Inkjet recording apparatus

Abstract

To achieve reduction of a lateral dimension of an inkjet recording device.SOLUTION: A printer 100 is one example of an inkjet recording device and includes: a transport path 40 of sheets S; a recording head 73; a cap 95A; a pump 95B; and a waste liquid unit 96. The recording head 73 discharges ink to each sheet S transported in the transport path 40. The cap 95A covers a discharge port of the recording head 73 during maintenance. The pump 95B applies a pressure for discharging the ink from the discharge port of the recording head 73. The waste liquid unit 96 stores the ink from the pump 95B. The waste liquid unit 96 is positioned above the transport path 40, and the pump 95B is located between the cap 95A and the waste liquid unit 96 in a lateral direction X.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] As an inkjet recording apparatus, a serial printer is known. In a serial printer, at the time of image recording, while the recording head moves together with a carriage, ink is ejected onto a sheet conveyed on a conveyance path. Ink is supplied to the recording head from an ink cartridge according to ink consumption due to image recording. In a serial printer, at the time of maintenance, a pump sucks ink from the recording head and sends it to a waste liquid tank.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, the ink cartridge and the waste liquid tank are arranged side by side in the left - right direction behind the front surface inside the housing. The pump is in front of the carriage inside the housing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In Patent Document 1, the waste liquid tank is laid out at a position deviated from the conveyance path in the left - right direction. Also, the pump is laid out between the ink cartridge and the waste liquid tank in the left - right direction. For these reasons, there is a problem that the size of the serial printer of Patent Document 1 in the left - right direction increases.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to reduce the size of an inkjet recording apparatus in the left - right direction.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention includes a housing having an internal space. The inkjet recording apparatus has, in the internal space of the housing, a recording head having an ink ejection port, a conveyance path for a sheet at least a part of which extends along the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, a carriage on which the recording head is mounted and which moves in the left-right direction, a cap that is located within the movement range of the carriage in the left-right direction and does not overlap with the conveyance path and covers the ejection port of the recording head, a pump that applies pressure to discharge ink from the ejection port of the recording head, and a waste liquid unit that stores the ink discharged to the cap. The waste liquid unit is above the conveyance path in the up-down direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction and is located in front of the recording head in the front-rear direction. The pump is in front of the cap in the front-rear direction and is located between the cap and the waste liquid unit in the left-right direction.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the size of the inkjet recording apparatus in the left-right direction can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

[0010] Hereinafter, the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. The embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and the embodiment can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0011] [Definition of Terms] Hereinafter, the progress from the starting point to the ending point of the arrow is expressed as the direction, and the movement back and forth on the line connecting the starting point and the ending point of the arrow is expressed as the direction.

[0012] In each figure and the following description, the vertical direction Z is defined based on the state in which the printer 100 is installed for use (the state in FIG. 1). The front-rear direction Y is defined as the front side on the side where the opening 13 is provided in the printer 100. The left-right direction X is defined when viewing the printer 100 from the front.

[0013] In the following description, "within the range" or "enclosed" first means that both ends of a certain member constituting the printer 100 in a specific direction are located inside both ends of another member constituting the printer 100 in the same direction. "Within the range" or "enclosed" second means that both ends of a certain member constituting the printer 100 in a specific direction are located inside both ends of the space in the same direction in the printer 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in the left-right direction X, the range occupied by the pump 95B is enclosed within the range occupied by the space between the cap 95A and the waste liquid unit 96. In this case, the right end of the pump 95B is located to the left of the right end of the cap 95A, and the left end of the pump 95B is located to the right of the left end of the waste liquid unit 96.

[0014] In the following description, "overlapping" first means that one end of a certain member constituting the printer 100 in a specific direction is located inside both ends of another member constituting the printer 100 in the same direction, or inside both ends of a partial space in the internal space 11 in the same direction.

[0015] [Printer 100] In FIG. 1, the printer 100 is an example of an image recording apparatus and has a printing function. The printer 100 records an image on a sheet S (see FIG. 2) such as a paper or an OHP sheet by an inkjet method. The printer 100 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 1. The image recording apparatus may be a multifunction machine having a scanning function and a FAX function in addition to the printing function, instead of the printer 100.

[0016] [Housing 1] In FIG. 1, the housing 1 partitions the internal space 11 (see FIG. 2 etc.) of the printer 100 from the outside by a plurality of outer walls 12. The plurality of outer walls 12 includes a bottom wall 12A, an upper wall 12T, a front wall 12F, a rear wall 12B, a left wall 12L, and a right wall 12R. In FIGS. 3 to 5, the outer contour line of the housing 1 is indicated by a broken line.

[0017] The bottom wall 12A and the upper wall 12T are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction Z. Each of the bottom wall 12A and the upper wall 12T is generally rectangular in plan view and extends in the front-back, left-right directions.

[0018] The front wall 12F extends in the up-down, left-right directions and is connected to the front ends of the bottom wall 12A and the upper wall 12T. Near the lower end of the front wall 12F, there is an opening 13 facing forward. The left and right ends of the opening 13 are located closer to the left-right center (i.e., the inside) than the left wall 12L and the right wall 12R. The shape of the opening 13 is a rectangle that is long in the left-right direction X in a front view.

[0019] An operation panel may be arranged above the opening 13 in the front wall 12F. The operation panel includes a plurality of operation buttons and a display and is operated by the user.

[0020] Each of the rear wall 12B, the left wall 12L, and the right wall 12R closes the rear end, the left end, and the right end of the housing 1, respectively.

[0021] In FIG. 2, in the internal space 11, as the main components of the printer 100, a supply tray 21, a discharge tray 22, a feeding mechanism 30, a conveyance path 40, a conveyance roller pair 50, a discharge roller pair 60, a recording unit 70, and a platen 71 are located.

[0022] [Supply tray 21, Discharge tray 22] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the supply tray 21 is located in the internal space 11 through the opening 13. The supply tray 21 is in the shape of a thin box in the vertical direction Z. The supply tray 21 supports a plurality of sheets S stacked on its bottom wall.

