Waste liquid reservoir and liquid ejecting apparatus

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid onto a medium, a mounting portion on which a liquid collection container including an absorber that absorbs liquid is removably mounted, a liquid receiving portion configured to receive the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head, and a relay portion located in a region communicating with the liquid receiving portion. The relay portion is located at a position in contact with the absorber of the liquid collection container mounted in the mounting portion.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a waste liquid reservoir that stores waste liquid, and a liquid ejecting apparatus in which the waste liquid reservoir is mounted.

2. Related Art

Examples of existing liquid ejecting apparatuses include an ink jet printer configured to perform borderless printing by ejecting ink droplets through nozzles provided in a liquid ejecting head onto a sheet, so as to apply the ink droplets all over the sheet without leaving a margin. When such borderless printing is performed, groove holes are formed in a platen supporting the sheet and a waste liquid tray is provided under the platen, so as to receive the ink droplets that have protruded from the edge of the sheet into an absorber located in the groove hole and introduce the ink received by the absorber into the waste liquid tray, for example as disclosed in JP-A-2004-9700.

The waste liquid can be properly introduced into the waste liquid tray by placing an ink absorber in the waste liquid tray and keeping the absorber in the groove hole in contact with the ink. However, in particular when the waste liquid tray is removably mounted, the absorber is displaced by the removal and mounting of the waste liquid tray, which disables the absorber in the groove hole from contacting the ink absorber of the newly mounted waste liquid tray.

The mentioned drawback is incidental, not only to printers that eject ink for printing, but generally to liquid ejecting apparatuses in which a liquid collection container for collecting ejected liquid is removably mounted.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus configured to properly introduce liquid into a liquid collection container removably mounted in the liquid ejecting apparatus.

Hereunder, configurations of the liquid ejecting apparatus and advantageous effects thereby provided will be described.

In an aspect, the invention provides a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid onto a medium, a mounting portion on which a liquid collection container including an absorber that absorbs liquid is removably mounted, a liquid receiving portion configured to receive the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head, and a relay portion located in a region communicating with the liquid receiving portion. The relay portion is located at a position in contact with the absorber of the liquid collection container mounted in the mounting portion.

In the foregoing configuration, the relay portion is located in the region communicating with the liquid receiving portion. Therefore, the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion can be transferred to the relay portion. In addition, the relay portion is located at a position in contact with the absorber of the liquid collection container, and therefore the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion can be absorbed by the absorber of the liquid collection container, through the relay portion. Consequently, the liquid can be properly introduced into the liquid collection container which is removably mounted.

The liquid ejecting apparatus may further include a liquid absorber that absorbs the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion, and the liquid absorber may include a main body located in the liquid receiving portion and a liquid guide portion extending from the main body. The relay portion may be located in contact with the liquid guide portion.

With the mentioned configuration, the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion can be prevented from splashing around, because the main body of the liquid absorber is accommodated in the liquid receiving portion. In addition, the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion can be transferred to the relay portion through the liquid guide portion extending from the main body of the liquid absorber, while suppressing the splashing of the liquid.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, at least a portion in contact with the absorber and a portion in contact with the liquid absorber in the relay portion may be formed by an osmotic transfer material capable of absorbing liquid utilizing capillary force.

With the mentioned configuration, the liquid absorbed into the liquid absorber in the liquid receiving portion can be transferred toward the liquid collection container with the capillary force of the osmotic transfer material provided in the relay portion. In addition, causing the osmotic transfer material to absorb the liquid enables prevention of the splashing of the liquid, in the process of introducing the liquid into the liquid collection container.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the relay portion may be located at a position subjected to pressing force of the absorber, by being set in contact with the absorber of the liquid collection container mounted in the mounting portion.

Setting thus the relay portion at the position subjected to the pressure of the absorber assures that the relay portion and the absorber make contact with each other, even though the position of the relay portion or the absorber is shifted owing to a production error or deformation originating from the liquid absorption.

The liquid ejecting apparatus may further include a medium support unit located in a region onto which the liquid ejecting head ejects the liquid, and the medium support unit may include the liquid receiving portion and a support projection protruding with respect to the liquid receiving portion, so as to support the medium.

With the mentioned configuration, since the medium support unit includes the liquid receiving portion and the support projection, the liquid that has protruded from the medium supported by the support projection can be received by the liquid receiving portion.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the relay portion may include a rotatable roller located such that an outer circumferential surface thereof protrudes into inside the mounting portion.

With the mentioned configuration, since the outer circumferential surface of the roller of the relay portion protrudes into inside the mounting portion, bringing the roller into contact with the absorber in the liquid collection container mounted in the mounting portion allows the liquid to be introduced into the liquid collection container through the relay portion.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid collection container may be mounted in the mounting portion by being moved in a mounting direction, and an axial direction of a rotation shaft of the roller may be oriented so as to intersect the mounting direction.

With the mentioned configuration, when the liquid collection container is mounted in the mounting portion, the roller having the rotation shaft oriented so as to intersect the mounting direction of the liquid collection container rotates, thereby reducing sliding resistance between the relay portion and the absorber. Therefore, the relay portion can be brought into contact with the absorber without disturbing the mounting operation of the liquid collection container.

In another aspect, the invention provides a waste liquid reservoir to be removably mounted in a mounting chamber in a liquid ejecting apparatus that includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid, a waste liquid receiving portion that receives the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head as waste liquid, a discharge unit that discharges the liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head as waste liquid, a substrate connection unit, and the mounting chamber accommodating therein the discharge unit and the substrate connection unit. The waste liquid reservoir includes a waste liquid storage container including a sidewall and a bottom plate defining a waste liquid storage chamber that stores the waste liquid, the waste liquid storage chamber including a waste liquid inlet, located in a ceiling portion of the waste liquid storage chamber and opened toward an insertion direction so as to allow the waste liquid received by the waste liquid receiving portion to be introduced, when the waste liquid reservoir enters the mounting chamber by being moved in the insertion direction, a waste liquid introduction port to be connected to the discharge unit by being moved in the mounting chamber in a connection direction different from the insertion direction, and a circuit board including a connection terminal to be electrically connected to the substrate connection unit by being moved in the connection direction in the mounting chamber. The waste liquid introduction port is located in a front wall of the waste liquid storage container intersecting the sidewall and the bottom plate, and the connection terminal is located in the sidewall of the waste liquid storage container different from the front wall and the ceiling portion.

With the mentioned configuration, the connection terminal of the circuit board is located in the sidewall of the waste liquid storage container, different from the ceiling portion where the waste liquid inlet is provided and the front wall where the waste liquid introduction port is provided. Therefore, the waste liquid can be prevented from sticking to the connection terminal.

In the waste liquid reservoir, the waste liquid storage container may include a plurality of the waste liquid inlets aligned in the connection direction.

Aligning thus the plurality of waste liquid inlets in the connection direction allows the waste liquid to be evenly stored in the waste liquid storage container.

