FLUID TRANSPORTER

• US 20110186143A1
• Filed: 01/27/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: MIYAZAKI, Hajime, UCHIKAWA, Daisuke
• Application Number:
  US13/015,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20110186143A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• 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 43/1223 the actuating elements, e.g. rollers, moving in a straight line during squeezing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1624 Destructible or deformable element controlled

Abstract

A fluid transporter which presses a tube made of elastic material by using a pressing member to close at least one position of the tube, and shifts the closed position to transport fluid within the tube, includes: a main body case on which a driving unit for driving the pressing member to shift the closed position is provided; and an attachment case which is so constructed as to be attachable to and detachable from the main body case and has a flow path through which the fluid to be transported passes, wherein the portion of the flow path pressed by the pressing member is formed by the tube, and the remaining portion of the flow path is formed integrally with the attachment case.

Claims

1. A fluid transporter which presses a tube made of elastic material by using a pressing member to close at least one position of the tube, and shifts the closed position to transport fluid within the tube, comprising:

a main body case on which a driving unit for driving the pressing member to shift the closed position is provided; and

an attachment case which is so constructed as to be attachable to and detachable from the main body case and has a flow path through which the fluid to be transported passes,

wherein

the portion of the flow path pressed by the pressing member is formed by the tube, and

the remaining portion of the flow path is formed integrally with the attachment case.

2. The fluid transporter according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member includes a cam provided on the main body case, and a plurality of pressing shafts provided on the attachment case to sequentially press the tube by rotation of the cam.

3. The fluid transporter according to claim 1, wherein the proportion of the length of the tube to the entire length of the flow path is set at half or shorter than half the entire length of the flow path.

4. The fluid transporter according to claim 1, wherein the inside diameter of the portion of the flow path provided on the attachment case is made smaller than the inside diameter of the tube.

5. The fluid transporter according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit which changes the inside diameter of the tube with the tube attached to the attachment case.

6. The fluid transporter according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is a unit which has a rotation mechanism and changes the inside diameter of the tube by expanding and contracting the tube in accordance with rotation of the rotation mechanism.