Patent Publication Number: US-2021170755-A1

Title: Liquid container

Description:
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2019-222736, filed Dec. 10, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a liquid container that stores an absorber configured to absorb liquid. 
     2. Related Art 
     Ink jet printers normally generate waste ink during head cleaning for preventing decreases in print quality caused by liquid (ink) clogging or during ink charging after ink cartridge exchange. To avoid accumulation of such waste ink in the internal system or the like, ink jet printers have a waste-ink collecting mechanism including an absorber (e.g., JP-A-2003-80728) for absorbing waste ink. The absorber described in JP-A-2003-80728 is a nonwoven fabric made of synthetic fiber. 
     However, when the absorber described in JP-A-2003-80728 is used in a liquid container for collecting waste ink, the absorber described in JP-A-2003-80728 has a room for improvement in holding the absorbed ink, and the ink may leak out after being absorbed by the absorber. 
     SUMMARY 
     A liquid container includes: a case having a liquid introduction port through which liquid is introduced and a storage portion that stores the liquid; and an absorber stored in the case and configured to absorb the liquid. The absorber includes multiple absorbent resins that swell by absorbing the liquid and a substrate that supports the absorbent resins and allows the liquid to permeate therethrough. With the absorbent resins swelling by absorbing the liquid, at least some of the absorbent resins are spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins. 
     A liquid container includes: a case having a liquid introduction port through which liquid is introduced and a storage portion that stores the liquid; and an absorber stored in the case and configured to absorb the liquid. The absorber includes: a first resin group in which multiple absorbent resins that swell by absorbing the liquid are arranged in a line in a first direction; a second resin group in which multiple absorbent resins that swell by absorbing the liquid are arranged in a line in the first direction with a space between the second resin group and the first resin group; and a substrate that supports the first resin group and the second resin group and allows the liquid to permeate therethrough. With the absorbent resins swelling by absorbing the liquid, at least some of the absorbent resins of the first resin group are spaced apart from the absorbent resins of the second resin group. 
     A liquid container includes: a case having a liquid introduction port through which liquid is introduced and a storage portion that stores the liquid; and an absorber stored in the case and configured to absorb the liquid. The absorber includes: a first ring-shaped resin group in which multiple absorbent resins that swell by absorbing the liquid are arranged in a ring shape; a second ring-shaped resin group in which multiple absorbent resins that swell by absorbing the liquid are arranged in a ring shape with a space between the second ring-shaped resin group and the first ring-shaped resin group; and a substrate that supports the first ring-shaped resin group and the second ring-shaped resin group and that allows the liquid to permeate therethrough. With the absorbent resins swelling by absorbing the liquid, at least some of the absorbent resins of the first ring-shaped resin group are spaced apart from the absorbent resins of the second ring-shaped resin group. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a printing apparatus having a liquid container according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional view of another absorber. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional view of still another absorber. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional view of a large sheet. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber after the absorber absorbs ink. 
         FIG. 7  is another schematic sectional view of the absorber after the absorber absorbs ink. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic plan view of the absorber after the absorber absorbs ink. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber having a multilayer structure according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic plan view of a first permeable member. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic plan view of a first absorber. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic plan view of a second permeable member. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic plan view of a second absorber. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber according to a fourth embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic plan view of the absorber according to the fourth embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic sectional view of the absorber after the absorber absorbs ink. 
         FIG. 18  is another schematic plan view of the absorber after the absorber absorbs ink. 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber according to a fifth embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a schematic plan view of the absorber according to the fifth embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  is a schematic plan view of an absorber according to a sixth embodiment. 
         FIG. 22  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber according to a seventh embodiment. 
         FIG. 23  is a schematic plan view of the absorber according to the seventh embodiment. 
         FIG. 24  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber according to an eighth embodiment. 
         FIG. 25  is a schematic plan view of a first substrate. 
         FIG. 26  is a schematic plan view of a second substrate. 
         FIG. 27  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber according to a ninth embodiment. 
         FIG. 28  is a schematic sectional view of the absorber after the absorber absorbs ink. 
         FIG. 29  is a schematic view of a printing apparatus having a liquid container according to a tenth embodiment. 
         FIG. 30  is a schematic plan view of an absorber according to the tenth embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     1. First Embodiment 
     1.1 Overview of Printing Apparatus 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a printing apparatus  200  is an ink jet color printer. The printing apparatus  200  includes an ink ejecting head  201  which ejects an ink Q, a capping unit  202  which prevents clogging of nozzles  201   a  of the ink ejecting head  201 , a liquid container  100  according to this embodiment, and a tube  203  which connects the capping unit  202  and the liquid container  100 . The ink Q is an example liquid in this specification. 
     The ink ejecting head  201  has multiple nozzles  201   a  from which the ink Q is ejected downward. As indicated by solid lines and long dashed double-dotted lines in the figure, the ink ejecting head  201  ejects the ink Q while moving relative to a recording medium (not illustrated), such as a PPC sheet, whereby printing can be performed on the recording medium. 
     When the ink ejecting head  201  is in the standby position indicated by the solid lines in  FIG. 1 , the capping unit  202  sucks the nozzles  201   a  collectively by means of the operation of a roller pump  204  and prevents, for example, clogging of the nozzles  201   a . The tube  203  has flexibility and forms an ink flow path through which the ink Q sucked via the capping unit  202  is discharged into the liquid container  100 . 
     The roller pump  204  is disposed in the middle of the tube  203  and includes a roller unit  204   a  and a holding unit  204   b  which holds the tube  203  between the holding unit  204   b  and the roller unit  204   a . As the roller unit  204   a  rotates, a suction force is generated in the capping unit  202  via the tube  203 . As the roller unit  204   a  continuously rotates, the ink Q sucked from the nozzles  201   a  can be fed to the liquid container  100 . The ink Q sucked via the capping unit  202  is collected as waste liquid in the liquid container  100 . 
     The liquid container  100  includes an absorber  1  configured to absorb the ink Q and a case  9  which stores the absorber  1 . The case  9  has a container  7  and a lid  8  which tightly seals the container  7 . The lid  8  has a connection port  95  in a central portion. The tube  203  is connected to the lid  8  through the connection port  95 . The connection port  95  is a through-hole that passes through the lid  8  in the thickness direction. The space defined by the container  7  and the lid  8  is a storage space  96  in which absorbers  1  are stored. In the storage space  96  of the case  9 , multiple (many) absorbers  1  in the form of small pieces obtained by shredding with a shredder or the like are stored. The ink Q is introduced into the storage space  96  of the liquid container  100  through the connection port  95  and absorbed by the absorbers  1  stored in the storage space  96 . The connection port  95  is an example liquid introduction port in this specification, and the storage space  96  is an example storage portion in this specification. 
     As described above, the liquid container  100  includes the case  9  having a liquid introduction port (connection port  95 ) through which the ink Q is introduced and a storage portion (storage space  96 ) that stores the ink Q. The liquid container  100  further includes multiple absorbers  1  stored in the case  9  and configured to absorb the ink Q. In the following description, among the absorbers  1  stored in the storage space  96 , absorbers  1  disposed near the connection port  95  are referred to as upper absorbers  1 , absorbers  1  disposed away from the connection port  95  as lower absorbers  1 , and absorbers  1  disposed between the upper absorbers  1  and the lower absorbers  1  as middle absorbers  1 . In the storage space  96  of the case  9 , a section where the upper absorbers  1  are disposed is referred to as an upper side, and a section where the lower absorbers  1  are disposed is referred to as a lower side. In  FIG. 1 , the upper absorbers  1  are shaded, and the lower absorbers  1  are hatched. In  FIG. 1 , the middle absorbers  1  are shown in solid white. 
     The liquid container  100  is what is called a waste liquid tank and detachably attached to the printing apparatus  200 . When the amount of ink Q absorbed by the liquid container  100  reaches the limit, the liquid container  100  in which the amount of ink Q absorption reaches the limit can be replaced with an unused or new liquid container  100 . In this embodiment, whether the amount of ink Q absorbed by the liquid container  100  has reached the limit is detected by a detector (not illustrated) in the printing apparatus  200 . Specifically, the detector integrates the amount of ink ejected from the ink ejecting head  201  and detects whether the amount of ink Q absorbed by the liquid container  100  has reached the limit from the integrated amount of ejected ink. When the amount of ink Q absorbed by the liquid container  100  reaches the limit, a notification portion (not illustrated), such as a monitor, gives notice that the amount of ink Q absorbed by the liquid container  100  has reached the limit. The notice of the notification portion allows the user to know that the amount of ink Q absorbed by the liquid container  100  has reached the limit, and the user replaces the liquid container  100  absorbing the ink Q with a new liquid container  100 . 
     1.2 Overview of Absorber 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the absorber  1  includes a substrate  2  and absorbent resins  3  carried (supported) on the substrate  2 . In this embodiment, the absorber  1  has a structure in which the absorbent resins  3  are sandwiched between a pair of substrates  2 . The absorber  1  may have a structure in which the absorbent resins  3  are supported on one surface of the substrate  2  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , or may have a structure in which the absorbent resins  3  are supported on both surfaces of the substrate  2  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Since the absorbent resins  3  are sandwiched between a pair of the substrates  2  in this embodiment, the absorbent resins  3  are unlikely to fall out of the substrates  2  compared with the case in which the absorbent resins  3  are not sandwiched between the substrates  2  (the structure illustrated in  FIG. 3  or  FIG. 4 ). This structure allows the absorber  1  to maintain good ink Q absorption properties for a long period of time, and the liquid container  100  storing the absorber  1  can thus absorb and hold the ink Q for a long period of time. 
