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).

Claims

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.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] Further features, details and advantages of the present application will now be described with respect to the drawings of the enclosed Figures.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a peristaltic pump according to an embodiment of the present invention; (A) in a pump position, and (B) in a release position,

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of the peristaltic pump according to FIG. 1; (A) in the pump position, and (B) in the release position,

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional top view of the peristaltic pump; (A) in the pump position and along lines A-A of FIG. 2A, and (B) in the release position along lines B-B of FIG. 2B,

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a schematic detail of the actuator of the peristaltic pump according to FIG. 1; (A) in the pump position, and (B) in the release position, and

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a pump system with a peristaltic pump according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The FIGURES show a peristaltic pump 1 according to the present invention. The addition (A) to the FIGURES refers to the peristaltic pump 1 in the pump position, while the addition (B) refers to the peristaltic pump 1 in the release position.

[0034] The peristaltic pump 1 comprises a rotary body 2 with a plurality of squeeze sections or elements 3 arranged circularly distributed and moveable about a rotation axis A. Here, the rotary body 2 carries a total of eight squeeze sections 3, while the number of squeeze sections 3 is not limited by the present invention. Preferably, the squeeze sections 3 are evenly distributed about the rotation axis A. In the shown embodiment, the squeeze section or element 3 comprises rollers. However, the squeeze sections 3 may also comprise shoes, wipers, lobes and the like. In the shown embodiment, the rotary body 2 is attached to a base 13 or housing 14 of the peristaltic pump 1.

[0035] The peristaltic pump 1 further comprises a tube carrier 4 for carrying a flexible tube 5 along an arcuate engagement section 6 arcuately surrounding the rotary body 2; preferably about an angle of between 60 and 120 degrees, more preferred 90 degrees.

[0036] Moreover, the peristaltic pump 1 comprises an actuator 7 for selectively moving the tube carrier 4 relative to the rotary body 2 (i.e., if present, to the base 13 or housing 14 to which the rotary body 2 may be attached to) between a pump position (see FIG. 1A to 4A) in which the flexible tube 5 carried by the tube carrier 4 is positioned in engagement between the engagement section 6 and at least one, preferably at least two of the squeeze sections 3, respectively, to allow for a pumping action when moving the rotary body 2 about the rotation axis A, and a release position (see FIGS. 1B to 4B) in which the flexible tube 5 carried by the tube carrier 4 is disengaged from the plurality of squeeze sections 3 to allow for free flow through the flexible tube 5. The rotary body 2, preferably via the housing 14, as well as the actuator 7 may be attached to the same element of the peristaltic pump 1, e.g. to the base 13 thereof.

[0037] The tube carrier 4 may comprise a cover section 15 for covering the functional elements of the peristaltic pump 1, like the rotary body 2 and the engagement section 6. The tube carrier 4 be preferably moveable relative to the rotary body 2 by a guide rail connection being provided directly or indirectly between these two elements, preferably between side walls 16 of the tube carrier 4 and the base 13 or the housing 14.

[0038] In the pump position show in the Figures denoted with “A”, the arcuate engagement section 6 is here coaxially positioned with respect to the rotation axis A, which allows for a most efficient connection between the squeeze sections 3 and the engagement section 6 to squeeze a flexible tube 5 there between to allow for a sufficient pumping action.

[0039] The tube carrier 4 and the plurality of squeeze sections 3 are preferably 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 6 to allow for the engagement of the flexible tube 5 when being carried correspondingly by the tube carrier 4.

[0040] To ensure a sufficient squeezing of the flexible tube 5 between the squeeze sections 3 and the corresponding arcuate engagement section 6, the squeeze sections 3 can be axially biased outwards, i.e. away from the rotation axis or towards the arcuate engagement section 6 when facing the same. Hence, the peristaltic pump 1 allows for a sufficient and effective engagement of the flexible tube 5 between the respective squeeze section(s) 3 and engagement section 6 in the pump position, irrespective of the type and layout of the flexible tube 5 being used.

[0041] The tube carrier 4 can be biased towards the release position to thus ensure the flexible tube 5 in the release position be positioned such that it securely allows for a corresponding free flow. Preferably, the tube carrier 4 may comprise a lock element for locking the tube carrier 4 in the pump position so that, e.g. irrespective of the tube carrier 4 be biased towards release position, it can be securely held in the pump position to keep up the engagement of the flexible tube 5 between the respective squeeze sections 3 and the engagement section 6. The lock element can then be released correspondingly when the tube carrier 4 needs to be moved from the pump position to the release position. The cooperating locking partner of the lock element can be position on another part of the peristaltic pump 1, preferably the housing 14 or the base 13.

[0042] The actuator 7 is preferably functionally connected (e.g. directly structurally connected) to the tube carrier 4 to allow for the movement of the tube carrier 4 relative to the rotary body 2. This is preferably done by a lifting cylinder and/or a gear drive 75, the latter being shown in detail in FIGS. 4A and 4B. In the shown embodiment, the actuator 7 comprises a rotational shaft 70 at the end of which a gear 71 is provided. This gear 71 is in engagement with another gear section 72 of the gear drive 75. The gear section 72 is rotatably connected to be moved about a second rotation axis B. A pin element 73 is provided at the gear section 72 and thus moved along an arcuate path upon rotational movement of the gear section 72 about the second rotation axis B. The pin element 73 is engaged with and guided within an engagement grove 74 of the tube carrier 4. By operational action of the actuator 7, the rotational shaft 70 is rotated, which rotational action is transferred to gear 71 and then further to gear section 72 which in turn moves the pin element 73 along the arcuate path. Due to engagement of the pin element 73 in the engagement grove 74, the tube carrier 4 is lifted as is shown in the comparison of FIG. 3A to 3B to be thus moved from the pump position to the release position in which the flexible tube 5 is released to allow free flow. Preferably, the actuator 7 is moved in a reverse direction to move the tube carrier 4 from the release position back into the pump position. According to the shown embodiment, the actuator 7 comprises an electric motor 76 but may also comprise a magnetic drive, a pneumatic actuator and/or a hydraulic actuator or any other kind of actuators known in the prior art.