[0023] The discharge tray 22 is located above the supply tray 21 and in front of the discharge roller pair 60 and supports the sheet S on which an image has been recorded as a printed matter. The user takes out the printed matter on the discharge tray 22 through the opening 13.

[0024] [Feeding mechanism 30] In FIG. 2, the feeding mechanism 30 is positioned between the supply tray 21 and the platen 71 in the vertical direction Z. The feeding mechanism 30 includes a feeding roller 31 and a feeding arm 32. The feeding roller 31 is supported at the tip of the feeding arm 32 so as to be rotatable around its own axis. The base end of the feeding arm 32 is positioned above and in front of its tip. The feeding arm 32 has a support shaft 33 at its base end. The feeding arm 32 is supported by the housing 1 (see FIG. 1) so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of the support shaft 33. The feeding roller 31 abuts against the uppermost sheet S supported by the supply tray 21. The feeding roller 31 rotates by the power from the motor 53 (see FIGS. 3 to 5). As a result, a conveyance force toward the rear is applied to the uppermost sheet S, and this sheet S is introduced to the upstream end of the conveyance path 40.

[0025] [Conveyance path 40] In FIG. 2, the conveyance path 40 is a so-called U-turn path and has a curved portion 41 and a straight portion 42. The curved portion 41 extends upward while curving from the rear end of the supply tray 21. The curved portion 41 heads forward near the upper wall 12T (see FIG. 1). The curved portion 41 is defined by an outer guide member 43 and an inner guide member 44. The straight portion 42 is continuous with the downstream end of the curved portion 41, expands in the front, rear, left, and right directions from the downstream end of the curved portion 41, and extends substantially linearly forward. The straight portion 42 reaches the rear end of the discharge tray 22. The upper side of the straight portion 42 is defined by the lower surface of the recording unit 70. The lower side of the straight portion 42 is defined by the upper surface of the platen 71.

[0026] The sheet S is conveyed in the conveyance direction a indicated by the dashed-dotted arrow in the conveyance path 40. In particular, in the curved portion 41, the sheet S is conveyed to the pair of conveyance rollers 50 while being mainly guided by the guide member 43. The sheet S is conveyed by the rotating pair of conveyance rollers 50 and the pair of discharge rollers 60 while being supported by the platen 71 in the straight portion 42.

[0027] [Pair of conveyance rollers 50, pair of discharge rollers 60] In FIG. 2, the conveying roller pair 50 and the discharging roller pair 60 convey the sheet S in the conveying direction a in the conveying path 40. The conveying direction a is forward downstream of the conveying roller pair 50.

[0028] The conveying roller pair 50 is located at the downstream end of the curved portion 41 and includes a driving roller 51 and a pinch roller 52. Each of the driving roller 51 and the pinch roller 52 extends left and right at positions near the rear wall 12B and the upper wall 12T (see FIG. 1). The driving roller 51 and the pinch roller 52 are in contact with each other in the vertical direction Z along the upper and lower sides of the conveying path 40. The driving roller 51 rotates by the power from the motor 53. The pinch roller 52 rotates following the rotation of the driving roller 51. The sheet S is nipped by the rotating conveying roller pair 50 and conveyed in the conveying direction a.

[0029] In FIG. 2, the discharging roller pair 60 includes a driving roller 61 and a plurality of flappers 62. The driving roller 61 is located in front of the conveying roller pair 50 in the front-rear direction Y and near the center of the housing 1 (see FIG. 1) in the front-rear direction Y. The driving roller 61 is located below the straight portion 42 in the vertical direction Z. The driving roller 61 extends left and right along the conveying path 40 and rotates by the power from the motor 53 (see FIG. 3 etc.). The plurality of flappers 62 are arranged side by side left and right with intervals therebetween and contact the driving roller 61 from above. Each flapper 62 rotates following the rotation of the driving roller 61. The sheet S is nipped by the rotating discharging roller pair 60 and conveyed in the conveying direction a, and is discharged to the discharge tray 22.

[0030] In the embodiment, the driving rollers 51, 61 and the feeding roller 31 rotate by the power of the motor 53. However, it is not limited thereto, and the driving rollers 51, 61 and the feeding roller 31 may rotate by the power of different motors. Alternatively, at least two of the driving rollers 51, 61 and the feeding roller 31 may rotate by the power of the same motor.

[0031] [Recording unit 70, platen 71] In FIG. 2, each of the recording unit 70 and the platen 71 is positioned between the pair of conveyance rollers 50 and the pair of discharge rollers 60 in the front-rear direction Y. The platen 71 has a support surface for the sheet S that extends in the front-rear, left-right directions directly below the straight portion 42 in the up-down direction Z. The recording unit 70 is positioned above the conveyance path 40 and includes a carriage 72 and a recording head 73. The carriage 72 is above the platen 71 and is reciprocally movable in the left-right direction X by the power provided by a CR conveyance mechanism 80 (see FIGS. 3 to 5). The carriage 72 mounts the recording head 73 on its lower surface side. The recording head 73 has a plurality of discharge ports 74 on its lower surface.

[0032] The recording head 73 discharges the ink stored therein from the plurality of discharge ports 74 while the carriage 72 is moving under the control of a controller 99A (see FIG. 4). Thereby, an image is recorded on the sheet S.

[0033] [Carriage Conveyance Mechanism 80] In FIGS. 3 to 5, the printer 100 further includes a carriage conveyance mechanism (hereinafter, also referred to as "CR conveyance mechanism") 80 in the housing 1. The CR conveyance mechanism 80 is an example of a belt transmission unit and includes two guide rails (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "rails") 81B, 81F, two pulleys 82L, 82R, an endless belt 83, and a carriage motor (hereinafter, also referred to as "CR motor") 84. In FIG. 3, the pulley 82R is hidden by the carriage 72. In FIG. 4, the pulley 82R and the CR motor 84 are hidden by the carriage 72. In FIG. 5, the illustration of the rails 81B, 81F is omitted.

