# US 12,600,140 B2 · Inkjet printer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,600,140 B2 - Document ID: US12600140B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/397,114 - Filed: 2023-12-27 - Published: 2024-07-04 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-28 - Assignees: Roland Dg Corporation - Applicants: Roland DG Corporation - Inventors: Hironori Watanabe; Akihiro Suzuki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600140B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/1721: {Collecting waste ink; Collectors therefor} - B41J 2/14: Structure thereof {only for on-demand ink jet heads} - B41J 2/165: Prevention {or detection} of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles - B41J 2/16508: {connected with the printer frame} - B41J 2/16523: {Waste ink transport from caps or spittoons, e.g. by suction (Collecting or collectors of waste ink B41J2/1721)} - B41J 2/16538: {with brushes or wiper blades perpendicular to the nozzle plate} - B41J 2/16552: {using cleaning fluids} - B41J 2/17523: {Ink connection} - B41J 29/17: Cleaning arrangements - B41J 2/1742: {Open waste ink collectors, e.g. ink receiving from a print head above the collector during borderless printing} - B41J 2002/16558: {Using cleaning liquid for wet wiping} - B41P 2235/20: Wiping devices - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B41P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO PRINTING, LINING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND TO STAMPS ## Abstract An inkjet printer includes an ink head including a nozzle surface with nozzles, and an attachment portion to enable attachment or detachment of an ink refill container storing ink to be ejected from the nozzles or a washing liquid refill container storing a washing liquid usable to wash the nozzle surface. The attachment portion includes a housing to accommodate the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container, a connection portion provided inside the housing and connectable with the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container, and a tray provided in the housing and below the connection portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inkjet printer, comprising: an ink head including a nozzle surface with nozzles; and an attachment portion to enable attachment or detachment of an ink refill container storing ink to be ejected from the nozzles or a washing liquid refill container storing a washing liquid usable to wash the nozzle surface; wherein the attachment portion includes: a housing to accommodate the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container; a connection portion provided inside the housing and connectable with the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container; and a tray provided in the housing and below the connection portion, the housing includes: an insertion opening through which the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container are insertable; a bottom wall; and a rear wall connected with a rear end of the bottom wall and facing the insertion opening, the connection portion is provided with the rear wall of the housing, and the tray is located on the bottom wall of the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the tray includes a support portion projecting upward and supporting a bottom surface of the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein the insertion opening is located at a side surface of the housing; and the support portion extends in an insertion direction of the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container, and has a length, in a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, that is shorter than a length of the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the tray includes a discharge outlet extending through the tray in an up-down direction, the ink or the washing liquid being dropped into the discharge outlet; the bottom wall includes a through-hole overlapping the discharge outlet as seen in a plan view and extending through the placement surface in an up-down direction; and the inkjet printer further includes a recovery portion provided below the discharge outlet and the through-hole and capable of recovering the ink or the washing liquid dropped through the discharge outlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The inkjet printer according to claim 4, wherein the discharge outlet has a cylindrical shape extending in the up-down direction, and extends through the through-hole to a position below the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The inkjet printer according to claim 4, wherein the tray includes an accommodation portion recessed downward and capable of accommodating the ink or the washing liquid; and the accommodation portion includes: a bottom portion located at a lowest position and including the discharge outlet; and an inclining surface connected with the bottom portion and inclining downward toward the bottom portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the tray includes a projection provided on a side surface thereof and made of a resin; and the housing includes an engagement portion, engageable with the projection, in an inner side surface thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The inkjet printer according to claim 1, further comprising: a wiper to wipe the ink head; and a washing liquid supply passage including a first end connected with the connection portion and a second end opened toward the wiper; wherein the attachment portion has the washing liquid refill container attached thereto.