JP4453364B2 - Valve device and liquid injection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a valve device including a pressure reducing valve for reducing a fluid to a predetermined constant pressure, and a liquid ejecting apparatus.

Conventionally, a pressure reducing valve for reducing a fluid to a predetermined constant pressure is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-227656 A

  By the way, in the conventional pressure reducing valve described in Patent Document 1 and the like, the center of the circular diaphragm and the valve body are coupled by a shaft rod. That is, the valve shaft is arranged at the center of the circular diaphragm. For this reason, since a valve body is pushed in the center of a diaphragm, it can push only with the force according to the area of the diaphragm. Therefore, it is difficult to generate a force larger than the pressure receiving area of the diaphragm, and it is difficult to reduce the size. It is also difficult to make the whole thin.

Moreover, what has the following structures can be considered as a pressure-reduction valve used for an inkjet printer etc., and depressurizing the ink in a pressure chamber to a predetermined pressure.
A film member that forms a pressure chamber by sealing a groove-like channel communicating with the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, and a valve body that opens and closes communication between the liquid inlet and the groove-like channel are provided. In the groove-like flow path, one end side is supported, and when the pressure in the pressure chamber becomes lower than a predetermined pressure, the valve body is operated with the operating force that doubles the pressing force when the film member is elastically deformed inward of the pressure chamber. And an operating lever for displacing the valve to the valve opening position side.

  In such a pressure reducing valve, there is a possibility that bubbles may accumulate on one end side of the operating lever in the groove-shaped flow path. If there are bubbles in the pressure chamber, the pressure in the pressure chamber cannot be maintained at a predetermined pressure due to shrinkage or expansion due to temperature. When the volume of the bubbles increases, in the worst case, the pressure chamber becomes pressurized, and as a result, ink leaks from the head. Therefore, in such a pressure reducing valve, it is necessary to discharge bubbles in the pressure chamber.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a valve device and a liquid ejecting apparatus which can be reduced in size and thickness and have improved bubble discharge performance.

In the valve device according to the present invention, the valve device includes a pressure reducing valve for reducing the liquid in the pressure chamber, which communicates with the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, respectively, and stores the liquid to a predetermined pressure, from the one end side communicating with the liquid inlet. A flow path forming member having a groove-shaped flow path extending along one direction toward the other end communicating with the liquid outlet , a valve opening position for bringing the liquid inlet and the groove-shaped flow path into communication, and the liquid inlet And a valve body that is displaceable between the groove-shaped flow path and a valve-closing position that brings the groove-shaped channel out of communication, a pressure adjusting spring that biases the valve body toward the valve-closing position, and along the one direction And an operating lever that presses the valve body toward the valve opening position against the urging force of the spring, and seals the upper opening of the groove-shaped channel to form the pressure chamber, and When the pressure in the pressure chamber becomes lower than a predetermined pressure, the inside of the pressure chamber Elastically by deforming it, and a film member which presses the center of gravity near the actuating lever downwardly, said actuating lever is supported on the flow path forming member one end be in the groove-like passage is Rutotomoni, wherein a cantilever which the other end by the pressing of the film member is tilted downward, and constitute a pressing portion portions other than the end to press the valve body, the pressing portion, the It is formed in a U-shaped cross-section that opens an internal space on the bottom surface side and the one end side of the groove-shaped flow path, and the valve body is located on the operation lever at a position closer to the one end side than the center of gravity of the operation lever. arranged to be pressed, said operating lever presses the front Kibentai to the open position side in actuation force and boosting the pressure of the film member along with the tilting of the groove-like passage The bottom is opened and closed by the valve body, the valve body is An inlet side opening for allowing liquid to flow into the pressure chamber from the liquid inlet side through the internal space of the pressing portion when the valve is in the open position, and for allowing the liquid to flow out from the pressure chamber to the liquid outlet side. and the outlet side opening of, are a convex shield which projects is formed toward the inner space of the pressing portion from a position between said inlet-side opening said outlet opening, said actuating The liquid supplied into the pressure chamber from the inlet side opening when the lever is tilted is directed toward the one end side of the operating lever by the shield when the flow passes through the internal space of the pressing portion , and the pressing portion After passing through the one end side opened , the gist is directed to the outlet side opening through the external space of the pressing part .

  According to this, in the pressure reducing valve, when the pressure in the pressure chamber becomes lower than a predetermined pressure, the operating lever is operated by the operating lever that doubles the pressing force when the film member is elastically deformed inward of the pressure chamber. The valve is opened by being displaced, and the liquid is supplied from the liquid inlet side into the pressure chamber. When the pressure in the pressure chamber reaches a predetermined pressure as the liquid increases in the pressure chamber, the film member returns to the form before elastic deformation and the pressing force disappears. Therefore, the pressure reducing valve is moved from the liquid inlet side to the pressure chamber. The valve returns to the closed state where the supply of liquid is blocked.

  Thus, when the pressure in the pressure chamber becomes lower than the predetermined pressure, the pressure reducing valve is opened by an operating force obtained by multiplying the pressing force of the film member, and is closed when the pressure in the pressure chamber reaches the predetermined pressure. By returning, the liquid in the pressure chamber is reduced to a predetermined pressure. For this reason, a force larger than the pressure receiving area of the film member, that is, an operating force obtained by multiplying the pressing force is obtained, and the pressure reducing valve can be opened by overcoming the “seal load” with the force. As a result, the pressure receiving area of the film member is small, and the size can be reduced. Moreover, since the part which seals the groove-shaped flow path of a film member is a pressure receiving part, and it is thin plate shape except the valve body and the spring which urges | biases this, the whole thickness reduction is attained. The “seal load” here refers to a force that presses the seal member against the seat surface to hold the pressure reducing valve in the closed state.

