JP7790033B2 - Drainage container, recording device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a drainage container and a recording device.

As shown in Patent Document 1, a waste ink tank is known that is detachable from a printer equipped with a discharge unit that discharges waste ink, and that, when attached, receives the waste ink discharged from the discharge unit. The waste ink tank has a connection port (opening) that connects to the discharge unit, and a handle that the user grips when attaching or detaching the waste ink tank.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-269206

However, when the waste ink tank is removed from the discharge unit while being held by the grip, there is a possibility that the grip will be held with the grip facing upwards. When held in this way, the opening will be downwards, which poses a problem: the waste ink in the waste ink tank will drip from the opening due to gravity.
If waste ink drips from the opening, it can cause various problems, such as staining the user's body or assets.

The waste liquid container is detachably attached to a device equipped with a discharge section that discharges waste liquid, and is capable of storing waste liquid discharged from the discharge section. It comprises a housing that stores waste liquid, a connection section provided on a first surface of the housing and connecting to the discharge section, and a lid section that can be displaced between a closed state that covers the connection section and an open state that opens the connection section. The lid section is capable of being in the open state when the housing is attached to the device, and in the closed state when the housing is removed from the device.

The recording device is configured so that the above-mentioned waste liquid container can be attached and detached, and is equipped with a recording unit that ejects liquid onto a medium to perform recording. The waste liquid container stores, as waste liquid, the liquid ejected from the recording unit onto the outside of the edge of the medium when recording is performed by the recording unit.

The recording device is configured so that the above-mentioned waste liquid container can be attached or detached, and is equipped with a recording unit that ejects liquid onto a medium to perform recording, and the waste liquid container stores waste liquid generated during maintenance to keep the recording unit in a normal condition.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of a waste fluid recovery unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a waste fluid recovery unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of a waste fluid recovery unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is an internal view showing the configuration of an absorbent body according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a waste liquid container according to a sixth embodiment.

1. First Embodiment First, a description will be given of the configuration of a recording apparatus 10. The recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment is a serial inkjet printer that performs recording by ejecting ink as a liquid onto a medium P (for example, paper).
1 and 2 are perspective views showing the configuration of a recording apparatus 10. FIG.
When the recording device 10 is installed on an XY plane (horizontal plane) parallel to the X and Y axes, the direction along the Z axis is the up-down direction, the +Z direction is the upward direction, and the -Z direction is the downward direction. The direction along the Y axis is the front-to-back direction, with the +Y direction side being the forward direction (front side) and the -Y direction side being the backward direction (rear side). The direction along the X axis is the left-to-right direction (width direction), with the +X direction side being the leftward direction and the -X direction side being the rightward direction.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the device main body 12 comprises a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 13 and a document reading device 14 disposed on the housing 13. The document reading device 14 comprises a horizontal document placement surface 15 made of transparent glass or the like on which a document to be read is placed, and a document cover 16 that can cover the document placement surface 15. The document cover 16 is capable of opening and closing about a rotation axis (not shown) that is parallel to the X-axis along the width direction, between a closed state (Figure 1) in which it covers the document placement surface 15 from above, and an open state (Figure 2) in which it opens from the closed state to expose the upper area of the document placement surface 15.

On the exterior of the housing 13, at the bottom of the front surface 17, which is the front of the device main body 12, is provided an outlet 18 for discharging media P from the interior. Inside the outlet 18, a stacker 19 is provided for supporting media P in a stacked state as they are discharged from inside the housing 13 toward the front.

An operation unit 20 operated by the user of the recording device 10 is provided at the top of the front surface 17 of the housing 13. The operation unit 20 is a horizontally long panel with its length aligned along the X axis. The operation unit 20 is provided with a power button 21 that is operated to turn the recording device 10 on or off, and operation buttons 22 that are operated to input various operational information. The operation unit 20 is also provided with a liquid crystal display 23 that can display the operational status of the recording device 10. The liquid crystal display 23 may be a touch panel.

An ink supply unit 25 is provided on the front surface 17 of the housing 13. The ink supply unit 25 supplies ink to the recording head 32 (Figure 3). The ink supply unit 25 includes a plurality of ink tanks 26. The ink tanks 26 are containers that can store ink.

