Patent Publication Number: US-9840078-B2

Title: Waste liquid reservoir and liquid ejecting apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a waste liquid reservoir that stores waste liquid, and a liquid ejecting apparatus in which the waste liquid reservoir is mounted. 
     2. Related Art 
     Examples of existing liquid ejecting apparatuses include an ink jet printer configured to perform borderless printing by ejecting ink droplets through nozzles provided in a liquid ejecting head onto a sheet, so as to apply the ink droplets all over the sheet without leaving a margin. When such borderless printing is performed, groove holes are formed in a platen supporting the sheet and a waste liquid tray is provided under the platen, so as to receive the ink droplets that have protruded from the edge of the sheet into an absorber located in the groove hole and introduce the ink received by the absorber into the waste liquid tray, for example as disclosed in JP-A-2004-9700. 
     The waste liquid can be properly introduced into the waste liquid tray by placing an ink absorber in the waste liquid tray and keeping the absorber in the groove hole in contact with the ink. However, in particular when the waste liquid tray is removably mounted, the absorber is displaced by the removal and mounting of the waste liquid tray, which disables the absorber in the groove hole from contacting the ink absorber of the newly mounted waste liquid tray. 
     The mentioned drawback is incidental, not only to printers that eject ink for printing, but generally to liquid ejecting apparatuses in which a liquid collection container for collecting ejected liquid is removably mounted. 
     SUMMARY 
     An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus configured to properly introduce liquid into a liquid collection container removably mounted in the liquid ejecting apparatus. 
     Hereunder, configurations of the liquid ejecting apparatus and advantageous effects thereby provided will be described. 
     In an aspect, the invention provides a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid onto a medium, a mounting portion on which a liquid collection container including an absorber that absorbs liquid is removably mounted, a liquid receiving portion configured to receive the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head, and a relay portion located in a region communicating with the liquid receiving portion. The relay portion is located at a position in contact with the absorber of the liquid collection container mounted in the mounting portion. 
     In the foregoing configuration, the relay portion is located in the region communicating with the liquid receiving portion. Therefore, the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion can be transferred to the relay portion. In addition, the relay portion is located at a position in contact with the absorber of the liquid collection container, and therefore the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion can be absorbed by the absorber of the liquid collection container, through the relay portion. Consequently, the liquid can be properly introduced into the liquid collection container which is removably mounted. 
     The liquid ejecting apparatus may further include a liquid absorber that absorbs the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion, and the liquid absorber may include a main body located in the liquid receiving portion and a liquid guide portion extending from the main body. The relay portion may be located in contact with the liquid guide portion. 
     With the mentioned configuration, the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion can be prevented from splashing around, because the main body of the liquid absorber is accommodated in the liquid receiving portion. In addition, the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion can be transferred to the relay portion through the liquid guide portion extending from the main body of the liquid absorber, while suppressing the splashing of the liquid. 
     In the liquid ejecting apparatus, at least a portion in contact with the absorber and a portion in contact with the liquid absorber in the relay portion may be formed by an osmotic transfer material capable of absorbing liquid utilizing capillary force. 
     With the mentioned configuration, the liquid absorbed into the liquid absorber in the liquid receiving portion can be transferred toward the liquid collection container with the capillary force of the osmotic transfer material provided in the relay portion. In addition, causing the osmotic transfer material to absorb the liquid enables prevention of the splashing of the liquid, in the process of introducing the liquid into the liquid collection container. 
     In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the relay portion may be located at a position subjected to pressing force of the absorber, by being set in contact with the absorber of the liquid collection container mounted in the mounting portion. 
     Setting thus the relay portion at the position subjected to the pressure of the absorber assures that the relay portion and the absorber make contact with each other, even though the position of the relay portion or the absorber is shifted owing to a production error or deformation originating from the liquid absorption. 
     The liquid ejecting apparatus may further include a medium support unit located in a region onto which the liquid ejecting head ejects the liquid, and the medium support unit may include the liquid receiving portion and a support projection protruding with respect to the liquid receiving portion, so as to support the medium. 
     With the mentioned configuration, since the medium support unit includes the liquid receiving portion and the support projection, the liquid that has protruded from the medium supported by the support projection can be received by the liquid receiving portion. 
     In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the relay portion may include a rotatable roller located such that an outer circumferential surface thereof protrudes into inside the mounting portion. 
     With the mentioned configuration, since the outer circumferential surface of the roller of the relay portion protrudes into inside the mounting portion, bringing the roller into contact with the absorber in the liquid collection container mounted in the mounting portion allows the liquid to be introduced into the liquid collection container through the relay portion. 
     In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid collection container may be mounted in the mounting portion by being moved in a mounting direction, and an axial direction of a rotation shaft of the roller may be oriented so as to intersect the mounting direction. 
     With the mentioned configuration, when the liquid collection container is mounted in the mounting portion, the roller having the rotation shaft oriented so as to intersect the mounting direction of the liquid collection container rotates, thereby reducing sliding resistance between the relay portion and the absorber. Therefore, the relay portion can be brought into contact with the absorber without disturbing the mounting operation of the liquid collection container. 
     In another aspect, the invention provides a waste liquid reservoir to be removably mounted in a mounting chamber in a liquid ejecting apparatus that includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid, a waste liquid receiving portion that receives the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head as waste liquid, a discharge unit that discharges the liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head as waste liquid, a substrate connection unit, and the mounting chamber accommodating therein the discharge unit and the substrate connection unit. The waste liquid reservoir includes a waste liquid storage container including a sidewall and a bottom plate defining a waste liquid storage chamber that stores the waste liquid, the waste liquid storage chamber including a waste liquid inlet, located in a ceiling portion of the waste liquid storage chamber and opened toward an insertion direction so as to allow the waste liquid received by the waste liquid receiving portion to be introduced, when the waste liquid reservoir enters the mounting chamber by being moved in the insertion direction, a waste liquid introduction port to be connected to the discharge unit by being moved in the mounting chamber in a connection direction different from the insertion direction, and a circuit board including a connection terminal to be electrically connected to the substrate connection unit by being moved in the connection direction in the mounting chamber. The waste liquid introduction port is located in a front wall of the waste liquid storage container intersecting the sidewall and the bottom plate, and the connection terminal is located in the sidewall of the waste liquid storage container different from the front wall and the ceiling portion. 
     With the mentioned configuration, the connection terminal of the circuit board is located in the sidewall of the waste liquid storage container, different from the ceiling portion where the waste liquid inlet is provided and the front wall where the waste liquid introduction port is provided. Therefore, the waste liquid can be prevented from sticking to the connection terminal. 
     In the waste liquid reservoir, the waste liquid storage container may include a plurality of the waste liquid inlets aligned in the connection direction. 
     Aligning thus the plurality of waste liquid inlets in the connection direction allows the waste liquid to be evenly stored in the waste liquid storage container. 
     In the waste liquid reservoir, the mounting chamber may include a detent portion that detains the waste liquid storage container, the waste liquid storage container may include an engaging portion to be engaged with the detent portion when the waste liquid reservoir moves in the connection direction in the mounting chamber, the engaging portion being located in the ceiling portion, and the connection terminal may be located between the bottom plate and the engaging portion, in the waste liquid storage container. 
     With the mentioned configuration, the waste liquid storage container is restricted from moving in the connection direction, when the engaging portion is engaged with the detent portion. In addition, even when the waste liquid storage container, restricted from moving, is tilted about the engaging portion, the connection terminal is barely displaced because of being located between the bottom plate and the engaging portion. Therefore, defective contact of the connection terminal with the substrate connection unit can be prevented. 
     In the waste liquid reservoir, the mounting chamber may include a guide projection projecting in the connection direction, the waste liquid storage container may include a fitting portion to be engaged with the guide projection when the waste liquid reservoir moves in the connection direction, and the waste liquid introduction port may be located between the fitting portion and the engaging portion in a width direction that is an extending direction of the bottom plate and the front wall of the waste liquid storage container. 
