Waste liquid container and liquid injection device

Abstract

To provide a waste liquid storage body and a liquid injection device that can prevent waste liquid from adhering to a storage body side terminal part and a reflection part.SOLUTION: A waste liquid storage body 50 is mounted, along with a movement in a mounting direction, to a mounting part having a discharge part for discharging waste liquid, an optical sensor with a light emitting part for emitting light and a light receiving part capable of receiving light, and a device side terminal part. The waste liquid storage body comprises: a storage chamber capable of storing waste liquid; a connection opening 61a which communicates with the storage chamber and opens toward the mounting direction in a mode connectable to the discharge part; a storage body side terminal part 56 which is electrically connected to the device side terminal part in a mounted state mounted to the mounting part; and a reflection part 57 capable of reflecting emission light from the light emitting part toward the light receiving part in the mounted state. In the mounted state, the connection opening 61a is provided in one side in a width direction crossing a vertical direction and the mounting direction, whereas the storage body side terminal part 56 and the reflection part 57 are provided on the other side in the width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a waste liquid container and a liquid injection device.

Background Art

[0002] A liquid injection device that discharges liquid as waste liquid from a liquid injection head for the purpose of eliminating clogging of the liquid injection head is known. In the liquid injection device described in Patent Document 1, the discharged waste liquid is stored in a detachable waste liquid container. This waste liquid container is provided with a connection opening through which the waste liquid flows in from the liquid injection device, a container-side terminal portion that is electrically connected to the liquid injection device, and a reflection portion for detecting the storage state of the waste liquid.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the waste liquid container described in Patent Document 1, the connection opening is arranged at the center in the width direction of the narrow end face, and the container-side terminal portion and the reflection portion are arranged below the connection opening within the same end face or in its vicinity. Therefore, when waste liquid drips from the connection opening, the waste liquid may adhere to these parts, and each function may be impaired.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The waste liquid container is a waste liquid container that is mounted in the mounting direction with respect to a mounting portion having a discharge portion for discharging waste liquid, an optical sensor having a light emitting portion that emits light and a light receiving portion that can receive light, and a device side terminal portion. The waste liquid container includes a storage chamber capable of storing waste liquid, a connection opening that communicates with the storage chamber and opens in the mounting direction in a manner connectable to the discharge portion, a container side terminal portion that is electrically connected to the device side terminal portion in the mounted state on the mounting portion, and a reflection portion that can reflect the emitted light of the light emitting portion toward the light receiving portion in the mounted state. In the mounted state, the connection opening is provided on one side in the width direction that intersects the vertical direction and the mounting direction, and the container side terminal portion and the reflection portion are provided on the other side in the width direction.

[0006] The liquid ejection device includes a liquid ejection portion capable of ejecting liquid and the above-described waste liquid container, and the waste liquid container can store the liquid as waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejection portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 22

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the liquid ejection device will be described with reference to the drawings. The liquid ejection device 11 of the present embodiment is an inkjet printer that performs recording by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a medium S such as a sheet conveyed along the Y-axis that intersects the Z-axis along the liquid ejection direction.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid injection device 11 includes a liquid injection unit 13 having one or more nozzles 12 capable of injecting droplets, a supply flow path 15 for supplying the liquid from a liquid supply source 14 toward the liquid injection unit 13, a conveyance device 16 for conveying a medium S, and a control unit 100 for controlling these components. When the position where the liquid injection unit 13 injects the liquid is defined as a recording position, the conveyance device 16 includes a plurality of conveyance rollers 17 for conveying the medium S along a conveyance path passing through the recording position, and a conveyance belt 18 for conveying the medium S at the recording position. Note that, among the directions along the Y axis, the conveyance direction of the medium S at the recording position is defined as the +Y direction.

[0010] The liquid injection unit 13 of the present embodiment is a line head in which the recording range extends over the entire width of the medium S in a direction along the X axis that intersects the Y axis and the Z axis. In the present embodiment, the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are orthogonal to each other. Also, in the present embodiment, the +Z direction, which is the direction of gravity, is defined as the injection direction, but an oblique direction that intersects both the horizontal direction and the direction of gravity can also be defined as the injection direction.

[0011] The liquid supply source 14 can be, for example, a cartridge-type liquid container that is detachably attached to a container mounting portion 26 provided in the liquid injection device 11. Alternatively, the liquid supply source 14 may be configured to replenish the liquid by injecting the liquid into a liquid tank attached to the container mounting portion 26.

[0012] The liquid injection device 11 includes a storage cassette 19 capable of storing a plurality of media S before recording, a holding tray 20 for holding the recorded media S, a maintenance device 21 for performing maintenance on the liquid injection unit 13, and a mounting portion 30 for detachably mounting a waste liquid container 50 capable of storing the liquid discharged as waste liquid during maintenance or the like of the liquid injection unit 13.

[0013] In the liquid ejection device 11, in the liquid ejection unit 13, maintenance operations such as flushing, capping, and suction cleaning are performed to prevent or eliminate ejection failures caused by clogging of the nozzle 12 or adhesion of foreign matter. The maintenance device 21 includes a cap 22, a waste liquid flow path 23 connecting the cap 22 and the mounting portion 30, a suction pump 24 provided in the middle of the waste liquid flow path 23, and a moving mechanism 25.