[0034] In FIG. 4, the rail 81B extends left and right above and behind the platen 71. The rail 81F extends left and right above and in front of the platen 71. The rails 81B, 81F are spaced apart from each other with the platen 71 interposed therebetween in the front-rear direction Y. In FIGS. 3 and 4, both left and right ends of the rails 81B, 81F are positioned outside both left and right ends of the pair of conveyance rollers 50. The carriage 72 is bridged between the rails 81B, 81F.

[0035] In FIG. 5, each of the pulleys 82L and 82R is positioned between the ranges occupied by the rails 81F in the front-rear direction Y (see FIG. 4). The pulleys 82L and 82R are respectively positioned outside the left and right ends of the straight portion 42 in the left-right direction X. The pulleys 82L and 82R are provided so as to protrude upward from the upper surface of the rail 81F and are rotatable in the circumferential direction about a rotation axis along the up-down direction Z.

[0036] In FIG. 5, the endless belt 83 is an example of a belt and is wound around the pulleys 82L and 82R and extends in the left-right direction X. The endless belt 83 passes directly above the pump 95B in the left-right direction X. That is, the ranges occupied by the endless belt 83 in each of the left-right direction X and the front-rear direction Y overlap with those of the pump 95B.

[0037] As is apparent from FIGS. 3 to 5, the carriage 72 is fixed at a position between the pulleys 82L and 82R on the endless belt 83.

[0038] The CR motor 84 is an example of a motor and is a brushed DC motor or the like in the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the CR motor 84 is slightly forward of the cap 95A and rearward of the cartridge case 91R in the front-rear direction Y. As shown in FIG. 3, the CR motor 84 is positioned directly below the vicinity of the right end of the rail 81F. The CR motor 84 is positioned slightly to the left of the right wall 12R.

[0039] In FIG. 5, the CR motor 84 rotates under the control of the controller 99A and has an output shaft directly connected to the rotation shaft of the pulley 82R. The output shaft of the CR motor 84 is parallel to the vertical direction Z. When the pulley 82R rotates, the endless belt 83 travels left and right between the pulleys 82L and 82R. As a result, the carriage 72 reciprocates in the left - right direction X within the range between the right wall 12R and the left wall 12L of the housing 1 by the power generated by the CR motor 84. In FIGS. 4 and 5, in the movement range 72a of the carriage 72, a position deviated to the right from the straight portion 42 of the conveyance path 40 is defined as the cap - covering position P1. The carriage 72 is covered by the cap 95A at the cap - covering position P1.

[0040] [Internal Structure of Housing 1] In FIGS. 3 to 5, in the internal space 11, there are located two cartridge cases (hereinafter, also referred to as "CTG cases") 91, four ink cartridges (hereinafter, also referred to as "CTGs") 92, four remaining - amount sensors 93, and four ink tubes 94. In FIGS. 3 to 5, the ink tubes 94 are indicated by dashed - dotted lines.

[0041] [CTG Case 91] The two CTG cases 91 accommodate the four CTGs 92. In the embodiment, the two CTG cases 91 are the CTG cases 91L and 91R. In FIG. 3, each CTG case 91 is located in the front - rear direction Y within the range from immediately behind the front wall 12F to a position away from in front of the rail 81F and the recording unit 70. Each CTG case 91 is located in the vertical direction Z within the range from near the bottom wall 12A to near the upper wall 12T. The CTG case 91R is located on the right side of the supply tray 21, the discharge tray 22, and the conveyance path 40 in the left - right direction X. The right - end position of the CTG case 91R is the same as or closer to the left - right center than the right - end position of the movement range of the carriage 72.

[0042] In FIGS. 1 and 6, the CTG case 91R is a box body having a plurality of inner walls 911. The plurality of inner walls 911 includes a bottom wall 911A, an upper wall 911T, a rear wall 911B, a left wall 911L, a right wall 911R, and two partition walls 911P, 911Q.

[0043] The bottom wall 911A and the upper wall 911T are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction Z and extend in the front, rear, left, and right directions. The rear wall 911B extends in the up, down, left, and right directions and is connected to the rear ends of the bottom wall 911A and the upper wall 911T. The left wall 911L and the right wall 911R are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction X and extend in the front, rear, up, and down directions. The partition walls 911P, 911Q extend in the front, rear, up, and down directions at substantially equal intervals between the left wall 911L and the right wall 911R. By each inner wall 911, the CTG case 91R is partitioned into three internal spaces 912. The front end of each internal space 912 is an opening facing forward. In each internal space 912, one CTG 92 (specifically, CTG 92B described later) is mounted and accommodated through the opening.

[0044] In FIG. 6, the CTG case 91R has one ink needle (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "needle") 913 in each internal space 912. Each needle 913 extends forward from a position at the center in the left-right direction near the lower end on the rear wall 911B. The needle 913 is an elongated tubular body and has an ink flow path 913A. Note that in FIG. 6(B), the rightmost internal space 912 among the three internal spaces 912 is illustrated.

[0045] In FIG. 3, the CTG case 91L has a configuration similar to that of the CTG case 91R, except for the following three differences. The first difference is that the CTG case 91L is located on the left side of the supply tray 21, the discharge tray 22, and the conveyance path 40 in the left-right direction X. The second difference is that the left end of the CTG case 91L is at the same position as the left end of the movement range of the carriage 72 in the left-right direction X or is located closer to the center in the left-right direction than the left end. The third difference is that one CTG 92 is mounted and accommodated in the internal space 912.

[0046] In FIG. 1, a cover 14 corresponding to each CTG case 91 is provided on the front wall 12F. The covers 14 are covers 14L and 14R. The cover 14L is rotatable in the circumferential direction about a rotation axis 15L parallel to the left-right direction X by a user operation between a first closed position (see FIG. 1(A)) that closes the opening of the CTG case 91L and a first open position (see FIG. 1(B)) that opens this opening. The cover 14R is rotatable in the circumferential direction about a rotation axis 15R parallel to the left-right direction X by a user operation between a second closed position (see FIG. 1(A)) that closes the opening of the CTG case 91R and a second open position (see FIG. 1(B)) that opens this opening.

