Patent Publication Number: US-2022219457-A1

Title: Inkjet printer

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to PCT Application No. PCT/JP2019/033686 filed on Aug. 28, 2019. The entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an inkjet printer. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, a printer including an ink head that includes a plurality of nozzles to perform printing on a printing target by an inkjet method is known. For such a printer, a cleaning operation is periodically performed on the ink head in order to allow ink to be injected stably from the nozzles. For example, an ink flushing operation of forcibly injecting ink from the nozzles, an ink absorption operation of forcibly absorbing ink in the nozzles by an absorption pump, or the like is performed. Such a cleaning operation allows ink having an increased viscosity, contaminants and the like to be discharged from the nozzles. As a result, clogging of the nozzles may be solved or suppressed. 
     The ink, the contaminants and the like discharged by the cleaning operation are recovered to a waste liquid tank as a waste liquid. As the cleaning operation is repeated, the waste liquid is accumulated gradually in the waste liquid tank. When the waste liquid tank becomes full and is overflown with the waste liquid, the inside of, and an area around, the printer may undesirably be contaminated with the waste liquid. Therefore, conventionally, the printer is controlled to stop operating when the waste liquid tank becomes full. In the case where the operation of the printer is stopped, the printing operation, the cleaning operation and the like may be made inexecutable until the user discharges the waste liquid from the waste liquid tank. In this manner, the waste liquid tank is prevented from being overflown. An amount of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank may be estimated by use of software based on data on the cleaning operation, or may be measured by use of hardware. 
     For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2018-158546 discloses a liquid injection device including a liquid injector injecting a liquid, a waste liquid accommodator accommodating a waste liquid discharged from the liquid injector, and a sensor detecting that the amount of the waste liquid accommodated in the waste liquid accommodator has reached a threshold value. This liquid injection device further includes a calculator. In the case where the sensor detects that the amount of the waste liquid accommodated in the waste liquid accommodator has reached the threshold value, the calculator calculates the amount of the waste liquid discharged from the liquid injector thereafter by use of software. The calculator adds the amount of the discharged waste liquid calculated by use of the software to the threshold value, and thus estimates the amount of the waste liquid in the waste liquid accommodator. 
     With such an example of calculation method performed by use of software, the number of times the cleaning operation is performed is counted, or the number of times the ink is injected from the ink head is counted, to compute the amount of the waste liquid. However, such a method uses a sequence addition, and therefore, the error of the computed amount of the waste liquid from the actual amount of the waste liquid may be large in the case where, for example, the cleaning operation includes a certain content. In the case where the amount of the waste liquid is computed in accordance with the type or the content of the cleaning operation, the computation may become complicated. In addition, in the case where the printing operation is made inexecutable unexpectedly for the reason that the waste liquid tank is full, the user may feel inconvenienced if, for example, the user is in a hurry to perform printing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide inkjet printers each allowing a state where a waste liquid tank is full or is close to being full to be accurately recognized with no need to perform any complicated computation. 
     An inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a head including a nozzle from which a liquid is injected, a cleaner to perform a cleaning operation of causing the liquid to be discharged from the nozzle, a waste liquid tank to which the liquid discharged by the cleaning operation is recovered from the cleaner, and a support table supporting the waste liquid tank. The support table is displaceable in accordance with a weight of the liquid in the waste liquid tank, such that the support table is at an initial position in a state where the liquid is not recovered to the waste liquid tank, is displaced to a first position when a weight of the waste liquid tank and the liquid in the waste liquid tank reaches a first threshold value, and is displaced to a second position when the weight of the waste liquid tank and the liquid in the waste liquid tank reaches a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value. The inkjet printer further includes a first sensor to detect that the support table has reached the first position, a second sensor to detect that the support table has reached the second position, a first determinator to determine that the waste liquid tank is in a near-end state when the support table is detected by the first sensor to have reached the first position, a second determinator to determine that the waste liquid tank is in an end state when the support table is detected by the second sensor to have reached the second position, and a notifier to notify a user of the near-end state when the first determinator determines that the waste liquid tank is in the near-end state. 
     With the inkjet printer, the support table supporting the waste liquid tank is displaceable in accordance with the weight of the liquid in the waste liquid tank. Therefore, the position of the support table is changeable in accordance with the amount of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank. With such an arrangement, the storage state of the liquid in the waste liquid tank is detectable based on the position of the support table. In addition, the inkjet printer includes the first sensor to detect that the support table has reached the first position and the second sensor to detect that the support table has reached the second position. Therefore, the amount of the liquid stored in the waste liquid tank may be recognized accurately with no need to perform any computation based on the cleaning operation. Before the waste liquid tank is put into the end state, the inkjet printer may notify the user as an advance warning that the waste liquid tank is close to being in the end state, namely, is in the near-end state. Thus, the user may recognize easily that the waste liquid tank is close to being full. Therefore, the printing operation is not made inexecutable unexpectedly, and the user may discard the waste liquid at any timing, for example, after the waste liquid tank is put into the near-end state before the waste liquid tank is put into the end state. This improves the convenience for the user. 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide inkjet printers each allowing a state where a waste liquid tank is full or is close to being full to be accurately recognized with no need to perform any complicated computation. 
     The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a right side portion thereof being partially cut away. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing a structure of a cleaning mechanism. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a waste liquid mechanism in a state where the support table is at an initial position. 
         FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the waste liquid mechanism in the state where the support table is at the initial position. 
         FIG. 6  is a partially enlarged view of a base member. 
         FIG. 7  is a left side view of the waste liquid mechanism. 
         FIG. 8  is a partially enlarged view of a support table. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the IX portion in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 10  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 9  in a state where the support table is at a first position. 
         FIG. 11  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 9  in a state where the support table is at a second position. 
         FIG. 12  is a functional block diagram showing a structure of a controller. 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing an example of procedure of detecting an amount of a waste liquid. 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  shows an operation in which a first sensor and a second sensor detect a light blocking plate;  FIG. 14A  shows a case where a light blocking plate with no recessed portion is used, and  FIG. 14B  shows a case where a light blocking plate with a recessed portion is used. 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of a waste liquid mechanism in preferred embodiment 2 of the present invention, showing a state where the support table is at the initial position. 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of the waste liquid mechanism in preferred embodiment 2 of the present invention, showing a state where the support table is tilted to the maximum possible degree. 
         FIG. 17  is a front view of the waste liquid mechanism in preferred embodiment 2 of the present invention, showing a state where a waste liquid tank is placed on a right portion of the support table. 
         FIG. 18  is a front view of the waste liquid mechanism in preferred embodiment 2 of the present invention, showing a state where the waste liquid tank is placed on the right portion of the support table and the support table is tilted to the maximum possible degree. 
         FIG. 19  is a front view of an inkjet printer according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred Embodiment 1 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of inkjet printers (hereinafter, each referred to simply as a “printer”) according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as necessary. The preferred embodiments described herein are not intended to specifically limit the present invention, needless to say. Components and portions that have the same functions will bear the same reference signs, and overlapping descriptions will be omitted or simplified as necessary. In this specification, the “inkjet printer” refers to a printer in general that uses a printing method by a conventionally known inkjet technology, for example, a continuous method such as a binary deflection method, a continuous deflection method or the like, a thermal method, or any of various on-demand methods such as a piezoelectric element method or the like. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a printer  10 , with a right side portion thereof being partially cut away.  FIG. 2  is a front view of the printer  10  in a state where a front cover  13  thereof is open. In the following description, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down” are respectively left, right, up and down as seen from a user who is in front of the printer  10  (user of the printer  10 ), and “forward” is a direction getting closer to the user from the printer  10  whereas “rearward” is a direction getting farther from the user toward the printer  10 . In the figures, letters F, Rr, L, R, U and D respectively represent “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”. In the figures, letters X, Y and Z respectively represent a front-rear direction, a left-right direction, and an up-down direction. These directions are merely defined for the sake of convenience, and do not limit the manner of installation of the printer  10  in any way. 
