FLOW CHANNEL STRUCTURE AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS

• US 20160114592A1
• Filed: 10/26/2015
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Ishii, Hiroyuki, Hanagami, Taiki, Togashi, Isamu, Kinoshita, Ryota
• Granted Patent: US 9,834,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17563 Ink filters
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves

Abstract

A flow channel structure includes a first flow channel chamber to which an ink is supplied, a first sealing body that configures a wall face of the first flow channel chamber, a valve body that controls flow and blocking of the ink in accordance with deformation of the first sealing body, a second flow channel chamber that communicates with the first flow channel chamber, and a second sealing body that configures a wall face of the second flow channel chamber, in which the rigidity of the second sealing body is greater than the rigidity of the first sealing body.

Claims

1. A flow channel structure comprising:

a first flow channel chamber to which a liquid is supplied;

a first sealing body that configures a wall face of the first flow channel chamber;

a valve body that configured to control flow and blocking of the liquid in accordance with deformation of the first sealing body;

a second flow channel chamber that communicates with the first flow channel chamber; and

a second sealing body that configures a wall face of the second flow channel chamber,

wherein the rigidity of the second sealing body is greater than the rigidity of the first sealing body.

2. The flow channel structure according to claim 1,

wherein the second flow channel chamber is positioned on an upstream side of the first flow channel chamber, and

an internal pressure of the second flow channel chamber is higher than that of the first flow channel chamber.

3. The flow channel structure according to claim 2,

wherein the internal pressure of the second flow channel chamber is from 30 kPa to 40 kPa.

4. The flow channel structure according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first filter that faces the second sealing body by being installed in the second flow channel chamber.

5. The flow channel structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

a base body where the first sealing body and the second sealing body are installed.

6. The flow channel structure according to claim 5, further comprising:

a protruding portion that is installed on a surface of the base body,

wherein a protruding engagement portion which engages with the protruding portion is formed in the second sealing body.

7. The flow channel structure according to claim 5,

wherein a sealing body engagement portion of a shape correlating with the first sealing body is formed in the second sealing body, and

the first sealing body engages with the sealing body engagement portion.

8. The flow channel structure according to claim 6,

wherein a protruding engagement portion which engages with the protruding portion is formed in the first sealing body.

9. The flow channel structure according to claim 5,

wherein the second sealing body is fixed to a joining portion which protrudes from the surface of the base body,

the joining portion includes a first portion surrounding the second flow channel chamber in a planar view, and a second portion surrounding a flow channel which communicates with the second flow channel chamber in the planar view, and

the first portion and the second portion have the same portion between the second flow channel chamber and the flow channel.

10. The flow channel structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first filter that faces the second sealing body by being installed in the second flow channel chamber,

wherein the second flow channel chamber is positioned on a downstream side of the first flow channel chamber.

11. The flow channel structure according to claim 10, further comprising:

a base body that includes a first face and a second face which are positioned on opposite sides to each other,

wherein the first sealing body is installed on the first face, and

the second sealing body is installed on the second face.

12. The flow channel structure according to claim 10, further comprising:

a second filter that is arranged on an upstream side of the first flow channel chamber,

wherein the first filter has a fine mesh, and a large area in comparison with the second filter.

13. The flow channel structure according to claim 10,

wherein at least a portion of the first filter, and at least a portion of the first flow channel chamber overlap with each other when viewed from a direction which is perpendicular to the wall face of the first sealing body or the second sealing body.

14. The flow channel structure according to claim 10,

wherein the area of the first filter is 50% or more of the area of the first flow channel chamber.

15. The flow channel structure according to claim 10,

wherein the second sealing body is transparent.

16. The flow channel structure according to claim 3,

wherein the first filter is fixed to an installation portion which protrudes from the surface of the base body,

the second sealing body is fixed to a joining portion which protrudes from the surface of the base body, and

a groove portion for heat radiation is formed between the installation portion and the joining portion in the base body.

17. The flow channel structure according to claim 5,

wherein the base body absorbs a laser beam, and

the second sealing body transmits the laser beam.

18. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:

the flow channel structure according to claim 1; and

a liquid ejecting head that is configured to eject a liquid which is supplied from the flow channel structure.

19. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:

the flow channel structure according to claim 2; and

a liquid ejecting head that is configured to eject a liquid which is supplied from the flow channel structure.

20. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:

a first liquid ejecting unit including the flow channel structure according to claim 1, and a liquid ejecting head that is configured to eject a liquid which is supplied from the flow channel structure; and

a second liquid ejecting unit including the flow channel structure according to claim 1, and a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid which is supplied from the flow channel structure,

wherein the first sealing body of the flow channel structure of the first liquid ejecting unit, and the first sealing body of the flow channel structure of the second liquid ejecting unit face each other.