     The substrate  2  is a fiber assembly, and the ink Q permeates the substrate  2 . Examples of the fiber that constitutes the substrate  2  include fibers made of petroleum-derived materials, such as polyester fibers and polyamide fibers; and fibers made of naturally occurring materials, such as cellulose fibers, keratin fibers, and fibroin fibers. The fiber that constitutes the substrate  2  may be one of these fibers or may be a mixture of these fibers. 
     In this embodiment, cellulose fibers are used as the fiber that constitutes the substrate  2 . Since cellulose fibers can be made by recycling used paper, cellulose fibers are advantageous in, for example, reduction of waste and effective use of resources. The substrate  2  made by recycling used paper is cheaper than the absorbent resins  3  and advantageous in reduction of costs for manufacturing the absorber  1 . In addition, cellulose fibers are biodegradable and can be microbially degraded into low-molecular weight compounds that do not adversely affect the environment. When cellulose fibers, which can be microbially degraded into low-molecular weight compounds that do not adversely affect the environment, are used as the fiber that constitutes the substrate  2 , the environmental burden can be reduced compared with the case of using fibers made of petroleum-derived materials which are difficult to microbially degrade. 
     The cellulose that constitutes the cellulose fiber is a linear polymer compound and has hydroxyl groups at terminals. A cellulose fiber is, for example, an assembly of celluloses bonded to each other through hydrogen bonds and has voids inside. The substrate  2  made of cellulose fiber thus has voids inside and allows the ink Q to permeate therethrough. The substrate  2  made of cellulose fiber deforms under external force. 
     The absorber  1  is prepared by shredding a large sheet M (large substrate  2 ) having the absorbent resins  3  supported thereon into small pieces with scissors, a cutter, a mill, a shredder, or the like. Specifically, a large sheet M having the absorbent resins  3  supported thereon is prepared by spraying the absorbent resins  3  onto the large sheet M to which water, PVA, and glue have been applied in advance. Subsequently, the large sheet M having the absorbent resins  3  supported thereon is fold and pressed to form the large sheet M having a structure in which the absorbent resins  3  are sandwiched between a pair of the substrates  2  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . When the large sheet M having the absorbent resins  3  supported thereon is fold and pressed, the substrate  2  that constitutes the large sheet M deforms, and the absorbent resins  3  are digging into the substrate  2  and firmly supported by the substrate  2 , which makes it difficult for the absorbent resins  3  to fall out of the substrate  2 . Next, the large sheet M is shredded into small pieces with scissors, a cutter, a mill, a shredder, or the like to form the absorber  1  having a structure in which the absorbent resins  3  are sandwiched between a pair of the substrates  2 . 
     The proportion of the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  is not limited and, for example, the absorbent resins  3  may be set in the range of 0.04 g or more and 0.12 g or less when the substrate  2  is in the range of more than 0 g and 0.24 g or less. As the proportion of the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  increases, the density of the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  increases. As the proportion of the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  decreases, the density of the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  decreases. In other words, the density of the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  can be controlled by controlling the proportion of the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2 . 
     The absorbent resin  3  is any resin capable of absorbing the ink Q. Examples of the absorbent resin  3  include carboxymethyl cellulose, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, starch-acrylic acid graft copolymer, hydrolyzed starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymer, vinyl acetate-acrylic acid ester copolymer, isobutylene-maleic acid copolymer, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile copolymers or hydrolyzed acrylamide copolymers, polyethylene oxide, polysulfonic acid compounds, polyglutamic acid, salts (neutralized products) thereof, and cross-linked products thereof. 
     The absorbent resin  3  has a three-dimensional network structure of cross-linked polymers, and the ink Q is incorporated in the three-dimensional network structure. With this structure, the absorbent resin  3  swells when the absorbent resin  3  absorbs the ink Q. The absorbent resin  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q is a deformable and flexible polymer gel and stably holds the ink Q. For example, a nonwoven fabric made of synthetic fiber has voids inside, and the ink Q is incorporated in the voids. The ink Q incorporated in the voids is more weakly held by the nonwoven fabric and more easily released to the outside than the ink Q incorporated in the three-dimensional network structure of the absorbent resin  3 . The ink Q incorporated in the three-dimensional network structure of the absorbent resin  3  is more strongly held by the absorber  1  and more rarely released to the outside than the ink Q incorporated in the voids. Once the ink Q is incorporated into the absorbent resin  3 , the absorbent resin  3  can stably hold the ink Q. 
     The absorbent resin  3  may be in any form, such as a scale form, a needle form, a fiber form, or a particle form. In this embodiment, the absorbent resin  3  in a particle form is used. When the absorbent resin  3  in a particle form is used, the average particle size of the particles is preferably 15 μm or more and 800 μm or less, more preferably 15 μm or more and 400 μm or less, and still more preferably 15 μm or more and 50 μm or less. In this embodiment, the absorbent resin  3  having an average particle size of about 30 μm is used. For example, when the absorbent resin  3  having an average particle size of about 30 μm absorbs the ink Q, the average particle size expands to about 150 μm to 180 μm. In other words, when the absorbent resin  3  absorbs the ink Q, the average particle size of the absorbent resin  3  expands by about 5 to 6 times. 
       FIG. 2  to  FIG. 5  are views of the absorbent resins  3  before the absorbent resins  3  absorb the ink Q, and the absorbent resins  3  do not absorb the ink Q or swell. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the absorbent resins  3  are spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  with the absorbent resins  3  not absorbing the ink Q or swelling. Spaces S are thus provided between the absorbent resins  3  and the adjacent absorbent resins  3 . 
       FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are views of the absorbent resins  3  after the absorbent resins  3  absorb the ink Q, and the absorbent resins  3  swell by absorbing the ink Q. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the absorbent resins  3  are spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q. The spaces S are thus provided between the absorbent resins  3  and the adjacent absorbent resins  3 , and the spaces S are not closed. The spaces S between the absorbent resins  3  and the adjacent absorbent resins  3  function as flow paths for the ink Q. As indicated by the dashed arrow in the figure, the ink Q passes through a space S of the absorber  1  and flows from one surface of the absorber  1  to the other surface of the absorber  1 . In this embodiment, the absorber  1  thus does not inhibit the flow of the ink Q even when the absorbent resins  3  swell by absorbing the ink Q. 
     However, when the density of the absorbent resins  3  on the substrates  2  is high, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the absorbent resins  3  are in contact with the adjacent absorbent resins  3  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, and the spaces  3  between the absorbent resins  3  and the adjacent absorbent resins  3  are closed. Specifically, since the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q are composed of a deformable polymer gel, the absorbent resins  3  swell so as to fill into the spaces S between the absorbent resins  3  and the adjacent absorbent resins  3  when the absorbent resins  3  swell by absorbing the ink Q, and the spaces S between the absorbent resins  3  and the adjacent absorbent resins  3  are closed. Since the flow paths (spaces S) for the ink Q in the absorber  1  are closed, the absorber  1  inhibits the flow of the ink Q, and the ink Q does not flow from one surface of the absorber  1  to the other surface of the absorber  1 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the ink Q introduced through the connection port  95  flows from the upper absorbers  1  shaded in the figure toward the lower absorbers  1  hatched in the figure. The ink Q introduced through the connection port  95  is first absorbed by the upper absorbers  1 , next absorbed by the middle absorbers  1 , and finally absorbed by the lower absorbers  1 . Since the ink Q first flows into the upper absorbers  1 , the amount of ink Q absorbed by the upper absorbers  1  tends to reach the limit more quickly than that absorbed by other absorbers  1 . If the amount of ink Q absorbed by the upper absorbers  1  reaches the limit, and the absorbent resins  3  of the upper absorbers  1  swell to close flow paths (spaces S) for the ink Q, the ink Q introduced through the connection port  95  does not flow toward the middle absorbers  1  or the lower absorbers  1  and thus is not absorbed by the middle absorbers  1  or the lower absorbers  1 . In this case, the amount of ink Q absorbed by the liquid container  100  is low, which generates a problem of failure to achieve the amount of ink Q absorption required for the liquid container  100 . 
     As described above, the detector of the printing apparatus  200  integrates the amount of ink ejected from the ink ejecting head  201  and detects whether the amount of ink Q absorbed by the liquid container  100  has reached the limit from the integrated amount of ink. If the amount of ink Q absorbed by the upper absorbers  1  reaches the limit, and the ink Q introduced through the connection port  95  does not flow toward the middle absorbers  1  or the lower absorbers  1 , the detector does not determine that the amount of ink Q absorbed by the liquid container  100  has reached the limit, and the ink Q is continuously introduced into the liquid container  100  through the connection port  95 . In this case, the flow of the ink Q introduced through the connection port  95  is inhibited by the upper absorbers  1  so that the ink Q does not flow toward the middle absorbers  1  or the lower absorbers  1 , which generates a problem of leakage of the ink Q through the connection port  95 . 
