Fluid transporting device, and fluid transporter

• US 8,100,675 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Hajime, Kawasumi, Kazuo, Ushikoshi, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Freay, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jacobs, Todd D
• Application Number:
  US11/883,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20080138222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,183 Days
• Field of Search: 417/474, 417/476, 417/477.1, 417/477.2, 417/477.3, 417/477.8, 417/477.6, 417/479
• US Class Current: 417/477.6
• 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 43/12 having peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1253 by using two or more rollers as squeezing elements, the rollers moving on an arc of a circle during squeezing

Abstract

A fluid transporting device comprises a tube frame having a tube guide wall for arranging a tube having an elasticity in an arcuate shape, and a rotary pressure mechanism having a plurality of rollers. The rotary pressure mechanism is arranged, when the tube is arranged in the tube frame, on the side opposite to the guide wall side of the tube, such that its center of rotation is aligned with the center of the arc of the tube guide wall. A plurality of push pins are interposed between the tube and the rotary pressure mechanism and are arranged radially of the center of rotation of the rotary pressure mechanism. A switching mechanism moves at least one of the rollers to a position for the push pins to release the tube and a position for the push pins to press the tube.

Claims

1. A fluid transporting device comprising:

a tube frame having a tube guide wall for arranging a tube having an elasticity in an arcuate shape;

a rotary pressure mechanism arranged, when the tube is arranged in the tube frame, on the side opposite to the guide wall side of the tube, such that its center of rotation is aligned with the center of the arc of the tube guide wall, and having a plurality of rollers;

a plurality of push pins interposed between the tube and the rotary pressure mechanism and arranged radially of the center of rotation of the rotary pressure mechanism;

a switching mechanism disposed in the rotary pressure mechanism for allowing at least one of the rollers to move, in association with the rotating motions of the rotary pressure mechanism, to a position where the push pins release the tube and a position where the push pins are capable of pressing the tube, the switching mechanism including a rocking lever for moving at least one of the rollers to the position where the push pins release the tube and the position where the push pins are capable of pressing the tube, and a regulating lever for engaging with the rocking lever to regulate the position of the rocking lever and to hold the same position; and

a slide frame that supports the plurality of push pins, the slide frame including a protruding portion fixedly protruding toward the rotary pressure mechanism such that an end portion of the rocking lever abuts, as the rotary pressure mechanism rotates, against the protruding portion so that the rocking lever is rocked to move at least one of the rollers from the position for the push pins to release the tube to the position for the push pins to press the tube.

2. The fluid transporting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the protruding portion is disposed apart from and near the outer circumference of the rotary pressure mechanism.

3. The fluid transporting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the regulating lever is provided at its tail portion with a spring portion for applying a biasing force to rock the regulating lever in one direction;

and in that the spring portion biases the rocking lever in a direction to engage with the regulating lever.

4. The fluid transporting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the regulating lever includes an operation member for releasing the engagement with the rocking lever and for moving at least one of the rollers from the position for the push pins to press the tube to the position for the push pins to release the tube.

5. A fluid transporter comprising:

the fluid transporting device as set forth in claim 1, and

a fluid storing container for storing a fluid,

wherein the fluid transporting device and the fluid storing container communicate with each other by the tube having elasticity so that the fluid in the fluid storing container is transported by the fluid transporting device.

6. The fluid transporter as set forth in claim 5, wherein the fluid transporting device and the fluid storing container are formed in parallel in the planar direction in a casing.

7. The fluid transporting device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the regulating lever includes an operation member for releasing the engagement with the rocking lever and for moving at least one of the rollers from the position for the push pins to press the tube to the position for the push pins to release the tube.

8. A fluid transporter comprising:

the fluid transporting device as set forth in claim 2; and

a fluid storing container for storing a fluid,

wherein the fluid transporting device and the fluid storing container communicate with each other by the tube having elasticity so that the fluid in the fluid storing container is transported by the fluid transporting device.

9. A fluid transporter comprising:

the fluid transporting device as set forth in claim 3; and

a fluid storing container for storing a fluid,

wherein the fluid transporting device and the fluid storing container communicate with each other by the tube having elasticity so that the fluid in the fluid storing container is transported by the fluid transporting device.

10. A fluid transporter comprising:

the fluid transporting device as set forth in claim 4; and

a fluid storing container for storing a fluid,

wherein the fluid transporting device and the fluid storing container communicate with each other by the tube having elasticity so that the fluid in the fluid storing container is transported by the fluid transporting device.