Recording device

Abstract

To efficiently recover waste ink caused by borderless recording.SOLUTION: A recording device 1 comprises: a discharge head 4 which discharges ink to a medium; a first ink absorber 61 disposed at a position facing the discharge head 4, which absorbs waste ink in the ink, discharged in a location which protrudes from edges during borderless recording; a platen 60 which supports the first ink absorber 61 and also supports the medium during borderless recording; a first waste ink tray 64 with a first discharge port 64d for discharging the waste ink, which receives the waste ink flowed out from the first ink absorber 61; and a discharge mechanism 8 which forces the waste ink received by the first waste ink tray 64 to be discharged from the first discharge port 64d. The first waste ink tray 64 has a plurality of inclined areas 64a, 64b and 64c which is inclined to guide the waste ink to the first discharge port 64d, and the plurality of inclined areas 64a, 64b and 64c each has a different inclined direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various recording apparatuses have been used. Among these, there is a recording apparatus capable of borderless recording that forms an image up to the edge of a medium. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a color printer in which a groove portion for receiving waste ink discharged to a position protruding from the edge of the medium during borderless recording is formed in a platen so that the platen supporting the medium is not soiled during borderless recording.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Among recording apparatuses capable of borderless recording that form an image up to the edge of a medium, there are some, for example, those specialized for photograph recording, that are small and can be easily moved. In such a recording apparatus, it is desirable to miniaturize constituent members such as a tray for receiving waste ink generated during borderless recording. However, in conventional recording apparatuses, the bottom surfaces of the constituent members for receiving waste ink are often configured as horizontal planes, and waste ink cannot be efficiently discharged from the constituent members, and the waste ink recovery mechanism including the constituent members tends to be enlarged. Thus, for reasons such as miniaturizing the waste ink recovery mechanism, it is desired to efficiently recover waste ink.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present invention, for solving the above problems, is a recording device capable of borderless recording, in which an image is formed up to the edge of the medium, and comprises: an ejection head for ejecting ink onto the medium; a first ink absorber positioned opposite the ejection head during borderless recording, which absorbs waste ink ejected to a position that extends beyond the edge of the ink; a platen that supports the first ink absorber and the medium during borderless recording; a first waste ink tray having a first discharge port for discharging the waste ink, which receives the waste ink flowing out from the first ink absorber; and a discharge mechanism for discharging the waste ink received in the first waste ink tray from the first discharge port, wherein the first waste ink tray has a plurality of inclined regions that are inclined to guide the waste ink to the first discharge port, and each of the plurality of inclined regions has a different inclination direction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] A perspective view of a recording device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A side cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the recording device in Figure 1. [Figure 3] A perspective view showing the vicinity of the first ink absorber, which is located opposite the ejection head of the recording device in Figure 1. [Figure 4] A front cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the first ink absorber of the recording device in Figure 1. [Figure 5] A perspective view showing the vicinity of the first waste ink tray after removing the first ink absorber, electrode plate, and platen from the recording device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 6] A plan view showing the vicinity of the first waste ink tray after removing the first ink absorber, electrode plate, and platen from the recording device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 7] A plan view showing the positional relationship between the first ink absorber and the first waste ink tray in the recording device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 8] This is a plan view of the first waste ink tray in the recording device shown in Figure 1, illustrating the state in which the second ink absorber has been removed. [Figure 9]This is a side cross-sectional view of the first waste ink tray in the recording device shown in Figure 1, illustrating the state in which the second ink absorber has been removed. [Figure 10] This is a front cross-sectional view of the first waste ink tray in the recording device shown in Figure 1, illustrating the state in which the second ink absorber has been removed. [Figure 11] Enlarged view of region α in Figure 10. [Figure 12] This is a plan view of the first waste ink tray in the recording device shown in Figure 1, illustrating the state in which the second ink absorber is installed. [Figure 13] A plan view showing the vicinity of the electrode plate after the first ink absorber has been removed from the recording device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 14] A plan cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the electrode terminals of the electrode plate of the recording device shown in Figure 1 and the wiring connected to the electrode terminals. [Figure 15] A perspective view showing the vicinity of the wiring connected to the electrode terminals of the electrode plate of the recording device shown in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] First, the present invention will be described in general terms. A first aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is a recording device capable of borderless recording, in which an image is formed up to the edge of the medium, comprising: an ejection head for ejecting ink onto the medium; a first ink absorber positioned opposite the ejection head during borderless recording, which absorbs waste ink ejected to a position that extends beyond the edge of the ink; a platen that supports the first ink absorber and the medium during borderless recording; a first waste ink tray having a first discharge port for discharging the waste ink, which receives the waste ink flowing out from the first ink absorber; and a discharge mechanism for discharging the waste ink received in the first waste ink tray from the first discharge port, wherein the first waste ink tray has a plurality of inclined regions that are inclined to guide the waste ink to the first discharge port, and each of the plurality of inclined regions has a different inclination direction.