[0014] The moving mechanism 25 moves the cap 22 between a retracted position shown by a solid line in FIG. 1 and a capping position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1. At the capping position, the cap 22 contacts the liquid ejection unit 13. Note that when the cap 22 moves to the capping position, the conveyance belt 18 retracts from the support position shown by a solid line in FIG. 1 to the retracted position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1.

[0015] Capping is performed by the cap 22 moving to the capping position and contacting the liquid ejection unit 13 so as to surround the nozzle 12. When the liquid is not ejected, capping is performed to suppress drying of the nozzle 12, thereby preventing the occurrence of ejection failures.

[0016] Flushing means forcibly ejecting (discharging) droplets from the nozzle 12 regardless of recording to discharge foreign matter, bubbles, or deteriorated liquid that cause ejection failures. The deteriorated liquid is, for example, ink thickened by evaporation of the solvent component. The liquid discharged as waste liquid by flushing may be received by the cap 22, or a flushing box for receiving the waste liquid discharged by flushing may be provided separately.

[0017] Also, when the suction pump 24 is driven with the cap 22 placed at the capping position to apply negative pressure to the nozzle 12, suction cleaning is performed in which liquid is sucked and discharged from the nozzle 12 by the negative pressure. The liquid discharged from the nozzle 12 by the suction cleaning is stored as waste liquid in the waste liquid container 50. Further, when the waste liquid discharged by flushing is received by the cap 22, by driving the suction pump 24 with the cap 22 separated from the liquid injection unit 13, the waste liquid received by the cap 22 is stored in the waste liquid container 50 through the waste liquid flow path 23.

[0018] Note that at the start of use of the liquid injection device 11, by performing suction cleaning, the region through which the liquid flows from the liquid supply source 14 to the nozzle 12 is filled with liquid. This is called initial filling.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid injection device 11 can be a multifunction machine 10 equipped with an image reader 27 and an automatic document feeder 28 vertically above. Further, when operations on the storage cassette 19, the holding tray 20, or the container mounting portion 26 are to be performed from the front side, an operation unit 29 composed of a liquid crystal panel or the like may be provided at a position on the front side of the multifunction machine 10. In this case, the liquid injection device 11 can be operated by operating the operation unit 29.

[0020] In the present embodiment, the mounting portion 30 is disposed near the bottom below the container mounting portion 26 in the liquid injection device 11, near the end portion on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, that is, near the left end portion when viewed from the front side. Further, since the waste liquid container 50 is mounted on the mounting portion 30 as it moves in the +X direction from the front to the back with respect to the liquid injection device 11, the +X direction is the mounting direction. On the other hand, the -X direction, which is the opposite direction, is the direction for taking out the waste liquid container 50, so it is the taking-out direction. The waste liquid container 50 has a longitudinal direction along the X-axis. Further, the mounting portion 30 is disposed behind the liquid injection device 11 on the back side, that is, on the +X side, in the mounting direction.

[0021] Next, the configuration of the mounting portion 30 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting portion 30 includes a discharge portion 31 for discharging waste liquid, two positioning portions 32L and 32R for positioning the waste liquid container 50, a device-side terminal portion 41 electrically connected to the waste liquid container 50, and an optical sensor 35 for detecting the storage state of the waste liquid in the waste liquid container 50.

[0022] Within the mounting portion 30, the discharge portion 31 and the device-side terminal portion 41 are arranged side by side along the Y-axis, and the device-side terminal portion 41 is located on the +Y side of the discharge portion 31. The two positioning portions 32L and 32R are arranged along the Y-axis on the lower side of the discharge portion 31, i.e., the +Z side. Also, the optical sensor 35 is arranged on the +Z side of the device-side terminal portion 41 and is located on the front side in the mounting direction with respect to the device-side terminal portion 41, i.e., the -X side.

[0023] The discharge portion 31 has a substantially cylindrical shape protruding in the -X direction, and the downstream end of the waste liquid flow path 23 opens at the tip of the cylinder. Also, the mounting portion 30 has a terminal holding portion 42 protruding in the -X direction similar to the discharge portion 31, and the device-side terminal portion 41 is held in an inclined posture by the terminal holding portion 42.

[0024] The optical sensor 35 is a reflection-type optical sensor having a light-emitting portion 35a that emits light and a light-receiving portion 35b that receives light. The light-emitting portion 35a has, for example, a light-emitting diode and is arranged at a position that emits light in the -X direction toward the waste liquid container 50 mounted on the mounting portion 30. The light-receiving portion 35b has, for example, a phototransistor and is arranged at a position capable of receiving the reflected light of the light emitted from the light-emitting portion 35a to the waste liquid container 50.

[0025] The terminal holding portion 42 has an inclined surface 43 formed so as to obliquely intersect both the gravitational direction and the mounting direction, and the -X side, which is the tip side, is higher than the +X side, which is the base end side. The device-side terminal portion 41 is configured as a leaf spring that can protrude obliquely downward intersecting the inclined surface 43.

[0026] The terminal holding part 42 has a pair of guide protrusions 44L and 44R located on the +Y side and -Y side of the inclined surface 43. The guide protrusion 44L is arranged on the +Y side of the inclined surface 43, and the guide protrusion 44R is arranged on the -Y side of the inclined surface 43.

