JP2005343151A - Liquid ejecting apparatus and platen - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of reliably containing ejected liquid even when liquid is ejected continuously from a liquid ejecting head by flushing.
A liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein a liquid ejecting head ejects liquid onto the recording material while reciprocating on the recording material, and a liquid ejected by flushing from the liquid ejecting head as waste liquid. A first waste liquid storage section to be stored, and the first waste liquid storage section along the direction of reciprocation of the liquid ejecting head, and stores the liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head by flushing as waste liquid. And a second waste liquid container.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus and a platen. In particular, the present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus and a platen that eject liquid onto a recording material.

  As an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a recording material, an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording head onto the recording material is known. In the case where desired ink is ejected from the recording head onto the recording material, it is preferable that the meniscus of the ejection port of the recording head is in order. In order to adjust the meniscus of the discharge port of the recording head, flushing is performed prior to recording on the recording material. Flushing is an operation in which the recording head is forcibly driven separately from when recording on the recording material, and ink is ejected from the ejection port of the recording head.

There is an ink jet recording apparatus in which a through hole is provided in a platen disposed to face a recording head so as to accommodate ink ejected by the flushing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The platen of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in Patent Document 1 is provided with a through hole on each side of a region (recording region) for supporting a recording object. When this ink jet recording apparatus performs flushing, the recording head moves to a position facing either one of the two through holes in consideration of the position of the recording head and the direction of movement, and either of the through holes Ink is discharged toward
JP 2000-168105 A (paragraph “0040”)

  In the ink jet recording apparatus, when a long time has passed from the previous ejection of the recording head to the current ejection, the ink solvent near the ejection port of the recording head evaporates and the viscosity becomes high. . Therefore, there may be a case where sufficient ink is not ejected in order to make a meniscus in one flushing. In this case, it is preferable that a large amount of ink is ejected from the recording head by performing flushing a plurality of times in succession.

  However, in the flushing of the ink jet recording apparatus, since ink is ejected only to one of the two through holes of the platen, when a large amount of ink is ejected continuously, The ink drifts as a mist. For this reason, there has been a problem that mist-like ink adheres to the recording material.

  In order to solve such a problem, a liquid ejecting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto the recording material while reciprocating on the recording material, and the recording target A platen that supports an object from below, and a liquid that is disposed outside one of the areas of the platen that supports the recording object in the reciprocating direction of the liquid ejecting head, and is ejected from the liquid ejecting head by flushing Are disposed in parallel with the first waste liquid container in the reciprocating direction of the liquid ejecting head on the one outer side of the platen, and are flushed from the liquid ejecting head. And a second waste liquid storage unit that stores the liquid discharged as waste liquid. For this reason, even when a large amount of liquid is continuously discharged from the liquid jet head by flushing, the two waste liquid storage portions are arranged side by side on the outside, so that the discharged liquid is securely stored. However, continuous flushing can be performed quickly.

  The second waste liquid storage part is different from the first waste liquid storage part in that it stores liquid. For this reason, according to a use, a liquid can be accommodated in either a 1st waste liquid accommodating part or a 2nd waste liquid accommodating part.

  The liquid ejecting head ejects a plurality of types of liquid onto the recording material, and ejects different types of liquid to the first waste liquid storage unit and the second waste liquid storage unit, respectively, in flushing. . The second waste liquid storage section is partitioned from the first waste liquid storage section. For this reason, it can prevent that the waste liquid hold | maintained at the 1st waste liquid storage part and the waste liquid hold | maintained at the 2nd waste liquid absorption member raise | generate a chemical reaction.

  Further, the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present embodiment is arranged below the platen, communicates with the first waste liquid storage unit, and holds the waste liquid stored in the first waste liquid storage unit inside. The absorbing member and the first waste liquid absorbing member are separate from each other, arranged below the platen, communicated with the second waste liquid storage unit, and stored in the second waste liquid storage unit And a second waste liquid absorbing member for holding the waste liquid therein. Thereby, a large amount of waste liquid can be held more reliably.

