Liquid dispensing device

Abstract

To provide a liquid discharge device which enables an internal space of the liquid discharge device to be effectively utilized compared to conventional liquid discharge devices.SOLUTION: A liquid discharge device includes: a recording part (4); a maintenance unit (8); a waste liquid tank (60) which is provided so as to be insertable into or removable from a body housing (11); and a tube (82) which connects the maintenance unit (8) to the waste liquid tank (60). The waste liquid tank (60) is disposed at the opposite side of the maintenance unit (8) across a transport passage (R).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid ejection device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a liquid injection device provided with a waste liquid container that is detachable from a housing. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a liquid injection device in which a waste liquid container is detachably attached.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the liquid injection device described in Patent Document 1, a discharge portion is provided above a mounting portion to which a waste liquid container is detachably mounted, and is configured to guide waste liquid discharged from a maintenance portion. That is, since the waste liquid container is provided on the side where the maintenance portion is arranged, it may not be an arrangement suitable for effectively utilizing the internal space of the liquid ejection device.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to realize a liquid ejection device that can more effectively utilize the internal space of the liquid ejection device than before.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The liquid dispensing device of the present invention is a liquid dispensing device equipped with a paper transport path, comprising: a liquid dispensing head having a nozzle for dispensing liquid; a maintenance unit for maintaining the liquid dispensing head; a waste liquid tank detachably provided in the main housing for storing liquid discharged from the maintenance unit; and a waste liquid channel for transporting the liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, the waste liquid channel connecting the maintenance unit and the waste liquid tank, wherein the waste liquid tank is positioned opposite the maintenance unit across the paper transport path in a horizontal direction parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid dispensing head.

[0007] According to the above configuration, the waste liquid tank is positioned on the opposite side of the paper transport path from the maintenance unit, allowing it to be inserted and removed. This allows the waste liquid tank to be placed in the space on the opposite side of the liquid dispensing device from where the maintenance unit is located. Therefore, it is possible to realize a liquid dispensing device that makes more effective use of the internal space than conventional devices.

[0008] The liquid dispensing device of the present invention may be configured such that the waste liquid tank is positioned so as to overlap at least a portion of the nozzle surface of the liquid dispensing head in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface of the liquid dispensing head.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the waste liquid tank can be positioned so that it overlaps with at least a portion of the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head. This allows, for example, when flushing is performed by emptying the liquid from the nozzle of the liquid discharge head, the waste liquid discharged by flushing can be collected in the waste liquid tank. In other words, the waste liquid discharged by maintenance and the waste liquid discharged by flushing can be collected in the same waste liquid tank. Therefore, there is no need to provide a separate tank for collecting the waste liquid discharged by flushing, which reduces manufacturing costs and allows for more effective use of the internal space of the liquid discharge device than before.

[0010] The liquid discharge device of the present invention further comprises a flushing unit having a waste liquid guide that guides the liquid discharged by a flushing process that discharges liquid from the liquid discharge head to the waste liquid tank, wherein the waste liquid guide is positioned so as to overlap at least a portion with the waste liquid tank in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head.

[0011] According to the above configuration, the waste liquid guide can be positioned so that it overlaps with the waste liquid tank at least partially in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head. This allows the droplets to be dropped into the waste liquid tank via the waste liquid guide, whereas, for example, when droplets are dropped directly into the waste liquid tank, the distance the droplets fall becomes long, making them prone to evaporation and mist dispersion. Therefore, the distance the droplets fall can be shortened, preventing the droplets from evaporating and causing mist dispersion.

[0012] The liquid dispensing device of the present invention may further include a contact portion provided on the end face of the liquid dispensing head in the waste liquid tank, opposite to the nozzle surface, so as to be able to contact the lower end of the waste liquid guide.

[0013] According to the above configuration, the waste liquid tank is provided with a contact portion on the end face of the liquid discharge head facing the nozzle surface, which is capable of contacting the lower end of the waste liquid guide. The contact portion is made of, for example, an absorbent material that can absorb waste liquid. As a result, when the waste liquid tank is removed from the main housing, the waste liquid adhering to the lower end of the waste liquid guide can be collected by the contact portion. Therefore, after the waste liquid tank is removed, contamination due to dripping from the waste liquid guide can be prevented.

[0014] The liquid dispensing device of the present invention may further include a tilt angle changing mechanism provided within the main housing, which changes the tilt angle of the waste liquid guide when inserting or removing the waste liquid tank.

[0015] With the above configuration, the tilt angle of the waste liquid guide can be changed when inserting or removing the waste liquid tank. In other words, the tilt angle of the waste liquid guide can be changed so that it does not interfere with the insertion or removal of the waste liquid tank. Furthermore, after the waste liquid tank has been removed, the tilt angle of the waste liquid guide can be changed to prevent leakage.

[0016] The liquid dispensing device of the present invention may be configured such that the waste liquid flow path is connected from the maintenance unit across the paper transport path to the waste liquid tank.

[0017] According to the above configuration, in a device layout where the waste liquid tank is located on the opposite side of the maintenance unit, if the waste liquid channel is arranged without crossing the paper transport path, for example, it would be necessary to extend the waste liquid channel to the front or rear of the device. Therefore, by arranging the waste liquid channel across the paper transport path, the length of the waste liquid channel can be shortened. In addition, the installation of the waste liquid channel becomes easier.

[0018] The liquid discharge device of the present invention may be configured such that the main housing further includes a connecting portion for connecting a second end of the waste liquid flow path opposite to the first end connected to the maintenance unit, and the fixing portion is positioned so that waste liquid can be discharged from the second end to the waste liquid tank when the waste liquid tank is inserted into the main housing.

[0019] According to the above configuration, a connecting part is provided for connecting the second end of the waste liquid channel. Furthermore, the connecting part is positioned so that waste liquid can be discharged from the second end to the waste liquid tank when the waste liquid tank is inserted into the main housing. As a result, waste liquid can be stored in the waste liquid tank even if the waste liquid channel is not connected to the waste liquid tank. Therefore, the shape of the waste liquid tank can be simplified.

[0020] The liquid dispensing device of the present invention may further include a holding part for holding the waste liquid guide, and the waste liquid flow path may be connected to the holding part.

[0021] According to the above configuration, a waste liquid flow path is connected to a holding portion that holds a waste liquid guide. Thereby, even if the waste liquid flow path is not connected to the waste liquid tank, the waste liquid can be stored in the waste liquid tank. Furthermore, since the paths for collecting the waste liquid in the flushing unit can be aggregated, the number of components can be reduced and the cost can be lowered.

[0022] In the liquid ejection device of the present invention, the waste liquid flow path may be configured such that an end portion of the waste liquid flow path abuts on a surface of the waste liquid guide that is opposite to a surface facing the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head.

[0023] According to the above configuration, the waste liquid flow path abuts on a surface of the waste liquid guide that is opposite to a surface facing the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head, that is, the back surface of the waste liquid guide. Thereby, even when the waste liquid discharged during maintenance foams at the outlet of the waste liquid flow path and mist scatters, the range of mist scattering can be suppressed by the back surface of the waste liquid guide. Also, even if the waste liquid flow path is not connected to the waste liquid tank, the waste liquid can be stored in the waste liquid tank. Furthermore, since the paths for collecting the waste liquid in the flushing unit can be aggregated, the number of components can be reduced and the cost can be lowered.

[0024] The liquid ejection device of the present invention may further include a sheet storage portion that stores a sheet, and is arranged at a position where at least a part thereof overlaps when viewed from a side surface of the main body housing in a width direction that is parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head and orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction.

[0025] According to the above configuration, the waste liquid tank and the sheet storage portion are arranged at positions where at least a part thereof overlaps when viewed from a side surface of the main body housing in a width direction that is parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head and orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction. Thereby, for example, compared with a case where the waste liquid tank and the sheet storage portion are arranged so as to overlap in the vertical direction, the space in the vertical direction can be reduced. Therefore, while effectively using the space beside the storage portion, the height direction can be miniaturized.

