Patent Description:
An inkjet-type image forming apparatus is known in the art that discharges ink onto a sheet such as a sheet of paper to form an image as a liquid discharge apparatus that discharges liquid. In such an inkjet-type image forming apparatus, an operation of periodically discharging ink from a liquid discharge head to maintain and recover performance of the liquid discharge head is performed separately from the time of image formation to prevent a discharge failure of ink from occurring due to thickening or solidification of the ink. At this time, the ink discharged from the liquid discharge head is not discharged onto a sheet. Accordingly, the ink is collected by a collection container disposed below the liquid discharge head.

<CIT> discloses a configuration of an ink collection device that includes an absorber disposed in a collection container similar to the above-described collection container, and proposes a technology in which a wetting agent having a high moisture retention property is contained in the absorber to enhance the ink absorption properties of the absorber. <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose background art to the invention. Also <CIT> disclose relevant background art to the invention.

However, it is necessary to periodically add the wetting agent into the absorber, and maintenance work for adding the wetting agent into the absorber is necessary to continuously maintain the absorption properties of the absorber.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid collection device that includes a collection container to collect liquid discharged from a liquid discharge unit, an absorber to absorb the liquid collected in the collection container, and a solvent supply unit to supply a solvent component of the liquid discharged onto a sheet from the liquid discharge unit to the absorber.

To solve the above problem, a liquid collection device includes a collection container, an absorber, and a solvent supplier. The collection container collects liquid discharged from a liquid discharger. The absorber absorbs the liquid collected in the collection container. The solvent supplier supplies a solvent component of the liquid discharged onto a sheet from the liquid discharger to the absorber.

According to the present invention, even if an operator does not perform a maintenance operation of adding a wetting agent to an absorber, the absorption properties of the absorber can be favorably maintained.

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

With reference to the drawings, descriptions are given below of embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawings for illustrating embodiments of the present invention, like reference numerals are assigned to elements such as members and parts that have a like function or a like shape as long as differentiation is possible, and descriptions of such elements may be omitted once the description is provided.

First, a configuration of an inkjet-type image forming apparatus <NUM> as a liquid discharge apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> is diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the inkjet-type image forming apparatus <NUM>. <FIG> is a block diagram of a control system of the inkjet-type image forming apparatus <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the image forming apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a sheet feeder <NUM> that supplies a sheet S on which an image to be formed, an image forming device <NUM> that forms the image on the sheet S, a drier <NUM> that dries the sheet S, and a sheet collection device <NUM> that collects the sheet S on which the image has been formed. Further, the image forming apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a controller <NUM> (see <FIG>) for controlling the sheet feeder <NUM>, the image forming device <NUM>, the drier <NUM>, and the sheet collection device <NUM>.

The sheet feeder <NUM> includes a supply roller <NUM> around which an elongated sheet S is wound in a roll shape, and a tension adjustment mechanism <NUM> that adjusts tension applied to the sheet S. The supply roller <NUM> is rotatable in a direction indicated by arrow illustrated in <FIG>, and the sheet S is fed out by the rotation of the supply roller <NUM>. The tension adjustment mechanism <NUM> includes multiple rollers around which the sheet S is wound to apply tension to the sheet S. Some of the above-described rollers are moved to adjust the tension applied to the sheet S. Accordingly, the sheet S is fed out from the supply roller <NUM> with a constant tension.

The image forming device <NUM> includes a head unit <NUM>, which is a liquid discharge unit, and a platen <NUM>, which is a sheet support that supports the conveyed sheet S. The platen <NUM> is disposed to face the head unit <NUM> and supports a lower surface of the sheet S supplied from the sheet feeder <NUM>. The head unit <NUM> has multiple liquid discharge heads as liquid dischargers. Ink is discharged from each of the liquid discharge heads to the sheet S based on image data generated by the controller <NUM> to form an image on the sheet S. In the present embodiment, the ink is liquid that contains colorant, a solvent, and crystalline resin particles dispersed in the solvent. The crystalline resin is a resin that undergoes a phase change and melts from a crystalline state to liquid when the crystalline resin is heated to a predetermined melting point or higher.

