Liquid discharger and apparatus including the liquid discharger
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsOsamu Takahashi, Masatoshi Moteki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid discharger 1A has a base 2A where a resilient tube 100 is disposed in a tube guide groove 211A. A retainer 4A is rotatably provided at the base 2A, with a plurality of balls 5 being mounted at the retainer 4A so that the balls can roll. The cross sectional shape of a surface 211 defining the tube guide groove 211A that contacts the tube 100 has an arc shape formed concentrically with the balls 5. The balls 5, which are held by the retainer 4A, roll on the tube 100 while pressing and squashing a portion of the tube 100 as a rotor 3A rotates in order to discharge liquid inside the tube 100.
Claims20
A liquid discharger including a base for placing a resilient tube thereat, the liquid discharger comprising:
- at least two balls that roll on the tube while pressing and squashing separate portions of the tube;
- a retainer movable along the tube, said retainer having ball holding sections for holding said balls as the balls rotate along the tube;
- and
- a driving mechanism for rolling the balls.
A liquid discharger including a base for disposing a resilient tube thereat, the liquid discharger comprising:
- a pressing-and-squashing section for pressing and squashing a portion of the tube, and
- a force applying mechanism for applying one of a pulling force and a compression force to the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.