Patent ID: 9180676
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: B41J,F16K

Abstract:
1. A pinch valve comprising: a body; a cam rotatably mounted on the body about a cam axis; a first pinch arm pivotally mounted on the body about a first pivot axis parallel with the cam axis, the first pinch arm comprising a first cam follower for engagement with the cam and a first pinch element for pinching a first conduit; a second pinch arm pivotally mounted on the body about a second pivot axis parallel with the cam axis, the second pinch arm comprising a second cam follower for engagement with the cam and a second pinch element for pinching a second conduit; and a resilient element interconnecting the first and second pinch arms between respective first and second spring mount locations, the resilient element mutually biasing the first and second pinch arms towards a plane containing the cam axis so as to urge the first and second cam followers against the cam and provide a pinching force for the first and second pinch elements, wherein: the first pinch arm and second pinch arms oppose each other; the first pinch arm is positioned at a first side of the plane and the second pinch arm is positioned at an opposite second side of the plane; a radial distance between the first pivot axis and the first spring mount location is greater than a radial distance between the first pivot axis and the first cam follower; and a radial distance between the first pivot axis and the second spring mount location is greater than a radial distance between the second pivot axis and the second cam follower.