Furthermore, since part or all of the liquid supplied from the liquid inlet side to the pressure chamber is guided to one end side of the operating lever by the shield in the pressure chamber, the liquid guided to the one end side Bubbles accumulated on one end side of the operating lever can be discharged to the liquid outlet side. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size and the overall thickness, and to improve the bubble discharge performance.

  Further, the shield disposed between the inlet-side opening and the outlet-side opening on the bottom surface of the groove-like channel flows into the pressure chamber from the inlet-side opening and is bent into a U-shape. Liquid passing through the pressing portion of the operating lever is blocked and directed toward one end of the operating lever. For this reason, in the pressure chamber (in the groove-shaped flow path), the liquid guided to one end side of the operating lever can discharge the air bubbles accumulated on one end side of the operating lever to the liquid outlet side, improving the bubble discharging performance. can do.

  In this valve device, the valve body includes a valve shaft and a seal member, the flow path forming member includes an inlet-side flow path having the liquid inlet, the valve body and the communication port connected to the inlet-side flow path. A liquid supply chamber that houses a pressure adjustment spring, and a substantially circular hole that is a communication portion that communicates the liquid supply chamber and the pressure chamber are formed. The pressure adjustment spring includes the valve body, and the liquid supply The valve body is interposed between the holding member that seals the open end of the chamber, and the valve member is inserted into the substantially circular hole with a gap left between the seal member and the liquid supply chamber. The gist is that the pressure adjusting spring is biased toward the valve closing position pressed by the surface.

  According to this, the valve body is attached by the pressure adjusting spring to the valve closing position side where the seal member is pressed against the seal surface of the liquid supply chamber with the valve shaft inserted through the substantially circular hole leaving a gap. Due to the biased configuration, a shaft support structure that requires parts accuracy is unnecessary, so that assemblability is improved and costs can be reduced.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention, the valve device is provided in the middle of a liquid supply path that guides the liquid from the liquid storing means that temporarily stores the liquid to the liquid ejecting head that ejects the liquid from the nozzle to the target. The pressure reducing valve senses the pressure in the pressure chamber where the liquid decreases as the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head, and switches supply and non-supply of the liquid from the liquid supply path to the pressure chamber. Is the gist.

  Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size and thickness of the liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet printer.

Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of each embodiment, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
[First embodiment]
The valve apparatus 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment is demonstrated based on FIGS. 1-3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the valve device 1 includes a pressure reducing valve 5 that communicates with a liquid inlet 2 and a liquid outlet 3 to reduce the liquid in a pressure chamber 4 that stores liquid such as ink to a predetermined pressure.
The pressure reducing valve 5 has a film member 6 as a pressure receiving member that is elastically deformed inwardly (downward in FIG. 1) of the pressure chamber 4 when the pressure in the pressure chamber 4 becomes lower than a predetermined pressure (when a predetermined negative pressure is reached). And a valve opening state in which liquid is supplied from the liquid inlet 2 side into the pressure chamber 4 by an operating force that is a boost of the pressing force when the film member 6 is elastically deformed inward of the pressure chamber 4. It is configured.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pressure reducing valve 5 includes a flow path forming member 8 having a rectangular groove-shaped flow path 7 communicating with the liquid inlet 2 and the liquid outlet 3, a valve body 9, and a pressure adjusting valve. A film that forms the pressure chamber 4 by sealing the spring 10, the operating lever 11 for pressing the valve element 9 toward the valve opening position against the biasing force of the pressure adjusting spring 10, and the groove 7. And a member 6.

  The film member 6 is made of a material that does not have a scientific influence on the ink properties when ink is used as a liquid, and further has low moisture permeability, oxygen, and nitrogen permeability. That is, the film member 6 is formed of, for example, a film having a structure in which a nylon film coated with vinylidene chloride is bonded and laminated to a high-density polyethylene film or a polypropylene film. Such a film member 6 is heat-sealed to the surface of the flow path forming member 8 so as to seal the opening of the groove-shaped flow path 7. Therefore, the film member 6 constitutes a part of the pressure chamber 4.

  The valve body 9 has a valve opening position where the liquid inlet 2 and the groove-like flow path 7 are in communication with each other, and a valve closing position where the liquid inlet 2 and the groove-like flow path 7 are not in communication (position shown in FIG. 1). The pressure adjustment spring 10 is biased toward the valve closing position.

  When the pressure in the pressure chamber 4 becomes lower than a predetermined pressure, the pressure reducing valve 5 elastically deforms the film member 6 inwardly of the pressure chamber 4, and has an operating force that doubles the pressing force when the film member 6 is elastically deformed. The operation lever 11 presses the valve body 9 toward the valve opening position.

  In this valve device 1, the elongated rectangular portion of the film member 6 that seals the groove-shaped flow path 7, that is, the portion of the film member 6 that seals the opening of the groove-shaped flow path 7 serves as the pressure receiving portion 6 a. Yes. Further, in this valve device 1, the operating lever 11 is a cantilever beam in the groove-shaped flow path 7 and supported at the one end 11 a side by the flow path forming member 8, and the valve body 9 is the operating lever 11. It arrange | positions so that the operating force may be received from the operating lever 11 in the position which approached one end side from the gravity center. The flow path forming member 8 and the operating lever 11 are made of, for example, metal.

