Patent ID: 8292604
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: F04B

Abstract:
1. A peristaltic pump mechanism comprising: a first gear having teeth configured for meshed engagement with a drive source; a support element positioned parallel to the first gear; only one pair of occlusion members positioned between the support element and the first gear, each occlusion member being a cylindrical roller and the one pair of cylindrical rollers being configured to compress a first transport tube against an occlusion surface, each cylindrical roller in the one pair of cylindrical rollers being mounted about one axle in a first pair of axles in a one-to-one correspondence, one end of each axle in the first pair of axles being mounted on said first gear to position the two cylindrical rollers in the one pair of cylindrical rollers 180° apart from each other; and only one pair of support ribs mounted between said first gear and said support element, the support ribs being positioned 180° apart from each other and 90° apart from each cylindrical roller in the one pair of cylindrical rollers, each support rib having a generally triangular or frustum-shaped inner surface facing and immediately adjacent said one pair of cylindrical rollers, the inner surface of each support rib being curved to substantially match a curvature of said cylindrical rollers.