IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,600,140
Granted Patent B2
US 12,600,140 · App. 18/397,114 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Inkjet printer

Inventors: Hironori Watanabe (Hamamatsu, JP); Akihiro Suzuki (Hamamatsu, JP)
Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
B41J2/1721B41J2/14B41J2/16552B41J2/17523B41J29/17B41J2002/16558B41J2/1742B41P2235/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,600,140
App. No.
18/397,114
Granted
Apr 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An inkjet printer includes an ink head including a nozzle surface with nozzles, and an attachment portion to enable attachment or detachment of an ink refill container storing ink to be ejected from the nozzles or a washing liquid refill container storing a washing liquid usable to wash the nozzle surface. The attachment portion includes a housing to accommodate the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container, a connection portion provided inside the housing and connectable with the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container, and a tray provided in the housing and below the connection portion.

Claims (34)

1 . An inkjet printer, comprising:

an ink head including a nozzle surface with nozzles; and

an attachment portion to enable attachment or detachment of an ink refill container storing ink to be ejected from the nozzles or a washing liquid refill container storing a washing liquid usable to wash the nozzle surface; wherein

the attachment portion includes:

a housing to accommodate the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container;

a connection portion provided inside the housing and connectable with the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container; and

a tray provided in the housing and below the connection portion,

the housing includes:

an insertion opening through which the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container are insertable;

a bottom wall; and

a rear wall connected with a rear end of the bottom wall and facing the insertion opening,

the connection portion is provided with the rear wall of the housing, and

the tray is located on the bottom wall of the housing.

2 . The inkjet printer according to claim 1 , wherein the tray includes a support portion projecting upward and supporting a bottom surface of the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container.

3 . The inkjet printer according to claim 2 , wherein

the insertion opening is located at a side surface of the housing; and

the support portion extends in an insertion direction of the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container, and has a length, in a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, that is shorter than a length of the ink refill container or the washing liquid refill container.

4 . The inkjet printer according to claim 1 , wherein

the tray includes a discharge outlet extending through the tray in an up-down direction, the ink or the washing liquid being dropped into the discharge outlet;

the bottom wall includes a through-hole overlapping the discharge outlet as seen in a plan view and extending through the placement surface in an up-down direction; and

the inkjet printer further includes a recovery portion provided below the discharge outlet and the through-hole and capable of recovering the ink or the washing liquid dropped through the discharge outlet.

5 . The inkjet printer according to claim 4 , wherein the discharge outlet has a cylindrical shape extending in the up-down direction, and extends through the through-hole to a position below the housing.

6 . The inkjet printer according to claim 4 , wherein

the tray includes an accommodation portion recessed downward and capable of accommodating the ink or the washing liquid; and

the accommodation portion includes:

a bottom portion located at a lowest position and including the discharge outlet; and

an inclining surface connected with the bottom portion and inclining downward toward the bottom portion.

7 . The inkjet printer according to claim 1 , wherein

the tray includes a projection provided on a side surface thereof and made of a resin; and

the housing includes an engagement portion, engageable with the projection, in an inner side surface thereof.

8 . The inkjet printer according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a wiper to wipe the ink head; and

a washing liquid supply passage including a first end connected with the connection portion and a second end opened toward the wiper; wherein

the attachment portion has the washing liquid refill container attached thereto.

Assignments (2)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 25, 2025
From: ROLAND DG CORPORATION; XYZ CORPORATION
To: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 070314/0375 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2023
From: WATANABE, HIRONORI; SUZUKI, AKIHIRO
To: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065961/0215 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-211578 · Dec 28, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240217240A1 · Jul 4, 2024
References Cited (7)
US 5825380A · Ichizawa · 1998 [cited by examiner]
US 20180207936A1 · Satake et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 108340674A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 0419150A · 1992 [cited by applicant]
JP 2020131447A · 2020 [cited by examiner]
JP 2022040650A · 2022 [cited by applicant]
Official Communication issued in corresponding Chinese Patent Application No. 202311773960.7, mailed on Jan. 29, 2026, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]