  The one end 11a side of the operating lever 11 only needs to be rigid enough to support the operating lever 11 itself. Moreover, since the press part 11b which is parts other than the one end 11a of the action | operation lever 11 is a site | part for pressing the valve body 9, the one where rigidity is as high as possible is good. Therefore, the rigidity of the one end 11a side of the operating lever 11 is made lower than that of the pressing portion 11b. That is, in the valve device 1 of this example, the operating lever 11 is composed of one thin plate, and the pressing portion 11b of the operating lever 11 is bent into a U-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. The rigidity of the pressing portion 11b is higher than that of the one end 11a.

  In the valve device 1, the valve body 9 includes a valve shaft 12, a seal member 13, and a spring receiving portion 14. The seal member 13 is an O-ring. The flow path forming member 8 includes an inlet side flow path 15 having the liquid inlet 2, a liquid supply chamber 16 that communicates with the inlet side flow path 15 and accommodates the valve body 9 and the pressure adjusting spring 10, and the liquid supply chamber 16. A circular hole 17 that is a communication portion that communicates with the pressure chamber 4 and an outlet-side channel 18 that communicates with the pressure chamber 4 and has the liquid outlet 3 are formed.

  The pressure adjusting spring 10 is interposed between the spring receiving portion 14 of the valve body 9 and a holding member 19 that seals the open end of the liquid supply chamber 16. The valve body 9 is urged by the pressure adjusting spring 10 toward the valve closing position where the seal member 13 is pressed against the seal surface of the liquid supply chamber 16 with the valve shaft 12 inserted in the circular hole 17 leaving a gap. Has been.

In the valve device 1, the bottom surface 7 a of the groove-like flow path 7 is opened and closed by the valve body 9, and the liquid flows into the pressure chamber 4 from the liquid inlet 2 side when the valve body 9 is in the valve opening position. An inlet side opening 17a (refer to FIG. 2) for the purpose and an outlet side opening 18a for allowing the liquid to flow out from the pressure chamber 4 to the liquid outlet 3 side are formed. The entrance-side opening 17a is an opening in which the circular hole 17 is opened on the bottom surface 7a. Further, the outlet side opening 18a is an opening in which the outlet side flow path 18 is opened to the bottom surface 7a.

  Further, the valve device 1 is disposed between the inlet side opening 17a and the outlet side opening 18a on the bottom surface 7a of the groove-like channel 7, and flows into the pressure chamber 4 from the inlet side opening 17a. A shield 20 is provided that dams the liquid passing through the pressing portion 11b of the operating lever 11 bent in a U-shape and faces the one end 11a of the operating lever 11. The shield 20 corresponds to a bubble discharging means that guides part or all of the ink supplied from the liquid inlet 2 side into the pressure chamber 4 to the one end 11 a side of the operating lever 11 in the pressure chamber 4.

  In this valve device 1, when the liquid in the pressure chamber 4 decreases and the pressure in the pressure chamber 4 becomes lower than a predetermined pressure, the pressure receiving portion 6a of the film member 6 is elastically deformed inwardly of the pressure chamber 4, and one end 11a. The actuating lever 11, which is a cantilever beam supported on the side, is pressed downward in FIG. As a result, the operating lever 11 has the valve shaft 12 of the valve body 9 in the valve-closing position by the operating force obtained by multiplying the pressing force when the pressure receiving portion 6a of the film member 6 is elastically deformed inward of the pressure chamber 4. Is displaced to the valve opening position side, so that the pressure reducing valve 5 is opened, and the liquid is supplied into the pressure chamber 4 from the liquid inlet 2 side. When the pressure in the pressure chamber 4 reaches a predetermined pressure as the liquid in the pressure chamber 4 increases, the pressure receiving portion 6a of the film member 6 returns from the elastically deformed form to the original form. When the shaft 12 is displaced from the valve opening position to the valve closing position by the biasing force of the pressure adjusting spring 10, the pressure reducing valve 5 returns to the valve closing state, and the liquid is supplied from the liquid inlet 2 side into the pressure chamber 4. Be blocked.

  In this valve device 1, the pressure chamber is formed from the inlet-side opening 17 a by the shield 20 disposed between the inlet-side opening 17 a and the outlet-side opening 18 a on the bottom surface 7 a of the channel 7. 4, the ink passing through the pressing portion 11b of the operating lever 11 bent into a U-shape is dammed and directed toward the one end 11a of the operating lever 11. Thereby, in the pressure chamber 4, bubbles accumulated on the one end 11 a side (F portion in FIG. 1) of the ink led to the one end 11 a side of the operation lever 11 pass through the outlet side flow path 18 from the outlet side opening 18 a. It is discharged to the liquid outlet 3 side.

According to 1st Embodiment comprised as mentioned above, there exist the following effects.
○ When the pressure in the pressure chamber 4 becomes lower than a predetermined pressure, the pressure reducing valve 5 is opened by the operating force obtained by multiplying the pressing force of the pressure receiving portion 6a of the film member 6, and the pressure in the pressure chamber 4 becomes the predetermined pressure. When it reaches, it returns to the valve closing state, thereby reducing the liquid in the pressure chamber 4 to a predetermined pressure. Therefore, a force greater than the pressure receiving area of the pressure receiving portion 6a of the film member 6, that is, an operating force obtained by boosting the pressing force of the pressure receiving portion 6a of the film member 6 is obtained, and the pressure is reduced by overcoming the “seal load” with that force. 5 can be opened. Thereby, the area of the pressure receiving part 6a of the film member 6 can be small, and the size can be reduced.

  ○ The shield 20 disposed between the inlet side opening 17a and the outlet side opening 18a on the bottom surface 7a of the groove-like channel 7 flows into the pressure chamber 4 from the inlet side opening 17a. The ink passing through the pressing portion 11b of the operating lever 11 bent in the shape of a letter is blocked and directed toward the one end 11a side of the operating lever 11. For this reason, in the pressure chamber 4, air bubbles accumulated on the one end 11 a side can be discharged to the liquid outlet 3 side by the ink guided to the one end 11 a side of the actuating lever 11, thereby improving the bubble discharge performance. it can.

