Patent ID: 7762794
Filing Date: 2010-07-27
Classification: B41J,F04B

Abstract:
1. A tube for use in a tube pump for pumping a fluid through compression of the tube by a compressing mechanism in association with movement of the compressing mechanism along the tube, comprising: a wall portion of elastic material, the wall portion having a hollow flow passage, wherein the tube is formed so that when compressed in a prescribed compression direction the wall portion protrudes in a deformation direction which is perpendicular to the compression direction and which is not an axial direction of the tube, the wall portion has non-uniform thickness along a perimeter of the hollow flow passage, the wall portion has a first thickness measured in the deformation direction through the center of the hollow flow passage, and a second thickness at a location that comes into contact with the compressing mechanism, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness, and the hollow flow passage has a circular-shaped cross section, and the wall portion includes: a uniform-thickness flow passage enclosing portion enclosing the hollow flow passage and forming a portion having the first thickness; and a first and second supplemental thickness portion, the first supplemental thickness portion disposed around only one end of the uniform-thickness flow passage enclosing portion in the compression direction and the second supplemental thickness portion disposed around only another end that opposes the one end of the uniform-thickness flow passage enclosing portion in the compression direction, wherein an entirety of the tube is formed of a same material, wherein each of the first and second supplemental thickness portions have a flat end portion, and wherein each of the first and second supplemental thickness portions have a recessed shape when compressed.