     The printer  10  is a device that receives printing data from an external device such as, for example, a host computer or the like and prints an image on a printing target  25   a  (see  FIG. 2 ) based on the printing data. There is no specific limitation on the shape or the material of the printing target  25   a . The material of the printing target  25   a  may be, for example, paper such as plain paper, inkjet printing paper or the like; a resin such as poly(vinyl chloride), acrylic resin, polycarbonate, polyester, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymer or the like; cloth such as woven cloth, unwoven cloth or the like; leather; a metal material such as aluminum, stainless steel or the like; carbon; pottery; a ceramic material; glass; rubber; or the like. In this specification, an “image” refers to an image formed on the printing target  25   a , and there is no specific limitation on the content thereof. An image includes a letter, a numerical figure, a symbol, a graphic pattern, a drawing pattern, a decorative pattern, or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the printer  10  has a shape of a box extending in the left-right direction Y. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the printer  10  includes a casing  12  having an opening  11 , and a front cover  13  covering the opening  11  such that the opening  11  is operable or closable. The front cover  13  is supported on a top surface of the casing  12  so as to be rotatable about a rear end thereof as an axis of rotation. The front cover  13  may be opened upward to allow an inner space of the casing  12  and a space outside the casing  12  to communicate with each other. The inner space of the casing  12  is partitioned by a partitioning member  15  extending in the up-down direction Z into a first area  16  and a second area  17 , which are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction Y. The first area  16  is located to the left of the partitioning member  15 . The printing on the printing target  25   a  is performed in the first area  16 . The second area  17  is located to the right of the partitioning member  15 . The second area  17  accommodates a cleaning mechanism  30 , a waste liquid mechanism  40  and a controller (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the printer  10  includes a guide rail  18 , a carriage  19 , a carriage moving mechanism  20  (see  FIG. 12 ), ink cartridges  21 , ink heads  22 , ultraviolet lamps  23 , a table  25 , a table moving mechanism  26 , the cleaning mechanism  30 , the waste liquid mechanism  40 , and the controller  50  (see  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 12 ). In this preferred embodiment, the ink cartridges  21  and the table  25  are located in the first area  16 . The cleaning mechanism  30  and the waste liquid mechanism  40  are located in a front portion of the second area  17 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the controller  50  is located in a rear portion of the second area  17 . Hereinafter, each of the components will be described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the guide rail  18  is provided above the table  25 . The guide rail  18  is secured to the casing  12 , and extends in the left-right direction Y through the first area  16  and the second area  17 . The carriage  19  is slidably provided along the guide rail  18 . The guide rail  18  guides a movement of the carriage  19  in the left-right direction Y. The carriage  19  is movable by the carriage moving mechanism  20  in the left-right direction (main scanning direction) Y. While the printing is not performed, the carriage  19  waits at a home position HP. 
     The carriage moving mechanism  20  is configured to move the carriage  19  in the left-right direction Y with respect to the table  25 . The carriage moving mechanism  20  includes a pair of pulleys (not shown) respectively located at a right end and a left end of the guide rail  18 , an endless belt (not shown), and a carriage motor  20 M (see  FIG. 12 ). The carriage  19  is secured to the endless belt. The endless belt is wound along the pair of pulleys. One of the pulleys is coupled with the carriage motor  20 M. The carriage motor  20 M is electrically connected with the controller  50 , and is controlled by the controller  50 . When the carriage motor  20 M is driven, the pulleys are rotated to run the belt. As a result, the carriage  19  moves in the left-right direction Y along the guide rail  18 . It should be noted that the mechanism described herein is merely one example, and there is no specific limitation on the structure of the carriage moving mechanism  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the carriage  19  preferably includes six ink heads  22  and two ultraviolet lamps  22  mounted thereon, for example. The printer  10  is an ultraviolet-curing-type printer. In this preferred embodiment, the six ink heads  22  are located in a line in the left-right direction Y. The six ink heads  22  are located in a so-called in-line arrangement. It should be noted that there is no specific limitation on the manner of arrangement of the ink heads  22 . The ink heads  22  each includes a nozzle  22   a  (see  FIG. 3 ) opened downward. The ink heads  22  are configured to inject ink toward the printing target  25   a  from the nozzles  22  for printing. The ink heads  22  are each an example of head that injects a liquid. The ink heads  22  are electrically connected with the controller  50 . The injection of the ink from the nozzles  22   a  is controlled by the controller  50 . The ink heads  22  are respectively in communication with the ink cartridges  21  via flexible ink tubes (not shown). 
     The ink cartridges  21  are containers that store the ink. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the ink cartridges  21  are not mounted on the carriage  19 , but are located in a still state in the first area  16  of the casing  12 . In the ink cartridges  21 , photocurable ink containing a polymerizable compound and a polymerization initiator is stored. In this preferred embodiment, the photocurable ink is ultraviolet-curable ink (UV ink), which is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays. In this preferred embodiment, the number of the ink cartridges  21  is six. The six ink cartridges  21  respectively store cyan ink (C), magenta ink (M), yellow ink (Y), black ink (K), white ink (WH) and gloss ink (GL). Although the number of the ink cartridges  21  is six in this preferred embodiment, the number of the ink cartridges  21  and the types of the ink are merely examples and are not limited to the above. The ink cartridges  21  do not need to store white ink and/or the gloss ink. 
     The ultraviolet lamps  23  are light radiation devices provided to cure the ink on the printing target  25   a . As shown in  FIG. 2 , in this preferred embodiment, one ultraviolet lamp  23  is located at a left end, and another ultraviolet lamp  23  is located at a right end, of the assembly of the ink heads  22 . Light radiating from the ultraviolet lamps  23  has a wavelength with which the ink is curable. The ultraviolet lamps  23  are, for example, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), fluorescent lamps (low-pressure mercury lamps), high-pressure mercury lamps, or the like. The ultraviolet lamps  23  are electrically connected with the controller  50 , and are controlled by the controller  50 . Although two ultraviolet lamps  23  are provided in this preferred embodiment, the number of the ultraviolet lamps  23  is merely an example and is not limited to two. The ultraviolet lamp(s)  23  may be provided only at the left end or the right end of the assembly of the ink heads  22 . The ultraviolet lamp(s)  23  may be mounted on a carriage other than the carriage  19  having the ink heads  22  mounted thereon, or provided on a wall or the like of the casing  12  directly or indirectly. 
     The table  25  is a table on which the printing target  25   a  is to be placed for printing. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the table  25  is located below the carriage  19 . The table  25  is a flat plate-like member, and has a flat surface as seen in a front view. The printer  10  is a so-called flat bed-type printer. The table  25  is movable by the table moving mechanism  26  in the front-rear direction X. 
     The table moving mechanism  26  is configured to move the table  25  in the front-rear direction X with respect to the carriage  19 , the ink heads  22  and the ultraviolet lamps  23 . The table moving mechanism  26  includes two slide rails  26   a  and  26   b , a transportation member  26   c , and a front-rear moving motor  26 M (see  FIG. 12 ). The slide rails  26   a  and  26   b  extend parallel to each other in the front-rear direction X. The transportation member  26   c  is slidable with respect to the slide rails  26   a  and  26   b . The table  25  is supported above the transportation member  26   c . The front-rear moving motor  26 M is electrically connected with the controller  50 , and is controlled by the controller  50 . When the front-rear moving motor  26 M is driven, the transportation member  26   c  moves along the slide rails  26   a  and  26   b . As a result, the table  25  moves in the front-rear direction X. It should be noted that the mechanism described herein is merely one example, and there is no specific limitation on the structure of the table moving mechanism  26 . 
     The cleaning mechanism  30  is configured to remove contaminants attached to the nozzle  22   a  of the ink head  22  (for example, dust, dross, thickened ink, cured ink, etc.). The cleaning mechanism  30  is located just below the carriage  19  when the carriage  19  is at the home position HP (see  FIG. 2 ).  FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing a structure of the cleaning mechanism  30 . The cleaning mechanism  30  includes a cap  31 , a cap moving mechanism  32 , an absorption pump  33 , and a waste liquid passage  34 . In this preferred embodiment, one cleaning mechanism  30  is provided for each of the ink heads  22 . It should be noted that a plurality of ink heads  22  may share some components of the cleaning mechanism  30 . For example, a single cap moving mechanism  32  and/or a single absorption pump  33  may be provided for a plurality of (e.g., two) ink heads  22 . 
     The cap  31  has a shape of, for example, a bottomed box having a top opening. The cap  31  surrounds the nozzle  22   a  of the ink head  22 . As a result, a closed space is provided between the nozzle  22   a  and the cap  31 . In this preferred embodiment, one cap  31  is provided for each of the ink heads  22 . The number of the caps  31  is equal to the number of the ink heads  22 , namely, is six. When being at the home position HP (see  FIG. 2 ), the caps  31  are located just below the respective ink heads  22 . The caps  31  are coupled with the cap moving mechanism  32 . The caps  31  are detachably attached to the nozzles  22   a  of the ink heads  22  by the cap moving mechanism  32 . 
     The cap moving mechanism  32  is a mechanism that attaches the caps  31  to the nozzles  22   a  of the ink heads  22  or detaches the caps  31  from the nozzles  22   a  of the ink heads  22 . In this preferred embodiment, the cap moving mechanism  32  is a mechanism that supports the caps  31  and moves the caps  31  in the up-down direction Z. The cap moving mechanism  32  includes a cap moving motor  32 M (see  FIG. 12 ). The cap moving motor  32 M is electrically connected with the controller  50 , and is controlled by the controller  50 . The cap moving motor  32 M is driven to move the caps  31  with respect to the ink heads  22  between a cap position, at which the caps  31  cover the nozzles  22   a , and a separated position, at which the caps  31  are separated from the nozzles  22   a .  FIG. 3  shows a state where the cap  31  is at the cap position, namely, a state where the cap  31  is attached to the nozzle  22   a . It should be noted that the mechanism described herein is merely one example, and there is no specific limitation on the structure of the cap moving mechanism  32 . 