     With the mentioned configuration, the waste liquid storage container is positioned in the mounting chamber by the fitting portion being engaged with the guide projection, when moving in the connection direction. Therefore, locating the waste liquid introduction port between the fitting portion and the engaging portion, which serve as reference for positioning, allows the waste liquid introduction port to be properly connected to the discharge unit. 
     In the waste liquid reservoir, the mounting chamber may include a guide projection projecting in the connection direction, the waste liquid storage container may include a fitting portion to be engaged with the guide projection when the waste liquid reservoir moves in the connection direction, and the waste liquid introduction port, the connection terminal, and the fitting portion may be located in the waste liquid storage container at positions overlapping an imaginary plane extending along the bottom plate. 
     With the mentioned configuration, the waste liquid storage container is positioned in the mounting chamber by the fitting portion being engaged with the guide projection, when moving in the connection direction. Therefore, locating the waste liquid introduction port and the connection terminal on the same imaginary plane on which the fitting portion is located allows the waste liquid introduction port and the connection terminal to be properly connected to the discharge unit and the substrate connection unit, respectively. 
     The waste liquid reservoir may further include a waste liquid transfer portion extending from the waste liquid receiving portion and projecting into the mounting chamber, and an absorber capable of absorbing the waste liquid stored in the waste liquid storage chamber. The absorber may enter into contact with the waste liquid transfer portion by being moved in the connection direction in the mounting chamber. 
     With the mentioned configuration, bringing the absorber into contact with the waste liquid transfer portion allows the waste liquid received by the waste liquid receiving portion to flow along the waste liquid transfer portion to reach the waste liquid storage chamber, thus to be absorbed by the absorber. Such an arrangement suppresses the waste liquid introduced through the waste liquid inlet from splashing around, thereby preventing the waste liquid from sticking to the connection terminal and the substrate connection unit. 
     In still another aspect, the invention provides a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid, a waste liquid receiving portion that receives the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head as waste liquid, a discharge unit that discharges the liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head as waste liquid, a substrate connection unit, and a mounting chamber accommodating therein the discharge unit and the substrate connection unit. The waste liquid reservoir is removably mounted in the mounting chamber. 
     The mentioned configuration suppresses the waste liquid from sticking to the connection terminal and the substrate connection unit of the waste liquid reservoir mounted in the mounting chamber. Therefore, defective connection between the connection terminal and the substrate connection unit, originating from the sticking of the waste liquid, can be prevented. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing a liquid absorber, a medium support unit, and a mounting portion. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting portion and a liquid collection container. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a relay portion. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a variation of the liquid ejecting apparatus. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a liquid ejecting apparatus according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic plan view showing a configuration in a casing provide in the liquid ejecting apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing how the waste liquid reservoir is mounted in the liquid ejecting apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view corresponding to  FIG. 9 , seen from a different position. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view showing an internal configuration of the liquid ejecting apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view corresponding to  FIG. 11 , seen from a different position. 
         FIG. 13  is a left side view of the waste liquid reservoir according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom view of the waste liquid reservoir shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a right side view of the waste liquid reservoir shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view of the waste liquid reservoir shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a waste liquid transfer portion and a waste liquid inlet. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of the waste liquid reservoir mounted in the liquid ejecting apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 19  is a plan view of a mounting chamber and the waste liquid reservoir. 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view showing the waste liquid reservoir shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 21  is a front view of the waste liquid reservoir shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 22  is a rear view of the waste liquid reservoir shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereafter, embodiments of the liquid ejecting apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. The liquid ejecting apparatus is herein exemplified by an ink jet printer that ejects ink, an example of the liquid, onto a medium such as a paper sheet, to thereby record (print) images thereon. 
     First Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the liquid ejecting apparatus  11  includes a casing  12  of a rectangular block box shape, a medium support unit  20  that supports a medium S, a liquid ejecting head  14  having a plurality of nozzles  13  through which liquid is ejected in a form of droplets onto the medium S, a carriage  15  carrying the liquid ejecting head  14  and set to reciprocate, and a guide shaft  16  that guides the movement of the carriage  15 . The medium support unit  20  is located in a region onto which the liquid ejecting head  14  ejects the liquid. 
     In this embodiment, a direction in which the liquid ejecting head  14  ejects the liquid will be defined as ejection direction Z, a direction in which the medium S is transported on the medium support unit  20  will be defined as transport direction Y, and a forward moving direction of the liquid ejecting head  14  will be defined as moving direction X. In this embodiment, the ejection direction Z corresponds to a vertical direction (gravity direction), and the ejection direction Z, the transport direction Y, and the moving direction X intersect (preferably orthogonally) each other. The liquid ejecting apparatus  11  performs printing (recording) by causing the liquid ejecting head  14  to eject the liquid through the nozzles  13 , onto the medium S supported by the medium support unit  20 . 
     The liquid ejecting apparatus  11  includes a maintenance mechanism  30  for maintaining the ejection characteristics of the liquid ejecting head  14  in a good condition, the maintenance mechanism  30  being located on an starting end of the liquid ejecting head  14  in the moving direction X (on the right in  FIG. 1 ). 
     The medium support unit  20  and the maintenance mechanism  30  are aligned along the moving direction X of the liquid ejecting head  14 . The maintenance mechanism  30  includes a cap  31  located on the starting end side in the moving direction X, a wiper  32  located between the cap  31  and the medium support unit  20  in the moving direction X, a suction tube  33  connected to the cap  31 , and a suction pump  34  provided halfway of the suction tube  33 . 
     In this embodiment, the position in the travel range of the liquid ejecting head  14  in the moving direction X where the cap  31  is located will be referred to as home position of the liquid ejecting head  14 , and the starting end side in the moving direction X (on the right in  FIG. 1 ) will be referred to as home side. The terminal end side in the moving direction X (on the left in  FIG. 1 ) will be referred to as opposite side of home. 
     The cap  31  can be moved by a moving mechanism  35  between a retracted position spaced from the liquid ejecting head  14  located at the home position (see  FIG. 2 ) and a capping position where the cap  31  is in contact with the liquid ejecting head  14  so as to surround the nozzles  13 . 
     The cap  31  defines, when located at the capping position, a closed space having openings through the nozzles  13 . Forming thus the closed space having the openings provided by the nozzles  13  with the cap  31  will be referred to as “capping”. When the cap  31  moves from the capping position to the retracted position, the capping is cancelled. 
     When the liquid is not ejected, for example while the power is off, the liquid ejecting head  14  is set at the home position and the cap  31  is set at the capping position to perform the capping, so as to prevent the nozzles  13  from drying. 
     The medium support unit  20  includes a liquid receiving portion  21  of a recessed shape and support projections  23  protruding with respect to the liquid receiving portion  21  so as to support the medium S. A plurality of support projections  23  may be aligned both in the moving direction X and in the transport direction Y. It is preferable to place in the liquid receiving portion  21  a liquid absorber  22  capable of absorbing the liquid thereby received. 
     Whereas the liquid ejecting apparatus  11  according to this embodiment is configured to perform the printing on a plurality of types of medium S different in size (length in the moving direction X and the transport direction Y) from each other, the medium S is transported with a lateral edge running along the opposite side of home irrespective of the size, so that the end portions of the medium S in the moving direction X are located above the liquid absorber  22 . 
     Accordingly, in the case of performing borderless printing by applying the liquid droplets all over the medium S without leaving a margin, the liquid that has not landed on the medium S supported by the support projection  23  after being ejected by the liquid ejecting head  14  is received by the liquid receiving portion  21 . In other words, the liquid receiving portion  21  is configured to receive the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head  14  but protruding from the medium S, in the case of borderless printing. 