[0047] [Remaining amount sensor 93] In FIG. 6, the remaining amount sensor 93 is a photointerrupter having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The remaining amount sensors 93 are each attached to each internal space 912. Specifically, in each remaining amount sensor 93, the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element project downward from near the upper end of the internal space 912. The light-emitting element and the light-receiving element of each remaining amount sensor 93 face each other with a space therebetween in the left-right direction. Each light-emitting element emits light toward the opposing light-receiving element. The light-receiving element outputs a signal indicating the received light amount to the controller 99A. Specifically, when there is nothing blocking the optical path between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element, the light-receiving element outputs a high-level signal in response to receiving the emitted light of the light-emitting element. When there is something blocking the optical path between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element and the emitted light of the light-emitting element cannot be received, the light-receiving element outputs a low-level signal.

[0048] [CTG92 (an example of an ink storage section)] In FIG. 1, the four CTG92s are an example of a plurality of ink storage units and store the ink supplied to the recording unit 70. The ink colors are, for example, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). In the embodiment, the CTG92s for YMC colors are mounted on the CTG case 91R, and the CTG92 for K color is mounted on the CTG case 91L. That is, the CTG92s for YMC colors and the CTG92 for K color are within the movement range 72a of the carriage 72 in the left-right direction X and are separated and located on both sides in the left-right direction X with the conveyance path 40 interposed therebetween.

[0049] In each of FIGS. 7 and 8, the CTG92 is shown in the posture when mounted on the CTG case 91. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, the CTG92 in the mounted posture will be described.

[0050] In FIG. 7, each CTG92 includes a plurality of outer walls 921, an ink storage chamber 922 (see FIG. 7(B)), an air communication hole 923, an ink outlet 924, and a detected portion 925.

[0051] The plurality of outer walls 921 are made of a light-transmitting material such as a transparent resin and partition the ink storage chamber 922 from the outside. The ink storage chamber 922 stores ink. The plurality of outer walls 921 include a bottom wall 921A, an upper wall 921T, a front wall 921F, a rear wall 921B, a left wall 921L, and a right wall 921R.

[0052] The bottom wall 921A and the upper wall 921T are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction Z and extend in the front-rear and left-right directions. The front wall 921F extends in the up-down, left-right directions and is connected to the respective front ends of the bottom wall 921A and the upper wall 921T. The rear wall 921B extends in the up-down, left-right directions and is connected to the respective rear ends of the bottom wall 921A and the upper wall 921T. The left wall 921L and the right wall 921R extend in the front-rear and up-down directions and close the left side portion and the right side portion of the ink storage chamber 922, respectively.

[0053] In FIG. 7(B), the atmosphere communication hole 923 is formed near the upper end of the rear wall 921B and is a hole penetrating the rear wall 921B from front to back. When the CTG 92 is mounted on the CTG case 91 and the ink in the ink storage chamber 922 is sent out to the outside of the CTG 92, outside air is introduced into the ink storage chamber 922 through the atmosphere communication hole 923.

[0054] The ink discharge portion 924 discharges ink from the ink storage chamber 922 to the outside of the CTG 91 through a hole 924A formed near the lower end of the rear wall 921B. Specifically, in FIG. 7(B), the ink discharge portion 924 has a valve 924B. The valve 924B is movable to a third open position (see FIG. 8) for opening the hole 924A and a third closed position (see FIG. 7(B)) for closing the hole 924A. The valve 924B is biased by a biasing member 924C such as a spring in a direction to close the hole 924A.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 6(B), the CTG 92 is moved backward by the user through the opening of the corresponding internal space 912 and is mounted in the internal space 912. In this process, the needles 913 in the internal space 912 respectively hit the valve 924B. The needles 913 apply a forward force in a direction opposite to the biasing force to the valve 924B against the biasing force of the biasing member 924C. As a result, the valve 924B moves from the third closed position (see FIG. 6(B)) to the third open position (see FIG. 8). Thereby, the ink in the ink storage chamber 922 is discharged from the hole 924A to the outside of the CTG 92 in response to the consumption of the ink by the recording unit 70.

[0056] In FIG. 3, the shapes and dimensions of the four CTGs 92 may be the same as each other or may be different from each other. Also, among the four CTGs 92, the shapes and dimensions of one or more CTGs 92 may be different from the shapes and dimensions of the other CTGs 92. For example, the left - right dimensions of the CTG 92 for K may be different from the left - right dimensions of the CTG 92 for YMC.

[0057] [Detection part 925] In FIG. 7, the detected portion 925 has a convex portion 925A, a detected member 925B, and a float 925C.

[0058] The convex portion 925A is integral with the upper wall 921T made of a light-transmitting material and protrudes upward from the upper wall 921T. A space continuous with the ink reservoir 922 is formed in the convex portion 925A. In FIG. 8, when the CTG 92 is attached to the CTG case 91, the convex portion 925A is located between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element in the remaining amount sensor 93. That is, the remaining amount sensor 93 will be located above the ink reservoir 922 of the CTG 92.

[0059] The detected member 925B is supported by a rotation shaft 925D extending in the left-right direction X at a position closer to the bottom of the ink reservoir 922. The upper end portion of the detected member 925B enters the space of the convex portion 925A. The detected member 925B is rotatable in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft 925D. The float 925C is attached to the lower end of the detected member 925B and has a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink in the ink reservoir 922. Therefore, the float 925C generates buoyancy while existing in the ink in the ink reservoir 922.

[0060] When the ink reservoir 922 is almost filled with ink, due to the buoyancy of the float 925C, the upper end portion of the detected member 925B rotates counterclockwise in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft 925D in FIG. 7(B), and as a result, it abuts against the rear wall of the convex portion 925A. Thereby, the posture of the detected member 925B is maintained. In this state, the upper end portion of the detected member 925B blocks the optical path between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element in the remaining amount sensor 93.

[0061] As the ink liquid level in the ink reservoir 922 drops, the vertical position of the float 925C also drops. As a result, the upper end portion of the detected member 925B rotates clockwise in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft 925D in FIG. 7(B), and as a result, it moves out of the optical path between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element in the remaining amount sensor 93.

