# US 9,039,136 B2 · Waste ink absorber, waste ink tank, liquid droplet ejection device

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- Number: US 9,039,136 B2
- Document ID: US9039136B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/201,064
- Filed: 2014-03-07
- Published: 2014-09-18
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Hidehiro Takano; Toshiaki Yamagami; Shunichi Seki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039136B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/16532: {by applying vacuum only}
- B41J 2/16523: {Waste ink transport from caps or spittoons, e.g. by suction (Collecting or collectors of waste ink B41J2/1721)}
- B41J 2/16508: {connected with the printer frame}
- B41J 2/1721: {Collecting waste ink; Collectors therefor}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A waste ink absorber for absorbing waste ink discharged from a head for ejecting ink includes layers the same in density and different in flame retardant content ratio, which are stacked.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A waste ink absorber for absorbing waste ink discharged from a head for ejecting ink, comprising:
a plurality of layers each of which includes flame retardant, each of the layers having the same in density, the layers being stacked and having a first layer and a second layer that are stacked on top of each other, the first layer having a content ratio of the flame retardant different from a content ratio of the flame retardant that the second layer has.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The waste ink absorber according to claim 1, wherein
each of the layers further includes fiber,
the first layer has the content ratio of the flame retardant lower than the content ratio of the flame retardant that the second layer has, and
the first layer has a content ratio of the fiber higher than a content ratio of the fiber that the second retardant layer has.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The waste ink absorber according to claim 2, wherein
the fiber is a fiber which functions as a main component of the waste ink absorber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The waste ink absorber according to claim 2, wherein
the fiber is a melting fiber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The waste ink absorber according to claim 1, wherein,
the layers are stacked parallel to one another in a side cross-sectional view of the waste ink absorber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The waste ink absorber according to claim 1, wherein,
the layers are stacked obliquely relative to an outer surface of the waste ink absorber in a side cross-sectional view of the waste ink absorber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A waste ink tank comprising:
the waste ink absorber according to claim 1, and
an accommodation portion configured to accommodate the waste ink absorber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A liquid droplet ejection device comprising:
a head configured to eject ink; and
the waste ink tank according to claim 7, the waste ink tank configured to capture waste ink discharged from the head.