  The second waste liquid absorbing member is different from the first waste liquid absorbing member in the property of holding the waste liquid. For this reason, according to a use, a liquid can be accommodated in either a 1st waste liquid absorption member or a 2nd waste liquid absorption member.

  The second waste liquid absorbing member is disposed so as to be partitioned from the first waste liquid absorbing member. For this reason, it can prevent that the waste liquid hold | maintained at the 1st waste liquid absorption member and the waste liquid hold | maintained at the 2nd waste liquid absorption member raise | generate a chemical reaction.

  A liquid ejecting apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects a plurality of types of liquid onto the recording material while reciprocating on the recording material, and a reciprocating direction of the liquid ejecting head. A plurality of waste liquid containers that are arranged in the same number as the types of liquids separated from each other along the line and each store one type of liquid out of the plurality of types of liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head as a waste liquid. A part. For this reason, it can prevent that a some liquid mixes in a waste-liquid accommodating part, and raise | generates a chemical reaction.

  A platen according to a third aspect of the present invention is a platen disposed at a position facing a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto a recording material, the platen main body supporting the recording material, and the platen main body. A first waste liquid storage unit that is disposed outside one of the regions that support the recording material in the reciprocating direction of the liquid jet head and that stores the liquid discharged from the liquid jet head by flushing as a waste liquid. And the liquid waste ejected by the flushing from the liquid ejecting head is accommodated as waste liquid in parallel with the first waste liquid accommodating portion in the reciprocating direction of the liquid ejecting head on the one outer side of the platen main body. A second waste liquid container. Thereby, the effect similar to the 1st form can be acquired.

  A platen according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a platen disposed at a position facing a liquid ejecting head that ejects a plurality of types of liquid onto a recording material, and a platen body that supports the recording material; The liquid ejecting head is separated from each other along the reciprocating direction of the liquid ejecting head, and is arranged in the same number as the kind of the liquid, each of which is one kind of the plurality of kinds of liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head by flushing. And a plurality of waste liquid storage portions for storing the liquid as waste liquid. Thereby, the effect similar to a 2nd form can be acquired.

  The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be the invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the claimed invention, and all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are not included in the invention. It is not always essential for development means.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus 10 which is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the ink jet recording apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 cut along a vertical plane along the direction in which the carriage 42 reciprocates. An object of the present embodiment is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus 10 that can reliably store ejected ink even when a large amount of ink is continuously ejected from the recording head 43 by flushing. To do.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ink jet recording apparatus 10 includes an apparatus main body 16 that covers the lower surface of the ink jet recording apparatus 10, and a main frame 14 that is supported by the apparatus main body 16 and rises vertically from the apparatus main body 16. And a tray 12 supported by the apparatus main body 16 on the upstream side of the main frame 14 with respect to the conveyance direction of the recording material 11. The ink jet recording apparatus 10 further includes a control unit 80, a motor 48, a timing belt 44, a guide plate 46, a carriage 42, a platen 100, a transport unit 30, a discharge unit 50, and a step motor 60. The belt 62 and the waste liquid tank 200 are provided. The control unit 80 is supported by the apparatus main body 16 and controls the ink jet recording apparatus 10. The motor 48 is controlled by the control unit 80 and generates a rotational driving force. The timing belt 44 is wound around a motor 48 and is driven to rotate by the motor 48. The guide plate 46 is provided on the main frame 14. The carriage 42 is supported by the guide plate 46 and connected to the timing belt 44. The carriage 42 further holds the recording head 43 below the carriage 42. The platen 100 is disposed below the carriage 42. The transport unit 30 transports the recording material 11 between the carriage 42 and the platen 100. The discharge unit 50 discharges the recording material 11 conveyed on the platen 100 from the ink jet recording apparatus 10. The step motor 60 is controlled by the control unit 80 and generates a rotational driving force. The belt 62 is wound around the step motor 60, the conveyance unit 30, and the discharge unit 50, and transmits the rotational driving force of the step motor 60 to the conveyance unit 30 and the discharge unit 50.

