Patent Publication Number: US-11642890-B2

Title: Ink absorber and printing apparatus

Description:
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2020-185201, filed Nov. 5, 2020, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an ink absorber and a printing apparatus. 
     2. Related Art 
     In printing apparatuses such as ink jet printers, when a head cleaning operation is performed to prevent a degradation in printing quality due to ink clogging or when an ink filling operation is performed after ink cartridge exchange, waste liquid of ink is typically generated. To suppress unintentional adhesion of such waste liquid to a mechanism or the like in a printer, a waste-liquid retaining container that includes an absorbent body as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-2017-65112 is used. 
     The absorbent body disclosed in JP-A-2017-65112 has a block shape made of, for example, a felt material made from synthetic fibers, pulp, or the like as a raw material, and is installed in a waste-liquid tank incorporated in a printing apparatus. The waste liquid of ink supplied to the waste-liquid tank is absorbed and retained by the absorbent body. 
     However, according to the configuration of JP-A-2017-65112, due to the absorbent body having the block shape, permeability and diffusibility for absorbing the waste liquid of ink are insufficient. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure is made to address the aforementioned problem and is able to be implemented as follows. 
     An ink absorber of the disclosure includes: a plurality of ink absorbent bodies that are elongated and absorb waste liquid of an ink ejected from a liquid ejecting head; and a container that accommodates the plurality of ink absorbent bodies, in which the plurality of ink absorbent bodies are arranged such that a longitudinal direction thereof extends vertically. 
     A printing apparatus of the disclosure includes the ink absorber of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a partial sectional view illustrating a first embodiment of an ink absorber of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is an enlarged view illustrating a state of fibers and resin of an ink absorbent body illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the ink absorbent body illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a projection view of the ink absorbent body projected in the direction of arrow A in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  5    illustrates the ink absorbent body in an accommodating container when viewed from above. 
         FIG.  6    illustrates an example of a method of manufacturing the ink absorbent body. 
         FIG.  7    illustrates an example of the method of manufacturing the ink absorbent body. 
         FIG.  8    illustrates an example of the method of manufacturing the ink absorbent body. 
         FIG.  9    is a sectional view illustrating a second embodiment of an ink absorber of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an ink absorber and a printing apparatus according to the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to suitable embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG.  1    is a partial sectional view illustrating a first embodiment of the ink absorber of the disclosure.  FIG.  2    is an enlarged view illustrating a state of fibers and resin of an ink absorbent body illustrated in  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the ink absorbent body illustrated in  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  4    is a projection view of the ink absorbent body projected in the direction of arrow A in  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  5    illustrates the ink absorbent body in an accommodating container when viewed from above.  FIGS.  6  to  8    each illustrate an example of a method of manufacturing the ink absorbent body. 
     Note that, hereinafter, for convenience of description, the upper side and the lower side in  FIGS.  1 ,  3 ,  4 , and  6  to  8    are referred to as “up” or “above” and “down” or “below”, respectively (the same is applicable to  FIG.  9   ). Note that, in these drawings, the upper side corresponds to the vertically up direction, and the lower side corresponds to the vertically down direction. 
     In the present specification, “water-absorbing” refers to absorbing ink such as an aqueous ink in which a coloring material is dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous solvent, a solvent-based ink in which a binder is dissolved in a solvent, a UV curable ink in which a binder is dissolved in a liquid-phase monomer to be cured by UV radiation, and a latex ink in which a binder is dispersed in a dispersion medium. 
     A printing apparatus  200  illustrated in  FIG.  1    is, for example, an ink jet color printer. The printing apparatus  200  includes a liquid ejecting head  201  that ejects ink Q, a capping unit  202  that prevents clogging of nozzles  201   a  of the liquid ejecting head  201 , an ink absorber  100 , a tube  203  that couples the capping unit  202  and the ink absorber  100 , and a roller pump  204  that transfers the ink Q from the capping unit  202  to the ink absorber  100 . 
     The liquid ejecting head  201  includes the plurality of nozzles  201   a  for ejecting the ink Q downward. The liquid ejecting head  201  is able to perform printing by ejecting the ink Q while moving relative to a recording medium, such as a PPC sheet, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in  FIG.  1   . 