A flow path for discharging bubbles can be formed by utilizing the shape of the pressing portion 11b of the operating lever 11 bent in a U-shape.
○ Since the elongated rectangular portion of the film member 6 that seals the groove-like flow path 7 is the pressure receiving portion 6a, the area when the plurality of pressure-reduction valves 5 are configured by arranging the plurality of groove-like flow paths 7 in parallel. Loss (useless area) is small, and the pressure reducing valve 5 can be highly integrated.

O Since it is thin plate shape except the valve body 9 and the pressure adjustment spring 10, the whole thickness can be reduced.
○ Since the valve body 9 is disposed so as to receive the operating force from the operating lever 11 at a position closer to the one end 11 a side than the center of gravity of the operating lever 11, the operating lever 11 is a pressure receiving portion 6 a of the film member 6. The valve element 9 can be displaced to the valve opening position side by an actuating force obtained by multiplying the received force by this principle, that is, a force greater than the pressure receiving area of the pressure receiving portion 6a. For this reason, the area of the pressure-receiving part 6a which is an elongate rectangular part of the film member 6 needs to be small. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the overall size and highly integrate the pressure reducing valves.

  ○ The one end 11a side that is the support portion of the operating lever 11 only needs to be rigid enough to support the operating lever 11 itself, and the pressing portion 11b of the operating lever 11 is a portion that presses the valve shaft 12 of the valve body 9. It is better that the rigidity is as high as possible. Since the rigidity of the one end 11a side of the actuating lever 11 is made lower than that of the pressing portion 11b, the moment generated on the one end 11a side of the actuating lever 11 can be reduced, and adverse effects due to the moment can be reduced.

  ○ Since the operating lever 11 can be integrally formed with a single thin plate, the operating lever 11 can be easily positioned and handled. Moreover, since the cross section of the pressing portion 11b of the operating lever 11 is bent in a U-shape, it is possible to ensure greater rigidity than the one end 11a (supporting portion) which is a thin plate.

  The valve element 9 is moved by the pressure adjusting spring 10 toward the valve closing position where the seal member 13 is pressed against the seal surface of the liquid supply chamber 16 with the valve shaft 12 inserted in the circular hole 17 leaving a gap. The biased configuration eliminates the need for a shaft support structure that requires parts accuracy, thereby improving assembly and reducing costs.

[Second Embodiment]
A valve device 1A according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
The valve device 1A differs from the first embodiment in the following points.

  The pressing portion 11c of the operating lever 11A that presses the valve body 9 has a pressing surface that is a flat surface, is formed thicker than the one end 11a side, and has high rigidity. Moreover, in this valve apparatus 1A, as shown in FIG.4 and FIG.5. A flow path forming body 21 constituting the bubble discharging means is disposed on the bottom surface 7a of the groove-shaped flow path 7 between the inlet side opening 17a and the outlet side opening 18a. The flow path forming body 21 includes a first flow path 21a for directing ink flowing into the pressure chamber 4 from the inlet side opening 17a toward the one end 11a side of the operating lever 11, and one end of the operating lever 11 by the first flow path 21a. The second flow path 21b that guides the ink guided to the 11a side to the outlet side opening 18a is formed. The flow path forming body 21 is configured to form the first flow path 21 a and the second flow path 21 b between the side walls of the groove-shaped flow path 7. The first channel 21a and the second channel 21b form a substantially “-” channel.

According to 2nd Embodiment comprised as mentioned above, in addition to the effect which the said 1st Embodiment show | plays, there exist the following effects.
Ink flowing into the pressure chamber 4 from the inlet side opening 17a is directed to the one end 11a side of the operating lever 11 by the first flow path 21a of the flow path forming body 21 in the pressure chamber 4, and to the one end 11a side. The guided ink is guided to the outlet side opening 18a by the second flow path 21b. For this reason, bubbles accumulated on the one end 11a side (F portion in FIG. 4) of the working lever 11 in the pressure chamber 4 pass through the outlet side flow path 18 from the outlet side opening portion 18a. And discharged to the liquid outlet 3 side. Can be discharged to the liquid outlet 3, and the bubble discharge performance can be improved.

[Third embodiment]
A valve device 1B according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The difference between the valve device 1B and the first embodiment is as follows.

  In this valve device 1B, as shown in FIG. 6, a dam plate 23 and a rectifying plate 24 constituting the bubble discharging means are arranged. The dam plate 23 is disposed between the inlet-side opening 17a and the outlet-side opening 18a on the bottom surface 7a of the groove-like channel 7, and dams ink flowing into the pressure chamber 4 from the inlet-side opening 17a. It is stopped and directed to the one end 11a side of the operating lever 11A.

  The rectifying plate 24 guides the ink directed to the one end 11a side of the operating lever 11A by the dam plate 23 to the one end 11a side through a space formed between the bottom surface 7a of the grooved flow path 7 and the one end 11a side. Is guided to the outlet opening 18a by a space formed between the pressing surface of the operating lever 11A. The rectifying plate 24 is formed with a through hole 24a through which the valve shaft 12 is inserted.

In FIG. 6, the valve device 1 </ b> B is shown opposite to the left and right of the valve device 1 of FIG. 1.
According to 3rd Embodiment comprised as mentioned above, in addition to the effect which the said 1st Embodiment show | plays, there exist the following effects.