     The liquid ejecting head  14  may be configured to perform preliminary dispensing (also referred to as flushing) including dispensing away the liquid unrelated to the printing job, before or after a printing operation, onto the liquid receiving portion  21  or the cap  31  located at the retracted position, to remove or prevent clogging of the nozzles  13 . Thus, the liquid receiving portion  21  receives the liquid that has protruded from the medium S in the borderless printing, as well as the liquid dispensed away in the flushing operation. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the liquid ejecting apparatus  11  includes a box-shaped mounting portion  17  in which a liquid collection container  40  for storing waste liquid is removably mounted, the mounting portion  17  being located under the medium support unit  20 , an introduction needle  18  located at a downstream end of the suction tube  33 , to introduce the waste liquid into the liquid collection container  40 , and a relay portion  50  located in a region communicating with both of the liquid receiving portion  21  and the mounting portion  17 . 
     When the liquid collection container  40  is inserted in the mounting portion  17  from a lower position of the casing  12 , and then horizontally moved in a mounting direction (to the right in  FIG. 2 ) toward the introduction needle  18 , as indicated by arrows in  FIG. 2 , a joint portion  43  is connected to the introduction needle  18 . At this point, the liquid collection container  40  is set in the liquid ejecting apparatus  11 . The position reached by the liquid collection container  40  by the horizontal movement in the mounting direction, where the introduction needle  18  is properly inserted in the joint portion  43 , will be referred to as mounting position of the liquid collection container  40  in the liquid ejecting apparatus  11 . 
     The maintenance mechanism  30  performs maintenance operations including discharging the liquid from the liquid ejecting head  14  as waste liquid, in order to keep the ejection characteristics of the liquid ejecting head  14  in a good condition. For example, the maintenance mechanism  30  performs suction cleaning, by driving the suction pump  34  with the cap  31  set at the capping position, thereby forcibly causing the liquid in the liquid ejecting head  14  to flow out through the nozzles  13 . 
     The liquid ejecting apparatus  11  is also configured to perform pressure cleaning, by pressurizing the liquid in the liquid ejecting head  14  so as to cause the liquid to flow out through the nozzles  13 . The cleaning operations, such as the suction cleaning and the pressure cleaning may be performed during initial loading of filling the flow path as far as the nozzles  13  with the liquid, or performed in a form of manual cleaning by the user, for example for the purpose of resolving defective ejection originating from the clogging of the nozzles  13 . In addition, the cleaning may be periodically performed at predetermined intervals in time. 
     After the cleaning, open suction is performed by driving the suction pump  34  again with the space inside the cap  31  opened to the atmosphere, for example with the cap  31  set at the retracted position, so as to suck the waste liquid remaining in the cap  31 . The liquid which has flowed out of the liquid ejecting head  14  as result of the cleaning and the open suction is stored in the liquid collection container  40  through the suction tube  33 , as waste liquid containing bubbles and components dissolved in the thickened liquid. 
     The liquid collection container  40  includes a storage case  41  having an opening on one side (upper side in the mounted state), a lid member  42  attached to the opening of the storage case  41 , the joint portion  43  into which the introduction needle  18  is inserted when the liquid collection container  40  is mounted, and absorbers  44  and  45  capable of absorbing liquid and vertically superposed on each other in the storage case  41 . The number, the size, and the shape of the absorbers  44  and  45  may be modified as desired. 
     The lid member  42  includes one or a plurality of insertion holes  42   a . The absorber  44  located right under the lid member  42  includes insertion holes  44   a  formed so as to correspond to the respective insertion holes  42   a . It is preferable that the joint portion  43  is located in the vicinity of the bottom portion of the storage case  41  and in contact with the absorber  45  located under the absorber  44 . Here, cutaway portions  45   a  may be formed in a part of the absorber  45  in the liquid collection container  40 , and biasing members  46  (e.g., coil spring) that bias the absorbers  44  and  45  toward the relay portion  50  may be provided in the respective cutaway portions  45   a.    
     The medium support unit  20  includes slots  21   a  formed in the inner bottom portion of the liquid receiving portion  21  which is recessed, at positions respectively corresponding to the insertion holes  42   a  and  44   a . The liquid absorber  22  includes a main body located in the liquid receiving portion  21  and a plurality of liquid guide portions  22   a  each extending from the main body through the slot  21   a  and hanging downward in the medium support unit  20 . It is preferable to locate the liquid guide portion  22   a  in the vicinity of a region in the moving direction X where the liquid protruding from the medium S is received when the borderless printing is performed. 
     The mounting portion  17  includes through holes  17   a  formed at positions respectively corresponding to the liquid guide portions  22   a . The relay portion  50  is located in the through hole  17   a , in contact with the liquid guide portion  22   a  extending from the liquid absorber  22 . Thus, the region where the relay portion  50  is located communicates with the liquid receiving portion  21  via the slot  21   a , and with the inner space of the mounting portion  17  via the through hole  17   a.    
     As show in  FIG. 3 , the relay portion  50  includes a roller  52  having a rotation shaft  51 , and a sheet  53  covering the outer circumferential surface of the roller  52 , and the rotation shaft  51  of the roller  52  is rotatably supported by the mounting portion  17 , with the outer circumferential surface of the roller  52  covered with the sheet  53  protruding into the mounting portion  17 . It is preferable that the sheet  53  is formed by an osmotic transfer material capable of absorbing liquid utilizing capillary force. 
     In this case, it is preferable to set the capillary force of the sheet  53  to be greater than that of the liquid guide portion  22   a  and smaller than that of the absorber  44  (see  FIG. 2 ), to thereby cause the liquid to flow, owing to the capillary force, from the liquid guide portion  22   a  to the relay portion  50 , and then to the absorber  44 . In addition, it is preferable that the axial direction of the rotation shaft  51  of the roller  52  is oriented so as to intersect the mounting direction of the liquid collection container  40  with respect to the mounting portion  17  (e.g., orthogonal to the mounting direction). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the insertion holes  42   a  and  44   a  of the liquid collection container  40  are located so as to respectively correspond to the through holes  17   a  of the mounting portion  17  (such that the openings of the insertion holes  42   a  and  44   a  and the through hole  17   a  are vertically aligned), when the liquid collection container  40  is mounted therein. Here, it is preferable that the insertion hole  42   a  of the lid member  42  is longer in the mounting direction than the insertion hole  44   a  of the absorber  44 . 
     When the liquid collection container  40  is inserted in the mounting portion  17  through the lower portion of the casing  12 , the portion of the relay portion  50  protruding into the mounting portion  17  enters the insertion holes  42   a  and  44   a . Then when the liquid collection container  40  is moved horizontally in the mounting direction, the relay portion  50  climbs upon the absorber  44 , so as to move out from the insertion hole  44   a . When the relay portion  50  climbs upon the absorber  44 , the roller  52  rotates about the rotation shaft  51  to thereby reduce sliding resistance with respect to the absorber  44 . 
     When the relay portion  50  climbs upon the absorber  44 , the roller  52  compressively deforms the absorber  44  via the sheet  53 , and therefore the relay portion  50  is subjected to pressing force of the absorber  44  attempting to restore the shape. 
     By mounting the liquid collection container  40  in the mounting portion  17  through the mentioned process, the relay portion  50  is located such that the sheet  53  is in contact with the absorber  44  of the liquid collection container  40  mounted in the mounting portion  17 . In addition, the relay portion  50  is subjected to the pressing force of the absorber  44 , compressively deformed and attempting to restore the shape, since the sheet  53  is in contact with the absorber  44  of the liquid collection container  40  mounted in the mounting portion  17 . Accordingly, it is preferable that at least the portion of the relay portion  50  in contact with the absorber  44  and in contact with the liquid absorber  22  (liquid guide portion  22   a ) are formed by an osmotic transfer material (sheet  53 ) capable of absorbing liquid utilizing capillary force. 