  The carriage 42 detachably accommodates the ink cartridge 49. The ink cartridge 49 stores ink therein and supplies the ink to the recording head 43. The ink cartridge 49 individually stores a plurality of types of ink in order to perform color recording on the recording material 11. For example, FIG. 1 shows four ink cartridges 49 for containing four types of ink, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan and black inks. However, the type of ink is not limited to this. In recent years, the types of ink tend to increase with the demand for color reproducibility. Other examples of the types of ink accommodated in the ink cartridge 49 include eight types of yellow, magenta, cyan, matte black, glossy black, red, violet, and gloss (transparent). The recording head 43 is provided with a plurality of discharge ports (not shown), and each of the plurality of types of ink is discharged from one of the discharge ports.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the platen 100 has a platen main body 110 that extends along the direction of reciprocal movement of the recording head 43. The platen main body 110 supports the recording material 11 conveyed below the recording head 43 from below. An absorbent material 112 is accommodated in a region of the platen main body 110 that supports the recording material 11. An example of the absorbent material 112 is a porous material. Further, the platen 100 includes a first waste liquid storage unit 120 and a second waste liquid storage unit 140 outside the region of the platen main body 110 that supports the recording material 11. The first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a recording object 11 is placed on a tray 12 in an overlapping manner. The transport unit 30 receives the driving force of the step motor 60 driven based on the control from the control unit 80 via the belt 62, thereby separating the uppermost recording material 11 placed on the tray 12. Then, the separated recording material 11 is conveyed below the recording head 43 and above the platen 100. In this case, the platen 100 guides the recording material 11 below the recording head 43 and supports the recording material 11 from below. When the recording object 11 is conveyed onto the platen 100, the motor 48 rotates the timing belt 44 so that the carriage 42 connected to the timing belt 44 reciprocates on the recording object 11. As the carriage 42 reciprocates, the recording head 43 disposed below the carriage 42 ejects ink toward the recording material 11, so that the ink ejected from the recording head 43 arrives on the recording material 11. Thus, recording is performed on the recording object 11. Thereafter, the transport unit 30 further transports the recording material 11, and the recording head 43 repeats two operations in which the recording head 43 ejects ink onto the transported recording material 11, whereby the ink jet recording apparatus 10 performs the recording material 11. Make a recording on the whole above. Thereafter, the discharge unit 50 receives the driving force of the step motor 60 driven based on the control from the control unit 80 via the belt 62, thereby discharging the recording material 11 to the front of the ink jet recording apparatus 10. To do.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 10 further includes a cap 70 disposed at one end in the reciprocating direction of the recording head 43, a tube 72 connecting the cap 70 and the waste liquid tank 200, and a suction pump in which the tube 72 is routed. 90. The cap 70 covers the lower surface of the recording head 43 when the recording head 43 comes above the cap 70. Thereby, when the recording head 43 is not used for a long period of time, the discharge port of the recording head 43 is prevented from being dried and clogged. The cap 70 is connected to the suction pump 90 by a tube (not shown). Thus, when the suction pump 90 is driven to suck with the cap 70 covering the lower surface of the recording head 43, ink is forcibly discharged from the discharge port of the recording head 43, and the recording head 43 is cleaned. . The suction pump 90 further discharges the ink forcedly discharged from the recording head 43 to the cap 70 to the waste liquid tank 200 through the tube 72.

  Of the ink ejected while the recording head 43 reciprocates, the ink that has not arrived on the recording material 11 lands on the platen 100. For example, when performing so-called borderless printing in which recording is performed up to the front, rear, left, and right edges of the recording object 11, the recording head 43 ejects ink to the outside of the recording object 11 on the platen 100. The ink that has not arrived at 11 is discarded on the absorbent material 112 of the platen 100. The absorbent 112 receives the discarded ink and then discharges it to a waste liquid tank 200 disposed below the platen 100.

  FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the platen 100, and FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the vicinity of the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140 in the platen 100 as viewed from the back. As described above, the platen 100 includes the first waste liquid storage unit 120 disposed on the outer side of the area (recording area) for supporting the recording material 11 in the platen main body 110 and the reciprocating movement of the recording head 43. A second waste liquid storage part 140 arranged in parallel with the first waste liquid storage part 120 is provided outside the one side where the first waste liquid storage part 120 is arranged along the direction. In the platen 100 shown in FIG. 3, the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140 are arranged on the left side of the recording region R and are partitioned by a partition 130.