[0027] Next, an embodiment of the waste liquid container 50 will be described with reference to the drawings. The waste liquid container 50 of this embodiment is configured to store waste liquid such as waste ink generated during maintenance operations such as suction cleaning in the liquid ejection device 11 when it is in a mounted state on the mounting part 30.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, the waste liquid container 50 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape in which the direction along the X-axis is the longitudinal direction and the direction along the Y-axis is the width direction. In the description of the waste liquid container 50, the +Z direction is the direction that becomes the gravitational direction when mounted on the liquid ejection device 11. The waste liquid container 50 has a bottomed box-shaped storage case 52 with an opening on the upper side in the mounted state, and a plate-shaped lid member 51 that covers the opening of the storage case 52. A storage chamber 70 (see FIG. 11) capable of storing waste liquid is formed by the storage case 52 and the lid member 51.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, it is preferable to provide a ventilation hole 51a in the lid member 51. This makes it easier to introduce waste liquid into the waste liquid container 50 and promotes the evaporation of the introduced waste liquid.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the case bottom 54 of the storage case 52 has a larger area than the case side walls 55F and 55S that intersect the case bottom 54 and extend along the X-axis. Further, a pair of guide rails 54a extending along the X-axis are protruding from the case bottom 54. Note that the liquid ejection device 11 is provided with a guiding part (not shown) that engages with the guide rails 54a when the waste liquid container 50 is mounted.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 6, the storage case 52 has a handle portion 53 at the front side in the mounting direction, i.e., the end portion on the -X side, for the purpose of gripping when removing the waste liquid container 50 from the liquid injection device 11. The handle portion 53 may be formed by protruding from the storage case 52, or may be formed by recessing a recess into which a hand can be inserted.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, the storage case 52 has a connection portion 61 that is connected to the discharge portion 31 in the mounted state with respect to the mounting portion 30 and a container-side terminal portion 56 that is electrically connected to the device-side terminal portion 41 in the mounted state with respect to the mounting portion 30 at the rear side in the mounting direction, i.e., the end portion on the +X side. The connection portion 61 has a connection opening 61a that opens in the mounting direction in a manner that can be connected to the discharge portion 31. The connection opening 61a communicates with a storage chamber 70 (see FIG. 11), which is a space inside the waste liquid container 50. Note that the container-side terminal portion 56 is preferably disposed between the two guide rails 54a in the direction along the Y axis.

[0033] In the width direction of the waste liquid container 50, i.e., the direction along the Y axis, the connection opening 61a is disposed on the -Y side, and a connection recess 62 is formed on the +Y side of the connection opening 61a in a manner that opens in the +X direction and -Z direction in the mounted state. The bottom surface of the connection recess 62 is a slope such that the -X side is higher than the +X side so as to face the inclined surface 43 of the mounting portion 30, and the container-side terminal portion 56 is provided on the bottom surface of this connection recess 62, i.e., on the upward slope. In this way, the container-side terminal portion 56 is provided at a position aligned with the connection opening 61a in the width direction. The container-side terminal portion 56 is constituted by a circuit board having a plurality of terminals formed on the surface, and a memory (not shown) electrically connected to these plurality of terminals is disposed on the back surface of the circuit board. Further, guide recesses 62L and 62R that can be engaged with the guide projections 44L and 44R of the terminal holder 42 are recessed at positions on the +Y side and -Y side of the container-side terminal portion 56 in the connection recess 62.

[0034] In the housing case 52, on the +Z side of the connection opening 61a, two positioning recesses 34L and 34R arranged along the Y-axis are provided. When the waste liquid container 50 is attached to the attachment portion 30, the positioning portions 32L and 32R are inserted into the positioning recesses 34L and 34R, respectively.

[0035] In the housing case 52, below the container-side terminal portion 56, that is, in the +Z direction, a reflecting portion 57 is provided which can reflect the emitted light of the light emitting portion 35a of the optical sensor 35 toward the light receiving portion 35b in the attached state of the attachment portion 30. That is, the reflecting portion 57 is provided so as to face the attachment direction.

[0036] In this way, in the waste liquid container 50 in the attached state, the connection opening 61a is arranged on the -Y side which is one side in the width direction, and the container-side terminal portion 56 and the reflecting portion 57 are provided on the +Y side which is the other side in the width direction. Further, the container-side terminal portion 56 is arranged on the removal direction side, that is, the -X side, from the connection opening 61a, and the reflecting portion 57 is arranged on the removal direction side further from the container-side terminal portion 56.

