Linear peristaltic pump

Abstract

A peristaltic pump ( 1 ) including a tray, referred to as a pump body ( 3 ), which includes a substantially planar surface ( 32 ) against which a flexible tube ( 5 ) for the passage of fluid is intended to be positioned, and a system ( 2 ) for applying force including a plurality of support members ( 7 ), such as rollers, and drive elements for moving the support members against the tube in order to deform it against the pump body ( 3 ). The pump body ( 3 ) is movably mounted relative to the system ( 2 ) for applying force between a position spaced apart from the system ( 2 ) for applying force, and a position adjacent to the system ( 2 ) for applying force. The pump ( 1 ) also includes elements ( 36 ) for controlling the movement of the pump body ( 3 ) relative to the system ( 2 ) on the basis of a predetermined magnitude corresponding to the force applied to the tube.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A peristaltic pump comprising:
 a pump body plate that includes a substantially plane surface against which a flexible tube for passing fluid is to be positioned, 
 a force application system comprising a plurality of presser members, and a drive for moving said presser members, enabling said presser members to be moved while pressed against the tube in order to deform it against said pump body plate; and 
 a motor for moving said pump body plate relative to the force application system, between a first position spaced apart from said force application system and a second position closer to said force application system; 
 wherein said peristaltic pump includes at least one gauge for determining a magnitude representative of the force applied to the tube, when said tube is in a state positioned between the force application system and the pump body plate; 
 said peristaltic pump further comprising a governor processor for controlling the movement of the pump body plate relative to the force application system as a function of said determined magnitude representative of the force applied to the tube; and 
 a memory for said governor processor defining storing a setpoint value for said magnitude representative of the force applied to the tube, 
 said governor processor comprising instructions for:
 acquiring said determined value magnitude representative of the force applied to the flexible tube, 
 comparing said determined value magnitude representative of the force applied to the flexible tube with said memorized setpoint value of the magnitude representative of the force applied to the flexible tube, and 
 in function of the result of the comparison, controlling the motor to move the pump body toward or away from the force application system until said determined value magnitude reaches said setpoint value. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one gauge is a strain gauge. 
     
     
       3. The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said drive for moving the presser members includes a loop element that connects the presser members to one another, and two rotary cylinders positioned inside said loop element at opposite ends, at least one of the cylinders being motor-driven in order to drive said loop element around said cylinders. 
     
     
       4. The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said peristaltic pump includes a housing in which the force application system and the pump body plate are housed; and the pump body plate being mounted to move relative to said housing. 
     
     
       5. The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said pump body is a movable pump body. 
     
     
       6. The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said pump body plate is mounted to move in translation along a direction that is transvers, relative to said plane surface of the pump body plate. 
     
     
       7. The pump according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one gauge is a strain gauge. 
     
     
       8. The pump according to  claim 6 , wherein said drive for moving the presser members includes a loop element that connects the presser members to one another, and two rotary cylinders positioned inside said loop element at opposite ends, at least one of the cylinders being motor-driven in order to drive said loop element around said cylinders. 
     
     
       9. The pump according to  claim 6 , wherein said peristaltic pump includes a housing in which the force application system and the pump body plate are housed; and the pump body plate being mounted to move relative to said housing.