Next, the internal configuration of the recording device 10 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the recording apparatus 10 includes a recording head 32 as a recording unit, and a carriage 30 on which the recording head 32 is mounted.
The carriage 30 is supported by a guide rail 33 extending in the direction along the X axis, and is configured to be reciprocally movable in the direction along the X axis by a drive mechanism (not shown).
A platen 34 that supports the medium P being transported is disposed below the recording head 32 .
The recording head 32 has a plurality of nozzles and ejects ink as droplets onto the medium P supported by the platen 34. The platen 34 is shaped like a plate.
The recording device 10 includes a transport mechanism that transports the medium P from a paper feed unit (not shown) toward the discharge port 18 via a platen 34. Images, documents, etc. are recorded on the medium P by alternately performing a recording operation in which the recording head 32 ejects droplets to perform one pass of recording while the carriage 30 moves along the X axis, and a transport operation in which the medium P is transported to the next recording position.
In this embodiment, the ink supply unit 25 and the ink tank 26 are of an off-carriage type, in which they are disposed at a position separate from the carriage 30, but the ink supply unit 25 and the ink tank 26 may also be of an on-carriage type, in which they are detachably mounted on the carriage 30. Furthermore, the recording device 10 is not limited to a serial type, and may be of a line type, in which the recording head 32 is a long line head disposed across the entire maximum width of the medium P and can eject droplets simultaneously across the entire width of the medium P.

The recording device 10 further includes a maintenance unit 40. The maintenance unit 40 performs maintenance to keep the recording head 32 in a normal state. For example, it forcibly expels ink and air from the recording head 32 (cleaning operation).

The maintenance unit 40 includes a cap 41. When the recording device 10 is not performing a recording operation, the carriage 30 is positioned at a home position, which is outside the recording area during the recording operation.

The cap 41 is a bottomed box-shaped component located at the home position. The cap 41 can be moved in the direction along the Z axis by an elevation mechanism. When the cap 41 is raised, it is pressed against the underside of the recording head 32. This causes the cap 41 to form a closed space that covers the nozzles formed on the underside of the recording head 32. This closed space prevents ink from drying out inside the nozzles of the recording head 32.

The cap 41 is connected to a suction pump via a suction tube. When the suction pump is operated in a closed space, it sucks ink and air from inside the recording head 32 through the suction tube. This sucks out deteriorated ink (ink that has dried and thickened) from inside the recording head 32, maintaining (restoring) the recording head 32 to a normal state.

In addition, to keep the recording head 32 in a normal state, the maintenance unit 40 periodically performs a flushing operation, forcibly ejecting ink from the recording head 32 toward the cap 41 and discharging deteriorated ink from the recording head 32.

Ink (wastewater) discharged from the recording head 32 during maintenance such as cleaning and flushing is treated as waste liquid.
Waste liquid is also generated during so-called borderless printing. Specifically, when recording with the recording head 32, ink (waste liquid) ejected from the recording head 32 to the outside of the edge of the medium P becomes waste liquid.
As described above, the waste liquid generated inside the device main body 12 is collected by the waste liquid collection unit 50. The waste liquid collected by the waste liquid collection unit 50 is then discharged into the waste liquid container 60, and the discharged waste liquid is stored in the waste liquid container 60.

Next, the configuration of the waste liquid recovery unit 50 will be described.
As shown in Figure 4, a waste liquid collection unit 50 is disposed below the platen 34. The waste liquid collection unit 50 is plate-shaped and large enough to support the entire platen 34. The platen 34 is provided with a plurality of through-holes 35. The through-holes 35 are holes that penetrate in the vertical direction and are holes that guide waste liquid (waste liquid) that is discarded outside the edge of the medium P during borderless printing to the waste liquid collection unit 50 disposed below.

As shown in FIG. 5, the waste liquid collection unit 50 includes a receiving portion 51 that receives waste liquid discharged from the platen 34. The receiving portion 51 has a flat portion 51a having a flat surface and a wall portion 51b that defines the flat portion 51a, and the flat portion 51a, defined by the wall portion 51b, receives the waste liquid discharged from the platen 34.

The waste liquid collection unit 50 also has a recessed portion 52 that is recessed below the plane of the flat portion 51 a. The recessed portion 52 is located in the center of the waste liquid collection unit 50 in the direction along the X axis. This allows the waste liquid from the flat portion 51 a to easily flow into the recessed portion 52.
The waste liquid recovery unit 50 recovers waste liquid generated during borderless printing as waste liquid. Furthermore, waste liquid discharged during cleaning by the maintenance unit 40 and waste liquid discharged during flushing can also be recovered via the cap 41.