     The waste liquid passage  34  is a flow path that guides the waste liquid from the cap  31  to the waste liquid mechanism  40  described below. A bottom end portion  34   d  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the waste liquid passage  34  is in communication with a waste liquid tank  41  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the waste liquid mechanism  40 . The bottom end portion  34   d  is an example of outlet. The waste liquid passage  34  is formed of, for example, a flexible tube or the like. The waste liquid passage  34  is provided with the absorption pump  33  at the middle thereof. The absorption pump  33  is connected with a bottom surface of the cap  31 . In the state where the cap  31  is attached to the nozzle  22   a , the absorption pump  33  absorbs the ink or the like from the nozzle  22   a . The absorption pump  33  transfers the ink or the like stored in the cap  31  to the waste liquid mechanism  40 . The absorption pump  33  is, for example, a vacuum pump although not being limited thereto. The absorption pump  33  is electrically connected with the controller  50 , and is controlled by the controller  50 . 
     For cleaning the nozzle  22   a  of the ink head  22 , when the absorption pump  33  is driven in the state where the cap  31  is attached to the nozzle  22   a , the ink, the contaminants and the like are absorbed from the nozzle  22   a  via the cap  31  and is stored in the cap  31 . When the ink head  22  is driven in the state where the cap  31  is attached to the nozzle  22   a , the ink, the contaminants and the like are injected into the cap  31  and is stored in the cap  31 . The cap  31  is in communication with the waste liquid mechanism  40  via the waste liquid passage  34 . The ink, the contaminants and the like stored in the cap  31  are transferred to the waste liquid mechanism  40  as a waste liquid via the waste liquid passage  34 . 
     The waste liquid mechanism  40  is a mechanism that recovers the waste liquid generated by the cleaning operation or the like, and also allows the storage state of the recovered waste liquid to be recognized. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the waste liquid mechanism  40  is located below the cleaning mechanism  30  at the home position HP. Now, the waste liquid mechanism  40  will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the waste liquid mechanism  40 .  FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the waste liquid mechanism  40 . The waste liquid mechanism  40  includes the waste liquid tank  41 , a support table  43  (see  FIG. 5 ) supporting the waste liquid tank  41 , a base member  42  supporting the support table  43  such that the support table  43  is displaceable, a loading spring  44 , a first sensor  46 , and a second sensor  47 . 
     The waste liquid tank  41  is a container to which the waste liquid containing ink that has not been used for printing (waste ink) is recovered. The waste liquid tank  41  stores the waste liquid. The waste liquid tank  41  is configured to receive the waste liquid from the waste liquid passage  34 . In this preferred embodiment, the waste liquid tank  41  is located below the cleaning mechanism  30 . The waste liquid tank  41  is located in the inner space of the printer  10 . It should be noted that in another preferred embodiment, the waste liquid tank  41  may be located in the space outside the printer  10 . The waste liquid tank  41  is formed of, for example, a resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, silicone, a fluorine resin or the like. The waste liquid tank  41  may be black to block light. The waste liquid tank  41  has a capacity of, for example, 1000 ml or larger, preferably 1500 ml or larger, more preferably 2000 ml or larger, for example, 2000 to 10000 ml. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the waste liquid tank  41  is placed on the support table  43 . In this preferred embodiment, the waste liquid tank  41  has a flat parallelepiped shape by which the length in the front-rear direction X (direction perpendicular to the sheet of paper of  FIG. 5 ) is shorter than the length in the left-right direction Y and the length in the up-down direction Z. The waste liquid tank  41  has a pair of (front and rear) wider planes  41   w , and a pair of (left and right) narrow planes  41   n . The wider planes  41   w  extend in the left-right direction Y and in the up-down direction Z. The narrow planes  41   n  extend in the front-rear direction X and in the up-down direction Z. It should be noted that there is no specific limitation on the shape or the position of the waste liquid tank  41 . The waste liquid tank  41  may be, for example, cylindrical, cubic, parallelepiped, or the like. The waste liquid tank  41  includes a cylindrical neck portion  41   h . The neck portion  41   h  has an opening  41   i  at a top end thereof, and the opening  41   i  is opened upward. The neck portion  41   h  has an inner diameter longer than an outer diameter of the bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34 . The bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34  is inserted into the opening  41   i  of the neck portion  41   h.    
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the base member  42  includes a first base member  42 A and a second base member  42 B attached to the first base member  42 A. There is no specific limitation on the material of the first base member  42 A or the second base member  42 B. The material of the first base member  42 A and the second base member  42 B is, for example, a metal material such as copper, stainless steel, aluminum, or the like. 
     The first base member  42 A includes a bottom wall  42   a , a vertical wall  42   b  extending upward from a left end of the bottom wall  42   a , and an oblique wall  42   e  extending obliquely upward and rightward from a position above a right end of the bottom wall  42   a . The vertical wall  42   b  has an arm portion  42   d  secured thereto, and the arm portion  42   d  protrudes leftward. The first base member  42 A further includes a front wall  42   f  extending upward from a front end of the bottom wall  42   a , and a rear wall  42   r  (see  FIG. 5 ) extending upward from a rear end of the bottom wall  42   a . The first base member  42 A may be formed of one member. In this preferred embodiment, the first base member  42 A includes a plurality of members that are assembled together by screws  42   q.    
     The second base member  42 B is inverted L-shaped. The second base member  42 B includes a vertical wall  42   c   1  extending in the up-down direction Z along the vertical wall  42   b , and an arm portion  42   c   2  extending leftward from a top end of the vertical wall  42   c   1 . The arm portion  42   c   2  is located parallel to the arm portion  42   d . As shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the vertical wall  42   c   1  has a slit  42   c   3  therein, and the slit  42   c   3  extends in the up-down direction. The vertical wall  42   b  has a screw hole  42   b   2  therein. A securing screw  45 A is tightened through the slit  42   c   3  and the screw hole  42   b   2 . The second base member  42 B is attached to the first base member  42 A via the securing screw  45 A. The position of the securing screw  45 A in the slit  42   c   3  is changeable in the up-down direction. The second base member  42 B may be slid along the slit  42   c   3  to adjust the position thereof in the up-down direction with respect to the first base member  42 A. The second base member  42 B is attached to the first base member  42 A such that the position in the up-down direction of the second base member  42 B is adjustable. After the position of the second base member  42 B is adjusted, the securing screw  45 A is tightened to secure the second base member  42 B to the first base member  42 A. 
     An adjustment screws  45  is inserted through the arm portion  42   d  of the first base member  42 A and the arm portion  42   c   2  of the second base member  42 B. The adjustment screw  45 , the arm portion  42   d  and the arm portion  42   c   2  are configured such that when the adjustment screw  45  is rotated in a first rotation direction, the arm portion  42   c   2  gets closer to the arm portion  42   d , and when the adjustment screw  45  is rotated in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, the arm portion  42   c   2  gets farther from the arm portion  42   d . For example, the arm portion  42   d  may have a hole with no threads therein, the arm portion  42   c   2  may have a threaded hole therein, and the adjustment screw  45  may be slidably inserted into the hole in the arm portion  42   d  and screwed into the threaded hole of the arm portion  42   c   2 . Alternatively, for example, the arm portion  42   d  and the arm portion  42   c   2  may both have a threaded hole screwable with the adjustment screw  45 . The adjustment screw  45  may be rotated in a state where the securing screw  45 A is loosened, so that the second base member  42 B is moved upward or downward with respect to the first base member  42 A. The adjustment screw  45  may be operated to adjust the position of the second base member  45 B to a desired position and then the securing member  45 A may be tightened, so that the position in the up-down direction of the second base member  42 B is secured. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the support table  43  is a table on which the waste liquid tank  41  is to be placed. The support table  43  includes a lateral plate portion  43   a , a support plate portion  43   d  extending downward from a right end of the lateral plate portion  43   a , a vertical plate portion  43   c  extending upward from a left end of the lateral plate portion  43   a , and a light blocking plate  43   e  extending leftward from the vertical plate portion  43   c . The support table  43  may include a front plate portion extending upward from a front end of the lateral plate portion  43   a  and a rear plate portion extending upward from a rear end of the lateral plate portion  43   a . The provision of the front plate portion and the rear plate portion allows the position in the front-rear direction of the waste liquid tank  41  to be regulated, and thus may prevent the waste liquid tank  41  from being positionally shifted. 
     The waste liquid tank  41  is placed on the lateral plate portion  43   a . In the following description, a portion, of the lateral plate portion  43   a , on which the waste liquid tank  41  is to be placed (in other words, a portion to overlap the waste liquid tank  41  as seen from above) in a state where the support table  43  is at an initial position will be referred to as a “carrying portion  43   aa”.    
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , a bottom end portion of the support plate portion  43   d  is inserted into a hole  42   a   1  in the bottom wall  42   a  of the base member  42 . The support plate portion  43   d  is tiltably inserted into the hole  42   a   1 . Therefore, the support table  43  is tiltable with the bottom end portion of the support plate portion  43   d  being the fulcrum. The support table  43  is tiltably supported by the bottom wall  42   a  of the base member  42 . In this preferred embodiment, the bottom end portion of the support plate portion  43   d  acts as a fulcrum portion  43   p . Reference sign  43   pc  represents the center of tilting. 
