Rotor assembly with removable rollers
A rotor assembly for a peristaltic pump is provided. The rotor assembly includes a hub configured to couple with a drive shaft of a pump. The hub includes at least one receiving slot that extends longitudinally along an outer surface of the hub. The rotor assembly further includes a roller assembly configured to slide longitudinally along the receiving slot to seat the roller assembly onto the hub.
1 . A method of loading a piece of tubing into a peristaltic pump, the method comprising:
providing a pump rotor assembly, the pump rotor assembly comprising:
a hub configured to couple with a drive shaft of a pump, the drive shaft having an axis of rotation, the hub comprising at least a first hub interface surface that extends in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation and an axial face that is transverse to the axial direction;
a first roller assembly comprising a first support frame, a first axle and a first roller, the first support frame defining a first arm, the first roller assembly configured to slide in the axial direction along the first hub interface surface, wherein the hub forms a first mating seat configured to receive and limit movement of at least a portion of the first arm; and
a lock configured to couple with the hub, wherein the lock has a first position wherein the lock blocks the first roller assembly from separating from the first hub interface surface;
coupling the hub of the pump rotor assembly to the drive shaft of the pump;
placing the piece of tubing between the hub and a housing of the pump with the first roller assembly not engaged with the first hub interface surface;
positioning the first roller assembly into engagement with the hub, so that the first hub interface surface engages the first roller assembly;
securing the first roller assembly with respect to the hub, so that the first hub interface surface is engaged with the first roller assembly; and
rotating the hub to compress the tubing against the housing with a roller of the first roller assembly.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
positioning a second roller assembly into engagement with the hub, so that a second hub interface surface engages the second roller assembly;
securing the second roller assembly with respect to the hub, so that the second hub interface surface is engaged with the second roller assembly; and
rotating the hub to compress the tubing against the housing with the second roller assembly.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first hub interface surface comprises a receiving slot.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lock comprises a collar.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first arm comprises a hook configured to be received by the first mating seat.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the hub further comprises a second mating seat, wherein the first support frame defines a first toe configured to be received by the second mating seat.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said hub further comprises a second hub interface surface that extends longitudinally along the hub, said pump rotor assembly further comprising a second roller assembly comprising a second support frame, a second axle and a second roller, the second roller assembly configured to slide longitudinally along the second hub interface surface.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the second hub interface surface comprises a receiving slot.