  Ink flowing into the pressure chamber 4 from the inlet-side opening 17a is blocked by the dam plate 23 in the pressure chamber 4, and a space formed between the bottom surface of the groove-shaped flow path by the rectifying plate 24. It passes through and is directed to the one end 11a side of the operating lever 11. Further, the ink guided to the one end 11 a side is guided to the outlet side opening 18 a through the space formed between the pressing surface of the operating lever 11 by the rectifying plate 24. For this reason, in the pressure chamber 4, the air guided to the one end 11 a side of the operating lever 11 can discharge the air bubbles accumulated on the one end 11 a side (F portion in FIG. 6) to the liquid outlet 3 side. Emission can be improved.

[Fourth embodiment]
A valve device 1C according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
The valve device 1C is different from the first embodiment in the following points.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the valve device 1 </ b> C is opened and closed by the valve body 9 on the bottom surface 7 a of the groove-like flow path 7, and from the liquid inlet 2 side when the valve body 9 is in the valve open position. An inlet-side opening 17a for allowing ink to flow into the pressure chamber 4, a first outlet-side opening 31, and a second outlet-side opening 32 are formed. The first outlet side opening 31 is for allowing ink to flow out from the one end 11 a side of the operating lever 11 in the groove-like channel 7 to the liquid outlet 3 side. The second outlet side opening 32 is for allowing the ink to flow out from the side opposite to the one end 11 a side of the operating lever 11 in the groove-like channel 7 to the liquid outlet 3 side.

In FIG. 9, the pressure adjusting spring 10 and the holding member 19 shown in FIG. 1 are omitted.
As the bubble discharging means, a first outlet side channel 33 and a second outlet side channel 34 which are respectively formed on the channel forming member 8C and extend from the first outlet side opening 31 to the bottom surface 8a of the channel forming member 8C. And a third flow path 35 is provided. The second outlet side flow path 34 extends from the second outlet side opening 32 to the bottom surface 8a. The third flow path 35 is configured to send the ink sent through the first outlet side flow path 33 and the second outlet side flow path 34 to the liquid outlet 3 side.

According to 4th Embodiment comprised as mentioned above, in addition to the effect which the said 1st Embodiment show | plays, there exist the following effects.
Ink flowing into the pressure chamber 4 from the inlet side opening 17 a flows into the one end 11 a side of the operating lever 11 in the pressure chamber 4 and flows into the first outlet side flow path 33 from the first outlet side opening 31. Then, it flows to the third flow path 35. At the same time, the ink flowing into the pressure chamber 4 flows in the pressure chamber 4 to the side opposite to the one end 11 a side of the operating lever 11 and flows into the second outlet side flow path 34 from the second outlet side opening 32. Then, it flows to the third flow path 35. Further, the ink that has flowed into the third flow path 35 from the first outlet side flow path 33 and the second outlet side flow path 34 flows to the liquid outlet 3 side through the third flow path 35 and the outlet side flow path 18. . For this reason, the ink flowing to the one end 11a side of the operating lever 11 in the pressure chamber 4 can cause the air bubbles accumulated on the one end 11a side to be discharged from the first outlet side opening 31, thereby improving the bubble discharging property. it can.

  ○ Since air bubbles are discharged using the first outlet side flow path 33, the second outlet side flow path 34, and the third flow path 35, which are formed independently on the flow path forming member 8C, stable. Bubbles can be discharged.

[Fifth Embodiment]
A valve device 1D according to a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The valve device 1D is characterized in that the pressure reducing valve 5 has a function of a choke valve in the first embodiment shown in FIG. The “function of the choke valve” mentioned here means that the communication between the liquid supply chamber 16 and the pressure chamber 4 is forcibly cut off by forcibly holding the pressure reducing valve 5 at the closed position shown in FIG. The function to do.

  In the valve device 1D, in the first embodiment, instead of the holding member 19, a holding member 40 having a circular hole 41 is fixed to the lower surface of the flow path forming member 8. The circular hole 41 is located below the valve shaft 12 of the valve body 9, and a movable pin 42 for moving the valve shaft 12 up and down is disposed in the circular hole 41 so as to be movable up and down. The movable pin 42 is prevented from coming out by a sealing film member 43 fixed to the lower surface of the holding member 40 so as to cover the opening of the circular hole 41.

  Further, below the pressure reducing valve 5 of the valve device 1D, a choke position for pushing up the movable pin 42 to forcibly hold the valve body 9 at the valve closing position shown in FIG. A pin actuator 50 for displacing the movable pin 42 is provided between the choke release position for releasing the forced holding at.

  The pin actuator 50 includes a cylindrical body 51, a piezoelectric element 52 disposed in the center hole 51a, and a drive pin 53. When an AC voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 52, for example, the piezoelectric element 52 expands and contracts. Thus, the drive pin 53 is moved up and down. The drive pin 53 is displaceable between a first position where the movable pin 42 is displaced to the choke position and a second position (position shown in FIG. 10) lowered from the first position. When the drive pin 53 is displaced from the first position to the second position, the movable pin 42 at the choke position is lowered by its own weight and displaced to the choke release position.

  Further, when the application of the AC voltage is stopped (the power is turned off) in a state where the drive pin 53 is displaced to the first position (a state where the movable pin 42 is held at the choke position), the drive pin 53 becomes the cylindrical body 51. The movable pin 42 is held at the choke position as it is by being held at the first position by the frictional force with the central hole 51a.

  In this valve device 1D, when an AC voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 52 in a state where the drive pin 53 is in the second position shown in FIG. 10, the piezoelectric element 52 extends and the drive pin 53 is displaced to the first position. As a result, the movable pin 42 is displaced from the choke release position to the choke position, and the valve element 9 is forcibly held at the valve closing position shown in FIG.