     In this embodiment, the spaces S serving as flow paths for the ink Q are not closed even if the amount of ink Q absorbed by the upper absorbers  1  reaches the limit and the absorbent resins  3  of the upper absorbers  1  swell. Thus, the ink Q introduced through the connection port  95  flows toward the middle absorbers  1  and the lower absorbers  1  and is absorbed by the middle absorbers  1  and the lower absorbers  1 . In this embodiment, this feature avoids a problem in which the liquid container  100  does not absorb the ink Q before the amount of ink Q absorbed by the liquid container  100  reaches the limit. In other words, the liquid container  100  according to this embodiment is free from a problem of failure to achieve the required amount of ink Q absorption and a problem of leakage of the ink Q through the connection port  95 . 
       FIG. 8  is a plan view of the absorbent resins  3 . In  FIG. 8 , the absorbent resins  3  before absorbing the ink Q are shown in dashed lines, and the absorbent resins  3  after absorbing the ink Q are shown in solid lines. The absorbent resins  3  after absorbing the ink Q are shaded. In the following description, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the absorber  1  according to this embodiment includes a total of  25  absorbent resins  3  (absorbent resin  301  to absorbent resin  325 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a total of 25 absorbent resins  3  which constitutes the absorber  1  includes, in order from the lower side in the figure, an absorbent resin  301 , an absorbent resin  302 , an absorbent resin  303 , an absorbent resin  304 , an absorbent resin  305 , an absorbent resin  306 , an absorbent resin  307 , an absorbent resin  308 , an absorbent resin  309 , an absorbent resin  310 , an absorbent resin  311 , an absorbent resin  312 , an absorbent resin  313 , an absorbent resin  314 , an absorbent resin  315 , an absorbent resin  316 , an absorbent resin  317 , an absorbent resin  318 , an absorbent resin  319 , an absorbent resin  320 , an absorbent resin  321 , an absorbent resin  322 , an absorbent resin  323 , an absorbent resin  324 , and an absorbent resin  325 . 
     With the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, a space S is formed by the absorbent resin  307 , the absorbent resin  308 , the absorbent resin  312 , the absorbent resin  313 , the absorbent resin  314 , the absorbent resin  315 , the absorbent resin  318 , the absorbent resin  319 , the absorbent resin  320 , and the absorbent resin  323 . With the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing liquid (ink Q), the absorbent resins  3  that form the space S are absorbent resins  3  spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3 . With regard to, for example, the absorbent resin  307 , with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, the absorbent resin  308 , the absorbent resin  312 , the absorbent resin  313 , the absorbent resin  314 , the absorbent resin  315 , the absorbent resin  318 , the absorbent resin  319 , the absorbent resin  320 , and the absorbent resin  323  are disposed opposite the absorbent resin  307  across the space S and spaced apart from the absorbent resin  307 . In other words, with regard to the absorbent resin  307 , with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, the absorbent resin  308 , the absorbent resin  312 , the absorbent resin  313 , the absorbent resin  314 , the absorbent resin  315 , the absorbent resin  318 , the absorbent resin  319 , the absorbent resin  320 , and the absorbent resin  323  are adjacent to the absorbent resin  307  with the space S therebetween and spaced apart from the absorbent resin  307 . Accordingly, with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, the absorbent resin  308 , the absorbent resin  312 , the absorbent resin  313 , the absorbent resin  314 , the absorbent resin  315 , the absorbent resin  318 , the absorbent resin  319 , the absorbent resin  320 , and the absorbent resin  323  are absorbent resins  3  spaced apart from the absorbent resin  307  and adjacent to the absorbent resin  307 . With the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing liquid (ink Q), the absorbent resin  307  forming the space S is an absorbent resin  3  spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3 . 
     In the state illustrate in  FIG. 8 , the absorbent resin  307 , the absorbent resin  308 , the absorbent resin  312 , the absorbent resin  313 , the absorbent resin  314 , the absorbent resin  315 , the absorbent resin  318 , the absorbent resin  319 , the absorbent resin  320 , and the absorbent resin  323  are absorbent resins  3  forming the space S, are absorbent resins  3  spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, and correspond to absorbent resins spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins in this specification. In the state illustrate in  FIG. 8 , the number of absorbent resins spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins in this specification is  10 . In the liquid container  100  according to this embodiment, at least some of the absorbent resins  3  are spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3 , with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing liquid (ink Q). 
     With the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, the absorbent resins  3  that do not form the space S are absorbent resins  3  in contact with the adjacent absorbent resins  3 . With regard to, for example, the absorbent resin  309  which does not form the space S, with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, the absorbent resin  303 , the absorbent resin  304 , the absorbent resin  308 , the absorbent resin  310 , the absorbent resin  314  are adjacent to the absorbent resin  309  and in contact with the absorbent resin  309 . In other words, the absorbent resins  303 ,  304 ,  308 ,  310 , and  314  adjacent to the absorbent resin  309  are all in contact with the absorbent resin  309  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q. In the state illustrate in  FIG. 8 , the absorbent resin  301 , the absorbent resin  302 , the absorbent resin  303 , the absorbent resin  304 , the absorbent resin  305 , the absorbent resin  306 , the absorbent resin  309 , the absorbent resin  310 , the absorbent resin  311 , the absorbent resin  316 , the absorbent resin  317 , the absorbent resin  321 , the absorbent resin  322 , the absorbent resin  324 , and the absorbent resin  325  are absorbent resins  3  that do not form the space S and are absorbent resins  3  in contact with the adjacent absorbent resins  3  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q. In the state illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the number of absorbent resins  3  in contact with the adjacent absorbent resins  3  is 15, with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q. 
     As described above, the absorbent resin  307 , the absorbent resin  308 , the absorbent resin  312 , the absorbent resin  313 , the absorbent resin  314 , the absorbent resin  315 , the absorbent resin  318 , the absorbent resin  319 , the absorbent resin  320 , and the absorbent resin  323  are absorbent resins  3  spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3 , and the number of absorbent resins spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins in this specification is  10 , with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q. In addition, the total number of absorbent resins  3  that constitute the absorber  1  is 25, and the number of absorbent resins in this specification is 25. In this case, with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, the proportion of the absorbent resins  3  spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  with respect to the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  is 10/25=40%. 
     As the proportion of the absorbent resins  3  spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  with respect to the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q increases, the spaces S serving as flow paths for the ink Q become wider, and it is easier for the ink Q to flow in the absorber  1 . In this case, it is easy to avoid a problem of failure to achieve the required amount of ink Q absorption in the liquid container  100 , and in addition, it is easy to avoid a problem of leakage of the ink Q through the connection port  95 . As the proportion of the absorbent resins  3  spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  with respect to the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q decreases, the spaces S serving as flow paths for the ink Q become narrower, and it is more difficult for the ink Q to flow in the absorber  1 . In this case, it is difficult to avoid a problem of failure to achieve the required amount of ink Q absorption in the liquid container  100 , and in addition, it is difficult to avoid a problem of leakage of the ink Q through the connection port  95 . 
     The studies carried out by the inventors of the present disclosure indicate that, when the proportion of the absorbent resins  3  spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  with respect to the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q is 10% or more and 100% or less, the liquid container  100  stably achieves the required amount of ink Q absorption and stably avoids a problem of leakage of the ink Q through the connection port  95 . Therefore, the proportion of the absorbent resins  3  spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  with respect to the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q may be 10% or more and 100% or less. 
     As the proportion of the absorbent resins  3  spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  with respect to the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q decreases, the amount of the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  increases, and the liquid container  100  can absorb more ink Q. In order for the liquid container  100  to absorb more ink Q, the proportion of the absorbent resins  3  spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  with respect to the absorbent resins  3  supported on the substrate  2  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q may be smaller in the range of 10% or more and 100% or less. 
     As described above, the liquid container  100  according to this embodiment includes: the case  9  having the connection port  95  through which the ink Q is introduced and the storage space  96  which stores the ink Q; and the absorber  1  stored in the case  9  and configured to absorb the ink Q. The absorber  1  includes multiple absorbent resins  3  which swell by absorbing the ink Q, and the substrate  2  which supports the absorbent resins  3  and allows the ink Q to permeate therethrough. In addition, at least some of the absorbent resins  3  are spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3 , with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q. The liquid container  100  according to this embodiment which stores the absorber  1  having such a structure brings about effects of stably achieving the required amount of ink Q absorption and further stably avoiding a problem of leakage of the ink Q through the connection port  95 . 
     2. Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber  10  having a multilayer structure.  FIG. 10  is a schematic plan view of a first permeable member  21 , which is a component of the absorber  10  having a multilayer structure.  FIG. 11  is a schematic plan view of a first absorber  11 , which is a component of the absorber  10  having a multilayer structure.  FIG. 12  is a schematic plan view of a second permeable member  22 , which is a component of the absorber  10  having a multilayer structure.  FIG. 13  is a schematic plan view of a second absorber  12 , which is a component of the absorber  10  having a multilayer structure. In  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 13 , the absorbent resins  3  of the first absorber  11  are shown in dashed lines. In  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , the absorbent resins  3  of the second absorber  12  are shown in dashed lines. The absorber  10  having a multilayer structure in  FIG. 9  is formed by staking the first permeable member  21  in  FIG. 10 , the first absorber  11  in  FIG. 11 , the second permeable member  22  in  FIG. 12 , and the second absorber  12  in  FIG. 13  on top of one another. The absorbent resins  3  illustrated in  FIG. 9  to  FIG. 13  are not absorbing an ink Q or expanding. Referring to  FIG. 9  to  FIG. 13 , the overview of the absorber  10  having a multilayer structure will be described below, mainly focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference characters, and the overlapping description is omitted. 
