CN101124073A - Method and apparatus for molding tubing and peristaltic pumps - Google Patents

Abstract

A peristaltic pump ( 10 ) and tube ( 18 ) system are provided. The peristaltic pump ( 10 ) operates to squeeze the tube ( 18 ) and push liquid in the tube ( 18 ) in the desired direction. The tube ( 18 ) is molded, and thus allows for predictable and consistent flow rates.

Description

The method and apparatus that is used for molded tube and peristaltic pump

Technical field

This invention relate generally to pumping system more particularly, relates to crawling type pumping system.

Background technology

Peristaltic pump is widely used in various application, is included in the application in beverage and the pharmaceutical field except other field.Peristaltic pump normally passes through to operate with pipeline of one or more head (or other mechanism) compressed flexibles or duct.Described one or more head (facing to the head on the back side or opposite) a part of pipeline of extruding or duct and along the direction propelling fluid of expecting.

In some applications, peristaltic pump itself is over and over again used, and pipeline changed continually, for example, in beverage system beverage concentrates depleted in or when the pharmaceutical applications Chinese traditional medicine is depleted.In other was used, a pipeline may use with same pump for a long time.In other were used, pump itself may be disposable together with pipeline.

Though peristaltic pump provides some advantage, they do not consider the aspect of the sort of reproducible and accurate flow velocity that needs often economically.In many cases, error results from the pipeline of making of expressing technique.Expressing technique causes the variation of internal diameter of the pipeline and the variation of pipe thickness.Because these change, when pipeline was replaced, different flow velocitys resulted from same pump.In addition, because different with the pipeline that in the application of using a pipeline for a long time, uses in the application of disposable tubing,, some take place so changing in (and therefore between system and system) between pump and the pump.System is proofreaied and correct normally unpractiaca in order to overcome these variations.

Therefore, for instance, will be with specific flow velocity pumping beverage concentrates in case in given ratio with when water mixes, the variation of pipeline causes coarse mixing ratio, and therefore produces the different beverage of quality between pipeline and pipeline.Such beverage system (except other position) often is used to restaurant and convenience store, and these change in each batch and difference between each batch and the difference between the diverse location that produce aspect the beverage quality on the unacceptable same position.Have found that in other is used also to have similar problem, for example, in pharmaceutical field.

Another problem that adopts the peristaltic pump of prior art is that the pump intake limit of pipeline often is attached on the pipe fitting, has so just limited flowing freely to the inlet of pump.

So, need overcome the limitation of the prior art systems of peristaltic pump and pipe-line system.

Summary of the invention

According to instruction of the present invention, be provided for eliminating or reducing in fact the method and apparatus of the problem relevant for molded tube and peristaltic pump with prior art system.

In specific embodiment, a kind of pump that is used for the pumping material is provided, described pump comprises that motor, molded tube and one or more and described motor combine and is fit to the described molded tube of compression promotes material along the flow direction of expection compressing head.In one embodiment, molded tube includes first section of first internal diameter and second section greater than second internal diameter of first internal diameter is arranged.In another embodiment, accessory combines with second section.In addition, the discharge end of this pipeline has the internal diameter that is greater than or less than the molded tube other parts.Molded tube may be the pipeline of injection molded.

In another embodiment of the invention, a kind of fluid delivery system is provided, and this system comprises peristaltic pump, combine with described peristaltic pump to allow molded tube, fluid source that combines with the molded tube of peristaltic pump upstream that fluid therefrom flows through and the distributor mechanism that combines with the molded tube in peristaltic pump downstream.In one embodiment, this molded tube includes first section and second section that has greater than second internal diameter of first internal diameter of first internal diameter.In another embodiment, accessory combines with second section.In addition, the discharge end of pipeline has the internal diameter that is greater than or less than the molded tube other parts.Molded tube may be the pipeline of injection molded.

Application-specific of the present invention includes but not limited to the application of beverage and pharmacy.

The present invention also provides the method for the molded tube that is used for being formed for peristaltic pump, and this method comprises provides core and accessory, provide and be fit to the cavity of described core and accessory pairing, material is injected cavity surround to the molded tube of described core of small part and accessory with formation and make molded tube and accessory penetrates from described core.