[0026] The liquid ejection device of the present invention may be configured such that the paper conveyance path further includes a duplex conveyance path that conveys a sheet in a second conveyance direction, which is opposite to the first conveyance direction, and the waste liquid tank and the duplex conveyance path are parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head and at least partially overlap in the width direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet, when viewed from the side surface of the main body housing.

[0027] According to the above configuration, the space in the vertical direction can be reduced. Therefore, while effectively using the space beside the duplex conveyance path, the height direction can be miniaturized.

[0028] The liquid ejection device of the present invention may be configured such that it further includes a platen that supports a sheet, and the waste liquid tank and the platen are parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head and at least partially overlap in the width direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet, when viewed from the side surface of the main body housing.

[0029] According to the above configuration, the space in the vertical direction can be reduced. Therefore, while effectively using the space beside the platen, the height direction can be miniaturized.

[0030] The liquid ejection device of the present invention may be configured such that it further includes a reading unit for reading an object, and the waste liquid tank is arranged to be located below the reading unit.

[0031] According to the above configuration, the waste liquid tank is arranged to be located below the reading unit. Thereby, an increase in the size of the product in the width direction, that is, the left - right direction, can be suppressed.

[0032] The liquid ejection device of the present invention may be configured such that the waste liquid tank is arranged at a position where it at least partially overlaps with the paper conveyance path in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head.

[0033] According to the above configuration, while increasing the storage amount of waste liquid that the waste liquid tank can store, the internal space of the liquid ejection device can be utilized more effectively than before.

[0034] The liquid dispensing device of the present invention may also have an operating section, further comprising an operating panel provided on the outer surface of the main body housing, and the waste liquid flow path being located on the inner surface of the main body housing behind the operating panel.

[0035] With the above configuration, the length of the wastewater channel can be shortened compared to placing the wastewater channel outside the control panel.

[0036] The liquid dispensing device of the present invention may further include a reading unit having a scanning function, and the waste liquid flow path may be configured to be located below the reading unit.

[0037] With the above configuration, the length of the waste liquid channel can be shortened compared to arranging the waste liquid channel to pass through the inside of the reading unit.

[0038] The liquid discharge device of the present invention may be configured such that the waste liquid flow path is positioned in front of the liquid discharge head.

[0039] The liquid discharge device of the present invention may be configured such that the waste liquid passage is positioned behind the liquid discharge head.

[0040] The liquid discharge device of the present invention may be configured such that the waste liquid flow path is positioned above the paper transport path.

[0041] According to the above configuration, it is easier to realize a layout in which the length of the waste liquid channel is shortened as a component of the liquid discharge device, and the replacement of the waste liquid channel becomes easier.

[0042] The liquid discharge device of the present invention may further include a platen that supports a sheet, and the waste liquid flow path may be configured to be located below the platen.

[0043] According to the above configuration, it is easier to realize a layout in which the length of the waste liquid flow path is shortened when arranging the components of the liquid discharge device.

[0044] The liquid dispensing device of the present invention may be configured to be insertable and removable from the main body housing and further comprising a sheet housing for housing a sheet and a feeding arm having a feeding roller for feeding a sheet from the sheet housing, wherein the waste liquid passage is positioned in front of the feeding arm.

[0045] With the above configuration, when the housing is removed from the main casing, the waste liquid channel can be positioned so that it can be visually inspected from outside the main casing. Therefore, the waste liquid channel can be replaced while being visually inspected.

[0046] The liquid dispensing device of the present invention may further include a sheet storage section for accommodating a sheet, and the waste liquid flow path may be configured to be located below the sheet storage section.

[0047] The above configuration makes it easy to replace the wastewater flow path.

[0048] The liquid dispensing device of the present invention may further include a sheet storage section for accommodating a sheet, and the waste liquid flow path may be configured to be located behind the sheet storage section.

[0049] The liquid dispensing device of the present invention is a liquid dispensing device equipped with a paper transport path, The device comprises a liquid discharge head having a nozzle for discharging liquid, a maintenance unit for maintaining the liquid discharge head, a waste liquid tank detachably mounted in the main housing for collecting liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, and a waste liquid channel for transporting the liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, the waste liquid channel connecting the maintenance unit and the waste liquid tank, wherein the waste liquid channel is positioned so as to overlap at least a portion with the paper transport path in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head.

[0050] According to the above configuration, the waste liquid channel is positioned so that it overlaps with the paper transport path in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head, at least in part. This increases the length of the waste liquid channel. Therefore, the amount of waste liquid that can be stored can be increased by the amount of the increased length of the waste liquid channel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0051] According to one aspect of the present invention, a liquid dispensing device can be realized that can make more effective use of the internal space of the liquid dispensing device than conventional devices. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0052] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an inkjet printer. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic of the internal structure of an inkjet printer. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of an inkjet printer from above. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram showing a cross-section of the waste liquid tank and the flushing unit. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Figure 1. [Figure 6] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the maintenance unit, transport path, and waste liquid tank in a top view of an inkjet printer. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a waste liquid guide and a waste liquid tank. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram showing a modified waste liquid tank, where (A) shows the waste liquid tank attached to the main casing, and (B) shows the intermediate stage of removing the waste liquid tank from the main casing. [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram showing a modified storage section, where (A) shows the waste liquid tank inserted into the storage section, and (B) shows the waste liquid tank removed from the storage section. [Figure 10] This is a schematic diagram showing a modified version of the containment section. [Figure 11]This is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of a flushing unit. [Figure 12] This is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of a flushing unit. [Figure 13] This diagram shows examples of tube arrangements in a cross-sectional view of an inkjet printer, labeled A to D. [Figure 14] This is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic of the internal structure of an inkjet printer. [Figure 15] This is a cross-sectional view of an inkjet printer, seen from the front. [Figure 16] This is a cross-sectional view of an inkjet printer from above. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0053] [Embodiment 1] (Overview of Inkjet Printer 1's Configuration) The configuration overview of inkjet printer 1 will be explained below using Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is an external perspective view of inkjet printer 1. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the general internal configuration of inkjet printer 1. Figure 3 is a top-view cross-sectional view of inkjet printer 1.

[0054] The inkjet printer 1 shown in Figure 1 is an example of a liquid ejection device. In the following description, the orientation of the inkjet printer 1 is defined as follows, with the installation surface side facing down, the front-to-back direction defined as the side with the opening 20 facing forward, and the left-to-right direction defined as the left side when viewing the inkjet printer 1 from the front. The left-to-right direction may also be referred to as the scanning direction, which is the direction of movement of the carriage 40 (see Figure 2), which will be described later.

[0055] As shown in Figure 1, the inkjet printer 1, consisting of the main body housing 11 and the scanner housing 12 stacked above the inkjet printer 1, forms a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape overall.

[0056] The front of the main unit housing 11 is provided with an operation panel 13, a cartridge cover 14, and a tank replacement section 15. The operation panel 13 has various operation buttons and an LCD display. The cartridge cover 14 is rotatably mounted on the main unit housing 11. Inside the cartridge cover 14, as shown in Figure 3, is an ink cartridge 141 mounted in a cartridge case 140. Returning to Figure 1, an opening 20 is formed on the front of the main unit housing 11, and a feeding tray 21 and an output tray 22, which are examples of sheet storage sections, are detachably mounted to the inkjet printer 1 through the opening 20 formed on the front of the main unit housing 11. The scanner housing 12 has a scanner 121 (see Figure 5) that reads images recorded on a sheet P. The scanner 121 is an example of a reading section.