In the waste liquid reservoir, the mounting chamber may include a detent portion that detains the waste liquid storage container, the waste liquid storage container may include an engaging portion to be engaged with the detent portion when the waste liquid reservoir moves in the connection direction in the mounting chamber, the engaging portion being located in the ceiling portion, and the connection terminal may be located between the bottom plate and the engaging portion, in the waste liquid storage container.

With the mentioned configuration, the waste liquid storage container is restricted from moving in the connection direction, when the engaging portion is engaged with the detent portion. In addition, even when the waste liquid storage container, restricted from moving, is tilted about the engaging portion, the connection terminal is barely displaced because of being located between the bottom plate and the engaging portion. Therefore, defective contact of the connection terminal with the substrate connection unit can be prevented.

In the waste liquid reservoir, the mounting chamber may include a guide projection projecting in the connection direction, the waste liquid storage container may include a fitting portion to be engaged with the guide projection when the waste liquid reservoir moves in the connection direction, and the waste liquid introduction port may be located between the fitting portion and the engaging portion in a width direction that is an extending direction of the bottom plate and the front wall of the waste liquid storage container.

With the mentioned configuration, the waste liquid storage container is positioned in the mounting chamber by the fitting portion being engaged with the guide projection, when moving in the connection direction. Therefore, locating the waste liquid introduction port between the fitting portion and the engaging portion, which serve as reference for positioning, allows the waste liquid introduction port to be properly connected to the discharge unit.

In the waste liquid reservoir, the mounting chamber may include a guide projection projecting in the connection direction, the waste liquid storage container may include a fitting portion to be engaged with the guide projection when the waste liquid reservoir moves in the connection direction, and the waste liquid introduction port, the connection terminal, and the fitting portion may be located in the waste liquid storage container at positions overlapping an imaginary plane extending along the bottom plate.

With the mentioned configuration, the waste liquid storage container is positioned in the mounting chamber by the fitting portion being engaged with the guide projection, when moving in the connection direction. Therefore, locating the waste liquid introduction port and the connection terminal on the same imaginary plane on which the fitting portion is located allows the waste liquid introduction port and the connection terminal to be properly connected to the discharge unit and the substrate connection unit, respectively.

The waste liquid reservoir may further include a waste liquid transfer portion extending from the waste liquid receiving portion and projecting into the mounting chamber, and an absorber capable of absorbing the waste liquid stored in the waste liquid storage chamber. The absorber may enter into contact with the waste liquid transfer portion by being moved in the connection direction in the mounting chamber.

With the mentioned configuration, bringing the absorber into contact with the waste liquid transfer portion allows the waste liquid received by the waste liquid receiving portion to flow along the waste liquid transfer portion to reach the waste liquid storage chamber, thus to be absorbed by the absorber. Such an arrangement suppresses the waste liquid introduced through the waste liquid inlet from splashing around, thereby preventing the waste liquid from sticking to the connection terminal and the substrate connection unit.

In still another aspect, the invention provides a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid, a waste liquid receiving portion that receives the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head as waste liquid, a discharge unit that discharges the liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head as waste liquid, a substrate connection unit, and a mounting chamber accommodating therein the discharge unit and the substrate connection unit. The waste liquid reservoir is removably mounted in the mounting chamber.

The mentioned configuration suppresses the waste liquid from sticking to the connection terminal and the substrate connection unit of the waste liquid reservoir mounted in the mounting chamber. Therefore, defective connection between the connection terminal and the substrate connection unit, originating from the sticking of the waste liquid, can be prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, embodiments of the liquid ejecting apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. The liquid ejecting apparatus is herein exemplified by an ink jet printer that ejects ink, an example of the liquid, onto a medium such as a paper sheet, to thereby record (print) images thereon.

First Embodiment

Referring toFIG. 1, the liquid ejecting apparatus11includes a casing12of a rectangular block box shape, a medium support unit20that supports a medium S, a liquid ejecting head14having a plurality of nozzles13through which liquid is ejected in a form of droplets onto the medium S, a carriage15carrying the liquid ejecting head14and set to reciprocate, and a guide shaft16that guides the movement of the carriage15. The medium support unit20is located in a region onto which the liquid ejecting head14ejects the liquid.

In this embodiment, a direction in which the liquid ejecting head14ejects the liquid will be defined as ejection direction Z, a direction in which the medium S is transported on the medium support unit20will be defined as transport direction Y, and a forward moving direction of the liquid ejecting head14will be defined as moving direction X. In this embodiment, the ejection direction Z corresponds to a vertical direction (gravity direction), and the ejection direction Z, the transport direction Y, and the moving direction X intersect (preferably orthogonally) each other. The liquid ejecting apparatus11performs printing (recording) by causing the liquid ejecting head14to eject the liquid through the nozzles13, onto the medium S supported by the medium support unit20.

The liquid ejecting apparatus11includes a maintenance mechanism30for maintaining the ejection characteristics of the liquid ejecting head14in a good condition, the maintenance mechanism30being located on an starting end of the liquid ejecting head14in the moving direction X (on the right inFIG. 1).

The medium support unit20and the maintenance mechanism30are aligned along the moving direction X of the liquid ejecting head14. The maintenance mechanism30includes a cap31located on the starting end side in the moving direction X, a wiper32located between the cap31and the medium support unit20in the moving direction X, a suction tube33connected to the cap31, and a suction pump34provided halfway of the suction tube33.

In this embodiment, the position in the travel range of the liquid ejecting head14in the moving direction X where the cap31is located will be referred to as home position of the liquid ejecting head14, and the starting end side in the moving direction X (on the right inFIG. 1) will be referred to as home side. The terminal end side in the moving direction X (on the left inFIG. 1) will be referred to as opposite side of home.

The cap31can be moved by a moving mechanism35between a retracted position spaced from the liquid ejecting head14located at the home position (seeFIG. 2) and a capping position where the cap31is in contact with the liquid ejecting head14so as to surround the nozzles13.

The cap31defines, when located at the capping position, a closed space having openings through the nozzles13. Forming thus the closed space having the openings provided by the nozzles13with the cap31will be referred to as “capping”. When the cap31moves from the capping position to the retracted position, the capping is cancelled.

When the liquid is not ejected, for example while the power is off, the liquid ejecting head14is set at the home position and the cap31is set at the capping position to perform the capping, so as to prevent the nozzles13from drying.

The medium support unit20includes a liquid receiving portion21of a recessed shape and support projections23protruding with respect to the liquid receiving portion21so as to support the medium S. A plurality of support projections23may be aligned both in the moving direction X and in the transport direction Y. It is preferable to place in the liquid receiving portion21a liquid absorber22capable of absorbing the liquid thereby received.

Whereas the liquid ejecting apparatus11according to this embodiment is configured to perform the printing on a plurality of types of medium S different in size (length in the moving direction X and the transport direction Y) from each other, the medium S is transported with a lateral edge running along the opposite side of home irrespective of the size, so that the end portions of the medium S in the moving direction X are located above the liquid absorber22.

