# US 8,465,123 B2 · Waste liquid recovery apparatus and liquid ejecting apparatus

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- Number: US 8,465,123 B2
- Document ID: US8465123B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/612,052
- Filed: 2009-11-04
- Published: 2010-05-13
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2008-11-07
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Tsutomu Kobayashi
- Inventors: Tsutomu Kobayashi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465123B2

## Abstract

A waste liquid recovery apparatus includes a container body; a liquid absorbing body which is accommodated in the container body and absorbs liquid discharged as a waste liquid; and a sealing member which seals the container body, wherein a first space into which liquid is discharged from a liquid ejecting head and a second space which links with the outside through a ventilation hole formed in the sealing member are formed in a space closed by the container body and the sealing body, and the first space and the second space are connected with each other at the ventilation hole side.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A waste liquid recovery apparatus, comprising:
a container body having a bottom surface and one or more side walls extending from the bottom surface;
a liquid absorbing body which is accommodated in the container body and absorbs liquid discharged as a waste liquid; and
a sealing member which covers an opening located in a top portion of the container body that is defined by the one or more side walls and is opposite the bottom surface,
wherein a first space into which the liquid is discharged from a liquid ejecting head and a second space which is linked with the outside are at least partially defined by the liquid absorbing body, and
wherein a partition member which extends upward from the bottom of the container body and is located between the first space and the second space in a view of the direction opposed to the bottom surface such that the liquid discharged into the first space diffuses in the direction that goes away from the second space through the liquid absorbing body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The waste liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a discharge hole through which the liquid is discharged into the first space,
wherein the discharge hole is disposed substantially at a central part of the container body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The waste liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second space is linked to the outside through a ventilation hole formed in the sealing member, the first and second spaced being formed in a space closed of the by the container body and the sealing member, wherein a tubular extension member which extends toward the second space side is disposed in the ventilation hole.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The waste liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a groove portion which is linked with the second space is formed in an upper part of the liquid absorbing body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The waste liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first space and the second space are partitioned through the partition member and formed adjacent to each other.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The waste liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the partition member is formed as part of the liquid absorbing body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising:
the waste liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 1.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the waste liquid recovery apparatus is detachably mounted.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partition member extends in a direction that intersects a direction toward the second space from the first space, and wherein the liquid absorbing body is arranged in a space between the partition member and at least one of the side walls.