[0057] The tank replacement section 15 is located on the left-right side of the main housing 11. In this embodiment, it is located on the left side. The tank replacement section 15 consists of a rotatable lid 151 and a storage section 152 (see Figure 3) that can accommodate the waste liquid tank 60, which is exposed when the lid 151 is opened. In other words, the tank replacement section 15 is configured such that the waste liquid tank 60 can be inserted into and removed from the main housing 11 by opening and closing the lid 151.

[0058] The housing section 152 is configured to match the shape of the waste liquid tank 60, and the inside of the main housing 11 in the insertion / removal direction is provided with a wall against which the side of the waste liquid tank 60 abuts. This wall restricts the inward movement of the waste liquid tank 60.

[0059] The tank replacement section 15 is not limited to a configuration that opens and closes the lid 151. For example, it may be configured to insert and remove a waste liquid tank unit that is detachable from the main housing 11 by the waste liquid tank 60 and the tank holding portion of the waste liquid tank 60 having the lid 151. In this case, when the waste liquid tank unit is removed from the main housing 11, an opening corresponding to the shape of the waste liquid tank unit is exposed in the tank replacement section 15. When the waste liquid tank unit is inserted into the exposed opening, the exposed opening is closed by the lid 151 of the waste liquid tank unit. The location where the tank replacement section 15 is provided is not limited to the left and right sides of the main housing 11. For example, it may be provided on the front and rear surfaces of the main housing 11, or on the top and bottom surfaces of the main housing 11. In the following description, the direction in which the waste liquid tank 60 is inserted and removed may be referred to as the insertion and removal direction.

[0060] (Internal configuration of inkjet printer 1) Next, the internal configuration of inkjet printer 1 will be explained using Figure 2.

[0061] As shown in Figure 2, the inkjet printer 1 comprises a feeding unit 3, a recording unit 4, a transport mechanism 5, and a control device 100.

[0062] The feeding unit 3 includes a shaft 30, a feeding arm 31, and a feeding roller 32. The feeding unit 3 feeds the sheet P contained in the feeding tray 21 to the transport path R1, which is an example of a paper transport path, by the forward rotation of the feeding roller 32. The feeding roller 32 is rotatably supported at the tip of the feeding arm 31. The feeding arm 31 is rotatably supported on the shaft 30, which is supported on the frame of the inkjet printer 1. The feeding arm 31 is biased to rotate toward the feeding tray 21 by its own weight or by an elastic force such as a spring.

[0063] The transport path R1 extends upward from the rear end of the feed tray 21, curves in the area demarcated by the guide member 33, passes through the position of the recording unit 4, and leads to the discharge tray 22.

[0064] When the feed motor (not shown) is driven by the control device 100, the feed roller 32 takes out one sheet P at a time from the feed tray 21. The sheets P taken out from the feed tray 21 are fed along the transport path R1 and supplied to the recording unit 4.

[0065] The recording unit 4 is located above the feeding unit 3. The recording unit 4 includes a carriage 40, a recording head 41 which is an example of a liquid discharge head, a plurality of nozzles 42, and a platen 43. The carriage 40 is supported by guide rails 9A and 9B which extend in the left-right direction. The carriage 40 moves back and forth in the scanning direction, which is the direction of movement from left to right, i.e., in the width direction of the sheet P being transported, by the driving force transmitted from a carriage motor (not shown). In recording an image on the sheet P, the control device 100 of the inkjet printer 1 repeatedly performs a recording process in which ink is discharged from the nozzles 42 of the recording head 41 while the carriage 40 is moved in the width direction of the sheet P while the sheet P is stopped, thereby recording one line of image on the sheet P, and a transport process in which the transport rollers 50 and discharge rollers 52 are driven to transport the sheet P by a predetermined amount of line breaks.

[0066] A recording head 41 is mounted on the carriage 40. Multiple nozzles 42 are provided on the underside of the recording head 41. The multiple nozzles 42 are arranged in the front-to-back direction to form nozzle rows, and four nozzle rows are formed on the nozzle surface 421, arranged in the left-to-right direction. Black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are ejected from the multiple nozzles 42 in the order of the nozzle row located on the right. Note that the arrangement order of the nozzle rows is not limited to this and may be changed as appropriate for each product.

[0067] The recording head 41 ejects ink droplets from the nozzle 42 by vibrating a vibrating element such as a piezoelectric element.

[0068] The platen 43 is located below the recording head 41 and extends along the entire length of the sheet P in the left-right direction. The platen 43 supports the sheet P from below during the recording process. As the carriage 40 moves relative to the sheet P supported by the platen 43, the recording head 41 selectively ejects ink droplets, thereby recording an image on the sheet P.

[0069] The conveying mechanism 5 has a conveying roller 50 and a discharge roller 52, which are positioned front to back so as to sandwich the carriage 40 and platen 43 in the front-rear direction. Below the conveying roller 50, a pinch roller 51 is provided at a position opposite to the conveying roller 50. The conveying roller 50 is driven by a conveying motor (not shown). The pinch roller 51 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the conveying roller 50. As the conveying roller 50 and the pinch roller 51 rotate in the forward direction, the sheet P is held between the conveying roller 50 and the pinch roller 51 and conveyed along the conveying path R1 to the recording unit 4.

[0070] The discharge roller 52 is positioned downstream of the conveyor roller 50, with the carriage 40 and platen 43 in between. Above the discharge roller 52, a spur roller 53 is provided in a position opposite to the discharge roller 52. The discharge roller 52 is driven by a conveyor motor (not shown). The spur roller 53 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the discharge roller 52. As the discharge roller 52 and the spur roller 53 rotate in the forward direction, the sheet P is gripped by the discharge roller 52 and the spur roller 53 and discharged to the discharge tray 22.

[0071] The control device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and ROM (Read Only Memory). The control device 100 includes a memory chip, RAM (Random Access Memory), and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) that includes various control circuits. The control device 100 is connected to various components that make up the inkjet printer 1, such as the recording head 41 and the transport motor of the transport mechanism 5. The control device 100 is also connected to the operation panel 13 and external devices such as a PC.

[0072] The control device 100, according to a program stored in ROM, uses a CPU and ASIC to perform various processes that control the operation of the recording head 41, the maintenance unit 8 (described later), and the ejection of ink droplets from the nozzle 42, known as flushing. Based on a print command transmitted from an external device such as a PC, the control device 100 controls the recording head 41, transport motor, etc., to perform a printing process that prints an image on the sheet P. The maintenance unit and flushing operation will be described later. In this embodiment, the control device 100 is described as having a CPU, ROM, RAM, and ASIC, but it is not limited to this, and the control device 100 may be implemented with any hardware configuration.

[0073] In the above configuration, the inkjet printer 1 prints an image on the sheet P by transporting the sheet P in the transport direction with the transport mechanism 5, while simultaneously moving the recording head 41 in the scanning direction together with the carriage 40 and ejecting ink.

[0074] (Cartridge case 140) Next, the cartridge case 140 will be described using Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3, the cartridge case 140 has four ink cartridges 141 arranged in a left-to-right direction. Each ink cartridge 141 is removable from the cartridge case 140. Each ink cartridge 141 stores black, yellow, cyan, and magenta ink, respectively. The ink stored in each ink cartridge 141 is supplied to the recording head 41 via a tube 142, which is an example of a waste liquid channel.

[0075] (Maintenance Unit 8) Next, the maintenance unit 8 will be described using Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3, the inkjet printer 1 is equipped with a maintenance unit 8. The maintenance unit 8 comprises a cap 80, a pump 81, and a tube 82, which is an example of a waste liquid flow path. The maintenance unit 8 is located below the scanning path of the carriage 40 and is positioned outside the platen 43 in the scanning direction. In this embodiment, it is located on the right side in the left-right direction. However, the position of the maintenance unit 8 is not limited to the right side; it may also be located on the left side. In this case, the waste liquid tank 60 and the flushing unit 70 would be located on the right side.