Accordingly, in the case of performing borderless printing by applying the liquid droplets all over the medium S without leaving a margin, the liquid that has not landed on the medium S supported by the support projection23after being ejected by the liquid ejecting head14is received by the liquid receiving portion21. In other words, the liquid receiving portion21is configured to receive the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head14but protruding from the medium S, in the case of borderless printing.

The liquid ejecting head14may be configured to perform preliminary dispensing (also referred to as flushing) including dispensing away the liquid unrelated to the printing job, before or after a printing operation, onto the liquid receiving portion21or the cap31located at the retracted position, to remove or prevent clogging of the nozzles13. Thus, the liquid receiving portion21receives the liquid that has protruded from the medium S in the borderless printing, as well as the liquid dispensed away in the flushing operation.

As shown inFIG. 2, the liquid ejecting apparatus11includes a box-shaped mounting portion17in which a liquid collection container40for storing waste liquid is removably mounted, the mounting portion17being located under the medium support unit20, an introduction needle18located at a downstream end of the suction tube33, to introduce the waste liquid into the liquid collection container40, and a relay portion50located in a region communicating with both of the liquid receiving portion21and the mounting portion17.

When the liquid collection container40is inserted in the mounting portion17from a lower position of the casing12, and then horizontally moved in a mounting direction (to the right inFIG. 2) toward the introduction needle18, as indicated by arrows inFIG. 2, a joint portion43is connected to the introduction needle18. At this point, the liquid collection container40is set in the liquid ejecting apparatus11. The position reached by the liquid collection container40by the horizontal movement in the mounting direction, where the introduction needle18is properly inserted in the joint portion43, will be referred to as mounting position of the liquid collection container40in the liquid ejecting apparatus11.

The maintenance mechanism30performs maintenance operations including discharging the liquid from the liquid ejecting head14as waste liquid, in order to keep the ejection characteristics of the liquid ejecting head14in a good condition. For example, the maintenance mechanism30performs suction cleaning, by driving the suction pump34with the cap31set at the capping position, thereby forcibly causing the liquid in the liquid ejecting head14to flow out through the nozzles13.

The liquid ejecting apparatus11is also configured to perform pressure cleaning, by pressurizing the liquid in the liquid ejecting head14so as to cause the liquid to flow out through the nozzles13. The cleaning operations, such as the suction cleaning and the pressure cleaning may be performed during initial loading of filling the flow path as far as the nozzles13with the liquid, or performed in a form of manual cleaning by the user, for example for the purpose of resolving defective ejection originating from the clogging of the nozzles13. In addition, the cleaning may be periodically performed at predetermined intervals in time.

After the cleaning, open suction is performed by driving the suction pump34again with the space inside the cap31opened to the atmosphere, for example with the cap31set at the retracted position, so as to suck the waste liquid remaining in the cap31. The liquid which has flowed out of the liquid ejecting head14as result of the cleaning and the open suction is stored in the liquid collection container40through the suction tube33, as waste liquid containing bubbles and components dissolved in the thickened liquid.

The liquid collection container40includes a storage case41having an opening on one side (upper side in the mounted state), a lid member42attached to the opening of the storage case41, the joint portion43into which the introduction needle18is inserted when the liquid collection container40is mounted, and absorbers44and45capable of absorbing liquid and vertically superposed on each other in the storage case41. The number, the size, and the shape of the absorbers44and45may be modified as desired.

The lid member42includes one or a plurality of insertion holes42a. The absorber44located right under the lid member42includes insertion holes44aformed so as to correspond to the respective insertion holes42a. It is preferable that the joint portion43is located in the vicinity of the bottom portion of the storage case41and in contact with the absorber45located under the absorber44. Here, cutaway portions45amay be formed in a part of the absorber45in the liquid collection container40, and biasing members46(e.g., coil spring) that bias the absorbers44and45toward the relay portion50may be provided in the respective cutaway portions45a.

The medium support unit20includes slots21aformed in the inner bottom portion of the liquid receiving portion21which is recessed, at positions respectively corresponding to the insertion holes42aand44a. The liquid absorber22includes a main body located in the liquid receiving portion21and a plurality of liquid guide portions22aeach extending from the main body through the slot21aand hanging downward in the medium support unit20. It is preferable to locate the liquid guide portion22ain the vicinity of a region in the moving direction X where the liquid protruding from the medium S is received when the borderless printing is performed.

The mounting portion17includes through holes17aformed at positions respectively corresponding to the liquid guide portions22a. The relay portion50is located in the through hole17a, in contact with the liquid guide portion22aextending from the liquid absorber22. Thus, the region where the relay portion50is located communicates with the liquid receiving portion21via the slot21a, and with the inner space of the mounting portion17via the through hole17a.

As show inFIG. 3, the relay portion50includes a roller52having a rotation shaft51, and a sheet53covering the outer circumferential surface of the roller52, and the rotation shaft51of the roller52is rotatably supported by the mounting portion17, with the outer circumferential surface of the roller52covered with the sheet53protruding into the mounting portion17. It is preferable that the sheet53is formed by an osmotic transfer material capable of absorbing liquid utilizing capillary force.

In this case, it is preferable to set the capillary force of the sheet53to be greater than that of the liquid guide portion22aand smaller than that of the absorber44(seeFIG. 2), to thereby cause the liquid to flow, owing to the capillary force, from the liquid guide portion22ato the relay portion50, and then to the absorber44. In addition, it is preferable that the axial direction of the rotation shaft51of the roller52is oriented so as to intersect the mounting direction of the liquid collection container40with respect to the mounting portion17(e.g., orthogonal to the mounting direction).

As shown inFIG. 4, the insertion holes42aand44aof the liquid collection container40are located so as to respectively correspond to the through holes17aof the mounting portion17(such that the openings of the insertion holes42aand44aand the through hole17aare vertically aligned), when the liquid collection container40is mounted therein. Here, it is preferable that the insertion hole42aof the lid member42is longer in the mounting direction than the insertion hole44aof the absorber44.

When the liquid collection container40is inserted in the mounting portion17through the lower portion of the casing12, the portion of the relay portion50protruding into the mounting portion17enters the insertion holes42aand44a. Then when the liquid collection container40is moved horizontally in the mounting direction, the relay portion50climbs upon the absorber44, so as to move out from the insertion hole44a. When the relay portion50climbs upon the absorber44, the roller52rotates about the rotation shaft51to thereby reduce sliding resistance with respect to the absorber44.

When the relay portion50climbs upon the absorber44, the roller52compressively deforms the absorber44via the sheet53, and therefore the relay portion50is subjected to pressing force of the absorber44attempting to restore the shape.