     In the absorber  10  having a multilayer structure as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the first permeable member  21 , the first absorber  11 , the second permeable member  22 , and the second absorber  12  are stacked on top of one another in the Z direction, which is an example stacking direction, in a case  9  (not illustrated in  FIG. 9 ). The absorbers  11  and  12  and the permeable members  21  and  22  have a rectangular shape long in one direction. In the following description, the transverse direction of the absorbers  11  and  12  and the permeable members  21  and  22 , which intersects the Z direction which is an example stacking direction, is the X direction. The longitudinal direction of the absorbers  11  and  12  and the permeable members  21  and  22 , which intersects the Z direction which is an example stacking direction, is the Y direction. The head side of the arrows indicating the directions is the positive direction, and the tail side of the arrows indicating the directions is the negative direction. 
     The first absorber  11  and the second absorber  12  have the same structure as the absorber  1  according to the first embodiment and each have a structure in which the absorbent resins  3  are sandwiched between a pair of substrates  2 . In other words, the first absorber  11  and the second absorber  12  each have multiple absorbent resins  3 . The absorbers  11  and  12  may have a structure in which the absorbent resins  3  are supported on one surface of the substrate  2  (see  FIG. 3 ) or may have a structure in which the absorbent resins  3  are supported on both surfaces of the substrate  2  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     The first permeable member  21  and the second permeable member  22  are composed of a fiber assembly and allow the ink Q to permeate therethrough. In this embodiment, the first permeable member  21  and the second permeable member  22  are made of the same material as the substrate  2  according to the first embodiment. In other words, the first permeable member  21  and the second permeable member  22  are made of a cellulose fiber. The first permeable member  21  and the second permeable member  22  are made of a material through which the ink Q permeates. Examples of the material include, in addition to cellulose fibers, polyester fibers, polyamide fibers, keratin fibers, and fibroin fibers. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the first permeable member  21  has multiple holes  210  penetrating the first permeable member  21  in the Z direction. The holes  210  are arranged in the X direction and the Y direction. In plan view in the Z direction, the absorbent resins  3  of the first absorber  11  are disposed inside the holes  210  of the first permeable member  21 , and all the absorbent resins  3  of the first absorber  11  overlap the holes  210  of the first permeable member  21 . 
     All the absorbent resins  3  of the first absorber  11  do not necessarily overlap the holes  210  of the first permeable member  21 , and some of the absorbent resins  3  of the first absorber  11  may overlap the holes  210  of the first permeable member  21 . In other words, in plan view in the Z direction, the absorbent resins  3  in the first absorber  11  and the holes  210  in the first permeable member  21  are positioned such that at least some of the absorbent resins  3  in the first absorber  11  overlap the holes  210  in the first permeable member  21 . Specifically, the expression “at least some of the absorbent resins  3  overlap” in this specification means that 60% or more of the absorbent resins  3  of the first absorber  11  overlap the holes  210  of the first permeable member  21  in plan view in the Z direction. Thus, in plan view in the Z direction, 60% or more of the absorbent resins  3  in the first absorber  11  overlap any of the holes  210  in the first permeable member  21 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 12 , the second permeable member  22  has multiple holes  220  penetrating the second permeable member  22  in the Z direction. The holes  220  are arranged in the X direction and the Y direction. In plan view in the Z direction, the absorbent resins  3  of the second absorber  12  are disposed inside the holes  220  of the second permeable member  22 , and all the absorbent resins  3  of the second absorber  12  overlap the holes  220  of the second permeable member  22 . 
     All the absorbent resins  3  of the second absorber  12  do not necessarily overlap the holes  220  of the second permeable member  22 , and some of the absorbent resins  3  of the second absorber  12  may overlap the holes  220  of the second permeable member  22 . In other words, in plan view in the Z direction, the absorbent resins  3  in the second absorber  12  and the holes  220  in the second permeable member  22  are positioned such that at least some of the absorbent resins  3  in the second absorber  12  overlap the holes  220  in the second permeable member  22 . Specifically, 60% or more of the absorbent resins  3  in the second absorber  12  overlap any of the holes  220  in the second permeable member  22  in plan view in the Z direction. 
     In plan view in the Z direction, as illustrated  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 11 , and  FIG. 13 , the absorbent resins  3  in the first absorber  11  and the absorbent resins  3  in the second absorber  12  are respectively disposed in the absorbers  11  and  12  such that the absorbent resins  3  in the first absorber  11  do not overlap the absorbent resins  3  in the second absorber  12 . 
     Since the holes  210  of the first permeable member  21  are disposed in the negative Z direction from the absorbent resins  3  of the first absorber  11 , the absorbent resins  3  of the first absorber  11  tend to expand toward the holes  210  of the first permeable member  21  (in the negative Z direction) when the absorbent resins  3  of the first absorber  11  absorb the ink Q. In other words, the holes  210  in the first permeable member  21  ensure spaces for receiving the expanded absorbent resins  3  of the first absorber  11 . As a result, the absorbent resins  3  are unlikely to come into contact with the adjacent absorbent resins  3  even when the absorbent resins  3  expand by absorbing the ink Q. Since the holes  210  of the first permeable member  21  serve as flow paths for the ink Q, the holes  210  in the first permeable member  21  facilitate the flow of the ink Q in the Z direction. 
     Since the holes  220  of the second permeable member  22  are disposed in the negative Z direction from the absorbent resins  3  of the second absorber  12 , the absorbent resins  3  of the second absorber  12  tend to expand toward the holes  220  of the second permeable member  22  (in the negative Z direction) when the absorbent resins  3  of the second absorber  12  absorb the ink Q. In other words, the holes  220  in the second permeable member  22  ensure spaces for receiving the expanded absorbent resins  3  of the second absorber  12 . As a result, the absorbent resins  3  are unlikely to come into contact with the adjacent absorbent resins  3  even when the absorbent resins  3  expand by absorbing the ink Q. Since the holes  220  of the second permeable member  22  serve as flow paths for the ink Q, the holes  220  in the second permeable member  22  facilitate the flow of the ink Q in the Z direction. 
     As described above, the liquid container according to this embodiment further includes the permeable members  21  and  22  which allow the ink Q to permeate therethrough. The absorbers  11  and  12  and the permeable members  21  and  22  are stacked on top of one another in the Z direction in the case  9 . The permeable members  21  and  22  respectively have the holes  210  and  220  penetrating the permeable members  21  and  22  in the Z direction. In plan view in the Z direction, the absorbent resins  3  in the absorbers  11  and  12  and the holes  210  and  220  in the permeable members  21  and  22  are positioned such that at least some of the absorbent resins  3  in the absorbers  11  and  12  overlap the holes  210  and  220  in the permeable members  21  and  22 . The liquid container according to this embodiment which stores the absorber  10  having a multilayer structure in which two absorbent resins  3  capable of absorbing the ink Q are disposed in the Z direction can absorb more ink Q than the liquid container  100  according to the first embodiment which stores the absorber  1  in which one absorbent resin  3  capable of absorbing the ink Q is disposed in the Z direction. Since the holes  210  and  220  of the permeable members  21  and  22  serve as flow paths for the ink Q and the ink Q easily flows in the Z direction in the absorber  10  having a multilayer structure, the liquid container according to this embodiment which stores the absorber  10  having a multilayer structure brings about effects of stably achieving the required amount of ink Q absorption and further stably avoiding a problem of leakage of the ink Q through the connection port  95 , which are the same effects as in the first embodiment. 
     In this embodiment, the first permeable member  21 , the first absorber  11 , the second permeable member  22 , and the second absorber  12  are stacked on top of one another in the Z direction. However, the absorber  10  is not limited to this structure, and for example, the first permeable member  21  and the first absorber  11  are stacked on top of each other in the Z direction. 
     3. Third Embodiment 
       FIG. 14  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber  1 A according to a third embodiment. The absorbent resins  3  illustrated in  FIG. 14  are not absorbing an ink Q or expanding. Referring to  FIG. 14 , the overview of the absorber  1 A according to this embodiment will be described below, mainly focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference characters, and the overlapping description is omitted. 
     In the absorber  1 A according to the third embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , a first substrate  31  having multiple absorbent resins  3  supported therein and a second substrate  32  having multiple absorbent resins  3  supported therein are stacked on top of each other in the Z direction. Specifically, the first substrate  31  having multiple absorbent resins  3  supported therein has the same structure as the absorber  1  according to the first embodiment and has a structure in which the absorbent resins  3  are sandwiched between a pair of substrates  2 . Similarly, the second substrate  32  having multiple absorbent resins  3  supported therein has the same structure as the absorber  1  according to the first embodiment and has a structure in which the absorbent resins  3  are sandwiched between a pair of substrates  2 . In the absorber  1 A according to the third embodiment, the first substrate  31  having a structure in which the absorbent resins  3  are sandwiched between a pair of the substrates  2  and the second substrate  32  having a structure in which the absorbent resins  3  are sandwiched between a pair of the substrates  2  are stacked on top of each other in the Z direction. 