[0076] The cap 80 is made of rubber. The cap 80 is located below the recording head 41 and outside the platen 43 in the scanning direction. When the carriage 40 is moved to a maintenance position outside the platen 43, the cap 80 and the nozzle surface 421 face each other.

[0077] The cap 80 is configured to be movable vertically by, for example, a lifting mechanism (not shown). When the cap 80 moves upward in the maintenance position, it comes into close contact with the nozzle surface 421.

[0078] The pump 81, driven by a motor (not shown), sucks ink and other liquids from the nozzle 42 through the cap 80 and tube 82, and discharges them to the waste liquid tank 60 through the tube 82.

[0079] Tube 82 is a channel for transferring ink discharged from the maintenance unit 8 and connects the maintenance unit 8 to the waste ink tank 60. Tube 82 is made of a flexible material and transfers ink from the cap 80 through the pump 81 to the waste ink tank 60.

[0080] The maintenance unit 8 performs maintenance on the recording head 41 with the configuration described above. More specifically, the maintenance unit 8 performs a purging operation to suck up ink and air from inside the nozzle 42, and foreign matter adhering to the opening formed on the lower surface of the nozzle 42. Hereinafter, the ink and air inside the nozzle 42, and foreign matter adhering to the opening of the nozzle 42 will be referred to as "ink, etc." The ink, etc. that is sucked up and removed by the maintenance unit 8 is held in the waste liquid tank 60.

[0081] (Waste liquid tank 60) Next, the waste liquid tank 60 will be explained using Figures 3 and 4. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-section of the waste liquid tank 60 and the flushing unit 70. The flushing unit 70 will be described later.

[0082] As shown in Figure 3, the inkjet printer 1 is equipped with a waste liquid tank 60. As shown in Figure 4, the waste liquid tank 60 has a waste liquid case 61, an ink-absorbing foam 62, and a connection part 63.

[0083] The waste liquid case 61 is made of synthetic resin material or the like. The waste liquid case 61 has an opening at the top and, when viewed from above, is composed of a roughly rectangular box. In other words, the waste liquid case 61 is composed of a bottom surface and sides that extend upward from each side of the bottom surface. An ink-absorbing foam 62 is provided inside the waste liquid case 61.

[0084] The ink-absorbing foam 62 is made of, for example, a non-woven fabric, sponge, or cotton that can absorb ink. The ink-absorbing foam 62 is housed inside the waste liquid case 61.

[0085] The connection portion 63 is the part that connects the tube 82 to the waste liquid case 61. The connection portion 63 is configured to protrude to the right from the right side of the waste liquid case 61 in the left-right direction. The connection portion 63 forms a communication hole that connects the inside and outside of the waste liquid case 61 in the left-right direction. The connection portion 63 is configured to allow the tube 82 to be connected, and by connecting the maintenance unit 8 and the connection portion 63 with the tube 82, the ink discharged from the maintenance unit 8 is stored in the waste liquid tank 60. The connection portion 63 is formed on the right side of the waste liquid case 61 in the left-right direction, but is not limited to this. For example, it may be on the front side or the left side. In other words, it may be provided on any side of the waste liquid case 61.

[0086] (Flushing unit 70) As shown in Figure 4, the flushing unit 70 includes a waste liquid guide 71 and a guide fixing frame 72 for fixing the waste liquid guide 71. The flushing unit 70 is configured to prevent the scattering of ink mist discharged from the nozzle 42 during the flushing process and to guide the ink to the waste liquid tank 60.

[0087] The flushing process involves moving the carriage 40 to a flushing position, which is a position opposite the flushing unit 70, and then driving the recording head 41 to eject ink from multiple nozzles 42 toward the waste liquid guide 71, in addition to the ink ejection toward the sheet P.

[0088] The waste liquid guide 71 has an inclined surface 710 that intersects with the vertical direction, which is the direction of ink discharge, in order to prevent the scattering of ink mist discharged by the flushing process. The inclined surface 710 is configured to have an upward slope from left to right, for example, as shown in Figure 4.

[0089] When the ink ejected by the flushing process hits the inclined surface 710 of the waste liquid guide 71, it is guided along the inclined surface 710 to the ink absorption foam 62 provided in the waste liquid tank 60.

[0090] The guide fixing frame 72 is an example of a holding part that holds the waste liquid guide 71. The guide fixing frame 72 is a frame that fixes the waste liquid guide 71 and is configured in a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from above. The guide fixing frame 72 is fixed to the main body housing 11, for example, by fastening screws to the main body housing 11.

[0091] (Arrangement of waste liquid tank 60 and flushing unit 70) Next, the arrangement of the waste liquid tank 60 and the flushing unit 70 will be explained using Figures 3 to 6. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Figure 1. Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the maintenance unit 8, transport path R1, and waste liquid tank 60 in a top view of the inkjet printer 1.

[0092] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the waste liquid tank 60 and the flushing unit 70 are positioned below the scanner 121. Specifically, they are positioned below the recording head 41 and outside the platen 43 in the scanning direction.

[0093] More specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the waste liquid tank 60 and the flushing unit 70 are positioned horizontally parallel to the nozzle surface 421, opposite the maintenance unit 8, with the transport path R1 in between. Also, as shown in Figure 4, the waste liquid tank 60 is positioned below the flushing unit 70 in the vertical direction. Therefore, when viewing the positions of the waste liquid tank 60, transport path R1, and maintenance unit 8 from the front of the inkjet printer 1, as shown in Figure 5, the maintenance unit 8, transport path R1, and waste liquid tank 60 are arranged side by side from right to left. Note that as long as the maintenance unit 8, transport path R1, and waste liquid tank 60 are arranged side by side, their respective positions in the vertical direction do not need to be aligned. That is, for example, in the vertical direction of the inkjet printer 1, the maintenance unit 8 may be positioned below the transport path R1, and the waste liquid tank 60 may be positioned above the transport path R1.

[0094] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the waste liquid tank 60 may be positioned so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the transport path R1 in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 421. More specifically, it may be positioned so that a portion of the waste liquid tank 60 overlaps below the transport path R1. By positioning the waste liquid tank 60 in this way, the space below the transport path R1 can be effectively utilized. In other words, the shape of the waste liquid tank 60 can be extended not only in the front-to-back direction of the main housing 11 but also in the left-to-right direction. For example, as shown in Figure 6, it is possible to make it roughly L-shaped in a top view. Thus, the amount of waste liquid that the waste liquid tank 60 can store can be increased, while the internal space of the liquid discharge device can be utilized more effectively than in conventional systems.

[0095] In this embodiment, the waste liquid tank 60 and the flushing unit 70 are positioned with the maintenance unit 8 on the right side in the left-right direction, and the waste liquid tank 60 and the flushing unit 70 on the left side, opposite the transport path R1. However, the arrangement of the waste liquid tank 60 and the flushing unit 70 is not limited to this. That is, they can be arranged on one side and the other side of the transport path R1, respectively. As the waste liquid tank 60 and the maintenance unit 8 are arranged in this way, the tube 82 connects the waste liquid tank 60 and the maintenance unit 8 by crossing the transport path R1, as shown in Figure 3.

[0096] To further describe the routing position of the tube 82 inside the main housing 11, the tube 82 is positioned behind the operation panel 13. This allows the length of the tube 82 to be shorter than if it were positioned outside the operation panel 13. The tube 82 is also positioned below the scanner 121. This allows the length of the tube 82 to be shorter than if it were routed inside the scanner 121. The tube 82 is also positioned in front of the recording head 41. Furthermore, the tube 82 is positioned above the transport path R1. This allows the length of the tube 82 to be shortened while facilitating replacement of the tube 82. In this embodiment, the tube 82 is positioned in front of the recording head 41, but it may also be positioned behind the recording head 41.