[0062] [Ink Tube 94 (an example of an ink flow path)] In FIGS. 4 to 6, the four ink tubes 94 are connected to the rear sides of the four needles 913 at one ends of each. The other ends of the four ink tubes 94 are connected to the recording unit 70. When the four CTGs 92 are mounted on the two CTG cases 91, the four needles 913 are inserted into the holes 924A of the ink discharge portion 924. Thereby, an ink flow path that is continuous with the holes 924A, the ink flow path 913A of the needles 913, and the ink tubes 94 is formed from the ink storage chambers 922 of the respective CTGs 92. Through this ink flow path, the ink stored in the ink storage chambers 922 is supplied to the recording unit 70.

[0063] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, one ends of each of the three ink tubes 94 are connected to a connecting portion 914 (an example of a second connection position) provided on the rear side of the three needles 913 (see FIG. 6(B)) of the CTG case 91R. Each of the three ink tubes 94 extends leftward from each connecting portion 914 toward the left and right center of the housing 1. The remaining one ink tube 94 extends rightward from a connecting portion 914 provided on the rear side of the needle 913 of the CTG case 91L toward the left and right center of the housing 1. The four ink tubes 94 are bundled together in four at a fixed position P2 (an example of a fixing portion) inside the housing 1 and fixed to the housing 1. The front and rear positions of the fixed position P2 are between the four CTGs 92 and the recording unit 70. The left and right positions of the fixed position P2 are near the center of the housing 1. The vertical position of the fixed position P2 is above the supply tray 21. The portion between the fixed position P2 and the recording unit 70 in the four ink tubes 94 moves following the movement of the carriage 72 in the left-right direction X.

[0064] [Internal Configuration of the Housing 1 (Maintenance Unit 95, etc.)] In FIGS. 5 and 9, in the internal space 11, there are located a maintenance unit 95, a waste liquid unit 96, a waste liquid tube 97, and a waste liquid sensor 98.

[0065] The maintenance unit 95 is a purge mechanism that, under the control of the controller 99A, performs a purge to suck and remove bubbles and foreign matter together with ink from the discharge port 74 of the recording unit 70. The maintenance unit 95 includes a cap 95A, a pump 95B, and a lifting mechanism 95C.

[0066] [Cap 95A] The cap 95A is made of an elastic material such as rubber and adheres to the lower surface of the recording head 73 by the lifting mechanism 95C to cover the plurality of discharge ports 74. An air intake port 95D is formed at the bottom of the cap 95A. One end of the upstream tube 97A is connected to the air intake port 95D.

[0067] In the left - right direction X, the cap 95A is within the movement range 72a of the carriage 72 and is located to the right of the straight portion 42 of the conveyance path 40. That is, in the left - right direction X, the cap 95A is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the conveyance path 40. In the up - down direction Z, the cap 95A is arranged at a position below the capped position P1 (see FIG. 4). Specifically, the left end of the cap 95A is located to the right of the right end of the substrate 99. The cap 95A is arranged at a position substantially the same as the movement range 72a of the carriage 72 in the front - rear direction Y and is located below the carriage 72 in the up - down direction Z.

[0068] [Pump 95B] In FIG. 5, the pump 95B is, for example, a rotary tube pump. The pump 95B is within the movement range 72a of the carriage 72 in the left - right direction X, to the left of the CR motor 84 and to the right of the straight portion 42. Specifically, the pump 95B is located between the cap 95A and the waste liquid unit 96. In other words, in the left - right direction X, the range occupied by the pump 95B is included in the range occupied by the space between the cap 95A and the waste liquid unit 96. Specifically, the right end of the pump 95B is located to the right of the left end of the cap 95A, and the left end of the pump 95B is located to the right of the right end of the waste liquid unit 96. In FIG. 9, the pump 95B is below the rail 81F (see FIG. 4) in the up - down direction Z and above the bottom wall 911A of the CTG case 91. The pump 95B is in front of the cap 95A and behind the CTG case 91 in the front - rear direction Y.

[0069] In FIG. 9, the pump 95B has a suction port 95E and a discharge port 95F. The other end of the upstream - side tube 97A is connected to the suction port 95E. One end of the downstream - side tube 97B is connected to the discharge port 95F. The pump 95B communicates with the cap 95A via the upstream - side tube 97A. The pump 95B is driven under the control of the controller 99A to push the internal ink from the discharge port 95F into the downstream - side tube 97B.

[0070] [Lift mechanism 95C] In FIG. 9, the lift mechanism 95C is provided within the movement range of the carriage 72 in the left - right direction X and the front - rear direction Y and at the same position as the cap 95A. The lift mechanism 95C is located below the cap 95A in the up - down direction Z.

[0071] The cap 95A is moved in the vertical direction Z between the cap position P3 and the separated position P4 below the cap position P3. The cap position P3 is a position where the upper end of the cap 95A is in close contact with the lower surface of the recording unit 70 at the capped position P1, and the cap 95A covers the discharge port 74. The separated position P4 is a position where the upper end of the cap 95A is separated from the lower surface of the recording unit 70 at the capped position P1. As the lifting mechanism 95C, for example, a mechanism that raises the cap 95A to the cap position P3 by the power from the motor after the carriage 72 has moved to the capped position P1 (see FIG. 4) can be adopted. However, the lifting mechanism 95C is not limited to the above, and other known mechanisms may be adopted.

[0072] [Waste liquid unit 96] In FIGS. 3 to 5, the waste liquid unit 96 stores the ink discharged from the recording unit 70 by the maintenance unit 95.

[0073] The waste liquid unit 96 is located closer to the pump 95B than the CR motor 84 in the left-right direction X, and is located within the range from the left end of the CTG case 91R to the right end of the substrate 99 described later. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the waste liquid unit 96 is located within the range from immediately behind the front wall 12F to the front end of the rail 81F in the front-rear direction Y. In other words, the waste liquid unit 96 is located in front of the recording unit 70 (see FIG. 3) and the maintenance unit 95 (see FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 4, the rear end of the waste liquid unit 96 is located behind the rear ends of the respective CTGs 92. As shown in FIG. 10(A), the waste liquid unit 96 is located within the range between the straight portion 42 of the conveyance path 40 and the upper wall 12T in the vertical direction Z.