     In plan view in the Z direction, the absorbent resins  3  supported in the first substrate  31  and the absorbent resins  3  supported in the second substrate  32  are positioned such that the absorbent resins  3  supported in the first substrate  31  do not overlap the absorbent resins  3  supported in the second substrate  32 . In other words, in plan view in the Z direction, the absorbent resins  3  are disposed in each of the first substrate  31  and the second substrate  32  such that the absorbent resins  3  of the first substrate  31  overlap spaces S of the second substrate  32  and the absorbent resins  3  of the second substrate  32  overlap spaces S of the first substrate  31 . 
     In plan view in the Z direction, the absorbent resins  3  supported in the first substrate  31  and the absorbent resins  3  supported in the second substrate  32  may be positioned such that some of the absorbent resins  3  supported in the first substrate  31  do not overlap the absorbent resins  3  supported in the second substrate  32 . In other words, in plan view in the Z direction, the absorbent resins  3  supported in the first substrate  31  and the absorbent resins  3  supported in the second substrate  32  may be positioned such that at least some of the absorbent resins  3  supported in the first substrate  31  do not overlap the absorbent resins  3  supported in the second substrate  32 . The expression “at least some of the absorbent resins  3  do not overlap” in this specification means that, in plan view in the Z direction, 60% or more of the absorbent resins  3  supported in the first substrate  31  do not overlap the absorbent resins  3  supported in the second substrate  32 , and 60% or more of the absorbent resins  3  supported in the second substrate  32  do not overlap the absorbent resins  3  supported in the first substrate  31 . 
     In a case in which the absorbent resins  3  of the first substrate  31  overlap the spaces S of the second substrate  32  in plan view in the Z direction, the spaces S of the second substrate  32  ensure spaces for receiving the expanded absorbent resins  3  of the first substrate  31  when the absorbent resins  3  of the first substrate  31  swell by absorbing the ink Q. As a result, the absorbent resins  3  of the first substrate  31  are unlikely to come into contact with the adjacent absorbent resins  3  of the first substrate  31 , which makes it difficult to close the spaces S which serve as flow paths for the ink Q. In a case in which the absorbent resins  3  of the second substrate  32  overlap the spaces S of the first substrate  31  in plan view in the Z direction, the spaces S of the first substrate  31  ensure spaces for receiving the expanded absorbent resins  3  of the second substrate  32  when the absorbent resins  3  of the second substrate  32  swell by absorbing the ink Q. As a result, the absorbent resins  3  of the second substrate  32  are unlikely to come into contact with the adjacent absorbent resins  3  of the second substrate  32 , which makes it difficult to close the spaces S which serve as flow paths for the ink Q. 
     As described above, the absorber  1 A in the liquid container according to this embodiment includes the first substrate  31  having multiple absorbent resins  3  supported therein and the second substrate  32  having multiple absorbent resins  3  supported therein. The first substrate  31  and the second substrate  32  are stacked on top of each other in the Z direction in the case  9  (not illustrated in  FIG. 14 ). In plan view in the Z direction, the absorbent resins  3  supported in the first substrate  31  and the absorbent resins  3  supported in the second substrate  32  are positioned such that at least some of the absorbent resins  3  supported in the first substrate  31  do not overlap the absorbent resins  3  supported in the second substrate  32 . The liquid container that stores the absorber  1 A in which two absorbent resins  3  capable of absorbing the ink Q are disposed in the Z direction can absorb more ink Q than the liquid container  100  according to the first embodiment which stores the absorber  1  in which one absorbent resin  3  capable of absorbing the ink Q is disposed in the Z direction. Therefore, the liquid container according to this embodiment brings about great effects of absorbing more ink Q in addition to the effects according to the first embodiment of stably achieving the required amount of ink Q absorption and further stably avoiding a problem of leakage of the ink Q through the connection port  95 . 
     It can also be said that the absorber  1 A according to this embodiment has the same structure as the absorber  10  having a multilayer structure according to the second embodiment without the permeable members  21  and  22 . In this embodiment and the second embodiment, two absorbent resins  3  are stacked on top of each other in the Z direction. However, the number of the absorbent resins  3  stacked in the Z direction is not limited to two, and the number of the absorbent resins  3  stacked in the Z direction may be more than two. 
     In the absorber  10  having a multilayer structure according to the second embodiment described above and the absorber  1 A according to the third embodiment, the absorbent resins  3  to be supported on the substrates  2  need to be positioned at predetermined positions. For example, since water, PVA, glue, and the like function as adhesives for fixing the absorbent resins  3  to the substrate  2 , water, PVA, glue, and the like are applied at predetermined positions of the substrate  2  by using a dispenser or the like, and the absorbent resins  3  are then sprayed on the substrate  2 , whereby the absorbent resins  3  to be supported on the substrate  2  can be positioned at predetermined positions. For example, the absorbent resins  3  can be positioned by providing openings or recesses in the substrate  2  and fitting the absorbent resins  3  into the openings or recesses. 
     Specifically, the absorbent resins  3  to be supported on the substrate  2  can be positioned at predetermined positions by forming openings or recesses at predetermined positions of the substrate  2  using a needle or the like and then spraying the absorbent resins  3 . 
     4. Fourth Embodiment 
       FIG. 15  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber lB according to a fourth embodiment.  FIG. 16  is a schematic plan view of the absorber lB according to this embodiment.  FIG. 17  is a schematic sectional view of the absorber lB according to this embodiment.  FIG. 18  is another schematic plan view of the absorber lB according to this embodiment. In  FIG. 15 , absorbent resin groups  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , and  46  before absorbing an ink Q are shaded and shown in solid lines. In  FIG. 16 , the absorbent resin groups  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , and  46  before absorbing the ink Q are shaded and shown in solid lines, and the absorbent resin groups  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , and  46  after absorbing the ink Q are shown in dashed lines. In  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18 , the absorbent resin groups  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , and  46  after absorbing the ink Q are shaded and shown in solid lines. Referring to  FIG. 15  to  FIG. 18 , the overview of a liquid container according to this embodiment will be described below, mainly focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference characters, and the overlapping description is omitted. In the following description, the absorbent resin groups  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , and  46  may be referred to as absorbent resin groups  40 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16 , the absorber  1 B according to this embodiment includes substrates  2  and the absorbent resin groups  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , and  46  supported on the substrates  2 . The absorber  1 B has the same structure as the absorber  1  according to the first embodiment and has a structure in which the absorbent resin groups  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , and  46  are sandwiched between a pair of the substrates  2 . The absorbent resin groups  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , and  46  are each composed of multiple absorbent resins  3  arranged in a line in the Y direction. The absorbent resin groups  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , and  46  each have a strip shape long in the Y direction. It can also be said that the absorbent resin groups  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , and  46  each include multiple absorbent resins  3 , which swell by absorbing the ink Q, arranged in a line in the Y direction. The Y direction is an example first direction in this specification. 
     In the absorber  1 B, the absorbent resin group  41 , the absorbent resin group  42 , the absorbent resin group  43 , the absorbent resin group  44 , the absorbent resin group  45 , and the absorbent resin group  46  are arranged at regular intervals in the X direction. In other words, the absorbent resin groups  40  extending in lines in the Y direction are arranged at regular intervals in the X direction in the absorber  1 B. Spaces S are formed between the absorbent resin group  41  and the absorbent resin group  42 , between the absorbent resin group  42  and the absorbent resin group  43 , between the absorbent resin group  43  and the absorbent resin group  44 , between the absorbent resin group  44  and the absorbent resin group  45 , and between the absorbent resin group  45  and the absorbent resin group  46 . Such absorbent resin groups  40  can be formed by spraying the absorbent resins  3  on the substrate  2  to which water, PVA, and glue have been applied in advance in lines in the Y direction. 
     In the first embodiment described above, at least some of the absorbent resins  3  of the absorber  1  are spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  when the absorbent resins  3  swell by absorbing the ink Q. In this embodiment, the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin groups  40  come into contact with the adjacent absorbent resins  3  instead of being spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  when the absorbent resins  3  swell by absorbing the ink Q. In other words, the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin groups  40  in this embodiment are more densely arranged than the absorbent resins  3  of the absorber  1  according to the first embodiment. The absorbent resin groups  40  in which the absorbent resins  3  are densely arranged can absorb more ink Q compared with the case in which the absorbent resins  3  are sparsely arranged. 
     Of course, the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin groups  40  according to this embodiment may be such that at least some of the absorbent resins  3  are spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  when the absorbent resins  3  swell by absorbing the ink Q, like the absorbent resins  3  of the absorber  1  according to the first embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17 , the absorbent resin groups  40  are spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resin groups  40  with the absorbent resin groups  40  swelling by absorbing the ink Q. When the absorbent resin groups  40  swell by absorbing the ink Q, spaces S are thus provided between the absorbent resin groups  40  and the adjacent absorbent resin groups  40 , and the spaces S are not closed. The spaces S between the absorbent resin groups  40  and the adjacent absorbent resin groups  40  functions as flow paths for the ink Q. As indicated by the dashed arrow in the figure, the ink Q passes through a space S of the absorber lB and flows from one surface of the absorber lB to the other surface of the absorber lB. In other words, the absorber lB thus does not inhibit the flow of the ink Q even when the absorbent resin groups  40  swell by absorbing the ink Q. 
     With regard to, for example, the absorbent resin group  42 , the absorbent resin groups  41  and  43  are adjacent to the absorbent resin group  42 . In this case, the absorbent resin group  42  includes multiple absorbent resins  3 , which swell by absorbing the ink Q, arranged in a line in the Y direction and corresponds to an example “first resin group” in this specification. The absorbent resin groups  41  and  43  include multiple absorbent resins  3 , which swell by absorbing the ink Q, arranged in lines in the Y direction with the spaces S between the absorbent resin groups  41  and  43  and the absorbent resin group  42  and correspond to example “second resin groups” in this specification. In the liquid container (absorber  1 B) according to this embodiment, the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin group  42  are spaced apart from the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin groups  41  and  43  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q. 
