Filter device and liquid droplet ejecting device

Abstract

The present invention provides a filter device including a supply channel where a liquid flows in; a first liquid chamber that is communicated with the supply channel; a second liquid chamber that is communicated with the first liquid chamber; a first discharge channel that is communicated with the second liquid chamber and that discharges the liquid; a first filter that is provided between the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber; and a second filter that is provided between the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber and whose lower end is positioned higher than a lower end of the first filter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a drawing that shows a typical configuration of a filter unit according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and a typical view of the main components of an inkjet recording device in which this filter unit is used;

FIG. 2 is a drawing that shows a typical structure of a filter unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3H are drawings that shows when ink is filled to the filter unit of FIG. 1 in the order from 3A to 3H;

FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the flow of ink in the filter unit of FIG. 1 filled with ink;

FIG. 5 is a chart comparing the capabilities of the filter unit of FIG. 1 with those of a conventional filter unit with various conditions;

FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a first alternate example of a filter unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a second alternate example of a filter unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective drawing showing the exterior of the filter unit of the first example;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the filter unit of FIG. 8 in an exploded state;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional drawings showing the cross section of the filter unit of FIG. 8, where FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional drawing A-A from FIG. 10B and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional drawing B-B from FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11 is a perspective drawing showing the exterior of the filter unit of the second example;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing the filter unit of FIG. 11 in an exploded state;

FIGS. 13A and B are cross-sectional drawings showing the cross section of the filter unit of FIG 11, where FIG. 13A is a cross-sectional drawing of A-A from FIG. 13B and FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional drawing B-B from FIG. 13A;

FIG. 14 is a drawing showing a typical structure of a conventional filter unit;

FIGS. 15A-15H are drawings that show when ink is filled to the conventional filter unit of FIG. 14 in the order from 15A to 15H;

FIG. 16 is a drawing showing the flow of ink in the conventional filter unit of FIG. 14 filled with ink;

FIG. 17 is a drawing showing a typical structure of the filter unit according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a drawing showing a typical structure of the filter unit according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a drawing showing a typical structure of the filter unit according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a frontal drawing of the filter according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 21A is a frontal drawing of the filter of the third alternate example according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 21B is a frontal drawing of the filter of the fourth alternate example according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A filter device comprising: a supply channel where a liquid flows in;a first liquid chamber that is communicated with the supply channel;a second liquid chamber that is communicated with the first liquid chamber;a first discharge channel that is communicated with the second liquid chamber and that discharges the liquid;a first filter that is provided between the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber; anda second filter that is provided between the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber and whose lower end is positioned higher than a lower end of the first filter.

2. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the lower end of the second filter is positioned higher than an upper end of the first filter.

3. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the first filter and the second filter are arranged on the same plane.

4. The filter device of claim 1 further comprising a partition portion that is provided between the first filter and the second filter to separate the first filter and the second filter.

5. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the second liquid chamber includes a plurality of surfaces that are communicated with the first liquid chamber, the first filter is provided at one of the plurality of surfaces of the second liquid chamber, andthe second filter is provided at a surface that differs from the surface at which the first filter is provided.

6. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the second filter forms the uppermost surface of the second liquid chamber.

7. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the second filter is arranged horizontally.

8. A filter device comprising: a supply channel where a liquid flows in;a first liquid chamber that is communicated with the supply channel;a second liquid chamber that is communicated with the first liquid chamber;a first discharge channel that is communicated with the second liquid chamber and that discharges the liquid;a second discharge channel that is communicated with the second liquid chamber and that is provided higher than the first discharge channel;a first filter that is provided between the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber; anda second filter that is provided between the second liquid chamber and the second discharge channel and whose lower end is positioned higher than a lower end of the first filter.

9. The filter device of claim 8, wherein the lower end of the second filter is positioned higher than an upper end of the first filter.

10. The filter device of claim 8, wherein the second discharge channel opens at a ceiling of the second liquid chamber or in the vicinity of the ceiling.

11. The filter device of claim 1, wherein a midpoint of the first discharge channel between an entrance and an exit of the first discharge channel is positioned higher than the entrance and the exit, and the entrance of the first discharge channel opens in the vicinity of the bottom of the second liquid chamber.

12. The filter device of claim 1 further comprising a third discharge channel that is communicated with the first liquid chamber.

13. The filter device of claim 12, wherein an entrance of the third discharge channel opens at a ceiling of the first liquid chamber or in the vicinity of the ceiling.

14. The filter device of claim 1, wherein an exit of the supply channel opens in the vicinity of a bottom of the first liquid chamber.

15. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the first discharge channel is 3 mm2 or more and 12 mm2 or less.

16. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the second liquid chamber is provided at the inner side of the first liquid chamber.

17. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the first liquid chamber is provided so as to surround the exterior side surface of the second liquid chamber, and the first filter is provided along the exterior side surface.

18. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the second liquid chamber and the first filter are made to have cylindrical forms, and the first discharge channel is provided at a substantially axial center position of the cylindrical first filter.

19. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the first liquid chamber is provided so as to sandwich the second liquid chamber, and the first filter is provided at a boundary surface of the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber.

20. A liquid droplet ejecting device comprising: a liquid droplet ejecting head that ejects liquid droplets from nozzles towards an object to be ejected;a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid supplied to the liquid droplet ejecting head; anda filter device that is provided between the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, the filter device comprising:a supply channel where the liquid flows in;a first liquid chamber that is communicated with the supply channel;a second liquid chamber that is communicated with the first liquid chamber;a first discharge channel that is communicated with the second liquid chamber and that discharges the liquid;a first filter that is provided between the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber; anda second filter that is provided between the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber and whose lower end is positioned higher than a lower end of the first filter.

21. The liquid droplet ejecting device of claim 20, wherein the first filter is arranged to be substantially perpendicularly to a nozzle surface of the liquid droplet ejecting head in which the nozzles are formed.

22. The filter device of claim 4, wherein the partition portion is provided between the first filter and the second filter at a heightwise position in the vicinity of a lower surface of a ceiling of the first liquid chamber or the second liquid chamber.

23. The filter device of claim 4, wherein the partition portion blocks proceeding of the liquid from the first filter to the second filter.