In specific embodiment, injected material is a thermo-setting elastomer.In one embodiment, molded tube and accessory are by being penetrated through the core supply gas.In another embodiment, accessory is first mould-forming, is placed on the core then.In alternate embodiment, accessory is mould-forming on core.In another embodiment, weakness zone may form on molded tube, is used for removing the end of pipeline, and if desired, separate sheet may form near weakness zone.

In another embodiment, accessory has fitment inside diameter, and this fitment inside diameter is more than or equal to the part internal diameter that is not the molded tube of formation around this accessory.In the another one embodiment, molded tube has discharge end, and it not is the molded tube part that forms around accessory that its internal diameter is different from.

An important techniques advantage of the present invention is that it comprises with prior art system and comparing, and allows the more accurate and molded tube more repeatably from the flow velocity of crawling type pumping system.Another important techniques advantage of one embodiment of the invention be it comprise may with the molded tube of accessory combination forming.Another important techniques advantage of the present invention is that it comprises and may improve the flow velocity enter the wriggling pumping system and become and be relatively easy to the molded tube that diameter-increasing portion forms with making.

Description of drawings

The concise and to the point picture of describing below in description, mentioning, wherein similar reference number refers to corresponding elements:

Fig. 1 is the block diagram according to an embodiment of the peristaltic pump of the present invention's instruction and pipeline;

Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment that is used for the pipeline of peristaltic pump according to instruction of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is the isometric drawing of an embodiment that is used for making the mould of pipeline according to instruction of the present invention;

Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment that is used for the pipeline of peristaltic pump according to instruction of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is the cutaway view of an embodiment that is used for making the molded system of the accessory of combination and molded tube according to instruction of the present invention; And

Fig. 6 is the cutaway view of the molded system of Fig. 5 at open position.

The specific embodiment

As shown in Figure 1, peristaltic pump 10 shows with the block diagram form, and it comprises motor 12, axle 14 and (or a plurality of) 16.Engage with molded tube 18 for one or more 16.

One or more 16 (facing to one or more heads on the back side or opposite) extrusion pipes 18 and along the direction propelling fluid of expection.In the illustrational specific example of Fig. 1, fluid is from supply source 20, and it may be one bag of fluid, for example, is used for the polybag of the sack of Boxed beverage system, or is used for the medicinal bag of medicine or other fluid.Supply source 20 generally includes supply accessory 22, and described supply accessory 22 combines with pipe fitting 24 by arbitrary known method.Pipe fitting 24 can combine with pipeline 18 by arbitrary known method or as the part as moulding technology that describes below.In the downstream of pump 10, pipeline 18 combines with distributor mechanism 26.Distributor mechanism 26 may be, for instance, but is not limited to, and beverage dispenser or be used for pin to patient infusion, or any other dispensing device, and may be the openend of pipeline 18.People should also be appreciated that pipeline 18 or pipe fitting 24 may directly or by coupling apparatus in the middle of some combine with supply source 20 (or supply accessory 22) and distributor mechanism 26.Certainly, pump may combine with distributor mechanism or supply source.

Though illustrational is the peristaltic pump that motor, axle and head are arranged, but may use any peristaltic pump mechanism, include but not limited to, with those of the fluid in one or more cylinder heads, slide head, pedrail mechanism, wave mechanism, cam, disc or other device extrusion pipe and the movement pipeline.Specific peristaltic pump example is by being cited in this with its United States Patent (USP) of all incorporating into the 5th, 413,252 and 5,558, describes in No. 507.Therefore incorporating into of these examples only is illustrative, rather than as restriction, and means and do not limit the scope of the invention and the peristaltic pump mechanism of any other type is not foreclosed.In order to be easy to describe arbitrary various peristaltic pump mechanism, pressing mechanism may be expressed as compressing head at this.In addition, though supply source 20 is illustrational as flexible bag, any supply source all may be used.

