Method for manufacturing valve unit, and valve unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10155394-B2
Application number	US-201615171626-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2016
Priority date	Jun 23, 2015
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a valve unit includes fixing a first flow channel member and a flexible member to one another, the first flow channel member including a first surface, a second surface and a through-hole passing through the first surface and the second surface, in a manner in which the flexible member is supported by a fixing member and the through-hole is covered at the first surface side thereof by the flexible member; and fixing the first flow channel member and a second flow channel member, the second flow channel member including a hole through which a valve body passes, in a manner in which the through-hole is in communication with the hole at the second surface side of the through-hole, the valve body configured to open and close a flow channel in communication with the through-hole according to displacement of the flexible member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve unit comprising:
a first flow channel member including a first surface, a second surface and a through-hole that passes through the first surface and the second surface;
a flexible member that covers the through-hole at the first surface side of the through-hole;
a second flow channel member fixed to the first flow channel member and including a hole communicating with the through-hole on a second surface side of the through-hole
a pressure chamber corresponding to a space that is surrounded by the through-hole, the flexible member and the second flow channel member; and
a valve body that passes through the hole and is configured to open and close, according to displacement of the flexible member, a flow channel, the flow channel including the hole and the pressure chamber, wherein the valve body opens the flow channel when a negative pressure is generated in the pressure chamber.

2. The valve unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein one of the first flow channel member and the second flow channel member is a transmissive member that transmits laser light, and
wherein the other of the first flow channel member and the second flow channel member is a non-transmissive member that does not transmit laser light.

3. The valve unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the flexible member includes a first surface that is fixed to the first flow channel member and a second surface on a side that is opposite to the first surface, and
wherein, in a perspective view in a direction from the first surface of the first flow channel member to the second surface of the first flow channel member, a portion in which the flexible member and the first flow channel member are fixed overlaps a portion in which the first flow channel member and the second flow channel member are fixed.

4. The valve unit according to claim 3 ,
wherein, in the perspective view, a positioning pin that positions the first flow channel member and the second flow channel member is provided on an inner side of a portion in which the first flow channel member and the second flow channel member are fixed.

5. The valve unit according to claim 1 , wherein a pressure receiving plate is fixed to the flexible member and wherein the pressure receiving plate is harder than the flexible member.

6. The valve unit according to claim 1 , wherein a filter is positioned in the second flow channel member and configured to filter a liquid that passes through the valve unit.

7. The valve unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a second flexible member that is fixed to a side of the second flow channel member opposite a side of the second flow channel member fixed to the first flow channel member.

8. The valve unit according to claim 7 , wherein the flexible member and the second flexible member are formed of a film.

9. The valve unit according to claim 1 , wherein an end of the valve body is disposed in the pressure chamber.

10. The valve unit according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a biasing member that is disposed around a portion of the valve body, the biasing member being disposed in the flow channel.

11. The valve unit according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a pressure receiving plate fixed to the flexible member, wherein, in a perspective view in a direction from the first surface of the first flow channel member to the second surface of the first flow channel member, the pressure receiving plate is disposed in a center of the through hole.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Okui Hiroaki

Classifications

• B29L2031/7506

  Valves · CPC title

• B29C66/474

  said single elements being substantially non-flat · CPC title

• B29C65/1635

  at least passing through one of the parts to be joined, i.e. laser transmission welding · CPC title

• B29K2667/003

  PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate · CPC title

• B29C66/8322

  Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis · CPC title