Pulsation generating mechanism, connecting flow channel tube, and fluid ejecting apparatus

Abstract

A fluid ejecting apparatus having a fluid chamber, an inlet flow channel, and a nozzle configured to eject fluid supplied from the inlet flow channel to the fluid chamber from the nozzle in a pulsed manner by changing the volume of the fluid chamber includes: a diaphragm; a wall surface provided so as to oppose the diaphragm; a spacer being provided between the diaphragm and the wall surface and having a cylindrical through hole; a piezoelectric element configured to displace the diaphragm; and a connecting flow channel tube communicated with the fluid chamber, wherein the nozzle is provided at an end of the connecting flow channel tube opposite to the fluid chamber, the fluid chamber is defined by the diaphragm, the wall surface, and an inner surface of the through hole of the spacer, and the inlet flow channel is defined by a groove provided on the wall surface and the spacer and is communicated with the fluid chamber.

1 . A fluid ejecting apparatus comprising:
 a diaphragm;   a wall surface provided so as to oppose the diaphragm;   a spacer being provided between the diaphragm and the wall surface and having a cylindrical through hole;   a piezoelectric element configured to displace the diaphragm;   a fluid chamber defined by the diaphragm, the wall surface, and an inner surface of the through hole of the spacer;   a connecting flow channel tube communicated with the fluid chamber;   an inlet flow channel defined by a groove provided on the wall surface and the spacer, and in communication with the fluid chamber; and   a nozzle provided at an end of the connecting flow channel tube opposite to the fluid chamber that is configured to eject fluid from the fluid chamber in a pulsed manner by changing the volume of the fluid chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 the groove of the wall surface including:   a first end portion provided with a hole through which the fluid is supplied into the groove of the wall surface,   a first middle portion extending from the first end portion in an arcuate shape along the wall surface,   a second middle portion extending from the first middle portion to the inner surface of the spacer along a direction of a line tangent to the inner surface of the spacer, and   a second end portion extending from the second middle portion along an edge of the inner surface of the spacer.   
   
   
       3 . The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 2 , is the second end portion being formed into an inclined surface continuing from a bottom surface of the groove on the wall surface which defines the inlet flow channel to the wall surface. 
   
   
       4 . The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , the fluid chamber being formed with a coating layer on an inner wall surface thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 the fluid ejecting apparatus including a holding portion configured to hold a peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm, and   the piezoelectric element being disposed in the interior of the holding portion and resin being filled in a space between the piezoelectric element and the holding portion.   
   
   
       6 . The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 5 , the resin having thermal conductivity. 
   
   
       7 . The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , a connecting portion between the inner wall of the connecting flow channel tube and the inner wall of the fluid chamber having a substantially arcuate shape. 
   
   
       8 . The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , the nozzle being inserted into the connecting flow channel tube and an adhesive groove being provided along a joint surface of the nozzle with respect to the connecting flow channel tube. 
   
   
       9 . The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , the connecting flow channel tube being detachably attached. 
   
   
       10 . A pulsation generating mechanism comprising:
 a diaphragm;   a wall surface provided so as to oppose the diaphragm;   a spacer being provided between the diaphragm and the wall surface and having a cylindrical through hole;   a piezoelectric element configured to displace the diaphragm;   a fluid chamber defined by the diaphragm, the wall surface, and an inner surface of the through hole of the spacer; and   an inlet flow channel defined by a groove provided on the wall surface and the spacer that is in communication with the fluid chamber,   the fluid ejecting apparatus being configured to discharge fluid supplied from the inlet flow channel to the fluid chamber in a pulsed manner from a flow channel that is in communication with the fluid chamber by changing the volume of the fluid chamber.   
   
   
       11 . A connecting flow channel tube which is detachably attached to a pulsation generating mechanism configured to discharge fluid from an outlet flow channel in a pulsed manner by changing the volume of a fluid chamber that is in communication with the outlet flow channel, the connection flow channel tube comprising:
 a first end configured to be communicatable with the outlet flow channel; and   a second end opposite to the first end and having a fluid ejecting opening with a smaller cross-sectional area in the vertical direction with respect to a direction of flow of the fluid than a cross-sectional area of the outlet flow channel.   
   
   
       12 . A fluid ejecting apparatus comprising:
 a fluid chamber;   an inlet flow channel that supplies fluid to the fluid chamber; and   an outlet flow channel in communication with the fluid chamber, the outlet flow channel having an inertance less than an inertance of the inlet flow channel,   the fluid ejecting apparatus ejecting the fluid supplied to the fluid chamber from the outlet flow channel by changing a volume of the fluid chamber.   
   
   
       13 . The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 12 , the inlet flow channel being formed to supply the fluid to the fluid chamber so as to create a whirling flow of the fluid within the fluid chamber. 
   
   
       14 . The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 13 , the inlet flow channel including:
 a first end portion provided with a hole through which the fluid is supplied to the inlet flow channel,   a first middle portion extending from the first end portion in an arcuate shape around an outside of the fluid chamber,   a second middle portion extending from the first middle portion to an inner surface of the fluid chamber along a direction of a line tangent to the inner surface of the fluid chamber, and   a second end portion extending from the second middle portion along the inner surface of the fluid chamber.   
   
   
       15 . The fluid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an outlet flow channel tube including the outlet flow channel and an outlet connecting flow channel in communication with the outlet flow channel; and   a nozzle in communication with the outlet flow channel tube, a fluid ejection opening of the nozzle having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the output flow channel.   
   
   
       16 . A method for ejecting fluid comprising:
 supplying fluid from an inlet flow channel to a fluid chamber at a constant pressure; and   changing a volume of the fluid chamber to eject the fluid from the fluid chamber and through an outlet flow channel having an inertance less than an inertance of the inlet flow channel.   
   
   
       17 . The method for ejecting fluid according to  claim 16 , the fluid being supplied to the fluid chamber so as to create a whirling flow of the fluid within the fluid chamber.