The drier <NUM> includes a heating drum <NUM> that heats the sheet S to accelerate drying of the ink on the sheet S. The heating drum <NUM> has a cylindrical shape and rotates while the sheet S is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum <NUM>. A heating source such as a halogen heater is disposed inside the heating drum <NUM>. A heater that heats the sheet S may be a contact-type heater such as the heating drum <NUM>, or may be a non-contact type heater such as a warm air generator that blows warm air to the sheet S.

The sheet collection device <NUM> includes a collection roller <NUM> that winds and collects the sheet S, and a tension adjustment mechanism <NUM> that adjusts tension applied to the sheet S. The collection roller <NUM> is rotatable in a direction indicated by arrow illustrated in <FIG>. The sheet S is wound in a roll shape and collected by the rotation of the collection roller <NUM>. In similar to the tension adjustment mechanism <NUM> of the sheet feeder <NUM>, the tension adjustment mechanism <NUM> includes multiple rollers. Some of the above-described rollers are moved to adjust tension applied to the sheet S, and the sheet S is wound by the collection roller <NUM> with a constant tension.

The controller <NUM> includes a data processing device such as a personal computer (PC). The controller <NUM> generates image data to be formed on the sheet S and controls various operations of the sheet feeder <NUM>, the image forming device <NUM>, the drier <NUM>, and the sheet collection device <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> controls the rotation speed of the supply roller <NUM>, the collection roller <NUM>, the heating drum <NUM>, and multiple conveyance rollers that convey the sheet S in the image forming apparatus <NUM>. The controller <NUM> controls the temperature of the heating source that heats the heating drum <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view of the head unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the head unit <NUM> includes a base <NUM> and multiple liquid discharge heads <NUM> disposed on the base <NUM>. Each of the multiple liquid discharge heads <NUM> includes nozzle rows <NUM> each including a large number of nozzles arranged in a sheet width direction, i.e., a lateral direction in <FIG>, orthogonal to a conveyance direction A of the sheet S.

When the sheet S is conveyed to a position facing the head unit <NUM> as described above, driving of each of the liquid discharge heads <NUM> for discharging ink is controlled by a drive signal based on image data. Thus, the ink is discharged from each of the liquid discharge heads <NUM> to the sheet S. Thus, an image corresponding to the image data is formed on the sheet S.

When the sheet S that has a width narrower than a maximum image formation region H illustrated in <FIG>, which is a maximum range in which ink can be discharged by each of the liquid discharge heads <NUM>, is conveyed, it is sufficient to discharge the ink from the nozzles arranged in a region through which the sheet S passes to form an image on the sheet S. However, if ink is not discharged from nozzles arranged in a region through which the sheet S does not pass for a long period of time, a solvent component of the ink evaporates and the ink may thicken or solidify. Accordingly, the ink may not be favorably discharged. For this reason, a maintenance and recovery operation of the performance of the liquid discharge heads <NUM> is performed in which ink is regularly discharged even for the nozzles arranged in the region through which the sheet S does not pass, to reduce the thickening and solidification of the ink.

When the above-described maintenance and recovery operation of the performance of the liquid discharge heads <NUM> is performed, the ink discharged from the nozzles arranged in the region through which the sheet S does not pass is not discharged onto the sheet S. Accordingly, as illustrated in <FIG>, a collection container <NUM> that collects the discharged ink is disposed below the liquid discharge heads <NUM>. In addition, an absorber <NUM> made of, for example, urethane foam is accommodated in the collection container <NUM> to prevent the discharged ink from splashing in the collection container <NUM> and contaminating the surroundings. Instead of urethane foam, a nonwoven fabric may be used as the absorber <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, preferably, a wetting agent is contained in the absorber <NUM> to enhance the absorption properties of the absorber <NUM> such that the absorber <NUM> can effectively absorb the ink. However, periodically adding such a wetting agent in the absorber <NUM> to maintain the absorption properties of the absorber <NUM> is necessary. For this reason, a maintenance operation by an operator such as a user or a service representative is necessary. Thus, a burden on the operator increases. In view of the above-described circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid collection device that can maintain favorable absorption properties of the absorber <NUM> even if an operator does not perform maintenance work. A liquid collection device <NUM> according to embodiments of the present invention is described below.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the liquid collection device <NUM> according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid collection device <NUM> according to the first embodiment includes the collection container <NUM>, the absorber <NUM>, and a solvent supplier <NUM> that collects moisture, which is a solvent component contained in ink, and supplies the moisture to the absorber <NUM>. Specifically, the solvent supplier <NUM> includes a heater <NUM> that heats and dries the sheet S, a solvent collector <NUM> that collects water vapor, i.e., the moisture, generated from ink on the heated sheet S, and a condenser <NUM> that liquefies the collected water vapor.

The heater <NUM> includes a heating source such as a heater that heats the sheet S. For example, the heater <NUM> may be a heating drum that winds and heats the sheet S as described above, or may be a warm air generator that blows warm air to the sheet S to heat the sheet S.

The solvent collector <NUM> includes a collection channel <NUM> such as a duct that collects the water vapor, and a suction fan <NUM> as a negative pressure generator that generates a negative pressure in the collection channel <NUM> to suck the water vapor. The suction fan <NUM> functions as a solvent collector to suck and collect the water vapor, and also functions as a solvent transfer device to send the collected water vapor to the condenser <NUM>. Further, a compressor may be used instead of the suction fan <NUM>. An opening 37a of the collection channel <NUM> through which liquid is sucked is disposed above the sheet S that has passed through the heater <NUM> to easily collect the water vapor.

The condenser <NUM> includes a heat exchanger that cools the collected water vapor and returns the water vapor to water. The heat exchanger may be a natural air-cooling type heat exchanger in which heat is naturally dissipated through fins, or may be a forced-cooling type heat exchanger in which air blown from a blower fan is applied to fins to cool the water vapor. The condenser <NUM> is connected to the collection channel <NUM>, the suction fan <NUM>, and the collection container <NUM> via a flow path such as pipes.

Next, an operation of the liquid collection device <NUM> according to the first embodiment is described.

As illustrated in <FIG>, first, in the image forming device <NUM>, ink is discharged from the liquid discharge heads <NUM> onto the sheet S to form an image. Then, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the sheet S is conveyed and a portion B of the sheet S to which the ink has adhered, which is a portion on which the image is formed, is sent to the heater <NUM>, the sheet S is heated in the heater <NUM>. Accordingly, moisture contained in the ink on the sheet S is vaporized into water vapor <NUM>. The water vapor <NUM> generated from the ink is sucked and collected into the collection channel <NUM> by the suction fan <NUM>. Then, the collected water vapor <NUM> is sent to the condenser <NUM>. Subsequently, the water vapor is cooled to be liquefied in the condenser <NUM> and is returned to water. Then, as illustrated in <FIG>, water <NUM> in the condenser <NUM> is sent to the collection container <NUM> and supplied to the absorber <NUM>.

As described above, in the liquid collection device <NUM> according to the first embodiment, the water vapor generated from the ink on the heated sheet S is collected, and the collected water vapor is liquefied and supplied to the absorber <NUM>. Accordingly, moisture can be supplied to the absorber <NUM> to maintain the absorber <NUM> in a state in which the absorber <NUM> is wet even if a maintenance operation of supplying a wetting agent to the absorber <NUM> is not performed by an operator. Accordingly, ink absorption properties of the absorber <NUM> can be enhanced while the burden on the operator is reduced. In addition, in the configuration according to the first embodiment, the water vapor generated from the ink is used as the wetting agent to be supplied to the absorber <NUM> when the sheet S is dried. Thus, installing a dedicated tank, in which the wetting agent to be supplied to the absorber <NUM> is stored in advance, is not necessary. For this reason, it is not necessary to replenish the wetting agent in such a dedicated tank. Thus, the burden on the operator can be reduced.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention which is different from the above-described first embodiment is described. Note that, in the following description, portions different from the above-described first embodiment is described, and other portions have basically similar configurations. Thus, a description of the other portions is appropriately omitted.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the liquid collection device <NUM> according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the second embodiment, the solvent supplier <NUM> that supplies solvent to the absorber <NUM> includes a heater <NUM> disposed below the collection container <NUM>. Note that, in the second embodiment, the collection channel <NUM>, the suction fan <NUM>, the condenser <NUM> according to the first embodiment are not disposed. The heater <NUM> may be a contact-type heater such as a heating drum or a non-contact-type heater such as a warm air generator as long as the heater <NUM> includes a heating source that heats the sheet S. As illustrated in <FIG>, a large number of ventilation holes 31a are disposed in a bottom portion of the collection container <NUM>.

