초록 ▼

An agitator capable of generating complex mixing motions is described. In some embodiments, an agitator in accordance with the present teachings includes a movable assembly that is suspended, via several resilient supports, from a frame. The movable assembly receives a vessel containing a material(s

An agitator capable of generating complex mixing motions is described. In some embodiments, an agitator in accordance with the present teachings includes a movable assembly that is suspended, via several resilient supports, from a frame. The movable assembly receives a vessel containing a material(s) to be agitated. The movable assembly advantageously includes spaced upper and lower plates having a rotatably-supported member disposed therebetween. The mass of the rotatably-supported member is asymmetrically distributed about its rotational axis. A drive force, such as a directed air flow, which may be used in conjunction with a belt drive mechanism, causes the rotatably-supported member to rotate. Due to the asymmetric mass distribution of the rotatably-supported member, force is non-uniformly applied to resilient supports such that, at any given time, some of such resilient supports are subjected to a compressive force while other resilient supports are placed under tension. The particular resilient supports that are subjected to the compressive force change as a function of the rotation of the rotatably-supported member, thereby placing the movable assembly in orbital motion and agitating the material(s) within the vessel disposed thereon.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] An article comprising:a movable assembly supported by resilient supports;a rotatably-supported member in mechanical communication with said movable assembly, the rotatably-supported member having a rotationally asymmetric weight distribution;a secondary support device for supportin

[ We claim:] [1.] An article comprising:a movable assembly supported by resilient supports;a rotatably-supported member in mechanical communication with said movable assembly, the rotatably-supported member having a rotationally asymmetric weight distribution;a secondary support device for supporting said movable assembly, said secondary support device comprising an element operable to distribute lift gas across a surface of the movable assembly such that said lift gas at least partially supports said movable assembly; anda drive for causing the rotatably-supported member to rotate, wherein,upon rotation of the rotatably-supported member, the movable assembly is placed in orbital motion due to the rotationally asymmetric weight distribution of said rotatably-supported member.