NEEDLE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

The distance between an end of a contour of the curved area at which a straight line extending longitudinally of the pipe through the axis of the hole intersects with the contour of the curved area, and an end of the hole that is the nearest to the end of the contour of the curved area longitudinally of the pipe, is larger than the distance between an end of the contour of the curved area at which a straight line extending laterally of the pipe through the axis of the hole intersects with the contour of the curved area, and an end of the hole that is the nearest to the end of the contour of the curved area laterally of the pipe, when viewed along the central axis of the through hole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a general construction of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a plan view of a needle shown in FIG. 1 when viewed along a central axis of a through hole of the needle;

FIG. 2B is a plan view of the needle when viewed from a direction II in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2B;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2B;

FIG. 5A shows a state wherein a tapered area of the needle is being stuck into a cap;

FIG. 5B shows a state wherein a through hole formed on a straight area of the needle has reached the cap;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are sectional views showing manufacturing steps of the needle of FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A needle that pierces an elastic body, which is stopping a flow passage, so as to interconnect regions of the passage, which are separated by the elastic body, the needle comprising: a hollow pipe that pierces the elastic body, one longitudinal end of the hollow pipe being closed;a through hole formed through a wall of the hollow pipe; anda recessed curved area formed on the wall of the hollow pipe around the through hole, the wall being bent in the recessed curved area such that outer and inner surfaces of the wall are the more inside of the hollow pipe along a central axis of the through hole, at the nearer position to the central axis,the recessed curved area being formed such that the distance between an end of a contour of the recessed curved area at which a straight line extending longitudinally of the hollow pipe through the central axis of the through hole intersects with the contour of the recessed curved area, and an end of the through hole that is the nearest to the end of the contour of the recessed curved area longitudinally of the hollow pipe, is larger than the distance between an end of the contour of the recessed curved area at which a straight line extending laterally of the hollow pipe through the central axis of the through hole intersects with the contour of the recessed curved area, and an end of the through hole that is the nearest to the end of the contour of the recessed curved area laterally of the hollow pipe, when viewed along the central axis of the through hole.

2. The needle according to claim 1, wherein the recessed curved area is formed such that a slope of the outer surface of the wall relative to a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the through hole is the steeper at the nearer position to the central axis of the through hole.

3. The needle according to claim 1, wherein the contour of the recessed curved area is substantially elliptical, having a major axis extending longitudinally of the hollow pipe and a minor axis extending laterally of the hollow pipe, when viewed along the central axis of the through hole.

4. The needle according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of through holes and a plurality of recessed curved areas are arranged zigzag longitudinally of the hollow pipe.

5. The needle according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of through holes and a plurality of recessed curved areas are arranged zigzag on a periphery of the hollow pipe perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the hollow pipe.

6. A manufacturing method of a needle that pierces an elastic body, which is stopping a flow passage, so as to interconnect regions of the passage, which are separated by the elastic body, the method comprising: a through hole forming step of forming a through hole through a wall of a hollow pipe that pierces the elastic body, one longitudinal end of the hollow pipe being closed; anda recessed curved area forming step of forming, by press work, a recessed curved area on the wall of the hollow pipe around the through hole such that outer and inner surfaces of the wall are the more inside of the hollow pipe along a central axis of the through hole, at the nearer position to the central axis,the recessed curved area being formed in the recessed curved area forming step such that the distance between an end of a contour of the recessed curved area at which a straight line extending longitudinally of the hollow pipe through the central axis of the through hole intersects with the contour of the recessed curved area, and an end of the through hole that is the nearest to the end of the contour of the recessed curved area longitudinally of the hollow pipe, is larger than the distance between an end of the contour of the recessed curved area at which a straight line extending laterally of the hollow pipe through the central axis of the through hole intersects with the contour of the recessed curved area, and an end of the through hole that is the nearest to the end of the contour of the recessed curved area laterally of the hollow pipe, when viewed along the central axis of the through hole.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the through hole forming step and the recessed curved area forming step are performed at once by press work.