BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a syringe pump for suction and exhaustion of a fixed quantity, and more particularly to a syringe pump, which is capable of taking in and out a fixed quantity of liquid or powder (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “fluid”) more precisely by moving a piston using a linear actuator.
Especially, the above syringe pump uses the linear actuator which applies linear motion of a piezoelectric motor in order to move the piston, such that suction and exhaustion of the fluid can be performed more precisely through controlling of power supply with respect to the piezoelectric linear motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a fixed quantity feeder system is used to supply a precise quantity of chemical solution in a laboratory or medical substance as a medical instrument.
In such a fixed quantity feeder system, a stepping motor is generally used as a driving means for controlling the movement of a piston.
However, the conventional fixed quantity feeder system has such a complicated structure that manufacturing thereof is difficult. Furthermore, since the structure is hard to be in a compact size, handling of the system is inconvenient.
In addition, the stepping motor conventionally applied in the fixed quantity feeder system may sometimes cause vibration or resonance at certain frequency, thereby deteriorating the function of supplying a fixed quantity fluid.
BRIEF SUMMARYTherefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a syringe pump, capable of controlling movement of a piston more precisely.
Especially, it is another object of the present invention to provide a syringe pump, capable of controlling a moving distance of a piston more precisely by intermittently supplying power to a linear actuator that moves the piston, and accordingly precisely controlling quantity of fluid being taken in and out of a cylinder.
More preferably, it is yet another object of the present invention to provide a syringe pump, capable of reducing the whole size of the pump by using the piezoelectric linear motor as a linear actuator.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a syringe pump comprising a cylinder which includes a receiving space, a piston which is mounted in the cylinder to pump liquid or powder in and out of the cylinder, and a piezoelectric linear actuator which moves the piston in a reciprocating manner.
In addition, the piezoelectric linear actuator may comprise a piezoelectric motor constituted by piezoelectric mediums.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a syringe pump according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a piston and an actuator of the syringe pump shown inFIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a syringe pump according to another embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a piston and an actuator of the syringe pump shown inFIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONHereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that those who are skilled in the art can easily understand and implement the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a syringe pump according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a piston and an actuator of the syringe pump shown inFIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a syringe pump according to another embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a piston and an actuator of the syringe pump shown inFIG. 3.
As shown in the drawings, the syringe pump includes alinear actuator3.
More specifically, the syringe pump according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises acylinder1 which includes a receiving space, apiston2 which is mounted in thecylinder1 to move liquid or powder in and out with respect to thecylinder1, and alinear motor3 which moves thepiston2 in a reciprocating motion.
In the above-structured syringe pump with the piezoelectric linear motor, thecylinder1 and thepiston2 are used to take in certain liquid or micro powder and exhaust the liquid or powder to a desired place, having a similar structure with a syringe. The liquid and powder will be referred to as fluid.
That is, thecylinder1 is formed as a tube holding areceiving space1afor receiving the fluid. As shown inFIG. 1 andFIG. 3, one end of thecylinder1 is totally open while the other end is sealed but having an inlet and outlet hole to let the fluid move in and out.
Thecylinder1 further includes aneedle connection part11 having a small diameter at the inlet and outlet hole such that the fluid can be supplied to or taken in from a narrow space as desired. Additionally, aneedle4 is removably connected to theneedle connection part11.
As shown inFIGS. 1 and 3, theneedle4 comprises alongitudinal fluid hole4ahaving a very small diameter, and apiston connection part41 fixed to theneedle connection part11.
Theabove cylinder1 andneedle4 are structured in substantially the same manner as those of a general syringe. Therefore, the structure of the present invention can be achieved by adding a piston which includes thelinear actuator3 to the general conventional syringe.
Thelinear actuator3 constituting the syringe pump, as shown in the drawings, is preferably implemented by a piezoelectric linear motor in order to reciprocate thepiston2.
The piezoelectric linear motor is a sort of motor that applies the principle in that a piezoelectric element contracts and expands according to power supply. As shown in the drawings, the piezoelectric linear motor includes a plurality of legs extending and contracting in a certain direction like a motion of an inchworm in accordance with power supply, thereby moving by itself or moving other parts in a pushing manner. Since the piezoelectric linear motor is generally known and applied in the art, detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.
In the above structure, as shown inFIG. 1 andFIG. 2, thepiston2 includes a connection recess21 having a spherical shape for connection with aconnection protrusion31 having a spherical shape formed on a bottom surface of thelinear actuator3, so that thelinear actuator3 can be directly connected with thepiston2.
In a case where thepiston2 is thus directly connected to thelinear actuator3, thepiston2 is moved as thelinear actuator3 moves along an inner wall of thecylinder1.
In other words, thelinear actuator3 shown inFIG. 1 andFIG. 2 can move thepiston2 by moving by itself.
Another method for achieving connection between thepiston2 and thelinear actuator3 is illustrated inFIG. 3 andFIG. 4.
As shown in the drawings, arod5 may be additionally mounted between thepiston2 and thelinear actuator3.
More specifically, as shown inFIG. 3 andFIG. 4, therod5 is used to connect thepiston2 to thelinear actuator3 and therefore, thepiston2 is moved as therod5 is moved up and down by the operation of thelinear actuator3. That is, thelinear actuator3 pushes therod5, while being fixed to the inner wall of thecylinder1.
Furthermore, when thepiston2 is connected thus using therod5, thelinear actuator3 used in the embodiment of the present invention can also be easily adopted in existing syringe pumps.
As shown in the drawings, aconnection protrusion51 having a spherical shape is formed at an end of therod5, facing thepiston2 so as to connect therod5 with thepiston2. In addition, thepiston2 is formed with the connection recess21 of a spherical shape for force-fit with theconnection protrusion51.
Thus, since connection parts of therod5 and thepiston2 are structured in the form of the spherical protrusion and the spherical recess, respectively, thepiston2 can be moved vertically in thecylinder1 even when therod5 is inclined to a certain direction.
In addition, asealant member2ais mounted around the outer circumference of thepiston2 to prevent leakage of the fluid through a gap between thepiston2 and thecylinder1.
In the above-structured syringe pump, thelinear actuator3 may have various modified configurations according to the present invention. Also, the embodiment is illustrated in the drawings only by way of example, but does not limit the present invention.
As can be appreciated from the above description, in accordance with a syringe pump according to the embodiment of the present invention, control of a moving distance of a piston can be performed more precisely by intermittently supplying power to a linear actuator. As a result, quantity of fluid taken in and out of a cylinder can be precisely controlled.
Especially, since the piezoelectric linear motor is used as a linear actuator for operating the piston, the syringe pump can be achieved in a compacter size.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.