Peristaltic pump
First Claim
1. A peristaltic pump comprising:
- a base,a rotor supported on said base, said rotor comprising a support structure and a plurality of rollers mounted thereon; and
an occlusion bed supported on said base so as to be pivotable about a fixed axis perpendicular to the axis of said rotor and adjacent said base between an open position in which said occlusion bed is spaced from said rotor by a relatively large distance to enable loading and unloading of tubing, and a closed position in which said occlusion bed is spaced from said rotor by a relatively small distance to enable peristaltic pumping upon rotation of said rotor, with only a minor angular displacement of said occlusion bed being needed to shift said occlusion bed between said open and closed positions;
wherein said occlusion bed is a one-piece structure comprising an integral latch lever, and wherein said base includes a latch plate for cooperation with said latch lever to provide a snap-action lock mechanism for selectively maintaining said occlusion bed in said closed position.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A peristaltic pump constructed of a relatively small number of components so that performance and reliability criteria can be satisfied in a relatively economical and compact pump. In a preferred embodiment, the occlusion bed pivots about a pair of hinge pins integrally molded with the occlusion bed which are received in lugs integrally molded with the base of the pump. The occlusion bed also preferably includes an integral resiliently-biased latch member which cooperates with a latch plate integrally molded in the base of the pump. The pump preferably includes a rotor in which each of the roller support pins is molded integrally with one of the end plates. To secure tubing in place on the pump, a pair of cantilevered leaf springs urge tubing into slots on tubing retainer plates disposed adjacent the rotor. The roller pins and rollers may be made of a low friction composite material which eliminates the need for bearings therebetween.
112 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A peristaltic pump comprising:
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a base, a rotor supported on said base, said rotor comprising a support structure and a plurality of rollers mounted thereon; and an occlusion bed supported on said base so as to be pivotable about a fixed axis perpendicular to the axis of said rotor and adjacent said base between an open position in which said occlusion bed is spaced from said rotor by a relatively large distance to enable loading and unloading of tubing, and a closed position in which said occlusion bed is spaced from said rotor by a relatively small distance to enable peristaltic pumping upon rotation of said rotor, with only a minor angular displacement of said occlusion bed being needed to shift said occlusion bed between said open and closed positions; wherein said occlusion bed is a one-piece structure comprising an integral latch lever, and wherein said base includes a latch plate for cooperation with said latch lever to provide a snap-action lock mechanism for selectively maintaining said occlusion bed in said closed position. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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2. A peristaltic pump comprising:
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a base; a rotor supported on said base, said rotor comprising a support structure and a plurality of rollers mounted thereon; and an occlusion bed supported on said base so as to be movable between an open position in which said occlusion bed is spaced from said rotor by a relatively large distance to enable loading and unloading of tubing, and a closed position in which said occlusion bed is spaced from said rotor by a relatively small distance to enable peristaltic pumping upon rotation of said rotor wherein said occlusion bed is a one-piece structure comprising an integral latch lever, and wherein said base includes a latch plate for cooperation with said latch lever to provide a snap-action lock mechanism for selectively maintaining said occlusion bed in said closed position; and wherein said occlusion bed comprises a one-piece injection-molded member having a pair of axially aligned hinge pins extending outward on opposite sides thereof, and wherein said base comprises a pair of slots for receiving said hinge pins.
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4. A peristaltic pump comprising:
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a base; a rotor supported on said base, said rotor comprising a support structure and a plurality of rollers mounted thereon; and an occlusion bed supported on said base so as to be movable between an open position in which said occlusion bed is spaced from said rotor by a relatively large distance to enable loading and unloading of tubing and a closed position in which said occlusion bed is spaced from said rotor by a relatively small distance to enable peristaltic pumping upon rotation of said rotor, said occlusion bed comprising a one-piece member having a pair of axially aligned hinge pins formed integral therewith extending outward on opposite sides thereof to provide a pivot axis for movement of said occlusion bed between said open position and said closed position. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A peristaltic pump comprising:
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a base; an occlusion bed supported on said base and comprising an occlusion surface; and a rotor supported on said base, said rotor comprising a shaft, a pair of end plates disposed generally transversely of said shaft and fixed thereto for rotation therewith, a plurality of roller supports extending between said end plates, and a plurality of rollers supported on said roller supports; wherein said rotor comprises a pair of identical pieces, each of said identical pieces comprising an end plate formed integrally with one-half of said roller supports. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A peristaltic pump comprising:
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a base; a rotor supported on said base, said rotor comprising a support structure and a plurality of rollers mounted thereon; an occlusion bed providing an occlusion surface for cooperation with said rotors in effecting peristaltic pumping; and a tubing retainer supported on said base, said tubing retainer comprising a wall having a plurality of slots therein for receiving tubing, and at least one cantilevered leaf spring having at least one end portion movable between a closed position for retaining tubing in position, and an open position for permitting loading and unloading of tubing, said leaf spring being biased toward said closed position, said leaf spring being positioned to engage said tubing when in said closed position to maintain said tubing in its desired position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification