# US 10,864,736 B2 · Liquid discharge device

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- Number: US 10,864,736 B2
- Document ID: US10864736B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/515,120
- Filed: 2019-07-18
- Published: 2020-01-23
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-19
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Shunya Fukuda; Hiroki Miyajima
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864736B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/14233: {of film type, deformed by bending and disposed on a diaphragm}
- B41J 2/161: {of film type, deformed by bending and disposed on a diaphragm}
- B41J 2/1623: {bonding and adhesion}
- B41J 2002/14241: {having a cover around the piezoelectric thin film element}
- B41J 2002/14419: {Manifold}
- B41J 2002/14491: {Electrical connection}
- B41J 2202/11: characterised by specific geometrical characteristics
- B41J 2202/19: Assembling head units
- B41J 2202/20: Modules
- Y10T 29/49401: Fluid pattern dispersing device making, e.g., ink jet
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A liquid discharge device includes a channel member, a nozzle plate, a flexible film, a support, and a lid. The channel member has a storage chamber that stores liquid. The nozzle plate has a nozzle through which the liquid stored in the storage chamber is discharged. The flexible film forms part of walling of the storage chamber. The support has an opening that surrounds a space where the flexible film is exposed at a side of the flexible film opposite the storage chamber. The lid is configured to cover the flexible film across the space, and is bonded, by an adhesive, to a surface of the support. The support has a groove provided in the surface bonded to the lid. The adhesive is also disposed in the groove.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid discharge device comprising:
a channel member having a storage chamber that stores liquid;
a nozzle plate having a nozzle through which the liquid stored in the storage chamber is discharged;
a flexible film configured to form part of walling of the storage chamber;
a support having an opening configured to surround a space where the flexible film is exposed at a side of the flexible film opposite the storage chamber; and
a lid configured to cover the flexible film across the space, the lid being bonded, by an adhesive, to a surface of the support, wherein,
the support has a groove provided in the surface bonded to the lid, wherein
the adhesive is also disposed in the groove, wherein
a liquid discharge head that discharges the liquid includes
the channel member,
the nozzle plate,
the flexible film,
the support, and
the lid, wherein
the space and the flexible film extend along a first axis, wherein
one end of the space along the first axis communicates with a first communication passage that communicates with outside of the liquid discharge head, wherein
another end of the space along the first axis communicates with a second communication passage that communicates with the outside, wherein
the flexible film includes
a first flexible region including one end of the flexible film along the first axis and
a second flexible region including another end of the flexible film along the first axis, and wherein,
along a second axis that intersects both the first axis and a thickness axis of the flexible film, a smallest width of the second flexible region is smaller than a smallest width of the first flexible region.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The liquid discharge device according to claim 1, wherein
the space extends along a first axis, and wherein
the groove extends along the first axis without being separated.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The liquid discharge device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a regulating member located between the flexible film and the lid in the space so as to regulate contact between the flexible film and the lid, wherein
the regulating member is provided separately from the support plate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The liquid discharge device according to claim 1, wherein
the storage chamber is a first storage chamber, wherein
the channel member is a first channel member, wherein
the flexible film is a first flexible film, wherein
the space is a first space, wherein
the opening is a first opening, wherein
the support is a first support, wherein
the liquid discharge device further includes
a second channel member having a second storage chamber that is disposed beside the first storage chamber along the second axis,
a second flexible film that forms part of walling of the second storage chamber, and
a second support having a second opening that surrounds a second space where the second flexible film is exposed at a side of the second flexible film opposite the second storage chamber, wherein
the lid is configured to cover the second flexible film across the second space, the lid being bonded, by the adhesive, to a surface of the second support, wherein
the liquid discharge head further includes
the second channel member,
the second flexible film, and
the second support, wherein
the second space and the second flexible film extend along the first axis, wherein
one end of the second space along the first axis communicates with a third communication passage that communicates with the outside, wherein
another end of the second space along the first axis communicates with a fourth communication passage that communicates with the outside, wherein
the second flexible film includes
a third flexible region including one end of the second flexible film along the first axis and
a fourth flexible region including another end of the second flexible film along the first axis, wherein,
along the second axis, a smallest width of the fourth flexible region is smaller than a smallest width of the third flexible region, and wherein,
when seen along the second axis, at least part of the first flexible region and at least part of the fourth flexible region overlap, and at least part of the second flexible region and at least part of the third flexible region overlap.

### Claim 5

A liquid discharge device comprising:
a channel member having a storage chamber that stores liquid;
a nozzle plate having a nozzle through which the liquid stored in the storage chamber is discharged;
a flexible film configured to form part of walling of the storage chamber;
a support having an opening configured to surround a space where the flexible film is exposed at a side of the flexible film opposite the storage chamber; and
a lid configured to cover the flexible film across the space, the lid being bonded, by an adhesive, to a surface of the support, wherein,
the support has a groove provided in the surface bonded to the lid, wherein
the adhesive is also disposed in the groove, wherein
a liquid discharge head that discharges the liquid includes
the channel member,
the nozzle plate,
the flexible film,
the support, and
the lid, wherein
the space and the flexible film extend along a first axis, wherein
one end of the space along the first axis communicates with a first communication passage that communicates with outside of the liquid discharge head, wherein
another end of the space along the first axis communicates with a second communication passage that communicates with the outside, wherein
the flexible film includes
a first flexible region including one end of the flexible film along the first axis and
a second flexible region including another end of the flexible film along the first axis, and wherein
a shape of the first flexible region is different from a shape of the second flexible region.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The liquid discharge device according to claim 5, wherein
the space extends along a first axis, and wherein
the groove extends along the first axis without being separated.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The liquid discharge device according to claim 5, further comprising:
a regulating member located between the flexible film and the lid in the space so as to regulate contact between the flexible film and the lid, wherein
the regulating member is provided separately from the support plate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The liquid discharge device according to claim 5, wherein
the storage chamber is a first storage chamber, wherein
the channel member is a first channel member, wherein
the flexible film is a first flexible film, wherein
the space is a first space, wherein
the opening is a first opening, wherein
the support is a first support, wherein
the liquid discharge device further includes
a second channel member having a second storage chamber that is disposed beside the first storage chamber along the second axis,
a second flexible film that forms part of walling of the second storage chamber, and
a second support having a second opening that surrounds a second space where the second flexible film is exposed at a side of the second flexible film opposite the second storage chamber, wherein
the lid is configured to cover the second flexible film across the second space, the lid being bonded, by the adhesive, to a surface of the second support, wherein
the liquid discharge head further includes
the second channel member,
the second flexible film, and
the second support, wherein
the second space and the second flexible film extend along the first axis, wherein
one end of the second space along the first axis communicates with a third communication passage that communicates with the outside, wherein
another end of the second space along the first axis communicates with a fourth communication passage that communicates with the outside, wherein
the second flexible film includes
a third flexible region including one end of the second flexible film along the first axis and
a fourth flexible region including another end of the second flexible film along the first axis, wherein,
along the second axis, a smallest width of the fourth flexible region is smaller than a smallest width of the third flexible region, and wherein,
when seen along the second axis, at least part of the first flexible region and at least part of the fourth flexible region overlap, and at least part of the second flexible region and at least part of the third flexible region overlap.