[0037] In the width direction of the housing case 52, a recess 58 recessed in the -X direction is provided between the connection opening 61a and the container-side terminal portion 56. This recess 58 can be regarded as being arranged between the connection opening 61a and the reflecting portion 57 in the width direction together with the positioning recess 34L.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 9, the housing case 52 has a bottomed box shape that opens upward in the attached state, and the waste liquid container 50 includes a plurality of waste liquid absorbers 71 and protective absorbers 74 accommodated in the housing case 52, that is, in the accommodation chamber 70. The waste liquid absorbers 71 and the protective absorbers 74 are made of, for example, plate-like porous bodies, and can absorb and hold waste liquid by the capillary force of the pores.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 10, the connection part 61 has a cylindrical insertion pipe part 65, seal members 66 and 67, and a fixing member 68. The seal member 66 is used as a seal between the insertion pipe part 65 and the discharge part 31 in a state where the waste liquid container 50 is attached to the attachment part 30. The seal member 67 is used as a seal between the storage case 52 and the insertion pipe part 65. The fixing member 68 is fixed to the storage case 52 by a screw 69 (see FIG. 5) so that the insertion pipe part 65 and the seal members 66 and 67 are held by the storage case 52. A connection opening 61a is formed in the fixing member 68. When the fixing member 68 is fixed to the storage case 52, the connection opening 61a communicates with the storage chamber 70 through the insertion pipe part 65.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 11, the storage chamber 70, which is the space inside the waste liquid container 50, is configured to include a plurality of waste liquid storage chambers 73 in which waste liquid is stored and a detection chamber 75 used for detecting the storage state of the waste liquid in the storage chamber 70. The plurality of waste liquid storage chambers 73 are partitioned by a plurality of partition plates 72 arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. In the present embodiment, three waste liquid storage chambers 73A, 73B, and 73C are formed in order from the +X side. The insertion pipe part 65 of the connection part 61 is arranged in the waste liquid storage chamber 73A. The detection chamber 75 is arranged on the +Y side of the waste liquid storage chamber 73A and is separated from the waste liquid storage chamber 73 by a partition plate 72T. In order to prevent the waste liquid from entering the detection chamber 75 from the waste liquid storage chamber 73A over the partition plate 72T, it is desirable that a waste liquid absorber 71 be arranged in contact with the wall of the partition plate 72T on the waste liquid storage chamber 73A side.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, openings are formed in the partition plate 72 on the bottom side, that is, the +Z side, inside the storage case 52, and the waste liquid storage chambers 73 communicate with each other on the bottom side of the storage case 52. A plurality of positioning ribs 59 extending along the X axis are arranged on the bottom surface of the storage case 52 for positioning the waste liquid absorber 71. In the storage case 52, the reflection part 57 is arranged on the outer wall on the +X side of the detection chamber 75.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 14, at the bottom of the waste liquid absorber 71 accommodated in the waste liquid storage chamber 73B and the waste liquid storage chamber 73C, a notch 71r is formed to form a gap with the bottom surface of the storage case 52. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, in a state where the waste liquid absorber 71 is disposed in the storage case 52, a space communicating the three waste liquid storage chambers 73A, 73B, and 73C is formed at the bottom of the storage case 52.

[0043] Also, as described above, since an opening is formed in the partition plate 72 on the bottom side of the storage case 52, as shown in FIG. 16, in the storage case 52, a gap SP is formed between the waste liquid absorbers 71 accommodated in the waste liquid storage chambers 73 adjacent in the ±X direction below the partition plate 72. This gap SP communicates with the space formed by the notch 71r at the bottom of the waste liquid absorber 71. Note that this communicating space is called a waste liquid guiding flow path.

[0044] The waste liquid discharged from the discharge portion 31 into the storage case 52 through the insertion pipe portion 65 flows into the waste liquid storage chambers 73A and 73B. Thereafter, the waste liquid flows through the guiding flow path along the bottom of the waste liquid storage chamber 73. The guiding flow path is in contact with all the waste liquid absorbers 71 in the waste liquid storage body 50, and the waste liquid introduced into the waste liquid storage chamber 73 is efficiently absorbed by all the waste liquid absorbers 71 in the process of flowing through the guiding flow path without being biased and absorbed by a part of the waste liquid absorbers 71 near the introduction portion. Also, when the amount of the waste liquid flowing through the guiding flow path increases, a part of the waste liquid flows vertically upward through the gap SP and is absorbed by the waste liquid absorber 71.

[0045] Incidentally, if the volume of the guiding channel is small, when a large amount of waste liquid is introduced into the waste liquid container 50 at one time, the absorption by the waste liquid absorber 71 may not keep up with the inflow rate of the waste liquid, and the introduced waste liquid may overflow from the connection opening 61a. Therefore, it is preferable that the volume of the guiding channel is not less than the maximum amount of waste liquid discharged in one suction cleaning. On the other hand, if the volume of the guiding channel is made too large, the volume for arranging the waste liquid absorber 71 becomes small, so that the capacity for absorbing and holding the waste liquid decreases. Therefore, it is more preferable that the volume of the guiding channel is set to be equal to the maximum amount of waste liquid discharged in one suction cleaning.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 11, in the housing case 52, the detection chamber 75 and the waste liquid storage chamber 73A are partitioned by a partition plate 72T, but are not completely separated, and communicate with each other through a communication space 76 provided on the +X side of the partition plate 72T. Specifically, the detection chamber 75 and the waste liquid storage chamber 73A communicate with each other at a position closer to the proximal end than the distal end of the insertion tube portion 65 that discharges the waste liquid into the waste liquid storage chamber 73.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 9, the protective absorber 74 is disposed in the communication space 76 so as to block the communication between the detection chamber 75 and the waste liquid storage chamber 73A. The bottom surface of the communication space 76 is located at a position higher than the bottom surface of the waste liquid storage chamber 73A, that is, on the -Z side. When suction cleaning is repeated and the amount of waste liquid that cannot be completely absorbed by the waste liquid absorber 71 is stored in the waste liquid storage chamber 73, the waste liquid overflows outside the waste liquid absorber 71, that is, into the space in the waste liquid storage chamber 73, and the water level of the waste liquid rises each time suction cleaning is performed. When the water level of the waste liquid reaches the height of the bottom surface of the communication space 76, the waste liquid begins to be absorbed by the protective absorber 74. When suction cleaning is further repeated and an amount of waste liquid that cannot be completely absorbed by the protective absorber 74 flows in, the waste liquid flows from the protective absorber 74 into the detection chamber 75.