[0074] As shown in Fig. 10(A), the waste liquid unit 96 is located above the conveyance path 40. Specifically, in the left - right direction X, the right end of the waste liquid unit 96 is approximately at the same position as the right end of the conveyance path 40, and the left end of the waste liquid unit 96 is located to the right of the left end of the conveyance path 40. That is, in the left - right direction X, the range occupied by the waste liquid unit 96 is included in that of the conveyance path 40. Note that the right end of the waste liquid unit 96 may be located to the left of the right end of the conveyance path 40.

[0075] In Fig. 4, the waste liquid unit 96 has a case 96A that is generally rectangular in plan view and an ink absorption member 96B attached inside the case 96A. The case 96A is a box body made of resin or the like and is open at the top. The ink absorption member 96B is made of a porous and electrically insulating material such as foamed polyurethane and absorbs ink.

[0076] [Waste liquid tube 97] In Fig. 9, the waste liquid tube 97 includes an upstream - side tube 97A and a downstream - side tube 97B (an example of a waste liquid flow path). One end and the other end of the upstream - side tube 97A are connected to the air intake port 95D of the cap 95A and the suction port 95E of the pump 95B, respectively. The downstream - side tube 97B is connected between the pump 95B and the waste liquid unit 96 so as to allow the waste liquid to flow through. Specifically, one end of the downstream - side tube 97B is connected to the discharge port 95F of the pump 95B. The other end of the downstream - side tube 97B is connected to a connection portion 96C (an example of a first connection position) provided at the rear end of the case 96A. In Fig. 5, the connection portion 96C is located between the three CTGs 92 mounted on the CTG case 91R and the fixed position P2 in the left - right direction X. In the front - rear direction Y, the fixed position P2 is located in front of the connection portion 96C.

[0077] As shown in Fig. 5, the downstream tube 97B intersects three-dimensionally with the ink tube 94 extending from the CTG case 91R in the vertical direction 7 at the three-dimensional intersection position P5. The three-dimensional intersection position P5 is slightly behind the connecting portion 96C in the front-rear direction Y, and is at a position between the connecting portion 96C and the left ends of the three CTGs 92 mounted on the CTG case 91R in the left-right direction X.

[0078] "Overview of the Operation of the Maintenance Unit 95" When the timing to execute the purge arrives, the CR transport mechanism 80 moves the carriage 72 to the capped position P1. The lifting mechanism 95C moves the cap 95A to the cap position P3. As a result, the cap 95A covers the discharge port 74 of the recording head 73. Thereafter, by driving the pump 95B, the air pressure inside the cap 95A in close contact with the recording unit 70 decreases. That is, the pump 95B applies a pressure to discharge ink from the discharge port 74 of the recording head 73. Ink is discharged from the recording unit 70 to the cap 95A as waste liquid. The waste liquid flows from the intake port 95D of the cap 95A into the upstream tube 97A, and flows from the pump 95B through the downstream tube 97B into the waste liquid unit 96. The waste liquid is stored in the waste liquid unit 96.

[0079] [Waste Liquid Sensor 98] In Fig. 3, the waste liquid sensor 98 has a plurality of electrodes 98A that come into contact with the front end portion of the ink absorption member 96B from above the ink absorption member 96B. The front end portion is a concept including the front end and the vicinity of the front end of the ink absorption member 96B. The waste liquid sensor 98 is located within a range from the left end of the CTG case 91R to the right end of a substrate 99, which will be described later, in the left-right direction X, similar to the waste liquid unit 96.

[0080] The plurality of electrodes 98A are mounted on a substrate 98B together with a peripheral circuit (not shown). The waste liquid sensor 98 outputs a high-level signal to the controller 99A in response to ink reaching the plurality of electrodes 98A. The waste liquid sensor 98 outputs a low-level signal to the controller 99A when ink has not reached the plurality of electrodes 98A.

[0081] [Substrate 99] In FIGS. 3 to 5, a substrate 99 is located in the internal space 11. A controller 99A for controlling each component of the printer 100 is mounted on the substrate 99. The controller 99A includes, as various electronic components, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, an ASIC, and a connector. The various electronic components are interconnected by an internal bus, wiring formed on the substrate, and the like.

[0082] The substrate 99 is located within a range from the left end of the waste liquid unit 96 to the right end of the CTG case 91L in the left - right direction X. The substrate 99 is located within a range from immediately behind the front wall 12F to the fixed position P2 in the front - rear direction Y. The substrate 99 is located within a range between the straight portion 42 of the conveyance path 40 and the upper wall 12T in the up - down direction Z. That is, the substrate 99 is located above the conveyance path 40.

[0083] The controller 99A receives the output signal of the remaining amount sensor 93 and the output signal of the waste liquid sensor 98. The controller 99A causes a screen for prompting the replacement of the corresponding CTG 92 to be displayed on the display in response to the output signal of the remaining amount sensor 93 transitioning from a low level to a high level. Also, the controller 99A causes a screen for prompting the replacement of the waste liquid unit 96 to be displayed on the display in response to the output signal of the waste liquid sensor 98 transitioning from a low level to a high level.

[0084] [Operation and Effect of the Embodiment] If the waste liquid unit is located outside the conveyance path in the left - right direction, or if the pump is completely out of the space between the cap and the waste liquid unit in the left - right direction in a printer (hereinafter, also referred to as "reference example"), the left - right dimensions become large. In the embodiment, the waste liquid unit 96 is located above the conveyance path 40 (see Fig. 10(A)). Specifically, in the left - right direction X, the range occupied by the waste liquid unit 96 is included in that of the conveyance path 40. Also, the pump 95B is located between the cap 95A and the waste liquid unit 96 in the left - right direction X (see Fig. 5). In other words, in the left - right direction X, the range occupied by the pump 95B is included in the range occupied by the space between the cap 95A and the waste liquid unit 96. With these configurations, the left - right dimensions of the printer 100 can be made smaller than those of the reference example.