[0097] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the waste liquid tank 60 is positioned side-by-side with the supply tray 21 and platen 43 in the left-right direction. More specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the waste liquid tank 60 is positioned parallel to the nozzle surface 421 and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet S, i.e., in the left-right direction, when viewed from the side of the main housing 11, at least a portion of it overlaps with the supply tray 21 and platen 43.

[0098] Furthermore, the waste liquid tank 60 is positioned so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the nozzle surface 421 of the recording head 41 in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 421 of the recording head 41, i.e., in the vertical direction. Specifically, for example, when the carriage 40 is moved to the flushing position, only one of the four nozzle rows arranged in the left-right direction on the nozzle surface 421 is positioned so as to overlap with the waste liquid tank 60. Alternatively, when the carriage 40 is moved to the flushing position, all four nozzle rows arranged in the left-right direction on the nozzle surface 421 may be positioned so as to overlap with the waste liquid tank 60.

[0099] In this embodiment, the flushing unit 70 is positioned above the waste liquid tank 60, but the flushing unit 70 may be omitted as appropriate.

[0100] (Effects of this embodiment) According to the above configuration, the waste liquid tank is positioned so that it can be inserted and removed from the transport path R1, on the opposite side of the maintenance unit 8, in the horizontal direction parallel to the nozzle surface 421 of the recording head 41. This allows the waste liquid tank 60 to be placed in the space on the opposite side of the space where the maintenance unit 8 is located inside the inkjet printer 1. Therefore, the internal space of the inkjet printer 1 can be utilized more effectively than in conventional designs.

[0101] Furthermore, with the above configuration, the waste liquid tank 60 can be positioned in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 421, at least partially overlapping with the nozzle surface 421. This allows, for example, when a flushing process is performed to discharge liquid from the nozzle 42, the waste liquid discharged by the flushing process can be collected in the waste liquid tank 60. In other words, the waste liquid discharged by the maintenance process and the waste liquid discharged by the flushing process can be collected in the same waste liquid tank 60. Therefore, there is no need to provide a separate tank for collecting the waste liquid discharged by the flushing process, which reduces manufacturing costs and allows for more effective use of the internal space of the liquid discharge device than before.

[0102] Furthermore, according to the above configuration, in the internal layout of the inkjet printer 1 where the waste liquid tank 60 is located opposite the maintenance unit 8 across the transport path R1, the length of the tube 82 can be shortened compared to, for example, the case where the tube 82 is placed without crossing the transport path R1. In other words, if the tube 82 is placed without crossing the transport path R1, it is necessary to extend the tube 82 to the front or rear of the transport path R1. Therefore, by placing the tube 82 across the transport path R1, the length of the tube 82 can be shortened. In addition, the installation of the tube 82 becomes easier.

[0103] Furthermore, with the above configuration, the waste liquid tank 60 and the supply tray 21 are positioned adjacent to each other horizontally when viewed from the nozzle side 421. This reduces the vertical space required compared to, for example, a case where the waste liquid tank 60 and the supply tray 21 are arranged to overlap vertically. Therefore, the lateral space of the supply tray 21 can be effectively utilized while suppressing an increase in the height of the inkjet printer 1.

[0104] With the above configuration, the space to the side of the platen 43 can be effectively utilized while suppressing an increase in the height of the inkjet printer 1.

[0105] According to the above configuration, the waste liquid tank 60 is positioned below the scanner 121. This prevents the inkjet printer 1 from becoming larger in the width direction, i.e., in the left-right direction.

[0106] (Variation 1) In Embodiment 1, it was explained that the waste liquid tank 60 is positioned below the flushing unit 70 in the vertical direction. However, the positional relationship between the flushing unit 70 and the waste liquid tank 60 is not limited to this.

[0107] Therefore, a modified example of the arrangement relationship between the flushing unit 70 and the waste liquid tank 60 will be explained using Figure 7. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the arrangement between the waste liquid guide 71 and the waste liquid tank 60.

[0108] As shown in Figure 7, the waste liquid guide 71 of the flushing unit 70 may be configured to overlap at least a portion with the waste liquid tank 60 in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 421, i.e., in the vertical direction. Specifically, it is sufficient that the lower end of the waste liquid guide 71 is positioned inside the side surface of the waste liquid case 61. Figure 7 shows an example in which the flushing unit 70 is shifted to the right in the left-right direction by a length indicated by L. More specifically, of the two waste liquid guides 71, the lower end of the waste liquid guide 71 provided on the right side in the left-right direction is positioned inside the waste liquid case 61.

[0109] According to the above configuration, the waste liquid guide 71 can be positioned so that it overlaps with the waste liquid tank 60 in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 421, at least in part. This allows the droplets to fall into the waste liquid tank 60 via the waste liquid guide 71, whereas, for example, if droplets were dropped directly into the waste liquid tank 60, the distance the droplets would fall would be long, making it easy for the droplets to evaporate and cause mist scattering. Therefore, the distance the droplets fall can be shortened, preventing the droplets from evaporating and causing mist scattering.

[0110] (Modification 2) Next, a modified example of the waste liquid tank 60 will be explained using Figure 8. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the waste liquid tank 60, where (A) shows the waste liquid tank 60 attached to the main housing 11, and (B) shows the intermediate stage of removing the waste liquid tank 60 from the main housing 11.

[0111] As shown in Figure 8, the waste liquid tank 60 may further be configured to include a contact portion 64 provided on the end face opposite the nozzle surface 421 so as to be able to contact the lower end of the waste liquid guide 71.

[0112] More specifically, the contact portion 64 is provided on the upper end surface of the side surface that forms the waste liquid case 61, which is located on the inside side of the main housing 11 in the direction of insertion and removal of the waste liquid tank 60. The contact portion 64 is made of, for example, a nonwoven fabric, sponge, or cotton that can absorb ink.

[0113] According to the above configuration, the upper end surface of the waste liquid case 61 is provided with a contact portion 64 that can come into contact with the lower end of the waste liquid guide 71. This allows the waste liquid adhering to the lower end of the waste liquid guide 71 to be collected by the contact portion 64 when the waste liquid tank 60 is removed from the main housing 11, for example, as shown in Figure 8(B). Therefore, after the waste liquid tank 60 is removed, it is possible to prevent ink from dripping from the waste liquid guide 71 into the inside of the main housing 11 and causing contamination.

[0114] (Variation 3) Next, a modified example of the storage section 152 shown in Figure 3 will be explained using Figure 9. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the storage section 152, where (A) shows the state in which the waste liquid tank 60 is inserted into the storage section 152, and (B) shows the state in which the waste liquid tank 60 is removed from the storage section 152.

[0115] In this modified example, the housing section 152 is further equipped with a tilt angle changing mechanism that changes the tilt angle of the waste liquid guide 71 when inserting or removing the waste liquid tank 60. As shown in Figure 9, the housing section 152 is equipped with a biasing section 153 and a restricting projection 154 as a tilt angle changing mechanism on the wall 1521 of the waste liquid tank 60 that faces the inner side in the insertion / removal direction. In addition, the flushing unit 70 in this modified example is fixed to the wall 1521 of the main housing 11 via the tilt angle changing mechanism.

[0116] The biasing section 153 biases the guide fixing frame 72 from one side to the other in the insertion and removal direction of the waste liquid tank 60. The biasing section 153 is composed of, for example, an elastic spring. More specifically, the biasing section 153 biases the guide fixing frame 72 in the direction from right to left in the insertion and removal direction. The biasing section 153 is connected to the receiving wall 723, which will be described later. That is, the biasing section 153 is provided between the wall 1521 and the receiving wall 723.

[0117] The restricting projection 154 is formed to protrude from the wall 1521 to the left, that is, from the inside to the outside of the main housing 11. The restricting projection 154 restricts the rotation of the guide fixing frame 72 by contacting the rotation restricting portion 722, which will be described later.

