Method and apparatus for a linear peristaltic pump

Abstract

A method and accompanying apparatus dispenses product with a non-invasive linear peristaltic pump. The linear peristaltic pump includes a traction plate having a linear portion, a depressor and a driver. The depressor compresses the product tube between the linear portion and the depressor, such that an inner passage of the product tube is substantially sealed. The driver moves the depressor along the linear portion of the traction plate, such that the product tube located between the depressor and the linear portion is compressed along the linear portion. Product in an inner passage of the product tube is thereby moved or dispensed. Another embodiment may include depressors attached to belts, wherein successive depressors may be driven along the linear portion to dispense or move the product. A method for using a linear peristaltic pump and the use of a controller to dispense product is also provided.

1 . A linear peristaltic pump, comprising: 
 a traction plate having a linear portion with an upper end and a lower end;    a depressor in proximity to the upper end of the linear portion, wherein a product tube containing a product is placed between the linear portion of the traction plate and the depressor, and further wherein the depressor compresses the product tube such that an inner passage of the product tube is substantially shut-off; and    a driver, wherein the driver moves the depressor from the upper end to the lower end of the linear portion, such that the product tube is compressed by the depressor along the linear portion of the traction plate and product in front of the depressor is forced to move with the depressor, therein dispensing a predetermined amount of the product.    
   
   
       2 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 1 , wherein the driver comprises a belt attached to the depressor.  
   
   
       3 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 2 , wherein the driver comprises a motor that drives the belt.  
   
   
       4 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 2 , wherein the belt includes multiple depressors that successively compress the product tube along the linear portion of the traction plate as the belt rotates.  
   
   
       5 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 1 , wherein the linear peristaltic pump includes multiple depressors to compress the product tube along the linear portion of the traction plate.  
   
   
       6 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 5 , wherein at least one depressor compresses the product tube at the lower end of the linear portion of the traction plate.  
   
   
       7 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 6 , wherein the depressor located at the lower end of the linear portion releases the product tube as the driver moves the depressor located at the upper end of the linear portion to the lower end of the linear portion.  
   
   
       8 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 4 , wherein the depressor is a roller.  
   
   
       9 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a loading position that allows for an increased gap between the traction plate and the depressor while a product tube is being installed into the linear peristaltic pump.  
   
   
       10 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 1 , wherein the driver comprises a hydraulic cylinder that moves the depressor along the linear portion of the traction plate.  
   
   
       11 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 1 , wherein the driver further includes a controller to conduct operations.  
   
   
       12 . A method of dispensing product, comprising: 
 depressing a product tube containing a product against an upper end of a linear portion of a traction plate using a depressor; and    driving the depressor downward, from the upper end to a lower end of the linear portion, thereby dispensing a predetermined quantity of product;    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 returning the depressor to the upper end of the linear portion;    redepressing the product tube; and    driving the depressor downward.    
   
   
       14 . A linear peristaltic pump, comprising: 
 a traction plate having an upper end, a lower end, and a linear portion therebetween;    a belt assembly having a linear segment in proximity to the linear portion, wherein a product tube containing a product is placed between the linear portion of the traction plate and the belt assembly;    a depressor connectable to the belt assembly; and    a driver that rotates the belt assembly, wherein the depressor compresses the product tube against the upper end of the linear portion and moves along the linear portion to the lower end of the linear portion, thereby moving product in front of the depressor.    
   
   
       15 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 14 , wherein the belt assembly includes multiple depressors.  
   
   
       16 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 15 , wherein the depressors are rollers.  
   
   
       17 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 15 , wherein the multiple depressors successively compress the product tube along the linear portion of the traction plate as the belt rotates.  
   
   
       18 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 14 , wherein the linear peristaltic pump includes multiple depressors to compress the product tube along the linear portion of the traction plate.  
   
   
       19 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 15 , wherein a depressor compresses the product tube at the lower end of the linear portion of the traction plate.  
   
   
       20 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 19 , wherein the depressor located at the lower end of the linear portion releases the product tube as the driver moves the depressor located at the upper end of the linear portion to the lower end of the linear portion.  
   
   
       21 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 14 , wherein the driver includes a controller to conduct operations.  
   
   
       22 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 14 , further comprising a loading position that allows for an increased gap between the traction plate and the depressor while a product tube is being installed into the linear peristaltic pump.  
   