In the second embodiment as described above, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the portion B of the sheet S to which the ink is adhered, on which an image is formed, is sent to the heater <NUM>, the sheet S is heated in the heater <NUM>. Accordingly, moisture contained in the ink on the sheet S is vaporized to the water vapor <NUM>. Then, the water vapor <NUM> is supplied to the absorber <NUM> via the ventilation holes 31a disposed in the bottom portion of the collection container <NUM>.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the water vapor generated from the ink on the sheet S is directly supplied to the absorber <NUM>. Accordingly, the moisture can be supplied to the absorber <NUM> to maintain the absorber <NUM> in the state in which the absorber <NUM> is wet even if a maintenance operation of supplying the wetting agent to the absorber <NUM> is not performed by an operator. In other words, when the water vapor contacts the absorber <NUM>, the water vapor is cooled and returned to water. Accordingly, the absorber <NUM> can be brought into the state in which the absorber <NUM> is wet. Accordingly, the ink absorption properties of the absorber <NUM> can be enhanced even if the maintenance work of supplying the wetting agent to the absorber <NUM> is not performed by an operator. Thus, the burden on the operator can be reduced. Also in the second embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated tank for storing the wetting agent in advance. Thus, it is not necessary to replenish the wetting agent. Further, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the collection channel <NUM> and the suction fan <NUM> that collects the water vapor, the condenser <NUM> that returns the water vapor to water is also not necessary. Thus, the size and cost of the liquid collection device <NUM> can be reduced.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the liquid collection device <NUM> according to an example useful for understanding the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a solvent supplier <NUM> that supplies a solvent to the absorber <NUM> includes a heater <NUM> that heats ink collected by a collection mechanism <NUM> different from the collection container <NUM>, a solvent collection device <NUM> that collects water vapor generated from the ink heated by the heater <NUM>, and a condenser <NUM> that liquefies the collected water vapor.

The collection mechanism <NUM> different from the collection container <NUM> is a mechanism that collects ink discharged from the liquid discharge heads <NUM> at a maintenance position, when the head unit <NUM> moves to the maintenance position different from a position at which the image forming device <NUM> forms an image. Specifically, the collection mechanism <NUM> includes a cap <NUM> that covers the liquid discharge heads <NUM> and reduces drying of the ink, and a waste liquid tank <NUM> that is connected to the cap <NUM> via a pipe or a tube.

The heater <NUM> includes a heat generation source such as a heater that heats the ink stored in the waste liquid tank <NUM>.

The solvent collection device <NUM> includes a collection channel <NUM> that collects water vapor generated in the waste liquid tank <NUM>, and a suction fan <NUM> as a negative pressure generator that creates a negative pressure in the collection channel <NUM> to suck the water vapor. The suction fan <NUM> also functions as a solvent transfer device that sends the collected water vapor to the condenser <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the head unit <NUM> moves from a position at which the image forming device <NUM> is disposed to the maintenance position, the liquid discharge heads <NUM> are covered by the cap <NUM>. In such a state as described above, ink is discharged from the liquid discharge heads <NUM>. Thus, the maintenance and recovery operation of the performance of the liquid discharge heads <NUM> is performed. At this time, the discharged ink <NUM> is sent to the waste liquid tank <NUM> and stored in the waste liquid tank <NUM>.

Then, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the ink in the waste liquid tank <NUM> is heated by the heater <NUM>, moisture contained in the ink is vaporized to the water vapor <NUM>. The generated water vapor <NUM> is sucked and collected into the collection channel <NUM> by the suction fan <NUM>. The collected water vapor <NUM> is sent to the condenser <NUM>. Subsequently, the water vapor <NUM> is cooled in the condenser <NUM> to be liquefied and returned to water. Then, the water <NUM> in the condenser <NUM> is sent to the collection container <NUM> and supplied to the absorber <NUM>.

As described above, the water vapor <NUM> generated by heating the ink in the waste liquid tank <NUM> is collected, and the collected water vapor <NUM> is liquefied and supplied to the absorber <NUM>. Accordingly, moisture can be supplied to the absorber <NUM> to maintain the absorber <NUM> in the state in which the absorber <NUM> is wet even if a maintenance operation of supplying a wetting agent to the absorber <NUM> is not performed by an operator. In addition, the water vapor generated from the ink in the waste liquid tank <NUM> is used as the wetting agent to be supplied to the absorber <NUM>. Accordingly, it is not necessary to install a dedicated tank in which the wetting agent to be supplied to the absorber <NUM> is stored in advance. Thus, replenishing the wetting agent to such a dedicated tank is also not necessary.

