IP Library Granted Patent US 12,661,897
Granted Patent B2
US 12,661,897 · App. 18/355,456 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Liquid ejecting apparatus

Inventors: Kazutoshi Matsuzaki (Shiojiri, JP); Nobuyuki Nishi (Hara-mura, JP)
Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
B41J2/1721B41J2/16508B41J2/175B41J11/007B41J11/04B41J2/1728
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,661,897
App. No.
18/355,456
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting portion that ejects a liquid onto a medium which is transported and has an ejection surface from which the liquid is ejected and which intersects a horizontal direction; a transport path that is disposed upstream of a position facing the liquid ejecting portion and is positioned vertically below the liquid ejecting portion; and an opening/closing member that is configured to be opened and closed with respect to a side surface of an apparatus body including the liquid ejecting portion, forms the transport path when closed, and at least partially opens the transport path when opened. A liquid collecting portion that collects the liquid leaking from the liquid ejecting portion is provided on the opening/closing member at a position vertically below the ejection surface.

Claims (28)

1 . A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:

a liquid ejecting portion that ejects a liquid onto a medium which is transported and has an ejection surface from which the liquid is ejected and which intersects a horizontal direction;

a cap for maintenance of the liquid ejection portion;

a transport path that is disposed upstream of a position facing the liquid ejecting portion and is positioned vertically below the liquid ejecting portion; and

an opening/closing member that is configured to be opened and closed with respect to a side surface of an apparatus body including the liquid ejecting portion, forms the transport path when closed, and at least partially opens the transport path when opened, wherein

a liquid collecting portion that collects the liquid leaking from the liquid ejecting portion is provided on the opening/closing member at a position vertically below the ejection surface at a printing position,

the liquid collecting portion includes a storage portion that stores the liquid and a guide portion that extends outward from the storage portion,

the guide portion guides the liquid to the storage portion, and

the storage portion includes an absorbing material that absorbs the liquid.

2 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the liquid collecting portion overlaps at least a part of the ejection surface when viewed from above in a state where the opening/closing member is closed.

3 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a medium support portion that supports the medium at the position facing the liquid ejecting portion, wherein

a part of the medium support portion is positioned vertically below the liquid ejecting portion, and

at least a part of the liquid collecting portion overlaps at least a part of the medium support portion when viewed from above in the state where the opening/closing member is closed.

4 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the transport path includes a path portion that is vertically convex downward,

the path portion bends the medium and inverts the medium upward, and

the liquid collecting portion is arranged using an inner region of the path portion.

5 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the liquid collecting portion is positioned vertically lower than a downstream end of the path portion.

6 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid collecting portion includes a cover that covers the storage portion.

7 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the cover has an inclined surface inclined toward the storage portion.

8 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a path forming member that forms the transport path, wherein

the path forming member has a first portion that forms a part of the transport path and a second portion that receives the liquid and guides the liquid to the guide portion,

the second portion has a recess formed at a portion that transfers the liquid to the guide portion, and

the guide portion has a rib fitting into the recess.

9 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the liquid collecting portion serves as a first liquid collecting portion, and

a second liquid collecting portion that collects the liquid leaking from the liquid ejecting portion is provided vertically below the first liquid collecting portion on a lower side of the opening/closing member.

10 . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ejection surface intersects both the horizontal direction and a vertical direction.