Patent ID: 8770716
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a recording head configured to eject ink droplets through a nozzle onto a recording medium; a plurality of replaceable ink cartridges configured to contain plural respective inks to be supplied to the recording head; a single replaceable waste-ink tank configured to store plural different color waste inks from the plural inks ejected or suctioned from the recording head; a cartridge mounting portion provided on a front side of the image forming apparatus, and configured to accommodate the ink cartridges, the cartridge mounting portion including a first opening through which any one or more of the plurality of ink cartridges is inserted from the front side of the image forming apparatus; a tank mounting portion provided adjacent to the cartridge mounting portion, on the front side of the image forming apparatus, and configured to accommodate the single replaceable waste-ink tank, the tank mounting portion including a second opening through which the single waste-ink tank is inserted from the front side of the image forming apparatus; a bracket plate to separate the cartridge mounting portion from the tank mounting portion in a vertical direction with a gap, the cartridge mounting portion housing the plurality of ink cartridges being above the bracket plate; and an openably closable cartridge cover disposed on the front side of the image forming apparatus, and configured to cover both the first opening and the second opening and to cover all of the single waste-ink tank and plurality of ink cartridges; wherein the cartridge mounting portion and the tank mounting portion are positioned on the front side of the image forming apparatus and are arranged vertically adjacent to each other, the plurality of ink cartridges arc mounted above the single waste-ink tank, and in a state in which the single waste-ink tank is mounted in the tank mounting portion and the plurality of ink cartridges are mounted in the cartridge mounting portion, the single waste-ink tank is separated from the plurality of ink cartridges by the gap in the vertical direction.