1. A peristaltic pump comprising:
a plurality of movable occluding surfaces;
a plurality of independently movable occlusion fingers opposite the occluding surfaces, wherein the plurality of fingers are integrally formed as a single unitary body; and
a plurality of springs supported so as to independently resiliently bias the plurality of occlusion fingers.
2. The pump of claim 1, wherein the springs comprise leaf springs.
3. The pump of claim 1, wherein the springs are integrally funned as part of a single unitary body.
4. The pump of claim 1 including rollers rotatably supported so as to be adapted to extend proximate tubes, wherein the rollers provide the occluding surfaces.
5. The pump of claim 1, wherein each finger includes a channel configured to partially receive a tube.
6. The pump of claim 1, wherein the fingers extend along an arc.
7. The pump of claim 1 including fluid couplers supported adjacent each of the occlusion fingers.
8. The pump of claim 1 including a channeling member supported proximate the fingers and configured to channel at least one tube.
9. The pump of claim 1, wherein the fingers are integrally molded as a single unitary body out of a polymeric material.
10. The pump of claim 1, wherein the fingers pivot about a common axis.
11. The pump of claim 1, wherein the occluding surfaces are configured to move along a path into and out of engagement with tubes and wherein the fingers pivot about a substantially common axis adjacent the path.
12. The pump of claim 1, wherein the occluding surfaces rotate about a first common axis and wherein the springs pivot about a second axis parallel to the first axis.
13. The pump of claim 1, wherein the occluding surfaces are configured to move along a path into and out of engagement with tubes, wherein each of the fingers has a first end and a second opposite end and wherein the first end and the second opposite end extend adjacent to the path.
14. The pump of claim 1 including:
fluid conduits con figured to be fluidly coupled to the pumping tubes; and
a holder coupled to the fingers and the springs, wherein the holder includes a surface against which the fluid conduits extend.
15. The pump of claim 14, wherein the holder is removably and directly coupled to the fingers without fasteners.
16. The pump of claim 15, wherein the springs are removably and directly coupled to the holder without fasteners.
17. The pump of claim 16, wherein the springs are releasably coupled to and engaging to the fingers without fasteners.
18. The pump of claim 14 including fluid couplers coupled to and supported by the holder.
19. The pump of claim 14 including a channeling member extending from the surface and configured to channel at least one tube.
20. The pump of claim 1 including pumping tubes, wherein the occluding surfaces move along a path into and out of engagement with the tubes and wherein the pump further includes:
first fluid couplers connected to a first end of the pumping tubes adjacent the pat; and
second fluid couplers connected to a second end of the pumping tubes adjacent the path.
21. The pump of claim 1 including fluid couplers coupled to and supported by fingers.
22. The pump of claim 1 including a tube channeling member supported proximate the fingers.
23. The pump of claim 1 including:
pumping tubes; and
first fluid conduits fluidly coupled to a first end of the pumping tubes, wherein the pumping tubes have a first flow area of cross sectional flow area and wherein the first fluid conduits have a second smaller interior cross sectional flow area.
24. The pump of claim 23 including fluid couplers between the pumping tubes and the first fluid conduits.
25. The pump of claim 23, wherein the pumping tubes extend on a first side of the fingers and wherein the first fluid conduits extend on a second opposite side of the fingers.
26. The pump of claim 25 including second fluid conduits fluidly coupled to a second opposite end of the pumping tubes, wherein the second fluid conduits extend on the second side of the fingers.
27. The pump of claim 23 including second fluid conduits fluidly connected to a second opposite end of the pumping tubes.
28. The pump of claim 27, wherein the pumping tubes each have a first interior cross sectional flow area and wherein the second fluid conduits each have a second smaller interior cross sectional flow area.
29. The pump of claim 23 including fluid sensors at least proximate an interior of the pumping tubes.
30. The pump of claim 29, including fluid couplers connected to the pumping tubes, wherein the fluid sensors are located within the fluid couplers.
31. A peristaltic pump comprising:
movable occluding surfaces;
independently movable occlusion fingers opposite the occluding surfaces;
springs independently resiliently biasing the plurality of occlusion fingers, wherein the springs are integrally formed as part of a single unitary body; and
a drive system configured to move the occluding surfaces.
32. A peristaltic pump comprising:
movable occluding surfaces;
independently movable occlusion fingers opposite the occluding surfaces;
springs independently resiliently biasing the occlusion fingers; and
fluid couplers supported by the fingers.
33. A peristaltic pump comprising:
pumping tubes, each tube having a flexible wall portion;
movable occluding surfaces on a first side of the pumping tubes;
independently movable occlusion fingers on a second opposite side of the tubes;
springs independently resiliently biasing the occlusion fingers towards the pumping tubes;
a drive system configured to move the occluding surfaces so as to compress the tubes against the fingers; and
fluid couplers connected to the pumping tubes, wherein at least one of the fluid couplers includes a fluid sensor.
