TUBE UNIT, CONTROL UNIT, AND MICROPUMP

• US 20090208350A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: MIYASAKA, Mamoru, MIYAZAKI, Hajime, KAWASUMI, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,246,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/316
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/12 having peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/123 using an excenter as the squeezing element

Abstract

A micropump includes: a tube unit including a tube which has elasticity, and one portion of which is disposed in an arc shape, a plurality of fingers, which are disposed radiating from a direction of a center of the arc shape of the tube, and a guide frame, which holds the tube and the plurality of fingers; and a control unit including a cam, which sequentially presses the plurality of fingers in a direction in which a liquid flows, a drive force transmission mechanism, which transmits a torque to the cam, and a control circuitry, which carries out a control of a motor which drives the drive force transmission mechanism, wherein the tube unit and the control unit are attached stacked one on the other, and are detachable.

Claims

1. A micropump comprising:

a tube unit including a tube which has elasticity, and one portion of which is disposed in an arc shape, a plurality of fingers, which are disposed radiating from a direction of a center of the arc shape of the tube, and a guide frame, which holds the tube and the plurality of fingers; and

a control unit including a cam, which sequentially presses the plurality of fingers in a direction in which a liquid flows, a drive force transmission mechanism, which transmits a torque to the cam, and a control circuitry, which carries out a control of a motor which drives the drive force transmission mechanism, wherein

the tube unit and the control unit are attached stacked one on the other, and are detachable.

2. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit includes the motor.

3. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

the tube unit includes the motor.

4. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

the cam includes an outer circumferential surface, which is approximately perpendicular to a rotation plane of the cam, and has concavities and convexities which cause the plurality of fingers to press or release the tube, and a slope or a curved surface, which is continuous with the outer circumferential surface from a surface facing the tube unit, and

when the tube unit is attached to the control unit, cam abutment portions of the plurality of fingers are moved to a position, in which they abut against the outer circumferential surface, along the slope or curved surface.

5. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

a positioning member is provided for approximately aligning a rotation center of the cam with a center of an arc of a tube guide wall in a range in which the plurality of fingers press the tube, when the tube unit is attached to the control unit.

6. The micropump according to claim 4, wherein

the cam abutment portions of the plurality of fingers are formed as a smooth curved surface, or formed of a low friction coefficient material.

7. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

an elastic member is provided between the tube guide wall, provided in the guide frame and subject to a pressure of the plurality of fingers, and the tube.

8. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit further including a cam holding member which pivotally supports the cam, a tilt suppressing protrusion which suppresses a tilt of the cam in a direction of thickness is provided on the cam or the cam holding member.

9. A tube unit which is attachable to and detachable from the control unit according to claim 1, comprising:

a tube, which has elasticity, a plurality of fingers, which sequentially press the tube in a direction in which a liquid flows, and a guide frame, which holds them.

10. The tube unit according to claim 9, which is attachable to and detachable from the control unit, comprising:

the tube, the plurality of fingers, a motor, which drives a drive force transmission mechanism which transmits a torque to a cam which sequentially presses the plurality of fingers in the direction in which the liquid flows, and a guide frame, which holds them.

11. The tube unit according to claim 9, wherein

each of the plurality of fingers includes a shaft, a cam abutment portion provided at one end of the shaft, and a tube pressing portion which, being provided at the other end, is configured of a flange like protrusion, and

a groove, which houses the tube pressing portion and has a finger position regulation wall which regulates a position of each of the plurality of fingers in a forward-back direction, is provided in the guide frame.

12. The tube unit according to claim 9, wherein

each of the plurality of fingers includes a shaft, a cam abutment portion provided at one end of the shaft, and a tube pressing portion provided at the other end,

a flange like protrusion is provided partway along the shaft, and

a groove, which houses the flange like protrusion and regulates a position of each of the plurality of fingers in a forward-back direction, is provided in the guide frame.

13. The tube unit according to claim 9, wherein

the plurality of fingers are held on the guide frame in a position in which they do not press the tube, or in a condition in which they press the tube to the extent that the tube does not deteriorate.

14. A control unit which is attachable to and detachable from the tube unit according to claim 1, comprising:

a cam, which sequentially presses a plurality of fingers in a direction in which a liquid flows, a drive force transmission mechanism, which transmits a torque to the cam, and a control circuitry, which carries out a drive control of a motor which drives the drive force transmission mechanism.

15. The control unit according to claim 14, comprising:

the cam, the drive force transmission mechanism, the control circuitry, and the motor.