     When the liquid ejecting head  201  is at a standby position, the capping unit  202  applies suction to the nozzles  201   a  in response to operation of the roller pump  204  and prevents clogging of the nozzles  201   a.    
     The tube  203  enables waste liquid of the ink Q (hereafter, simply referred to as “ink Q”), to which the capping unit  202  applies suction, to be transferred and discharged. The tube  203  has one end inserted into a lid  8  of an accommodating container  1  and enables the ink Q to be discharged into the accommodating container  1 . An opening of the inserted end of the tube  203  is a discharge port  31 . 
     The roller pump  204  is arranged at a specific position in the tube  203  and includes a roller section  204   a  and a holding section  204   b  that holds the tube  203  against the roller section  204   a  at the specific position in the tube  203 . Rotation of the roller section  204   a  generates a suction force in the capping unit  202  via the tube  203 . When the rotation of the roller section  204   a  continues, the ink Q adhering to the nozzles  201   a  is able to be transferred to the ink absorber  100 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the ink absorber  100  includes the accommodating container  1  and an ink absorbent body  10  for absorbing the ink Q. The ink absorber  100  is detachably attached to the printing apparatus  200 . The ink absorber  100  in the attached state is used to absorb waste liquid of the ink Q as described above. In this manner, the ink absorber  100  may be used as a waste-liquid tank or a waste-ink tank. When the amount of the ink Q absorbed in the ink absorber  100  has reached the limit, the ink absorber  100  is able to be replaced with a new ink absorber  100 . Note that whether or not the amount of the ink Q absorbed in the ink absorber  100  has reached the limit is detected by a detecting section (not illustrated) in the printing apparatus  200 . When the amount of the ink Q absorbed in the ink absorber  100  has reached the limit, this state may be notified by, for example, a notifying section (not illustrated), such as a monitor, incorporated in the printing apparatus  200 . 
     The ink absorbent body  10  is used to absorb the ink Q in the accommodating container  1 . As illustrated in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the ink absorbent body  10  contains fibers  20  and resin  30  for binding the fibers  20  to each other. When the ink Q comes into contact with the ink absorbent body  10 , the fibers  20  are able to absorb, that is, retain, the ink Q. 
     The ink absorbent body  10  is formed of an elongated structure containing the fibers  20  and the resin  30  illustrated in  FIG.  2   . The elongated shape refers to a shape in which a ratio W/L of a maximum width W and a maximum length L of a projected image  10 A is 1 or less as illustrated in  FIG.  4   , where the image  10 A is projected in a direction in which a projection area is largest, for example, in the direction of arrow A in  FIG.  3   . The elongated shape may include a portion having a different width W or length L. 
     According to the configuration illustrated in the drawing, the ink absorbent body  10  has a prism shape. That is, the ink absorbent body  10  is constituted by an elongated body whose longitudinal sectional shape is rectangular. However, the shape of the ink absorbent body  10  is not limited thereto and may be, for example, pyramidal, column like, or conical. 
     A plurality of elongated ink absorbent bodies  10  are accommodated in the accommodating container  1  of the ink absorber  100 , which will be described later in detail. 
     The density of the constituent materials of the ink absorbent body  10 , that is, the total density of the fibers  20 , the resin  30 , and other constituents, is desirably 0.01 g/cm 2  or more and 1.0 g/cm 2  or less and more desirably 0.05 g/cm 2  or more and 0.8 g/cm 2  or less. Accordingly, it is possible to ensure a sufficient gap between the fibers  20 , and the ink absorbent body  10  is thus able to have excellent permeability and sufficient strength and retain its shape in a container main body  9 . 
     Examples of the fibers  20  include synthetic resin fibers, such as polyester fibers and polyamide fibers, natural resin fibers, such as cellulose fibers, keratin fibers, and fibroin fibers, and a chemical modification thereof, and these may be used alone or in appropriate combinations. It is desirable that mainly cellulose fibers be used, and it is more desirable that substantially all the fibers be cellulose fibers. 
     Since cellulose is a material having suitable hydrophilicity, when the ink Q comes into contact with the ink absorbent body  10 , a state in which the ink Q has particularly high flowability, for example, a viscosity of 10 mPa·s or less, is able to be readily avoided. Moreover, of the various types of fibers, cellulose fibers are regenerable natural materials, inexpensive, and readily available. Accordingly, cellulose fibers are also advantageous from the viewpoint of reduced production cost of the ink absorbent body  10 , stable production thereof, reduced environmental load, and the like. 