If the power is turned off while the movable pin 42 is in the choke position, the drive pin 53
Is held at the first position by the frictional force with the cylindrical body 51, and the movable pin 42 is held at the choke position.

  When the AC voltage is applied again to the piezoelectric element 52 with the movable pin 42 held at the choke position, the piezoelectric element 52 contracts and the drive pin 53 is displaced from the first position to the second position. As a result, the movable pin 42 at the choke position is lowered by its own weight and displaced to the choke release position, and the forced holding of the valve body 9 at the valve close position is released.

According to 5th Embodiment comprised as mentioned above, there exist the following effects.
O Since the pressure reducing valve 5 itself has the function of a choke valve, when the valve device 1D is provided, for example, in a carriage of an ink jet printer, it is not necessary to provide a choke valve separately from the pressure reducing valve 5. For this reason, an ink jet printer having a choke valve function can be realized with a small number of parts and at a low cost.

  ○ By applying the valve device 1D of the present embodiment to the configuration in which the plurality of pressure reducing valves are arranged in parallel in the first to fourth embodiments, each of the plurality of pressure reducing valves has the function of a choke valve. One or more of these pressure-reducing valves can be forcibly held in the closed position to enable selective cleaning. “Select cleaning” refers to cleaning ink of a certain color, for example, six colors of ink. In this case, the movable pins 42 other than the pressure reducing valve corresponding to the color to be cleaned are displaced to the choke position to forcibly hold the pressure reducing valve at the valve closing position.

  ○ Since the drive pin 53 is driven by the pin actuator 50 and the movable pin 42 is displaced between the choke position and the choke release position, the structure for providing the function of the choke valve is reduced to a small pressure reduction. It can be arranged under the valve 5 with a small space.

  Even when the application of the AC voltage to the piezoelectric element 52 is stopped while the movable pin 42 is in the choke position, the drive pin 53 is held at the first position by the frictional force with the cylindrical body 51, and the movable pin 42 It is a structure held at the choke position. With this configuration, when the valve device 1D is configured on the carriage of an ink jet printer, it is possible to suppress ink leakage from the carriage head depending on the posture and environment of the printer with the printer turned off.

[Printer]
Next, an example of an ink jet printer using the valve device described in the above embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, as an example, an ink jet printer in which the valve device 1 of the first embodiment is provided in a carriage will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a printer 100 as a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped frame 102. A paper feed tray 103 is provided on the upper surface of the frame 102, and a paper discharge tray 104 is provided on the front surface of the frame 102. The paper feed tray 103 and the paper discharge tray 104 are configured to be foldable with respect to the frame 102 by a hinge structure (not shown).

  A platen 105 is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the frame 102, and recording paper inserted into the frame 102 from the paper feed tray 103 is fed onto the platen 105 by a paper feed mechanism (not shown). It has become so. Then, the fed recording sheet is discharged from the discharge tray 104 to the outside of the frame 102.

A guide member 106 is installed in the frame 102 in parallel with the platen 105. A carriage 107 is movably supported on the guide member 106. The valve device 1 is provided on the carriage 107. A carriage motor (not shown) is attached to the frame 102, and the carriage 107 is drivingly connected to the carriage motor via a timing belt (not shown) wound around a pair of pulleys (not shown). ing. With this configuration, when the carriage motor is driven, the driving force is transmitted to the carriage 107 via the timing belt. In response to this driving force, the carriage 107 is guided by the guide member 106 and reciprocates in parallel (main scanning direction) with the platen 105.

  On the other hand, a recording head 108 as a liquid ejecting head is provided on the lower surface of the carriage 107 (the surface facing the platen 105). The recording head 108 has a nozzle forming surface 108a (see FIG. 12) so as to face the recording paper. The nozzle forming surface 108a has n nozzles N (n is a natural number) per row (FIG. 12). 6 rows of nozzle rows (not shown) are formed. In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, six nozzle rows composed of n nozzles N per row are formed, but this is not restrictive, and the number of nozzles N and the number of nozzle rows per row may be changed as appropriate. Also good.

  The recording head 108 has colors corresponding to the respective nozzles (in this embodiment, from the first and second ink cartridges 109 and 110 serving as liquid storage means provided in the frame 102, as will be described later. Black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan, light magenta) ink is supplied. The ink flowing into the recording head 108 is pressurized by the piezoelectric element 108b (see FIG. 12), and is ejected as an ink droplet from the nozzle N of the recording head 108, thereby forming a dot. That is, black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan, and light magenta, which are corresponding colors, are ejected from the nozzles N formed in the recording head 108, respectively.

  In the printer 100, an area for printing by ejecting ink droplets onto a recording sheet while reciprocating the carriage 107 is set as a printing area. Further, the printer 100 is provided with a non-printing area for sealing the nozzle N during non-printing, and a cap holder 111 is provided in the non-printing area as shown in FIG.

  The cap holder 111 is provided with a flexible cap member 112 so as to face the nozzle forming surface 108 a of the recording head 108. The cap holder 111 seals each nozzle N by bringing the cap member 112 into close contact with the nozzle forming surface 108a of the recording head 108 via a drive mechanism (not shown). Also, as shown in FIG. 12, the cap member 112 has communication ports 112a and 112b communicating with the inside of the cap member 112 at the bottom, and the communication port 112a is connected to the outside of the cap holder 111 via a tube T1. A cap opening valve 113 is connected. The cap opening valve 113 appropriately opens a space formed by bringing the cap member 112 and the nozzle forming surface 108a into close contact with each other. Further, the communication port 112b is connected to a suction port (not shown) of the gear pump GP through the tube T2. The gear pump GP includes gears G1 and G2. When a driving force is transmitted from a driving motor (not shown), the gears G1 and G2 are rotationally driven to apply a negative pressure to the cap member 112. . In other words, when the nozzle forming surface 108a is sealed by the cap member 112, the gear pump GP is driven so that the nozzle N on the nozzle forming surface 108a can be cleaned by applying a negative pressure. .