[0048] Next, the mounting operation of the waste liquid container 50 on the mounting portion 30 and the operation of the waste liquid container 50 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the mounting portion 30 is disposed on the -X side of the rear base 83 fixed to the apparatus main body of the liquid injection apparatus 11. The mounting portion 30 is connected to the rear base 83 via one or more springs 81, and is biased in the -X direction by the springs 81. The rear base 83 is fixed to the bottom base 85 at the +Z side end thereof. The bottom base 85 is a plate-like member extending in the -X direction from the rear base 83, and its upper surface is substantially horizontal. A retaining projection 87 protruding in the -Z direction is provided at the -X side end of the bottom base 85.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 17, when the waste liquid container 50 is moved in the +X direction with respect to the mounting portion 30 in a state where the +X side end of the case bottom 54 of the waste liquid container 50 is in contact with the bottom base 85, the discharge portion 31 is connected to the connection portion 61 of the waste liquid container 50. At this time, the positioning portions 32L and 32R are inserted into the positioning recesses 34L and 34R, thereby determining the position of the waste liquid container 50 in the ±Y direction.

[0050] Then, as shown in FIG. 18, when the -X side end of the case bottom 54 exceeds the retaining projection 87 and is lowered in the +Z direction and placed on the bottom base 85, the position of the waste liquid container 50 in the ±Z direction is determined. At the same time, the waste liquid container 50 biased in the -X direction by the spring 81 is restricted from moving in the -X direction by the retaining projection 87, thereby determining the position in the ±X direction. At this time, as shown in FIG. 19, the reflecting portion 57 of the waste liquid container 50 is disposed at a position facing the optical sensor 35.

[0051] Also, at this time, the container-side terminal portion 56 and the device-side terminal portion 41 are electrically connected by moving in the mounting direction in such a manner that the container-side terminal portion 56 dives while being in contact with the device-side terminal portion 41 disposed on the inclined surface 43. Note that, when an attachment such as dust adheres to the container-side terminal portion 56 or the device-side terminal portion 41 by the container-side terminal portion 56 diving while being in contact with the device-side terminal portion 41 on the inclined surface 43, such an attachment is pushed aside to ensure an electrical contact.

[0052] Also, when the container-side terminal portion 56 contacts the device-side terminal portion 41, the guide protrusions 44L and 44R of the terminal holding portion 42 engage with the guide recesses 62L and 62R of the waste liquid container 50, respectively, so that the container-side terminal portion 56 is accurately positioned with respect to the device-side terminal portion 41. When the container-side terminal portion 56 is electrically connected to the device-side terminal portion 41, the control unit 100 can write the assumed cumulative discharge amount into the memory of the container-side terminal portion 56 or read it from the memory each time the suction cleaning is executed.

[0053] Whether the waste liquid container 50 is properly installed or not can be determined by the control unit 100 detecting the electrical connection between the container-side terminal portion 56 and the device-side terminal portion 41. However, when the container-side terminal portion 56 and the device-side terminal portion 41 have a planar predetermined width and are in contact with each other while being inclined so as to intersect in the mounting direction, even if a part of them is in contact, the control unit 100 detects the connection even if the insertion into the connection opening 61a of the discharge portion 31 is not sufficient.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 20, the reflecting portion 57 preferably has a triangular prism (critical angle prism) whose light reflection state changes depending on the presence or absence of waste liquid in the storage chamber 70, specifically, in the detection chamber 75. In this case, the reflecting portion 57 is arranged such that two surfaces of the triangular prism protrude into the detection chamber 75 formed in the waste liquid container 50, and the remaining one surface is exposed outside the waste liquid container 50.

[0055] When the light emitted from the light emitting portion 35a of the optical sensor 35 enters the triangular prism from the surface exposed outside the waste liquid container 50, if there is no waste liquid in the region in contact with the triangular prism in the detection chamber 75, as shown by the solid arrow in FIG. 20, the incident light is reflected by the other two surfaces, and the light receiving portion 35b receives the reflected light. On the other hand, if the region in contact with the triangular prism in the detection chamber 75 is filled with waste liquid, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 20, the incident light passes through the triangular prism without being reflected, so the light receiving portion 35b does not receive the reflected light.

[0056] In this way, when waste liquid flows into the detection chamber 75 and the amount of reflected light received by the light-receiving part 35b of the optical sensor 35 decreases, it is detected that the remaining volume of the waste liquid that can be accommodated in the waste liquid container 50 has become zero or has decreased. When the shortage of the remaining volume is detected in this way, based on the detection signal of the optical sensor 35, the control unit 100 detects the full state of the waste liquid container 50 or the shortage of the remaining volume.

