Fluid discharge apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10618062-B2
Application number	US-201715830293-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2017
Priority date	Dec 28, 2016
Publication date	Apr 14, 2020
Grant date	Apr 14, 2020

Abstract

A fluid discharge apparatus includes a storage chamber, a moving body, a drive mechanism, and a coupling member. The storage chamber includes a discharge port to discharge the fluid. The moving body includes a leading end portion facing the discharge port inside the storage chamber. The drive mechanism is positioned on the opposite side of the moving body to the discharge port, and performs an operation to reciprocate the moving body. The coupling member couples the moving body to the drive mechanism such that the moving body is attachable and detachable. The coupling member includes a biasing section to apply an elastic force in a direction to move the moving body toward the drive mechanism, and, while pressing the moving body against the coupling member, to support the moving body in a state in which the moving body is capable of elastic displacement in a direction toward the discharge port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid discharge apparatus comprising:
a storage chamber that stores a fluid and that includes a discharge port to discharge the fluid;
a moving body that includes a leading end facing the discharge port inside the storage chamber, the moving body reciprocally moving in directions away from the discharge port and toward the discharge port so as to cause the fluid to flow out through the discharge port;
a drive mechanism that is positioned on an opposite side of the moving body to the discharge port, the drive mechanism performing a first operation to physically pull the moving body so as to move the leading end away from the discharge port and a second operation to physically push the moving body so as to move the leading end toward the discharge port; and
a coupling member that physically couples the moving body to the drive mechanism such that the moving body is attachable and detachable to the coupling member, the coupling member including a biasing member to apply an elastic force in a direction to move the moving body toward the drive mechanism, and wherein while the moving body is pressed against the coupling member, the coupling member supports the moving body in a state in which the moving body is configured to be elastically displaced in a direction toward the discharge port,
wherein the drive mechanism includes a piezoelectric element that deforms so as to extend and contract along a central axis of the moving body in response to an electric drive force,
the piezoelectric element pulls and moves the moving body by contracting under the electric drive force, and pushes and moves the moving body by extending under the electric drive force, and
the drive mechanism includes a membranous support member that is disposed in a state of applying pressure to the piezoelectric element between the piezoelectric element and the coupling member, and that flexes together with extension and contraction of the piezoelectric element.

2. The fluid discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the leading end of the moving body is on the central axis of the moving body, and the moving body further includes a trailing end positioned on the central axis on an opposite side to the leading end,
the biasing member applies an elastic force to the trailing end, and
the coupling member retains the moving body in a state in which the leading end undergoes elastic displacement in a direction intersecting the central axis by elastic deformation of the biasing member.

3. The fluid discharge apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the leading end of the moving body closes the discharge port when the moving body reaches the discharge port.

4. The fluid discharge apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the trailing end includes an overhang that juts out in a direction intersecting the central axis, and
the biasing member applies the elastic force to the overhang.

5. The fluid discharge apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein a face of the overhang that faces the coupling member includes a location in local contact with the coupling member.

6. The fluid discharge apparatus according to claim 5 ,
wherein the overhang includes an abutting member projecting toward the coupling member from the face facing the coupling member, and
the coupling member is in local contact with the overhang at the abutting member.

7. A fluid discharge apparatus comprising:
a storage chamber that stores a fluid and that includes a discharge port to discharge the fluid;
a moving body that includes a leading end facing the discharge port inside the storage chamber, the moving body reciprocally moving in directions away from the discharge port and toward the discharge port so as to cause the fluid to flow out through the discharge port;
a drive mechanism that is positioned on an opposite side of the moving body to the discharge port, the drive mechanism performing a first operation to physically pull the moving body so as to move the leading end away from the discharge port and a second operation to physically push the moving body so as to move the leading end toward the discharge port; and
a coupling member that physically couples the moving body to the drive mechanism such that the moving body is attachable and detachable to the coupling member, the coupling member including a biasing member to apply an elastic force in a direction to move the moving body toward the drive mechanism, and wherein while the moving body is pressed against the coupling member, the coupling member supports the moving body in a state in which the moving body is configured to be elastically displaced in a direction toward the discharge port,
wherein the leading end of the moving body is on a central axis of the moving body, and the moving body further includes a trailing end positioned on the central axis on an opposite side to the leading end,
the biasing member applies an elastic force to the trailing end, and
the coupling member retains the moving body in a state in which the leading end undergoes elastic displacement in a direction intersecting the central axis by elastic deformation of the biasing member,
wherein the trailing end includes an overhang that juts out in a direction intersecting the central axis, and
the biasing member applies the elastic force to the overhang,
wherein a face of the overhang that faces the coupling member includes a location in local contact with the coupling member,
wherein the overhang includes an abutting member projecting toward the coupling member from the face facing the coupling member, and
the coupling member is in local contact with the overhang at the abutting member.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Nakamura Shinichi
• Katakura Takahiro
• Sugai Keigo
• Sakai Hirofumi
• Sano Junichi

Classifications

• B29C64/106

  using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material · CPC title

• B41J2/14201

  Structure of print heads with piezoelectric elements · CPC title

• B33Y30/00 Primary

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B41J2/04 Primary

  generating single droplets or particles on demand · CPC title

• B05B17/0607

  generated by electrical means, e.g. piezoelectric transducers · CPC title