     Note that, in the present specification, cellulose fibers may be any fibers as long as the fibers contain, as a major component, cellulose in a compound form and may contain hemicellulose and lignin in addition to cellulose. 
     Fibers, such as cellulose fibers, in particular, fibers derived from waste paper, are typically relatively inexpensive and are also advantageous from the viewpoint of reduced production cost of the ink absorbent body  10 . In addition, fibers derived from waste paper may be suitably used as the fibers  20 , which is also advantageous from the viewpoint of waste reduction, effective use of resources, and the like. 
     An average length of the fibers  20  is not particularly limited and is desirably 0.1 mm or more and 5 mm or less and more desirably 0.2 mm or more and 3 mm or less. An average width of the fibers  20  is not particularly limited and is desirably 0.5 μm or more and 200 μm or less and more desirably 1.0 μm or more and 100 μm or less. An average aspect ratio of the fibers  20 , that is, a ratio of the average length relative to the average width, is not particularly limited and is desirably 10 or more and 1000 or less and more desirably 15 or more and 500 or less. 
     When such numerical ranges are satisfied, the fibers  20  are able to exhibit enhanced water-absorbing properties and permeability with respect to the ink Q, and the ink absorbent body  10  is able to exhibit even better water-absorbing properties and permeability with respect to the ink Q overall. 
     Moreover, in the present embodiment, the ink absorbent body  10  contains the resin  30  in addition to the fibers  20 . The resin  30  has a function of a binder for binding the fibers  20  to each other. Specifically, the resin  30  is obtained by allowing the resin  30  in a molten state to cool and solidify, and when the resin  30  in the molten state adheres to the fibers  20  and is allowed to cool and solidify, the resin  30  binds the fibers  20  to each other as illustrated in  FIG.  2   . Such resin  30  is able to appropriately restrict deformation of the fibers  20 , and the ink absorbent body  10  is readily formed into a block shape and is able to retain its block shape in the container main body  9  described later. 
     As the resin  30 , for example, a thermoplastic resin and a curable resin may be used, and a thermoplastic resin is desirable. Examples of a thermoplastic resin include: AS resin; ABS resin; polyolefin, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer; modified polyolefin; acrylic resin, such as polymethyl methacrylate; polyvinyl chloride; polystyrene; polyester, such as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate; polyamide, such as nylon 6, nylon 46, nylon 66, nylon 610, nylon 612, nylon 11, nylon 12, nylon 6-12, and nylon 6-66; polyphenylene ether; polyacetal; polyether; polyphenylene oxide; polyetheretherketone; polycarbonate; polyphenylene sulfide; thermoplastic polyimide; polyetherimide; liquid crystal polymer, such as aromatic polyester; and various thermoplastic elastomers, such as styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyvinyl chloride-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyester-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyamide-based thermoplastic elastomer, polybutadiene-based thermoplastic elastomer, trans polyisoprene-based thermoplastic elastomer, fluororubber-based thermoplastic elastomer, and chlorinated polyethylene-based thermoplastic elastomer. One selected from these or a combination of two or more of these may be used. Polyester or a composition containing polyester is desirably used as a thermoplastic resin. 
     An average particle size of the resin  30  is desirably 0.01 μm or more and 800 μm or less, more desirably 0.1 μm or more and 600 μm or less, and still more desirably 1 μm or more and 500 μm or less. The resin  30  having such an average particle size enables the fibers  20  to be satisfactorily bound to each other. 
     Note that the average particle size refers to the volume-based average particle size. The average particle size is able to be measured with, for example, a particle size distribution measurement device which uses a laser diffraction/scattering method as the measurement principle, that is, a laser diffraction particle size distribution measurement device. 
     The ink absorbent body  10  desirably contains, as the resin  30 , a polymer absorbent material, that is, a water-absorbing resin. When the ink absorbent body  10  contains a water-absorbing resin, the amount of ink that is able to be absorbed by the ink absorbent body  10  further increases. In particular, when cellulose fibers are used as the fibers  20 , the ink Q that is initially taken up is able to be suitably transferred to the resin  30 . As a result, the ink absorbent body  10  exhibits particularly excellent permeability with respect to the ink Q overall. Moreover, cellulose typically has a high affinity for water-absorbing resin, and the water-absorbing resin is thus able to be more suitably supported on the surface of the fibers  20 . 