[0057] If the space where the waste liquid first flows in is defined as the detection chamber 75, since it is necessary to wait for the waste liquid to be absorbed by the waste liquid absorber 71 before detection, it takes time until detection. On the other hand, in this embodiment, after the waste liquid flowing into the waste liquid container 50 is made to flow through the guiding channel and absorbed by the waste liquid absorber 71, the overflowed waste liquid flows into the detection chamber 75. Therefore, it is not necessary to wait for the detection of the shortage of the remaining volume until the waste liquid flowing into the detection chamber 75 is absorbed by the waste liquid absorber 71, and the full state or the shortage of the remaining volume can be detected promptly.

[0058] When the control unit 100 detects the full state of the waste liquid container 50 or the shortage of the remaining volume, the control unit 100 can prompt the user to replace the waste liquid container 50 by, for example, displaying an error on an operation unit 29 (see FIG. 2) composed of a liquid crystal panel or the like. If the reflection part 57 is arranged closer to the upper side of the detection chamber 75, it is possible to detect that the remaining amount has become zero, that is, the full state. If the reflection part 57 is arranged closer to the lower side of the detection chamber 75, it is possible to detect that the remaining amount has decreased, that is, the shortage of the remaining volume.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 21, when the reflecting portion 57 is a triangular prism, it is preferable to arrange the prism such that the ridge line RG formed by the intersection of the two surfaces of the triangular prism facing the detection chamber 75 extends in the vertical direction. When a small amount of waste liquid is contained in the detection chamber 75 and the waste liquid container 50 is subjected to some impact, the waste liquid in the detection chamber 75 may adhere to the triangular prism. In such a case, if the prism is arranged such that the ridge line RG formed by the intersection of the two surfaces of the triangular prism extends in the vertical direction, even if waste liquid temporarily adheres to the triangular prism as compared with the case where the ridge line RG extends horizontally, the waste liquid will flow down quickly thereafter, so that false detection of the remaining volume due to the adhesion of the waste liquid can be avoided.

[0060] As described above, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) When viewed along the mounting direction of the waste liquid container 50, the connection opening 61a is arranged at a position shifted to the -Y side rather than the center in the width direction, and the container-side terminal portion 56 and the reflecting portion 57 are arranged on the +Y side. Therefore, even when waste liquid drips from the connection opening 61a in the direction of gravity, it is possible to suppress the adhesion of the waste liquid to the container-side terminal portion 56 and the reflecting portion 57.

[0061] (2) Since the reflecting portion 57 is arranged so as to face the mounting direction, in the mounting portion 30, it becomes possible to arrange the optical sensor 35 side by side with the device-side terminal portion 41. As a result, it is possible to suppress the mounting portion 30 from becoming large in the direction along the Y axis.

[0062] (3) The container-side terminal portion 56 is provided at a position aligned with the connection opening 61a in the width direction. That is, since the heights of the container-side terminal portion 56 and the connection opening 61a are substantially equal, it is possible to suppress the waste liquid dripping from the connection opening 61a from adhering to the container-side terminal portion 56.

[0063] (4) Since the concave portion 58 and the positioning concave portion 34L are arranged between the connection opening 61a and the reflecting portion 57 in the width direction, it becomes difficult for the waste liquid dripping from the connection opening 61a to reach the reflecting portion 57, and it is possible to suppress the adhesion of the waste liquid to the reflecting portion 57.

[0064] (5) Since the receptacle-side terminal portion 56 is provided on the extraction direction side rather than the connection opening 61a and is provided on an upward inclined surface, it is possible to further suppress the adhesion of the waste liquid dripping from the connection opening 61a to the receptacle-side terminal portion 56.

[0065] (6) Since the reflecting portion 57 is provided below the receptacle-side terminal portion 56, it can be said that the reflecting portion 57 is in a position where the waste liquid dripping from the connection opening 61a easily enters. However, since the reflecting portion 57 is provided on the extraction direction side rather than the receptacle-side terminal portion 56, the adhesion of the waste liquid to the reflecting portion 57 can be suppressed.

[0066] (7) Since the reflecting portion 57 has a prism whose light reflection state changes depending on the presence or absence of the waste liquid, it is possible to accurately detect whether or not the waste liquid container 50 is full of the waste liquid.

[0067] (8) Since the detection chamber 75 is separated from the waste liquid storage chamber 73 by the partition plate 72T and the protective absorber 74, it is possible to suppress the inflow of the waste liquid into the detection chamber 75 even when a large amount of waste liquid flows vigorously into the waste liquid container 50. Further, even if the waste liquid container 50 is tilted, it is possible to suppress the waste liquid from flowing around into the detection chamber 75 by the partition plate 72T and the protective absorber 74.

[0068] (9) Since the detection chamber 75 is provided at a position shifted to the +Y side from the waste liquid storage chamber 73A where the insertion tube portion 65 is arranged, rather than directly below the insertion tube portion 65, even if the waste liquid container 50 rotates around the Y axis and the waste liquid storage chamber 73A becomes lower than the waste liquid storage chamber 73C, there is no risk that the waste liquid discharged from the insertion tube portion 65 flows along the outer surface of the insertion tube portion 65 into the detection chamber 75.

[0069] In the housing case 52, the communication space 76 that communicates the detection chamber 75 and the waste liquid storage chamber 73 is located at a position closer to the proximal end than the distal end of the insertion pipe portion 65 that discharges the waste liquid into the waste liquid storage chamber 73. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the waste liquid discharged from the insertion pipe portion 65 from adhering to the protection absorber 74 disposed in the communication space 76 as it is and flowing into the detection chamber 75.

