Liquid storing container and printing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11833824-B2
Application number	US-202217670032-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2022
Priority date	Feb 17, 2021
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

Provided is a waste liquid storing container capable of reducing imbalance in the absorption of waste liquid in an absorber that absorbs waste liquid. The liquid storing container includes a liquid absorber that absorbs liquid, a casing that houses the liquid absorber, a discharge portion that discharges liquid down in a direction of gravitational force into the casing, and an introduction space into which the liquid from the discharge portion is introduced. The liquid storing container further includes a liquid divider provided inside the introduction space to divide the liquid discharged from the discharge portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid storing container comprising:
a liquid absorber that absorbs liquid;
a casing that houses the liquid absorber;
a discharge portion that discharges liquid down in a direction of gravitational force into the casing;
an introduction space into which the liquid from the discharge portion is introduced; and
a liquid divider provided inside the introduction space, the liquid divider dividing the liquid discharged from the discharge portion toward different locations in the casing,
wherein the liquid divider is provided at a position facing the discharge portion in the direction of gravitational force.

2. The liquid storing container according to claim 1 , wherein
the liquid absorber includes a plurality of different absorbers that are in contact with the introduction space and are separated away from each other, and
the liquid divider divides the liquid discharged from the discharge portion toward each of the plurality of absorbers.

3. The liquid storing container according to claim 2 , wherein
the plurality of absorbers are disposed at different positions in the casing in a longitudinal direction of the casing.

4. The liquid storing container according to claim 3 , wherein
there is no communication of liquid between the plurality of absorbers.

5. The liquid storing container according to claim 2 , wherein
there is no communication of liquid between the plurality of absorbers.

6. The liquid storing container according to claim 1 , wherein
the liquid absorber includes a plurality of different absorbers that are in contact with the introduction space and are separated away from each other, and
the liquid divider divides the liquid discharged from the discharge portion toward each of the plurality of absorbers.

7. The liquid storing container according to claim 1 , wherein
the discharge portion is provided near a center portion of the casing in a longitudinal direction of the casing.

8. The liquid storing container according to claim 1 , wherein
the liquid divided by the liquid divider is retained in a region formed by the liquid divider and the bottom surface of the casing, and
the liquid divider is formed with a height such that with the casing being tilted, the liquid retained in the region is absorbed by the liquid absorber before flowing beyond the liquid divider.

9. The liquid storing container according to claim 1 , wherein
the liquid divider has a cross section in a shape of an inverted letter V and is formed at a position being upwardly spaced from a bottom surface of the casing and facing the discharge portion.

10. The liquid storing container according to claim 1 , wherein
the casing is detachably held by a printing apparatus that performs printing using a printhead that ejects liquid, with the casing attached to the printing apparatus, the discharge portion discharges the liquid discharged from the printing apparatus toward the introduction space.

11. A printing apparatus comprising:
a printhead that performs printing by ejecting liquid;
a discharge unit that discharges the liquid from the print head; and
a liquid storing container, wherein
the liquid storing container includes a liquid absorber that absorbs liquid, a casing that houses the liquid absorber, a discharge portion that discharges liquid down in a direction of gravitational force into the casing, and an introduction space into which the liquid from the discharge portion is introduced, and
a liquid divider is provided inside the introduction space, the liquid divider dividing the liquid discharged from the discharge portion toward different locations in the casing,
wherein the liquid divider is provided at a position facing the discharge portion in the direction of gravitational force.

12. The printing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the liquid absorber includes a plurality of different absorbers that are in contact with the introduction space and are separated away from each other, and
the liquid divider divides the liquid discharged from the discharge portion toward each of the plurality of absorbers.

13. The printing apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the plurality of absorbers are disposed at different positions in the casing in a longitudinal direction of the casing.

14. The printing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the liquid absorber includes a plurality of different absorbers that are in contact with the introduction space and are separated away from each other, and
the liquid divider divides the liquid discharged from the discharge portion toward each of the plurality of absorbers.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Nitobe Satoru
• Sato Noriko
• Horita Shingo

Classifications

• B41J2/16523 Primary

  Waste ink transport from caps or spittoons, e.g. by suction (Collecting or collectors of waste ink B41J2/1721) · CPC title

• B41J2/16508

  connected with the printer frame · CPC title

• B41J2/17509

  Whilst mounted in the printer · CPC title

• B41J2/1721 Primary

  Collecting waste ink; Collectors therefor · CPC title

• B41J2/17503 Primary

  Ink cartridges · CPC title