The waste liquid collection unit 50 has a discharge unit 55 that discharges the collected waste liquid into the waste liquid container 60. In this embodiment, the discharge unit 55 protrudes in the -Y direction and is provided with a groove 56 through which the waste liquid flows. The groove 56 has an elongated recess along the Y axis. The outer shape of the discharge unit 55 gradually decreases in dimension along the X axis in the -Y direction. Furthermore, the outer shape of the discharge unit 55 gradually decreases in dimension along the Z axis in the -Y direction. In other words, the outer shape of the discharge unit 55 forms a pointed shape in the -Y direction. The discharge unit 55 protrudes in the -Y direction from the bottom of the recess 52. Furthermore, the groove 56 is inclined downward in the -Y direction. This allows the waste liquid to easily flow from the recess 52 toward the waste liquid container 60.
In this embodiment, the discharge section 55 is disposed in the center of the drainage collection section 50 in the direction along the X axis, but it may be disposed on the +X side or the −X side of the drainage collection section 50.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the -Y direction tip of the discharge portion 55 is inserted into the drainage liquid container 60 via the connection portion 64. Because the external shape of the discharge portion 55 is pointed in the -Y direction, it can be easily inserted into the drainage liquid container 60. By inserting the discharge portion 55 into the drainage liquid container 60 via the connection portion 64, the drainage liquid can be reliably channeled into the drainage liquid container 60. The connection portion 64 is provided on the first surface 101 of the housing 62. In this embodiment, the first surface 101 is the +Y direction end surface of the housing 62 when the drainage liquid container 60 is attached to the device main body 12. In this embodiment, an absorber 63 that absorbs drainage liquid is laid throughout the housing 62 of the drainage liquid container 60, so the grooves 56 of the discharge portion 55 and the absorber 63 easily come into contact with each other. As a result, the drainage liquid discharged through the grooves 56 of the discharge portion 55 is absorbed by the absorber 63.

Next, the configuration of the waste liquid container 60 will be described.
The waste liquid container 60 collects waste liquid generated inside the device body 12 via the waste liquid recovery section 50 .
The waste liquid container 60 is detachable from the recording device 10 (device body 12) which is an apparatus equipped with the discharge unit 55. Because there is a limit to the amount of waste liquid that can be stored in the waste liquid container 60, it is necessary to replace it with a new waste liquid container 60. Therefore, when the amount of waste liquid in the waste liquid container 60 reaches a specified storage amount, the waste liquid container 60 in use is removed from the device body 12 and a new waste liquid container 60 is attached to the device body 12.
The specified amount of drained liquid in the drained liquid container 60 is determined, for example, by the cumulative amount of ink ejected from the recording head 32. When the cumulative amount of ejected ink reaches the specified amount, a message is displayed on the liquid crystal display 23 indicating that the drained liquid container 60 needs to be replaced. In this case, the user removes the rear cover 11 attached to the rear side of the device main body 12 from the device main body 12, as shown in FIG.

This exposes the waste liquid receptacle 60, as shown in Fig. 8. The waste liquid receptacle 60 is disposed while being supported by the bottom plate 70. The waste liquid receptacle 60 has a grip 61 for being held with fingers. The grip 61 is provided on a second surface 102, which is the surface opposite to the first surface 101 on which the connection portion 64 of the waste liquid receptacle 60 is disposed. The user can remove the waste liquid receptacle 60 from the device main body 12 by hooking their fingers on the grip 61 and pulling in the -Y direction.
When attaching the waste liquid container 60 to the device main body 12, the user inserts the waste liquid container 60 into the device main body 12 with the connection portion 64 facing in the +Y direction, and sets the waste liquid container 60 on the bottom plate portion 70. After that, the user attaches the rear cover 11 to the rear side of the device main body 12. When a new waste liquid container 60 is installed, the accumulated amount of ink ejected from the recording head 32 is reset.

Here, the drained liquid receptacle 60 is detachable from the device main body 12. As described above, when the drained liquid receptacle 60 is removed from the discharge part 55 while being gripped by the gripping part 61, there is a possibility that the gripping part 61 will be gripped with the gripping part 61 facing upward. When gripped in this manner, the connection part 64 faces downward, which raises concerns that the drained liquid in the drained liquid receptacle 60 will drip from the connection part 64 due to gravity. If the drained liquid drips from the connection part 64, it may cause various problems, such as soiling the user's body or assets.
Therefore, the waste liquid container 60 of this embodiment has a configuration that prevents the waste liquid from dripping from the connection portion 64 when removed from the device main body 12, in addition to being positioned so that the connection portion 64 is downward, regardless of the position in which the waste liquid container 60 is held.
The detailed configuration of the waste liquid container 60 will be described below.

9, the waste liquid container 60 includes a housing 62 made of a resin material. The housing 62 is a container capable of containing the waste liquid.
Furthermore, a connection portion 64 that connects to the discharge portion 55 is disposed in a part of the housing 62 of the waste liquid container 60. The connection portion 64 is provided on a first surface 101, which is the end surface in the +Y direction of the housing 62. In this embodiment, the connection portion 64 has an opening (through-hole), and the waste liquid collected in the waste liquid collection portion 50 is introduced into the housing 62 via the connection portion 64.
Furthermore, the connection portion 64 is provided with a lid portion 201 .
The connecting portion 64 of this embodiment is disposed at the center in the direction along the X-axis of the first surface 101. Note that the connecting portion 64 does not have to be disposed at the center in the direction along the X-axis of the first surface 101.