[0008] According to this embodiment, the first waste ink tray, which receives waste ink generated by borderless recording, has multiple inclined regions that are sloped to guide the waste ink to the first discharge port. Each of the multiple inclined regions has a different slope direction. With this configuration, the waste ink received by the first waste ink tray can be effectively guided to the first discharge port. Therefore, it becomes possible to efficiently collect the waste ink generated by borderless recording.

[0009] A recording device according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, it comprises a transport unit for transporting the medium in a transport direction, and the first waste ink tray has, as the inclined region, a first inclined surface that is inclined in the transport direction and a second inclined surface that is inclined in the width direction intersecting the transport direction.

[0010] According to this embodiment, the first waste ink tray has an inclined region comprising a first inclined surface that is inclined in the transport direction and a second inclined surface that is inclined in the width direction. Therefore, waste ink can be effectively guided to the first discharge port from significantly different directions, making it possible to recover waste ink particularly efficiently. In addition, by making the inclined region a surface, it is possible to suppress the bulkiness and large size of the first waste ink tray.

[0011] A recording device according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect, the first waste ink tray is provided with a groove along the inclination direction in at least one of the plurality of inclined regions.

[0012] According to this embodiment, the first waste ink tray is provided with a groove along the direction of inclination in at least one of the multiple inclined regions. By providing the groove, waste ink can be effectively guided to the first discharge port, for example by utilizing the capillary effect. Therefore, it becomes possible to recover waste ink particularly efficiently.

[0013] In the recording apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the discharge mechanism includes a waste ink storage unit that stores the waste ink, and a first tube that connects the first discharge port and the waste ink storage unit.

[0014] According to this aspect, the discharge mechanism includes a waste ink storage unit that stores the waste ink, and a first tube that connects the first discharge port and the waste ink storage unit. By adopting such a configuration, for example, by making the first tube flexible, the degree of freedom in arranging the waste ink storage unit can be increased.

[0015] In the recording apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the discharge mechanism has a pump that promotes the flow of the waste ink from the first discharge port to the waste ink storage unit through the first tube.

[0016] According to this aspect, it has a pump that promotes the flow of the waste ink from the first discharge port to the waste ink storage unit through the first tube. Therefore, the waste ink can be discharged to the waste ink storage unit particularly quickly and efficiently using the pump. Also, by using the pump, it becomes possible to arrange the waste ink storage unit above the first discharge port in the gravitational direction, and the degree of freedom in the device configuration can be increased.

[0017] In the recording apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the ejection head is configured to be able to eject the ink while reciprocating with respect to the medium, and is located at the home position during non-recording. A second waste ink tray that receives the ink ejected from the ejection head as waste ink is provided at the home position. The second waste ink tray has a second discharge port. The discharge mechanism has a second tube that connects the second discharge port and the waste ink storage unit. The pump also serves to promote the flow of the waste ink from the second discharge port to the waste ink storage unit through the second tube.

[0018] In this embodiment, the pump not only facilitates the flow of waste ink from the first outlet to the waste ink storage section via the first tube, but also facilitates the flow of waste ink from the second outlet to the waste ink storage section via the second tube. Therefore, there is no need to provide multiple pumps, and thus the size of the device can be suppressed.

[0019] A recording device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect, the first ink absorber has a contact portion that contacts the first waste ink tray.