     The lateral plate portion  43   a , the support plate portion  43   d  and the vertical plate portion  43   c  are integrally formed. The lateral plate portion  43   a , the support plate portion  43   d  and the vertical plate portion  43   c  are integrally formed of a metal material such as, for example, copper, stainless steel, aluminum or the like. It should be noted that there is no specific limitation on the material of the lateral plate portion  43   a , the support plate portion  43   d  or the vertical plate portion  43   c . The light blocking plate  43   e  may be formed integrally with the vertical plate portion  43   c . In this preferred embodiment, the light blocking plate  43   e  is separate from the vertical plate portion  43   c , and is attached to the vertical plate portion  43   c.    
     The loading spring  44  extends in the up-down direction Z. The loading spring  44  suspends and thus supports the support table  43 . A first end portion  44   a  of the loading spring  44  is attached to the arm portion  42   c   2  of the second base member  42 B. A second end portion  44   b  of the loading spring  44  is attached to the light blocking plate  43   e  of the support table  43 . In this preferred embodiment, the loading spring  44  is a tension spring, and loads the support table  43  upward. The loading spring  44  generates an upward moment with the fulcrum portion  43   p  of the support table  43  being the center of pivoting. The loading spring  44  is an example of loading member. The loading spring  44  is, for example, a coil spring. It should be noted that the loading spring  44  may be any type of spring that loads the support table  43  upward. The loading spring  44  may be formed of, for example, an elastic material as rubber or the like. 
     In the following description, a predefined full state of the waste liquid tank  41  will be referred to as an “end state”, and a state in which the waste liquid tank  41  is close to being the predefined full state will be referred to as a “near-end state”. The end state may be a state where, for example, the amount of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41  is about 70% by volume or larger, typically about 80% by volume or larger, for example, about 90% by volume or larger, of the total capacity of the waste liquid tank  41 . The near-end state is a state where an amount of the waste liquid smaller than in the end state is recovered to the waste liquid tank  41 , and may be a state where, for example, the amount of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41  is about 60% by volume or larger, typically about 70% by volume or larger, for example, about 80% by volume or larger, of the total capacity of the waste liquid tank  41 . For example, the difference between the end state and the near-end state may be about 5% by volume or larger, for example, about 10% by volume or larger, of the total capacity of the waste liquid tank  41 . 
     The support table  43  is tilted by receiving the weight of the waste liquid tank  41  and the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41  (hereinafter, such a weight will be referred to simply as a “weight of the waste liquid tank  41 ”). As a result, the position of the support table  43  is changed (namely, the support table  43  is displaced). The support table  43  is displaced in accordance with the amount of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41 . Before the waste liquid is recovered to the waste liquid tank  41  (namely, when the amount of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41  is zero), the lateral plate portion  43   a  of the support table  43  is generally horizontal. In this specification, the expression “generally horizontal” does not necessarily refer to a strictly horizontal state, but encompasses a state where the direction has a tilting angle of about 15 degrees or smaller, about 10 degrees or smaller, or about 5 degrees or smaller, with respect to the horizontal direction. 
     In  FIG. 5 , straight line P 0  is a line extending from the lateral plate portion  43   a  in a state where the waste liquid is not recovered to the waste liquid tank  41 . Hereinafter, this position of the support table  43  will be referred to as an “initial position”. As the cleaning operation is repeated, the waste liquid is accumulated gradually in the waste liquid tank  41 . As the amount of the waste liquid increases in the waste liquid tank  41 , the weight of the waste liquid tank  41  increases, and the support table  43  is tilted counterclockwise in  FIG. 5  with the fulcrum portion  43   p  being the fulcrum. The lateral plate portion  43   a  of the support table  43  is tilted obliquely downward and leftward from the generally horizontal position. Straight line P 1  is a line extending from the lateral plate portion  43   a  when the weight of the waste liquid tank  41  reaches a predefined first threshold value. Hereinafter, this position of the support table  43  will be referred to as a “first position”. Straight line P 2  is a line extending from the lateral plate portion  43   a  when the weight of the waste liquid tank  41  reaches a predefined second threshold value. In this preferred embodiment, the second threshold value is larger than the first threshold value. Hereinafter, this position of the support table  43  will be referred to as a “second position”. At the second position P 2 , the lateral plate portion  43   a  and the bottom wall  42   a  of the base member  42  may have an acute angle, more specifically, an angle of about 60 degrees or smaller, typically about 45 degrees or smaller, for example, about 30 degrees or smaller, although the angle is not limited to such degrees. 
     The first threshold value is set to the weight of the waste liquid tank  41  when the waste liquid tank  41  is in the near-end state. The second threshold value is set to the weight of the waste liquid tank  41  when the waste liquid tank  41  is in the end state. In this preferred embodiment, the adjustment screw  45  may be operated to adjust the position in the up-down direction of the second base member  42 B. The adjustment screw  45  may be operated to adjust the loading force of the loading spring  44 , so that a work of matching the first threshold value and the first position P 1  and a work of matching the second threshold value and the second position P 2  are performed easily. 
     The first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  are members that detect the position of the support table  43 . In this preferred embodiment, the first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  detect the position of the light blocking plate  43   e  of the support table  43 , and thus detects the position of the support table  43 . It should be noted that the first sensor  46  and/or the second sensor  47  may detect the position of another portion of the support table  43 . The first sensor  46  is configured to detect that the support table  43  has reached the first position P 1 . The second sensor  47  is configured to detect that the support table  43  has reached the second position P 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the vertical wall  42   b  of first base member  42 A has a bracket  48  attached thereto. The first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  are secured to the bracket  48 . The first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  are located to the left of the vertical wall  42   b  of the first base member  42 A. The second sensor  47  is located below the first sensor  46 . 
     The first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  may each be a contact sensor or a non-contact sensor. In this preferred embodiment, the first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  are each a photosensor, which is a type of non-contact sensor. The first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  may each be a light-reflecting photosensor, but in this preferred embodiment, are each a light-transmissive photosensor. In the case where a light-reflecting photosensor is used, it is preferred to use a reflector instead of the light blocking plate  43   e.    
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the first sensor  46  includes a light emitting portion  46   a  radiating light along a first optical axis  46   c  extending in the front-rear direction (direction perpendicular to the sheet of paper of  FIG. 9 ). The second sensor  47  includes a light emitting portion  47   a  radiating light along a second optical axis  47   c  extending in the front-rear direction. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the first sensor  46  includes a light receiving portion  46   b  receiving the light radiating from the light emitting portion  46   a . The second sensor  47  includes a light receiving portion  47   b  receiving the light radiating from the light emitting portion  47   a . The light emitting portions  46   a  and  47   a  and the light receiving portions  46   b  and  47   b  are located to face each other in the front-rear direction X. The first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  are electrically connected with the controller  50 , and are controlled by the controller  50 . 
     The light blocking plate  43   e  is located between the light emitting portion  46   a  and the light receiving portion  46   b  of the first sensor  46  and between the light emitting portion  47   a  and the light receiving portion  47   b  of the second sensor  47 . Namely, the light blocking plate  43   e  is located to the front of the light emitting portions  46   a  and  47   a  and to the rear of the light receiving portions  46   b  and  47   b . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the light blocking plate  43   e  includes a combined portion  43   e   3  continuous from the vertical plate portion  43   c , a groove  43   e   2  in engagement with the vertical wall  42   b , a first light blocking portion D 1 , and a second light blocking portion D 2  located below the first light blocking portion D 1 . The combined portion  43   e   3  is located to the right of the vertical wall  42   b , and the first light blocking portion D 1  and the second light blocking portion D 2  are located to the left of the vertical wall  42   b . The light blocking plate  43   e  has a recessed portion  43   n  formed between the first light blocking portion D 1  and the second light blocking portion D 2 . The recessed portion  43   n  is recessed to a position to the right of the first optical axis  46   c  and the second optical axis  47   c . In the state where the support table  43  is at the initial position P 0 , distance L 1  in the up-down direction between a bottom edge D 1   b  of the first light blocking portion D 1  and the first optical axis  46   c  is shorter than distance L 2  in the up-down direction between a bottom edge D 2   b  of the second light blocking portion D 2  and the second optical axis  47   c.    