34. A peristaltic pump comprising:
movable occluding surfaces;
an occlusion including:
a base portion; and
occlusion fingers pivotally coupled to the base portion and extending opposite the surfaces;
a holder releasably and directly coupled to the base portion of the occlusion without fasteners;
a spring system including:
a base portion releasably and directly coupled to the holder without fasteners; and
springs extending from the base portion into engagement with the fingers; and
a drive system configured to move the occluding surfaces.
35. A peristaltic pump comprising:
fluid passages, wherein each fluid passage includes a compressible portion;
a first unit having independently movable surfaces adjacent the compressible portion of each of the fluid passages;
a second unit integrally formed as a single unitary body having biasing means for resiliently biasing the independently movable surfaces against movement away from the compressible portions; and
means for compressing the compressible portions of the fluid passages to move fluid along the fluid passages.
36. An occlusion for use in a peristaltic pump, the occlusion comprising:
independently movable occlusion fingers, wherein the fingers are integrally formed as a single unitary body and, wherein each of the fingers includes means for retaining a tube in place.
37. The occlusion of claim 36, wherein each of the fingers is configured to support a fluid coupler.
38. A printer comprising:
an ink dispensing pen;
ink reservoirs; and
a pump comprising:
pumping tubes in fluid communication with the ink reservoirs and the ink dispensing pen, each tube having a flexible wall portion;
movable occluding surfaces on a first side of the pumping tubes;
independently movable occlusion fingers on a second opposite side of the pumping tubes, wherein the fingers are integrally formed as a single unitary body; and
springs independently resiliently biasing the occlusion fingers towards the pumping tubes; and
a drive system configured to move the occluding surfaces so as to compress the tubes against the fingers.
39. An occlusion for use in a peristaltic pump, the occlusion comprising:
independently movable occlusion fingers, wherein the fingers are integrally formed as a single unitary body and wherein each of the fingers is configured to support a fluid coupler.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A mixing valve, comprising:
a first and second diaphragm control valve, operatively attached to a manifold;
the manifold including a body defining a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a first diaphragm chamber for operative attachment thereto of the first control valve, a second diaphragm chamber for operative attachment thereto of the second control valve, and an outlet conduit;
the first diaphragm chamber of the manifold including an inlet and a valve seat thereof, with the valve seat defining the outlet of the first diaphragm chamber, the outlet of the first diaphragm chamber being disposed within the valve seat of the first diaphragm chamber, the inlet of the first diaphragm chamber being disposed outside of the valve seat, within the first diaphragm chamber, and connected in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet;
the second diaphragm chamber of the manifold including an inlet and a valve seat defining an outlet of the second diaphragm chamber, the outlet of the second diaphragm chamber being disposed within the valve seat of the second diaphragm chamber, the inlet of the second diaphragm chamber being disposed outside of the valve seat, within the second diaphragm chamber, and connected in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet;
the outlet conduit of the manifold having an outlet thereof connected to the fluid outlet, a mixing chamber adjacent the outlet and a divided intermediate second thereof disposed between the mixing chamber and the outlets of the first and second diaphragm chambers;
the divided intermediate segment of the outlet conduit having an imperforate septum wall therein, dividing the inlet section of the outlet conduit into a first and a second fluid passage, the first fluid passage being connected in fluid communication between the mixing chamber and only the outlet of the first diaphragm chamber, and the second fluid passage being connected in fluid communication between the mixing chamber and only the outlet of the second diaphragm chamber, the first fluid passage extending substantially parallel to a plane defined by the septum wall, the outlet conduit further including a lateral portion extending between and fluidly communicating the outlet of the second diaphragm chamber and the second fluid passage, wherein the lateral portion extends transverse to the septum wall; and
wherein the first diaphragm chamber of the manifold includes a wall thereof separating the first diaphragm chamber from the second fluid passage of the divided intermediate segment of the outlet conduit.
2. The mixing valve of claim 1, wherein the first diaphragm chamber defines an outer periphery thereof, and the divided intermediate segment of the outlet conduit extends beyond the outer periphery of the first diaphragm chamber.
3. The mixing valve of claim 2, wherein the first and second fluid passages of the divided segment of the outlet conduit of the manifold have substantially equal cross sectional areas.
4. The mixing valve of claim 3, wherein the first and second fluid passages of the divided segment of the outlet conduit of the manifold have unequal cross sectional areas.