[0020] According to this embodiment, the first ink absorber has a contact portion that contacts the first waste ink tray. Therefore, waste ink can be efficiently moved from the first ink absorber to the first waste ink tray via the contact portion. Consequently, waste ink can be recovered particularly efficiently.

[0021] The recording device according to the eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second aspect, the width of the first waste ink tray as viewed from the transport direction is narrower than the width of the first ink absorber as viewed from the transport direction.

[0022] According to this embodiment, the width of the first waste ink tray as viewed from the transport direction is narrower than the width of the first ink absorber as viewed from the transport direction. Therefore, the first waste ink tray can be made smaller, and thus the entire device can be made smaller.

[0023] A recording device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect, a second ink absorber is provided around the first waste ink tray as viewed from the ink discharge direction.

[0024] According to this embodiment, a second ink absorber is provided around the first waste ink tray as viewed from the ink ejection direction. Therefore, for example, when the recording device is moved while waste ink remains in the first waste ink tray, it is possible to suppress the leakage of waste ink from the first waste ink tray and contamination of the inside of the device.

[0025] A recording device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect, an electrode plate having electrode terminals connected to wiring is provided at a position between the platen and the first ink absorber, and a third ink absorber is provided along the wiring.

[0026] According to this embodiment, a third ink absorber is provided along the wiring connected to the electrode terminals of the electrode plate. This prevents waste ink from leaking out of the first waste ink tray along the wiring and contaminating the inside of the device.

[0027] The present invention will now be described in detail. In each figure, the direction along the X-axis is the width direction of the device, which is the direction that intersects with the media transport direction, i.e., the width direction. The -X direction is to the right when viewed from the user when the front of the device is facing the user, and the +X direction is to the left. The direction along the Y-axis is the depth direction of the device, and the +Y direction is the direction from the back of the device toward the front. The -Y direction is the direction from the front of the device toward the back. The direction along the Z-axis is the vertical direction, and the +Z direction is vertically upward, and the -Z direction is vertically downward.

[0028] First, the appearance of a recording device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1. The recording device 1 of this embodiment shown in Figure 1 is an inkjet printer intended for recording on a photographic recording medium such as a 6-inch x 4-inch medium. However, the present invention is not limited to an inkjet printer intended for recording on a photographic recording medium.

[0029] As shown in Figure 1, the recording device 1 comprises a main body 2 and a media storage unit 3 that is detachable from the main body 2. The media storage unit 3 can be attached to the main body 2 by inserting it into the main body 2 through an opening 21 provided on the front surface of the main body 2, and can be detached from the main body 2 by pulling it out through the opening 21. That is, the direction in which the media storage unit 3 is attached to the main body 2 is the -Y direction, and the direction in which the media storage unit 3 is detached from the main body 2 is the +Y direction.

[0030] Next, the internal configuration of the recording device 1 will be explained with reference to Figure 2 from the viewpoint of the media transport path. As shown in Figure 2, an opening 21 is provided on the front of the main body 2, and the media storage unit 3 can be attached to the main body 2 by inserting it into the main body 2 in the -Y direction from the opening 21, and can be detached from the main body 2 by pulling it out in the +Y direction from the opening 21.

[0031] The media storage section 3 has a first area 31 for storing pre-recording media, which are media before recording, and a second area 32 for storing recorded media, which have been recorded by the ejection head 4, which will be described later as a recording section. The first area 31 and the second area 32 are separated by a partition wall 35. The partition wall 35 prevents pre-recording media and recorded media from being mixed together. The media storage section 3 also has an opening / closing cover 33 that can be opened and closed while attached to the main body 2 with respect to a pivot shaft 34. The opening / closing cover 33 is configured so that when it is in the open state, as shown in Figure 2, the -Y side end of the recorded media can be placed on it, and when it is in the closed state, as shown in Figure 1, the opening 21 can be closed.

