# US 10,870,283 B2 · Flow path members, liquid ejecting heads, and liquid ejecting apparatuses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,283 B2 - Document ID: US10870283B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/279,858 - Filed: 2019-02-19 - Published: 2019-08-22 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-21 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Ken Yamagishi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870283B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/17509: {Whilst mounted in the printer} - B41J 2/14233: {of film type, deformed by bending and disposed on a diaphragm} - B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} - F16K 31/126: the fluid acting on a diaphragm, bellows, or the like (F16K31/145, F16K31/165, F16K31/365, F16K31/385 take precedence) - B41J 2002/14241: {having a cover around the piezoelectric thin film element} - B41J 2002/14403: {including a filter} - B41J 2202/07: dealing with air bubbles - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract A flow path member includes a gas chamber which allows inflow and outflow of gas, and a flexible member that partitions part of the gas chamber and deforms in response to pressure change in the gas chamber, wherein the flexible member has a contact section configured to abut another object, the contact section being disposed inside a regulation section in which deformation is regulated, and the contact section abuts the another object to seal the another object during at least one of depressurization and pressurization of the gas chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flow path member comprising: a gas chamber which allows inflow and outflow of gas; and a flexible member that partitions part of the gas chamber and deforms in response to pressure change in the gas chamber, wherein the flexible member has a contact section configured to abut another object, the contact section being disposed inside a regulation section in which deformation is regulated, and the contact section abuts the another object to seal the another object during at least one of depressurization and pressurization of the gas chamber, wherein the flexible member includes a first portion that allows more gas to permeate therethrough and a second portion that allows less gas to permeate therethrough than the first portion, the another object has a vent hole, which is a gas distribution site, and the vent hole is sealed by the contact section included in the second portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flow path member according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the second portion is larger than a thickness of the first portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid introduced from the flow path member according to claim 2. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flow path member according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the contact section of the flexible member and an opening of the vent hole protrudes toward the other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid introduced from the flow path member according to claim 4. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The flow path member according to claim 1, wherein the contact section has a shielding member having high gas shielding properties per unit thickness compared with the flexible member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid introduced from the flow path member according to claim 6. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The flow path member according to claim 1, wherein at least one surface of the flexible member is covered with filling liquid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid introduced from the flow path member according to claim 8. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The flow path member according to claim 1, wherein the contact section is in contact with the another object when pressures on both surfaces of the flexible member are equal to each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid introduced from the flow path member according to claim 10. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The flow path member according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible member and the another object has smoothness higher than the other member in a region to be in contact with the other member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid introduced from the flow path member according to claim 12. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid introduced from the flow path member according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A liquid ejecting apparatus configured to eject liquid by using the liquid ejecting head according to claim 14. ### Claim 16 A flow path member comprising: a gas chamber which allows inflow and outflow of gas; and a flexible member that partitions part of the gas chamber and deforms in response to pressure change in the gas chamber, wherein the flexible member has a contact section configured to abut another object, the contact section being disposed inside a regulation section in which deformation is regulated, and the contact section abuts the another object to seal the another object during at least one of depressurization and pressurization of the gas chamber, and wherein the contact section has a shielding member having high gas shielding properties per unit thickness compared with the flexible member. ### Claim 17 A flow path member comprising: a gas chamber which allows inflow and outflow of gas; and a flexible member that partitions part of the gas chamber and deforms in response to pressure change in the gas chamber, wherein the flexible member has a contact section configured to abut another object, the contact section being disposed inside a regulation section in which deformation is regulated, and the contact section abuts the another object to seal the another object during at least one of depressurization and pressurization of the gas chamber, and the contact section is in contact with the another object when pressures on both surfaces of the flexible member are equal to each other.