By mounting the liquid collection container40in the mounting portion17through the mentioned process, the relay portion50is located such that the sheet53is in contact with the absorber44of the liquid collection container40mounted in the mounting portion17. In addition, the relay portion50is subjected to the pressing force of the absorber44, compressively deformed and attempting to restore the shape, since the sheet53is in contact with the absorber44of the liquid collection container40mounted in the mounting portion17. Accordingly, it is preferable that at least the portion of the relay portion50in contact with the absorber44and in contact with the liquid absorber22(liquid guide portion22a) are formed by an osmotic transfer material (sheet53) capable of absorbing liquid utilizing capillary force.

Examples of the osmotic transfer material suitable to form the sheet53include a nonwoven fabric formed by a synthetic fiber or cotton, and a paper formed by pulp or a porous metal, a mesh sheet (filter) formed by weaving a synthetic fiber or stainless steel. The roller52may be formed by a resin or a metal, or a porous material formed by a foamed plastic (foamed material), a nonwoven fabric, a metal, or a ceramic. In the case where the roller52is capable of exhibiting sufficient capillary force, the sheet53may be excluded from the relay portion50.

As shown inFIG. 5, the sheet53wound around the outer circumferential surface of the roller52of the relay portion50may preferably include a protruding portion53a, protruding from one of the end portions opposing each other, in the central portion in the axial direction of the rotation shaft51, and a recessed portion53bformed on the other end portion of the sheet53so as to accommodate the protruding portion53a. Such a configuration prevents the sheet53from being caught by the absorber44, when the roller52rotates under the pressure from the absorber44.

The liquid ejecting apparatus11configured as above provides the following advantageous effects.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus11, the liquid droplets that have protruded from the edge of the medium S in the borderless printing, and the liquid dispensed away in the flushing operation are received by the liquid receiving portion21and absorbed by the liquid absorber22, and then absorbed by the sheet53of the relay portion50after being transferred along the liquid guide portion22a. The liquid thus absorbed by the sheet53migrates to the absorber44disposed in contact with the sheet53.

In addition, the waste liquid discharged to the cap31from the liquid ejecting head14, for example in the event of the maintenance work therefor such as cleaning, is driven by the suction pump34so as to be stored in the liquid collection container40through the suction tube33, the introduction needle18, and the joint portion43, thus to be absorbed by the absorber45.

As described above, while the waste liquid flowing down along the liquid guide portion22ais absorbed by the absorber44through the relay portion50, the waste liquid introduced through the joint portion43is absorbed by the absorber45disposed under the absorber44. Therefore, the waste liquid produced inside the transport route and the waste liquid produced outside the transport route can both be efficiently absorbed into the absorbers44and45provided inside the liquid collection container40.

When the liquid collection container40is fully loaded with the waste liquid, the liquid collection container40can be horizontally moved contrary to the mounting direction (to the left inFIG. 2) so as to separate the joint portion43from the introduction needle18, and then moved downward and drawn out from the mounting portion17. Here, when the liquid collection container40is drawn out also, the roller52of the relay portion50is made to rotate by the horizontal movement of the liquid collection container40, and therefore the liquid collection container40can be smoothly moved despite the absorber44being pressed against the relay portion50.

After the liquid collection container40that has been filled is drawn out, an unused liquid collection container40is mounted in the mounting portion17. Since the relay portion50remains protruding into the mounting portion17maintaining the contact with the liquid guide portion22aconnected to the liquid absorber22, even during the removal and mounting of the liquid collection container40, the newly mounted liquid collection container40can also properly enter into contact with the absorber44.

The foregoing embodiment provides the following advantageous effects.

(1) Since the relay portion50is located in the region communicating with the liquid receiving portion21, the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion21can be transferred toward the relay portion50. The relay portion50is disposed at a position in contact with the absorber44in the liquid collection container40, and therefore the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion21can be absorbed through the relay portion50by the absorber44in the liquid collection container40. The mentioned configuration allows the liquid to be properly introduced into the liquid collection container40which is removably mounted.

(2) Locating the main body of the liquid absorber22in the liquid receiving portion21prevents the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion21from splashing around. In addition, the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion21can be transferred toward the relay portion50along the liquid guide portion22aextending from the main body of the liquid absorber22, while suppressing the splashing of the liquid.

(3) The liquid absorbed by the liquid absorber22in the liquid receiving portion21can be transferred toward the liquid collection container40, with the capillary force of the sheet53formed by the osmotic transfer material and provided around the relay portion50. Causing thus the sheet53formed by the osmotic transfer material to absorb the liquid prevents the liquid from splashing around when the liquid is introduced into the liquid collection container40.

(4) Locating the relay portion50so as to be subjected to the pressure of the absorber44assures that the relay portion50and the absorber44make contact with each other, even though the position of the relay portion50or the absorber44is shifted owing to a production error or deformation originating from the liquid absorption.

(5) Since the medium support unit20includes the liquid receiving portion21and the support projection23, the liquid that has protruded from the medium S supported by the support projection23can be received by the liquid receiving portion21.

(6) Since the outer circumferential surface of the roller52of the relay portion50protrudes into inside the mounting portion17, bringing the roller52into contact with the absorber44in the liquid collection container40mounted in the mounting portion17allows the liquid to be introduced into the liquid collection container40through the relay portion50.

(7) When the liquid collection container40is mounted in the mounting portion17, the roller52, having the rotation shaft51oriented so as to intersect the mounting direction of the liquid collection container40, rotates, thereby reducing sliding resistance between the relay portion50and the absorber44. Therefore, the relay portion50can be brought into contact with the absorber44without disturbing the mounting operation of the liquid collection container40.

The foregoing embodiment may be modified as variations provided hereunder. Each of the variations and the embodiment may be combined as desired.

Referring to the variation shown inFIG. 6, the liquid collection container40may be mounted in the mounting portion17by being moved in the mounting direction (to the right as indicated by an arrow inFIG. 6), through an insertion slot12aformed in the sidewall of the casing12of the liquid ejecting apparatus11.

As shown inFIG. 6, a piece of absorber44and a piece of absorber45may be accommodated in the liquid collection container40. Alternatively, a single piece of absorber integrally formed by the absorbers44and45may be accommodated in the liquid collection container40.

As shown inFIG. 6, the biasing member46provided in the liquid collection container40may be a leaf spring. In this case, a space for accommodating the biasing member46may be provided between the inner bottom portion of the storage case41and the absorber45, instead of forming the cutaway portion45ain the absorber45. With such a configuration, the waste liquid introduced through the joint portion43along the space formed between the inner bottom portion of the storage case41and the absorber45can be spread all over the inner bottom portion of the storage case41.

The elastic restoring force of the absorbers44and45compressively deformed by contacting the relay portion50may be exclusively used to apply pressure to the relay portion50, without providing the biasing member46in the liquid collection container40.

As shown inFIG. 6, the relay portion50may include a non-rotating core54and the sheet53wound around the core54, instead of the roller52. In this case, it is preferable to reduce the sliding resistance in the removal and mounting, for example by forming a portion of the core54to be in contact with the absorber44in a curved surface. It is also preferable to form a portion of the core54to be in contact with the liquid guide portion22ain a flat surface, because the flat surface assures that the contact with the liquid guide portion22acan be achieved.

