초록 ▼

A gyroscopic mixer is disclosed which features a direct drive connection to a motor and a clamping mechanism which enables the mixer to accommodate containers of various sizes and configurations. The motor is connected to a drive shaft which is connected to a first bracket. The motor imparts rotati

A gyroscopic mixer is disclosed which features a direct drive connection to a motor and a clamping mechanism which enables the mixer to accommodate containers of various sizes and configurations. The motor is connected to a drive shaft which is connected to a first bracket. The motor imparts rotation to the bracket about a first axis. An annular gear and single pulley belt is utilized to impart rotation about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis for a gyroscopic mixing motion.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A gyroscopic mixer for mixing the contents of a closed container, the mixer comprising: a motor coupled to a c-shaped bracket with an open front and with a generally vertical middle arm disposed between generally horizontal first and second arms, the middle arm being connecte

What is claimed is: 1. A gyroscopic mixer for mixing the contents of a closed container, the mixer comprising: a motor coupled to a c-shaped bracket with an open front and with a generally vertical middle arm disposed between generally horizontal first and second arms, the middle arm being connected to the motor, the motor imparting rotational movement to the bracket about a first axis, the middle arm of the bracket comprising a slot for accommodating a pulley gear that is enmeshed with a stationary annular gear that is concentric about the first axis and which defines a circular gear path about the first axis, the pulley gear moving along the circular gear path as the bracket rotates about the first axis, the pulley gear being connected to a drive pulley by a pulley shaft that passes through and is at least partially rotatatably supported within the middle arm, the pulley gear, pulley shaft and drive pulley defining a second axis, the pulley gear and drive pulley spinning about the second axis as the pulley gear moves along the circular gear path of the annular gear, the second arm of the bracket being rotatively connected to a driven pulley, the drive and driven pulleys being coupled together by an endless belt disposed below the second arm, the first arm of the bracket being rotatively connected to a clamp assembly with the first arm rotatively coupled to a driven platform, the driven pulley and the second arm being connected to a drive platform, the driven pulley, drive platform and driven platform being disposed along a third axis, the clamp assembly being capable of adjusting an axial spacing between the driven and drive platforms and providing a clamping force on the container when disposed therebetween, the spinning of the pulley gear and drive pulley about the second axis resulting in spinning of the driven pulley, drive platform and driven platform about the third axis. 2. The mixer of claim 1 wherein the endless belt is a toothed endless belt and the drive and driven pulleys each comprise a plurality of slots for receiving teeth of the endless belt. 3. The mixer of claim 1 wherein the motor is coupled to the bracket by a drive shaft assembly. 4. The mixer of claim 3 wherein the drive shaft assembly comprises a primary drive shaft connected to the motor and a secondary drive shaft connected to the bracket, the primary and secondary drive shafts being coupled together with a flexible bushing disposed therebetween. 5. The mixer of claim 1 wherein the clamp assembly comprises a threaded shaft threadably connected to the first arm of the bracket and fixedly connected to a clamp member, the clamp member being rotatively connected to the driven platform. 6. The mixer of claim 1 wherein the motor is coupled to the bracket by a drive shaft that passes through a casing, the casing comprising an annular flange that is connected to the annular gear. 7. The mixer of claim 1 further comprising a housing with an opening providing access to the clamp assembly and drive and driven platforms, the housing also comprising a bottom panel, the mixer further comprising a wedge support disposed beneath the bottom panel of the housing to support the mixer so that the second and third axes are not vertical and the first axis is not horizontal. 