  The first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140 store the ink discharged from the recording head 43 by flushing as waste liquid. The first waste liquid storage section 120 and the second waste liquid storage section 140 are open at the upper surface facing the recording head 43, and as shown in FIG. 2, the first platen absorbent 122 and the second platen absorption are respectively formed therein. A material 142 is accommodated. In the platen 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the upper surfaces of the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140 each have an area that is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the lower surface of the recording head 43 on which the discharge ports are arranged. As a result, when ink is ejected from all ejection ports of the recording head 43, the ink is collected in either the first waste liquid storage unit 120 or the second waste liquid storage unit 140 at a position facing the recording head 43. Can be accommodated.

  An example of the first platen absorbent 122 and the second platen absorbent 142 is a porous material. The first platen absorbent 122 and the second platen absorbent 142 receive the ink ejected toward the first waste liquid storage part 120 and the second waste liquid storage part 140 on the upper surface, and once inside by a fine porous capillary force. ,Hold. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the ink ejected toward the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140 from drifting in a mist state in the recording area. Since the first platen absorbent 122 and the second platen absorbent 142 are assembled on one platen 100 and the platen 100 is attached to the apparatus main body 16, the first platen absorbent 122 and the second platen absorbent 142 are It can be easily assembled to the main frame 14.

  On the bottom surfaces of the first platen absorbent 122 of the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second platen absorbent 142 of the second waste liquid storage unit 140, feet 124 and feet 144 extending downward from the platen 100 are provided. . An example of the foot 124 and the foot 144 is a material having a stronger capillary force than the first platen absorbent 122 and the second platen absorbent 142, for example, a felt-like pulp material. As a result, the ink once stored in the first platen absorbent 122 of the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second platen absorbent 142 of the second waste liquid storage unit 140 is added to the weight of the ink, and downward by capillary force. Can be pulled.

  Here, in order to adjust the meniscus of the discharge port provided in the recording head 43, the flushing forcibly drives the recording head 43 by the control unit 80 separately from the case where recording is performed on the recording material 11, and the recording. In this operation, ink is ejected from the ejection ports of the head 43. Flushing is performed before the recording is performed on the recording material 11 after the power is turned on, and when the ink is ejected by the recording head 43 last time and a certain period of time elapses before the ink is ejected this time. Done. In particular, when a long time has passed from the previous ejection to the current ejection at the ejection port of the recording head 43, the ink solvent near the ejection port of the recording head 43 evaporates and the viscosity becomes higher. . Therefore, there may be a case where sufficient ink is not ejected in order to make a meniscus in one flushing. In this case, it is preferable to flush a plurality of times continuously to eject a large amount of ink from the ejection port of the recording head 43. In particular, when the number of ink types is large (for example, the above eight types), the total amount of ink ejected from the recording head 43 by one flushing is larger than when the number of ink types is small (for example, the above four types). Large amount.

  Since the platen 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has two of the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140, it is a case where ink is continuously ejected from the recording head 43 by flushing. However, the ejected ink can be reliably stored. For example, in the first flushing, the recording head 43 moves onto the first waste liquid storage unit 120, and then ejects ink toward the first waste liquid storage unit 120. In the second flushing, the recording head 43 moves to the second waste liquid storage unit 120. After moving to the waste liquid storage unit 140, the ink is discharged toward the second waste liquid storage unit 140. Thus, the second waste liquid storage unit 140 does not store ink in the first flushing, and therefore can sufficiently store the ink in the second flushing.

  When the flushing is further continued, an odd number of flushings are performed on the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and an even number of flushings are performed on the 140. In this case, the first platen absorbent 122 of the first waste liquid container 120 (or the second platen absorbent 142 of the second waste liquid container 140) once holds the ink, and the held ink is the foot 124 (foot 144). Flushing is performed on the second waste liquid storage part 140 (first waste liquid storage part 120) while being pulled by the waste liquid tank 200 via the. Therefore, after the flushing to the second waste liquid storage unit 140 (first waste liquid storage unit 120), the first waste liquid storage unit 120 is again used until the flushing is performed to the first waste liquid storage unit 120 (second waste liquid storage unit 140). The first platen absorbent 122 (second platen absorbent 142 of the second waste liquid container 140) has recovered its ability to store ink. Therefore, when the flushing is continuously performed a plurality of times, the ink discharged from the recording head 43 can be reliably stored by the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140.