[0085] In the embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the plurality of CTGs 92 are within the movement range 72a of the carriage 72 in the left - right direction X and are separated and located on both sides in the left - right direction X with the conveyance path 40 interposed therebetween. Thereby, compared with the case where at least one CTG is outside the movement range of the carriage in the left - right direction or is located on one side in the left - right direction with the conveyance path interposed therebetween, the left - right dimensions of the printer 100 can be made smaller.

[0086] In the embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the internal space 11 is provided with four CTGs 92, four ink tubes 94, a pump 95B, a waste liquid unit 96, and a downstream tube 97B. The four ink tubes 94 are fixed to the housing 1 at a fixed position P2 between the CTG 92 to which each is connected and the recording head 73. In the four ink tubes 94, the portion from the fixed position P2 to the recording head 73 moves following the movement of the carriage 72 in the left - right direction X. The pump 95B and the waste liquid unit 96 are located close to each other in both the left - right direction X and the front - rear direction Y in the internal space 11. The downstream tube 97B intersects three ink tubes 94 three - dimensionally between the CTG 92 attached to the CTG91R and the fixed position P2. Thereby, the downstream tube 97B can be made shorter.

[0087] In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the fixing position P2 is located forward of the connecting portion 96C. Also, the rear end of the waste liquid unit 96 is located rearward of the rear ends of the respective CTGs 92 in each CTG case 91 in the internal space 11. Thereby, the downstream tube 97B can be made shorter.

[0088] In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, in the internal space 11, the waste liquid unit 96 is arranged closer to the pump 95B than the CR motor 84 in the left - right direction X. Also, the endless belt 83 is located above the pump 95B. The waste liquid unit 96 is located near the pump 95B in the front - rear direction Y. Thereby, the downstream tube 97B can be shortened, and the pressure loss due to the downstream tube 97B can be suppressed.

[0089] [Modification Example] In FIG. 4, the fixing position P2 is provided rearward of each connecting portion 914 in the front - rear direction Y. However, not limited to this, the fixing position P2 may be provided forward of each connecting portion 914 as shown in FIG. 10(B). Thereby, the dimension of the printer 100 in the front - rear direction Y can be reduced. In this modification example, the fixing position P2 may be provided forward or rearward of the connecting portion 96C.

[0090] In the embodiment, the planar shape of the waste liquid unit 96 was a rectangle long in the front - rear direction Y (see FIG. 4). However, not limited to this, the planar shape of the waste liquid unit 96 may be a non - regular shape such as an inverted L - shape shown in FIG. 11(A) or an inverted T - shape shown in FIG. 11(B).

[0091] The waste liquid unit 96 in Fig. 11(A) is different from the waste liquid unit 96 in Fig. 4 in the following points. The case 96A has a first portion 96D and a second portion 96E. The first portion 96D has a rectangular shape that extends long in the left-right direction X in plan view. Specifically, the first portion 96D occupies a range from the left end of the CTG case 91R to a position between the left and right ends of the substrate 99 in the left-right direction X. The first portion 96D occupies a range from the rear end of the substrate 99 to the fixed position P2 in the front-rear direction Y. The second portion 96E has a rectangular shape that extends long in the front-rear direction Y in plan view. The second portion 96E occupies a range from the left end of the CTG case 91R to the right end of the substrate 99 in the left-right direction X. The second portion 96E occupies a range from the front end of the first portion 96D to a position immediately behind the front wall 12F in the front-rear direction Y. The right end positions of the first portion 96D and the second portion 96E are the same as each other.

[0092] The waste liquid unit 96 in Fig. 11(B) is different from the waste liquid unit 96 in Fig. 4 in the following points. The case 96A has a first portion 96D and a second portion 96E. The first portion 96D has a rectangular shape that extends long in the left-right direction X in plan view. Specifically, the first portion 96D occupies a range from the left end of the CTG case 91R to a position between the left and right ends of the substrate 99 in the left-right direction X. The first portion 96D occupies a range from the rear end of the substrate 99 to the fixed position P2 in the front-rear direction Y. The second portion 96E has a rectangular shape that extends long in the front-rear direction Y in plan view. The second portion 96E occupies a range from the left end of the CTG case 91R to the right end of the substrate 99 in the left-right direction X. The second portion 96E occupies a range from the front end of the first portion 96D to a position immediately behind the front wall 12F in the front-rear direction Y. The right end of the second portion 96E is located to the left of the right end of the first portion 96D.

[0093] In the waste liquid units 96 of Fig. 11(A) and Fig. 11(B), the ink absorption member 96B has a shape that fits into each case 96A.

[0094] According to the waste liquid unit 96 in FIGS. 11(A) and 11(B), the space inside the housing 1 can be effectively utilized, and more waste liquid can be stored.

[0095] In the embodiment, in the internal space 11, two CTG cases 91L and 91R were separately arranged on both the left and right sides of the supply tray 21. However, it is not limited to this, and a single CTG case 91 may be arranged on one side of the supply tray 21 in the left - right direction X. When the printer 100 supports full - color printing, the single CTG case 91 can accommodate four CTGs 92. Also, when the printer 100 supports only monochrome printing, the single CTG case 91 only needs to be able to accommodate one CTG 92.

[0096] In the embodiment, each of the maintenance unit 95 and the waste liquid unit 96 was located to the right of the substrate 99. However, it is not limited to this, and each of the maintenance unit 95 and the waste liquid unit 96 may be located to the left of the substrate 99.

[0097] In the embodiment, each remaining amount sensor 93 and the waste liquid sensor 98 were located above each CTG 92 and the waste liquid unit 96. However, it is not limited to this, and each remaining amount sensor 93 or the waste liquid sensor 98 may be located other than above (for example, in front of) each CTG 92 or the waste liquid unit 96.

[0098] In the embodiment, the waste liquid unit 96 was connected by a pump 95B and a downstream tube 97B that constitute a purge mechanism. However, the waste liquid unit 96 may be connected by a waste liquid tube different from the ink receiver used for so - called flushing.

[0099] In the embodiment, as an example of the ink storage part, the CTG 92 detachably attached to the CTG case 91 was given. However, it is not limited to this, and the ink storage part may be an ink tank installed in the housing 1.