[0032] The media transport path is described below. In this embodiment, the recording device 1 transports the pre-recording medium contained in the first area 31 to a position facing the ejection head 4 via the transport path K1, and after recording is performed by the ejection head 4, transports the recorded medium to the second area 32 via the transport path K2. In this embodiment, the recording device 1 is equipped with a feed roller 11 at a position facing the first area 31 when the media storage unit 3 is mounted on the main body 2. The feed roller 11 is supported by a support member 12 that swings around a pivot axis 12a, and the feed roller 11 moves forward and backward relative to the pre-recording medium contained in the first area 31 due to the swing of the support member 12.

[0033] The pre-recording medium contained in the first area 31 is transported along the transport path K1 by the feed roller 11 to a position opposite the rotating roller 13. Multiple driven rollers 14 are provided around the rotating roller 13. The pre-recording medium is nipped by the rotating roller 13 and the driven rollers 14 and transported, thereby being sent along the transport path K1 to the nipped position of the transport roller pair 15, which consists of a drive roller 16 and a driven roller 17.

[0034] The pre-recording medium, which has been sent to the nip position of the transport roller pair 15 in the transport path K1, is recorded at a position facing the ejection head 4. In this embodiment, the ejection head 4 is mounted on a carriage 5 that reciprocates in the X-axis direction, and is a so-called serial inkjet head that ejects ink while reciprocating in the X-axis direction together with the carriage 5. The pre-recording medium, which has been sent to a position facing the ejection head 4, is recorded by repeating the transport of a predetermined amount by the transport roller pair 15 and the ink ejection operation of the ejection head 4 while reciprocating in the X-axis direction, and becomes a recorded medium.

[0035] The recorded medium, recorded by the discharge head 4, is sent to the nip position of the discharge roller pair 18, whose leading end in the transport direction is composed of a drive roller 19 and a driven roller 20. The recorded medium is then discharged to the second region 32 by the discharge roller pair 18 in the transport path K2.

[0036] In this embodiment, the recording device 1 is a recording device capable of borderless recording, which forms an image up to the edge of the medium. A platen 60 that supports the medium during recording is provided at position 6 opposite the ejection head 4. Position 6 opposite the ejection head 4 is configured such that the portion of the platen 60 corresponding to the edge of the medium is lower than the portion of the platen 60 that supports the medium, so that in borderless recording, ink does not adhere to the surface of the platen 60 and the ink adhering to the surface of the platen 60 does not adhere to the medium and contaminate it.

[0037] The detailed configuration of the position 6 opposite the ejection head 4 will be described below with reference to Figures 3 to 15. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, ribs 60a are formed on the surface of the platen 60, and the medium is supported by the ribs 60a at the position 6 opposite the ejection head 4. Also, as shown in Figure 4, a recess 60b that is recessed in the -Z direction is formed on the surface of the platen 60, and a first ink absorber 61 is placed in the recess 60b at a position opposite the ejection head 4 during edgeless recording, and absorbs waste ink ejected from the ejection head 4 that extends beyond the edge of the medium.

[0038] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, a first waste ink tray 64 is provided at the bottom of the platen 60 in the direction of gravity to receive waste ink flowing out from the first ink absorber 61. The first ink absorber 61 has the shape and position relative to the first waste ink tray 64 as shown in Figure 7, and has a plurality (four) contact portions 61a that hang down from holes in the platen 60 toward the first waste ink tray 64 and come into contact with the first waste ink tray 64.

[0039] Thus, it is preferable that the first ink absorber 61 has contact portions 61a that come into contact with the first waste ink tray 64. This configuration allows for efficient transfer of waste ink from the first ink absorber 61 to the first waste ink tray 64 via the contact portions 61a, making it possible to recover waste ink particularly efficiently. Furthermore, by transferring waste ink from the first ink absorber 61 to the first waste ink tray 64 via the contact portions 61a, it is possible to suppress the splashing of waste ink that contaminates the inside of the device as it moves from the first ink absorber 61 to the first waste ink tray 64. In this embodiment, the first ink absorber 61 has four contact portions 61a, but there are no particular limitations on the number or arrangement of the contact portions 61a.