  The operation of storing the ink from the recording head 43 by the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140 is not limited to the above form. As another form, the recording head 43 may categorize the types of ink for the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140. For example, some inks cause a chemical reaction when they are mixed with each other and harden. When the ink is hardened on the first platen absorbent 122 or the second platen absorbent 142, there is a problem that the ink cannot be accommodated any more in that portion. In this case, the type of ink that hardens when mixed with each other is divided by the recording head 43 into the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140 in the flushing. For example, in the case of using the above-described eight types of ink, in the flushing, the recording head 43 moves onto the first waste liquid storage unit 120, and the first waste liquid storage unit is discharged from the yellow, magenta, cyan, and matte black discharge ports. Then, the ink is ejected to 120, then moved onto the second waste liquid storage unit 140, and the ink is ejected from the glossy black, red, violet, and glossy discharge ports to the second waste liquid storage unit 140. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the ink discharged from the recording head 43 by the flushing from being mixed and solidified in the first waste liquid storage unit 120 or the second waste liquid storage unit 140. In particular, in the platen 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140 are partitioned by the partition 130, so the ink stored in the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140 are separated from each other. 2 It is possible to more reliably prevent the ink stored in the waste liquid storage unit 140 from being mixed.

  In the above flushing, when two of the first waste liquid container 120 and the second waste liquid container 140 are used, the first waste liquid container 120 and the second waste liquid container 140 are arranged on the same side with respect to the recording region R. Therefore, the amount of movement of the recording head 43 between the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140 is smaller than when these are arranged on both sides of the recording region R. Therefore, even in the flushing using the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140, it is possible to suppress an increase in the time required for the flushing. Therefore, continuous flushing can be performed quickly.

  FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the waste liquid tank 200. The waste liquid tank 200 includes a cap waste liquid absorbing member 210, a first waste liquid absorbing member 220, and a second waste liquid absorbing member 240. The first waste liquid absorption member 220 is disposed below the first waste liquid storage part 120, and the second waste liquid absorption member 240 is disposed below the second waste liquid storage part 140. Further, when the foot 124 of the first waste liquid storage unit 120 contacts the upper surface of the first waste liquid absorption member 220, the first platen absorbent 122 and the first waste liquid absorption member 220 of the first waste liquid storage unit 120 communicate with each other. To do. Similarly, the foot 144 of the second waste liquid storage unit 140 comes into contact with the upper surface of the second waste liquid absorption member 240, so that the second platen absorbent material 142 and the second waste liquid absorption member 240 of the second waste liquid storage unit 140 are connected. Communicate.

  The first waste liquid absorbing member 220 and the second waste liquid absorbing member 240 are formed of a material that is substantially the same as or stronger than the capillary force of the foot 124 and the foot 144. An example of the first waste liquid absorbing member 220 and the second waste liquid absorbing member 240 is a felt pulp material. The first waste liquid absorbing member 220 and the second waste liquid absorbing member 240 pass the ink once stored in the first platen absorbent material 122 and the second platen absorbent material 142 through the feet 124 and feet 144 to the weight of the ink. In addition, pull and hold inside. The cap waste liquid absorbing member 210 is similarly made of felted pulp material.

  Here, the cap waste liquid absorbing member 210 and the first waste liquid absorbing member 220 are separate bodies and are partitioned by a partition 212. Similarly, the first waste liquid absorbing member 220 and the second waste liquid absorbing member 240 are separate bodies and are partitioned by a partition 230. Accordingly, when different types of ink are stored in the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140, different types of ink are also used in the first waste liquid absorption member 220 and the second waste liquid absorption member 240, respectively. Can be prevented from being mixed with each other. Therefore, when the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140 separately store the types of ink that cause a chemical reaction and solidify when they are mixed with each other, the first waste liquid absorption member 220 and the second waste liquid are stored. The ink held by the absorbing member 240 can also be prevented from mixing these inks and causing a chemical reaction.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the flushing is continuously performed a plurality of times, the ink discharged from the recording head 43 can be reliably stored by the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140. it can. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the time required for continuous flushing. In addition, the first waste liquid storage unit 120 and the second waste liquid storage unit 140 separately store the types of ink that cause a chemical reaction and solidify when mixed with each other, so that the first waste liquid storage unit 120 or the second waste liquid is stored. It is possible to prevent the ink from being hardened on the storage unit 140 and the ink storage capability from being lowered.

  In the above embodiment, the first platen absorbent 122 of the first waste liquid container 120 and the second platen absorbent 142 of the second waste liquid container 140 are made of the same porous material and absorb ink. The characteristics are the same. However, these are not limited to the same material. For example, the first platen absorbent material 122 of the first waste liquid container 120 may be a porous material, and the second platen absorbent material 142 of the second waste liquid container 140 may be a pulp material, or vice versa. Accordingly, the ink is stored in either the first platen absorbent 122 of the first waste liquid container 120 or the second platen absorbent 142 of the second waste liquid container 140 depending on the application, for example, the type of ink to be stored. be able to. In this case, the recording head 43 discharges the kind of ink having a weak surface tension to the first containing part 120 containing the porous material, and the kind of ink having the strong surface tension is used as the second waste liquid containing the pulp material. A plurality of types of inks may be separated by discharging to the storage unit 140.

  Similarly, in the above embodiment, the first waste liquid absorbing member 220 and the second waste liquid absorbing member 240 of the waste liquid tank 200 also use the same pulp material and have the same characteristics of absorbing ink. Not limited. The first waste liquid absorbing member 220 of the waste liquid tank 200 may be a porous material, and the second waste liquid absorbing member 240 may be a pulp material, or vice versa. Accordingly, the ink can be absorbed by either the first waste liquid absorbing member 220 or the second waste liquid absorbing member 240 of the waste liquid tank 200 depending on the application, for example, the type of ink to be absorbed.

  In the above embodiment, the platen 100 is provided with the two first waste liquid storage portions 120 and the second waste liquid storage portion 140. In the flushing, each of the first waste liquid storage portion 120 and the second waste liquid storage portion 140 is provided. The case where all kinds of inks are ejected and the case where inks that tend to cause mixed chemical reactions are separated from each other have been described. However, the method of discarding ink by the number of waste liquid absorbing portions and flushing is not limited thereto.

  As another example, the same number of waste liquid absorbing portions as the type of ink are partitioned from each other on the platen 100, and are arranged in parallel in the direction of reciprocation of the recording head 43. Only one kind of ink may be ejected. In this case, since none of the ink ejected by the flushing is mixed with other types of ink, it is possible to more reliably prevent a plurality of liquids from being mixed and chemically reacting in the waste liquid storage unit. .

  The ink jet recording apparatus 10 in the above embodiment is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus that performs recording by ejecting liquid onto the recording object 11. The recording head 43 of the ink jet recording apparatus 10 is an example of a liquid ejecting head of the liquid ejecting apparatus. The ejection port provided in the recording head 43 is an example of an ejection port of the liquid ejection head.