In addition, in this embodiment, an absorbent body 63 is disposed inside the housing 62. The absorbent body 63 is a member that absorbs waste liquid, and is, for example, a nonwoven fabric or sponge material. The absorbent body 63 is spread throughout the entire interior of the housing 62. Therefore, in this embodiment, the waste liquid collected by the waste liquid collection unit 50 is introduced into the housing 62 via the connection part 64, and the introduced waste liquid is absorbed and held by the absorbent body 63. By holding the waste liquid, it is possible to more effectively prevent the waste liquid from dripping.

As shown in Figure 10A, the waste liquid container 60 has a lid 201 that can be displaced between a closed state that covers the connection portion 64 and an open state that opens the connection portion 64. The lid 201 can be in an open state (Figure 10B) when the housing 62 is attached to the device main body 12, and in a closed state (Figure 10C) when the housing 62 is detached from the device main body 12.

In this embodiment, the lid portion 201 is rotatably attached to the connection portion 64. Specifically, it comprises a plate-shaped opening/closing body 202 and a shaft 203 that can rotate the opening/closing body 202. The opening/closing body 202 is approximately the same size as the opening of the connection portion 64. The shaft 203 is located at the -Z direction end of the opening/closing body 202 and extends in the direction along the X axis. The opening/closing body 202 can be opened and closed around the shaft 203. This allows it to be displaced between an open state and a closed state with a simple configuration.

As shown in Figure 10B, when the drainage container 60 with the lid 201 in the closed state is attached to the device body 12, the discharge section 55 presses the opening/closing body 202 of the lid 201 in the -Y direction. This causes the opening/closing body 202 to rotate around the axis 203, and the lid 201 opens.

10C , when the waste liquid container 60 is removed from the device main body 12 and the first surface 101 faces downward, the lid 201 is in the closed state. A weight 204 is provided on the side of the opening/closing body 202 opposite the shaft 203. The weight 204 is thicker than other parts of the opening/closing body 202. This promotes a rotational force around the shaft 203 by the weight 204, allowing the lid 201 to smoothly assume the closed state.
That is, in this embodiment, the cover 201 is displaced from the open state to the closed state by its own weight. This eliminates the need for a special configuration for displacing the cover 201, thereby simplifying the configuration.
In addition, during the process of changing from the open state to the closed state, the -Z direction end of the opening/closing body 202 abuts against a convex portion 205 provided inside the housing 62, thereby restricting the rotational movement of the opening/closing body 202 and maintaining the closed state.

As shown in FIG. 11, the housing 62 also has a third surface 103 that intersects with the first surface 101. When the housing 62 is placed on the device main body 12 with the third surface 103 facing downward, the inside of the third surface 103 slopes downward in the direction (-Y direction) away from the connection position between the first surface 101 and the third surface 103. As a result, the connection portion 64 faces upward compared to other parts, so when the drained liquid container 60 is placed, the connection portion 64 does not face downward, preventing drained liquid from flowing toward the connection portion 64.

In this embodiment, the third surface 103 is a flat surface, and a protrusion 130 is provided on the third surface 103, closer to the first surface 101 than the center. Specifically, a downwardly convex protrusion 130 is provided at the +Y direction end of the third surface 103. When the waste liquid container 60 is attached to the device main body 12, the top surface of the protrusion 130 abuts against the bottom plate 70. This causes the waste liquid container 60 to tilt downward in the -Y direction, preventing the waste liquid from flowing toward the connection portion 64. The waste liquid container 60 may also be placed on a desk or floor with the protrusion 130 facing downward. In this case, the housing 62 tilts downward from the first surface 101 toward the second surface 102, preventing the waste liquid from flowing toward the connection portion 64.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the lid portion 201 is provided on the connection portion 64 , so that the drainage liquid can be prevented from dripping from the connection portion 64 .
Furthermore, the lid 201 is closed when the connection portion 64, from which the drained liquid may drip, faces downward, thereby preventing the drained liquid from dripping. Note that "facing downward" does not only mean facing directly downward, but also means a state in which a downward component is included. Furthermore, the closed state does not necessarily mean that the connection portion 64 is completely closed, but may mean that at least a portion of the connection portion 64 is closed.
In this embodiment, a torsion spring may be disposed on the shaft 203 to bias the opening/closing body 202 toward the closed state. In this case, when the discharge portion 55 is connected to the connection portion 64, the discharge portion 55 displaces the lid portion 201 from the closed state to the open state against the biasing force of the torsion spring. Furthermore, when the discharge portion 55 and the connection portion 64 are separated, the lid portion 201 is displaced from the open state to the closed state by the biasing force of the torsion spring. This configuration also allows the lid portion 201 to be displaced with a simple configuration.

2. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.
In this embodiment, a configuration of a waste liquid container 60A in which a lid portion 211 is provided on a connection portion 64 will be described.
12A and 12B , the waste liquid container 60A includes a lid 211 that can be displaced between a closed state that covers the connection portion 64 and an open state that opens the connection portion 64. The lid 211 is in the open state when the housing 62 is attached to the device body 12, and can be in the closed state when the housing 62 is detached from the device body 12.

The lid portion 211 is an elastic body that covers the connection portion 64. Slits 212 are formed in this elastic body. The slits 212 are cuts that extend from the center point 212a of the lid portion 211 toward the outer periphery of the lid portion 211. Multiple slits 212 are formed from the center point 212a.

The lid portion 211 is elastic and is therefore biased toward the closed state. When the waste liquid container 60A with the lid portion 211 in the closed state is attached to the device main body 12 (the discharge portion 55 connects to the connection portion 64), the discharge portion 55 presses the lid portion 211 in the -Y direction against the biasing force of the lid portion 211. This causes the lid portion 211 to deform and change from the closed state to the open state. This eliminates the need for a special structure to control the opening and closing of the lid portion 211, simplifying the configuration.

Then, when the drainage container 60A is removed from the device main body 12, the lid portion 211 assumes a closed state. That is, the urging force of the elastic body of the lid portion 211 causes it to move from the open state to the closed state in conjunction with the movement of the discharge portion 55.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the waste liquid container 60A is removed from the device main body 12, the cover portion 211 is always in the closed state, so that dripping of the waste liquid from the connection portion 64 can be prevented.
The lid portion 211 of this embodiment may be configured in combination with the pivotable lid portion 201 of the first embodiment. Specifically, the lid portion 211 is disposed on the outer side of the pivotable lid portion 201. This further prevents the drainage liquid from dripping.

3. Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.
In this embodiment, a configuration of a waste liquid container 60B in which a lid portion 221 is provided on a connection portion 64 will be described.
13A and 13B, the waste liquid container 60B includes a lid 221 that can be displaced between a closed state that covers the connection portion 64 and an open state that opens the connection portion 64. The lid 221 can be in the open state (FIG. 13C) when the housing 62 is attached to the device body 12, and in the closed state when the housing 62 is detached from the device body 12.

In this embodiment, the first surface 101 of the waste liquid container 60B becomes the upper surface of the housing 62 when the housing 62 is attached to the device main body 12. In other words, the connection portion 64 is located on the first surface 101, which becomes the upper surface.

In this embodiment, the lid portion 221 is rotatably attached to the connection portion 64. Specifically, it comprises a plate-shaped opening/closing body 222 and a shaft 223 that can rotate the opening/closing body 222. The opening/closing body 222 is approximately the same size as the opening of the connection portion 64. The shaft 223 is located at the -Y direction end of the opening/closing body 222 and extends in the direction along the X axis. The opening/closing body 222 can be opened and closed around the shaft 223. This allows it to be displaced between an open state and a closed state with a simple configuration.

As shown in Figure 13C, when the waste liquid container 60B with the lid 221 in the closed state is attached to the device main body 12, the tip of the discharge portion 55 abuts against the lower end of the opening/closing body 222 in the +Y direction. This causes the +Y direction end of the opening/closing body 222 to move upward around the axis 223, and the lid 221 enters the open state. In other words, when the discharge portion 55 is connected to the connection portion 64, the discharge portion 55 displaces the lid 221 from the closed state to the open state against the weight of the lid 221. This allows the lid 221 to be opened and closed with a simple configuration.

As shown in Figures 13A and 13B, when the waste liquid container 60B is removed from the device main body 12, the lid 221 is in the closed state. Specifically, the lower end of the opening/closing body 222 in the +Y direction abuts against the abutment 224, which is located at the lower end of the opening/closing body 222 in the +Y direction, thereby maintaining the closed state of the opening/closing body 222. In other words, in this embodiment, the weight of the lid 221 causes it to move from the open state to the closed state. This eliminates the need for a special configuration for this movement, simplifying the configuration.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing the connection part 64 on the top surface of the drainage liquid container 60B, it becomes difficult for the user to point the connection part 64 downward when removing the drainage liquid container 60B, and this prevents drainage liquid from dripping from the connection part 64.

In this embodiment, a torsion spring may be disposed on the shaft 223 to bias the opening/closing body 222 toward the contact portion 224. In this case, when the discharge portion 55 is connected to the connection portion 64, the discharge portion 55 displaces the lid portion 221 from the closed state to the open state against the biasing force of the torsion spring. Furthermore, when the discharge portion 55 and the connection portion 64 are separated, the lid portion 221 is displaced from the open state to the closed state by the biasing force of the torsion spring. This also allows the lid portion 221 to be displaced with a simple configuration.

4. Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.
In the waste liquid container 60C of this embodiment, the shape of the first surface 101 of the housing 62 is different. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B , the first surface 101 of the housing 62 of this embodiment has a first portion 111 on which the connection portion 64 and the lid portion 201 are provided, and a second portion 112 located in front of the first portion 111 in a plan view from the first surface 101 side. That is, the first portion 111 is located in a recessed portion that is recessed relative to the second portion 112, and the second portion 112 is formed in a convex shape that protrudes relative to the first portion 111. In this embodiment, the second portion 112 is located in the +X direction and the −X direction of the connection portion 64. As a result, even if the connection portion 64 is held facing downward, the waste liquid in the housing 62 flows toward the second portion 112, which is located lower than the connection portion 64, preventing the waste liquid from dripping from the connection portion 64.

Furthermore, the first surface 101 has a third portion 113 that connects the first portion 111 and the second portion 112 at an incline. Specifically, when the third surface 103 of the housing 62 is positioned upward and the first surface 101 is positioned downward, the third portion 113 has an inclined surface that slopes downward from the first portion 111 toward the second portion 112. This allows the drained liquid to flow smoothly from the first portion 111 toward the second portion 112.
The third portion 113 may have a shape that connects the first portion 111 and the second portion 112 at a right angle.

Furthermore, the drainage liquid container 60C has a shape that makes it difficult to place (stand upright) on, for example, a desk or floor surface with the connection portion 64 facing downward. Specifically, the second portion 112 has a rounded shape. In this embodiment, when the drainage liquid container 60C is viewed in the +X direction, the second portion 112 has a curved surface that protrudes in the +Y direction. This makes it impossible to place the drainage liquid container 60C with the first surface 101 facing downward. Therefore, since the connection portion 64 is not placed facing downward, when the drainage liquid container 60C is placed, the connection portion 64 is not facing downward, preventing drainage liquid from dripping from the connection portion 64.

As shown in FIG. 15 , the absorbent body 63 is arranged in the housing 62 in a first region 121 facing the connection portion 64 and a second region 122 located farther away from the connection portion 64 than the first region 121. The absorbent body 63 is configured so that the liquid retention capacity of the absorbent body 63 in the first region 121 is smaller than the liquid retention capacity of the absorbent body 63 in the second region 122. The first region 121 includes a region facing the first portion 111, and the second region 122 includes regions facing the second portion 112 and the third portion 113. This increases the fluidity of drained liquid in the first region 121, facilitating the flow of drained liquid from the first region 121 to the second region 122.

The liquid retention capacity of the absorbent body 63 is determined by the bubble density of the absorbent body 63. Specifically, the bubble density of the absorbent body 63 in the first region 121 is set to be lower than the bubble density of the absorbent body 63 in the second region 122. As a result, the lower bubble density in the first region 121 promotes the flow of drained liquid from the first region 121 to the second region 122 due to capillary force.

In this embodiment, the absorbent bodies 63 are arranged in the first region 121 as a first absorbent body 63a and in the second region 122 as a second absorbent body 63b. The foam density of the first absorbent body 63a is lower than that of the second absorbent body 63b. By arranging multiple absorbents 63 (first absorbent body 63a, second absorbent body 63b) with different foam densities, it is possible to easily achieve differences in foam density between regions. Another absorbent body may be arranged between the first absorbent body 63a and the second absorbent body 63b. In this case, the foam density of the another absorbent body is higher than that of the first absorbent body 63a and lower than that of the second absorbent body 63b. This also allows drainage liquid to flow from the first region 121 toward the second region 122.

Next, the operation and effect of the waste liquid container 60C when it is removed from the device main body 12 will be described.
8 , when removing the waste liquid receptacle 60C from the device main body 12, the user places their fingers on the grip portion 61 and pulls the waste liquid receptacle 60C attached to the device main body 12 in the −Y direction. This moves the waste liquid receptacle 60C in the −Y direction, disengages the discharge portion 55 from the connection portion 64, and removes the waste liquid receptacle 60C from the device main body 12.

Here, when a user carries the drainage liquid container 60C while holding the grip portion 61, if the drainage liquid container 60C assumes a first position in which the grip portion 61 faces upward and the connection portion 64 faces downward, there is a concern that the drainage liquid inside the housing 62 may drip from the connection portion 64 in the direction of gravity. Note that the first position is a position in which the connection portion 64 is not limited to facing the direction of gravity, but also includes a downward component.