   
       23 . A linear peristaltic pump, comprising: 
 a traction plate having an upper end, a lower end and a linear portion therebetween;    a belt assembly having a linear segment in proximity to the linear portion, wherein a product tube containing a product is placed between the linear portion of the traction plate and the belt assembly;    multiple depressors, wherein the depressors are connectable to the belt assembly, and further wherein, in a working position, at least one of the depressors compresses the product tube at the upper end of the linear portion and at least one of the depressors compresses the product tube at the lower end of the linear portion, such that an inner passage of the product tube is closed at the compression points; and    a driver that rotates the belt assembly, wherein the depressor at the upper end of the linear portion moves along the linear portion, thereby moving product along in front of the depressor, and further wherein the depressor located at the lower end of the linear portion releases from the product tube.    
   
   
       24 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 23 , wherein the depressors are evenly spaced along the belt assembly.  
   
   
       25 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 23 , wherein a successive depressor engages the product tube at the upper end of the linear portion as the lower depressor releases from the product tube to prepare a successive dispense and to protect the product from contamination.  
   
   
       26 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 23 , wherein a depressor compresses the product tube at the lower end of the linear portion of the traction plate.  
   
   
       27 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 26 , wherein the depressor located at the lower end of the linear portion releases the product tube as the driver moves the depressor located at the upper end of the linear portion to the lower end of the linear portion.  
   
   
       28 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 23 , further comprising a loading position that allows for an increased gap between the traction plate and the depressor while a product tube is being installed into the linear peristaltic pump.  
   
   
       29 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 23 , wherein the driver further includes a controller to conduct operations.  
   
   
       30 . The linear peristaltic pump according to  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 an anti-drag ribbon disposed between the product tube and the belt assembly, wherein the anti-drag ribbon eliminates the transmission of vertical force components from the belt assembly to the product tube.    
   
   
       31 . A method of dispensing product, comprising: 
 compressing a product tube with a depressor at an upper end of a linear portion of a traction plate;    compressing a product tube with a depressor at a lower end of a linear portion, such that an inner passage of the product tube is closed off at the compression points;    releasing the depressor located at the lower end from the product tube; and    driving the depressor located at the upper end of the linear portion along the linear portion from the upper end to the lower end, thereby dispensing product;    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 e. depressing the product tube with a successive depressor when the depressor reaches the lower end of the linear portion.    
   
   
       33 . A linear peristaltic pump, comprising: 
 a traction plate connectable to a mounting base, wherein the traction plate includes a linear portion having an upper end and a lower end;    a depressor, wherein a product tube containing a product is placed between the depressor and the traction plate, such that an inner passage of the product tube is substantially shut-off, and    a driver mounted to the mounting base and connectable to the depressor, wherein the driver moves the depressor from the upper end to the lower end of the linear portion, such that the product tube is compressed by the depressor along the linear portion and product in front of the depressor is forced to move with the depressor, therein dispensing a predetermined amount of the product.    
   
   
       34 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 33 , wherein the driver includes a belt.  
   
   
       35 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 34 , wherein the belt includes multiple depressors.  
   
   
       36 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 35 , wherein the multiple depressors are evenly spaced on the belt.  
   
   
       37 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 34 , wherein a belt path includes a linear segment between a drive gear and an idler gear.  
   
   
       38 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 37 , wherein the linear segment of the belt is located in proximity to the linear portion of the traction plate.  
   
   
       39 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 33 , further comprising a loading position and a working position.  
   
   
       40 . The linear peristaltic pump according to  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 an anti-drag ribbon disposed between the product tube and the depressor, wherein the anti-drag ribbon eliminates the transmission of vertical force components from the depressor to the product tube.    
   
   
       41 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 39 , further comprising a loading position that allows for an increased gap between the traction plate and the depressor while a product tube is being installed into the linear peristaltic pump.  
   
   
       42 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 33 , wherein the linear peristaltic pump includes multiple depressors to compress the product tube along the linear portion.  
   
   
       43 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 42 , wherein at least one depressor compresses the product tube at the lower end of the linear portion.  
   
   
       44 . The linear peristaltic pump of  claim 43 , wherein the depressor located at the lower end of the linear portion releases the product tube as the driver moves the depressor located at the upper end of the linear portion to the lower end of the linear portion.