     Examples of the osmotic transfer material suitable to form the sheet  53  include a nonwoven fabric formed by a synthetic fiber or cotton, and a paper formed by pulp or a porous metal, a mesh sheet (filter) formed by weaving a synthetic fiber or stainless steel. The roller  52  may be formed by a resin or a metal, or a porous material formed by a foamed plastic (foamed material), a nonwoven fabric, a metal, or a ceramic. In the case where the roller  52  is capable of exhibiting sufficient capillary force, the sheet  53  may be excluded from the relay portion  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the sheet  53  wound around the outer circumferential surface of the roller  52  of the relay portion  50  may preferably include a protruding portion  53   a , protruding from one of the end portions opposing each other, in the central portion in the axial direction of the rotation shaft  51 , and a recessed portion  53   b  formed on the other end portion of the sheet  53  so as to accommodate the protruding portion  53   a . Such a configuration prevents the sheet  53  from being caught by the absorber  44 , when the roller  52  rotates under the pressure from the absorber  44 . 
     The liquid ejecting apparatus  11  configured as above provides the following advantageous effects. 
     In the liquid ejecting apparatus  11 , the liquid droplets that have protruded from the edge of the medium S in the borderless printing, and the liquid dispensed away in the flushing operation are received by the liquid receiving portion  21  and absorbed by the liquid absorber  22 , and then absorbed by the sheet  53  of the relay portion  50  after being transferred along the liquid guide portion  22   a . The liquid thus absorbed by the sheet  53  migrates to the absorber  44  disposed in contact with the sheet  53 . 
     In addition, the waste liquid discharged to the cap  31  from the liquid ejecting head  14 , for example in the event of the maintenance work therefor such as cleaning, is driven by the suction pump  34  so as to be stored in the liquid collection container  40  through the suction tube  33 , the introduction needle  18 , and the joint portion  43 , thus to be absorbed by the absorber  45 . 
     As described above, while the waste liquid flowing down along the liquid guide portion  22   a  is absorbed by the absorber  44  through the relay portion  50 , the waste liquid introduced through the joint portion  43  is absorbed by the absorber  45  disposed under the absorber  44 . Therefore, the waste liquid produced inside the transport route and the waste liquid produced outside the transport route can both be efficiently absorbed into the absorbers  44  and  45  provided inside the liquid collection container  40 . 
     When the liquid collection container  40  is fully loaded with the waste liquid, the liquid collection container  40  can be horizontally moved contrary to the mounting direction (to the left in  FIG. 2 ) so as to separate the joint portion  43  from the introduction needle  18 , and then moved downward and drawn out from the mounting portion  17 . Here, when the liquid collection container  40  is drawn out also, the roller  52  of the relay portion  50  is made to rotate by the horizontal movement of the liquid collection container  40 , and therefore the liquid collection container  40  can be smoothly moved despite the absorber  44  being pressed against the relay portion  50 . 
     After the liquid collection container  40  that has been filled is drawn out, an unused liquid collection container  40  is mounted in the mounting portion  17 . Since the relay portion  50  remains protruding into the mounting portion  17  maintaining the contact with the liquid guide portion  22   a  connected to the liquid absorber  22 , even during the removal and mounting of the liquid collection container  40 , the newly mounted liquid collection container  40  can also properly enter into contact with the absorber  44 . 
     The foregoing embodiment provides the following advantageous effects. 
     (1) Since the relay portion  50  is located in the region communicating with the liquid receiving portion  21 , the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion  21  can be transferred toward the relay portion  50 . The relay portion  50  is disposed at a position in contact with the absorber  44  in the liquid collection container  40 , and therefore the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion  21  can be absorbed through the relay portion  50  by the absorber  44  in the liquid collection container  40 . The mentioned configuration allows the liquid to be properly introduced into the liquid collection container  40  which is removably mounted. 
     (2) Locating the main body of the liquid absorber  22  in the liquid receiving portion  21  prevents the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion  21  from splashing around. In addition, the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion  21  can be transferred toward the relay portion  50  along the liquid guide portion  22   a  extending from the main body of the liquid absorber  22 , while suppressing the splashing of the liquid. 
     (3) The liquid absorbed by the liquid absorber  22  in the liquid receiving portion  21  can be transferred toward the liquid collection container  40 , with the capillary force of the sheet  53  formed by the osmotic transfer material and provided around the relay portion  50 . Causing thus the sheet  53  formed by the osmotic transfer material to absorb the liquid prevents the liquid from splashing around when the liquid is introduced into the liquid collection container  40 . 
     (4) Locating the relay portion  50  so as to be subjected to the pressure of the absorber  44  assures that the relay portion  50  and the absorber  44  make contact with each other, even though the position of the relay portion  50  or the absorber  44  is shifted owing to a production error or deformation originating from the liquid absorption. 
     (5) Since the medium support unit  20  includes the liquid receiving portion  21  and the support projection  23 , the liquid that has protruded from the medium S supported by the support projection  23  can be received by the liquid receiving portion  21 . 
     (6) Since the outer circumferential surface of the roller  52  of the relay portion  50  protrudes into inside the mounting portion  17 , bringing the roller  52  into contact with the absorber  44  in the liquid collection container  40  mounted in the mounting portion  17  allows the liquid to be introduced into the liquid collection container  40  through the relay portion  50 . 
     (7) When the liquid collection container  40  is mounted in the mounting portion  17 , the roller  52 , having the rotation shaft  51  oriented so as to intersect the mounting direction of the liquid collection container  40 , rotates, thereby reducing sliding resistance between the relay portion  50  and the absorber  44 . Therefore, the relay portion  50  can be brought into contact with the absorber  44  without disturbing the mounting operation of the liquid collection container  40 . 
     The foregoing embodiment may be modified as variations provided hereunder. Each of the variations and the embodiment may be combined as desired. 
     Referring to the variation shown in  FIG. 6 , the liquid collection container  40  may be mounted in the mounting portion  17  by being moved in the mounting direction (to the right as indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 6 ), through an insertion slot  12   a  formed in the sidewall of the casing  12  of the liquid ejecting apparatus  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a piece of absorber  44  and a piece of absorber  45  may be accommodated in the liquid collection container  40 . Alternatively, a single piece of absorber integrally formed by the absorbers  44  and  45  may be accommodated in the liquid collection container  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the biasing member  46  provided in the liquid collection container  40  may be a leaf spring. In this case, a space for accommodating the biasing member  46  may be provided between the inner bottom portion of the storage case  41  and the absorber  45 , instead of forming the cutaway portion  45   a  in the absorber  45 . With such a configuration, the waste liquid introduced through the joint portion  43  along the space formed between the inner bottom portion of the storage case  41  and the absorber  45  can be spread all over the inner bottom portion of the storage case  41 . 
     The elastic restoring force of the absorbers  44  and  45  compressively deformed by contacting the relay portion  50  may be exclusively used to apply pressure to the relay portion  50 , without providing the biasing member  46  in the liquid collection container  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the relay portion  50  may include a non-rotating core  54  and the sheet  53  wound around the core  54 , instead of the roller  52 . In this case, it is preferable to reduce the sliding resistance in the removal and mounting, for example by forming a portion of the core  54  to be in contact with the absorber  44  in a curved surface. It is also preferable to form a portion of the core  54  to be in contact with the liquid guide portion  22   a  in a flat surface, because the flat surface assures that the contact with the liquid guide portion  22   a  can be achieved. 
     The liquid guide portion  22   a  may be separately formed from the main body of the liquid absorber  22 , and such liquid guide portion  22   a  may be disposed in contact with the liquid absorber  22 , so as to transfer the liquid toward the relay portion  50  from the liquid absorber  22 , through the liquid guide portion  22   a.    