However, according to this embodiment, when the drained liquid container 60C is in the first position, the second portion 112 is positioned lower than the first portion 111 on which the connection portion 64 is provided, and therefore the drained liquid within the housing 62 moves from the first portion 111 to the second portion 112. This makes it possible to prevent the drained liquid from dripping from the connection portion 64.

In addition, the third portion 113 connects the first portion 111 and the second portion 112 at an angle, allowing the drained liquid to move smoothly from the first portion 111 to the second portion 112, i.e., from the first region 121 to the second region 122.

In addition, the absorbent body 63 (first absorbent body 63a, second absorbent body 63b) is disposed within the housing 62, which allows the drained liquid to move smoothly from the first region 121 to the second region 122, and by absorbing and retaining the drained liquid introduced via the connection part 64, it is possible to prevent the drained liquid from dripping from the connection part 64.

Furthermore, because the second portion 112 of the drainage liquid container 60C is rounded, it is difficult to place the drainage liquid container 60C with the first surface 101 facing downward. Therefore, the connection portion 64 is not placed facing downward, and when the drainage liquid container 60C is placed, the connection portion 64 is not positioned facing downward, which prevents drainage liquid from dripping from the connection portion 64.

5. Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.
In the waste liquid container 60C of the fourth embodiment, the second portion 112 has a rounded shape, but is not limited to this. The second portion 112 of the waste liquid container 60D of the present embodiment has an inclined surface so that it is difficult to place (stand) on a desk or floor.
16A , when the waste liquid container 60D is viewed in the +X direction, the second portion 112 has an inclined surface that slopes from the −Z direction end toward the +Z direction end. This makes it impossible to place the container with the first surface 101 facing downward. Therefore, since the container is not placed with the connecting portion 64 facing downward, when the waste liquid container 60D is placed, the connecting portion 64 does not face downward, and this prevents the waste liquid from dripping from the connecting portion 64.
16B, the second portion 112 may have two inclined surfaces that incline toward the +Y direction from the −Z direction end and the +Z direction end of the second portion 112 so that the second portion 112 protrudes in the +Y direction. In this way, the same effect can be obtained.

6. Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.
In the above embodiment, the protrusion 130 is provided on the third surface 103, but this is not limiting. As shown in Fig. 17 , the waste liquid container 60E of this embodiment has an inclined surface 131 that slopes downward from the +Y direction end toward the -Y direction inside the housing 62. This makes the inside of the third surface 103 slope downward, making it possible to prevent the waste liquid from flowing toward the connection portion 64.
Note that the waste liquid container 60E of the present embodiment is configured with an inclined surface 131 that slopes downward from the +Y-direction end toward the −Y-direction, and a horizontal surface 132 that is provided in the −Y-direction from the −Y-direction end of the inclined surface 131, but for example, the horizontal surface 132 may be omitted, and the inclined surface 131 may be formed up to the −Y-direction end inside the housing 62. Also, a configuration may be used in which recesses are formed that slope downward from the first surface 101 side and the third surface 103 side toward the center.

In the first to sixth embodiments, a lyophilic agent may be applied to the periphery of the connection portion 64 (opening) on the first surface 101 of the housing 62 and to the outer surfaces and peripheries of the lid portions 201, 211, and 221. Alternatively, a lyophilic treatment may be performed. In this way, the drained liquid seeping out from the connection portion 64 will wet and spread over the first surface 101, making it possible to easily prevent the drained liquid from forming droplets and dripping down.

Furthermore, the shape of the grip portion 61 in the first to sixth embodiments is not limited. For example, it may be a through-hole, an uneven portion, a protrusion, a depression, etc. Furthermore, it is sufficient that at least a portion of the second surface 102 is formed in a shape that allows for gripping.

Furthermore, while the waste liquid container 60 in the above embodiment has been described as being configured to contain waste liquid generated during borderless printing or maintenance, it is not limited to this. For example, the waste liquid container 60 may be an ink cartridge or the like that can contain usable waste liquid (e.g., ink).

10... Recording device, 11... Rear cover, 12... Device body, 20... Operation unit, 25... Ink supply unit, 26... Ink tank, 30... Carriage, 32... Recording head, 33... Guide rail, 34... Platen, 35... Through hole, 40... Maintenance unit, 41... Cap, 50... Drainage collection unit, 55... Discharge unit, 56... Groove, 60, 60A, 60B, 60C, 60D, 60E... Drainage container, 61... Grip, 62... Housing, 63... Absorber, 63a... First absorber, 63b... Second absorber, 64...connection portion, 70...bottom plate portion, 101...first surface, 102...second surface, 103...third surface, 111...first portion, 112...second portion, 113...third portion, 121...first region, 122...second region, 130...protrusion, 131...inclined surface, 201...lid portion, 202...opening/closing body, 203...axis, 204...weight portion, 205...convex portion, 211...lid portion, 212...slit, 212a...center point, 221...lid portion, 222...opening/closing body, 223...axis, 224...contact portion, P...medium.