The liquid guide portion22amay be separately formed from the main body of the liquid absorber22, and such liquid guide portion22amay be disposed in contact with the liquid absorber22, so as to transfer the liquid toward the relay portion50from the liquid absorber22, through the liquid guide portion22a.

Instead of providing the sheet53around the relay portion50, grooves may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the roller52by forming, sintering, or cutting, so as to transfer the liquid along the grooves.

Instead of providing the liquid guide portion22ain the liquid absorber22, and extension extending from the relay portion50toward the liquid absorber22may be formed, so as to transfer the liquid from the liquid absorber22to the relay portion50by disposing the extension in contact with the liquid absorber22.

Instead of accommodating the liquid absorber22in the liquid receiving portion21, the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion21may be caused to drop onto the relay portion50through the slot21a.

While introducing the liquid collected through the liquid receiving portion21into the liquid collection container40, the waste liquid collected through the cap31may be introduced into another container.

It is not mandatory to form the liquid receiving portion, configured to receive the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head14, as a part of the medium support unit20. For example when the liquid ejecting apparatus11is not used for the borderless printing, the liquid receiving portion may be provided on the end portion on the opposite side of home with respect to the medium support unit20in the travel range of the liquid ejecting head14, and the flushing may be performed toward the liquid receiving portion. Locating the relay portion50in a region communicating with the liquid receiving portion serving as a flushing box allows the liquid to be introduced through the relay portion50into the liquid collection container40mounted in the mounting portion17.

Second Embodiment

Referring toFIG. 7, a liquid ejecting apparatus211includes a box-shaped casing212, an upper lid213pivotably attached to the casing212, and a front lid214also pivotably attached to the casing212. The upper lid213and the front lid214can each be set in a closing position covering the casing212and an open position shown inFIG. 7, by being made to pivot to a predetermined angle.

When the upper lid213is set to the open position, an insertion slot215through which the medium S is inserted in the casing212is exposed. The upper lid213set to the open position serves as a support member for supporting the medium S about to be inserted through the insertion slot215.

When the front lid214is set to the open position, a discharge port216through which the medium S is discharged from the casing212is exposed. The front lid214set to the open position serves as a support member for supporting the medium S discharged through the discharge port216.

Regarding the casing212, an outer wall in which the insertion slot215is opened will be referred to as upper wall221, an outer wall formed substantially parallel to the upper wall221will be referred to as bottom plate222, an outer wall in which the discharge port216is opened will be referred to as forward wall223, and an outer wall formed substantially parallel to the forward wall223will be referred to as rear wall224. In addition, regarding the casing212, a pair of outer walls intersecting the upper wall221, bottom plate222, forward wall223, and the rear wall224will be referred to as sidewalls225and226. The face of the casing212on the side of the upper wall221may be referred to as top face side, and the face of the casing212on the side of the bottom plate222may be referred to as bottom face side.

On the surface of the upper wall221(top face side), an operation unit217for operating the liquid ejecting apparatus211, and a display unit218for displaying operation results of the operation unit217and operation status of the liquid ejecting apparatus211are provided. In addition, a control unit100that controls the functional units of the liquid ejecting apparatus211is provided on the lower surface of the upper wall221, at a position close to the forward wall223and the sidewall225.

As shown inFIG. 8, the casing212includes therein a support member227having a medium support unit227a, a liquid ejecting head231that ejects the liquid onto the medium S supported by the medium support unit227a, and a carriage233that reciprocates with the liquid ejecting head231mounted thereon. The medium support unit227ais composed of a plurality of projections that support the medium S transported along a transport route extending from the insertion slot215to the discharge port216(indicated by dash-dot-dot lines inFIG. 8). In addition, a guide shaft234that guides the movement of the carriage233is spanned inside the casing212.

The liquid ejecting head231includes a plurality of nozzles232that each eject the liquid in the form of liquid droplets. The liquid ejecting head231alternately makes a forward stroke and a backward stroke, the former being made from a home position, set at a first end portion (right end inFIG. 8) of the casing212in the longitudinal direction of the casing212(left-right direction inFIG. 8), to a second end portion (left end inFIG. 8) in the longitudinal direction, and the latter being made from the second end portion to the home position.

In this embodiment, a direction in which the liquid ejecting head231ejects the liquid will be defined as ejection direction, a direction in which the medium S is transported on the medium support unit227afrom the insertion slot215to the discharge port216will be defined as transport direction, and a forward moving direction of the liquid ejecting head231will be defined as scanning direction. In this embodiment, the ejection direction corresponds to a vertical downward direction (gravity direction).

The support member227includes a receiving recess227bformed so as to recede around the medium support unit227a. It is preferable that a sheet229capable of absorbing liquid is accommodated in the receiving recess227b. The sheet229is formed by a nonwoven fabric or a porous material, and serves to receive the liquid droplets that have protruded from the medium S instead of landing thereon, after being ejected from the liquid ejecting head231to the edge portion of the medium S, in the case of performing the borderless printing without leaving a margin along the edge of the medium S. In other words, the receiving recess227band the sheet229serve as a waste liquid receiving portion230that receives the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head231as waste liquid. Here, the waste liquid received by the waste liquid receiving portion230will be referred to as “ejected waste liquid”

In the casing212, a maintenance mechanism235that performs maintenance work for the liquid ejecting head231is provided close to the home position. The maintenance mechanism235includes a cap236located at a position corresponding to the home position, a suction mechanism238connected to the cap236via the suction tube237, a lifting mechanism239that moves the cap236up and downward, and a wiper240that wipes the liquid ejecting head231.

The lifting mechanism239moves the cap236between the capping position and the retracted position closer to the bottom plate222than is the capping position. When the cap236is set to the capping position when the liquid ejecting head231is at the home position, the cap236defines a closed space in which the nozzles232are open (seeFIG. 18), thereby preventing the nozzles232from drying. Forming thus the closed space having the openings provided by the nozzles232with the cap236will be referred to as “capping”. When the liquid is not ejected, for example while the power is off, the liquid ejecting head231is set at the home position and the cap236is set at the capping position to perform the capping. When the cap236moves from the capping position to the retracted position, the capping is cancelled.

The suction mechanism238is constituted of a suction pump including a tube pump, for example formed by an elastically deformable tube, configured to generate suction force by being pressed by a moving pressing member such as a roller. When the suction mechanism238is activated in the capping state, the closed space is depressurized and negative pressure is generated. Accordingly, suction cleaning, including discharging the liquid from the liquid ejecting head231through the nozzle232, is performed. The suction cleaning is performed, for example when the liquid ejection becomes defective owing to intrusion of a bubble, to correct the defective ejection, as a part of the maintenance work.

The wiper240serves to wipe off foreign matters such as liquid stuck to the liquid ejecting head231, after the liquid ejecting head231ejects the liquid or after the suction cleaning. The maintenance performed by the wiper240to wipe the liquid ejecting head231will be referred to as wiping.