[0118] In this modified example, the guide fixing frame 72 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the main housing 11, with the axial direction being perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction. More specifically, as shown in Figure 9, it has a shaft 721, a rotation restricting portion 722, and a receiving wall 723.

[0119] The shaft 721 is located on the right side of the guide fixing frame 72 in the left-right direction, that is, on the inside side of the main housing 11. The shaft 721, provided on the guide fixing frame 72, pivotally supports the guide fixing frame 72 so that it can rotate relative to the main housing 11.

[0120] The rotation restricting portion 722 is formed to protrude upward from the inner end of the main housing 11 in the guide fixing frame 72. More specifically, the rotation restricting portion 722 is formed to have an upward slope from right to left from the inner end of the main housing 11.

[0121] The receiving wall 723 is located in the vertical direction, opposite the rotation restricting portion 722, with the guide fixing frame 72 in between. The receiving wall 723 is formed to protrude downward from the guide fixing frame 72. When the waste liquid tank 60 is housed in the housing portion 152, the receiving wall 723 abuts against the side surface formed on the inside of the main housing 11 in the insertion / removal direction of the waste liquid tank 60, among the various sides forming the waste liquid case 61.

[0122] According to the above configuration, for example, as shown in Figure 9(A), when the waste liquid tank 60 is placed in the housing section 152, the waste liquid tank 60 comes into contact with the receiving wall 723. When the waste liquid tank 60 is further inserted into the main housing 11 from the state in which it is in contact with the receiving wall 723, the guide fixing frame 72 rotates counterclockwise, and the waste liquid tank 60 is placed in a position where the lower surface of the guide fixing frame 72 and the bottom surface of the waste liquid tank 60 are parallel.

[0123] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 9(B), when the waste liquid tank 60 is removed from the housing 152 to the outside of the main body housing 11, the waste liquid tank 60 separates from the receiving wall 723. When the waste liquid tank 60 separates from the receiving wall 723, the biasing force of the biasing part 1521 causes the guide fixing frame 72 to rotate clockwise via the rotation restricting part 722 until the rotation restricting part 722 and the restricting projection 154 come into contact. When the guide fixing frame 72 rotates clockwise, the inclined surface 710 of the waste liquid guide 71 provided on the guide fixing frame 72 becomes approximately parallel to the bottom surface of the waste liquid tank. Therefore, after removing the waste liquid tank 60, the inclination angle of the waste liquid guide 71 can be changed to prevent dripping from the waste liquid guide 71.

[0124] (Modification 4) Next, a modified example of the housing section 152 shown in Figure 3 will be explained using Figure 10. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the housing section 152. In this modified example, the housing section 152, which constitutes a part of the main housing 11, and the maintenance unit 8 are connected by a tube 82. As shown in Figure 10, the housing section 152 is equipped with a connecting section 1522. The connecting section 1522 is the part to which the tube 82 is connected. One end of the tube 82, the first end, is connected to the maintenance unit 8, and the other end, the second end, is connected to the main housing 11. The second end is connected to the housing section 152 of the main housing 11 in a manner that allows it to be detachably attached.

[0125] More specifically, the connection portion 1522 is positioned so that waste liquid can be discharged from the end of the tube 82 to the waste liquid tank 60 when the waste liquid tank 60 is inserted into the housing portion 152 of the main body housing 11. For example, the connection portion 1522 is provided on the wall 1521 of the waste liquid tank 60 that is opposite to the side facing the insertion side in the insertion / removal direction. The connection portion 1522 is connected to a communication hole that connects the inside and outside of the wall 1521 so that the end of the tube 82 is located inside the waste liquid case 61 and is detachably connected to the wall 1521.

[0126] Furthermore, the location where the connection portion 1522 is provided is not limited to the wall 1521. For example, the connection portion 1522 may be provided on the front wall of the housing portion 152, or on the left wall.

[0127] According to the above configuration, the housing section 152, which constitutes part of the main housing 11, is equipped with a connecting section 1522 for connecting the second end of the tube 82. Furthermore, the connecting section 1522 is positioned so that waste liquid can be discharged from the second end to the waste liquid tank 60 when the waste liquid tank 60 is inserted into the housing section 152 of the main housing 11. This allows waste liquid to be stored in the waste liquid tank 60 even if the tube 82 is not connected to the waste liquid tank 60.

[0128] Furthermore, since the end of the tube 82 is located inside the waste liquid case 61 and is connected to the wall 1521 in a way that allows it to be attached and detached, the inlets into which the waste liquid discharged from the flushing unit 70 and the waste liquid discharged through the tube 82 enter can be combined into a single inlet. Therefore, the shape of the waste liquid tank 60 can be simplified.

[0129] (Variation 5) Next, a modified example of the flushing unit 70 will be described using Figures 11 and 12. Figures 11 and 12 are schematic diagrams showing a modified example of the flushing unit 70. As shown in Figure 11, the flushing unit 70 in this modified example is equipped with a connecting portion 725.

[0130] The connection section 725 is configured such that the tube 82 can be attached to and detached from the guide fixing frame 72. When the flushing unit 70 is configured in this way, for example, as shown in Figure 11, in addition to the waste liquid guide 71 that guides the waste liquid during the flushing process to the waste liquid tank 60, a waste liquid guide 711 may be provided to guide the waste liquid discharged by the maintenance process by the maintenance unit 8 to the waste liquid tank 60.

[0131] According to the above configuration, the tube 82 is connected to the guide fixing frame 72 in a way that allows it to be attached to and detached. This allows waste liquid to be collected in the waste liquid tank 60 even if the tube 82 is not connected to the waste liquid tank 60. In other words, since the path for transferring waste liquid can be consolidated to the flushing unit 70, the shape of the waste liquid tank 60 can be simplified, the number of parts can be reduced, and costs can be lowered. Furthermore, for example, the waste liquid guide 711 can be replaced at the same time as the tube 82 is replaced, thus improving the efficiency of parts replacement.

[0132] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, the flushing unit 70 may be configured such that the end of the tube 82 abuts against the opposite side of the inclined surface 710 of the waste liquid guide 71 that faces the nozzle surface 421. When the flushing unit 70 is configured in this way, the waste liquid guide 711 shown in Figure 11 may be omitted.

[0133] With the above configuration, the end of tube 82 abuts against the back surface of the waste liquid guide 71, which is the surface opposite to the surface facing the nozzle surface 421. As a result, even if the waste liquid discharged during maintenance foams up at the outlet of tube 82 and causes mist to scatter, the back surface of the waste liquid guide 71 can suppress the extent of mist scattering.

[0134] (Experimental variation 6) In Embodiment 1, it was explained that the tube 82 is positioned above the transport path R1. However, this is not the only arrangement. Therefore, other arrangement examples of the tube 82 will be explained using Figure 13. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet printer 1, showing examples of the tube 82 arrangement labeled A to D.

[0135] The tube 82 may be positioned below the platen 43, for example, as shown in arrangement example A of Figure 13. This allows the length of the tube 82 to be shortened in a device layout where the waste liquid tank 60 is located on the opposite side of the transport path R1 from the maintenance unit 8. It also makes it easier to remove the sheet S stuck between the platen 43 and the recording unit 4 by accessing it from above.

[0136] Furthermore, the tube 82 may be positioned in front of the feeding arm 31, for example, as shown in arrangement example B in Figure 13. According to arrangement example B, the tube 82 can be positioned so that it can be visually inspected from outside the main housing 11 when the feeding tray 21 is removed from the main housing 11. Therefore, the tube 82 can be replaced while being visually inspected.