  However, the present invention is not limited to these. Another example of the liquid ejecting apparatus is a color filter manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a color filter for a liquid crystal display. In this case, the color material ejecting head of the color filter manufacturing apparatus is an example of the liquid ejecting head. Still another example of the liquid ejecting apparatus is an electrode forming apparatus that forms electrodes such as an organic EL display and an FED (surface emitting display). In this case, the electrode material (conductive paste) ejecting head of the electrode forming apparatus is an example of the liquid ejecting head. Still another example of the liquid ejecting apparatus is a biochip manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a biochip. In this case, the bio-organic substance ejecting head of the biochip manufacturing apparatus and the sample ejecting head as a precision pipette are examples of the liquid ejecting head. The liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes other liquid ejecting apparatuses having industrial use. The recording object is an object on which recording is performed by ejecting a liquid. For example, a recording paper, a circuit board on which a circuit pattern such as a display electrode is formed, a CD-ROM on which a label is recorded, DNA The preparation on which the circuit is recorded is included.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ink jet recording apparatus 10. 1 is a top perspective view of a platen 100. FIG. FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the vicinity of a first waste liquid storage unit 120 and a second waste liquid storage unit 140 in the platen 100 as viewed from the back side. 3 is a top perspective view of a waste liquid tank 200. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inkjet recording device, 11 to-be-recorded object, 12 tray, 14 main frame, 16 apparatus main body, 30 conveyance part, 42 carriage, 43 recording head, 44 timing belt, 48 motor, 49 ink cartridge, 50 discharge part, 60 steps Motor, 62 belt, 70 cap, 72 tube, 90 suction pump, 80 control unit, 100 platen, 110 platen main body, 112 absorbent, 114 feet, 120 first waste liquid storage unit, 122 first platen absorbent, 124 feet , 130 partition, 140 second waste liquid storage section, 142 second platen absorbent material, 144 feet, 200 waste liquid tank, 210 cap waste liquid absorption member, 212 partition, 220 first waste liquid absorption member, 230 partition, 240 second waste liquid absorption member

Claims (9)

A liquid ejecting head for ejecting liquid onto the recording material while reciprocating on the recording material;
A platen for supporting the recording object from below;
A first liquid that is disposed outside one of the areas of the platen that supports the recording material in the reciprocating direction of the liquid ejecting head, and that discharges the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head as a waste liquid. A waste liquid container;
A second side that is disposed in parallel with the first waste liquid storage unit in the reciprocating direction of the liquid jet head on the one outer side of the platen, and stores the liquid discharged from the liquid jet head by flushing as waste liquid. A liquid ejecting apparatus including a waste liquid container.   2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second waste liquid storage unit is different from the first waste liquid storage unit in that it stores liquid. The liquid ejecting head ejects a plurality of types of liquid onto the recording material, and ejects different types of liquid to the first waste liquid storage unit and the second waste liquid storage unit in flushing. ,
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second waste liquid storage unit is disposed so as to be partitioned from the first waste liquid storage unit. A first waste liquid absorbing member that is disposed below the platen, communicates with the first waste liquid storage section, and holds the waste liquid stored in the first waste liquid storage section;
Separate from the first waste liquid absorbing member, disposed below the platen, communicated with the second waste liquid storage section, and contains the waste liquid stored in the second waste liquid storage section. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a second waste liquid absorbing member to be held.   5. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second waste liquid absorbing member is different from the first waste liquid absorbing member in characteristics of holding the waste liquid.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second waste liquid absorbing member is partitioned from the first waste liquid absorbing member. A liquid ejecting head that ejects a plurality of types of liquid onto the recording material while reciprocating on the recording material;
The liquid ejecting head is separated from each other along the reciprocating direction of the liquid ejecting head, and is arranged in the same number as the kind of the liquid, each of which is one kind of the plurality of kinds of liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head by flushing. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a plurality of waste liquid storage units that store the liquid as waste liquid. A platen disposed at a position facing a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid onto a recording material,
A platen main body for supporting the recording object;
In the platen body, the liquid ejected by flushing from the liquid ejecting head is disposed as one of the waste liquids disposed outside one of the regions supporting the recording material in the reciprocating direction of the liquid ejecting head. A waste liquid storage section,
A second unit that is disposed side by side with the first waste liquid storage unit in the reciprocating direction of the liquid jet head on the one outer side of the platen main body, and stores the liquid discharged from the liquid jet head by flushing as waste liquid. A platen provided with a waste liquid container. A platen disposed at a position facing a liquid ejecting head that ejects a plurality of types of liquid onto a recording material,
A platen main body for supporting the recording object;
The liquid ejecting head is separated from each other along the reciprocating direction of the liquid ejecting head, and is arranged in the same number as the kind of the liquid, each of which is one kind of the plurality of kinds of liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head by flushing. A platen comprising: a plurality of waste liquid storage portions that store the liquid as waste liquid.

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