[0040] Here, the detailed configuration of the first waste ink tray 64 will be described. As shown in Figure 8 and other figures, the first waste ink tray 64 of this embodiment has a first inclined surface 64a, a second inclined surface 64b, and a third inclined surface 64c. The first inclined surface 64a, the second inclined surface 64b, and the third inclined surface 64c each have different inclination directions and angles. In addition, multiple grooves 64G are formed on each of the first inclined surface 64a, the second inclined surface 64b, and the third inclined surface 64c. The first inclined surface 64a, the second inclined surface 64b, and the third inclined surface 64c are all configured to become lower toward the first discharge port 64d shown in Figure 8, and each of the grooves 64G also extends toward the first discharge port 64d. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 9 and other figures, the first waste ink tray 64 has a shape in which most of the waste ink receiving area is composed of inclined surfaces and there are almost no flat surfaces. However, it is also possible to have a structure in which there are many flat ink receiving surfaces and the remaining area has multiple inclined surfaces. However, as in this embodiment, it is preferable to have a configuration in which the slope begins from the wall surrounding the waste ink receiving area, resulting in virtually no flat surfaces (a configuration in which the waste ink is guided to the discharge port by the sloping valleys formed between the sloping surfaces).

[0041] In detail, the first inclined surface 64a is inclined in the Y direction, which corresponds to the conveying direction of the medium, as shown in Figure 9. Here, the inclination angle of the first inclined surface 64a is 9°. The second inclined surface 64b is inclined in the X direction, which corresponds to the width direction intersecting the conveying direction of the medium, as shown in Figure 10. Here, the inclination angle of the second inclined surface 64b is 5.3°. The third inclined surface 64c is provided between the first inclined surface 64a and the second inclined surface 64b and is inclined in both the conveying direction and the width direction of the medium. Here, the inclination angle of the third inclined surface 64c is 6°. As shown in Figure 11, the multiple grooves 64G are arranged at equal intervals, with a pitch of 1.5 mm, a width of 0.5 mm, and a depth of 0.3 mm. This is true not only for the grooves 64G on the first inclined surface 64a, but also for the grooves 64G on the second inclined surface 64b and the third inclined surface 64c.

[0042] The first discharge port 64d is connected to the first tube 8a shown in Figures 5 and 6. The first tube 8a is connected to the tube pump 8b and also to the waste liquid tube 8d which extends to the waste ink storage section 7. The recording device 1 of this embodiment has a motor 9 shown in Figures 14 and 15 that rotates the drive rollers 16 and 19, and the driving force of the motor 9 is also transmitted to the tube pump 8b. The motor 9 drives the tube pump 8b, causing a ball (not shown) located inside the tube pump 8b to rotate and move while manipulating the first tube 8a, thereby sending the waste ink inside the first tube 8a to the waste ink storage section 7 via the waste liquid tube 8d. The first tube 8a, tube pump 8b, waste liquid tube 8d, and waste ink storage section 7 can be considered to constitute a discharge mechanism 8 that discharges the waste ink from the first waste ink tray 64 through the first discharge port 64d.

[0043] As described above, the recording device 1 of this embodiment is a recording device capable of borderless recording, which forms an image up to the edge of the medium. It comprises an ejection head 4 for ejecting ink onto the medium, a first ink absorber 61 for absorbing waste ink ejected from the ejection head 4 that extends beyond the edge of the medium during borderless recording, and a platen 60 that supports the first ink absorber 61 and the medium during borderless recording. It also comprises a first waste ink tray 64 having a first discharge port 64d for discharging waste ink and receiving waste ink flowing out from the first ink absorber 61, and a discharge mechanism 8 for discharging the waste ink received in the first waste ink tray 64 from the first discharge port 64d. The first waste ink tray 64 has multiple inclined regions, a first inclined surface 64a, a second inclined surface 64b, and a third inclined surface 64c, which are inclined to guide waste ink to the first discharge port 64d, and each of the multiple inclined regions has a different inclination direction.

[0044] This configuration allows the waste ink received in the first waste ink tray 64 to be effectively guided to the first discharge port 64d. Furthermore, by creating a valley-shaped section sandwiched between multiple inclined regions, the waste ink can be directed particularly efficiently toward the first discharge port 64d. Therefore, it becomes possible to efficiently collect the waste ink generated by borderless recording. Note that "inclination" here refers to inclination in the horizontal direction.

