping member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 103 ... Lid member 104 ... Waste liquid inlet 105 ... Space 107 ... Rib 108 ... Notch 111, 111A, 111B ... Screw member (waste liquid moving means)
112 ... Rotating plate (waste liquid moving means)
114 ... Rotating blade (waste liquid moving means)
115a to 115c ... scraping member

Claims (4)

A container main body from which liquid waste generated by the maintenance and recovery operation of the recording head that discharges droplets is discharged;
A plurality of waste liquid moving means for moving the waste liquid discharged in the container body,
And a scraping means for scraping at least a portion of the waste liquid adhering to the waste liquid moving means,
The waste liquid storage container , wherein the plurality of waste liquid moving means are selected by moving the container main body . A container main body from which liquid waste generated by the maintenance and recovery operation of the recording head that discharges droplets is discharged;
A plurality of waste liquid moving means for moving the waste liquid discharged into the container body;
Scraping means for scraping off at least part of the waste liquid adhering to the waste liquid moving means,
The waste liquid container, wherein the plurality of waste liquid moving means are selected by moving the waste liquid discharge position. The waste liquid storage container according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the scraping means is an absorber that absorbs the waste liquid disposed in the container main body.   An image forming apparatus comprising the waste liquid storage container according to claim 1.

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