     As described above, the support table  43  is tilted with the fulcrum portion  43   p  (see  FIG. 5 ) being the fulcrum. Along with the tilting of the support table  43 , the light blocking plate  43   e  moves in the up-down direction (more strictly, swings in the up-down direction). As shown in  FIG. 9 , in the state where the support table  43  is at the initial position P 0 , the first light blocking portion D 1  does not cross the first optical axis  46   c  and the second light blocking portion D 2  does not cross the second optical axis  47   c . In this case, the first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  are in an OFF state. When, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the light blocking plate  43   e  moves downward and the support table  43  reaches the first position P 1 , the first light blocking portion D 1  crosses the first optical axis  46   c , and the first sensor  46  is put into an ON state, in which the first sensor  46  detects the first light blocking portion D 1 . Namely, when the support table  43  moves to the first position P 1  and the first light blocking portion D 1  overlaps the first optical axis  46   c , light radiating from the light emitting portion  46   a  is blocked by the first light blocking portion D 1 , and the first sensor  46  is put into an ON state. When, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the light blocking plate  43   e  moves further downward and the support table  43  reaches the second position P 2 , the second light blocking portion D 2  crosses the second optical axis  47   c , and the second sensor  47  is put into an ON state, in which the second sensor  47  detects the second light blocking portion D 2 . Namely, when the support table  43  moves to the second position P 2  and the second light blocking portion D 2  overlaps the second optical axis  47   c , light radiating from the light emitting portion  47   a  is blocked by the second light blocking portion D 2 , and the second sensor  47  is put into an ON state. 
     The support table  43  is tilted. Therefore, a portion of the support table  43  farther from the fulcrum portion  43   p , among various portions of the support table  43 , is displaced by a larger amount. As shown in  FIG. 5 , in this preferred embodiment, the light blocking plate  43   e  is located farther from the fulcrum portion  43   p  than the carrying portion  43   aa  of the support table  43 . The carrying portion  43   aa  is located between the light blocking plate  43   e  and the fulcrum portion  43   p . Therefore, the amount of displacement of the light blocking plate  43   e  is larger. For this reason, the displacement of the support table  43  may be detected better by the first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the vertical wall  42   b  of the base member  42  has a slit  42   b   1  therein. The light blocking plate  43   e  is inserted into the slit  42   b   1 . The light blocking plate  43   e  crosses the vertical wall  42   b . The light blocking plate  43   e  is movable in the up-down direction. However, when the light blocking plate  43   e  contacts a top edge of the slit  42   b   1 , an upward movement of the light blocking plate  43   e  is restricted. When the light blocking plate  43   e  contacts a bottom edge of the slit  42   b   1 , a downward movement of the light blocking plate  43   e  is restricted. In this manner, the insertion of the light blocking plate  43   e  into the slit  42   b   1  restricts the position in the up-down direction of the light blocking plate  43   e  to a predetermined range. As a result, the range of tilting of the support table  43  is restricted to a predetermined range, and the support table  43  is prevented from being tilted excessively. 
     As described above, the second end portion  44   b  of the loading spring  44  is attached to the light blocking plate  43   e . In this preferred embodiment, a portion, of the support table  43 , to which the loading spring  44  is attached will be referred to as an “engagement portion  43   e   1 ”. The engagement portion  43   e   1  is a portion provided with an upward force by the loading spring  44 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the carrying portion  43   aa  is located between the fulcrum portion  43   p  and the engagement portion  43   e   1 . As seen along the tilting center line  43   pc  of the support table  43  in the state where the support table  43  is at the initial position P 0 , distance G 1  in the horizontal direction between the engagement portion  43   e   1  and the fulcrum portion  43   p  may be at least 1.5 times, preferably at least twice, for example, about 2 to 5 times of distance G 2  in the horizontal direction between a central position  43   am  in the horizontal direction of the carrying portion  43   aa  and the fulcrum portion  43   p . Such a structure allows the load on the loading spring  44  to be small. 
     The controller  50  controls each of the components of the printer  10 . In this preferred embodiment, the controller  50  is a computer specific for the printer  10  and located in the casing  12 . The controller  50  is, for example, a microcomputer. It should be noted that the controller  50  may be, for example, a general-purpose personal computer or the like that is located outside the casing  12  and communicably connected with the printer  10  in a wired manner or wirelessly. 
     There is no specific limitation on the hardware configuration of the controller  50 . The controller  50  includes, for example, an interface (I/F) receiving printing data from an outer device such as a host computer or the like, a central processing unit (CPU) executing commands of a control program, a ROM (read only memory) storing the programs to be executed by the CPU, a RAM (random access memory) usable as a working area in which the programs are developed, and a storage device, such as a memory or the like, storing the above-mentioned programs and various types of data. 
       FIG. 12  is a functional block diagram of the controller  50 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the controller  50  is configured or programmed to include a printing controller  51 , a cleaning controller  52 , a first determinator  53 , a second determinator  54 , a notifier  55 , an operation prohibitor  56 , and a storage  57 . The components of the controller  50  are mutually communicable. Each of the components of the controller  50  may be formed of software or hardware. Each of the components of the controller  50  may be realized by one or a plurality of processors or may be incorporated into a circuit. The controller  50  is communicably connected with, and is configured or programmed to control, each of the carriage motor  20 M of the carriage moving mechanism  20 , the ink heads  22 , the ultraviolet lamps  23 , the front-rear moving motor  26 M of the table moving mechanism  26 , the cap moving motor  32 M and the absorption pump  33  of the cleaning mechanism  30 , and the first sensor  46  and the second sensor of the waste liquid mechanism  40 . 
     The printing controller  51  is a controller that executes the printing operation of printing an image on the printing target  25   a  placed on the table  25  based on the printing data. The printing controller  51  controls the carriage motor  20 M of the carriage moving mechanism  20  to move the carriage  19  in the left-right direction Y, and also controls the front-rear moving motor  26 M of the table moving mechanism  26  to move the table  25  in the front-rear direction X. As a result, the printing controller  51  controls the positional relationship between the printing target  25   a  and the ink heads  22 . The printing controller  51  controls the ink heads  22  to inject the ink from the nozzles  22   a  toward the printing target  25   a . After the ink is injected from the nozzles  22   a  toward the printing target  25   a , the printing controller  51  controls the ultraviolet lamps  23  to radiate ultraviolet rays toward the ink on the printing target  25   a.    
     The cleaning controller  52  is configured or programmed to execute the cleaning operation in order to allow the ink to be injected stably from the nozzles  22   a  of the ink heads  22 . The cleaning controller  52  may be configured or programmed to execute a predetermined cleaning operation periodically. The cleaning controller  52  may be configured or programmed to execute the predetermined cleaning operation, at, for example, at least one of timings among before the printing controller  51  executes the printing operation, while the printing controller  51  is executing the printing operation, and after the printing controller  51  executes the printing operation. The storage  57  may have one or a plurality of processes of the cleaning operation stored thereon in advance. The cleaning controller  52  may be configured or programmed to execute the cleaning operation upon receipt of an instruction from the user in the case where, for example, the user recognizes a printing fault caused to the image. The cleaning controller  52  is configured or programmed to execute, for example, at least one of an ink flushing operation and an ink absorption operation. 
     An example of ink flushing operation is executed as follows. The cleaning controller  52  drives the cap moving motor  32 M of the cleaning mechanism  30  to attach the cap  31  to each of the nozzles  22   a  of the ink heads  22 . In the state where the cap  31  is attached to each of the nozzles  22   a , the cleaning controller  52  controls the ink heads  22  to inject the ink from the nozzles  22   a  toward the caps  31 . An example of ink absorption operation is executed as follows. The cleaning controller  52  drives the cap moving motor  32 M of the cleaning mechanism  30  to attach the cap  31  to each of the nozzles  22   a  of the ink heads  22 . In the state where the cap  31  is attached to each of the nozzles  22   a , the cleaning controller  52  controls the absorption pump  33  to absorb the ink from each of the nozzles  22   a  and discharge the ink toward the cap  31 . 
     The first determinator  53  is a controller that executes a first determination operation of determining whether the first sensor  46  is in an ON state or an OFF state. The first determinator  53  is communicably connected with the light receiving portion  46   b  of the first sensor  46 . An amount of received light is input from the light receiving portion  46   b  to the first determinator  53 . When the amount of received light is changed to a level lower than, or equal to, a predefined reference value, the first determinator  53  detects that the first sensor  46  is switched from the OFF state to the ON state. The reference value is stored on the storage  57  in advance. Based on the first sensor  46  being in the ON state, the first determinator  53  determines that the waste liquid tank  41  has been put into the near-end state and that the support table  43  has been displaced to the first position P 1  (see  FIG. 10 ). 
     The second determinator  54  is a controller that executes a second determination operation of determining whether the second sensor  47  is in an ON state or an OFF state. The second determinator  54  is communicably connected with the light receiving portion  47   b  of the second sensor  47 . An amount of received light is input from the light receiving portion  47   b  to the second determinator  54 . When the amount of received light is changed to a level lower than, or equal to, a predefined reference value, the second determinator  54  detects that the second sensor  47  is switched from the OFF state to the ON state. The reference value is stored on the storage  57  in advance. Based on the second sensor  47  being in the ON state, the second determination  54  determines that the waste liquid tank  41  has been put into the end state and that the support table  43  has been displaced to the second position P 2  (see  FIG. 11 ). 