     Instead of providing the sheet  53  around the relay portion  50 , grooves may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the roller  52  by forming, sintering, or cutting, so as to transfer the liquid along the grooves. 
     Instead of providing the liquid guide portion  22   a  in the liquid absorber  22 , and extension extending from the relay portion  50  toward the liquid absorber  22  may be formed, so as to transfer the liquid from the liquid absorber  22  to the relay portion  50  by disposing the extension in contact with the liquid absorber  22 . 
     Instead of accommodating the liquid absorber  22  in the liquid receiving portion  21 , the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion  21  may be caused to drop onto the relay portion  50  through the slot  21   a.    
     While introducing the liquid collected through the liquid receiving portion  21  into the liquid collection container  40 , the waste liquid collected through the cap  31  may be introduced into another container. 
     It is not mandatory to form the liquid receiving portion, configured to receive the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head  14 , as a part of the medium support unit  20 . For example when the liquid ejecting apparatus  11  is not used for the borderless printing, the liquid receiving portion may be provided on the end portion on the opposite side of home with respect to the medium support unit  20  in the travel range of the liquid ejecting head  14 , and the flushing may be performed toward the liquid receiving portion. Locating the relay portion  50  in a region communicating with the liquid receiving portion serving as a flushing box allows the liquid to be introduced through the relay portion  50  into the liquid collection container  40  mounted in the mounting portion  17 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a liquid ejecting apparatus  211  includes a box-shaped casing  212 , an upper lid  213  pivotably attached to the casing  212 , and a front lid  214  also pivotably attached to the casing  212 . The upper lid  213  and the front lid  214  can each be set in a closing position covering the casing  212  and an open position shown in  FIG. 7 , by being made to pivot to a predetermined angle. 
     When the upper lid  213  is set to the open position, an insertion slot  215  through which the medium S is inserted in the casing  212  is exposed. The upper lid  213  set to the open position serves as a support member for supporting the medium S about to be inserted through the insertion slot  215 . 
     When the front lid  214  is set to the open position, a discharge port  216  through which the medium S is discharged from the casing  212  is exposed. The front lid  214  set to the open position serves as a support member for supporting the medium S discharged through the discharge port  216 . 
     Regarding the casing  212 , an outer wall in which the insertion slot  215  is opened will be referred to as upper wall  221 , an outer wall formed substantially parallel to the upper wall  221  will be referred to as bottom plate  222 , an outer wall in which the discharge port  216  is opened will be referred to as forward wall  223 , and an outer wall formed substantially parallel to the forward wall  223  will be referred to as rear wall  224 . In addition, regarding the casing  212 , a pair of outer walls intersecting the upper wall  221 , bottom plate  222 , forward wall  223 , and the rear wall  224  will be referred to as sidewalls  225  and  226 . The face of the casing  212  on the side of the upper wall  221  may be referred to as top face side, and the face of the casing  212  on the side of the bottom plate  222  may be referred to as bottom face side. 
     On the surface of the upper wall  221  (top face side), an operation unit  217  for operating the liquid ejecting apparatus  211 , and a display unit  218  for displaying operation results of the operation unit  217  and operation status of the liquid ejecting apparatus  211  are provided. In addition, a control unit  100  that controls the functional units of the liquid ejecting apparatus  211  is provided on the lower surface of the upper wall  221 , at a position close to the forward wall  223  and the sidewall  225 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the casing  212  includes therein a support member  227  having a medium support unit  227   a , a liquid ejecting head  231  that ejects the liquid onto the medium S supported by the medium support unit  227   a , and a carriage  233  that reciprocates with the liquid ejecting head  231  mounted thereon. The medium support unit  227   a  is composed of a plurality of projections that support the medium S transported along a transport route extending from the insertion slot  215  to the discharge port  216  (indicated by dash-dot-dot lines in  FIG. 8 ). In addition, a guide shaft  234  that guides the movement of the carriage  233  is spanned inside the casing  212 . 
     The liquid ejecting head  231  includes a plurality of nozzles  232  that each eject the liquid in the form of liquid droplets. The liquid ejecting head  231  alternately makes a forward stroke and a backward stroke, the former being made from a home position, set at a first end portion (right end in  FIG. 8 ) of the casing  212  in the longitudinal direction of the casing  212  (left-right direction in  FIG. 8 ), to a second end portion (left end in  FIG. 8 ) in the longitudinal direction, and the latter being made from the second end portion to the home position. 
     In this embodiment, a direction in which the liquid ejecting head  231  ejects the liquid will be defined as ejection direction, a direction in which the medium S is transported on the medium support unit  227   a  from the insertion slot  215  to the discharge port  216  will be defined as transport direction, and a forward moving direction of the liquid ejecting head  231  will be defined as scanning direction. In this embodiment, the ejection direction corresponds to a vertical downward direction (gravity direction). 
     The support member  227  includes a receiving recess  227   b  formed so as to recede around the medium support unit  227   a . It is preferable that a sheet  229  capable of absorbing liquid is accommodated in the receiving recess  227   b . The sheet  229  is formed by a nonwoven fabric or a porous material, and serves to receive the liquid droplets that have protruded from the medium S instead of landing thereon, after being ejected from the liquid ejecting head  231  to the edge portion of the medium S, in the case of performing the borderless printing without leaving a margin along the edge of the medium S. In other words, the receiving recess  227   b  and the sheet  229  serve as a waste liquid receiving portion  230  that receives the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head  231  as waste liquid. Here, the waste liquid received by the waste liquid receiving portion  230  will be referred to as “ejected waste liquid” 
     In the casing  212 , a maintenance mechanism  235  that performs maintenance work for the liquid ejecting head  231  is provided close to the home position. The maintenance mechanism  235  includes a cap  236  located at a position corresponding to the home position, a suction mechanism  238  connected to the cap  236  via the suction tube  237 , a lifting mechanism  239  that moves the cap  236  up and downward, and a wiper  240  that wipes the liquid ejecting head  231 . 
     The lifting mechanism  239  moves the cap  236  between the capping position and the retracted position closer to the bottom plate  222  than is the capping position. When the cap  236  is set to the capping position when the liquid ejecting head  231  is at the home position, the cap  236  defines a closed space in which the nozzles  232  are open (see  FIG. 18 ), thereby preventing the nozzles  232  from drying. Forming thus the closed space having the openings provided by the nozzles  232  with the cap  236  will be referred to as “capping”. When the liquid is not ejected, for example while the power is off, the liquid ejecting head  231  is set at the home position and the cap  236  is set at the capping position to perform the capping. When the cap  236  moves from the capping position to the retracted position, the capping is cancelled. 
     The suction mechanism  238  is constituted of a suction pump including a tube pump, for example formed by an elastically deformable tube, configured to generate suction force by being pressed by a moving pressing member such as a roller. When the suction mechanism  238  is activated in the capping state, the closed space is depressurized and negative pressure is generated. Accordingly, suction cleaning, including discharging the liquid from the liquid ejecting head  231  through the nozzle  232 , is performed. The suction cleaning is performed, for example when the liquid ejection becomes defective owing to intrusion of a bubble, to correct the defective ejection, as a part of the maintenance work. 
     The wiper  240  serves to wipe off foreign matters such as liquid stuck to the liquid ejecting head  231 , after the liquid ejecting head  231  ejects the liquid or after the suction cleaning. The maintenance performed by the wiper  240  to wipe the liquid ejecting head  231  will be referred to as wiping. 