The maintenance work for correcting the defective ejection further includes flushing, in which the liquid ejecting head231dispenses away the liquid droplets toward the cap236set at the retracted position or the waste liquid receiving portion230. Here, the waste liquid dispensed from the liquid ejecting head231as waste liquid in the event of the suction cleaning or the flushing, and discharged by the mechanism238after being received by the cap236, will be referred to as “sucked waste liquid”.

As shown inFIG. 9, the liquid ejecting apparatus211includes, in the bottom portion of the casing212, a mounting chamber241in which a waste liquid reservoir260is to be removably mounted, and a lid219that covers the mounting chamber241. The waste liquid reservoir260includes a waste liquid storage container261for storing both of the ejected waste liquid and the sucked waste liquid. Inside the mounting chamber241, a discharge unit242that discharges the sucked waste liquid, and a substrate connection unit243connected to the control unit100via a non-illustrated signal line are provided.

The waste liquid reservoir260is introduced in the mounting chamber241by being moved in an insertion direction N, and mounted in the liquid ejecting apparatus211by being moved in a connection direction M in the mounting chamber241, different from the insertion direction N. In this embodiment, the insertion direction N represents a direction from the bottom plate222toward the upper wall221, and the connection direction M represents a direction from the sidewall226toward the sidewall225. The waste liquid reservoir260mounted in the liquid ejecting apparatus211is released from the connection by being moved inside the mounting chamber241in a direction opposite to the connection direction M (release direction), and taken out of the mounting chamber241by being moved in a direction opposite to the insertion direction N (removal direction). Preferably, the waste liquid reservoir260may include a handle266athat can be held by the user when moving the waste liquid reservoir260inside the mounting chamber241.

The mounting chamber241may include an insertion guide portion244for guiding the waste liquid reservoir260moving in the insertion direction N, and mounting guide portions245and246each extending in the connection direction M from the end portion of the insertion guide portion244so as to guide the waste liquid reservoir260in the connection direction M. In this case, it is preferable to form, in the waste liquid reservoir260, a first engaging projection268to be engaged with the insertion guide portion244and the mounting guide portion245, and a second engaging projection269to be engaged with the mounting guide portion246.

It is preferable to form the discharge unit242and the substrate connection unit243so as to project into the mounting chamber241along the connection direction M. In addition, it is preferable to form, in the mounting chamber241, a guide projection247so as to project in the connection direction M, to position the waste liquid reservoir260mounted in the mounting chamber241.

It is preferable to form one or a plurality of waste liquid transfer portions248so as to project into the mounting chamber241from the waste liquid receiving portion230(seeFIG. 8). In the case of providing a plurality of waste liquid transfer portions248(four in this embodiment), it is preferable to align the waste liquid transfer portions248in the longitudinal direction of the mounting chamber241(connection direction M in this embodiment).

Referring toFIG. 10, it is preferable to form, in the mounting chamber241, a detent portion249that detains the waste liquid storage container261. The detent portion249may be constituted, for example, of a leaf spring projecting into the mounting chamber241. In this case, the detent portion249may be configured so as to be engaged with the waste liquid storage container261when the waste liquid reservoir260which has entered the mounting chamber241moves in the connection direction M.

As shown inFIG. 11, the mounting chamber241includes a box-shaped storage frame228open toward the bottom face side and located on the bottom face side with respect to the support member227. In addition, a slider250set to slide along the connection direction M is provided between the support member227and the storage frame228. The slider250includes a transfer projection251projecting toward the bottom face side. The transfer projection251may be covered with an absorption sheet253capable of absorbing liquid.

The sheet229includes one or a plurality of extensions229a(four in this embodiment) extending toward the bottom face side. A plurality of the sliders250may be provided at positions respectively corresponding to the extensions229a. The support member227includes through holes227cthrough which the respective extensions229aare passed, and the extensions229aare each formed so as to reach, through the through hole227c, the transfer projection251of the slider250(or the absorption sheet253when the absorption sheet253is provided).

The ejected waste liquid received by the sheet229flows downward along the extension229aand the absorption sheet253(or the transfer projection251when the absorption sheet253is not provided). Accordingly, the extension229aof the sheet229, the absorption sheet253and the transfer projection251constitute the waste liquid transfer portion248. Here, it is preferable to provide an auxiliary member254that presses the extension229aagainst the transfer projection251, to prevent the extension229afrom being separated from the absorption sheet253when the slider250moves (see alsoFIG. 17).

Referring toFIG. 12, it is preferable to bias the slider250in the release direction with a biasing member252, for example formed by a spring. In this case, the slider250may include a first detent portion250ato be engaged with an end portion of the biasing member252, and the storage frame228may include a second detent portion228ato be engaged with the other end portion of the biasing member252. In addition, the storage frame228may include stopper projections228bthat each delimit the movement of the slider250caused by the biasing member252, and the slider250may include lugs250bto be abutted against the respective stopper projections228b.

The storage frame228includes through holes228cthrough which the waste liquid transfer portions248are respectively passed. It is preferable to form the through hole228cso as to extend in the connection direction M, to allow the waste liquid transfer portion248to move together with the slider250.

The configuration of the waste liquid reservoir260will now be described in detail.

As shown inFIG. 13, the waste liquid reservoir260includes a waste liquid introduction port281through which the sucked waste liquid is introduced, and a circuit board282having a connection terminal282a. The circuit board282includes a non-illustrated storage unit for storing information such as a storage amount of the waste liquid.

Marking the moving directions (insertion direction N, connection direction M, and release direction) for the removal and mounting of the waste liquid reservoir260by arrows as shown inFIG. 13toFIG. 15facilitates the handling of the waste liquid reservoir260.

As shown inFIG. 16, the waste liquid storage container261of the waste liquid reservoir260includes a bottom plate262, sidewalls263and264, and a front and a rear wall265and266defining a waste liquid storage chamber261afor storing the waste liquid, and a lid267constituting the ceiling of the waste liquid storage chamber261a. The sidewalls263and264are substantially parallel to each other, and extend in the insertion direction N and the connection direction M.

It is preferable to store the circuit board282in a recess283formed in the sidewall263of the waste liquid storage container261extending in the connection direction M with an opening oriented in the connection direction M. In addition, a guide projection283amay be formed in the recess283so as to extend in the connection direction M. Here, the inner wall of the recess283extending in the connection direction M, on which the circuit board282is attached, constitutes a part of the sidewall263.

The waste liquid introduction port281is formed in the front wall265of the waste liquid storage container261, intersecting the sidewalls263and264and the bottom plate262. The waste liquid introduction port281is composed of, for example, a through hole265aformed in the front wall265, an annular seal member281asurrounding the through hole265a, and an annular member281bthat fixes the seal member281a.

