Peristaltic pump

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a peristaltic pump (1), comprising a rotary body (2) with a plurality of squeeze sections (3) arrange circularly distributed and moveable about a rotation axis (A), a tube carrier (4) for carrying a flexible tube (5) along an arcuate engagement section (6) arcuately surrounding the rotary body (2), and an actuator (7) for selectively moving the tube carrier (4) relative to the rotary body (2) between a pump position in which a flexible tube (5) carried by the tube carrier (4) be positioned in engagement between the engagement section (6) and at least one of the squeeze sections (3) to allow for a pumping action when moving the rotary body (2) about the rotation axis (A), and a release position in which the flexible tube (5) carried by the tube carrier (4) be disengage from the plurality of squeeze sections (3) to allow for free flow through the flexible tube (5). The present invention is further directed to a pump system comprising the peristaltic pump (1), a flexible tube (5) be functionally carried by the tube carrier (4), a product supply be fluidly connected to an upstream end of the flexible tube (5), and a product discharge section be fluidly connected to a downstream end of the flexible tube (5). Moreover, the present invention is directed to a method for pumping a fluid by use of the pump system (100).

1 . Peristaltic pump, comprising
 a rotary body with a plurality of squeeze sections arrange circularly distributed and moveable about a rotation axis,   a tube carrier for carrying a flexible tube along an arcuate engagement section arcuately surrounding the rotary body, and   an actuator for selectively moving the tube carrier relative to the rotary body between a pump position in which a flexible tube carried by the tube carrier be positioned in engagement between the engagement section and at least one of the squeeze sections to allow for a pumping action when moving the rotary body about the rotation axis, and a release position in which the flexible tube carried by the tube carrier be disengage from the plurality of squeeze sections to allow for free flow through the flexible tube.   
     
     
         2 . Peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is functionally connected to the tube carrier to allow for the movement of the tube carrier relative to the rotary body. 
     
     
         3 . Peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor, a magnetic drive, a pneumatic actuator and/or a hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         4 . Peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the tube carrier relative to the rotary body is a rotational and translational movement. 
     
     
         5 . Peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube carrier and the plurality of squeeze sections are configured such that, in the pump position, there are always at least two squeeze sections in functional position with respect to the arcuate engagement section to allow for the engagement of the flexible tube. 
     
     
         6 . Peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the pump position, the arcuate engagement section is coaxially positioned with respect to the rotation axis. 
     
     
         7 . Peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the release position, the arcuate engagement section is radially and axially offset from the squeeze sections with respect to the rotation axis compared to their relative position in the pump position. 
     
     
         8 . Peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the squeeze sections are axially biased away from the rotation axis. 
     
     
         9 . Peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube carrier is biased towards the release position. 
     
     
         10 . Peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the squeeze sections comprise rollers, shoes, wipers, or lobes. 
     
     
         11 . Pump system comprising:
 a peristaltic pump comprising   a rotary body with a plurality of squeeze sections arrange circularly distributed and moveable about a rotation axis,   a tube carrier for carrying a flexible tube along an arcuate engagement section arcuately surrounding the rotary body, and   an actuator for selectively moving the tube carrier relative to the rotary body between a pump position in which a flexible tube carried by the tube carrier be positioned in engagement between the engagement section and at least one of the squeeze sections to allow for a pumping action when moving the rotary body about the rotation axis, and a release position in which the flexible tube carried by the tube carrier be disengage from the plurality of squeeze sections to allow for free flow through the flexible tube,   a flexible tube be functionally carried by the tube carrier,   a product supply be fluidly connected to an upstream end of the flexible tube, and   a product discharge section be fluidly connected to a downstream end of the flexible tube.   
     
     
         12 . Pump system according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the product supply comprises a product container.   
     
     
         13 . Pump system according to  claim 11 , further comprising an air supply being fluidly connected to the upstream end of the flexible tube. 
     
     
         14 . Method for pumping a fluid by a pump system comprising the steps of:
 for product delivery, positioning a tube carrier in a pump position, and pumping a liquid product from a product supply by pumping action of a peristaltic pump by rotational movement of a rotary body about a rotation axis towards a product discharge section, and   for cleaning and sanitization, moving the tube carrier in a release position, and delivering a fluid from a sanitizing liquid container through the peristaltic pump towards the product discharge section.   
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 14 , wherein, in the cleaning and sanitization step, after the fluid has been delivered through the pump system, evacuating and drying the pump system by pumping gas from an air supply via the peristaltic pump towards the product discharge section.