[0070] Note that the above embodiment may be modified as shown in the following modification examples. Further, the above embodiment and each modification example can be realized in appropriate combination. · As shown in FIG. 22, the connection opening 61a of the waste liquid container 50 may be disposed on the -X side, which is the front side in the mounting direction, rather than on the +X side, which is the rear side in the mounting direction.

[0071] · The inclination directions of the container-side terminal portion 56 and the device-side terminal portion 41 may be opposite to those in the above embodiment. That is, in the state where the waste liquid container 50 is mounted on the mounting portion 30, the device-side terminal portion 41 may be disposed below the container-side terminal portion 56. Further, the inclination directions of the container-side terminal portion 56 and the device-side terminal portion 41 may be perpendicular to the X direction, perpendicular to the Y direction, or perpendicular to the Z direction.

[0072] · The connection opening 61a may be disposed on the +Y side in the width direction of the waste liquid container 50. In this case, the container-side terminal portion 56 and the reflection portion 57 are disposed on the -Y side.

[0073] · At least one of the container-side terminal portion 56 and the reflection portion 57 may be disposed on the case side walls 55F, 55S as long as at least one of them is located on the opposite side of the connection opening 61a. For example, when the connection opening 61a is disposed on the -Y side as in the above embodiment, at least one of the container-side terminal portion 56 and the reflection portion 57 may be disposed on the +Y side case side wall 55S.

[0074] ·Regardless of the amount of waste liquid contained in the waste liquid container 50, when the waste liquid container 50 is properly mounted, the reflecting portion 57 may reflect the emitted light toward the light receiving portion 35b. In this case, the reflecting portion 57 is constituted by, for example, a mirror, and when the waste liquid container 50 is mounted on the mounting portion 30, the optical sensor 35 receives the light reflected by the reflecting portion 57. On the other hand, when the waste liquid container 50 is not mounted on the mounting portion 30, the optical sensor 35 does not receive the light. Thus, the mounting state of the waste liquid container 50 can be detected by the optical sensor 35.

[0075] ·When waste liquid unexpectedly flows into the detection chamber 75 from the waste liquid storage chamber 73 over the upper end of the partition plate 72T, in order that this waste liquid does not affect the detection result of the optical sensor 35, a waste liquid absorber 71 may be arranged between the upper end of the partition plate 72T and the reflecting portion 57 in the detection chamber 75.

[0076] ·It is not necessary to provide an induction flow path formed by the notch 71r or the gap SP of the waste liquid absorber 71 inside the waste liquid storage chamber 73. ·The waste liquid container 50 does not have to be provided with the waste liquid absorber 71 and the protective absorber 74. In this case, a communication space 76 is not provided between the waste liquid storage chamber 73 and the detection chamber 75, and when the waste liquid in the waste liquid storage chamber 73 exceeds the height of the partition plate 72T, the waste liquid flows into the detection chamber 75.

[0077] ·When the waste liquid introduced into the waste liquid container 50 has its fluidity reduced due to an increase in viscosity caused by evaporation or the like and is likely to clog the induction flow path, a flow path connecting the induction flow path and the detection chamber 75 may be provided. On the other hand, when the possibility of a decrease in fluidity due to an increase in the viscosity of the waste liquid is low, as in the above embodiment, it is preferable that the detection chamber 75 be a space independent of the induction flow path, that is, a space not directly communicating with the induction flow path.

[0078] · The waste liquid container 50 may function as an attachment that is connected to a waste liquid tank disposed outside the apparatus main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus 11 via a tube or the like and is attached to the liquid ejecting apparatus 11 to discharge the waste liquid generated in the liquid ejecting apparatus 11 to the waste liquid tank. In this case, if the waste liquid tank is disposed below the discharge portion 31 in the gravitational direction, the waste liquid can flow down naturally.

[0079] Alternatively, a container connection portion may be provided on the front side, that is, the -X side, in the mounting direction of the waste liquid container 50, and a waste liquid tank disposed outside the apparatus main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus 11 may be detachably connected to this container connection portion. Thus, when the waste liquid container 50 is used as an attachment, it may not be necessary to replace the waste liquid container 50, and the waste liquid container 50 may be fixed without being removed from the liquid ejecting apparatus 11.

[0080] · The liquid ejecting apparatus 11 is not limited to having a line head whose recording range extends over the entire width of the medium S. For example, it may be a serial type in which the ejection of liquid performed while the carriage holding the liquid ejection portion 13 moves in the ±X direction along the guide shaft and the conveyance of the medium S in the +Y direction are alternately performed.

[0081] · The liquid ejected from the liquid ejection portion 13 is not limited to ink, and may be, for example, a liquid in which particles of a functional material are dispersed or mixed in a liquid. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a liquid containing materials such as electrode materials and coloring materials (pixel materials) used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, EL (electroluminescence) displays, and surface emission displays in a dispersed or dissolved form is ejected for recording.

[0082] · The medium S is not limited to paper, and may be a plastic film, a thin plate material, or the like, or may be a fabric used in a printing apparatus or the like. Further, the medium S is not limited to a sheet-like or plate-like form, and may be, for example, clothing such as a T-shirt or a three-dimensional object such as tableware or stationery.