As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, the absorption properties of the absorber <NUM> can be favorably maintained even if an operator does not perform a maintenance operation of adding the wetting agent to the absorber <NUM>. Accordingly, an image forming apparatus with which the burden on the operator is reduced and which has desirable usability can be provided.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a case in which the moisture contained in the ink is used as the wetting agent to be supplied to the absorber <NUM> has been described as an example. However, the wetting agent may be a solvent component contained in pretreatment liquid applied to a sheet on which an image is not formed yet or a solvent component contained in post-processing liquid applied to a sheet on which an image has been formed, in addition to the moisture contained in the ink.

Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. The image forming apparatus <NUM> includes a pretreatment liquid application device <NUM> that applies pretreatment liquid to a sheet S supplied from a sheet feeder <NUM>, a pretreatment liquid drier <NUM> that dries the pretreatment liquid applied to the sheet S, a post-processing liquid application device <NUM> that applies post-processing liquid to the sheet S that has passed through an image forming device <NUM>, and a post-processing liquid drier <NUM> that dries the post-processing liquid applied to the sheet S. In other words, the liquid collection device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may recover the solvent component of the pretreatment liquid vaporized in the pretreatment liquid drier <NUM> or the solvent component of the post-processing liquid vaporized in the post-processing liquid drier <NUM>, and supply the solvent component to the absorber <NUM> in the collection container <NUM>. Further, the solvent component, i.e., the wetting agent, supplied to the absorber <NUM> may be a solvent component other than moisture such as water.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to a so-called line-type liquid discharge apparatus in which the liquid discharge heads <NUM> discharge ink without moving with respect to the sheet S as illustrated in <FIG>. In addition to such a line-type liquid discharge apparatus, an embodiment of the present disclosure can also be applied to a so-called serial-type liquid discharge apparatus in which a carriage <NUM> is moved in directions E, which are sheet-width directions, that intersect a sheet conveyance direction A and ink is discharged onto a sheet S from the liquid discharge heads <NUM> mounted in the carriage <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

In addition, in the present disclosure, each of the liquid discharge heads <NUM> is a functional component that discharges or injects liquid from nozzles. The liquid to be discharged is not limited to any particular liquid as long as the liquid has a viscosity or surface tension that allows the liquid to be discharged from a liquid discharge head. However, preferably, the liquid has a viscosity of 30mPa s or smaller under ordinary temperature and ordinary pressure or by heating or cooling. More specifically, examples of the liquid include a solution, a suspension liquid, an emulsion that contains water or a solvent such as an organic solvent, a colorant such as a dye or a pigment, a functional material such as a polymerizable compound, a resin, or a surfactant, a biocompatible material or a combination of these deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), amino acid, protein, or calcium, or a solution, a suspension liquid, or emulsion including an edible material such as a natural pigment. Such a liquid, for example, can be used as ink to be used for an inkjet printer, surface treatment liquid, a constituent element of an electronic element or a light emitting element or liquid to be used for forming an electronic circuit resist pattern, or a three-dimensional modeling material liquid.

Examples of the energy generation source for discharging the liquid include a piezoelectric actuator such as a laminated piezoelectric element or a thin-film piezoelectric element, a thermal actuator using an electrothermal conversion element such as a heating resistor, and an electrostatic actuator including a vibration plate and a counter electrode.

The liquid discharge unit according to the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure is a head unit that includes multiple liquid discharge heads. However, the liquid discharge unit may be a head unit including one liquid discharge head. The liquid discharge unit is a unit in which functional components and mechanisms are integrated with the liquid discharge head, and includes an assembly of components related to discharging of liquid. For example, the liquid discharge unit may include a combination of at least one of a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a performance maintenance and recovery mechanism, a main scanning movement mechanism, and a liquid circulation device with the liquid discharge head. In the above-embodiments of the present disclosure, the terms "combined" or "integrated" mean attaching the liquid discharge head and the functional parts or the supply mechanism, the performance maintenance and recovery mechanism, the main scanning movement mechanism to each other by fastening, screwing, binding, or engaging and holding one of the liquid discharge head and the functional parts to the other movably relative to the other. Alternatively, a liquid discharge head, functional parts and mechanisms may be detachably attached to each other.

