# US 11,077,666 B2 · Waste liquid collector and liquid discharge apparatus

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- Number: US 11,077,666 B2
- Document ID: US11077666B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/585,312
- Filed: 2019-09-27
- Published: 2020-04-02
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-27
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Applicants: Yusuke Tokunaga; Daisuke Nakamura
- Inventors: Yusuke Tokunaga; Daisuke Nakamura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077666B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/1721: {Collecting waste ink; Collectors therefor}
- B41J 2/17523: {Ink connection}
- B41J 29/13: Cases or covers
- B41J 2/1728: {Closed waste ink collectors}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A waste liquid collector includes a waste liquid tank, a rotatable member, and a cover. The waste liquid tank is removably inserted in the waste liquid collector, the waste liquid tank configured to collect waste liquid. The rotatable member is configured to rotate with removal or insertion of the waste liquid tank. The cover is configured to contact a waste liquid inlet portion of the waste liquid tank to cover a waste liquid inlet portion, the cover being slidable with respect to the rotatable member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A waste liquid collector comprising:
a waste liquid tank removably inserted in the waste liquid collector, the waste liquid tank configured to collect waste liquid;
a rotatable member configured to rotate with removal or insertion of the waste liquid tank; and
a cover configured to contact a waste liquid inlet portion of the waste liquid tank to cover the waste liquid inlet portion, the cover being slidable with respect to the rotatable member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The waste liquid collector according to claim 1, further comprising a slider slidably retained with respect to the rotatable member,
wherein the cover is retained on the slider.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The waste liquid collector according to claim 2,
wherein the slider is configured to be moved by pressing of the waste liquid inlet portion of the waste liquid tank.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The waste liquid collector according to claim 2, further comprising an urging member disposed between the slider and the rotatable member and configured to urge the cover toward the waste liquid inlet portion of the waste liquid tank,
wherein the slider is retained to be movable forward and backward with respect to the rotatable member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The waste liquid collector according to claim 4, further comprising:
a guide slot in the slider;
a guide shaft retained on the rotatable member and being relatively movable with respect to the guide slot; and
a supporting member disposed between the guide slot and the urging member, the supporting member supporting the urging member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The waste liquid collector according to claim 1, further comprising a waste liquid outlet portion penetrating through the cover, the waste liquid outlet portion configured to drain the waste liquid into the waste liquid tank.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A liquid discharge apparatus comprising the waste liquid collector according to claim 1.