  An adjusting device 114 is connected to a discharge port (not shown) of the gear pump GP via a tube T3, and a first ink cartridge 109 is connected to the adjusting device 114 via a tube T4.

  The first ink cartridge 109 contains an ink pack B that stores black ink and an ink absorber 115 that absorbs ink. The ink pack B is connected to the recording head 108 of the carriage 107 via the tube T5. The ink absorber 115 is a porous material having water absorption, such as sponge.

  With such a configuration, waste ink and air sucked from the cap member 112 by the gear pump GP flow into the first ink cartridge 109. At this time, the waste ink flowing into the first ink cartridge 109 is absorbed by the ink absorber 115. Further, the amount of waste ink and air flowing into the first ink cartridge 109 and the flow velocity thereof are adjusted by the adjusting device 114.

  A second ink cartridge 110 is connected to and communicates with the first ink cartridge 109 via a tube T6. The second ink cartridge 110 includes ink packs C, M, Y, LC, and LM that store cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan, and light magenta inks, respectively. The ink packs C, M, Y, LC, and LM are connected to the recording head 108 of the carriage 107 via tubes T7 to T11, respectively. The second ink cartridge 110 is connected to an opening device 116 that appropriately opens the inside of the second ink cartridge 110 via a tube T12.

  With this configuration, when the gear pump GP is driven, waste ink and air are sucked from the cap member 112, and the waste ink and air are collected from the cap member 112 → tube T2 → gear pump GP → tube T3 → adjustment device 114 →. After sequentially flowing through the tube T4, it flows into the ink cartridge 109. At this time, waste ink that flows into the first ink cartridge 109 is absorbed by the ink absorber 115 described above, and therefore, air that has flowed into the first ink cartridge 109 (hereinafter referred to as pressurized air). Only flows. The pressurized air flows from the first ink cartridge 109 into the second ink cartridge 110 via the tube T6 and is then held by the opening device 116 connected to the tube T12. .

  That is, since the air pressures in the first and second ink cartridges 109 and 110 are always equal and without deviation, when the gear pump GP is driven, the air pressures in the first and second ink cartridges 109 and 110 are the same as described above. The ink packs B, C, M, Y, LC, and LM are pressurized by being pressurized by the pressurized air. As a result, the ink stored in each ink pack B, C, M, Y, LC, and LM is pumped to the recording head 108 of the carriage 107, respectively.

  That is, in the printer 100 of this embodiment, the gear pump GP includes a cleaning pump that applies negative pressure to the cap member 112, and a pressurizing pump that pressurizes each ink pack B, C, M, Y, LC, and LM. Doubles as When the gear pump GP is driven, negative pressure is applied to the cap member 112 to suck waste ink and air, and the ink packs B, C, M, Y, LC, and LM are pressurized, and the ink is applied to the recording head 108. Is supposed to be pumped.

The ink jet printer configured as described above has the following effects.
○ Miniaturization and thinning of the ink jet printer can be realized.

[Modification]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, etc. within a scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention. For example, the following modifications can be made.

  In the first embodiment, the valve device 1 having one groove-like channel 7 has been described as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to a valve device having a plurality of groove-like channels. For example, in order to use six colors of ink as six types of liquid, a valve device having a configuration in which six pressure reducing valves are provided in parallel with six groove-like channels that store ink of each color, respectively. In addition, the present invention is applicable. The same applies to the valve devices 1B and 1C according to the second and third embodiments.

  -In the said 1st Embodiment, although an example was shown about the material with a low water | moisture permeability, oxygen, and nitrogen permeability to the film member 6, not only this but a single layer film and a rubber film can also be applied. is there. At this time, as measures against moisture permeation and oxygen or nitrogen permeation, another member may be provided on the film member.

  In the first embodiment, the valve element 9 of the pressure reducing valve 5 is configured such that the valve shaft 12 is inserted in the circular hole 17 of the flow path forming member 8 leaving a gap, and the seal member 13 is in the liquid supply chamber 16. Although it is set as the structure currently urged | biased by the pressure adjustment spring 10 to the valve closing position side pressed by a sealing surface, this invention is not limited to this structure.

  For example, the valve body of the pressure reducing valve is rotatably supported on both side walls of the flow path forming member 8 in the groove-shaped flow path 7, and the first lever portion having the seal member and the pressing portion of the operating lever 11 Let it be a substantially L-shaped lever integrally formed with the second lever portion pressed by 11b. A valve body, which is a substantially L-shaped lever, is urged by a leaf spring or a torsion coil spring as a pressure adjusting spring provided in the pressure chamber so that the seal member is pressed against the seal surface of the pressure chamber.

  Alternatively, the valve body of the pressure reducing valve is rotatably supported on both side walls of the flow path forming member in the groove-shaped flow path, and is pressed by the first lever portion having the seal member and the pressing portion of the operating lever. A substantially L-shaped lever is integrally formed with the second lever portion. One end side of a tension spring as a pressure adjusting spring provided in the pressure chamber is fixed to the wall portion of the flow path forming member, and the other end side is fixed to the second lever portion. Thereby, the valve body which is a substantially L-shaped lever is urged | biased by the valve closing position side which a sealing member presses on the sealing surface of a pressure chamber with the tension spring.