     The notifier  55  is a controller that notifies the user of a storage state of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41  based on at least the determination result of the first determinator  53 . In the case where the first determinator  53  determines that the waste liquid tank  41  is in the near-end state, the notifier  55  may notify the user that the waste liquid tank  41  is close to being full and/or that the waste liquid needs to be discarded. Alternatively, the amount of the waste liquid or the storage state of the waste liquid (percentage with respect to 100% as the predefined end state) may be associated with the ON/OFF state of the first sensor  46  in the storage  57  in advance. In this case, the notifier  55  may notify the user of the amount of the waste liquid or the storage state of the waste liquid. In the case where the second determinator  54  determines that the waste liquid tank  41  is in the end state, the notifier  55  may notify the user that the waste liquid tank  41  is full and/or the waste liquid needs to be discarded. The notifier  55  may notify such information with a letter(s), a graphic illustration or the like to, for example, a display screen  10   d  (see  FIG. 1 ) provided in the printer  10 , or notify such information by an audio signal such as an alarm sound or the like. This allows the user to recognize the storage state or the like of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41 . 
     The operation prohibitor  56  is configured or programmed to control the state of the printer  10  based on the determination result of the second determinator  54 . The operation prohibitor  56  may be configured or programmed not to, in the case where the second determinator  54  determines that the waste liquid tank  41  is full, activate the printer  10  even if the user issues an instruction to start printing. The operation prohibitor  56  may be configured or programmed to, in the case where the second determinator  54  determines that the waste liquid tank  41  is full, pause or stop the printing operation or the cleaning operation. For example, the operation prohibitor  56  may be configured or programmed to, in the case where the second determinator  54  determines that the waste liquid tank  41  is full, pause the injection of the ink from the ink heads  22  or to stop the driving of the absorption pump  33 . As a result, waste liquid is prevented from being newly generated in the state where the waste liquid tank  41  is full. 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing an example of procedure of detecting the amount of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41 . In this preferred embodiment, the controller  50  executes the procedure shown in  FIG. 13  at, for example, at least one of timings among before the printing controller  51  executes the printing operation, and before the cleaning controller  52  executes the cleaning operation. It should be noted that the controller  50  may execute the procedure of detecting the amount of the waste liquid at another timing. For example, the controller  50  may execute the procedure shown in  FIG. 13  periodically at a predetermined time interval after the cleaning controller  52  starts operating. The time interval may be stored on the storage  57  in advance. 
     In a first determination process in step S 1 , the first determination operation of determining whether the first sensor  46  is in an ON state or an OFF state is executed. The first determinator  53  is configured or programmed to execute the first determination operation. The first determinator  53  determines whether the first sensor  46  is in an ON state or an OFF state based on the amount of light received by the light receiving portion  46   b . In the case where the first sensor  46  is not in the ON state (is in the OFF state), the first determinator  53  determines “No”, and the procedure advances to step S 5 . In step S 5 , the printer  10  is determined as being operable. As a result, the printer  10  is allowed to advance to the printing operation or the cleaning operation. By contrast, in the case where the first sensor  46  is in the ON state, the first determinator  53  determines “Yes” in step S 1 , and the procedure advances to step S 2 . 
     In an alarm display process in step S 2 , an alarm display operation is executed, by which an alarm is displayed to urge the user to discard the waste liquid stored in the waste liquid tank  41 . The notifier  55  is configured or programmed to execute the alarm display process. The notifier  55  displays a message that, for example, “Discard the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41 .” on the display screen  10   d  (see  FIG. 1 ). Then, the procedure advances to step S 3 . 
     In a second determination process in step S 3 , the second determination operation of determining whether the second sensor  47  is in an ON state or an OFF state is executed. The second determinator  54  is configured or programmed to execute the second determination operation. The second determinator  54  determines whether the second sensor  47  is in an ON state or an OFF state based on the amount of light received by the light receiving portion  47   b . In the case where the second sensor  47  is not in the ON state (is in the OFF state), the second determinator  54  determines “No”, and the procedure advances to step S 5 . In step S 5 , the printer  10  is determined as being operable. As a result, the printer  10  is allowed to advance to the printing operation or the cleaning operation. By contrast, in the case where the second sensor  47  is in the ON state, the second determinator  54  determines “Yes” in step S 3 , and the procedure advances to step S 4 . 
     In a device stop process in step S 4 , a lock operation of locking the printer  10  into an inoperable state is executed. The operation prohibitor  56  is configured or programmed to execute the lock operation. As a result, even if the user issues an instruction to start printing, the printer  10  cannot advance to the printing operation or the cleaning operation, and is kept in a stop state. In this preferred embodiment, an error display operation is further executed, by which an error message that the printer  10  is inoperable until the waste liquid stored in the waste liquid tank  41  is discarded is displayed to the user. The notifier is configured or programmed to execute the error display operation. The notifier  55  displays a message that, for example, “The printer  10  cannot be activated until the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41  is discarded.” on the display screen  10  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     In order to activate the printer  10  after the error message is displayed, the user needs to discard the waste liquid recovered to the waste liquid tank  41  or to replace the waste liquid tank  41  itself. In an example, the user removes the waste liquid tank  41  from the printer  10 , discards the waste liquid recovered to the waste liquid tank  41  to the outside of the system, and then returns the waste liquid tank  41  to the printer  10 . As a result, the weight of the waste liquid tank  41  is decreased, and the support table  43  is returned to the initial position P 0 . The first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  are both returned to the OFF state. When the first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  are both returned to the OFF state, the operation prohibitor  56  lifts the lock operation imposed on the printer  10 . 
     As described above, the printer  10  in this preferred embodiment is configured such that the support table  43  supporting the waste liquid tank  41  is displaceable in accordance with the weight of the waste liquid tank  41 . Therefore, the position of the support table  43  is changeable in accordance with the amount of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41 . With such an arrangement, the amount of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41  is detectable based on the position of the support table  43 . For detecting the amount of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41 , it is not necessary to perform any complicated computation based on the cleaning operation. Thus, according to this preferred embodiment, the amount of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41  may be recognized accurately. 
     According to this preferred embodiment, the first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  are provided. Therefore, the end state and also the near-end state of the waste liquid tank  41  are detectable. The near-end state and the end state of the waste liquid tank  41  are detectable step by step, and both of the near-end state and the end state may be recognized accurately. With the printer  10  in this preferred embodiment, the near-end state may be notified to the user as an advance warning, before the waste liquid tank  41  is put into the end state. With such an arrangement, for example, before the waste liquid tank  41  becomes full and the printing operation becomes inexecutable, the user may recognize the possibility that such a situation may occur. The user may discard the waste liquid at any timing after the alarm display is provided on the display screen  10   d  before the error display is provided on the display screen  10   d . This may improve the convenience for the user. 
     In the printer  10  in this preferred embodiment, the support table  43  includes the carrying portion  43   aa , on which the waste liquid tank  41  is to be placed, and the engagement portion  43   e   1  to be displaced downward as the weight of the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank  41  placed on the carrying portion  43   aa  is increased. The support table  43  is movably supported by the base member  42 , and the loading spring  44  is present between the base member  42  and the support table  43 . The loading spring  44  loads the support table  43  such that the engagement portion  43   e   1  is provided with an upward force. 
     The loading spring  44  includes the first end portion  44   a  attached to the base member  42  and the second end portion  44   b  located below the first end portion  44   a  and attached to the engagement portion  43   e   1 . The loading spring  44  is configured to generate a tensile force to pull the second end portion  44   b  upward. The engagement portion  43   e   1  is configured to, when the waste liquid is recovered to the waste liquid tank  41 , be displaced downward against the tensile force of the loading spring  44 . 
     Therefore, according to this preferred embodiment, the structure in which the support table  43  is displaced in accordance with the weight of the waste liquid tank  41  and the displacement is detected easily and accurately may be realized at low cost and in a simple manner. 
     In this preferred embodiment, the base member  42  includes the first base member  42 A and the second base member  42 B, which is attached to the first base member  42 A so as to be positionally adjustable in the up-down direction. The first end portion  44   a  of the loading spring  44  is attached to the second base member  42 B. Therefore, the position in the up-down direction of the second base member  42 B is adjustable to easily adjust the loading force of the loading spring  44 . In the case where, for example, a low-cost loading spring is used as the loading spring  44 , the loading force may vary individually. In this preferred embodiment, the loading force of the loading spring  44  is easily adjustable, and therefore, a low-cost loading spring is usable as the loading spring  44 . The loading force of the loading spring  44  may be adjusted to appropriately set the weight of the waste liquid tank  41  when the support table  43  reaches the first position P 1  and to appropriately set the weight of the waste liquid tank  41  when the support table  43  reaches the second position P 2 . According to this preferred embodiment, the weight of the waste liquid tank  41  detected as being in the near-end state and the weight of the waste liquid tank  41  detected as being in the end state are easily adjustable by merely adjusting the position in the up-down direction of the second base member  42 B. 