     With regard to, for example, the absorbent resin group  43 , the absorbent resin groups  42  and  44  are adjacent to the absorbent resin group  43 . In this case, the absorbent resin group  43  includes multiple absorbent resins  3 , which swell by absorbing the ink Q, arranged in a line in the Y direction and corresponds to an example “first resin group” in this specification. The absorbent resin groups  42  and  44  include multiple absorbent resins  3 , which swell by absorbing the ink Q, arranged in lines in the Y direction with the spaces S between the absorbent resin groups  42  and  44  and the absorbent resin group  42  and correspond to example “second resin groups” in this specification. In the liquid container (absorber  1 B) according to this embodiment, the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin group  43  are spaced apart from the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin groups  42  and  44  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 18 , some of the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin group  42  may be spaced apart from the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin groups  41  and  43  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q. Similarly, some of the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin group  43  may be spaced apart from the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin groups  42  and  44  with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q. In other words, at least some of the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin group  40  that is an example first resin group are spaced apart from the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin group  40  that is an example second resin group with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q. 
     As described above, the liquid container according to this embodiment includes: the case  9  having the connection port  95  through which the ink Q is introduced and the storage space  96  which stores the ink Q; and the absorber lB stored in the case  9  and configured to absorb the ink Q. The absorber lB includes: the first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ) in which multiple absorbent resins  3 , which swell by absorbing the ink Q, are arranged in a line in the Y direction; the second resin groups (e.g., absorbent resin groups  41  and  43 ) in which multiple absorbent resins  3 , which swell by absorbing the ink Q, are arranged in lines in the Y direction with the spaces S between the second resin groups and the first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ); and the substrates  2  which support the first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ) and the second resin groups (e.g., absorbent resin groups  41  and  43 ) and allow the ink Q to permeate therethrough. With the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, at least some of the absorbent resins  3  of the first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ) are spaced apart from the absorbent resins  3  of the second resin groups (e.g., absorbent resin groups  41  and  43 ). The liquid container according to this embodiment which stores the absorber lB having such a structure brings about effects of stably achieving the required amount of ink Q absorption and further stably avoiding a problem of leakage of the ink 
     Q through the connection port  95 , which are the same effects as in the first embodiment. 
     5. Fifth Embodiment 
       FIG. 19  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber  1 C according to a fifth embodiment.  FIG. 20  is a schematic plan view of the absorber  1 C according to this embodiment. In  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20 , absorbent resin groups  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 , and  45  of a first substrate  61  are hatched and shown in dashed lines, and absorbent resin groups  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , and  46  of a second substrate  62  are shaded and shown in solid lines.  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20  illustrate the absorbent resin groups  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , and  46  before absorption of an ink Q. Referring to  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20 , the overview of a liquid container according to this embodiment will be described below, mainly focusing on the differences from the fourth embodiment. The same components as those in the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference characters, and the overlapping description is omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20 , the absorber  1 C according to this embodiment includes the first substrate  61  and the second substrate  62 . The first substrate  61  and the second substrate  62  are stacked on top of each other in the Z direction in a case  9  (not illustrated in  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20 ). The first substrate  61  supports a first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ) and second resin groups (e.g., absorbent resin groups  41  and  43 ). Similarly, the second substrate  62  supports a first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ) and second resin groups (e.g., absorbent resin groups  41  and  43 ). 
     In plan view in the Z direction, absorbent resin groups  40  supported in the first substrate  61  and absorbent resin groups  40  supported in the second substrate  62  are positioned such that the absorbent resin groups  40  supported in the first substrate  61  do not overlap the absorbent resin groups  40  supported in the second substrate  62 . In other words, in plan view in the Z direction, the absorbent resin groups  40  are disposed in each of the first substrate  61  and the second substrate  62  such that the absorbent resin groups  40  of the first substrate  61  overlap spaces S of the second substrate  62  and the absorbent resin groups  40  of the second substrate  62  overlap spaces S of the first substrate  61 . 
     In this embodiment, in plan view in the Z direction, the absorbent resin groups  40  supported in the first substrate  61  and the absorbent resin groups  40  supported in the second substrate  62  are positioned such that the absorbent resin groups  40  supported in the first substrate  61  do not overlap the absorbent resin groups  40  supported in the second substrate  62 . However, the absorbent resin groups  40  supported in the first substrate  61  and the absorbent resin groups  40  supported in the second substrate  62  may be positioned such that portions of the absorbent resin groups  40  supported in the first substrate  61  do not overlap the absorbent resin groups  40  supported in the second substrate  62 . In other words, in plan view in the Z direction, the first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ) and the second resin groups (e.g., absorbent resin groups  41  and  43 ) supported in the first substrate  61  and the first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ) and the second resin groups (e.g., absorbent resin groups  41  and  43 ) supported in the second substrate  62  may be positioned such that at least portions of the first and second resin groups supported in the first substrate  61  do not overlap the first and second resin groups supported in the second substrate  62 . The expression “at least a portion of an absorbent resin group does not overlap” in this specification means that, in plan view in the Z direction, 60% or more of an absorbent resin group  40  supported in the first substrate  61  does not overlap an absorbent resin group  40  supported in the second substrate  62  and 60% or more of an absorbent resin group  40  supported in the second substrate  62  does not overlap an absorbent resin group  40  supported in the first substrate  61 . 
     In a case in which the absorbent resin groups  40  of the first substrate  61  overlap the spaces S of the second substrate  62  in plan view in the Z direction, the spaces S of the second substrate  62  ensure spaces for receiving the expanded absorbent resin groups  40  of the first substrate  61  when the absorbent resin groups  40  of the first substrate  61  swell by absorbing the ink Q. As a result, the absorbent resin groups  40  of the first substrate  61  are unlikely to come into contact with the adjacent absorbent resin groups  40 , which makes it difficult to close the spaces S formed in the first substrate  61 . In a case in which the absorbent resin groups  40  of the second substrate  62  overlap the spaces S of the first substrate  61  in plan view in the Z direction, the spaces S of the first substrate  61  ensure spaces for receiving the expanded absorbent resin groups  40  of the second substrate  62  when the absorbent resin groups  40  of the second substrate  62  swell by absorbing the ink Q. As a result, the absorbent resin groups  40  of the second substrate  62  are unlikely to come into contact with the adjacent absorbent resin groups  40 , which makes it difficult to close the spaces S formed in the second substrate  62 . 
     Since the absorber  1 C according to this embodiment includes two absorbent resin groups  40  in the Z direction and the absorber  1 B according to the fourth embodiment includes one absorbent resin group  40  in the Z direction, the liquid container storing the absorber  1 C according to this embodiment can absorb more ink Q than the liquid container storing the absorber  1 B according to the fourth embodiment. 
     As described above, the absorber  1 C in the liquid container according to this embodiment includes the first substrate  61  which supports the first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ) and the second resin groups (e.g., absorbent resin groups  41  and  43 ) and the second substrate  62  which supports the first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ) and the second resin groups (e.g., absorbent resin groups  41  and  43 ). In addition, the first substrate  61  and the second substrate  62  are stacked on top of each other in the Z direction in the case  9 . In plan view in the Z direction, the first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ) and the second resin groups (e.g., absorbent resin groups  41  and  43 ) supported in the first substrate  61  and the first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ) and the second resin groups (e.g., absorbent resin groups  41  and  43 ) supported in the second substrate  62  are positioned such that at least portions of the first and second resin groups supported in the first substrate  61  do not overlap the first and second resin groups supported in the second substrate  62 . The liquid container according to this embodiment which stores the absorber  1 C having such a structure brings about great effects of absorbing more ink Q in addition to the effects according to the fourth embodiment of stably achieving the required amount of ink Q absorption and further stably avoiding a problem of leakage of the ink Q through the connection port  95 . 
     6. Sixth Embodiment 
       FIG. 21  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 20  and a schematic plan view of an absorber  1 D according to a sixth embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 21 , the overview of a liquid container according to this embodiment will be described below, mainly focusing on the differences from the fifth embodiment. The same components as those in the fifth embodiment are denoted by the same reference characters, and the overlapping description is omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 21 , the absorber  1 D according to this embodiment includes a first substrate  61 A and a second substrate  62  stacked in order in the Z direction. In the second substrate  62  according to this embodiment, absorbent resin groups  40  extending in lines in the Y direction are arranged at regular intervals in the X direction. In the first substrate  61 A according to this embodiment, absorbent resin groups  40  extending in lines in the X direction are arranged at regular intervals in the Y direction. In the second substrate  62  according to the fifth embodiment, absorbent resin groups  40  extending in lines in the Y direction are arranged at regular intervals in the X direction. In the first substrate  61  according to the fifth embodiment, absorbent resin groups  40  extending in lines in the Y direction are arranged at regular intervals in the X direction. 
