Valve unit and peristaltic pump including the same

A valve unit for driving a fluid in a flexible tubing, said valve unit comprising:

• a valve frame defining a valve opening;
• and
• first and second valve plates mounted movably on said valve frame and formed respectively with first and second protrusions, each of said first and second valve plates having a connecting end that is formed with a notch, said connecting ends of said first and second valve plates being connected to each other, said first and second protrusions protruding respectively from peripheries of said notches in said connecting ends, each of said first and second protrusions having a contact end, said contact ends of said first and second protrusions opposing each other and cooperatively defining a gap therebetween for extension of the flexible tubing therethrough;
• wherein said first and second valve plates are co-rotatable relative to said valve frame in opposite rotational directions about a rotation axis transverse to the length of the flexible tubing between a closed position, in which said first and second valve plates substantially close said valve opening, and an opening position, in which said first and second valve plates open said valve opening;
• wherein said gap has a width between said first and second contact ends that varies in response to co-rotation of said first and second valve plates between said opening position and said closed position, thereby permitting squeezing of the flexible tubing by said contact ends which move toward each other to narrow the width of said gap when said first and second valve plates co-rotate from said opening position to said closed position;
• and
• wherein said valve frame is formed with two T-shaped guiding slots that are opposite to each other along a direction parallel to said rotation axis, each of said T-shaped guiding slots having a vertical section and a horizontal section, each of said first and second valve plates being formed with a first guiding stud and two second guiding studs, said first guiding studs of said first and second valve plates extending respectively into said vertical sections of said T-shaped guiding slots, said second guiding studs of each of said first and second valve plates extending respectively into said horizontal sections of said T-shaped guiding slots.