     In this preferred embodiment, the support table  43  includes the fulcrum portion  43   p  supported by the base member  42 , and is tiltable with the fulcrum portion  43   p  being the fulcrum. The fulcrum portion  43   p  may be directly supported by the base member  42  or indirectly supported by the base member  42  via another member. According to this preferred embodiment, the support table  43  is displaced little by little along the increase in the weight of the waste liquid tank  41 . The support table  43  is not rapidly displaced. Therefore, the waste liquid may be prevented from splashing from the waste liquid tank  41  as, for example, a reaction to the displacement of the support table  43 . 
     In this preferred embodiment, the carrying portion  43   aa  of the support table  43  is provided between the fulcrum portion  43   p  and the engagement portion  43   e   1 . Distance G 1  between the engagement portion  43   e   1 , to which the loading spring  44  is attached, and the fulcrum portion  43   p  is longer than distance G 2  between the central position  43   am  of the carrying portion  43   aa  and the fulcrum portion  43   p  (see  FIG. 5 ). This allows the loading spring  44  to pull the support table  43  upward with a force smaller than the weight of the waste liquid tank  41 . Therefore, the loading spring  44  may be decreased in the size and the cost. The amount of displacement in the up-down direction of the engagement portion  43   e   1  may be made larger than the amount of displacement in the up-down direction of the carrying portion  43   aa . The engagement portion  43   e   1  is included in the light blocking plate  43   e . According to this preferred embodiment, the amount of displacement of the light blocking plate  43   e  may be guaranteed to be large, and thus the waste liquid tank  41  may be determined as being in the near-end state or in the end state with high precision. 
     In this preferred embodiment, the second sensor  47  is located below the first sensor  46 . As shown in  FIG. 14A , the light blocking plate  43   e  does not need to have the recessed portion  43   n  therein. The first sensor  46  may be configured to be put into the ON state from the OFF state when a bottom edge  43   e   4  of the light blocking plate  43   e  crosses the first optical axis  46   c , and the second sensor  47  may be configured to be put into the ON state from the OFF state when the bottom edge  43   e   4  of the light blocking plate  43   e  crosses the second optical axis  47   c . However, in this case, the light blocking plate  43   e  needs to move downward by height H 1  after the first sensor  46  is put into the ON state before the second sensor  47  is put into the ON state. Therefore, the amount of movement of the light blocking plate  43   e  from the near-end state to the end state needs to be increased, which requires the support table  43  to be displaced significantly. 
     By contrast, in this preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 14B , the light blocking plate  43   e  has the recessed portion  43   n  therein. The first light blocking portion D 1  is provided above the recessed portion  43   n , and the second light blocking portion D 2  is provided below the recessed portion  43   n . The light blocking plate  43   e  includes the first light blocking portion D 1  to be detected by the first sensor  46  when the support table  43  reaches the first position P 1 , and also includes the second light blocking portion D 2 , which is located below the first light blocking portion D 1  and is to be detected by the second sensor  47  when the support table  43  reaches the second position P 2 . Therefore, the light blocking plate  43   e  merely needs to move by height H 2  after the first sensor  46  is put into the ON state before the second sensor  47  is put into the ON state. H 2 &lt;H 1 . According to this preferred embodiment, the amount of movement of the light blocking plate  43   e  from the near-end state to the end state is small. The amount of displacement of the support table  43  may be small. Therefore, the waste liquid mechanism  40  may be decreased in the size. 
     In this preferred embodiment, the first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  each include a photosensor. Therefore, the displacement of the support table  43  may be detected quickly and accurately. 
     In this preferred embodiment, in the state where the support table  43  is at the initial position P 0 , distance L 1  in the up-down direction between the bottom edge D 1   b  of the first light blocking portion D 1  and the first optical axis  46   c  is shorter than distance L 2  in the up-down direction between the bottom edge D 2   b  of the second light blocking portion D 2  and the second optical axis  47   c  (see  FIG. 9 ). With such an arrangement, while the light blocking plate  43   e  is moved downward, the first sensor  46  is first put into an ON state and then the second sensor  47  is put into an ON state. Therefore, as the waste liquid is accumulated in the waste liquid tank  41 , the first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  may be put into the ON state sequentially. 
     In this preferred embodiment, the engagement portion  43   e   1  to be displaced downward along with the increase in the weight of the waste liquid tank  41 , the first light blocking portion D 1  to be detected by the first sensor  46  and the second light blocking portion D 2  to be detected by the second sensor  47  are defined by one light blocking plate  43   e . Therefore, the above-described effects may be provided with a simple structure. 
     In this preferred embodiment, the operation prohibitor  56  is provided, which in the case where the second determinator  54  determines that the waste liquid tank  41  is in the end state, prohibits the printing operation of causing the ink to be injected from the nozzles  22   a  and the cleaning operation of causing the ink to be discharged from the nozzles  22   a . With such an arrangement, the waste liquid tank  41  may be prevented from being overflown with the waste liquid, and thus the inside of the printer  10  and the area around the printer  10  may be prevented from being contaminated with the waste liquid. 
     Preferred Embodiment 2 
     Now, another preferred embodiment in which the structure of the waste liquid mechanism  40  is different will be described. A printer  10  according to preferred embodiment 2 and the printer according to preferred embodiment 1 are different in the structure of the waste liquid mechanism  40 , but are the same in the other components. Thus, the components other than the waste liquid mechanism  40  will not be described below. Components and portions that have the same functions as those in preferred embodiment 1 will bear the same reference signs thereto, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , like in preferred embodiment 1, a waste liquid mechanism  40  in preferred embodiment 2 includes the waste liquid tank  41 , the support table  43  supporting the waste liquid tank  41 , the base member  42  movably supporting the support table  43 , the loading spring  44 , the first sensor  46 , and the second sensor  47 . The base member  42  includes the first base member  42 A and the second base member  42 B. 
     In this preferred embodiment, a right wall  42   g  extending upward vertically is provided to the right of the bottom wall  42   a  of the first base member  42 A. A fulcrum shaft  42   a   2  extending forward is attached to the rear wall  42   r  of the first base member  42 A. Although not shown, a fulcrum shaft  42   a   2  extending rearward is attached to the front wall of the first base member  42 A. The lateral plate portion  43   a  of the support table  43  is tiltably supported by these fulcrum shafts  42   a   2 . The support table  43  is tiltably supported by the base member  42  indirectly via the fulcrum shafts  42   a   2 . In this preferred embodiment, the fulcrum shafts  42   a   2  are each defined by a screw. It should be noted that each of the fulcrum shafts  42   a   2  may be any shaft that is capable of tiltably supporting the lateral plate portion  43   a , and is not limited to having any specific structure. The fulcrum shafts  42   a   2  may be solid or hollow. In this preferred embodiment, the support table  43  is tilted with the fulcrum shafts  42   a   2  being the fulcrum. The portions, of the support table  43 , that are in contact with the fulcrum shafts  42   a   2  act as the fulcrum portion  43   p  of the support table  43 . 
     In this preferred embodiment, the lateral plate portion  43   a  of the support table  43  includes an extending portion  43   ab  in addition to the carrying portion  43   aa . The carrying portion  43   aa  is a portion on which the waste liquid tank  41  to be is placed (in other words, a portion to overlap the waste liquid tank  41  as seen from above) in the state where the support table  43  is at the initial position. In  FIG. 15 , straight line  43   ax  represents a border between the carrying portion  43   aa  and the extending portion  43   ab . The extending portion  43   ab  extends rightward from the carrying portion  43   aa . The carrying portion  43   aa  and the extending portion  43   ab  of the support table  43  have a size with which the waste liquid tank  41  may be placed thereon without interfering with the bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34 . In this preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 15 , as seen along the tilting center line  43   pc  of the support table  43  in the state where the support table  43  is at the initial position P 0 , a distance L 43  between a position  43   ac , of the carrying portion  43   aa , just below the bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34  and an end  43   ad  of the extending portion  43   ab  is longer than a length L 41  of a bottom surface  41   b  of the waste liquid tank  41 . In this preferred embodiment, the support table  43  is relatively long in the left-right direction. The length in the left-right direction of the lateral plate portion  43   a  is longer than the length in the left-right direction of the waste liquid tank  41 , and is, for example, at least about 1.5 times of the length in the left-right direction of the waste liquid tank  41 . In this preferred embodiment, the waste liquid tank  41  is slidable in the left-right direction on the support table  43 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , in the state where the support table  43  is at the initial position P 0 , the bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34  is inserted into the neck portion  41   h  of the waste liquid tank  41 . In the state where the support table  43  is at the initial position P 0 , the opening  41   i  of the waste liquid tank  41  is located above the bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34 . By contrast, as shown in  FIG. 16 , in a state where the support table  43  is tilted to the maximum possible degree, the bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34  is disengaged from the neck portion  41   h  of the waste liquid tank  41 . In this preferred embodiment, the support table  43  is configured such that in the state where the support table  43  is tilted to the maximum possible degree, the waste liquid tank  41  is slidable from the extending portion  43   ab  side to the carrying portion  43   aa  side (namely, from the right to the left) without interfering with the bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34 . In order to avoid the interference, in the state where the support table  43  is tilted to the maximum possible degree, at least a portion, of the waste liquid tank  41 , that is to the left of the bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34  is located below straight line K, which passes the bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34  (more strictly, a bottom end of the bottom end portion  34   d ) and is parallel to the carrying portion  43   aa  of the support table  43 . 