[0083] · The waste liquid container 50 may be configured to collect and liquefy the waste liquid formed by collecting the mist scattered due to the injection of liquid or the like. Alternatively, it may be configured to store not only the liquid used for injection onto the target but also various functional liquids such as the cleaning liquid used for cleaning the liquid injection unit and the like. Further, in an apparatus other than the liquid injection device, it may be a waste liquid container that stores arbitrary waste liquids such as used inspection liquids and reagents used for inspections and the like.

[0084] · The apparatus to which the waste liquid container 50 is attached is not limited to a liquid injection device that injects liquid. It may be a cleaning device that consumes the cleaning liquid during the cleaning of the object and discharges the used cleaning liquid as waste liquid, or a liquid circulation device that discharges a part of the circulated liquid as waste liquid for replacement or the like after circulating a predetermined number of times.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0085] 10... Multi-functional device, 11... Liquid injection device, 12... Nozzle, 13... Liquid injection section, 14... Liquid supply source, 15... Supply flow path, 16... Conveyor, 17... Conveyor roller, 18... Conveyor belt, 19... Storage cassette, 20... Holding tray, 21... Maintenance device, 22... Cap, 23... Waste liquid flow path, 24... Suction pump, 25... Moving mechanism, 26... Receptacle mounting section, 27... Image reader, 28... Automatic feeder, 29... Operation section, 30... Mounting section, 31... Discharge section, 32L, 32R... Positioning section, 34L, 34R... Positioning recess, 35... Optical sensor, 35a... Light emitting section, 35b... Light receiving section, 41... Device side terminal section, 42... Terminal holding section, 43... Inclined surface, 44L, 44R... Guide projection, 50... Waste liquid container, 51... Cover member, 51a... Vent hole, 52... Storage case, 53... Handle section, 54... Case bottom, 54a... Guide rail, 55F, 55S... Case side wall, 56... Receptacle side terminal section, 57... Reflective section, 58... Recess, 59... Positioning rib, 61... Connection section, 61a... Connection opening, 62... Connection recess, 62L, 62R... Guide recess, 65... Insertion tube section, 66, 67... Seal member, 68... Fixing member, 70... Storage chamber, 71... Waste liquid absorber, 71r... Notch, 72, 72T... Partition plate, 73, 73A, 73B, 73C... Waste liquid storage chamber, 74... Protective absorber, 75... Detection chamber, 76... Communication space, 81... Spring, 83... Rear base, 85... Bottom base, 87... Anti-drop protrusion, 100... Control section, RG... Ridge line, S... Medium, SP... Gap.

Claims

1. A waste liquid container that is attached in the attachment direction to a mounting portion having a discharge portion for discharging waste liquid, an optical sensor having a light emitting portion that emits light and a light receiving portion that can receive light, and a device side terminal portion, wherein the waste liquid container includes: a storage chamber capable of storing waste liquid; a connection opening that communicates with the storage chamber and opens in the attachment direction in a manner connectable to the discharge portion; a container side terminal portion that is electrically connected to the device side terminal portion in the mounted state where the waste liquid container is mounted on the mounting portion; and a reflecting portion that can reflect the emitted light of the light emitting portion toward the light receiving portion in the mounted state; wherein, in the mounted state, the connection opening is provided on one side in the width direction intersecting the vertical direction and the attachment direction, and the container side terminal portion and the reflecting portion are provided on the other side in the width direction; and the reflecting portion is provided so as to face the attachment direction in the mounted state. A waste liquid container characterized by the above.

2. When the direction opposite to the attachment direction is taken as the extraction direction, in the mounted state, the container side terminal portion is provided on the extraction direction side of the connection opening and is provided on an upward inclined surface. The waste liquid container according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. A waste liquid container that is attached in the attachment direction to a mounting portion having a discharge portion for discharging waste liquid, an optical sensor having a light emitting portion that emits light and a light receiving portion that can receive light, and a device side terminal portion, wherein the waste liquid container includes: a storage chamber capable of storing waste liquid; a connection opening that communicates with the storage chamber and opens in the attachment direction in a manner connectable to the discharge portion; a container side terminal portion that is electrically connected to the device side terminal portion in the mounted state where the waste liquid container is mounted on the mounting portion; and a reflecting portion that can reflect the emitted light of the light emitting portion toward the light receiving portion in the mounted state; wherein, in the mounted state, the connection opening is provided on one side in the width direction intersecting the vertical direction and the attachment direction, and the container side terminal portion and the reflecting portion are provided on the other side in the width direction; and when the direction opposite to the attachment direction is taken as the extraction direction, in the mounted state, the container side terminal portion is provided on the extraction direction side of the connection opening and is provided on an upward inclined surface. A waste liquid container characterized by the above.

4. In the mounted state, the reflecting portion is provided below the container side terminal portion. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Both are provided on the take-out direction side with respect to the container-side terminal portion, according to claim 2 or the waste liquid container according to claim 3.

5. The container-side terminal portion is provided at a position aligned with the connection opening in the width direction. The waste liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that.

6. A recess is formed between the connection opening and the reflection portion in the width direction. The waste liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that.

7. The reflection portion has a prism in which the light reflection state changes depending on the presence or absence of waste liquid in the storage chamber. The waste liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that.

8. A liquid injection unit capable of injecting liquid, A waste liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and is provided with: The waste liquid container is capable of storing the liquid as the waste liquid discharged from the liquid injection unit. A liquid injection device characterized by that.

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