Claims (22)

A waste liquid container configured to be detachable from a device having a discharge part that discharges waste liquid, and capable of storing waste liquid discharged from the discharge part,
a housing for containing the waste fluid;
a connection portion provided on a first surface of the housing and connected to the discharge portion;
a cover portion that is displaceable between a closed state that covers the connection portion and an open state that opens the connection portion;
Equipped with
the cover is capable of taking the open state when the housing is attached to the device and the closed state when the housing is detached from the device;
the housing has a third surface that intersects with the first surface,
When the device is removed and the third surface faces downward , the inside of the third surface is
The waste liquid container has a downward slope in a direction away from a connection position between the first surface and the third surface. The waste liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the lid portion is in the closed state when the housing is removed from the device and the first surface faces downward. The waste liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the lid portion is in the closed state when the housing is removed from the device. The waste liquid container according to claim 3 , wherein the lid portion is biased toward the closed state and is displaced from the open state to the closed state by the biasing force. A waste liquid container configured to be detachable from a device having a discharge part that discharges waste liquid, and capable of storing waste liquid discharged from the discharge part,
a housing for containing the waste fluid;
a connection portion provided on a first surface of the housing and connected to the discharge portion;
a cover portion that is displaceable between a closed state that covers the connection portion and an open state that opens the connection portion;
Equipped with
the cover is capable of taking the open state when the housing is attached to the device and the closed state when the housing is detached from the device;
the cover assumes the closed state when the housing is removed from the device;
The cover is biased toward the closed state, and is displaced from the open state in which the cover is positioned outside the housing to the closed state by the biasing force.
A drainage container characterized by: 6. The waste liquid container according to claim 4, wherein when the discharge portion is connected to the connection portion, the lid portion is displaced from the closed state to the open state against the biasing force. 6. The waste liquid container according to claim 4, wherein when the discharge portion is connected to the connection portion, the discharge portion displaces the lid portion from the closed state to the open state against the biasing force. 4. The waste liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the lid portion is displaced from the open state to the closed state by its own weight. A waste liquid container configured to be detachable from a device having a discharge part that discharges waste liquid, and capable of storing waste liquid discharged from the discharge part,
a housing for containing the waste fluid;
a connection portion provided on a first surface of the housing and connected to the discharge portion;
a cover portion that is displaceable between a closed state that covers the connection portion and an open state that opens the connection portion;
Equipped with
the cover is capable of taking the open state when the housing is attached to the device and the closed state when the housing is detached from the device;
The waste liquid container, wherein the lid portion is displaced from the open state to the closed state by the weight of the lid portion. 10. The waste liquid container according to claim 8, wherein when the discharge part is connected to the connection part, the discharge part displaces the lid part from the closed state to the open state against its own weight. the housing has a third surface that intersects with the first surface,
The waste liquid container described in claim 5 or claim 9, characterized in that when placed with the third surface facing downward, the inside of the third surface slopes downward in a direction away from the connection position between the first surface and the third surface. The waste liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the lid is rotatably attached to the connecting portion. The cover is an elastic body that covers the connection portion, and a slit is provided in the elastic body.
The waste liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The waste liquid container according to claim 1 , further comprising a grip portion on a second surface of the housing that is different from the first surface. The waste liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the first surface is an upper surface of the housing when the housing is attached to the device. The drainage container according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the first surface has a first portion in which the connection portion is provided and a second portion that is in front of the first portion when viewed in a plane from the first surface side. 17. The waste liquid container according to claim 1, wherein a tip of the discharge part is inserted into the housing when the housing is attached to the device. The waste liquid container according to claim 1 , further comprising an absorber provided in the housing for absorbing the waste liquid. The drainage container of claim 18, characterized in that the liquid retention capacity of the absorbent body in a first region facing the connection portion is smaller than the liquid retention capacity of a second region located at a position farther away from the connection portion than the first region. 20. The waste liquid container according to claim 18 or 19, wherein a tip of the discharge portion contacts the absorber when the housing is attached to the device. 21. A recording device configured so that the waste liquid container according to claim 1 can be detachably attached,
a recording unit that discharges liquid onto a medium to perform recording;
The recording apparatus, wherein the waste liquid container stores, as waste liquid, liquid ejected from the recording unit to the outside of the edge of the medium during recording by the recording unit. 21. A recording device configured so that the waste liquid container according to claim 1 can be detachably attached,
a recording unit that discharges liquid onto a medium to perform recording;
The recording apparatus, wherein the waste liquid container stores waste liquid generated during maintenance for keeping the recording unit in a normal state.