     The maintenance work for correcting the defective ejection further includes flushing, in which the liquid ejecting head  231  dispenses away the liquid droplets toward the cap  236  set at the retracted position or the waste liquid receiving portion  230 . Here, the waste liquid dispensed from the liquid ejecting head  231  as waste liquid in the event of the suction cleaning or the flushing, and discharged by the mechanism  238  after being received by the cap  236 , will be referred to as “sucked waste liquid”. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the liquid ejecting apparatus  211  includes, in the bottom portion of the casing  212 , a mounting chamber  241  in which a waste liquid reservoir  260  is to be removably mounted, and a lid  219  that covers the mounting chamber  241 . The waste liquid reservoir  260  includes a waste liquid storage container  261  for storing both of the ejected waste liquid and the sucked waste liquid. Inside the mounting chamber  241 , a discharge unit  242  that discharges the sucked waste liquid, and a substrate connection unit  243  connected to the control unit  100  via a non-illustrated signal line are provided. 
     The waste liquid reservoir  260  is introduced in the mounting chamber  241  by being moved in an insertion direction N, and mounted in the liquid ejecting apparatus  211  by being moved in a connection direction M in the mounting chamber  241 , different from the insertion direction N. In this embodiment, the insertion direction N represents a direction from the bottom plate  222  toward the upper wall  221 , and the connection direction M represents a direction from the sidewall  226  toward the sidewall  225 . The waste liquid reservoir  260  mounted in the liquid ejecting apparatus  211  is released from the connection by being moved inside the mounting chamber  241  in a direction opposite to the connection direction M (release direction), and taken out of the mounting chamber  241  by being moved in a direction opposite to the insertion direction N (removal direction). Preferably, the waste liquid reservoir  260  may include a handle  266   a  that can be held by the user when moving the waste liquid reservoir  260  inside the mounting chamber  241 . 
     The mounting chamber  241  may include an insertion guide portion  244  for guiding the waste liquid reservoir  260  moving in the insertion direction N, and mounting guide portions  245  and  246  each extending in the connection direction M from the end portion of the insertion guide portion  244  so as to guide the waste liquid reservoir  260  in the connection direction M. In this case, it is preferable to form, in the waste liquid reservoir  260 , a first engaging projection  268  to be engaged with the insertion guide portion  244  and the mounting guide portion  245 , and a second engaging projection  269  to be engaged with the mounting guide portion  246 . 
     It is preferable to form the discharge unit  242  and the substrate connection unit  243  so as to project into the mounting chamber  241  along the connection direction M. In addition, it is preferable to form, in the mounting chamber  241 , a guide projection  247  so as to project in the connection direction M, to position the waste liquid reservoir  260  mounted in the mounting chamber  241 . 
     It is preferable to form one or a plurality of waste liquid transfer portions  248  so as to project into the mounting chamber  241  from the waste liquid receiving portion  230  (see  FIG. 8 ). In the case of providing a plurality of waste liquid transfer portions  248  (four in this embodiment), it is preferable to align the waste liquid transfer portions  248  in the longitudinal direction of the mounting chamber  241  (connection direction M in this embodiment). 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , it is preferable to form, in the mounting chamber  241 , a detent portion  249  that detains the waste liquid storage container  261 . The detent portion  249  may be constituted, for example, of a leaf spring projecting into the mounting chamber  241 . In this case, the detent portion  249  may be configured so as to be engaged with the waste liquid storage container  261  when the waste liquid reservoir  260  which has entered the mounting chamber  241  moves in the connection direction M. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the mounting chamber  241  includes a box-shaped storage frame  228  open toward the bottom face side and located on the bottom face side with respect to the support member  227 . In addition, a slider  250  set to slide along the connection direction M is provided between the support member  227  and the storage frame  228 . The slider  250  includes a transfer projection  251  projecting toward the bottom face side. The transfer projection  251  may be covered with an absorption sheet  253  capable of absorbing liquid. 
     The sheet  229  includes one or a plurality of extensions  229   a  (four in this embodiment) extending toward the bottom face side. A plurality of the sliders  250  may be provided at positions respectively corresponding to the extensions  229   a . The support member  227  includes through holes  227   c  through which the respective extensions  229   a  are passed, and the extensions  229   a  are each formed so as to reach, through the through hole  227   c , the transfer projection  251  of the slider  250  (or the absorption sheet  253  when the absorption sheet  253  is provided). 
     The ejected waste liquid received by the sheet  229  flows downward along the extension  229   a  and the absorption sheet  253  (or the transfer projection  251  when the absorption sheet  253  is not provided). Accordingly, the extension  229   a  of the sheet  229 , the absorption sheet  253  and the transfer projection  251  constitute the waste liquid transfer portion  248 . Here, it is preferable to provide an auxiliary member  254  that presses the extension  229   a  against the transfer projection  251 , to prevent the extension  229   a  from being separated from the absorption sheet  253  when the slider  250  moves (see also  FIG. 17 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , it is preferable to bias the slider  250  in the release direction with a biasing member  252 , for example formed by a spring. In this case, the slider  250  may include a first detent portion  250   a  to be engaged with an end portion of the biasing member  252 , and the storage frame  228  may include a second detent portion  228   a  to be engaged with the other end portion of the biasing member  252 . In addition, the storage frame  228  may include stopper projections  228   b  that each delimit the movement of the slider  250  caused by the biasing member  252 , and the slider  250  may include lugs  250   b  to be abutted against the respective stopper projections  228   b.    
     The storage frame  228  includes through holes  228   c  through which the waste liquid transfer portions  248  are respectively passed. It is preferable to form the through hole  228   c  so as to extend in the connection direction M, to allow the waste liquid transfer portion  248  to move together with the slider  250 . 
     The configuration of the waste liquid reservoir  260  will now be described in detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the waste liquid reservoir  260  includes a waste liquid introduction port  281  through which the sucked waste liquid is introduced, and a circuit board  282  having a connection terminal  282   a . The circuit board  282  includes a non-illustrated storage unit for storing information such as a storage amount of the waste liquid. 
     Marking the moving directions (insertion direction N, connection direction M, and release direction) for the removal and mounting of the waste liquid reservoir  260  by arrows as shown in  FIG. 13  to  FIG. 15  facilitates the handling of the waste liquid reservoir  260 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the waste liquid storage container  261  of the waste liquid reservoir  260  includes a bottom plate  262 , sidewalls  263  and  264 , and a front and a rear wall  265  and  266  defining a waste liquid storage chamber  261   a  for storing the waste liquid, and a lid  267  constituting the ceiling of the waste liquid storage chamber  261   a . The sidewalls  263  and  264  are substantially parallel to each other, and extend in the insertion direction N and the connection direction M. 
     It is preferable to store the circuit board  282  in a recess  283  formed in the sidewall  263  of the waste liquid storage container  261  extending in the connection direction M with an opening oriented in the connection direction M. In addition, a guide projection  283   a  may be formed in the recess  283  so as to extend in the connection direction M. Here, the inner wall of the recess  283  extending in the connection direction M, on which the circuit board  282  is attached, constitutes a part of the sidewall  263 . 
     The waste liquid introduction port  281  is formed in the front wall  265  of the waste liquid storage container  261 , intersecting the sidewalls  263  and  264  and the bottom plate  262 . The waste liquid introduction port  281  is composed of, for example, a through hole  265   a  formed in the front wall  265 , an annular seal member  281   a  surrounding the through hole  265   a , and an annular member  281   b  that fixes the seal member  281   a.    
     Preferably, the waste liquid reservoir  260  may include an absorber  270  capable of absorbing the waste liquid stored in the waste liquid storage chamber  261   a . It is preferable that the absorber  270  includes a first absorber  270 F for absorbing the ejected waste liquid and a second absorber  270 S for absorbing the sucked waste liquid. In addition, it is preferable to provide a shielding sheet  271  between the first absorber  270 F and the second absorber  270 S, to suppress the migration of the liquid. The size and the number of the absorbers  270  ( 270 F,  270 S) may vary depending on the discharge amount of the waste liquid to be absorbed. In this embodiment, for example, four plate-shaped second absorbers  270 S are sequentially stacked in layers from the side of the bottom plate  262 . 
