Mixing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10967341-B2
Application number	US-201816044661-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2018
Priority date	Jul 25, 2018
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

A mixing apparatus, comprising a drive unit ( 1 ) with a drive ( 10 ) and a shaft ( 11 ) which is pivotable about a pivot axis (A) and which is operatively connected to the drive ( 10 ), a pivot receptacle ( 2 ) which is arranged on the shaft ( 11 ), wherein the pivot axis (A) is substantially horizontally aligned, wherein the pivot receptacle ( 2 ) comprises a base ( 20 ) on which receptacles ( 21, 22 ) are provided which extend away from the base ( 20 ) and into which holders ( 3 ) for containers ( 7 ) are insertable.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mixing apparatus, comprising:
a drive unit ( 1 ) having a drive ( 10 ) and a shaft ( 11 ) which is pivotable about a pivot axis (A) and is operatively connected to the drive ( 10 ),
a pivot receptacle ( 2 ) which is arranged on the shaft ( 11 ),
at least one holder ( 3 ) for standing reagent tubes or perforable ampoules ( 7 ), and
a retaining element ( 4 ),
wherein the pivot axis (A) is aligned substantially horizontally,
wherein the pivot receptacle ( 2 ) comprises a base ( 20 ) on which first and second receptacles ( 21 , 22 ) are provided, which extend away from the base ( 20 ) and into which the at least one holder ( 3 ) for standing reagent tubes or perforable ampules ( 7 ) is inserted, and on which third receptacles ( 25 ) are provided on the side of the first and second receptacles ( 21 , 22 ), with which the retaining element ( 4 ) is arranged at least in the region between the first and second receptacles ( 21 , 22 ) spaced apart from the base ( 20 ) in a fixed or removable manner
wherein each holder ( 3 ) comprises a plurality of container receptacles ( 32 ) arranged along its longitudinal axis (L) and formed between its two ends ( 30 , 31 ),
characterized in that the retaining element ( 4 ) comprises a perforated plate having holes, wherein the holes are arranged so that they are aligned with the container receptacles ( 32 ) formed in the holder ( 3 ), and in that the internal dimensions of the holes are smaller than the internal dimensions of the container receptacles ( 32 ).

2. The mixing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot receptacle ( 2 ) can be pivoted by any angle in both directions about the pivot axis (A).

3. The mixing apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a control unit, with which the pivot angle, the pivot speed and the pivot direction can be adjusted.

4. The mixing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first receptacles ( 21 ) are arranged in a shaft-near region of the base ( 20 ), and wherein the second receptacles ( 22 ) are arranged in a shaft-remote region of the base ( 20 ), and wherein each holder ( 3 ) is inserted with its first end ( 30 ) into the first receptacle ( 21 ) and wherein each holder ( 3 ) is inserted with its second end ( 31 ) into the second receptacle ( 22 ).

5. The mixing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second receptacles ( 21 , 22 ) comprise elevations ( 210 , 220 ) which may protrude into correspondingly complementary recesses ( 300 , 310 ) of the ends ( 30 , 31 ) of the holders ( 3 ).

6. The mixing apparatus according claim 1 , wherein a plurality of first and second receptacles ( 21 , 22 ) are arranged side by side in a direction transverse to the pivot axis (A).

7. The mixing apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising first spacers ( 23 ) that are inserted into the first and second receptacles ( 21 , 22 ) and into which each holder ( 3 ) for the containers ( 7 ) is inserted, and second spacers ( 24 ) which are arranged between the first and second receptacles ( 21 , 22 ) and on which each holder ( 3 ) for the containers ( 7 ) is resting.

8. The mixing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the third receptacles ( 25 ) are designed such that the retaining element ( 4 ) can be arranged in a removable or displaceable manner therein.

9. The mixing apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a bearing unit ( 5 ) which is opposite the drive unit ( 1 ) with respect to the pivot receptacle ( 2 ) and in which the pivot receptacle ( 2 ) is pivotably mounted in alignment with the shaft ( 11 ).

10. A mixing plant, comprising:
a machine stand ( 8 ) on which a mixing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 is arranged.

11. The mixing plant according to claim 10 , comprising a pipetting unit ( 81 ) with which fluids can be supplied to or removed from standing reagent tubes or perforable ampoules ( 7 ) located in the mixing apparatus.

12. The mixing plant according to claim 11 , wherein the pipetting unit ( 81 ) comprises a transport unit ( 810 ) on which pipette tips ( 811 ) are arranged and with which the pipette tips ( 811 ) are movable horizontally and/or vertically in a region above the machine stand ( 8 ) or above the working surface ( 80 ).

13. The mixing plant according to claim 11 , comprising a reading unit ( 82 ), with which labels are readable from the standing reagent tubes or perforable ampoules ( 7 ) to be received by the mixing apparatus.

14. A method for operating a mixing apparatus or a mixing plant, comprising the steps of:
providing a mixing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 ;
inserting a holder ( 3 ) with standing reagent tubes or perforable ampoules ( 7 ) arranged therein into the receptacles ( 21 , 22 ) of the pivot receptacle ( 2 ); and
pivoting the pivot receptacle ( 2 ) about the pivot axis (A) with the drive unit ( 1 ).

15. The method according to claim 14 , comprising the steps of:
removing the retaining element ( 4 ) before inserting the holder ( 3 ); and
attaching the retaining element ( 4 ) after inserting the holder ( 3 ).

16. The method according to claim 14 , comprising the step of:
reading labels from the standing reagent tubes or perforable ampoules ( 7 ) arranged in a holder ( 3 ) by means of the reading unit ( 82 ) before or during the insertion of the holder ( 3 ).

17. The method according to one of claim 14 , comprising at least one of the steps:
removing fluids from the standing reagent tubes or perforable ampoules ( 7 ) disposed in the mixing apparatus after pivoting the pivot receptacle ( 2 );
feeding of fluids into the standing reagent tubes or perforable ampoules ( 7 ) disposed in the mixing apparatus before pivoting the pivot receptacle ( 2 ).

Assignees

• Tecan Trading Ag

Inventors

• Stiver Larry
• Ahlheit Vincent
• Siesel Peter
• Erb Dominic
• Lun Klaus
• Karthaus Christoph

Classifications

• B01F35/716

  characterised by the relative arrangement of the containers for feeding or mixing the components · CPC title

• B01F31/201

  Holders therefor · CPC title

• B01F35/711

  for feeding a mixture of components, i.e. solids in liquid, solids in a gas stream · CPC title

• B01F31/23 Primary

  by pivoting the containers about an axis · CPC title

• B01F23/581

  Mixing liquids with solids, slurries or sludge, for obtaining a diluted slurry · CPC title