[0043] As is shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the movement of the tube carrier 4 relative to the rotary body 2 here is a translational movement. In the shown embodiment, the tube carrier 4 is moved along an up/down direction. However, the transalational movement can also be along another direction alternatively or additionally. Also, the movement can comprise a rotational movement, if desired, dependent on the actuator 7 be used.

[0044] As can be seen from FIG. 4C, the arcuate engagement section 6 can be radially offset from the squeeze sections 3 with respect to the rotation axis A in the release position compared to their relative position in the pump position, the latter being exemplarily shown in FIG. 3A. Alternatively or additionally, the arcuate engagement section 6 can also be axially offset from the squeeze sections 3 with respect to the rotation axis A in the release position compared to their relative position in the pump position.

[0045] The peristaltic pump 1 as described herein above may be used in a pump system 100, which is schematically shown in FIG. 5. The pump system 100 comprises the peristaltic pump 1 according to the present invention. Further, a flexible tube 5 is provided and functionally carried by the tube carrier 4. Moreover, a product supply 8 is fluidly connected to an upstream end 50 of the flexible tube 5; here via a first connection section 17 of the peristaltic pump 1. A product discharge section 9 is fluidly connected to a downstream end 51 of the flexible tube 5 (here via a second connection section 18 of the peristaltic pump 1) to thus allow for a product flow from the product supply 8 to the product discharge section 9 via the peristaltic pump 1. The product discharge section 9 can, for instance, comprise a discharge opening or element 22, like a nozzle, and may also comprise a mixing chamber 23 for mixing a number of beverage ingredients to produce a final beverage product to be dispensed via the product discharge section 9, e.g., in a consumer's recipient R (e.g. cup, mug, bottle, etc.).

[0046] The product supply 8 may comprise a product container C or any other means for carrying a corresponding product, like a beverage ingredient or product (e.g. additives like flavours, minerals, caffeine and the like) and/or a sanitizing liquid. Alternatively or additionally, the product supply 8 may also comprise a liquid supply 10, preferably a water supply and more preferred a hot water supply. The liquid supply 10 can be a liquid storage or an liquid connection for attachment of or connection to an external liquid source, like a water conduit. For heating up the liquid to be delivered, a heater or boiler 11 may be provided. A pump 20 may be provided to deliver a sanitizing liquid (e.g. hot water or a chemically based liquid) through the pump system 100 (i.e. its fluidic path) and particularly through the peristaltic pump 1 particularly when the tube carrier 4 is in the release position.

[0047] Additionally, an air supply 12 may be provided, which is preferably fluidly connected to the upstream end 50 of the flexible tube 5 for delivering gas like air through the pump system 100 (i.e. its fluidic path) and particularly through the peristaltic pump 1 particularly when the tube carrier 4 is in the release positon to evacuate the fluidic path or at least peristaltic pump 1, preferably after a cleaning or sanitizing process. The gas may be delivered by a compressor 21 or any other type of pump. The gas be delivered may be a heated gas be heated by a heater 19.

[0048] In the following, a method for pumping a fluid by the pump system 100 according to the present invention is described.

[0049] For product delivery, the tube carrier 4 is positioned or moved in the pump position. Then, a liquid product is pumped from the product supply 8 (e.g. the beverage ingredient container C and/or the liquid/water supply 10) by pumping action of the peristaltic pump 1 by rotational movement of the rotary body 2 about the rotation axis A towards the product discharge section 9.

[0050] For sanitization, the tube carrier 4 is positioned or moved in the release position. Then, a fluid or liquid is delivered or pumped from the product supply (8) (e.g. the liquid/water supply and/or the air supply, if present) through the peristaltic pump 1, i.e. the flexible tube 5, towards the product discharge section 9. Hence, the peristaltic pump 1 and in particular the flexible tube 5 can be cleaned/sanitized. Therefore, preferably hot water can be used from the water supply 10.

[0051] To allow for a secure cleaning/sanitization, a subsequent evacuation and/or drying step may be performed by delivering gas (e.g. air) through the flexible tube 5 in the release position of the tube carrier 4 by use of the air supply 12. Hence, in the cleaning/sanitization step, after the fluid has been pumped through the system 100, the evacuation and/or drying step may be followed by pumping gas/air, preferably hot air, from the air supply 12 via the peristaltic pump 1 towards the product discharge section 9. In a most preferred embodiment, the product discharge section 9 is cleaned/sanitized by the cleaning/sanitization step as well. Any sanitization liquid or gas for evacuating/drying can be further transferred to a drainage downstream the product discharge section 9.

[0052] The present invention is not limited by the embodiment described hereinabove as long as being covered by the appended claims.