Pipeline 18 of the present invention is mould-formings, rather than as the pipeline extrusion molding of prior art.In specific embodiment, mould-forming technology is injection molded technology.Because mould-forming technology is considered point-device allowable deviation, so the variation of those types of finding in the pipeline of prior art is eliminated in fact or fully by molded tube of the present invention.It should be understood that any other suitable mould-forming technology also may be used, and includes but not limited to compression molding forming.

Fig. 2 illustrate be used for dissemination system (for example, shown in Figure 1 dissemination system) before with the particular conduit 18 of pipe fitting 24 combinations.In particular shown in Figure 2, pipeline 18 comprises end 30 and expanded diameter section 32.Terminal 30 is sealed ends (or otherwise end of sealing) of pipeline 18, and guarantees that pipeline 18 (endways 30 be removed before) before using keeps clean.It should be understood that this end and nonessential sealing.

Though expanded diameter section 32 is not to be that all embodiments of the present invention are requisite, it provides the significant advantage that surmounts the prior art pipeline.Specifically, by forming the internal diameter expanded diameter section 32 bigger than the internal diameter of the major part of pipeline 18, pipe fitting 24 (or supply accessory, if this pipeline directly combines with supply source) internal diameter of the major part internal diameter that is equal to or greater than pipeline 18 can be arranged, and can combine (pipeline also may as on accessory, forming of describing below) at an easy rate with pipeline 18.Adopt such accessory, flow to mobile unrestricted (because this diameter is not reduced) on the pump intake limit of pipeline, so this peristaltic pump can " not died of hunger " and therefore its performance can not be restricted.In some prior art systems, pipe fitting causes inlet pump flow restriction, is difficult because stretch extrusion pipe on wide pipe fitting.Flow restriction problem is particular importance in pumping viscosity during than higher fluid (for example, but being not limited to the orange juice concentrate), and the flow restriction that wherein enters the mouth can produce significant impact to the flow velocity of expection.

Expanded diameter section 32 also may be to adopt other technology to form, and for example, but is not limited to, and built-up mandrel is injected pipeline 18.In addition, expanded diameter section may form together with some parts (for example, but being not limited to shoulder, groove or lip), to adapt to pipe fitting 24 (perhaps supply accessory) and to strengthen cooperation between them.Yet, it should be understood that any way all may be used for pipeline is combined with accessory.

Fig. 3 is the exploded view of an embodiment that is used for forming the mould-forming system of molded tube 18 according to instruction of the present invention.As shown in Figure 3, connector (or core) the 40th forms on bottom 42.Cavity piece 44 and core 40 pairings that cavity 46 is arranged.Injection material (for example, but be not limited to, but the thermo-setting elastomer of injection molded grade, for instance, " liquid silicon " rubber) be injected into cavity 46 and curing around core 40, form molded tube 18 shown in Figure 3.It should be understood that other injection material (for example, but being not limited to thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)) also may be used.

Specific core shown in Figure 3 comprises the bottom 48 that is used for forming expanded diameter section 32.Yet, it should be understood that though be desirable, such bottom or expanded diameter section are not to be absolutely necessary as some of the present invention.According to the discussion of front, the top of closed conduct 18 also is desirable, and therefore pipeline 18 is showed (the sealing end has also the not diameter identical with the main section of pipeline) together with sealed end 30.Yet, it should be understood that such sealing is not to be absolutely necessary as some of the present invention.In addition, it should be understood that molded tube 18 may be a mould-forming with section 32 opposing ends (discharge end),, and therefore have the diameter that increases or reduce in order that form the suitable Any shape that combines with downstream unit.In some applications, for instance, but be not limited to, adopt those of the bigger pipeline of high flow rate or diameter, water clock is to reduce by the discharge end of formation internal diameter less than the major part internal diameter of pipeline 18.

As shown in Figure 4, to remove terminal 30 and become easily in order to make, pipeline 18 may be that (but and nonessential be) forms with weakness zone 50.In addition, separate sheet 52 may form near weakness zone 50, tears this end 30 to allow the user before using this pipeline.

Pipeline 18 can penetrate from mold system with any suitable mode.A kind of mode is not construed as limiting, and is to pass through gas port 54 injected gases, and this allows gas (for example, but being not limited to air) to flow molded tube 18 ejaculations by end of core 40.