     The waste liquid storage container  261  may include detent projections  261   b  projecting into the waste liquid storage chamber  261   a  from the bottom plate  262 , and detent projection  261   c  projecting into the waste liquid storage chamber  261   a  from the sidewalls  263  and  264  and the rear wall  266 . In this case, cut lines  270   b  and  270   c  may be formed in the second absorbers  270 S so as to be respectively engaged with the detent projections  261   b  and  261   c , and the second absorbers  270 S may be placed in the waste liquid storage chamber  261   a  by respectively inserting the detent projections  261   b  and  261   c  in the cut lines  270   b  and  270   c , in which case the second absorbers  270 S can be prevented from being displaced in the waste liquid storage chamber  261   a . In addition, the shielding sheet  271  may be cut so as to erect segments  271   d , and cut lines  270   d  may be formed in the first absorber  270 F at positions respectively corresponding to the segments  271   d , so that the first absorber  270 F and the shielding sheet  271  may be placed in the waste liquid storage chamber  261   a , with the segments  271   d  inserted in the cut lines  270   d.    
     Locating the shielding sheet  271  so as to be supported by the detent projections  261   b  and  261   c , when placing the first absorber  270 F and the shielding sheet  271  in the waste liquid storage chamber  261   a , allows the first absorber  270 F which has absorbed the waste liquid to be supported by the detent projections  261   b  and  261   c , so as to be prevented from sinking downward owing to the self-weight. In this embodiment, a stepped portion  265   d  is formed on the front wall  265  of the waste liquid storage container  261 , so as to support the shielding sheet  271  also with the stepped portion  265   d  (see also  FIG. 18 ). 
     The lid  267  constituting the ceiling of the waste liquid storage chamber  261   a  includes waste liquid inlets  267   a , having an opening oriented in the insertion direction N so as to allow the ejected waste liquid received by the waste liquid receiving portion  230  (see  FIG. 12 ) to be introduced in the waste liquid storage chamber  261   a , when the waste liquid reservoir  260  is mounted in the mounting chamber  241  (see  FIG. 9 ) by being moved in the insertion direction N (see also  FIG. 18 ). 
     In this embodiment, the waste liquid storage container  261  includes a plurality of (four) waste liquid inlets  267   a  aligned in the connection direction M. The first absorber  270 F includes through holes  270   a  formed at positions respectively corresponding to three of the waste liquid inlets  267   a  out of the four. The remaining one of the four waste liquid inlets  267   a  is located at a position corresponding to an end portion of the first absorber  270 F (leading end in the connection direction M). 
     Referring to  FIG. 17 , insertion projections  267   d  that can be respectively inserted in the cut lines  270   d  of the first absorber  270 F may be formed on the lid  267 , and the lid  267  may be attached with the insertion projections  267   d  inserted in the cut lines  270   d , in which case the shielding sheet  271  and the first absorber  270 F can be prevented from being displaced. In addition, forming protruding portions  267   b  on the lid  267  in a box shape so as to respectively fit in the through holes  270   a  of the first absorber  270 F and with an opening oriented in the release direction further assures that the first absorber  270 F is prevented from being displaced. In  FIG. 17 , the main body of the sheet  229 , the support member  227 , and the storage frame  228  are not illustrated. 
     When the waste liquid reservoir  260  enters the mounting chamber  241  by moving in the insertion direction N as indicated by dash-dot-dot lines in  FIG. 18 , the waste liquid transfer portion  248  projecting into the mounting chamber  241  enters the box-shaped protruding portion  267   b  formed in the waste liquid reservoir  260 . Then when the waste liquid reservoir  260  moves in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber  241  and reaches the position indicated by solid lines in  FIG. 18 , the waste liquid transfer portion  248  comes out through the opening of the protruding portion  267   b  and enters the waste liquid inlet  267   a , thus to contact the first absorber  270 F. 
     In other words, the first absorber  270 F enters into contact with the waste liquid transfer portion  248  as result of the movement in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber  241 . Accordingly, when the waste liquid receiving portion  230  receives the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head  231  as waste liquid, the ejected waste liquid emigrates along the waste liquid transfer portion  248  and is stored in the waste liquid reservoir  260 . 
     In addition, when the waste liquid reservoir  260  moves in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber  241 , the waste liquid introduction port  281  is connected to the discharge unit  242 . In other words, the waste liquid introduction port  281  is connected to the discharge unit  242  as result of the movement of the waste liquid reservoir  260  in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber  241 . Here, a cutaway portion  270   f  may be formed in the second absorber  270 S constituting the lower layer, to secure a space around and under the discharge unit  242  for the waste liquid to flow through, when the discharge unit  242  is inserted into the waste liquid storage container  261 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 19 , the circuit board  282  having the connection terminal  282   a  is located inside the recess  283  formed in the sidewall  263  of the waste liquid storage container  261  extending in the connection direction M, and is electrically connected to the substrate connection unit  243  as result of the movement in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber  241 . Because of such connection, the information about the waste liquid is transmitted and received between the circuit board  282  and the control unit  100  (see  FIG. 9 ). 
     It is preferable that the waste liquid storage container  261  includes an engaging portion  289  to be engaged with the detent portion  249  when the waste liquid reservoir  260  moves in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber  241 . The engaging portion  289  is, for example, composed of a protruding portion and a recessed portion formed in the lid  267  constituting the ceiling of the waste liquid storage chamber  261   a  (see also  FIG. 20 ). 
     It is preferable that the waste liquid storage container  261  includes a fitting portion  287  to be engaged with the guide projection  247  when the waste liquid reservoir  260  moves in the connection direction M (see also  FIG. 20 ). Although the fitting portion  287  according to this embodiment is a recessed portion formed in the front wall  265 , a recessed portion, a protruding portion, or a flat portion formed on the bottom plate  262 , the sidewalls  263  and  264 , or the lid  267  may instead be employed as the fitting portion  287 . 
     In the waste liquid storage container  261 , it is preferable that the waste liquid introduction port  281  is located between the fitting portion  287  and the engaging portion  289  in a width direction W aligned with the direction in which the bottom plate  262  and the front wall  265  extend. 
     Referring to  FIG. 20  and  FIG. 21 , it is preferable that, in the waste liquid storage container  261 , the waste liquid introduction port  281 , the connection terminal  282   a , and the fitting portion  287  are located so as to overlap an imaginary plane P extending parallel to the bottom plate  262 . In other words, when the direction from the bottom plate  262  toward the lid  267  is referred to as height direction, it is preferable to locate the waste liquid introduction port  281 , the connection terminal  282   a , and the fitting portion  287  at the generally same height, and such that the waste liquid introduction port  281 , the connection terminal  282   a , and the fitting portion  287  are aligned in the width direction W in a front view as illustrated in  FIG. 21 . 
     In particular, when the guide projection  247  (see  FIG. 19 ) is engaged with the fitting portion  287  which is recessed, via the upper end of the fitting portion  287 , the position of the waste liquid reservoir  260  in the height direction is determined by the engagement between the guide projection  247  and the fitting portion  287 . Therefore, the position of the waste liquid introduction port  281  and the connection terminal  282   a  can be correctly determined when the waste liquid reservoir  260  is mounted. 
     In addition, locating the connection terminal  282   a  between the bottom plate  262  and the engaging portion  289  in the waste liquid storage container  261  as shown in  FIG. 21  is desirable, because the connection terminal  282   a  can be more accurately positioned in the height direction. 