     In the absorber  1 D according to this embodiment, the absorbent resin groups  40  of the first substrate  61 A intersect the absorbent resin groups  40  of the second substrate  62  in plan view in the Z direction. In the absorber  1 C according to the fifth embodiment, the absorbent resin groups  40  of the first substrate  61  and the absorbent resin groups  40  of the second substrate  62  are positioned such that at least portions of the absorbent resin groups  40  of the first substrate  61  do not overlap the absorbent resin groups  40  of the second substrate  62 . This embodiment differs from the fifth embodiment in the configuration of the absorbent resin groups  40  in the first substrate  61  and  61 A. 
     As described above, the absorber  1 D in the liquid container according to this embodiment includes the first substrate  61 A which supports the first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ) and the second resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  43 ) and the second substrate  62  which supports the first resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  42 ) and the second resin group (e.g., absorbent resin group  43 ). The first substrate  61 A and the second substrate  62  are stacked on top of each other in the Z direction in the case  9 . In plan view in the Z direction, the first resin group and the second resin group supported in the first substrate  61 A intersect the first resin group and the second resin group supported in the second substrate  62 . The liquid container according to this embodiment which stores the absorber  1 D having such a structure brings about the same effects as the liquid container according to the fifth embodiment. 
     7. Seventh Embodiment 
       FIG. 22  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber lE according to a seventh embodiment.  FIG. 23  is a schematic plan view of the absorber lE according to this embodiment. In  FIG. 22  and  FIG. 23 , ring-shaped resin groups  70  are shaded and shown in solid lines.  FIG. 22  and  FIG. 23  illustrate the ring-shaped resin groups  70  before absorption of an ink Q. Referring to  FIG. 22  and  FIG. 23 , the overview of a liquid container according to this embodiment will be described below, mainly focusing on the differences from the fourth embodiment. The same components as those in the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference characters, and the overlapping description is omitted. 
     In this embodiment, substrates  2  have a circular shape. In the fourth embodiment, the substrates  2  have a rectangular shape long in the Y direction. In this embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 22  and  FIG. 23 , multiple absorbent resins  3  which swell by absorbing the ink Q are arranged in a ring shape to form the ring-shaped resin groups  70 . The outer edge of the ring-shaped resin groups  70  has a circular shape. In the fourth embodiment, multiple absorbent resins  3  which swell by absorbing the ink Q are arranged in lines in the Y direction to form the absorbent resin groups  40 . The outer edge of the absorbent resin groups  40  has a rectangular shape long in the Y direction. This point is a different point between this embodiment and the fourth embodiment. The absorber  1 E according to this embodiment has a structure in which the ring-shaped resin groups  70  are sandwiched between a pair of the substrates  2 . This point is the same in this embodiment and the fourth embodiment. 
     The ring-shaped resin groups  70  include a ring-shaped resin group  71  and a ring-shaped resin group  72  inside the ring-shaped resin group  71 . A space S is provided between the ring-shaped resin group  71  and the ring-shaped resin group  72 . The ring-shaped resin group  71  is an example first ring-shaped resin group in this specification. The ring-shaped resin group  72  is an example second ring-shaped resin group in this specification. 
     With the absorbent resins  3  of the ring-shaped resin groups  70  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, at least some of the absorbent resins  3  of the ring-shaped resin group  71 , which is an example first ring-shaped resin group, are spaced apart from the absorbent resins  3  of the ring-shaped resin group  72 , which is an example second ring-shaped resin group. Thus, the absorbent resins  3  even when swelling by absorbing the ink Q do not close the space S or inhibit the flow of the ink Q. In the fourth embodiment, at least some of the absorbent resins  3  are spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3  with the absorbent resins  3  of the absorbent resin groups  40  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, and the absorbent resins  3  even when swelling by absorbing the ink Q do not close the space S or inhibit the flow of the ink Q. This point is the same in this embodiment and the fourth embodiment. 
     As described above, the liquid container according to this embodiment includes: the case  9  having the connection port  95  through which the ink Q is introduced and the storage space  96  which stores the ink Q; and the absorber lE stored in the case  9  and configured to absorb the ink Q. The absorber lE includes: the first ring-shaped resin group (ring-shaped resin group  71 ) in which multiple absorbent resins  3  which swell by absorbing the ink Q are arranged in a ring shape; the second ring-shaped resin group (ring-shaped resin group  72 ) in which multiple absorbent resins  3  which swell by absorbing the ink Q are arranged in a ring shape with the space S between the second ring-shaped resin group and the first ring-shaped resin group; and the substrates  2  which support the ring-shaped resin group  71  and the ring-shaped resin group  72  and allow the ink Q to permeate therethrough. With the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, at least some of the absorbent resins  3  of the ring-shaped resin group  71  are spaced apart from the absorbent resins  3  of the ring-shaped resin group  72 . The liquid container according to this embodiment which stores the absorber lE having such a structure brings about effects of stably achieving the required amount of ink Q absorption and further stably avoiding a problem of leakage of the ink Q through the connection port  95 , which are the same effects as in the fourth embodiment. 
     8. Eighth Embodiment 
       FIG. 24  is a schematic sectional view of an absorber  1 F according to an eighth embodiment.  FIG. 25  is a schematic plan view of a first substrate  91 .  FIG. 26  is a schematic plan view of a second substrate  92 . In  FIG. 24  to  FIG. 26 , ring-shaped resin groups  70  are shaded and shown in solid lines.  FIG. 24  to  FIG. 26  illustrate the ring-shaped resin groups  70  before absorption of an ink Q. Referring to  FIG. 24  to  FIG. 26 , the overview of a liquid container according to this embodiment will be described below, mainly focusing on the differences from the seventh embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 24 , the absorber  1 F according to this embodiment includes the first substrate  91  and the second substrate  92  stacked in order in the Z direction. The first substrate  91  has a structure in which ring-shaped resin groups  70  are sandwiched between a pair of substrates  2  and supports a ring-shaped resin group  71  and a ring-shaped resin group  72  disposed inside the ring-shaped resin group  71 . The second substrate  92  has a structure in which ring-shaped resin groups  70  are sandwiched between a pair of substrates  2  and supports a ring-shaped resin group  73  and a ring-shaped resin group  74  disposed inside the ring-shaped resin group  73 . The ring-shaped resin group  71  of the first substrate  91  and the ring-shaped resin group  73  of the second substrate  92  are example first ring-shaped resin groups in this specification. The ring-shaped resin group  72  of the first substrate  91  and the ring-shaped resin group  74  of the second substrate  92  are example second ring-shaped resin groups in this specification. 
     When the absorbent resins  3  do not absorb the ink Q or swell, in plan view in the Z direction, the ring-shaped resin group  71  and the ring-shaped resin group  72  supported in the first substrate  91  and the ring-shaped resin group  73  and the ring-shaped resin group  74  supported in the second substrate  92  may be positioned such that at least portions of the ring-shaped resin groups  71  and  72  supported in the first substrate  91  do not overlap the ring-shaped resin groups  73  and  74  supported in the second substrate  92 . With the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, at least some of the absorbent resins  3  of the ring-shaped resin groups  71  and  73  which are example first ring-shaped resin groups are spaced apart from the absorbent resins  3  of the ring-shaped resin groups  72  and  74  which are example second ring-shaped resin groups. Thus, the absorbent resins  3  even when swelling by absorbing the ink Q do not close the space S or inhibit the flow of the ink Q. 
     Since the absorber  1 F according to this embodiment includes two ring-shaped resin group  70  in the Z direction and the absorber  1 E according to the seventh embodiment includes one ring-shaped resin group  70  in the Z direction, the liquid container storing the absorber  1 F according to this embodiment can absorb more ink Q than the liquid container storing the absorber  1 E according to the seventh embodiment. 
     As described above, the absorber  1 F according to this embodiment includes the first substrate  91  which supports the first ring-shaped resin group (e.g., ring-shaped resin group  71 ) and the second ring-shaped resin group (e.g., ring-shaped resin group  72 ) and the second substrate  92  which supports the first ring-shaped resin group (e.g., ring-shaped resin group  73 ) and the second ring-shaped resin group (e.g., ring-shaped resin group  74 ). The first substrate  91  and the second substrate  92  are stacked on top of each other in the Z direction in the case  9 . In plan view in the Z direction, the first ring-shaped resin group (ring-shaped resin group  71 ) and the second ring-shaped resin group (ring-shaped resin group  72 ) supported in the first substrate  91  and the first ring-shaped resin group (ring-shaped resin group  73 ) and the second ring-shaped resin group (ring-shaped resin group  74 ) supported in the second substrate  92  are positioned such that at least portions of the first and second ring-shaped resin groups supported in the first substrate  91  do not overlap the first and second ring-shaped resin groups supported in the second substrate  92 . The liquid container according to this embodiment which stores the absorber  1 F having such a structure brings about great effects of absorbing more ink Q in addition to the effects according to the seventh embodiment of stably achieving the required amount of ink Q absorption and further stably avoiding a problem of leakage of the ink Q through the connection port  95 . 
     9. Ninth Embodiment 
       FIG. 27  and  FIG. 28  are schematic sectional views of an absorber  1 G according to a ninth embodiment.  FIG. 27  illustrates an absorbent resin  3 A which does not absorb an ink Q or swell, and  FIG. 28  illustrates the absorbent resin  3 A which swells by absorbing an ink Q. Referring to  FIG. 27  and  FIG. 28 , the overview of a liquid container according to this embodiment will be described below, mainly focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 27  and  FIG. 28 , the absorber  1 G according to this embodiment has a structure in which the absorbent resin  3 A sandwiched between a pair of substrates  2 . The absorber  1 G according to this embodiment further includes stretchable members  6  on both sides of the absorbent resin  3 A. In other words, the absorber  1 G according to this embodiment has a structure in which the stretchable member  6 , the absorbent resin  3 A, and the stretchable member  6  are sandwiched between a pair of the substrates  2 . The number of the absorbent resin  3 A may be one or may be two or more. The number of the stretchable members  6  may be two or may be more than two. 
