Liquid path opening/closing mechanism

Abstract

Disclosed is an innovative, compact and light liquid flow path opening/closing device that is simply structured, that can be appropriately employed for controlling the flow of ink along the ink path of an ink-jet printer, and that operationally is reliable. According to the present invention, an electromagnetic driven liquid flow path opening/closing device comprises a highly permeable drive shaft, a spring for impelling the drive shaft in one direction, a bobbin case within which the drive shaft inside a cylindrical chamber is positioned, a coil wound around the outer face of the bobbin case, a pair of highly permeable cases in which the bobbin case around which the coil is wound is stored, and inlet and outlet joints, communicating with the cylindrical chamber of the bobbin case wherein the drive shaft is positioned, wherein the joints are opened by impelling the drive shaft to counter the urging force exerted by the spring.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.