[0137] Furthermore, the tube 82 may be positioned below the feeding tray 21, for example, as shown in arrangement example C in Figure 13. Specifically, the tube 82 is provided so as to run under the bottom surface 11b of the main housing 11. The tube 82 may be fixed to the bottom surface 11b by a fixing part of the tube 82 (not shown) or the like. In this case, it is preferable to have a configuration that includes legs 11d extending downward from the bottom surface 11b, as shown in Figure 13. According to arrangement example C, it is possible to access the tube 82 from the bottom surface 11b side through the space formed by the bottom surface 11b and the legs 11d without removing the feeding tray 21 from the main housing 11. Therefore, the tube 82 can be replaced while visually inspecting it.

[0138] Furthermore, the tube 82 may be positioned behind the feeding tray 21, for example, as shown in arrangement example D in Figure 13. In this case, it is preferable that the main housing 11 has a rear cover 11c on the rear surface, which is a continuous surface from the top surface 11a and the bottom surface 11b. The rear cover 11c is provided at the rear of the main housing 11 so as to be openable and closable relative to the main housing 11. According to arrangement example D, opening the rear cover 11c makes it easy to access the tube 82 provided inside the main housing 11, and allows the tube 82 to be replaced while being visually inspected.

[0139] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For the sake of clarity, components having the same function as those described in the above embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0140] [Embodiment 2] The inkjet printer 200 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 14 and 15. Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic of the internal configuration of the inkjet printer 200. Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet printer 200 viewed from the front.

[0141] As shown in Figure 14, the inkjet printer 200 in this embodiment differs from Embodiment 1 in that, in addition to the transport path R1 provided by the inkjet printer 1, it also has a transport path R2. Furthermore, in order to transport the sheet S to the transport path R2, the transport mechanism 5 is equipped with transport rollers 54, 56 and spur rollers 55, 57 upstream of the discharge roller 52. The transport rollers 54 and 56 are driven by a transport motor (not shown).

[0142] The transport path R2 is a double-sided transport path that transports the sheet S in a transport direction (second transport direction D2) opposite to the transport direction (first transport direction D1) that transports the sheet S supplied to the transport start position V of the transport path R1. More specifically, the transport path R2 is a path demarcated by guide members 65, 66 and 67, and transport rollers 68 and pinch rollers 69, etc. The transport path R2 branches off from a branching position Y upstream of the transport roller 56 in the transport path R1 and connects to a merging position W upstream of the recording unit 4 in the first transport direction D1 in the transport path R1.

[0143] When the sheet S is transported along the transport path R1 in the first transport direction D1, the transport roller 56 and the spur roller 57 rotate in opposite directions as the rear end of the sheet S passes the first flap 46, causing the sheet S to be gripped by the transport roller 56 and the spur roller 57, and then transported along the lower surface of the first flap 46 to the transport path R2.

[0144] A first flap 46 is provided between the conveyor roller 54 and the conveyor roller 56 in the conveyor path R1. The first flap 46 is positioned near the branching position Y opposite the guide member 44. The first flap 46 is rotatably supported by the platen 43 between a first state and a second state. In the first state, shown by the solid line in Figure 14, the first flap 46 contacts the guide member 44 and closes the conveyor path R1. On the other hand, in the second state, shown by the dotted line in Figure 14, the first flap 46 is positioned lower than in the first state, away from the guide member 44, allowing the sheet S being conveyed in the first conveying direction D1 to pass through. The first flap 46 is also biased upward by a coil spring 47. One end of the coil spring 47 is connected to the first flap 46, and the other end is connected to the platen 43. The first flap 46 is biased by the coil spring 47 to enter a first state, and its front end comes into contact with the guide member 44.

[0145] As shown in Figure 14, a second flap 48 is rotatably positioned at the junction W of transport paths R1 and R2. Specifically, the second flap 48 is rotatable between a first state, shown by a solid line in Figure 14, and a second state, shown by a dotted line in Figure 14. When the second flap 48 is in the first state, the second flap 48 and the guide member 33a constitute a part of the transport path R2. When the second flap 48 is in the second state, the second flap 48 and the guide member 33b constitute a part of the transport path R1.

[0146] (Placement of waste liquid tank 60) In this embodiment, the waste liquid tank 60 and the transport path R2 are arranged side by side. More specifically, as shown in Figure 15, the maintenance unit 8, the transport path R2, and the waste liquid tank 60 are arranged side by side in order from right to left. More specifically, as shown in Figure 14, the waste liquid tank 60 is positioned parallel to the nozzle surface 421 and perpendicular to the first transport direction D1 of the sheet S, i.e., in the width direction, that is, in the left-right direction, when viewed from the side of the main housing 11, so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the transport path R2.

[0147] Furthermore, as long as the maintenance unit 8, transport path R2, and waste liquid tank 60 are arranged side by side, their respective positions in the vertical direction do not need to be aligned. In other words, for example, in the vertical direction of the inkjet printer 200, the maintenance unit 8 may be positioned above the transport path R2, and the waste liquid tank 60 may be positioned below the transport path R2.

[0148] According to the above configuration, in an inkjet printer 200 equipped with a transport path R2 (double-sided transport path), the space on the left and right sides of the transport path R2 can be effectively utilized. In addition, the vertical size can be reduced, thus preventing the inkjet printer 200 from becoming larger.

[0149] [Embodiment 3] The inkjet printer 300 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 16. Figure 16 is a top-view cross-sectional view of the inkjet printer 300. As shown in Figure 16, the location of the waste liquid tank 60 in the inkjet printer 300 differs from that of the inkjet printer 1 and inkjet printer 200. Also, the routing of the tube 82 connecting the waste liquid tank 60 and the maintenance unit 8 differs from that of the inkjet printer 1 and inkjet printer 200.

[0150] In detail, the tube 82 is positioned so as to overlap at least a portion with the transport path R1 in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 421 of the recording head 41 mounted on the carriage 40, i.e., in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the tube 82 is routed above the transport path R1 and overlaps with the transport path R1. Note that the tube 82 is not limited to being routed above the transport path R1, but may also be routed below the transport path R1. Furthermore, the tube 82 may be arranged to meander above or below the transport path R1.

[0151] According to the above configuration, the tube 82 is positioned so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the transport path R1 in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 421, i.e., in the vertical direction. This increases the length of the tube 82. Therefore, the amount of waste liquid that can be stored can be increased by the amount by which the length of the tube 82 has increased.

[0152] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0153] 1, 200, 300 inkjet printers 8. Maintenance Unit 11 Main unit 41 Recording head 42 nozzles 60 waste liquid tanks 70 Flushing Unit 82 tubes

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing device equipped with a paper transport path, A liquid dispensing head having a nozzle for dispensing liquid, A maintenance unit for maintaining the aforementioned liquid dispensing head, A waste liquid tank is provided in the main housing so as to be removable from it, and collects the liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, A waste liquid channel for transporting liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, comprising a waste liquid channel connecting the maintenance unit and a waste liquid tank, A flushing unit having a waste liquid guide that guides the liquid discharged by a flushing process that discharges liquid from the liquid discharge head to the waste liquid tank, Equipped with, The waste liquid tank is positioned in a horizontal direction parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head, opposite the maintenance unit, with the paper transport path in between. The waste liquid guide is positioned so as to overlap at least a portion with the waste liquid tank in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head. A liquid dispensing device characterized by the following features.

2. The waste liquid tank further comprises a contact portion provided on the end face of the liquid discharge head facing the nozzle surface, which is capable of contacting the lower end of the waste liquid guide. The liquid dispensing device according to feature 1.

3. The main body housing is further provided with a tilt angle changing mechanism that changes the tilt angle of the waste liquid guide when inserting or removing the waste liquid tank. The liquid dispensing device according to feature 1.

4. The system further includes a holding part for holding the waste liquid guide, The waste liquid channel is connected to the holding part. The liquid dispensing device according to feature 1.

