FLUID TRANSPORT APPARATUS, REPLACEMENT UNIT AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING REPLACEMENT UNIT

• US 20130214184A1
• Filed: 02/12/2013
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: MIYAZAKI, Hajime
• Application Number:
  US13/765,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20130214184A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/12 having peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/00 Diaphragm valves or cut-off apparatus, e.g. with a member deformed, but not moved bodily, to close the passage container gates or closures operating by deformation of flexible walls B65D90/56; means for plugging pipes or hoses F16L55/10 ; Pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49405 Valve or choke making

Abstract

A fluid transport apparatus includes a main unit and a replacement unit that can be removably attached to the main unit. The replacement unit includes a tube for transporting a fluid, and a plurality of fingers for pressing against and occluding the tube, the plurality of fingers being arranged along the tube. The main unit includes a cam for pressing the plurality of fingers successively in a transport direction of the fluid. The tube, the plurality of fingers and the cam are arranged in a layered arrangement along a rotation axis direction of the cam.

Claims

1. A fluid transport apparatus comprising:

a main unit; and

a replacement unit that is removably attachable to the main unit;

the replacement unit including a tube for transporting a fluid, and a plurality of fingers for pressing against and occluding the tube, the plurality of fingers being arranged along the tube,

the main unit including a cam for pressing the plurality of fingers successively in a transport direction of the fluid, and

the tube, the plurality of fingers and the cam being arranged in a layered arrangement along a rotation axis direction of the cam.

2. The fluid transport apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the fingers are supported movably along a direction in which the replacement unit is mounted to the main unit.

3. The fluid transport apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the tube is not occluded before the replacement unit is mounted to the main unit, and

at least one of the fingers is pushed by the cam and occludes the tube when the replacement unit is mounted to the main unit.

4. The fluid transport apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the main unit is provided with a motor for driving the cam.

5. The fluid transport apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the replacement unit is provided with a motor for driving the cam.

6. A replacement unit of a fluid transport apparatus, the replacement unit comprising:

a tube for transporting a fluid; and

a plurality of fingers for pressing against and occluding the tube, the plurality of fingers being arranged along the tube;

the replacement unit being removably attachable to a main unit including a cam for pressing the plurality of fingers successively in a transport direction of the fluid, and

the tube and the plurality of fingers being arranged in a layered arrangement along a rotation axis direction of the cam.

7. A method for manufacturing the replacement unit according to claim 6, comprising:

preparing fingers of different lengths;

selecting fingers of a length corresponding to a diameter of the tube; and

using the fingers of the selected length to manufacture the replacement unit.