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are used for the cutaway view of another embodiment of system of molded tube 18 according to instruction of the present invention.In Fig. 5 and specific embodiment shown in Figure 6, pipeline 18 is mould-forming around accessory 24.Fig. 5 shows that this mould-forming system is in the close position, and is shown in an open position and Fig. 6 illustrates it, and pipeline 18 has been ready to be penetrated.Accessory 24 may adopt any suitable material, includes, but not limited to plastics or metal.Accessory 24 may be form with another kind of technology and before matched moulds, be inserted into mould, or in the reciprocation type mold system of the injection of the injection of considering fitment material and pipeline material mould-forming.If desired, though optional, these materials can be selected like this, so that they can be bonding mutually with chemical mode.Adopt the embodiment of Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the pipeline of combination and accessory are produced, and the additional step that pipeline and pipe fitting are combined no longer is absolutely necessary.

Air injection pin 56 is fully inserted into during injection technique, sprays duct 60 to prevent that injection material 58 from entering.Injection duct 60 extends to gas port 54 from the end of core 40.In the time of air injection pin 56 withdrawal, as shown in Figure 6, duct 60 is opened, so gas penetrates pipeline 18 through core 40 among can blowing to mouthfuls 54 then from mould.Shown in the mechanism that pipeline is penetrated of form can use with embodiment shown in Figure 3.

In this specific embodiment that provides with to describe only is illustrative example, and the feature of each example and advantage can with herein other embodiment and the feature and the advantage exchange of example or add to herein on other the embodiment and the feature and advantage of example.In addition, as an example, they do not mean that scope of the present invention are confined to any specifically described details, and scope of the present invention is all wideer than any example.For instance, be not limited to, though the application of beverage and pharmacy be illustrated, but the present invention may be used for any other fluid delivery system.And, in general,, it should be understood that various variation, change, replacement, additional and revise and can finish not breaking away under the situation of the present invention with claims restricted portion though the present invention is described in detail.

Claims (21)

1. Pumps for pumping materials, including: motor; molded pipes; and One or more compression heads in combination with the motor and adapted to compress the molded tubing to force material in a desired direction of flow. 2. The pump of claim 1, wherein the molded tubing includes a first section having a first inner diameter and a second section having a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter. 3. The pump of claim 2, further comprising a fitting coupled to the second section. 4. The pump of claim 2, wherein the first section is the discharge end of the molded tubing. 5. The pump of claim 1, wherein the molded tubing comprises injection molded tubing. 6. A fluid delivery system comprising: Peristaltic pump; molded tubing that incorporates the peristaltic pump and allows fluid flow therethrough; a source of fluid incorporated upstream of the molded tubing of the peristaltic pump; and Dispenser integrated with molded tubing downstream of the peristaltic pump. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the molded tubing includes a first section having a first inner diameter and a second section having a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter. 8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a fitting coupled with the second section. 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first section is a discharge end of a molded conduit. 10. The system of claim 6, wherein the molded tubing comprises injection molded tubing. 11. The system of claim 6, wherein the fluid is a concentrated beverage. 12. The system of claim 6, wherein the fluid is a drug. 13. A method for forming molded tubing for a peristaltic pump comprising: providing a core and fittings; provide cavities suitable for mating with said core and fittings; injecting material into the cavity to form a molded conduit surrounding at least a portion of the core and fitting; and Molded pipe and fittings are ejected from the core. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the injected material comprises a thermoset elastomer. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said injecting comprises injecting molded tubing and fittings by supplying gas through said core. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein providing a fitting includes forming a fitting and placing the fitting on the core. 17. The method of claim 13, wherein providing fittings includes molding the fittings in place on the core. 18. The method of claim 13, further comprising forming a weakened area on said molded tube for removing a tube end. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising forming a breakaway piece proximate the weakened area. 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the fitting has a fitting inner diameter that is greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the portion of the molded tubing that is not formed around the fitting. 21. The method of claim 13, wherein said molded pipe has a discharge end having a different inner diameter than a portion of molded pipe that is not formed around said fitting.

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