Waste liquid recovery apparatus, relay and liquid jetting apparatus
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsHiroto Nakamura, Takahiro Naka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A waste liquid tank is arranged outside a printer. A connection port arranged at an upstream end of a duct extending from the waste liquid tank is connected to a transfer device. The transfer device is connected to a discharge side of a suction pump for drawing in ink from a nozzle of a recording head of the printer through a duct.
Claims37
A waste liquid collection apparatus for use in a state arranged outside a plurality of liquid ejection mechanisms, each constructed to independently eject liquid onto different media each including an ejection head with a nozzle that ejects liquid from the nozzle and a suction pump with a discharge side that draws in liquid from the nozzle of the ejection head, the waste liquid collection apparatus comprising:
- a waste liquid tank including a plurality of connection ports, each connectable to the discharge side of the suction pump included in a corresponding one of the liquid ejection mechanisms.
A system comprising:
- a plurality of liquid ejection mechanisms each constructed to independently eject liquid onto different media, each including an ejection head with a nozzle that ejects liquid from the nozzle and a suction pump with a discharge side that draws in liquid from the nozzle of the ejection head when the ejection head is not ejecting liquid;
- and
- a waste liquid tank including a plurality of connection ports each connectable to the discharge side of the suction pump included in a corresponding one of the liquid ejection mechanisms.
A transfer device for use with a liquid ejection mechanism including an ejection head with a nozzle that ejects liquid from the nozzle and a suction pump with a discharge side that draws in liquid from the nozzle of the ejection head, the transfer device comprising a waste liquid transfer passage having an upstream end and a downstream end, wherein the upstream end of the waste liquid transfer passage includes a pump side connection port connected to the discharge side of the suction pump, and the downstream end of the waste liquid transfer passage includes a discharge port for discharging the liquid drawn in by the suction pump, wherein the discharge port detachably connects a duct extending from a waste liquid tank for collecting the liquid drawn in by the suction pump, wherein the duct is provided with a valve seat, a valve member arranged to face the valve seat so that the valve member can be in contact with or spaced from the valve seat, and a spring for urging the valve member toward the valve seat, wherein the discharge port of the transfer device is provided with a dog, wherein when the duct is connected to the discharge port of the transfer device, the valve member is pressed by the dog and spaced from the valve seat, so that the duct is in an open state, and wherein when the duct is disconnected from the discharge port of the transfer device, the urging force of the spring causes the valve member to contact the valve seat, so that the duct is in a closed state.
A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:
- an ejection head with a nozzle that ejects liquid from the nozzle;
- and
- a suction pump with a discharge side that draws in liquid from the nozzle of the ejection head;
- and
- a transfer device including a waste liquid transfer passage having an upstream end and a downstream end, the upstream end of the waste liquid transfer passage including a pump side connection port connected by a duct to the discharge side of the suction pump, and the downstream end of the waste liquid transfer passage including a discharge port for discharging the liquid drawn in by the suction pump;
- and
- a frame, wherein the transfer device is attachable to and detachable from the frame, and wherein the frame has a recessed attaching portion for attaching the transfer device to the frame, the transfer device being partially exposed when attached to the attaching portion.
A transfer device to be attached to a liquid ejection mechanism including an ejection head with a nozzle that ejects liquid from the nozzle, the transfer device comprising:
- a main body;
- a transfer passage provided in the main body, the transfer passage having an upstream end and a downstream end, wherein the upstream end of the transfer passage includes a tank side connection port connected to a duct extending from a tank containing liquid, and the downstream end of the transfer passage includes a head side connection port connected to a duct extending from the ejection head for ejecting liquid supplied from the tank;
- and
- a storage unit for storing data on an attribute of the transfer device, wherein the storage unit is arranged on the main body,
- wherein when the transfer device is attached to the liquid ejection mechanism, the data stored in the storage unit is read by a reading portion of the liquid ejection mechanism.
A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:
- an ejection head for ejecting liquid onto a target;
- an apparatus frame including an attaching portion;
- and
- a transfer device including a transfer passage having an upstream end and a downstream end, the upstream end of the transfer passage including a tank side connection port connected to a duct extending from a tank containing liquid, and the downstream end of the transfer passage including a head side connection port connected to a duct extending from the ejection head for ejecting liquid supplied from the tank, wherein the transfer device is attached to the attaching portion.
- wherein the attaching portion is recessed, and the transfer device is at least partially exposed when attached to the attaching portion.
A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:
- an ejection head for ejecting liquid onto a target;
- an apparatus frame including an attaching portion;
- a transfer device including a transfer passage having an upstream end and a downstream end, the upstream end of the transfer passage including a tank side connection port connected to a duct extending from a tank containing liquid, and the downstream end of the transfer passage including a head side connection port connected to a duct extending from the ejection head for ejecting liquid supplied from the tank, wherein the transfer device is attached to the attaching portion;
- and
- a valve mechanism, arranged in a connection between the duct and the transfer device, for opening the head side connection port when the duct is connected to the transfer device and closing the head side connection port when the duct is disconnected from the transfer device,
- wherein the transfer device is attachable to and detachable from the attaching portion, and the duct is connected to the head side connection port of the transfer device when the transfer device is attached to the attaching portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.