Self-adjusting pump head and safety manifold cartridge for a peristaltic pump

A method for actuating a self-adjusting pump head assembly that includes a variable position pump shoe slidably attached with a slider crank mechanism to a base, wherein said pump head assembly is used to pump liquids through a tube introduced into a peristaltic pump that includes a rotor assembly having a rotating mandrel portion with at least one roller located on the periphery of the mandrel, comprising the steps of:

• (a) translating rotational motion into linear motion to set the position of said pump shoe relative to said rotor assembly;
• (b) automatically compensating for the manufacturing tolerances of a tube introduced into said pump;
• and
• (c) utilizing a compressive reaction force developed by a spring on the slider crank mechanism and attached to the shoe when said shoe is positioned to compress said tube against said at least one roller located on the periphery of the mandrel included in said rotor assembly and wherein said slider crank mechanism further comprises a linkage and said spring so said that shoe is urged by said spring against said tube.

A method for actuating a self-adjusting pump head assembly that includes a variable position pump shoe slidably attached by a slider crank mechanism to a base, wherein said pump head assembly is used to pump liquids through a tube introduced into a peristaltic pump that includes a rotor assembly having a rotating mandrel portion with at least one roller located on the periphery of the mandrel, comprising the steps of:

• (a) pivotally attaching a slider crank mechanism, including a spring on the slider crank mechanism, to said shoe and a control for said slider crank mechanism, to thereby enable the position of said pump shoe to be changed relative to said rotor assembly by operation of said control;
• and
• (b) automatically compensating for the manufacturing tolerances of a tube introduced into said pump;
• (c) utilizing the compressive reaction force developed by said spring when said shoe is positioned to compress said tube against said at least one roller located on the periphery of the mandrel included in said rotor assembly and wherein said slider crank mechanism further comprises a linkage and said spring so said shoe is urged by said spring against said tube.

A method for pumping liquids through a tube introduced into a peristaltic pump, wherein said peristaltic pump includes a rotor assembly having a rotating mandrel portion with at least one roller located on the periphery of the mandrel, comprising the steps of:

• (a) slidably attaching a self-adjusting pump head, including a variable position pump shoe, to a base;
• (b) positioning said variable position pump shoe such that in a first position a tube may to be inserted into said pump, and in a second position said tube is compressed between said pump shoe and said at least one roller located on the periphery of said mandrel, wherein said step of positioning is performed by pivotally attaching a slider crank mechanism, including a spring, to said shoe and a control or said slider crank mechanism, to thereby enable the position of said pump shoe to be changed relative to said rotor assembly by operation of said control;
• (c) locking said variable position pump shoe in said second position;
• and
• (d) applying a continuous reaction force on said shoe to automatically compensate for the manufacturing tolerances of said tube when said shoe is locked in said second position.

A method for controlling a peristaltic pump used to pump liquids through a tube introduced into the pump, wherein said peristaltic pump includes a rotor assembly having a rotating mandrel portion with at least one roller located on the periphery of the mandrel, and a self-adjusting pump head assembly including a variable position pump shoe slidably attached to a base, comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning said variable position pump shoe such that in a first position a tube may to be inserted into said pump, and in a second position said tube is compressed between said pump shoe and said at least one roller located on the periphery of said mandrel;
• and
• (b) locking said variable position pump shoe in said second position utilizing pivotable slider crank means that include a pair of links carrying a helical compression spring;
• and
• (c) automatically applying a continuous reaction force on said variable position pump shoe whenever said shoe is locked in said second position, to thereby automatically compensate for the manufacturing tolerances of a tube introduced into said pump.