Peristaltic pump and analyzer for testing a sample

Abstract

A peristaltic pump and an analyzer for testing a biological sample, wherein the pump includes a pump head that is constructed as a screwless assembly, wherein the pump includes a bayonet and/or a beam coupling, and/or wherein rollers of the pump are configured to be pivoted about corresponding pivot axes that intersect with the roller axes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A peristaltic pump for conveying a fluid within a cartridge, comprising:
 a motor; and   a pump head configured to be rotated about a central axis by means of the motor,   wherein the pump head comprises a main body, a plurality of rollers for contacting the cartridge, a plurality of brackets for the rollers and a plurality of roller bearings,   wherein each of the rollers is mounted to one of the brackets and is configured to be rotated about a roller axis,   wherein each of the brackets is mounted to the main body and is configured to be pivoted about a pivot axis relative to the main body,   wherein each of the roller bearings is clipped in one of the brackets,   wherein each of the rollers comprises a roller head and a roller shaft, the roller shaft being clipped in the roller bearing contained in the bracket, and   wherein the brackets are clipped in the main body.   
     
     
         2 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump head is constructed as a screwless assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the roller bearings is clipped radially to the roller axis in one of the brackets. 
     
     
         4 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the roller heads is cone-shaped and comprises a free end that is turned towards the central axis. 
     
     
         5 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the brackets comprises a receptacle for receiving one of the roller bearings, each of roller bearings being clipped in one of the receptacles of the brackets. 
     
     
         6 . The pump according to  claim 5 , wherein each receptacle is radially open such that one of the roller bearings can be inserted radially into the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The pump according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the brackets comprises a central portion and two side portions, wherein the central portion comprises or forms the receptacle for the roller bearings. 
     
     
         8 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the brackets comprises a pair of pivots, wherein each pair of pivots define one pivot axis. 
     
     
         9 . The pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the main body comprises a plurality of sockets, wherein each of the sockets is configured to pivotably receive at least one of the pivots, wherein each of the pivots is clipped in one of the sockets. 
     
     
         10 . The pump according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the pivots comprises a stop limiting pivoting movement of the rollers. 
     
     
         11 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the rollers have a conic roller head, and wherein the roller axis is between 20° and 60°. 
     
     
         12 . A peristaltic pump for conveying a fluid within a cartridge, comprising:
 a motor; and   a pump head configured to be rotated about a central axis by means of the motor,   wherein the pump head comprises a main body, a plurality of rollers for contacting the cartridge and a plurality of brackets for the rollers,   wherein each of the rollers is mounted to one of the brackets and is configured to be rotated about a roller axis,   wherein each of the brackets is mounted to the main body and is configured to be pivoted about a pivot axis relative to the main body,   wherein the pump comprises a coupling apparatus for connecting the pump head to the motor, the coupling apparatus being constructed as a beam coupling, and   wherein the coupling apparatus comprises an outer spring for a tumbling motion of the pump head and an inner spring for an axial motion of the pump head, the outer spring being formed integrally with the coupling apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The pump according to  claim 12 , wherein the coupling apparatus is flexible and configured to compensate for misalignment and an offset between the pump head and the motor. 
     
     
         14 . The pump according to  claim 12 , wherein the outer spring is harder than the inner spring. 
     
     
         15 . The pump according to  claim 12 , wherein the outer spring is formed by the wall of the coupling apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The pump according to  claim 15 , wherein the outer spring is formed by at least one of gaps, notches, cutouts or cavities within the wall of coupling apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The pump according to  claim 12 , wherein the inner spring is arranged within the coupling apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The pump according to  claim 12 , wherein the coupling apparatus comprises a first coupling part and a second coupling part. 
     
     
         19 . The pump according to  claim 18 , wherein the first coupling part and the second coupling part are connected to one another via at least one of a bayonet joint or in a detachable manner. 
     
     
         20 . The pump according to  claim 18 , wherein the first coupling part comprises at least one radial protrusion engaging in the second coupling part for an axial coupling of the first and second coupling parts. 
     
     
         21 . The pump according to  claim 18 , wherein the second coupling part comprises at least one coupling rod engaging in the first coupling part for a torque transmission between the first and second coupling parts. 
     
     
         22 . The pump according to  claim 18 , with at least one of the following features: the first and second coupling parts are pressed apart by the inner spring; or the inner spring is pretensioned, such that the pump head can only be compressed or that the first and second coupling parts can only be moved axially relative to one another by compressing the inner spring.