  The valve device of each of the above embodiments is a liquid ejecting apparatus other than an ink jet printer, for example, an ink jet recording apparatus that ejects ink (including a printing apparatus such as a fax machine or a copier), or a liquid ejecting liquid other than ink. It is also applicable to the device. For example, the present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL display, and a surface emitting display, and a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a bioorganic material used for biochip manufacturing. It can also be applied to a sample injection device as a precision pipette.

  In FIGS. 11 and 12, the ink jet printer in which the valve device 1 of the first embodiment is provided in the carriage has been described. However, the valve device 1 is not limited to the carriage, but from the liquid storage means to the liquid ejecting head. The present invention can also be applied to an ink jet printer provided in the middle of a liquid supply path for supplying a liquid.

  The present invention can also be applied to an ink jet printer in which the valve device of the second to fifth embodiments is provided in the middle of a liquid supply path for supplying liquid to the carriage or from the liquid storage means to the liquid ejecting head. It is.

  -The liquid used for the valve device of each of the above embodiments is not limited to ink, but may be other liquid.

Sectional drawing which shows the valve apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and followed the AA line of FIG. The top view which shows the valve apparatus of FIG. Sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the valve apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing along CC line of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the valve apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The top view which looked at the valve apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment from the back surface side. Sectional drawing along the DD line | wire of FIG. Sectional drawing along the EE line of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the valve apparatus which concerns on 5th Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the printer of FIG. 11.

Explanation of symbols

  N: Nozzle, 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D ... Valve device, 2 ... Liquid inlet, 3 ... Liquid outlet, 4 ... Pressure chamber, 5 ... Pressure reducing valve, 6 ... Film member, 7 ... Grooved channel, 7a 8a ... bottom surface, 8, 8C ... flow path forming member, 9 ... valve body, 10 ... pressure adjusting spring, 11, 11A ... operating lever, 11a ... one end, 11b, 11c ... pressing part, 12 ... valve shaft, 13 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Seal member, 15 ... Inlet side flow path, 16 ... Liquid supply chamber, 17, 41 ... Circular hole, 17a ... Inlet side opening, 18a ... Outlet side opening, 19, 40 ... Holding member, 20 ... Shielding body, 21 ... Channel forming body, 21a ... First channel, 21b ... Second channel, 23 ... Dam plate, 24 ... Current plate, 31 ... First outlet side opening, 32 ... Second outlet side opening, 33 ... 1st exit side channel, 34 ... 2nd exit side channel, 35 ... 3rd channel.

Claims (3)

In a valve device provided with a pressure reducing valve for reducing the liquid in the pressure chamber, which communicates with the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, respectively, and stores the liquid to a predetermined pressure,
A flow path forming member having a groove-shaped flow path extending along one direction from one end side communicating with the liquid inlet to the other end side communicating with the liquid outlet ;
A valve body that is displaceable between a valve-opening position that brings the liquid inlet and the groove-like channel into communication, and a valve-closing position that brings the liquid inlet and the groove-like channel into a non-communication state;
A pressure adjusting spring that biases the valve body toward the valve closing position;
An operating lever extending along the one direction and pressing the valve body toward the valve opening position against the biasing force of the spring;
The upper opening of the groove-like channel is sealed to form the pressure chamber, and when the pressure in the pressure chamber becomes lower than a predetermined pressure, it is elastically deformed inward of the pressure chamber, thereby A film member that presses the vicinity of the center of gravity downward ,
With
The actuating lever is a cantilever Rutotomoni supported one end be in the groove-like passage to the flow path forming member, the other end by the pressing of the film member is tilted downward, A portion other than the one end constitutes a pressing portion that presses the valve body ,
The pressing portion is formed in a U-shaped cross-section that opens an internal space on the bottom surface side and the one end side of the groove-shaped channel,
The valve body is disposed so as to be pressed by the operating lever at a position closer to the one end side than the center of gravity of the operating lever,
It said operating lever presses the front Kibentai to the open position side in actuation force and boosting the pressure of the film member along with the tilting,
The bottom surface of the groove-like channel is opened and closed by the valve body, and when the valve body is in the valve open position, the liquid flows into the pressure chamber from the liquid inlet side through the internal space of the pressing portion. The inlet side opening, an outlet side opening for allowing the liquid to flow out from the pressure chamber to the liquid outlet side, and a position between the inlet side opening and the outlet side opening. A convex shield projecting toward the internal space is formed,
The liquid supplied from the inlet-side opening when the tilting of the operating lever to the pressure chamber is directed to the one end side of the actuating lever by the shield when the flow through the interior space of the pressing portion, the After passing through the one end side where the pressing portion is opened , the valve device is directed to the outlet side opening through the external space of the pressing portion . The valve device according to claim 1,
  The valve body has a valve shaft and a seal member,
  The flow path forming member includes an inlet-side flow path having the liquid inlet, a liquid supply chamber communicating with the inlet-side flow path and housing the valve body and the pressure adjusting spring, the liquid supply chamber, A substantially circular hole, which is a communicating portion that communicates with the pressure chamber,
  The pressure adjusting spring is interposed between the valve body and a holding member that seals the open end of the liquid supply chamber,
  The valve body is attached by the pressure adjusting spring to the valve closing position where the seal member is pressed against the seal surface of the liquid supply chamber with the valve shaft inserted in the substantially circular hole leaving a gap. A valve device characterized by being energized. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2 is provided in the middle of a liquid supply path that guides the liquid from the liquid storage unit that temporarily stores the liquid to the liquid ejecting head that ejects the liquid from the nozzle to the target.
  The pressure reducing valve senses the pressure in the pressure chamber where the liquid decreases as the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head, and switches supply and non-supply of the liquid from the liquid supply path to the pressure chamber. A liquid ejecting apparatus.

Images