CONTROL UNIT, TUBE UNIT, AND MICROPUMP

• US 20100080720A1
• Filed: 08/18/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: MIYAZAKI, Hajime, KAWASUMI, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,491,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/477.600
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• 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 43/082 the tubular flexible member being pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating movement in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the tubular member and each having its own driving mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/09 Pumps having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1223 the actuating elements, e.g. rollers, moving in a straight line during squeezing

Abstract

A micropump includes: a tube unit including an elastic tube, one portion of which is disposed in an arc shape, a plurality of fingers, which are disposed radially from the direction of the radius point of the arc shape of the tube, and a guide frame, which holds the tube and the plurality of fingers; a control unit including a cam, which presses the plurality of fingers in order from the inflow side to the outflow side of the tube, a drive section, which applies torque to the cam, a control circuit, which carries out a drive control of the drive section, and a machine casing, which holds the cam, drive section, and control circuit; a reservoir with which a flow inlet of the tube communicates; and a power source which supplies electric power to the control circuit, wherein the tube unit is mountable in and removable from the control unit in a direction approximately parallel to the plane of rotation of the cam, and is mounted inside a space provided in the machine casing.

Claims

1. A micropump comprising:

a tube unit including an elastic tube, one portion of which is disposed in an arc shape, a plurality of fingers, which are disposed radially from the direction of the radius point of the arc shape of the tube, and a guide frame, which holds the tube and the plurality of fingers;

a control unit including a cam, which presses the plurality of fingers in order from the inflow side to the outflow side of the tube, a drive section, which applies torque to the cam, a control circuit, which carries out a drive control of the drive section, and a machine casing, which holds the cam, drive section, and control circuit;

a reservoir with which a flow inlet of the tube communicates; and

a power source which supplies electric power to the control circuit, wherein

the tube unit is mountable in and removable from the control unit in a direction approximately parallel to the plane of rotation of the cam, and is mounted inside a space provided in the machine casing.

2. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

guide portions, which cause the radius point of the arc shape of the tube to approximately coincide with the rotation center of the cam when the tube unit is mounted in the control unit, are provided one in each of the tube unit and the control unit.

3. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

a detector, which detects that the radius point of the arc shape of the tube has coincided with the rotation center of the cam when the tube unit is mounted in the control unit, is provided between the tube unit and the control unit.

4. The micropump according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cover member for fixing the tube unit to the control unit, wherein

an elastic member, which biases the tube unit toward the control unit in a direction in which the radius point of the arc shape of the tube is caused to approximately coincide with the rotation center of the cam, is provided between the cover member and the tube unit.

5. The micropump according to claim 4, wherein

the biasing force of the elastic member is greater than the pressure of the plurality of fingers against the tube.

6. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

one portion or the whole of the machine casing and the guide frame is transparent.

7. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

the power source is housed in the tube unit.

8. The micropump according to claim 7, wherein

the power source is removably mounted in the tube unit.

9. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

the reservoir is detachably attached to the tube.

10. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

the reservoir is housed in the tube unit.

11. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

the reservoir and the power source are housed in the tube unit.

12. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

the reservoir includes a port for injecting a fluid thereinto, or sealing it therein.

13. The micropump according to claim 12, wherein

the reservoir is housed in the tube unit, and

the port is closely held to an opening provided in the guide frame, and disposed in such a way as to expose a flow inlet of the port to the outside of the guide frame.

14. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

an air vent filter for blocking a passage of air bubbles is provided in a communication portion between the reservoir and the tube.

15. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein

the power source is housed in the control unit.

16. The micropump according to claim 15, wherein

the power source is mountable in and removable from the control unit.

17. A control unit which is mountable in and removable from the tube unit according to claim 1, comprising:

a cam, which presses the plurality of fingers in order from the inflow side to the outflow side of the tube;

a drive section, which applies torque to the cam;

a control circuit, which carries out a drive control of the drive section; and

a machine casing, which holds the cam, the drive section, and the control circuit.

18. A tube unit which is mountable in and removable from the control unit according to claim 1, comprising:

a tube, which is disposed in such a way that the rotation center of the cam approximately coincides with the center of the arc shape of the tube;

a plurality of fingers, which are disposed radially from the direction of the rotation center of the cam; and

a guide frame, which holds the tube and the plurality of fingers.