     The water-absorbing resin is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include carboxymethyl cellulose, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, starch-acrylic acid graft copolymer, starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymer hydrolysate, vinyl acetate-acrylic acid ester copolymer, isobutylene and maleic acid copolymer, acrylonitrile copolymer hydrolysate, acrylamide copolymer hydrolysate, polyethylene oxide, a polysulfonic acid-based compound, polyglutamic acid, a salt thereof, and a cross-linked body thereof. The water-absorbing resin is often gelled after water absorption. 
     Among these, the water-absorbing resin is desirably a resin having a functional group on its side chain. Examples of the functional group include an acid group, a hydroxy group, an epoxy group, and an amino group. 
     In particular, the water-absorbing resin is desirably a resin having an acid group on its side chain and more desirably a resin having a carboxy group on its side chain. 
     Examples of a carboxy group-containing unit forming the water-absorbing resin include units derived from a monomer such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, sorbic acid, cinnamic acid, an anhydride thereof, and a salt thereof. 
     The water-absorbing resin may have any form, such as a scale form, a needle form, a fiber form, or a particle form, but desirably has a particle form. When the water-absorbing resin has a particle form, it is possible to easily ensure permeability with respect to the ink Q. It is also possible to suitably support the water-absorbing resin on the fibers  20 . Note that the average particle size of the particles is desirably 50 μm or more and 800 μm or less, more desirably 100 μm or more and 600 μm or less, and still more desirably 200 μm or more and 500 μm or less. 
     In this manner, since the ink absorbent body  10  contains the fibers  20  and the water-absorbing resin as a polymer absorbent material, the ink Q is able to permeate the fibers  20 , and the polymer absorbent material is able to absorb the ink Q. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the permeability and retaining property with respect to the ink Q. 
     The ink absorbent body  10  may contain components other than those described above. Examples of such components include a surfactant, a lubricant, a defoaming agent, a filler, a blocking inhibitor, an ion exchange resin, active carbon, laponite, montmorillonite, zeolite, an ultraviolet absorbent, a coloring agent, such as a pigment and a dye, a flame retardant, and a flow improver. 
     Next, the accommodating container  1  will be described. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the accommodating container  1  includes the container main body  9  having an accommodating space  93  in which the ink absorbent body  10  is accommodated, the lid  8  detachably attached to the container main body  9 , and a restricting plate  7 . 
     The container main body  9  has a box shape having a bottom section  91  of, for example, a quadrangular shape in plan view and four side wall sections  92  standing upright from the edges of the bottom section  91 . The ink absorbent body  10  is able to be accommodated in the accommodating space  93  enclosed by the bottom section  91  and the four side wall sections  92 . 
     Note that the container main body  9  is not limited to including the bottom section  91  having the quadrangular shape in plan view and may, for example, include a circular bottom section  91  in plan view and have a cylindrical shape overall. 
     In the present embodiment, the container main body  9  is rigid. That is, the container main body  9  has a shape-retaining property such that volume V 1  thereof does not change by, for example, 10% or more when an internal pressure or an external force acts on the container main body  9 . As a result, the container main body  9  is able to retain its shape even when the ink absorbent body  10  absorbs the ink Q and then expands and the container main body  9  is internally subjected to the force of the ink absorbent body  10 . Accordingly, the installation state of the container main body  9  in the printing apparatus  200  is stabilized, and the ink absorbent body  10  is able to stably absorb the ink Q. 
     The constituent material of the container main body  9  is not particularly limited as long as the container main body  9  is made of a material that does not enable the ink Q to pass therethrough. As such a constituent material of the container main body  9 , for example, various resin materials, such as cyclic polyolefin and polycarbonate, may be used. In addition, as the constituent material of the container main body  9 , for example, various metal materials, such as aluminum and stainless steel, may be used in addition to the various resin materials. 
     Moreover, the container main body  9  may be transparent or translucent to enable interior visibility or may be opaque, and at least a portion of the container main body  9  and the lid  8  described later desirably enables interior visibility. 
