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US 8,740,348 B2Granted
Liquid collection receptacle and liquid ejecting apparatus
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorTakeshi Tanaka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A waste ink tank capable of collecting discharged ink includes: an ink absorption member having a receiving area that receives the discharged ink and causes the ink to be absorbed; a recess that causes a suction force to act within the ink absorption member; and a recess, disposed in a position that is closer to the receiving area than the aforementioned recess, that causes a pressurizing force to act within the ink absorption member.
Claims10
A liquid collection receptacle capable of collecting a discharged liquid, the liquid collection receptacle comprising:
- a liquid absorption member including a receiving area that receives the discharged liquid and causes the liquid to be absorbed;
- a suction action portion, arranged at a location spaced apart from the receiving area and separated from the receiving area by the liquid absorption member, the suction action portion receiving a suction unit that extends into the suction action portion with a clearance between the portion of the suction unit and the liquid absorption member forming the suction action to thereby cause a suction force to act within the liquid absorption member to move the discharge liquid toward the suction action portion;
- and
- a pressurizing action portion, disposed in a position that is closer to the receiving area than the suction action portion, the pressurizing action portion receiving a pressurizing unit that extends into the pressurizing action portion to thereby cause a pressurizing force to act within the liquid absorption member to move the discharge liquid away from the receiving area, the pressurizing action portion being arranged at another location spaced apart from the suction action portion and arranged between a top portion of the liquid absorption member and the receiving area in the vertical direction,
- wherein the suction action portion comprises a first recess that is defined by the liquid absorption member, and
- wherein the pressurizing action portion comprises a second recess that is defined by the liquid absorption member and separated from the receiving area by another portion of the liquid absorption member.
3 more elements
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:
- a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid onto a target;
- a liquid collection receptacle comprising:
- a liquid absorption member including a receiving area that receives the discharged liquid and causes the liquid to be absorbed;
- a suction action portion, arranged at a location spaced apart from the receiving area and separated from the receiving area by the liquid absorption member, the suction action portion being configured to cause a suction force to act within the liquid absorption member to move the discharge liquid toward the suction action portion;
- and
- a pressurizing action portion, disposed in a position that is closer to the receiving area than the suction action portion, the pressurizing action portion being configured to cause a pressurizing force to act within the liquid absorption member to move the discharge liquid away from the receiving area, the pressurizing action portion being arranged at another location spaced apart from the suction action portion and arranged between a top portion of the liquid absorption member and the receiving area in the vertical direction;
- a discharge unit that sucks the liquid from the liquid ejecting head and discharges the liquid to the liquid collection receptacle;
- a suction unit that exerts a suction force on the liquid collection receptacle, a portion of the suction unit extending into the suction action portion with a clearance between the portion of the suction unit and the liquid absorption member forming the suction action portion;
- and
- a pressurizing unit that exerts a pressurizing force on the liquid collection receptacle by pushing an air, a portion of the pressurizing unit extending into the pressurizing action portion.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.