[0045] Furthermore, as described above, the first waste ink tray 64 has an inclined region which includes a first inclined surface 64a that is inclined in the media transport direction and a second inclined surface 64b that is inclined in the width direction intersecting the media transport direction. This allows waste ink to be effectively guided to the first discharge port 64d from significantly different directions, making it possible to recover waste ink particularly efficiently. In addition, by making the inclined region a surface, it is possible to suppress the first waste ink tray 64 from becoming bulky and large. Here, "surface" means that some irregularities are permissible, such as a configuration with grooves 64G as in this embodiment. Here, "inclined in the media transport direction" can be interpreted as inclined when viewed from the width direction, and "inclined in the width direction" can be interpreted as inclined when viewed from the media transport direction.

[0046] Furthermore, the first waste ink tray 64 has a third inclined surface 64c in addition to the first inclined surface 64a and the second inclined surface 64b. By having the third inclined surface 64c in addition to the first inclined surface 64a and the second inclined surface 64b, the area of ​​the second inclined surface 64b, which has a small inclination angle, is reduced. By reducing the area of ​​the second inclined surface 64b, which has a small inclination angle, waste ink can be guided to the first discharge port 64d particularly effectively, and waste ink can be recovered particularly efficiently.

[0047] Furthermore, as described above, each of the inclined regions of the first waste ink tray 64, namely the first inclined surface 64a, the second inclined surface 64b, and the third inclined surface 64c, is provided with a plurality of grooves 64G that run along the direction of inclination. It is preferable that at least one of the plurality of inclined regions is provided with grooves that run along the direction of inclination. This is because the grooves 64G allow waste ink to be effectively guided to the first discharge port 64d, for example, by utilizing the capillary effect, making it possible to recover waste ink particularly efficiently.

[0048] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first waste ink tray 64 has a fluorine coating on all of its multiple inclined areas: the first inclined surface 64a, the second inclined surface 64b, and the third inclined surface 64c. As a result, waste ink flows easily toward the first discharge port 64d on all of the first inclined surface 64a, the second inclined surface 64b, and the third inclined surface 64c. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the fluorine coating may be applied to only one of the multiple inclined areas, or none of the multiple inclined areas may be coated with fluorine.

[0049] Furthermore, as described above, the discharge mechanism 8 of this embodiment includes a waste ink storage section 7 for storing waste ink and a first tube 8a connecting the first discharge port 64d and the waste ink storage section 7. With this configuration, for example, by making the first tube 8a flexible, the degree of freedom in arranging the waste ink storage section 7 can be increased.

[0050] Furthermore, the discharge mechanism 8 of this embodiment includes a tube pump 8b, which is a pump that facilitates the flow of waste ink from the first discharge port 64d to the waste ink storage section 7 via the first tube 8a. Therefore, waste ink can be discharged to the waste ink storage section 7 particularly quickly and efficiently using the tube pump 8b. In addition, by using the tube pump 8b, it becomes possible to position the waste ink storage section 7 above the first discharge port 64d in the direction of gravity, thereby increasing the flexibility of the device configuration. In this embodiment, a tube pump 8b is used as the pump, but there are no particular limitations on the type of pump.

[0051] As described above, the ejection head 4 in this embodiment is configured to eject ink while reciprocating with respect to the medium. When not recording, the ejection head 4 is located in a home position, which is the position on the -X side of the reciprocating movement range. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the home position is provided with a second waste ink tray 66 that receives the ink ejected from the ejection head 4 as waste ink during maintenance operations of the ejection head 4. As shown in Figure 6, the second waste ink tray 66 has a second outlet 66d inside. The discharge mechanism 8 has a second tube 8c that connects the second outlet 66d and the waste ink storage unit 7 via a waste liquid tube 8d. Here, the tube pump 8b also plays the role of promoting the flow of waste ink from the second outlet 66d to the waste ink storage unit 7 via the second tube 8c. For this reason, the recording device 1 in this embodiment does not require multiple pumps, thus suppressing the increase in size of the device.

