Tube unit, control unit, and micropump

• US 8,491,286 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Hajime, Kawasumi, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertheaud, Peter J
• Assistant Examiner(s): KASTURE, DNYANESH G
• Application Number:
  US12/623,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20100143168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 417474-47714, 604/153, 310/323.02, 310/323.04, 310/323.16, 310/323.17, 310/366
• US Class Current: 417/477.2
• 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 43/08 having tubular flexible members F04B43/12 takes precedence
• 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 43/095 Piezoelectric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/123 using an excenter as the squeezing element

Abstract

A micropump includes: a tube unit which includes a tube having elasticity and a circular-arc-shaped part, a plurality of fingers extending in radial directions from the circular-arc center of the circular-arc shape of the tube, and a tube guide frame which holds the tube and the plural fingers; a control unit which includes a cam for sequentially pressing the plural fingers from the fluid flow-in side to the fluid flow-out side of the tube, a rotor for giving rotational force to the cam, and an oscillator having a piezoelectric element and a projection disposed at an end in the longitudinal direction to contact the rotor; a reservoir which communicates with a flow inlet portion of the tube; a control circuit unit which inputs a drive signal to the piezoelectric element; and a power source which supplies power to the control circuit unit, wherein the tube unit is attachable to and detachable from the control unit substantially in the horizontal direction with respect to the rotation flat plane of the cam, and the oscillator is oscillated by applying alternating voltage to the piezoelectric element, rotational force is repeatedly given to the rotor from the projection, the plural fingers are sequentially pressed by the cam from the flow-in side to the flow-out side of fluid, and fluid is transported by repeating closure and open of the tube.

Claims

1. A micropump comprising:

a tube unit which includes a tube having elasticity and a circular-arc-shaped part, a plurality of fingers extending in radial directions from a circular-arc center of the circular-arc-shaped part of the tube, and a tube guide frame which holds the tube and the plurality of fingers;

a control unit including a cam for sequentially pressing the plurality of fingers from a fluid flow-in side to a fluid flow-out side of the tube, a rotor for giving rotational force to the cam, and an oscillator having a piezoelectric element that is actuated by a plurality of electrodes formed on a surface thereof, and the oscillator having a projection disposed at an end in a longitudinal direction to contact the rotor;

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

a control circuit unit which inputs a drive signal to the piezoelectric element; and

a power source which supplies power to the control circuit unit,

wherein

the tube unit is attachable to and detachable from the control unit in a direction that is parallel with respect to a rotation flat plane of the cam, and the control unit completely encases the tube unit when the tube unit is inserted in the control unit,

the plurality of electrodes include a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode disposed between the first and second electrodes, the first and second electrodes being diagonally opposed to each other, and

the oscillator is oscillated by applying alternating voltage to the piezoelectric element, rotational force is repeatedly given to the rotor from the projection, the plurality of fingers are sequentially pressed by the cam from the flow-in side to the flow-out side of the tube, and fluid is transported by repeating opening and closing of the tube.

2. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein the tube unit is inserted into a space formed in the control unit.

3. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein:

the rotor is disk-shaped; and

the projection is disposed in such a position as to contact an outer circumferential side surface of the rotor.

4. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein:

the rotor is ring-shaped; and

the projection is disposed in such a position as to contact a ring-shaped inner circumferential side surface of the rotor.

5. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein:

the rotor is provided inside a ring-shaped concave formed on one flat surface of the cam; and

the projection is disposed in such a position as to contact an inner circumferential side surface of the concave.

6. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit unit, the oscillator, and the cam are dispersed at positions not overlapping with one another on the rotation flat plane.

7. The micropump according to claim 1, further comprising a speed reduction mechanism or a speed increase mechanism between the rotor and the cam.

8. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein the tube guide frame has a tube guide groove into which the tube is inserted, and a tube holding portion which holds the tube in the tube guide groove.

9. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein a guide portion which locates the center of the circular-arc-shaped part of the tube and a rotation center of the cam at the same position at the time of attachment of the tube unit to the control unit is provided on each side surface of the tube unit and the control unit.

10. The micropump according to claim 9, wherein a detection unit which detects that the center of the circular-arc shape of the tube and a rotation center of the cam are located at the same position at the time of attachment of the tube unit to the control unit is provided between the tube unit and the control unit.

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

a cover member for fixing the tube unit to the control unit; and

an elastic member which biases the tube unit to the control unit such that the center of the circular-arc shape of the tube and a rotation center of the cam can be located at the same position provided between the cover member and the tube unit.

12. The micropump according to claim 11, wherein a biasing force of the elastic member is larger than a tube pressing force of the plurality of fingers.

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

a tube regulating wall which regulates shift of the tube caused by the press of the plurality of fingers; and

an elastic member disposed between the tube and the tube regulating wall.

14. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein a part or an entire area of outer peripheries of the tube unit and the control unit is transparent.

15. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein either one or both of the power source and the reservoir are accommodated in the tube unit.

16. The micropump according to claim 15, wherein the power source and the reservoir are attachable to and detachable from the tube unit.

17. The micropump according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir has a port for introducing fluid into the reservoir or sealing the reservoir.

18. The micropump according to claim 1, further comprising an air vent filter which blocks passage of bubbles at a communicating portion between the reservoir and the tube.