IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,458,663
Granted Patent B2
US 7,458,663 · App. 11/251,359 · Granted Dec 2, 2008

Pressure-regulating valve, functional liquid supplying apparatus, imaging apparatus, method of manufacturing electro-optic device, electro-optic device, and electronic apparatus

Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,458,663
App. No.
11/251,359
Granted
Dec 2, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a pressure-regulating valve which supplies a functional liquid from a functional liquid tank to a functional liquid droplet ejection head, using, as a reference regulating pressure, atmospheric pressure which a diaphragm receives, a valve-disc energizing spring, which energizes a valve disc for opening and closing a communication passage communicating a primary chamber and a secondary chamber, is configured so as to be separated from a housing main body along with a lid body.

Claims (45)

1. A pressure-regulating valve which is interposed between a functional liquid droplet ejection head for ejecting a functional liquid droplet to perform an imaging process on a workpiece and a functional liquid tank for supplying a functional liquid to the functional liquid droplet ejection head,

supplies to the functional liquid droplet ejection head through a secondary chamber a functional liquid introduced from the functional liquid tank to a primary chamber, and

opens and closes a communication passage for communicating the primary chamber and the secondary chamber using, as a reference regulating pressure, atmospheric pressure which a diaphragm constituting one surface of the secondary chamber and exposed to atmosphere receives,

the pressure-regulating valve comprising:

a valve housing forming the primary chamber and the secondary chamber;

a valve disc for opening and closing the communication passage; and

a valve-disc energizing spring for energizing the valve disc in a valve-closing direction, using as a receiver a spring-receiving portion of the valve housing, wherein

the valve housing is constituted of a housing main body and a lid body having the spring-receiving portion and detachably fastened to the housing main body with screws,

one end of the valve-disc energizing spring is engaged to the lid body and the other end of the valve-disc energizing spring is engaged to the valve disc, and

the valve-disc energizing spring is configured so as to be separated from the housing main body along with separation of the lid body.

2. The pressure-regulating valve according to claim 1 , wherein the valve-disc energizing spring and the lid body are linked to each other.

3. The pressure-regulating valve according to claim 1 , wherein the valve disc is configured so as to be separated from the housing main body along with separation of the valve-disc energizing spring.

4. The pressure-regulating valve according to claim 1 , wherein the valve disc is constituted of a valve-disc main body and a valve seal detachably attached to the valve-disc main body.

5. The pressure-regulating valve according to claim 1 , wherein

the valve-disc energizing spring is constituted of a coil spring, and

the valve disc is provided with a leading-end engaging portion where a leading-end portion on a valve-disc side of the valve-disc energizing spring is engaged in a positioned state.

6. The pressure-regulating valve according to claim 1 , wherein the lid body is provided with a proximal-end engaging portion where the one end of the valve-disc energizing spring is engaged in a positioned state.

7. A functional liquid supplying apparatus comprising:

the functional liquid tank;

a functional liquid passage for connecting the functional liquid tank and the functional liquid droplet ejection head; and

the pressure-regulating valve according to claim 1 which is interposed in the functional liquid passage.

8. An imaging apparatus comprising:

the functional liquid supplying apparatus according to claim 7 ;

the functional liquid droplet ejection head; and

a moving unit for moving the functional liquid droplet ejection head relative to a workpiece.

9. A pressure-regulating valve which is interposed between a functional liquid droplet ejection head for ejecting a functional liquid droplet to perform an imaging process on a workpiece and a functional liquid tank for supplying a functional liquid to the functional liquid droplet ejection head,

supplies to the functional liquid droplet ejection head through a secondary chamber a functional liquid introduced from the functional liquid tank to a primary chamber, and

opens and closes a communication passage for communicating the primary chamber and the secondary chamber using, as a reference regulating pressure, atmospheric pressure which a diaphragm constituting one surface of the secondary chamber and exposed to atmosphere receives,

the pressure-regulating valve comprising:

a valve housing forming the primary chamber and the secondary chamber;

a valve disc for opening and closing the communication passage; and

a valve-disc energizing spring for energizing the valve disc in a valve-closing direction, using as a receiver a spring-receiving portion of the valve housing, wherein

the valve housing is constituted of a secondary-chamber housing forming the secondary chamber and the communication passage and of a primary-chamber housing having the spring-receiving portion and detachably fastened to the secondary-chamber housing with screws,

one end of the valve-disc energizing spring is engaged to the secondary-chamber housing and the other end of the valve-disc energizing spring is engaged to the valve disc, and

the valve-disc energizing spring is configured so as to be separated from the secondary-chamber housing along with separation of the primary-chamber housing.

10. A pressure-regulating valve which is interposed between a functional liquid droplet ejection head for ejecting a functional liquid droplet to perform an imaging process on a workpiece and a functional liquid tank for supplying a functional liquid to the functional liquid droplet ejection head,

supplies to the functional liquid droplet ejection head through a secondary chamber a functional liquid introduced from the functional liquid tank to a primary chamber, and

opens and closes a communication passage for communicating the primary chamber and the secondary chamber using, as a reference regulating pressure, atmospheric pressure which a diaphragm constituting one surface of the secondary chamber and exposed to atmosphere receives,

the pressure-regulating valve comprising:

a valve housing forming the primary chamber and the secondary chamber;

a valve disc for opening and closing the communication passage;

a valve-disc energizing spring for energizing the valve disc in a valve-closing direction, using as a receiver a spring-receiving portion of the valve housing;

a negative-pressure holding spring for energizing the diaphragm in a direction resisting atmospheric pressure; and

a diaphragm holder for holding the diaphragm in a stretched state, wherein

the diaphragm is detachably attached to the valve housing through the diaphragm holder, and the negative-pressure holding spring is configured so as to be separated from the valve housing along with separation of the diaphragm.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2026
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: SHIHENG CREATION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 074264/0423 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2005
From: NAKAMURA, TOMONORI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017104/0147 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2004-336346 · Nov 19, 2004 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060108004A1 · May 25, 2006