[0052] Furthermore, in the recording device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the width W1 of the first waste ink tray 64 as viewed from the medium transport direction corresponding to the Y-axis direction is narrower than the width W2 of the first ink absorber 61 as viewed from the medium transport direction. Therefore, in the recording device 1 of this embodiment, the first waste ink tray 64 can be made smaller, and the entire device can be made smaller.

[0053] In the recording device 1 of this embodiment, as described above, the first ink absorber 61 is provided with a contact portion 61a, and the waste ink absorbed by the first ink absorber 61 via the contact portion 61a moves to the first waste ink tray 64. For this reason, it is easy to configure the width W1 of the first waste ink tray 64 to be narrower than the width W2 of the first ink absorber 61. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and even if there is no contact, the first ink absorber 61 may be provided with a region that hangs down toward the first waste ink tray 64, and this region may be used as the part that moves waste ink from the first ink absorber 61 to the first waste ink tray 64, thereby configuring the width W1 of the first waste ink tray 64 to be narrower than the width W2 of the first ink absorber 61. Furthermore, the width W1 of the first waste ink tray 64 may be configured to be narrower than the width W2 of the first ink absorber 61 without providing a contact portion 61a or a region that hangs down toward the first waste ink tray 64.

[0054] Furthermore, in the recording device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 12 and other figures, a second ink absorber 63 is provided around the first waste ink tray 64 when viewed from the ink discharge direction corresponding to the Z-axis direction. The second ink absorber 63 is housed in a storage groove 64e provided in the first waste ink tray 64, as shown in Figures 8 to 10. Therefore, the recording device 1 of this embodiment can prevent waste ink from leaking out of the first waste ink tray 64 and contaminating the inside of the device, for example, when the recording device 1 is moved while waste ink remains in the first waste ink tray 64.

[0055] Furthermore, in the recording device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 13, which shows the state with the first ink absorber 61 removed, an electrode plate 62 having electrode terminals 62b connected to the wiring 62a shown in Figures 14 and 15 is provided between the platen 60 and the first ink absorber 61. By applying a voltage to the electrode plate 62, the ink mist generated with ink ejection can be directed toward the electrode plate 62. As described above, the first ink absorber 61 is arranged on the electrode plate 62, so by applying a voltage to the electrode plate 62, the ink mist can be directed toward the first ink absorber 61. In addition, in the recording device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, a third ink absorber 67 is provided along the wiring 62a. Therefore, the recording device 1 of this embodiment can suppress waste ink from leaking out of the first waste ink tray 64 along the wiring 62a and contaminating the inside of the device. In this embodiment, the second ink absorber 63 and the third ink absorber 67 are made of the same material as the first ink absorber 61. However, at least one of the first ink absorber 61, the second ink absorber 63, and the third ink absorber 67 may be made of a different material.

[0056] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these modifications are also included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0057] 1...Recording device, 2...Main body, 3...Media storage section, 4...Discharge head, 5...Carriage, 6...Position opposite to discharge head 4, 7...Waste ink storage section, 8...Discharge mechanism, 8a...First tube, 8b...Tube pump, 8c...Second tube, 8d...Waste liquid tube, 9...Motor, 11...Feeding roller, 12...Support member, 12a...Oscillating shaft, 13...Rotating roller, 14...Driven roller, 15...Conveying roller pair, 16...Driven roller, 17...Driven roller, 18...Discharge roller pair, 19...Driven roller, 20...Driven roller, 21...Opening, 31...First area, 32...Second area, 33 ...Opening / closing cover, 34...Rotating shaft, 35...Partition wall, 60...Platen, 61...First ink absorber, 61a...Contact part, 62...Electrode plate, 62a...Wiring, 62b...Electrode terminal, 63...Second ink absorber, 64...First waste ink tray, 64a...First inclined surface (inclined area), 64b...Second inclined surface (inclined area), 64c...Third inclined surface (inclined area), 64d...First discharge port, 64e...Housing groove, 64G...Groove, 66...Second waste ink tray, 66d...Second discharge port, 67...Third ink absorber, K1...Conveyor path, K2...Conveyor path, W1...Width of first waste ink tray 64, W2...Width of first ink absorber 61