     As described above, the ink absorber  100  includes the lid  8 . As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the lid  8  has a plate shape and is able to fit into an upper opening  94  of the container main body  9 . Such fitting enables the upper opening  94  to be sealed. As a result, in a scenario in which, for example, the ink Q is discharged from the tube  203  and flows downward, even when the ink Q comes into contact with the ink absorbent body  10  and is deflected upward, the ink Q is able to be prevented from scattering outward. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the ink Q from adhering to and soiling the surroundings of the ink absorber  100 . 
     The lid  8  may have absorbency for absorbing the ink Q or repellency for repelling the ink Q. 
     The thickness of the lid  8  is not particularly limited and is desirably, for example, 1 mm or more and 20 mm or less and more desirably 8 mm or more and 10 mm or less. Note that the lid  8  is not limited to having a plate shape, the thickness of which falls within the aforementioned numerical ranges, and may have a film shape, the thickness of which is thinner than the numerical ranges. In this case, the thickness of the lid  8  is not particularly limited and is desirably, for example, 10 μm or more and less than 1 mm. 
     As described above, the ink absorber  100  includes the restricting plate  7  that restricts movement of the ink absorbent body  10  in the vertical direction, that is, the longitudinal direction of the ink absorbent body  10 . The restricting plate  7  is arranged in the container main body  9  such that the thickness direction thereof extends vertically. The restricting plate  7  is arranged above the plurality of ink absorbent bodies  10  in the container main body  9 . The restricting plate  7  may be in contact or non-contact with the plurality of ink absorbent bodies  10 . Note that, for example, when a positioning section that positions the restricting plate  7  in the up-down direction is provided on the inner surface of the container main body  9 , it is possible to prevent the restricting plate  7  from being in contact with the ink absorbent body  10 . 
     Moreover, the restricting plate  7  has a hole section  71  constituted by a through hole and provided in the center thereof, that is, at a position corresponding to a portion immediately below the discharge port  31  of the tube  203 . The hole section  71  enables the ink Q discharged from the discharge port  31  to flow downward to the ink absorbent body  10 . 
     In this manner, the accommodating container  1  includes the container main body  9  and the restricting plate  7  that is provided in the container main body  9  and that restricts movement of the plurality of ink absorbent bodies  10  in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, even when, for example, the density at which the ink absorbent bodies  10  are disposed is relatively low, it is possible to prevent the ink absorbent bodies  10  from moving excessively in the container main body  9 . As a result, the ink absorbent bodies  10  are able to stably absorb the ink Q. 
     Moreover, the restricting plate  7  includes the hole section  71  through which waste liquid of the ink Q passes. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the ink absorbent bodies  10  from moving excessively in the container main body  9  while permitting passage of the ink Q. 
     Note that the configuration of the restricting plate  7  is not limited to the aforementioned configuration and may be any configuration of, for example, a plate of a mesh material as long as the restricting plate  7  permits passage of the ink Q. The restricting plate  7  is not essential, and the configuration may be such that the lid  8  restricts movement of the ink absorbent body  10  in the longitudinal direction. 
     The constituent materials of the container main body  9 , the lid  8 , and the restricting plate  7  described above are not particularly limited, and, for example, various resin materials may be suitably used. Examples of the resin material include various thermoplastic resins and various curable resins, such as a thermosetting resin and a photocurable resin. Specific examples thereof include: polyolefin, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene-propylene copolymer; polyvinyl chloride; polystyrene; polyamide; polyimide; polycarbonate; poly-(4-methylpentene-1); ionomer; acrylic resin; polymethyl methacrylate; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer; acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer; butadiene-styrene copolymer; polyester, such as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate; polyether; polyetherketone; polyetheretherketone; polyetherimide; polyacetal; polyphenylene oxide; polysulfone; polyether sulfone; polyphenylene sulfide; polyarylate; aromatic polyester; polytetrafluoroethylene; polyvinylidene fluoride; other fluororesins; epoxy resin; phenolic resin; urea resin; melamine resin; silicone resin; polyurethane; and a copolymer, a blend, and a polymer alloy containing mainly these. One of these or a combination of two or more of these may be used. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the plurality of ink absorbent bodies  10  are arranged in the accommodating container  1  such that the longitudinal direction of the ink absorbent bodies  10  extends vertically. That is, the plurality of ink absorbent bodies  10  are inserted in the vertical direction of the accommodating container  1 . Here, as illustrated in  FIG.  5   , a gap G between adjacent ink absorbent bodies  10  is formed partially around the respective ink absorbent bodies  10 . 