     It is preferable to form the handle  266   a  so as to project from the rear wall  266  and to extend from the bottom plate  262  in the release direction, as shown in  FIG. 22 . Such a configuration stabilizes the waste liquid reservoir  260  when the waste liquid reservoir  260  is mounted with the bottom plate  262  oriented downward, and therefore the waste liquid can be prevented from leaking through the waste liquid inlet  267   a  opened in the lid  267  and the waste liquid introduction port  281  opened in the front wall  265 , when the waste liquid reservoir  260  is taken out with the waste liquid stored therein. Further, locating the handle  266   a  in the vicinity of the bottom plate  262  allows the top side (the side of the lid  267 ) without the handle  266   a  and the bottom side (the side of the bottom plate  262 ) with the handle  266   a  to be easily distinguished. 
     Further, forming a stepped portion  241   a  in the mounting chamber  241  as shown in  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10 , and  FIG. 18  prevents the waste liquid reservoir  260  from being mounted in the mounting chamber  241  in a wrong posture, because when the waste liquid reservoir  260  is turned upside down the stepped portion  241   a  interferes with the handle  266   a.    
     The waste liquid reservoir  260  and the liquid ejecting apparatus  211  configured as above provide the following advantageous effects. 
     In the waste liquid reservoir  260 , the shielding sheet  271  partitioning the waste liquid storage chamber  261   a  prevents the sucked waste liquid from being absorbed by the first absorber  270 F of the upper layer, thereby allowing the sucked waste liquid to be primarily absorbed by the second absorber  270 S of the lower layer. The shielding sheet  271  also prevents the first absorber  270 F from sinking because of the self-weight, thereby allowing a sufficient contact area between the waste liquid transfer portion  248  and the first absorber  270 F to be stably secured. 
     In the liquid ejecting apparatus  211 , the mounting chamber  241  in which the waste liquid reservoir  260  is mounted is open toward the bottom face side of the casing  212 , and therefore when the waste liquid reservoir  260  is mounted or removed, the casing  212  is turned upside down. Since the waste liquid inlet  267   a  and the waste liquid introduction port  281  are open in the waste liquid reservoir  260 , when the casing  212  is turned upside down with the waste liquid reservoir  260  mounted therein, the waste liquid inlet  267   a  or the waste liquid introduction port  281  may be oriented downward (or obliquely downward). However, the waste liquid stored in the waste liquid reservoir  260  is absorbed by the absorber  270 , and therefore the waste liquid is prevented from leaking through the waste liquid inlet  267   a  and the waste liquid introduction port  281 . 
     Here, a plurality of waste liquid inlets  267   a  are provided, and each of the waste liquid inlets  267   a  has to have a sufficiently large opening space to allow the waste liquid introduction port  281  to pass therethrough, which facilitates the waste liquid to leak. In this embodiment, however, the recess (through hole  270   a ) through which the waste liquid introduction port  281  passes is covered with the box-shaped protruding portion  267   b , and therefore the opening space of the waste liquid inlets  267   a  can be reduced, so that the leakage of the waste liquid is prevented. 
     In the waste liquid reservoir  260 , the ejected waste liquid received by the waste liquid receiving portion  230  is transferred along the waste liquid transfer portion  248  and absorbed by the first absorber  270 F located in contact with the waste liquid transfer portion  248 . Therefore, the waste liquid can be prevented from splashing around in the mounting chamber  241 . As result, the waste liquid barely sticks to the connection terminal  282   a  and the inner wall of the mounting chamber  241 . In addition, since the circuit board  282  is accommodated inside the recess  283 , the waste liquid can be prevented from sticking to the connection terminal  282   a  even though the waste liquid that has leaked drops along the sidewall  263 . 
     When the slider  250  is biased in the release direction by the biasing member  252 , the waste liquid transfer portion  248  is pressed against the first absorber  270 F of the waste liquid reservoir  260  moving in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber  241 . Therefore, the contact between the waste liquid transfer portion  248  and the first absorber  270 F can be assured. 
     The waste liquid reservoir  260  which has moved in the connection direction M inside the mounting chamber  241  is detained in the liquid ejecting apparatus  211  by the engagement between the detent portion  249  and the engaging portion  289 . In the case where the mounting chamber  241  possesses a large space in the width direction W the waste liquid reservoir  260  may tilt about the engaging portion  289 . However, the engagement between the fitting portion  287  and the guide projection  247  suppresses the waste liquid reservoir  260  from tilting. 
     In addition, locating the waste liquid introduction port  281  between the fitting portion  287  and the engaging portion  289  in the width direction W suppresses the displacement of the waste liquid introduction port  281  originating from the tilting of the waste liquid reservoir  260 . Therefore, the leakage of the waste liquid can be prevented while maintaining the connection between the waste liquid introduction port  281  and the discharge unit  242 . Further, locating the connection terminal  282   a  between the bottom plate  262  and the engaging portion  289  suppresses the displacement of the connection terminal  282   a  originating from the tilting of the waste liquid reservoir  260 , and therefore the connection between the connection terminal  282   a  and the substrate connection unit  243  can be maintained. 
     The foregoing embodiment provides the following advantageous effects. 
     Removably mounting the waste liquid reservoir  260  in the liquid ejecting apparatus  211  allows the space for storing the waste liquid (mounting chamber  241 ) to be reduced, compared with the case of providing a fixed waste liquid storage device which is unable to be replaced in the casing  212 . Accordingly, the liquid ejecting apparatus  211  can be made smaller in size. 
     However, when the waste liquid reservoir  260  is replaceable, the waste liquid reservoir  260  may be removed and mounted halfway of the use, which makes the waste liquid more likely to stick to the connection terminal  282   a . Further, although providing the waste liquid inlet  267   a  and the waste liquid introduction port  281  in the waste liquid reservoir  260  allows both of the ejected waste liquid and the sucked waste liquid to be collected, the risk of the waste liquid leakage is increased, by providing two openings (for the waste liquid inlet  267   a  and the waste liquid introduction port  281 ) for introducing the waste liquid, in the waste liquid reservoir  260 . 
     However, the connection terminal  282   a  of the circuit board  282  is located on the sidewall  263 , which is different from the lid  267  including the waste liquid inlet  267   a  and the front wall  265  including the waste liquid introduction port  281 , and therefore the waste liquid barely sticks to the connection terminal  282   a.    
     The foregoing embodiment may be modified as variations provided hereunder. The configuration according to the embodiment and the configuration according to the variations may be combined as desired, and also the configurations according to the variation may be combined. 
     When the sheet  229  is not placed in the receiving recess  227   b , the waste liquid transfer portion  248 , the slider  250 , the absorption sheet  253 , the auxiliary member  254 , and the protruding portion  267   b  may be excluded, so that the waste liquid drops into the waste liquid inlet  267   a  through the through hole  227   c ,  228   c.    
     The waste liquid transfer portion  248  may be substituted with a different member disposed in contact with the sheet  229 . For example, a member that transfers the liquid from the slider  250  may be provided so as to extend toward the top face side and to contact the sheet  29 . 
     The liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head  14  may be, without limitation to the ink, a liquid-phase material containing particles of a functional material dispersed or mixed therein. For example, a liquid-phase material containing, dispersed or dissolved therein, an electrode material or a color material (pixel material) employed for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an electroluminescence (EL) display, or a field emission display may be ejected for recording. 
     The medium S is not limited to the paper sheet, but may instead be a plastic film, a thin plate material, or a fabric used with a printing machine. 
     The medium S may be transported with a lateral edge running along the home-side end, or with the center of the medium S aligned with the center of the transport route. 
     The liquid ejecting apparatus  11  may be a line-head printer having a line head including a plurality of liquid ejecting heads  14  aligned such that the printing range covers the entire width of the medium S. In this case, a cap capable of receiving the liquid and a medium support unit including a liquid receiving portion may be alternately moved to a region onto which the line head ejects the liquid, to receive the liquid. 
     The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-007093, filed Jan. 18, 2016 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-173390, filed Sep. 6, 2016 are expressly incorporated by reference herein.