     The average particle size of the absorbent resin  3 A according to this embodiment is larger than the average particle size of the absorbent resin  3  according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the absorbent resin  3  having an average particle size of about 1000 μm to about 5000 μm is used. Of course, the average particle size of the absorbent resin  3  may be smaller than 1000 μm or may be larger than 5000 μm. The stretchable member  6  is formed by folding a piece of paper composed of a cellulose fiber assembly. When the absorbent resin  3 A expands by absorbing the ink Q, the stretchable members  6  stretch in the Z direction, and the stretchable members  6  deform from the state illustrated in  FIG. 27  into the state illustrated in  FIG. 28 . As a result, as indicated by the dashed arrow in  FIG. 28 , the ink Q flows between the stretchable member  6  and the absorbent resin  3 A even after the absorbent resin  3 A expands by absorbing the ink Q, forming a flow path for the ink Q between the stretchable member  6  and the absorbent resin  3 A. 
     The liquid container according to this embodiment which stores the absorber  1 G having such a structure brings about effects of stably achieving the required amount of ink Q absorption and further stably avoiding a problem of leakage of the ink Q through the connection port  95 , which are the same effects as in the first embodiment. 
     10. Tenth Embodiment 
       FIG. 29  is a schematic view of a printing apparatus  200 A according to a tenth embodiment.  FIG. 30  is a schematic plan view of an absorber  80  stored in a liquid container  100 A according to this embodiment. In  FIG. 29 , a second region  82  of the absorber  80  is hatched. In  FIG. 29  and  FIG. 30 , the transverse direction of the absorber  80  is the X direction, the longitudinal direction of the absorber  80  is the Y direction, and the direction in which an ink Q flows is the Z direction. The Z direction is the direction of gravity. Referring to  FIG. 29  and  FIG. 30 , the overview of a liquid container according to this embodiment will be described below, mainly focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference characters, and the overlapping description is omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 29 , the absorbers  80  having a sheet shape are stored in the liquid container  100 A according to this embodiment, and the absorbers  80  having a sheet shape are stacked on top of one another in the Z direction. In other words, the absorbers  80  stored in the liquid container  100 A are not in the form of small pieces obtained by shredding with a shredder or the like. The absorber  1  stored in the liquid container  100  according to the first embodiment is in the form of small pieces obtained by shredding with a shredder or the like (see  FIG. 1 ). The printing apparatus  200 A according to this embodiment has the same structure as the printing apparatus  200  according to the first embodiment except the form of the absorbers stored in the liquid container. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 30 , the absorber  80  according to this embodiment has a first region  81  and the second region  82  located outside the first region  81 . The first region  81  is away from an outer edge  80   a  of the absorber  80  by a predetermined distance and disposed inside the outer edge  80   a  of the absorber  80 . The first region  81  has a rectangular shape. The region between the first region  81  and the outer edge  80   a  is the second region  82 . The second region  82  has a frame shape. The second region  82  is disposed to surround the first region  81 . 
     The first region  81  and the second region  82  in the absorber  80  each have the same structure as the absorber  1  according to the first embodiment and each have a structure in which the absorbent resins  3  are sandwiched between a pair of substrates  2 . With the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, the first region  81  of the absorber  80  is in the same conditions as the absorber  1  according to the first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 . In other words, in the first region  81  of the absorber  80  according to this embodiment, with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, at least some of the absorbent resins  3  are spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3 , and the spaces S serving as flow paths for the ink Q are not closed. The absorbent resins  3  are sparsely arranged in the first region  81 . As a result, the spaces S serving as flow paths for the ink Q are not closed so that the ink Q flows in the first region  81  of the absorber  80  when the absorbent resins  3  swell by absorbing the ink Q. 
     In the second region  82  of the absorber  80 , with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, the absorbent resins  3  are in contact with the adjacent absorbent resins  3 , and the spaces S serving as flow paths for the ink Q are closed. The absorbent resins  3  are densely arranged in the second region  82 . In the second region  82  of the absorber  80 , the spaces S serving as flow paths for the ink Q are closed so that the ink Q does not flow when the absorbent resins  3  swell by absorbing the ink Q. 
     Returning to  FIG. 29 , the ink Q introduced into a storage space  96  of the liquid container  100 A through the connection port  95  is first absorbed by absorbers  80  (hereinafter referred to as upper absorbers  80 ) disposed in the upper side of the storage space  96 . Since the ink Q flows in the first region  81  of the absorbers  80  even when the absorbent resins  3  swell by absorbing the ink Q, the ink Q flows from the upper absorbers  80  toward absorbers  80  (hereinafter referred to as lower absorbers  80 ) disposed in the lower side of the storage space  96  as indicated by the solid arrow in the figure. Even when the amount of ink Q absorbed by the upper absorbers  80  reaches the limit, and the absorbent resins  3  of the upper absorbers  80  swell, the ink Q introduced through the connection port  95  flows toward the lower absorbers  80  and can be absorbed by all of the absorbers  80  stored in the storage space  96 . Therefore, the liquid container  100 A according to this embodiment brings about effects of stably achieving the required amount of ink Q absorption and further stably avoiding a problem of leakage of the ink Q through the connection port  95 , which are the same effects as in the first embodiment. 
     With the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, the ink Q absorbed by the absorbent resins  3  and the ink Q stored in the spaces S are present in the first region  81 . In the first region  81 , the ink Q absorbed by the absorbent resin  3  is strongly held by the absorbent resins  3 , and the ink Q is unlikely to flow out of the absorber  80 . The ink Q stored in the spaces S is weakly held in the spaces S and more easily flows than the ink Q absorbed by the absorbent resins  3 . For example, when the liquid container  100 A is tilted so that the absorbers  80  having a sheet shape are tilted, the ink Q stored in the spaces S tends to flow out of the first region  81 . 
     With the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, the absorbent resins  3  are in contact with the adjacent absorbent resins  3  so that the spaces S are closed in the second region  82 , and only the ink Q absorbed by the absorbent resin  3  is present in the second region  82 . Thus, the ink Q absorbed by the second region  82  is strongly held by the absorbent resins  3  and unlikely to flow out of the second region  82 . With the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, the second region  82  works as a barrier layer that inhibits the flow of the ink Q. 
     For example, with the liquid container  100 A attached to the printing apparatus  200 A, the posture of the liquid container  100 A is not changed, and the ink Q is stably held in the first region  81  of the absorber  80 . However, when the amount of ink Q absorbed by the liquid container  100 A reaches the limit, and the liquid container  100 A is tilted in order to take out the liquid container  100 A, the ink Q stored in the spaces S of the first region  81  is about to flow out of the first region  81  and possibly leaks out of the liquid container  100 A through the connection port  95 . 
     Since the second region  82  works as a barrier layer that inhibits the flow of the ink Q when the absorbent resin  3  swells by absorbing the ink Q, the second region  82  disposed to surround the first region  81  functions as a kind of embankment for preventing the ink Q stored in the spaces S of the first region  81  from flowing out of the first region  81 . Thus, when the liquid container  100 A is tilted with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, and the ink Q stored in the spaces S of the first region  81  is about to flow out of the first region  81 , the flow of the ink Q stored in the spaces S of the first region  81  is inhibited by the second region  82 . The ink Q stored in the spaces S of the first region  81  is unlikely to flow out of the first region  81 . Threrefore, when the liquid container  100 A is tilted in order to take out the liquid container  100 A, there is less possibility that the ink Q of the first region  81  flows out of the first region  81  and leaks out of the liquid container  100 A through the connection port  95 . 
     As described above, the absorber  80  according to this embodiment includes the first region  81  in which the absorbent resins  3  are sparsely arranged and the second region  82  which is located outside the first region  81  and in which the absorbent resins  3  are densely arranged. In the absorber  80 , with the absorbent resins  3  swelling by absorbing the ink Q, at least some of the absorbent resins  3  in the first region  81  are spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins  3 , and the absorbent resins  3  in the second region  82  are in contact with the adjacent absorbent resins  3 . The liquid container  100 A according to this embodiment which stores the absorber  80  having such a structure brings about great effects of stably avoiding a problem of leakage of the ink Q in the first region  81  from the liquid container  100 A through the connection port  95  when the liquid container  100 A is tilted, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment. 
     The above embodiments can be modified and carried out as described below. The above embodiments and the following modifications can be carried out in combination as long as no technical inconsistency occurs. 
     1) In the above embodiments, the liquid container  100  is not limited to a detachable waste liquid tank and may be, for example, a stationary storage unit provided inside the printing apparatus  200  or may be a liquid container  100  which is separate from the printing apparatus  200  and connected to a tube  203  outside the printing apparatus  200 . 
     2) In the above embodiments, the permeable members and the absorbers are not necessarily stacked on top of one another in the Z direction. For example, the permeable members and the absorbers may be stacked on top of one another in the X direction or may be stacked on top of one another in the Y direction. 
     3) In the above embodiments, the connection port  95  which is an example liquid introduction port is not necessarily formed in the lid  8  and may be, for example, formed on the side surface of the container  7 .