Preferably, the waste liquid reservoir260may include an absorber270capable of absorbing the waste liquid stored in the waste liquid storage chamber261a. It is preferable that the absorber270includes a first absorber270F for absorbing the ejected waste liquid and a second absorber270S for absorbing the sucked waste liquid. In addition, it is preferable to provide a shielding sheet271between the first absorber270F and the second absorber270S, to suppress the migration of the liquid. The size and the number of the absorbers270(270F,270S) may vary depending on the discharge amount of the waste liquid to be absorbed. In this embodiment, for example, four plate-shaped second absorbers270S are sequentially stacked in layers from the side of the bottom plate262.

The waste liquid storage container261may include detent projections261bprojecting into the waste liquid storage chamber261afrom the bottom plate262, and detent projection261cprojecting into the waste liquid storage chamber261afrom the sidewalls263and264and the rear wall266. In this case, cut lines270band270cmay be formed in the second absorbers270S so as to be respectively engaged with the detent projections261band261c, and the second absorbers270S may be placed in the waste liquid storage chamber261aby respectively inserting the detent projections261band261cin the cut lines270band270c, in which case the second absorbers270S can be prevented from being displaced in the waste liquid storage chamber261a. In addition, the shielding sheet271may be cut so as to erect segments271d, and cut lines270dmay be formed in the first absorber270F at positions respectively corresponding to the segments271d, so that the first absorber270F and the shielding sheet271may be placed in the waste liquid storage chamber261a, with the segments271dinserted in the cut lines270d.

Locating the shielding sheet271so as to be supported by the detent projections261band261c, when placing the first absorber270F and the shielding sheet271in the waste liquid storage chamber261a, allows the first absorber270F which has absorbed the waste liquid to be supported by the detent projections261band261c, so as to be prevented from sinking downward owing to the self-weight. In this embodiment, a stepped portion265dis formed on the front wall265of the waste liquid storage container261, so as to support the shielding sheet271also with the stepped portion265d(see alsoFIG. 18).

The lid267constituting the ceiling of the waste liquid storage chamber261aincludes waste liquid inlets267a, having an opening oriented in the insertion direction N so as to allow the ejected waste liquid received by the waste liquid receiving portion230(seeFIG. 12) to be introduced in the waste liquid storage chamber261a, when the waste liquid reservoir260is mounted in the mounting chamber241(seeFIG. 9) by being moved in the insertion direction N (see alsoFIG. 18).

In this embodiment, the waste liquid storage container261includes a plurality of (four) waste liquid inlets267aaligned in the connection direction M. The first absorber270F includes through holes270aformed at positions respectively corresponding to three of the waste liquid inlets267aout of the four. The remaining one of the four waste liquid inlets267ais located at a position corresponding to an end portion of the first absorber270F (leading end in the connection direction M).

Referring toFIG. 17, insertion projections267dthat can be respectively inserted in the cut lines270dof the first absorber270F may be formed on the lid267, and the lid267may be attached with the insertion projections267dinserted in the cut lines270d, in which case the shielding sheet271and the first absorber270F can be prevented from being displaced. In addition, forming protruding portions267bon the lid267in a box shape so as to respectively fit in the through holes270aof the first absorber270F and with an opening oriented in the release direction further assures that the first absorber270F is prevented from being displaced. InFIG. 17, the main body of the sheet229, the support member227, and the storage frame228are not illustrated.

When the waste liquid reservoir260enters the mounting chamber241by moving in the insertion direction N as indicated by dash-dot-dot lines inFIG. 18, the waste liquid transfer portion248projecting into the mounting chamber241enters the box-shaped protruding portion267bformed in the waste liquid reservoir260. Then when the waste liquid reservoir260moves in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber241and reaches the position indicated by solid lines inFIG. 18, the waste liquid transfer portion248comes out through the opening of the protruding portion267band enters the waste liquid inlet267a, thus to contact the first absorber270F.

In other words, the first absorber270F enters into contact with the waste liquid transfer portion248as result of the movement in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber241. Accordingly, when the waste liquid receiving portion230receives the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head231as waste liquid, the ejected waste liquid emigrates along the waste liquid transfer portion248and is stored in the waste liquid reservoir260.

In addition, when the waste liquid reservoir260moves in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber241, the waste liquid introduction port281is connected to the discharge unit242. In other words, the waste liquid introduction port281is connected to the discharge unit242as result of the movement of the waste liquid reservoir260in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber241. Here, a cutaway portion270fmay be formed in the second absorber270S constituting the lower layer, to secure a space around and under the discharge unit242for the waste liquid to flow through, when the discharge unit242is inserted into the waste liquid storage container261.

Referring toFIG. 19, the circuit board282having the connection terminal282ais located inside the recess283formed in the sidewall263of the waste liquid storage container261extending in the connection direction M, and is electrically connected to the substrate connection unit243as result of the movement in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber241. Because of such connection, the information about the waste liquid is transmitted and received between the circuit board282and the control unit100(seeFIG. 9).

It is preferable that the waste liquid storage container261includes an engaging portion289to be engaged with the detent portion249when the waste liquid reservoir260moves in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber241. The engaging portion289is, for example, composed of a protruding portion and a recessed portion formed in the lid267constituting the ceiling of the waste liquid storage chamber261a(see alsoFIG. 20).

It is preferable that the waste liquid storage container261includes a fitting portion287to be engaged with the guide projection247when the waste liquid reservoir260moves in the connection direction M (see alsoFIG. 20). Although the fitting portion287according to this embodiment is a recessed portion formed in the front wall265, a recessed portion, a protruding portion, or a flat portion formed on the bottom plate262, the sidewalls263and264, or the lid267may instead be employed as the fitting portion287.

In the waste liquid storage container261, it is preferable that the waste liquid introduction port281is located between the fitting portion287and the engaging portion289in a width direction W aligned with the direction in which the bottom plate262and the front wall265extend.

Referring toFIG. 20andFIG. 21, it is preferable that, in the waste liquid storage container261, the waste liquid introduction port281, the connection terminal282a, and the fitting portion287are located so as to overlap an imaginary plane P extending parallel to the bottom plate262. In other words, when the direction from the bottom plate262toward the lid267is referred to as height direction, it is preferable to locate the waste liquid introduction port281, the connection terminal282a, and the fitting portion287at the generally same height, and such that the waste liquid introduction port281, the connection terminal282a, and the fitting portion287are aligned in the width direction W in a front view as illustrated inFIG. 21.

In particular, when the guide projection247(seeFIG. 19) is engaged with the fitting portion287which is recessed, via the upper end of the fitting portion287, the position of the waste liquid reservoir260in the height direction is determined by the engagement between the guide projection247and the fitting portion287. Therefore, the position of the waste liquid introduction port281and the connection terminal282acan be correctly determined when the waste liquid reservoir260is mounted.

In addition, locating the connection terminal282abetween the bottom plate262and the engaging portion289in the waste liquid storage container261as shown inFIG. 21is desirable, because the connection terminal282acan be more accurately positioned in the height direction.