[0100] In the embodiment, the remaining amount sensor 93 detected the position of the detected portion 925 having the float 925C with a photointerrupter. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a known liquid level sensor can be applied to the remaining amount sensor 93.

[0101] In the embodiment, the conveyance path 40 had a curved portion 41 extending rearward while bulging upward from below the internal space 11, and a straight portion 42 extending forward from the downstream end of the curved portion 41. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the conveyance path 40 may have a curved portion extending rightward while bulging upward from below the internal space 11, and a straight portion extending leftward from the downstream end of the curved portion.

[0102] In the embodiment, the left and right ends of the waste liquid unit 96 were located inside the left and right ends of the conveyance path 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one of the left end and the right end of the waste liquid unit 96 may be located outside one of the left end and the right end of the conveyance path 40.

[0103] In the embodiment, the maintenance unit 95 was configured to execute a suction purge that discharges the ink in the recording unit 70 from the discharge port 74 to the cap 75A and guides it to the waste liquid unit 96. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the maintenance unit 95 may be configured to be able to execute an exhaust purge. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, an exhaust flow path 76 branched from the ink flow path 75 is formed in the recording unit 70. The exhaust flow path 76 becomes an exhaust port 77 (another example of the discharge port) on the lower surface of the recording unit 70. An exhaust valve 78 for opening and closing the exhaust port 77 is provided in the recording unit 70. In FIG. 12, the maintenance unit 95 has an exhaust cap 95J that covers the exhaust port 77 separately from the cap 95A. An exhaust port 95K is formed at the bottom of the exhaust cap 95J. One end of an exhaust tube 97C is connected to the exhaust port 95K. The other end of the exhaust tube 97C merges into the upstream tube 97A.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0104] 100 ··· Printer 1 ··· Housing 11 ··· Internal space 40 ··· Conveyor path 70 ··· Recording unit 72 ··· Carriage 73 ··· Recording head 74 ··· Discharge port 91 ··· Cartridge case (CTG case) 92 ··· Ink cartridge (CTG) 93 ··· Remaining amount sensor 94 ··· Ink tube 95 ··· Maintenance unit 96 ··· Waste liquid unit 97 ··· Waste liquid tube 98 ··· Waste liquid sensor 99 ··· Substrate 99A ··· Controller

Claims

Claim 1: A housing having an internal space, in the internal space of the housing, a recording head having an ink ejection port, a conveyance path for a sheet at least a part of which extends along the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, a carriage on which the recording head is mounted and which moves in the left-right direction, a cap that is located within the movement range of the carriage in the left-right direction and does not overlap with the conveyance path, and covers the ejection port of the recording head, a pump that applies pressure to discharge ink from the ejection port of the recording head, a waste liquid unit that stores the ink discharged to the cap, an ink storage unit that stores the ink supplied to the recording head, an ink flow path that connects the ink storage unit and the recording head in a manner that allows ink to flow therebetween, a waste liquid flow path that connects the pump and the waste liquid unit in a manner that allows ink to flow therebetween, are located, the waste liquid unit is above the conveyance path in the up-down direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and is located in front of the recording head in the front-rear direction, the range occupied by the waste liquid unit in the left-right direction is included in the range occupied by the conveyance path, the pump is in front of the cap in the front-rear direction and is located between the cap and the waste liquid unit in the left-right direction, the ink flow path is fixed to a fixed portion of the housing between the ink storage unit and the recording head, and the portion from the fixed portion to the recording head moves following the movement of the carriage, a first connection position with the waste liquid unit in the waste liquid flow path is located between the ink storage unit and the fixed portion in the left-right direction, the waste liquid flow path intersects a portion connecting the ink storage unit and the fixed portion in the ink flow path in a line of sight along the up-down direction. An inkjet recording apparatus.

2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixed portion is located in front of at least one of the first connection position and a second connection position with the ink storage unit in the ink flow path.

3. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rear end of the waste liquid unit is located behind the rear end of the ink storage unit in the front-rear direction.

4. A housing having an internal space, in the internal space of the housing, a recording head having an ink ejection port, A conveyance path for a sheet that extends at least in part along the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, A carriage that mounts the recording head and moves in the left-right direction, A cap that is within the movement range of the carriage in the left-right direction and is located at a position that does not overlap with the conveyance path, and covers the discharge port of the recording head, A pump that applies pressure to discharge ink from the discharge port of the recording head, A waste liquid unit that stores the ink discharged to the cap, A motor that generates power for moving the carriage, are located, The waste liquid unit is above the conveyance path in the up-down direction that is orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and is located in front of the recording head in the front-rear direction, In the left-right direction, the range occupied by the waste liquid unit is included in the range occupied by the conveyance path, The pump is in front of the cap in the front-rear direction and is located between the cap and the waste liquid unit in the left-right direction, The motor is located in front of the cap in the front-rear direction, The waste liquid unit is an inkjet recording apparatus that is closer to the pump than the motor in the left-right direction.

5. Further comprising a belt transmission unit that transmits the power generated by the motor to the carriage, The belt included in the belt transmission unit extends along the left-right direction, The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the ranges occupied by the belt and the pump in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction respectively overlap.

6. Comprising a housing having an internal space, Inside the internal space of the housing, A recording head having an ink discharge port, A conveyance path for a sheet that extends at least in part along the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, A carriage that mounts the recording head and moves in the left-right direction, A cap that is within the movement range of the carriage in the left-right direction and is located at a position that does not overlap with the conveyance path, and covers the discharge port of the recording head, A pump that applies pressure to discharge ink from the discharge port of the recording head, A waste liquid unit that stores the ink discharged to the cap, are located, The waste liquid unit is above the conveyance path in the up-down direction that is orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and is located in front of the recording head in the front-rear direction, The range occupied by the waste liquid unit in the left-right direction is included in the range occupied by the conveyance path. The pump is located in front of the cap in the front-rear direction and between the cap and the waste liquid unit in the left-right direction. The waste liquid unit has a first portion extending along the left-right direction and a second portion extending forward from the first portion along the front-rear direction, and is an inkjet recording apparatus.

Images