     When the ink Q flows downward to an ink absorbent body  10 , the ink absorbent body  10  takes up the ink Q, enables the ink Q to permeate the ink absorbent body  10  in the longitudinal direction, that is, the vertically down direction, and retains the ink Q and also supplies the ink Q to an adjacent ink absorbent body  10 . Thus, the ink Q spreads over the respective ink absorbent bodies  10 . In particular, in the ink absorber  100 , the ink Q spreads so as to pass through the gap G. Thus, due to the presence of the gap G, permeability with respect to the ink Q, particularly, permeability in the longitudinal direction of the ink absorbent body  10 , is able to be enhanced compared with a conventional ink absorbent body of a block shape. 
     Moreover, in a case in which the occupancy of the plurality of ink absorbent bodies  10  in a region in which the ink absorbent bodies  10  are arranged in the accommodating container  1 , that is, V 2 /V 1 , where V 1  is a volume of a region below the restricting plate  7  in the accommodating space  93  and V 2  is a sum of volumes of the ink absorbent bodies  10 , is desirably 50% or more and 99% or less and more desirably 60% or more and 95% or less in a state in which the ink absorbent bodies  10  are dry. Such occupancy makes it possible to enhance the permeability and the retaining property with respect to the ink Q. When the occupancy is excessively low, the ink absorbent body  10  may move horizontally in the space below the restricting plate  7 , and the retaining property with respect to the ink Q may be reduced. On the other hand, when the occupancy is excessively high, the gap G is insufficiently ensured, the ink Q hardly permeates the ink absorbent bodies  10  up to the bottom section  91 , and the effect of the disclosure may be difficult to obtain. 
     Note that the state in which the ink absorbent bodies  10  are dry refers to a state in which a moisture content of the ink absorbent bodies  10  is 5% or less. The occupancy is obtained by ignoring a gap between fibers  20  in a single ink absorbent body  10 . That is, the occupancy is calculated by considering each of the ink absorbent bodies  10  as a solid elongated body. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the ink absorbent bodies  10  are arranged such that orientations of the ink absorbent bodies  10  about the axes are random. That is, the ink absorbent bodies  10  are arranged in the accommodating container  1  such that orientations of the ink absorbent bodies  10  about the axes do not match. This makes it possible to easily form the aforementioned gap G between the respective ink absorbent bodies  10 . Accordingly, it is possible to enhance permeability with respect to the ink Q more reliably. 
     In the ink absorbent body  10 , the fibers  20  extend in the longitudinal direction of the ink absorbent body  10 . Thus, the ink Q permeates the ink absorbent body  10  along the fibers  20  and thus readily permeates the fibers  20  downward to the bottom section  91 . This effect combined with the effect of the disclosure further enhances permeability with respect to the ink Q. 
     Note that the state in which the fibers  20  extend in the longitudinal direction of the ink absorbent body  10  is able to be directly observed by using a digital microscope (VHX5000 manufactured by Keyence Corporation) or the like. Additionally, when the tensile strength in the longitudinal direction is higher than the tensile strength in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the fibers  20  are considered to extend in the longitudinal direction. 
     Such an ink absorbent body  10  is able to be manufactured by a method illustrated in  FIGS.  6  to  8   . 
     In the configuration illustrated in  FIG.  6   , a stack S 1  is obtained by layering a plurality of sheets S manufactured by a sheet manufacturing apparatus described in, for example, JP-A-2018-140560 or JP-A-2014-40045. The stack S 1  is cut at cutting positions  300  indicated by the broken lines. As a result, elongated ink absorbent bodies  10  are able to be obtained. 
     Moreover, by layering sheets S such that the direction of arrow B in  FIG.  6    matches a transport direction when a sheet S is manufactured, an ink absorbent body  10  in which the fibers  20  extend in the longitudinal direction of the ink absorbent body  10  is able to be obtained. This is because tension is applied in the transport direction when the sheet S is transported by a roller, resulting in alignment of the fibers  20 . 