Claims

1. A recording device capable of borderless recording, which forms an image to the edge of the medium, A discharge head for ejecting ink onto the aforementioned medium, During the aforementioned edgeless recording, a first ink absorber is positioned opposite the ejection head and absorbs waste ink ejected to a position that extends beyond the edge of the ink; A platen that supports the first ink absorber and supports the medium during edgeless recording, A first waste ink tray having a first discharge port for discharging the waste ink and receiving the waste ink flowing out from the first ink absorber, A discharge mechanism for discharging the waste ink received in the first waste ink tray from the first discharge port, Equipped with, The first waste ink tray has a plurality of inclined regions that are tilted to guide the waste ink to the first discharge port, and each of the plurality of inclined regions has a different tilt direction. The recording device is characterized in that the first ink absorber has a contact portion that contacts the first waste ink tray.

2. In the recording device according to claim 1, The system includes a transport unit that transports the aforementioned medium in the transport direction, The recording device is characterized in that the first waste ink tray has, as the inclined region, a first inclined surface that is inclined in the transport direction and a second inclined surface that is inclined in the width direction intersecting the transport direction.

3. In the recording device according to claim 1 or 2, The first waste ink tray is characterized in that at least one of the plurality of inclined regions is provided with a groove along the inclination direction.

4. In the recording device according to claim 1 or 2, The recording device is characterized in that the discharge mechanism includes a waste ink storage section for storing the waste ink and a first tube connecting the first discharge port and the waste ink storage section.

5. In the recording device according to claim 4, The recording device is characterized in that the discharge mechanism has a pump that facilitates the flow of waste ink from the first discharge port to the waste ink storage section via the first tube.

6. In the recording device according to claim 5, The ejection head is configured to eject the ink while moving back and forth across the medium, and is positioned in a home position when not recording. The home position is provided with a second waste ink tray that receives the ink ejected from the ejection head as waste ink. The second waste ink tray has a second discharge port, The discharge mechanism has a second tube connecting the second discharge port and the waste ink storage section. A recording device characterized in that the pump also serves to facilitate the flow of waste ink from the second outlet to the waste ink storage section via the second tube.

7. In the recording device according to claim 2, A recording device characterized in that the width of the first waste ink tray as viewed from the transport direction is narrower than the width of the first ink absorber as viewed from the transport direction.

8. A recording device capable of borderless recording, which forms an image to the edge of the medium, A discharge head for ejecting ink onto the aforementioned medium, During the aforementioned edgeless recording, a first ink absorber is positioned opposite the ejection head and absorbs waste ink ejected to a position that extends beyond the edge of the ink; A platen that supports the first ink absorber and supports the medium during edgeless recording, A first waste ink tray having a first discharge port for discharging the waste ink and receiving the waste ink flowing out from the first ink absorber, A discharge mechanism for discharging the waste ink received in the first waste ink tray from the first discharge port, Equipped with, The first waste ink tray has a plurality of inclined regions that are tilted to guide the waste ink to the first discharge port, and each of the plurality of inclined regions has a different tilt direction. A recording device characterized in that a second ink absorber is provided around the first waste ink tray as viewed from the direction of ink discharge.

9. A recording device capable of borderless recording, which forms an image to the edge of the medium, A discharge head for ejecting ink onto the aforementioned medium, During the aforementioned edgeless recording, a first ink absorber is positioned opposite the ejection head and absorbs waste ink ejected to a position that extends beyond the edge of the ink; A platen that supports the first ink absorber and supports the medium during edgeless recording, A first waste ink tray having a first discharge port for discharging the waste ink and receiving the waste ink flowing out from the first ink absorber, A discharge mechanism for discharging the waste ink received in the first waste ink tray from the first discharge port, Equipped with, The first waste ink tray has a plurality of inclined regions that are tilted to guide the waste ink to the first discharge port, and each of the plurality of inclined regions has a different tilt direction. An electrode plate having electrode terminals connected to wiring is provided at a position between the platen and the first ink absorber. A recording device characterized in that a third ink absorber is provided along the aforementioned wiring.

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