It is preferable to form the handle266aso as to project from the rear wall266and to extend from the bottom plate262in the release direction, as shown inFIG. 22. Such a configuration stabilizes the waste liquid reservoir260when the waste liquid reservoir260is mounted with the bottom plate262oriented downward, and therefore the waste liquid can be prevented from leaking through the waste liquid inlet267aopened in the lid267and the waste liquid introduction port281opened in the front wall265, when the waste liquid reservoir260is taken out with the waste liquid stored therein. Further, locating the handle266ain the vicinity of the bottom plate262allows the top side (the side of the lid267) without the handle266aand the bottom side (the side of the bottom plate262) with the handle266ato be easily distinguished.

Further, forming a stepped portion241ain the mounting chamber241as shown inFIG. 9,FIG. 10, andFIG. 18prevents the waste liquid reservoir260from being mounted in the mounting chamber241in a wrong posture, because when the waste liquid reservoir260is turned upside down the stepped portion241ainterferes with the handle266a.

The waste liquid reservoir260and the liquid ejecting apparatus211configured as above provide the following advantageous effects.

In the waste liquid reservoir260, the shielding sheet271partitioning the waste liquid storage chamber261aprevents the sucked waste liquid from being absorbed by the first absorber270F of the upper layer, thereby allowing the sucked waste liquid to be primarily absorbed by the second absorber270S of the lower layer. The shielding sheet271also prevents the first absorber270F from sinking because of the self-weight, thereby allowing a sufficient contact area between the waste liquid transfer portion248and the first absorber270F to be stably secured.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus211, the mounting chamber241in which the waste liquid reservoir260is mounted is open toward the bottom face side of the casing212, and therefore when the waste liquid reservoir260is mounted or removed, the casing212is turned upside down. Since the waste liquid inlet267aand the waste liquid introduction port281are open in the waste liquid reservoir260, when the casing212is turned upside down with the waste liquid reservoir260mounted therein, the waste liquid inlet267aor the waste liquid introduction port281may be oriented downward (or obliquely downward). However, the waste liquid stored in the waste liquid reservoir260is absorbed by the absorber270, and therefore the waste liquid is prevented from leaking through the waste liquid inlet267aand the waste liquid introduction port281.

Here, a plurality of waste liquid inlets267aare provided, and each of the waste liquid inlets267ahas to have a sufficiently large opening space to allow the waste liquid introduction port281to pass therethrough, which facilitates the waste liquid to leak. In this embodiment, however, the recess (through hole270a) through which the waste liquid introduction port281passes is covered with the box-shaped protruding portion267b, and therefore the opening space of the waste liquid inlets267acan be reduced, so that the leakage of the waste liquid is prevented.

In the waste liquid reservoir260, the ejected waste liquid received by the waste liquid receiving portion230is transferred along the waste liquid transfer portion248and absorbed by the first absorber270F located in contact with the waste liquid transfer portion248. Therefore, the waste liquid can be prevented from splashing around in the mounting chamber241. As result, the waste liquid barely sticks to the connection terminal282aand the inner wall of the mounting chamber241. In addition, since the circuit board282is accommodated inside the recess283, the waste liquid can be prevented from sticking to the connection terminal282aeven though the waste liquid that has leaked drops along the sidewall263.

When the slider250is biased in the release direction by the biasing member252, the waste liquid transfer portion248is pressed against the first absorber270F of the waste liquid reservoir260moving in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber241. Therefore, the contact between the waste liquid transfer portion248and the first absorber270F can be assured.

The waste liquid reservoir260which has moved in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber241is detained in the liquid ejecting apparatus211by the engagement between the detent portion249and the engaging portion289. In the case where the mounting chamber241possesses a large space in the width direction W the waste liquid reservoir260may tilt about the engaging portion289. However, the engagement between the fitting portion287and the guide projection247suppresses the waste liquid reservoir260from tilting.

In addition, locating the waste liquid introduction port281between the fitting portion287and the engaging portion289in the width direction W suppresses the displacement of the waste liquid introduction port281originating from the tilting of the waste liquid reservoir260. Therefore, the leakage of the waste liquid can be prevented while maintaining the connection between the waste liquid introduction port281and the discharge unit242. Further, locating the connection terminal282abetween the bottom plate262and the engaging portion289suppresses the displacement of the connection terminal282aoriginating from the tilting of the waste liquid reservoir260, and therefore the connection between the connection terminal282aand the substrate connection unit243can be maintained.

The foregoing embodiment provides the following advantageous effects.

Removably mounting the waste liquid reservoir260in the liquid ejecting apparatus211allows the space for storing the waste liquid (mounting chamber241) to be reduced, compared with the case of providing a fixed waste liquid storage device which is unable to be replaced in the casing212. Accordingly, the liquid ejecting apparatus211can be made smaller in size.

However, when the waste liquid reservoir260is replaceable, the waste liquid reservoir260may be removed and mounted halfway of the use, which makes the waste liquid more likely to stick to the connection terminal282a. Further, although providing the waste liquid inlet267aand the waste liquid introduction port281in the waste liquid reservoir260allows both of the ejected waste liquid and the sucked waste liquid to be collected, the risk of the waste liquid leakage is increased, by providing two openings (for the waste liquid inlet267aand the waste liquid introduction port281) for introducing the waste liquid, in the waste liquid reservoir260.

However, the connection terminal282aof the circuit board282is located on the sidewall263, which is different from the lid267including the waste liquid inlet267aand the front wall265including the waste liquid introduction port281, and therefore the waste liquid barely sticks to the connection terminal282a.

The foregoing embodiment may be modified as variations provided hereunder. The configuration according to the embodiment and the configuration according to the variations may be combined as desired, and also the configurations according to the variation may be combined.

When the sheet229is not placed in the receiving recess227b, the waste liquid transfer portion248, the slider250, the absorption sheet253, the auxiliary member254, and the protruding portion267bmay be excluded, so that the waste liquid drops into the waste liquid inlet267athrough the through hole227c,228c.

The waste liquid transfer portion248may be substituted with a different member disposed in contact with the sheet229. For example, a member that transfers the liquid from the slider250may be provided so as to extend toward the top face side and to contact the sheet29.

The liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head14may be, without limitation to the ink, a liquid-phase material containing particles of a functional material dispersed or mixed therein. For example, a liquid-phase material containing, dispersed or dissolved therein, an electrode material or a color material (pixel material) employed for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an electroluminescence (EL) display, or a field emission display may be ejected for recording.

The medium S is not limited to the paper sheet, but may instead be a plastic film, a thin plate material, or a fabric used with a printing machine.

The medium S may be transported with a lateral edge running along the home-side end, or with the center of the medium S aligned with the center of the transport route.

The liquid ejecting apparatus11may be a line-head printer having a line head including a plurality of liquid ejecting heads14aligned such that the printing range covers the entire width of the medium S. In this case, a cap capable of receiving the liquid and a medium support unit including a liquid receiving portion may be alternately moved to a region onto which the line head ejects the liquid, to receive the liquid.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-007093, filed Jan. 18, 2016 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-173390, filed Sep. 6, 2016 are expressly incorporated by reference herein.