Examples of the liquid discharge unit include a unit in which a liquid discharge head and a head tank are integrated with each other, and a unit in which a liquid discharge head and a head tank are connected to each other by, for example, a tube to be integrated. A unit that includes a filter may be added between the head tank and the liquid discharge head of the liquid discharge unit to the liquid discharge unit.

In addition, the liquid discharge unit may be a unit in which a liquid discharge head and a carriage are integrated with each other.

In addition, the liquid discharge unit may be a unit in which a liquid discharge head is movably held by a guide which is a part of a main-scanning movement mechanism and the liquid discharge head and the scanning movement mechanism are integrated with each other, or may be a unit in which the liquid discharge head, a carriage, and the main-scanning movement mechanism are integrated with each other. Examples of the above-described main-scanning movement mechanism includes a guide only.

Further, the liquid discharge unit may be a unit in which a cap, which is a part of a performance maintenance and recovery mechanism, is fixed to a carriage to which a liquid discharge head is attached and the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the performance maintenance and recovery mechanism are integrated.

In addition, the liquid discharge unit may be a unit in which a tube is connected to a liquid discharge head to which a head tank or a channel component is attached, and the liquid discharge head and a supply mechanism are integrated. Such a supply mechanism includes a single tube and a single loading unit for loading a liquid discharge head.

In addition, in the above embodiments of the present disclosure, the liquid discharge apparatus is an apparatus which includes liquid discharge heads or a liquid discharge unit and drives the liquid discharge heads to discharge liquid. Examples of the liquid discharge apparatus includes not only an apparatus capable of discharging liquid to an object to which the liquid can adhere but also an apparatus that discharges the liquid into air or liquid.

Examples of the liquid discharge apparatus include an image forming apparatus that discharges ink to form an image on a sheet and a stereoscopic fabrication apparatus, i.e., a three-dimensional fabrication apparatus, that discharges fabrication liquid onto a powder layer in which powder is formed in a layer shape to fabricate a three-dimensional object.

In addition, the liquid discharge apparatus is not limited to an apparatus that visualizes a meaningful image such as a character or a figure with discharged liquid, and includes an apparatus that forms a pattern having no meaning in itself, and an apparatus that forms a three-dimensional image.

In addition, the liquid discharge apparatus may include a pre-processing apparatus, a post-processing apparatus in addition to a unit related to feeding, conveyance, and ejection of an object to which liquid can adhere.

The above-described "object to which liquid can adhere" is an object to be conveyed to which the liquid can at least temporarily adhere, an object to which liquid adheres and fixes, or an object to which liquid adheres and infiltrates. Specific examples of the "object to which liquid can adhere" include sheets such as a sheet of paper, a recording paper, a recording sheet of paper, films, cloths, electronic components such as electronic boards, piezoelectric elements, media such as powder layers, organ models, and inspection cells. Unless particularly limited, all materials to which liquid adheres are included. The sheet to which the liquid adheres may be a long sheet such as a roll sheet continuously supplied from a sheet feeder, or may be a sheet cut in advance into a predetermined size such as cut sheet.

The material to which the liquid can adhere may be paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, as long as the liquid can adhere even temporarily to the material.

Examples of the liquid discharge apparatus include a liquid discharge apparatus in which liquid discharge heads discharge liquid while moving and a liquid discharge apparatus in which liquid discharge heads discharge liquid without moving. However, the liquid discharge apparatus may be any apparatus.

Claim 1:
A liquid collection device (<NUM>) comprising:
a collection container (<NUM>) configured to collect liquid discharged from a liquid discharger (<NUM>);
an absorber (<NUM>) configured to absorb the liquid collected in the collection container (<NUM>); and
characterized by a solvent supplier (<NUM>) configured to supply a solvent component of the liquid discharged onto a sheet from the liquid discharger (<NUM>) to the absorber (<NUM>),
wherein the solvent supplier (<NUM>) is configured to:
heat the sheet to which the liquid discharged from the liquid discharger (<NUM>) has adhered;
vaporize and collect a solvent component of the liquid; and
liquefy and supply the collected solvent component to the absorber (<NUM>).