5. The end of the waste liquid channel abuts against the surface of the waste liquid guide opposite to the surface facing the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head. The liquid dispensing device according to feature 4.

6. A liquid dispensing device comprising a paper transport path, A liquid dispensing head having a nozzle for dispensing liquid, A maintenance unit for maintaining the aforementioned liquid dispensing head, A waste liquid tank is provided in the main housing so as to be removable from it, and collects the liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, A waste liquid channel for transporting liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, comprising a waste liquid channel connecting the maintenance unit and a waste liquid tank, A seat storage section for storing the seat, Equipped with, The waste liquid tank is positioned in a horizontal direction parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head, opposite the maintenance unit, with the paper transport path in between. The waste liquid tank and the sheet storage section are positioned so that, when viewed from the side of the main housing in the width direction which is parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head and perpendicular to the sheet transport direction, at least a portion of them overlap. A liquid dispensing device characterized by the following features.

7. A liquid dispensing device equipped with a paper transport path, A liquid dispensing head having a nozzle for dispensing liquid, A maintenance unit for maintaining the aforementioned liquid dispensing head, A waste liquid tank is provided in the main housing so as to be removable from it, and collects the liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, A waste liquid channel for transporting liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, comprising a waste liquid channel connecting the maintenance unit and a waste liquid tank, Equipped with, The waste liquid tank is positioned in a horizontal direction parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head, opposite the maintenance unit, with the paper transport path in between. The aforementioned paper transport path further includes a double-sided transport path that transports the sheet in a second transport direction, which is the opposite direction to the first transport direction. The waste liquid tank and the double-sided transport path are positioned so that, when viewed from the side of the main housing in the width direction which is parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head and perpendicular to the sheet transport direction, at least a portion of them overlap. A liquid dispensing device characterized by the following features.

8. A liquid dispensing device comprising a paper transport path, A liquid dispensing head having a nozzle for dispensing liquid, A maintenance unit for maintaining the aforementioned liquid dispensing head, A waste liquid tank is provided in the main housing so as to be removable from it, and collects the liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, A waste liquid channel for transporting liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, comprising a waste liquid channel connecting the maintenance unit and a waste liquid tank, A platen that supports the sheet, Equipped with, The waste liquid tank is positioned in a horizontal direction parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head, opposite the maintenance unit, with the paper transport path in between. The waste liquid tank and the platen are positioned so that at least a portion of them overlap when viewed from the side of the main housing in the width direction, which is parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head and perpendicular to the sheet transport direction. A liquid dispensing device characterized by the following features.

9. A liquid dispensing device comprising a paper transport path, A liquid dispensing head having a nozzle for dispensing liquid, A maintenance unit for maintaining the aforementioned liquid dispensing head, A waste liquid tank is provided in the main housing so as to be removable from it, and collects the liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, A waste liquid channel for transporting liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, comprising a waste liquid channel connecting the maintenance unit and a waste liquid tank, A reading unit for reading the object, Equipped with, The waste liquid tank is positioned in a horizontal direction parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head, opposite the maintenance unit, with the paper transport path in between. The waste liquid tank is positioned below the reading unit. A liquid dispensing device characterized by the following features.

10. A liquid dispensing device comprising a paper transport path, A liquid dispensing head having a nozzle for dispensing liquid, A maintenance unit for maintaining the aforementioned liquid dispensing head, A waste liquid tank is provided in the main housing so as to be removable from it, and collects the liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, A waste liquid channel for transporting liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, comprising a waste liquid channel connecting the maintenance unit and a waste liquid tank, Having an operating section, and an operating panel provided on the outer surface of the main body housing, Equipped with, The waste liquid tank is positioned in a horizontal direction parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head, opposite the maintenance unit, with the paper transport path in between. The liquid dispensing device is characterized in that the waste liquid channel is located on the inner surface of the main housing behind the operation panel.

11. A liquid dispensing device comprising a paper transport path, A liquid dispensing head having a nozzle for dispensing liquid, A maintenance unit for maintaining the aforementioned liquid dispensing head, A waste liquid tank is provided in the main housing so as to be removable from it, and collects the liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, A waste liquid channel for transporting liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, comprising a waste liquid channel connecting the maintenance unit and a waste liquid tank, A reading unit with scanning capabilities, Equipped with, The waste liquid tank is positioned in a horizontal direction parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head, opposite the maintenance unit, with the paper transport path in between. The waste liquid flow path is positioned below the reading unit. A liquid dispensing device characterized by the following features.

12. A liquid dispensing device comprising a paper transport path, A liquid dispensing head having a nozzle for dispensing liquid, A maintenance unit for maintaining the aforementioned liquid dispensing head, A waste liquid tank is provided in the main housing so as to be removable from it, and collects the liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, A waste liquid channel for transporting liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, comprising a waste liquid channel connecting the maintenance unit and a waste liquid tank, Equipped with, The waste liquid tank is positioned in a horizontal direction parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head, opposite the maintenance unit, with the paper transport path in between. The waste liquid channel is positioned above the paper transport path. A liquid dispensing device characterized by the following features.

13. A liquid dispensing device equipped with a paper transport path, A liquid dispensing head having a nozzle for dispensing liquid, A maintenance unit for maintaining the aforementioned liquid dispensing head, A waste liquid tank is provided in the main housing so as to be removable from it, and collects the liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, A waste liquid channel for transporting liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, comprising a waste liquid channel connecting the maintenance unit and a waste liquid tank, The main housing is detachably provided and includes a sheet storage section for storing a sheet, A feeding arm having a feeding roller for feeding sheets from the sheet storage section, Equipped with, The waste liquid tank is positioned in a horizontal direction parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head, opposite the maintenance unit, with the paper transport path in between. The waste liquid passage is positioned in front of the supply arm. A liquid dispensing device characterized by the following features.

14. A liquid dispensing device comprising a paper transport path, A liquid dispensing head having a nozzle for dispensing liquid, A maintenance unit for maintaining the aforementioned liquid dispensing head, A waste liquid tank is provided in the main housing so as to be removable from it, and collects the liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, A waste liquid channel for transporting liquid discharged from the maintenance unit, comprising a waste liquid channel connecting the maintenance unit and a waste liquid tank, A seat storage section for storing the seat, Equipped with, The waste liquid tank is positioned in a horizontal direction parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head, opposite the maintenance unit, with the paper transport path in between. The waste liquid passage is positioned behind the sheet housing section. A liquid dispensing device characterized by the following features.

15. The waste liquid tank is positioned such that at least a portion of it overlaps with the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head. A liquid dispensing device according to any one of features 1 to 14.

16. The waste liquid flow path is connected from the maintenance unit across the paper transport path to the waste liquid tank. A liquid dispensing device according to any one of features 1 to 14.

17. The main housing further comprises a connecting portion for connecting the second end of the waste liquid flow path opposite to the first end connected to the maintenance unit, The aforementioned connection portion is positioned so that waste liquid can be discharged from the second end to the waste liquid tank when the waste liquid tank is inserted into the main housing. A liquid dispensing device according to any one of features 1 to 4 or 6 to 14.

18. The waste liquid tank is positioned such that at least a portion of it overlaps with the paper transport path in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head. A liquid dispensing device according to any one of features 1 to 14.

19. The waste liquid passage is positioned in front of the liquid discharge head, A liquid dispensing device according to any one of features 1 to 14.

20. The waste liquid passage is positioned behind the liquid discharge head, A liquid dispensing device according to any one of features 1 to 14.

21. Further comprising a platen for supporting the sheet, The waste liquid channel is positioned below the platen. A liquid dispensing device according to any one of features 1 to 7 or 9 to 14.

22. Further comprising a sheet storage section for storing a sheet, The waste liquid passage is positioned below the sheet housing section. A liquid dispensing device according to any one of 1 to 5 or 7 to 11.

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