     According to this preferred embodiment, the waste liquid tank  41  may be installed as follows. First, as shown in  FIG. 17 , the waste liquid tank  41  is placed on the lateral plate portion  43   a  of the support table  43  from above at a position off from a position just below the waste liquid passage  34 . Namely, the waste liquid tank  41  is placed on a right portion of the lateral plate portion  43   a  from above. At this point, at least a portion of the waste liquid tank  41  is located on the extending portion  43   ab . [ 011 U] Next, as shown in  FIG. 18 , the waste liquid tank  41  is pressed downward to tilt the support table  43 . 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 16 , the waste liquid tank  41  is slid leftward on the support table  43  while the waste liquid tank is pressed downward (namely, while the support table  43  is tilted). At this point, the neck portion  41   h  of the waste liquid tank  41  is located below the straight line K. Therefore, the waste liquid tank  41  does not collide against the waste liquid passage  34 . The waste liquid tank  41  may be moved to a position just below the waste liquid passage  34  without being disturbed by the waste liquid passage  34 . 
     In a final step, the force of pressing the waste liquid tank  41  is weakened or nullified. For example, the hand is taken off from the waste liquid tank  41 . This causes the support table  43  to be pulled upward by the loading spring  44 . As a result, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34  is inserted into the neck portion  41   h  of the waste liquid tank  41 . In this manner, the waste liquid tank  41  is installed. 
     The waste liquid tank  41  is removed by a procedure opposite to the procedure described above. Namely, the waste liquid tank  41  is moved in the order shown in  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 17 . In this manner, the waste liquid tank  41  may be moved to a position off from the position just below the waste liquid passage  34  by merely sliding the waste liquid tank  41  on the lateral plate portion  43   a  of the support table  43 . Therefore, the waste liquid tank  41  does not need to be pivoted in order to avoid the interference of the neck portion  41   h  of the waste liquid tank  41  with the bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34 . 
     According to this preferred embodiment, in order to be installed or removed, the waste liquid tank  41  does not need to be pivoted so as to avoid the bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34 . The waste liquid tank  41  may be merely slid on the lateral plate portion  43   a  of the support table  43  to move the waste liquid tank  41  to the position just below the waste liquid passage  34 , or to a position off from the position just below the waste liquid passage  34 . This allows the waste liquid tank  41  to be installed or removed easily. Especially, in order to be removed, the waste liquid tank  41  having a large amount of waste liquid stored therein does not need to be pivoted. This prevents the waste liquid from being spilt from the waste liquid tank  41 , and improves the ease of work in handling the waste liquid tank  41 . According to this preferred embodiment, the tiltable support table  43  and the loading spring  44  are effectively usable as a measure to allow the waste liquid tank  41  to be installed or removed easily. 
     According to this preferred embodiment, in order to be installed or removed, the waste liquid tank  41  does not need to be pivoted so as to avoid the bottom end portion  34   d  of the waste liquid passage  34 . The waste liquid tank  41  may be merely slid on the lateral plate portion  43   a  of the support table  43  to move the waste liquid tank  41  to the position just below the waste liquid passage  34 , or to a position off from the position just below the waste liquid passage  34 . This allows the waste liquid tank  41  to be installed or removed easily. According to this preferred embodiment, the tiltable support table  43  and the loading spring  44  are effectively usable as a measure to allow the waste liquid tank  41  to be installed or removed easily. 
     The printers  10  according to the preferred embodiments have been described above. The inkjet printers according to preferred embodiment of the present invention is not limited to any of these printers. The present invention may be carried out based on the contents disclosed herein and the technological common knowledge in the art. The technology defined in the claims encompasses various modifications and alterations of the above-described preferred embodiments. For example, portions of the above-described preferred embodiments may be combined together, or a portion of any one of above-described preferred embodiments may be replaced with another preferred embodiment. Another preferred embodiment may be added to any one of the above-described preferred embodiments. A technological feature may be appropriately deleted unless such a technological feature is described as being indispensable. 
     For example, in the above-described preferred embodiments, the first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  are each a normally-off-type photosensor, and are respectively configured to be changed from the OFF state to the ON state when detecting the first light blocking portion D 1  and the second light blocking portion D 2 . The first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  are not limited to such a sensor. The first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  may be normally-on-type photosensors, and may respectively be configured to be changed from the ON state to the OFF state when detecting the first light blocking portion D 1  and the second light blocking portion D 2 . 
     In the above-described preferred embodiments, the first sensor  46  and the second sensor  47  preferably each include a photosensor, but are not limited to such a sensor. The first sensor  46  and/or the second sensor  47  may be, for example, a non-contact sensor or a contact sensor. The first sensor  46  and/or the second sensor  47  may be, for example, an angular sensor directly detecting a tilting angle of the support table  43 , a position sensor detecting the position of the support table  43 , a switch detecting the tilt of the support table  43 , or the like. In the above-described preferred embodiments, the number of the sensors is two. Alternatively, the number of the sensors may be three, or four or greater. 
     In the above-described preferred embodiments, the second sensor  47  is located below the first sensor  46 , and the second light blocking portion D 2  is located below the first light blocking portion D 1 . The sensors  46  and  47  and the light blocking portions D 1  and D 2  are not limited to this. The second sensor  47  may be located above the first sensor  46 , and the second light blocking portion D 2  may be located above the first light blocking portion D 1 . Even in such preferred embodiment, distance L 1  in the up-down direction between the bottom edge D 1   b  of the first light blocking portion D 1  and the first optical axis  46   c  of the first sensor  46  may be set shorter than distance L 2  in the up-down direction between the bottom edge D 2   b  of the second light blocking portion D 2  and the second optical axis  47   c  in the state where the support table  43  is at the initial position P 0 . In this manner, the near-end state and the end state may be detected step by step. 
     In the above-described preferred embodiments, the loading spring  44  is a tension spring pulling the support table  43  upward. Alternatively, the loading spring  44  may be a compression spring pressing the support table  43  upward. 
     In the above-described preferred embodiments, the arm portion  42   c   2  of the second base member  42 B is located below the arm portion  42   d  of the first base member  42 A. The arm portions  42   c   2  and  42   d  are not limited to this. The arm portion  42   c   2  of the second base member  42 B may be located above the arm portion  42   d  of the first base member  42 A. 
     In the above-described preferred embodiments, the printer  10  is configured such that the carriage  19  moves in the left-right direction Y and the table  25  moves in the front-rear direction X. The printer  10  is not limited to this. The carriage  19  and the table  25  move relative to each other, and either one of the carriage  19  and the table  25  may move in the left-right direction Y or in the front-rear direction X. Alternatively, for example, the table  25  may be unmovable, and the carriage  19  may move both in the left-right direction Y and in the front-rear direction X. 
     In the above-described preferred embodiments, the printer  10  is of a so-called shuttle type (serial type), in which the ink heads  22  are mounted on the carriage  19  and move back and forth in the left-right direction Y (shuttle movement) to perform printing. The printer  10  is not limited to this. The technology disclosed herein is also applicable to, for example, a so-called line-type printer, which includes a line head that is wider than, or as wide as, the printing target  25   a , and performs printing with the line head being secured. 
     In the above-described preferred embodiments, the printer  10  includes the ultraviolet lamps  23 . The ultraviolet lamps  23  are not indispensable and may be omitted. In the case where the ultraviolet lamps  23  are omitted, ink other than the UV ink may be stored in the ink cartridges  21 . 
     In the above-described preferred embodiments, the printer  10  is of a flat-bed type, and the waste liquid mechanism  40  and the waste liquid tank  41  are located inside the printer  10 . The printer  10  is not limited to this.  FIG. 19  shows a printer  60  of a so-called roll-to-roll type. The printer  60  transports a roll-type medium as the printing target. In the case of the printer  60 , the waste liquid mechanism  40  and the waste liquid tank  41  are located outside the printer  60 . 
     The printer  10  is not limited to a printer used independently, and may be combined with another device. For example, the printer  10  may include a cutting head that cuts the printing target  25   a.    
     In the above-described preferred embodiments, inkjet printers are described as examples. The waste liquid mechanism  40  is also applicable to a wide variety of devices using an inkjet method other than the inkjet printer, for example, various production devices, production devices of electronic devices, three-dimensional printing devices (so-called 3D printers), measuring devices, pharmaceutical drug absorbing devices, and the like. 
     In the above-described preferred embodiments, the liquid to be recovered to the waste liquid tank  41  is, for example, a waste liquid containing waste ink discharged from the ink heads  22 . The liquid to be recovered to the waste liquid tank  41  is not limited to this. The liquid to be recovered to the waste liquid tank  41  may be a liquid other than ink, for example, a washing liquid for washing the nozzles  22   a  of the ink heads  22  or the like, a functional organic solution, a pharmaceutical drug, a resin solution, or the like. 
     While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.