Peristaltic pump including an elastically displaceable locking plate

Abstract

A peristaltic pump is provided. The peristaltic pump includes a housing for a motors a receiving plate mounted to the housing, a locking plate, and a biasing member. The locking plate includes a first aperture capable of receiving a hook extending from a pump head, a second aperture capable of receiving a drive shaft of the pump head, and a release member. The biasing member elastically couples the receiving plate with the locking plate. Use of the release member by a user causes movement of the locking plate relative to the receiving plate to release the hook when received in the first aperture thereby releasing the pump head from the locking plate.

1 . A peristaltic pump comprising: 
 a housing for a motor;    a receiving plate mounted to the housing;    a locking plate, the locking plate including 
 a first aperture capable of receiving a hook extending from a pump head;  
 a second aperture capable of receiving a drive shaft of the pump head; and  
 a release member; and  
   a biasing member elastically coupling the receiving plate with the locking plate;    wherein use of the release member by a user causes movement of the locking 
 plate relative to the receiving plate to release the hook when received in  
 the first aperture thereby releasing the pump head from the locking plate.  
   
   
   
       2 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 1 , further comprising the motor.  
   
   
       3 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 2 , wherein the motor includes a motor drive shaft, and further wherein an end of the motor drive shaft is accessible through the second aperture.  
   
   
       4 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 3 , wherein the end of the motor drive shaft includes a sleeve and a spline extending from an inner surface of the sleeve.  
   
   
       5 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 3 , wherein the end of the motor drive shaft includes a central hub and a spline extending from an outer surface of the central hub.  
   
   
       6 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive module for controlling the motor.  
   
   
       7 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 6 , wherein the drive module comprises a control panel including a control for selecting an operating parameter of the pump head.  
   
   
       8 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 1 , further comprising the pump head, wherein the pump head comprises: 
 a cassette configured to receive a tube; and    a mounting plate mounted to the cassette, the mounting plate including the hook; and 
 a third aperture wherein an end of the drive shaft is accessible through the third aperture.  
   
   
   
       9 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 8 , wherein the drive shaft of the pump head is operably coupleable with a motor drive shaft of the motor to control pumping of a fluid through the received tube.  
   
   
       10 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 8 , wherein the pump head further comprises: 
 a second receiving plate mounted to the cassette;    a second locking plate, the second locking plate including 
 a fourth aperture capable of receiving a second hook extending from the second pump head;  
 a fifth aperture capable of receiving a second drive shaft of the second pump head; and  
 a second release member; and  
   a second biasing member elastically coupling the second receiving plate with the second locking plate;    wherein use of the second release member by the user causes movement of the second locking plate relative to the second receiving plate to release the second hook when received in the fourth aperture thereby releasing the second pump head from the second locking plate.    
   
   
       11 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 10 , wherein the second receiving plate mounts to the cassette on a side generally opposite the mounting plate.  
   
   
       12 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 10 , wherein the second drive shaft of the second pump head is operably coupleable with the drive shaft of the pump head to control pumping of a fluid through a second tube received by the second pump head.  
   
   
       13 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 9 , wherein the drive shaft of the pump head includes a central hub and a spline extending from an outer surface of the central hub; 
 wherein the motor drive shaft of the motor includes a sleeve and a second spline extending from an inner surface of the sleeve;    wherein the sleeve is capable of receiving the central hub; and    further wherein the drive shaft operably couples with the motor drive shaft through an abutment of the spline with the second spline.    
   
   
       14 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 9 , wherein the drive shaft of the pump head includes a sleeve and a spline extending from an inner surface of the sleeve, 
 wherein the motor drive shaft of the motor includes a central hub and a second spline extending from an outer surface of the central hub;    wherein the sleeve is capable of receiving the central hub; and    further wherein the drive shaft operably couples with the motor drive shaft through an abutment of the spline with the second spline.    
   
   
       15 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 12 , further comprising the second pump head, wherein the second pump head comprises: 
 a second cassette configured to receive a second tube; and    a second mounting plate mounted to the second cassette, the second mounting plate including 
 the second hook; and  
 a sixth aperture wherein an end of the second drive shaft is accessible through the sixth aperture.  
   
   
   
       16 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 13 , wherein an end of the spline is chamfered.  
   
   
       17 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 2 , wherein the motor includes a motor drive shaft, and further wherein an end of the motor drive shaft is accessible through the second aperture.  
   
   
       18 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 1 , wherein the release member is a push button.  
   
   
       19 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 17 , wherein the push button is mounted for movement in a first direction which causes compression of the biasing member.  
   
   
       20 . A peristaltic pump comprising: 
 a housing for a motor;    a receiving plate mounted to the housing;    a locking plate, the locking plate including 
 a hook;  
 an aperture capable of receiving a drive shaft of a pump head; and  
 a release member; and  
   a biasing member elastically coupling the receiving plate with the locking plate;    wherein use of the release member by a user causes movement of the locking plate relative to the receiving plate to release the hook from the pump head when the pump head is mounted to the locking plate.