Liquid absorbent and printer
A liquid absorbent for ink contains a cellulose fiber, a heat-fusible material, and a flame-retardant material. The absorbent satisfies the relation σ 1 −σ 0 ≦500, where σ 0 [μS/cm] is the electric conductivity of the ink and σ 1 [μS/cm] is that of a mixture of 5 g of the ink and 1 g of the flame-retardant material.
1. An ink jet printer comprising:
a print head that prints on a paper using an ink; and
an ink absorbent that absorbs the ink, the ink having an ink conductivity of σ 0 [μS/cm],
wherein the ink absorbent comprises a cellulose fiber, a heat-fusible material, and a flame-retardant material; and
the flame-retardant material satisfies a relation of σ 1 −σ 0 ≦500, where σ 1 [μS/cm] is an electric conductivity of a mixture of 5 g of the ink and 1 g of the flame-retardant material.
2. The ink jet printer according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid absorbent is used to absorb a pigment ink in which pigment particles are dispersed.
3. The ink jet printer according to claim 1 , wherein the flame-retardant material contains one or two or more selected from the group consisting of melamine polyphosphate, ammonium phosphate, aluminum hydroxide, and phosphazenes.
4. The ink jet printer according to claim 1 , wherein the cellulose fiber contains a cellulose fiber recycled from waste paper.
5. The ink jet printer according to claim 1 , wherein the heat-fusible material contains one or two or more selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyolefins, polyamides, and polyurethanes.
6. The ink jet printer according to claim 1 , wherein the flame-retardant material constitutes 5% by mass to 30% by mass, both inclusive, of the liquid absorbent.
7. The ink jet printer according to claim 1 , wherein the cellulose fiber constitutes 30% by mass to 90% by mass, both inclusive, of the liquid absorbent.
8. The ink jet printer according to claim 1 , wherein the heat-fusible material 5% by mass to 40% by mass, both inclusive, of the liquid absorbent.
9. An ink jet printer comprising:
an ink cartridge; and
an ink absorbent positioned within the cartridge for absorbing a waste ink, the waste ink having an ink conductivity of σ 0 [μS/cm],
wherein the ink absorbent comprises a cellulose fiber, a heat-fusible material, and a flame-retardant material; and
the flame-retardant material satisfies a relation of σ 1 −σ 0 ≦500, where σ 1 [μS/cm] is an electric conductivity of a mixture of 5 g of the waste ink and 1 g of the flame-retardant material.