Diaphragm pump, ink supply system, and inkjet printer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10214022-B2
Application number	US-201715828520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2017
Priority date	Dec 6, 2016
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

A diaphragm pump includes an inflow chamber and an outflow chamber. The inflow chamber is provided with an inflow valve seat. An inflow valve that prevents backflow of a liquid is disposed against the inflow valve seat. The outflow chamber is provided with an outflow valve seat. An outflow valve that prevents backflow of a liquid is disposed against the outflow valve seat. The diaphragm pump also includes an inflow-valve presser that presses the inflow valve against the inflow valve seat, and an outflow-valve presser that presses the outflow valve against the outflow valve seat. Each of the inflow valve and the outflow valve is defined by an elastically deformable member. Each of the inflow valve seat and the outflow valve seat includes a surface at least a portion of which is a curved surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A diaphragm pump comprising:
an inflow port that allows a liquid to flow therein from outside the diaphragm pump;
an inflow chamber provided with an inflow valve seat;
a first inlet flow passage that allows the inflow port and the inflow chamber to communicate with each other;
a pumping chamber in which an elastically deformable diaphragm is disposed;
a second inlet flow passage that allows the inflow chamber and the pumping chamber to communicate with each other;
an outflow chamber provided with an outflow valve seat;
a first outlet flow passage that allows the pumping chamber and the outflow chamber to communicate with each other;
an outflow port that allows the liquid to flow out of the diaphragm pump;
a second outlet flow passage that allows the outflow chamber and the outflow port to communicate with each other;
an inflow valve disposed against the inflow valve seat and causing the first inlet flow passage to open and close;
an outflow valve disposed against the outflow valve seat and causing the first outlet flow passage to open and close;
an inflow-valve presser that presses the inflow valve against the inflow valve seat; and
an outflow-valve presser that presses the outflow valve against the outflow valve seat; wherein
each of the inflow valve and the outflow valve is defined by an elastically deformable member; and
each of the inflow valve seat and the outflow valve seat includes a surface at least a portion of which is a curved surface.

2. The diaphragm pump according to claim 1 , wherein
the inflow valve includes an inflow plate extending along a predetermined first direction and disposed against the inflow valve seat;
the inflow valve seat is provided in an upper surface of the inflow chamber;
the inflow valve seat is connected to a downstream end of the first inlet flow passage; and
the inflow valve seat includes a surface that is a curved surface inclining downwardly toward a portion of the inflow valve seat, when arranged along the first direction, that connects with the downstream end of the first inlet flow passage.

3. The diaphragm pump according to claim 2 , wherein the downstream end of the first inlet flow passage is connected to a central portion of the inflow valve seat when viewed in a plan view.

4. The diaphragm pump according to claim 1 , wherein
the outflow valve includes an outflow plate extending along a predetermined first direction and disposed against the outflow valve seat;
the outflow valve seat is provided in a lower surface of the outflow chamber;
the outflow valve seat is connected to a downstream end of the first outlet flow passage; and
the outflow valve seat includes a surface that is a curved surface inclining upwardly toward a portion of the outflow valve seat, when arranged along the first direction, that connects with the downstream end of the first outlet flow passage.

5. The diaphragm pump according to claim 4 , wherein the downstream end of the first outlet flow passage is connected to a central portion of the outflow valve seat when viewed in a plan view.

6. The diaphragm pump according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a main body including at least a first member and a second member provided below the first member; wherein
each of the inflow port and the outflow port is provided in the first member; and
each of the first inlet flow passage and the second outlet flow passage is provided inside the first member; and
each of the inflow chamber and the outflow chamber is a space between the first member and the second member.

7. The diaphragm pump according to claim 6 , wherein
the main body further includes a third member provided below the second member;
the pumping chamber is a space between the second member and the third member; and
the diaphragm defines a lower surface of the pumping chamber and is elastically deformable in upward and downward directions.

8. The diaphragm pump according to claim 6 , wherein
the inflow valve includes an inflow plate extending along a predetermined first direction and disposed against the inflow valve seat; and
the inflow-valve presser is a ridge protruding from an upper surface of the second member and pressing opposite end portions of the inflow plate as arranged along the first direction.

9. The diaphragm pump according to claim 8 , wherein
the inflow valve includes an inflow frame connected to opposite ends of the inflow plate so as to surround the inflow plate;
the first member includes an inflow groove that surrounds a portion of the first member in which the inflow chamber is provided; and
the inflow frame fits into the inflow groove.

10. The diaphragm pump according to claim 9 , further comprising an inflow sealing rim provided in the upper surface of the second member and pressing the inflow frame against the inflow groove.

11. The diaphragm pump according to claim 6 , wherein
the outflow valve includes an outflow plate extending along a predetermined first direction and disposed against the outflow valve seat; and
the outflow-valve presser is a ridge protruding from a lower surface of the first member and pressing opposite end portions of the outflow plate as arranged along the first direction.

12. The diaphragm pump according to claim 11 , wherein
the outflow valve includes an outflow frame connected to opposite ends of the outflow plate so as to surround the outflow plate;
the second member includes an outflow groove that surrounds a portion of the second member in which the outflow chamber is provided; and
the outflow frame fits into the outflow groove.

13. The diaphragm pump according to claim 12 , further comprising an outflow sealing rim provided in the lower surface of the first member and pressing the outflow frame against the outflow groove.

14. An ink supply system comprising:
an ink tank storing ink;
an ink head ejecting the ink onto a recording medium;
an inlet flow channel including one end connected to the ink tank;
an upstream flow channel connected to the ink head and allowing the ink to flow into the ink head;
a connection flow channel connecting the inlet flow channel and the upstream flow channel to each other; and
a downstream flow channel including one end connected to the ink head and another end connected to the connection flow channel; wherein
the upstream flow channel is provided with an upstream pump and an upstream damper located closer to the ink head than the upstream pump;
the downstream flow channel is provided with a downstream pump and an downstream damper located closer to the ink head than the downstream pump; and
each of the upstream pump and the downstream pump is a diaphragm pump according to claim 1 .

15. An inkjet printer comprising:
an ink supply system according to claim 14 ; and
a platen on which a recording medium is to be placed.

Assignees

• Roland Dg Corp

Inventors

• Atsumi Hidetoshi

Classifications

• F04B53/1072

  the valve being an elastic body, the length thereof changing in the opening direction · CPC title

• F04B49/065

  and making use of computers · CPC title

• B41J2/17566

  Ink level or ink residue control · CPC title

• B41J2/175

  Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} · CPC title

• B41J2/17596 Primary

  Ink pumps, ink valves · CPC title