Peristaltic dosing pump and associated consumable

Abstract

The invention relates to a peristaltic dosing pump comprising a consumable that incorporates the pumping tube and is intended to be replaced at each use, the consumable allowing the precise dosing of one or more products, including differential and variable mixtures, the pump comprising a drive mechanism configured to cooperate with this consumable in order to ensure that the product is dispensed in a sterile, straightforward, and economical manner.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title: Peristaltic Dosing Pump and Associated Consumables

[0003] technical field

[0004] The invention relates to a peristaltic dosing pump and its disposable consumable, enabling high-precision dispensing with one or more products.

[0005] Previous art

[0006] Dosing pumps are used in various fields to deposit quantities of product onto different surfaces.

[0007] These pumps are used for industrial applications in the field of bonding, and in medical applications, particularly in 3D printing.

[0008] Most of the time, these pumps are in the form of a syringe operated by a screw for dosing the dispensed product.

[0009] The drawback of this technology is that the product is compressed in the syringe, giving it a certain inertia, which necessitates reverse movements to compensate, thus compromising the accuracy of the dispensing.

[0010] Furthermore, current systems are quite difficult to automate in terms of product changeovers.

[0011] Description of the invention

[0012] The aim of the invention presented is to overcome these various drawbacks. It specifically aims at precise deposition of the material, whether it is single-component, two-component, or even multi-component, and regardless of its viscosity.

[0013] With a flow rate accuracy and resolution of 0.007 mm3 and a product mixing accuracy of 0.01% in the case of a multi-component system, even with different viscosities

[0014] This disclosure consists of an annular peristaltic pump without the main component, i.e., the pumping tube.

[0015] This pumping tube is integrated into the consumable syringe, ensuring a consistently new and sterile device regardless of the product used.

[0016] This syringe device allows for dosing one or more products in various dimensions and volumes.

[0017] Furthermore, the process allows for very simple and rapid product changes, for example with a robot, which normally requires a more or less complicated intervention as well as a fastening system. General inventive concept

[0018] The present invention relates to a peristaltic pump comprising an assembly including:

[0019] • a consumable incorporating the pumping tube, intended to be replaced after each use,

[0020] • and a reusable drive mechanism configured to exert a peristaltic motion on said tube.

[0021] Taken in isolation, the consumable does not perform a pumping function, and the drive mechanism is not a pump in itself.

[0022] It is their combination that defines the object of the invention: a complete peristaltic pump based on the integration of the pumping tube into a renewable and sterile consumable, cooperating with a reusable motor to ensure the precise dosing of one or more products.

[0023] Thus, the invention constitutes a single general inventive concept.

[0024] Brief description of the figures

[0025] The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following description, the description referring to the attached drawings, among which:

[0026] - Figure 1 is an overview of a pump and its single-component consumable

[0027] - Figure 2 is an overview of a pump and its two-component consumable.

[0028] - Figure 3 shows the view of a single-component consumable

[0029] - Figure 4 shows a view of a two-component consumable

[0030] - Figure 5 eccentric peristaltic on consumable

[0031] - Figure 6 exploded view of non-component pump

[0032] - Figure 7 exploded view of the multi-component pump

[0033] - Figure 8 shows continuous product supply

[0034] Detailed description

[0035] The invention shown in Figure 1 consists of a consumable (Fig. 3) for depositing a fluid product and the mechanism for its implementation.

[0036] It allows, on the same principle, the dispensing and precise dosing of multiple products (fig. 2). Consumable description and advantages

[0037] The consumable which is the main part of this disclosure (fig.3)

[0038] It consists of a body (3.2) intended to contain the product to be dispensed, an anti-rotation guide device (3.4), and a free-swiping piston (3.1) which follows the product level by suction in order to prevent contamination of the product by any external agent and to ensure complete drainage of the product.

[0039] The peristaltic effect (fig.5) is obtained by the eccentricity of the tube (5.2) on the consumable (5.3) and compression of the tube by the circular movement of the rollers (5.3)

[0040] The principle is identical for a multi-product consumable (fig.4) which can be composed of several product storage spaces as well as several peristaltic tubes (4.3) and several scraper pistons (4.1)

[0041] In the context of a multi-product consumable, the invention allows for very precise dosing of the different products as well as the possibility of continuously modulating the product dosage.

[0042] The invention also allows for a continuous supply of product (Fig. 8) by feeding through the scraper piston (8.1), which thereby becomes a pressure buffer in the reservoir; the principle is identical for a multi-product device.

[0043] The advantage of continuous feeding (fig. 8) is always having an economical and new consumable for product application

[0044] Since the peristaltic tube (3.3-4.3) is an integral part of the consumable, the device is always clean and new, even sterile, which is a definite advantage.

[0045] Since the tubing in a conventional peristaltic pump is a wear part and normally requires cleaning when changing the product, this is a very important advantage, particularly in the context of medical use.

[0046] The pump mechanism

[0047] The pump mechanism (figs. 6 and 7)

[0048] It is composed of the following elements:

[0049] One or more servo motors (6.2-7.2) allowing precise computer-controlled drive

[0050] On which is mounted a drive pinion (6.5-7.8)

[0051] Which pinion drives the roller cage (6.6-7.5), the roller which compresses the tube according to figure 5 in order to obtain the desired peristaltic effect

[0052] The different roller cages are held in place by a rotation guide device such as a ball bearing or other (6.4-7.4-7.6)

[0053] And held in place in a container (6.3-6.7-7.3-7.7) or other allowing the various components to be held in place and the consumable to be guided and held (6.1-7.1)

Claims

1. Claims Claim 1 (independent - consumable) Consumables for peristaltic dosing pumps, including: • a body intended to contain at least one fluid product to be dispensed, • at least one peristaltic tube integrated into said body, • a free piston configured to follow the product level and ensure sealing against the outside, characterized in that the peristaltic tube is an integral part of the consumable, so as to guarantee a new and sterile device for each use. Claim 2 (dependent on 1) Consumable according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of reservoirs and a plurality of peristaltic tubes for distributing several products simultaneously. Claim 3 (dependent on 1 or 2) Consumable according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of free pistons, each associated with a reservoir. Claim 4 (dependent on 1 to 3) Consumable according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an anti-rotation piston guide device. Claim 5 (dependent on 1 to 4) Consumable according to one of the preceding claims, configured to be continuously supplied by at least one product. Claim 6 (dependent on 5) Consumable according to claim 5, wherein the piston provides a filling buffer function in order to maintain a continuous supply of the product. Claim 7 (independent - pump) Peristaltic dosing pump, comprising: • a dwelling intended to receive a consumable item according to one of claims 1 to 6, • at least one roller mounted so as to crush the peristaltic tube of said consumable, • a drive motor configured to actuate the roller(s), characterized in that the rollers are arranged in an annular manner to ensure precise dosing of the product. Claim 8 (dependent on 7) Pump according to claim 7, comprising several levels of stacked peristaltic rollers for the simultaneous dosing of several products. Claim 9 (dependent on 7 or 8) Pump according to one of claims 7 or 8, comprising a plurality of motors configured to independently drive the rollers, allowing differential and variable dosing of products.

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