     In the configuration illustrated in  FIG.  7   , a second web M 8  manufactured by a sheet manufacturing apparatus described in, for example, JP-A-2018-140560 or JP-A-2014-40045 is cut at cutting positions  400  indicated by the broken lines. As a result, elongated ink absorbent bodies  10  are able to be obtained. 
     Since the direction of arrow C in  FIG.  7    is a transport direction of the second web M 8 , when the second web M 8  is cut such that the direction of arrow C matches the longitudinal direction, the ink absorbent bodies  10  in each of which the fibers  20  extend in the longitudinal direction of the ink absorbent body  10  are able to be obtained. This is because, similarly to the aforementioned case, tension is applied in the transport direction when the second web M 8  is transported by a roller, resulting in alignment of the fibers  20 . 
     In this manner, the ink absorbent bodies  10  are obtained by cutting the stack S 1  or the second web M 8 , which is a base material of a sheet shape for the ink absorbent bodies. 
     Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG.  8   , when a block-shaped assembly  10 B formed by accumulating a defibrated material in a block shape is cut in a lattice manner with a lower portion thereof uncut, ink absorbent bodies  10  single end portions of which are joined to each other are able to be obtained. The ink absorbent bodies  10  are desirably inserted such that their joined end portions are located at the bottom of the accommodating container  1 . As a result, no gap G is formed in the vicinity of the bottom of the accommodating container  1 , and excellent retention of the ink Q is thus achieved in the vicinity of the bottom. Further, it is possible to easily insert the ink absorbent bodies  10  into the accommodating container  1 . 
     As described above, the ink absorber  100  includes a plurality of ink absorbent bodies  10  that are elongated and absorb ink Q, which is waste liquid of ink ejected from the liquid ejecting head  201 , and the accommodating container  1  that accommodates the plurality of ink absorbent bodies  10 , and the plurality of ink absorbent bodies  10  are arranged such that the longitudinal direction thereof extends vertically. Accordingly, since the gap G is formed between the ink absorbent bodies  10 , the ink Q spreads so as to pass through the gap G. As a result, since the gap G is formed, permeability with respect to the ink Q, in particular, permeability in the longitudinal direction of the ink absorbent body  10 , is able to be enhanced compared with a conventional ink absorbent body of a block shape. 
     Moreover, the printing apparatus  200  of the disclosure includes the ink absorber  100 . As a result, it is possible to achieve the printing apparatus  200  having the advantage of the ink absorber  100 . 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG.  9    is a sectional view illustrating a second embodiment of the ink absorber of the disclosure. 
     Although the second embodiment of the ink absorber and the printing apparatus of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawing, mainly a difference from the aforementioned embodiment will be described, and description for similar matters will be omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  9   , in the ink absorber  100  of the present embodiment, a dimension of an ink absorbent body  10  arranged in a region  10 C corresponding to a portion directly below the discharge port  31 , that is, the region  10 C overlapping the discharge port  31  when the accommodating container  1  is viewed from above, is shorter than a dimension of an ink absorbent body  10  located in a region  10 D around the region  10 C. Thus, when the plurality of ink absorbent bodies  10  are viewed overall, a recess  500  is formed on the discharge port  31  side in the region  10 C directly below the discharge port  31 . 
     According to such a configuration, the discharged ink Q may accumulate in the recess  500  first and then permeate the entire ink absorbent bodies  10 . Accordingly, even when the discharge amount of the ink Q temporarily increases, the ink Q is able to be stably absorbed without overflowing. 
     Although the ink absorber and the printing apparatus of the disclosure have been described above with reference to the illustrated embodiments, the disclosure is not limited thereto. The sections constituting the ink absorber and the printing apparatus can be replaced with sections having any configurations that can exert similar functions. 
     Moreover, the ink absorber and the printing apparatus of the disclosure may have a combination of any two or more configurations or features of the aforementioned embodiments. 
     The density of the ink absorbent bodies  10  in the region  10 C may be lower than the density of the ink absorbent bodies  10  in the region  10 D. In this case, it is possible to further enhance permeability with respect to the ink Q in the region in which the ink Q is absorbed immediately after flowing downward and enhance the entire ink absorbing speed.