8. A gyroscopic mixer for mixing the contents of a closed container, the mixer comprising: a motor, a c-shaped bracket with an open front comprising a middle leg disposed between a first leg and a second leg, the first leg being connected to a clamp assembly, the second leg being connected to a driven pulley, the motor being directly coupled to the middle leg of the bracket by a drive shaft assembly that imparts rotational movement to the bracket about a first axis without a pulley, the drive shaft assembly passing through a casing that is disposed between the motor and bracket, the casing comprising an annular flange that faces the bracket and which is connected to a stationary annular gear set that also faces the bracket and which is concentric about the first axis, the bracket being rotatively connected to a pulley gear that is enmeshed with the annular gear set, the pulley gear moving along the annular gear as the bracket rotates about the first axis, the pulley gear being disposed within a recess in the middle arm, the pulley gear being connected to a drive pulley by pulley shaft that passes through and is accommodated in the middle arm, the pulley gear, pulley shaft and drive pulley defining a second axis, the pulley gear, pulley shaft and drive pulley spinning about the second axis as the pulley gear moves along the circular gear path of the annular gear, the drive and driven pulleys being coupled together by a toothed endless belt disposed below the second arm, the drive and driven pulleys each comprise a plurality of slot for receiving teeth of the endless belt, the clamp assembly being rotatively coupled to a driven platform, the driven pulley being connected to a drive platform, the driven pulley, drive platform and driven platform being disposed along a third axis, the clamp assembly being capable of adjusting an axial spacing between the driven and drive platforms and providing a clamping force on the container when disposed therebetween, the spinning of the pulley gear and drive pulley about the second axis resulting in spinning of the driven pulley, drive platform and driven platform about the third axis. 9. The mixer of claim 8 wherein the drive shaft assembly comprises a primary drive shaft connected to the motor and a secondary drive shaft connected to the bracket, the primary and secondary drive shafts being coupled together with a resilient bushing disposed therebetween. 10. The mixer of claim 8 wherein the clamp assembly comprises a threaded shaft threadably connected to the first arm of the bracket and fixedly connected to a clamp member, the clamp member being rotatively connected to the driven platform. 11. The mixer of claim 8 wherein further comprising a housing with an opening providing access to the clamp assembly and drive and driven platforms, the housing also comprising a bottom panel, the mixer further comprising a wedge support disposed beneath the bottom panel of the housing to support the mixer so that the second and third axes are not vertical and the first axis is not horizontal. 12. A gyroscopic mixer for mixing the contents of a closed container, the mixer comprising: a motor, a c-shaped bracket with an open front comprising a middle arm disposed between a first arm and a second leg, the first leg being connected to a clamp assembly, the second arm being connected to a driven pulley, the motor being directly coupled to the middle arm of the bracket by a drive shaft assembly that imparts rotational movement to the bracket about a first axis without a pulley, the drive shaft assembly passing through a casing that is disposed between the motor and bracket, the casing comprising an annular flange that faces the bracket and which is connected to a stationary annular gear set that also faces the bracket and which is concentric about the first axis, the bracket being rotatively connected to a pulley gear that is enmeshed with the annular gear set, the pulley gear moving along the annular gear as the bracket rotates about the first axis, the pulley gear being accommodated in a recess of the middle arm, the pulley gear being connected to a drive pulley by pulley shaft, the pulley shaft being accommodated in a slot disposed in the middle arm, the pulley gear, pulley shaft and drive pulley defining a second axis, the pulley gear, pulley shaft and drive pulley spinning about the second axis as the pulley gear moves along the circular gear path of the annular gear, the drive and driven pulleys being coupled together by a toothed endless belt, the clamp assembly comprising a threaded shaft threadably connected to the first arm of the bracket and fixedly connected to a clamp member, the clamp member being rotatively connected to a driven platform, the driven pulley being connected to a drive platform, the driven pulley, drive platform and driven platform being disposed along a third axis, the clamp assembly being capable of adjusting an axial spacing between the driven and drive platforms and providing a clamping force on the container when disposed therebetween, the spinning of the pulley gear and drive pulley about the second axis resulting in spinning of the driven pulley, drive platform and driven platform about the third axis, and a housing with an opening providing access to the clamp assembly and drive and driven platforms, the housing also comprising a bottom panel, the mixer further comprising a wedge support disposed beneath the bottom panel of the housing to support the mixer so that the second and third axes are not vertical and the first axis is not horizontal.