Screw-Driven Multi-Channel Peristaltic Pump for Pneumatic Micro Actuator System

摘要

The authors have developed a miniaturized peristaltic pump which is characterized by multi-channel, low pulsation, high pressure resistance and portability. The pump mainly consists of a disposable pumping channel unit and reusable actuating parts. The pumping channel unit, made of silicone elastomers, has eight pumping channels. The operation principle is based on the peristaltic motion of pumping channels that are occluded by the screw shaft. The shaft rotating inside the pumping channel unit has a spirally arranged projection which deforms and closes down the channels. While the shaft rotates, the pinched locations in the channels move either way according to direction of rotation, squeezing out the air inside. The maximum discharge pressure generated was about 160 kPa at rotating speeds of 30 ～ 180 rpm. A micro pneumatic actuator was fabricated to demonstrate the performance of the pump. The validity of the pump for pneumatic actuation was reported.