5. A manifold for a mixing valve, the manifold comprising:
a body defining a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a first diaphragm chamber for a first control valve, a second diaphragm chamber for a second control valve, and an outlet conduit;
the first diaphragm chamber including a valve seat defining an inlet and an outlet of the first diaphragm chamber, the outlet of the first diaphragm chamber being disposed within the valve seat of the first diaphragm chambers the inlet of the first diaphragm chamber being disposed outside of the valve seat, within the first diaphragm chamber, and connected in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet;
the second diaphragm chamber including a valve seat defining an inlet and an outlet of the diaphragm chamber, the outlet of second diaphragm chamber being disposed within the valve seat of the second diaphragm chamber, the inlet of the second diaphragm chamber being disposed outside of the valve seat, within the second diaphragm chambers, and connected in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet;
the outlet conduit having an outlet hereof connected to the fluid outlet, a mixing chamber adjacent the outlet, and a divided intermediate segment thereof disposed between the mixing chamber and the outlets of the first and second diaphragm chambers;
the divided intermediate segment of the outlet conduit having an imperforate septum wall therein, dividing the inlet section of the outlet conduit into a first and a second fluid passage, the first fluid passage being connected in fluid communication between the mixing chamber of the outlet conduit and only the outlet of the first diaphragm chamber, and the second fluid passage being connected in fluid communication between the mixing chamber and only the outlet of the second diaphragm chamber, the divided intermediate segment and septum wall of the outlet conduit being positioned adjacent the first diaphragm chamber and closer to the first diaphragm chamber than the second diaphragm chamber and the mixing chamber being positioned closer to the first diaphragm chamber than the second diaphragm chamber; and
wherein the outlet conduit is L-shaped and defined by a lateral portion and the divided intermediate segment, the lateral portion extending, at least in part, between the first and second diaphragm chambers at first and second ends of the lateral portion and intersecting the divided intermediate segment at the first end of the lateral portion to form the L-shape, and wherein the first diaphragm chamber is positioned at the intersection between the lateral portion and the divided intermediate segment.
6. The manifold of claim 5, wherein the outlet conduit further includes an undivided segment thereof disposed between the second fluid passage and the outlet of the second diaphragm chamber.
7. The manifold of claim 5, wherein the septum wall of the divided intermediate section of the outlet conduit forms a portion of a wall extending from the valve seat of the second diaphragm chamber.
8. The manifold of claim 5, wherein the first diaphragm chamber includes a wall thereof separating the first diaphragm chamber from the second fluid passage of the divided intermediate segment of the outlet conduit.
9. The manifold of claim 8, wherein the first diaphragm chamber defines an outer periphery thereof, and the divided intermediate segment of the outlet conduit extends beyond the outer periphery of the first diaphragm chamber.
10. The manifold of claim 9, wherein the first and second fluid passages of the divided intermediate segment of the outlet conduit have substantially equal cross sectional areas.
11. The manifold of claim 9, wherein the first and second fluid passages of the divided intermediate segment of the outlet conduit have unequal cross sectional areas.
12. The manifold of claim 5, wherein the mixing chamber has a cross sectional area that is larger than the combined cross sectional areas of the first and second flow passages of the divided intermediate segment of the outlet conduit.
13. The manifold of claim 5, wherein the first fluid passage extends from the outlet of the first diaphragm chamber to the mixing chamber and is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the septum wall.
14. The manifold of claim 13, wherein the septum wall includes a first face forming a portion of only the first fluid passage and a second face forming a portion of only the second fluid passage.
15. A mixing valve, comprising:
a first and second diaphragm control valve, operatively attached to a manifold;
the manifold including a body defining a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a first diaphragm chamber for operative attachment thereto of the first control valve, a second diaphragm chamber for operative attachment thereto of the second control valve, and an outlet conduit;
the first diaphragm chamber of the manifold including an inlet and a valve seat thereof, with the valve seat defining the outlet of the first diaphragm chamber, the outlet of the first diaphragm chamber being disposed within the valve seat of the first diaphragm chamber, the inlet of the first diaphragm chamber being disposed outside of the valve seat, within the first diaphragm chamber, and connected in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet;
the second diaphragm chamber of the manifold including an inlet and a valve seat defining an outlet of the second diaphragm chamber, the outlet of the second diaphragm chamber being disposed within the valve seat of the second diaphragm chamber, the inlet of the second diaphragm chamber being disposed outside of the valve seat, within the second diaphragm chamber, and connected in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet;
the outlet conduit of the manifold having an outlet thereof connected to the fluid outlet, a mixing chamber adjacent the outlet, and a divided intermediate segment thereof disposed between the mixing chamber and the outlets of the first and second diaphragm chamber;
the divided intermediate segment of the outlet conduit having an imperforate septum wall therein, dividing the inlet section of the outlet conduit into a first and a second fluid passage, the first fluid passage being connected in fluid communication between the mixing chamber and only the outlet of the first diaphragm chamber, and the second fluid passage being connected in fluid communication between the mixing chamber and only the outlet of the second diaphragm chamber, the first fluid passage extending substantially parallel to a plane defined by the septum wall, the outlet conduit further including a lateral portion extending between and fluidly communicating the outlet of the second diaphragm chamber and the second fluid passage, wherein the lateral portion extends transverse to the septum wall; and
wherein the outlet conduit is L-shaped and defined by the lateral portion and the divided intermediate segment, the lateral portion extending, at least in part, between the first and second diaphragm chambers at first and second ends of the lateral portion and intersecting the divided intermediate segment at the first end of the lateral portion to form the L-shape, and wherein the first diaphragm chamber is positioned at the intersection between the lateral portion and the divided intermediate segment.
16. The mixing valve of claim 15, wherein the outlet conduit of the manifold further includes an undivided segment thereof disposed between the second fluid passage and the outlet of the second diaphragm chamber.
17. The mixing valve of claim 15, wherein the septum wall of the manifold of the divided intermediate section of the outlet conduit forms a portion of a wall extending from the valve seat of the first diaphragm chamber.