Mixing apparatus, mixing system and method for mixing substances in closed containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024252997-A1
Application number	US-202418603768-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 13, 2024
Priority date	Jul 25, 2018
Publication date	Aug 1, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A mixing apparatus containing a drive unit having a drive and a shaft that is pivotable about a pivot axis and is operatively connected to the drive. A pivotable receptacle is arranged on the shaft, where the pivot axis is oriented essentially horizontally, and the pivotable receptacle has a base plate and at least one retainer spaced therefrom, and the pivotable receptacle is configured in such a way that holders for containers can be inserted between the base plate and the at least one retainer in the direction of the pivot axis.

First claim

1 . A mixing apparatus ( 100 ), comprising:
a drive unit ( 1 ) having a drive ( 10 ) and a shaft ( 11 ) which is pivotable about an essentially horizontally aligned pivot axis (A) and is operatively connected to the drive ( 10 ), a pivotable receptacle ( 2 ), which is arranged on the shaft ( 11 ), wherein the pivotable receptacle ( 2 ) comprises a base plate ( 20 ) and at least one retainer ( 4 , 400 ) spaced therefrom, wherein the pivotable receptacle ( 2 ) is configured in such a way that holders ( 3 ) for containers ( 7 , 70 ) can be inserted between the base plate ( 20 ) and the at least one retainer ( 4 , 400 ) in the direction of the pivot axis (A), wherein the at least one retainer ( 4 ; 400 ) comprises at least one plate ( 41 ; 401 , 42 ) having at least one through-hole ( 40 ; 402 ), wherein the through-holes ( 40 ; 402 ) are arranged such that, when the holders ( 3 ) are inserted, they are aligned with the container receptacles ( 32 ) formed in the holders ( 3 ); wherein the at least one retainer ( 4 ) comprises a first plate ( 41 ) and a second plate ( 42 ), wherein the distance between the base plate ( 20 ) and the first plate ( 41 ) is bigger than the distance between the base plate ( 20 ) and the second plate ( 42 ).

2 . The mixing apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , comprising a control unit ( 12 ) with which the pivoting angle, the pivoting speed and the pivoting direction can be adjusted, wherein the pivotable receptacle ( 2 ) can be pivoted through any angle in both directions about the pivot axis (A).

3 . The mixing apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein on the side of the base plate ( 2 ) facing the at least one retainer ( 4 , 400 ), receptacles ( 200 ) are provided which are aligned in the direction of the pivot axis (A) and into which the holders ( 3 ) for containers ( 7 ) can be inserted.

4 . The mixing apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the base plate ( 20 ) is connected to the at least one retainer ( 4 , 400 ) by the drive plate ( 21 ).

5 . The mixing apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the base plate ( 20 ) is connected to the at least one retainer ( 4 , 400 ) by the support element ( 22 ), wherein the support element ( 22 ) comprises a plate which is aligned essentially perpendicularly to the base plate ( 20 ) and the pivot axis (A) and wherein the support element ( 22 ) comprises a central opening ( 221 ) and wherein the base plate ( 20 ) projects at least partially through the central opening ( 221 ).

6 . The mixing apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 5 , wherein at least one connector ( 23 ) is provided which connects the drive plate ( 21 ) to the support element ( 22 ).

7 . The mixing apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the drive plate ( 21 ) comprises at least one groove ( 210 ) for accommodating the at least one retainer ( 4 , 400 ).

8 . The mixing apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the support element ( 22 ) comprises at least one fixation ( 222 ) for fixing the at least one retainer ( 4 , 400 ).

9 . The mixing apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the inner dimensions of the through-holes ( 40 ; 402 ) are smaller than the inner dimensions of the container receptacles ( 32 ) of the insertable holders ( 3 ).

10 . The mixing apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one tab ( 43 ; 404 ) is jointly formed integrally and essentially flush with the at least one plate ( 41 ; 401 , 42 ).

11 . The mixing apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one rib ( 44 ; 403 ) is jointly formed integrally with the at least one plate ( 41 ; 401 , 42 ), which extends along the pivot axis (A) over at least a portion of the at least one plate ( 41 ; 401 , 42 ).

12 . The mixing apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 11 , wherein at least one tab ( 405 ) is jointly formed integrally with the at least one rib ( 403 ) and spaced parallel to the at least one plate ( 401 ).

13 . The mixing apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , comprising at least one holder ( 3 ) for containers ( 7 , 70 ), which is inserted between the base plate ( 20 ) and the at least one retainer ( 4 , 400 ).

14 . A mixing plant comprising:
a machine stand ( 8 ) on which a mixing apparatus ( 100 ) is arranged according to claim 1 , comprising a pipetting unit ( 81 ) with which fluids can be added to or removed from containers ( 7 , 70 ) located in the mixing apparatus ( 100 ), 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 in the horizontal and/or in the vertical in a region above the machine stand ( 8 ) or above the working surface ( 80 ).

15 . The mixing plant according to claim 14 , comprising a reading unit ( 82 ) which is arranged on the machine stand ( 8 ) or on the connecting plate ( 6 ) of the mixing apparatus ( 100 ) and with which markings of the containers ( 7 , 70 ) to be accommodated in the mixing apparatus ( 100 ) and/or markings of the holders ( 3 ) to be accommodated in the mixing apparatus ( 100 ) can be read.

16 . A method for operating a mixing apparatus ( 100 ) or mixing plant, comprising the steps of
providing a mixing apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 1 ; inserting a holder ( 3 ) with containers ( 7 , 70 ) arranged therein between the base plate ( 20 ) and the at least one retainer ( 4 , 400 ) in the direction of the pivot axis (A); and pivoting the pivotable receptacle ( 2 ) about the pivot axis (A) with the drive unit ( 1 ).

17 . The method according to claim 16 , comprising the step of
reading in markings of a holder ( 3 ) and/or the containers ( 7 , 70 ) arranged in a holder ( 3 ) by means of the reading unit ( 82 ) before or during the insertion of the holder ( 3 ).

18 . The method according to claim 16 , comprising at least one of the following steps of
removing fluids from the containers ( 7 , 70 ) located in the mixing apparatus ( 100 ) after pivoting the pivotable receptacle ( 2 ) by means of the pipetting unit ( 81 ); feeding fluids into the containers ( 7 , 70 ) located in the mixing apparatus ( 100 ) before pivoting the pivotable receptacle ( 2 ) by means of the pipetting unit ( 81 ).

Assignees

• Tecan Trading Ag

Inventors

• Erb Dominic
• Riedel Philipp
• Strebel Christian
• Fehr Gero
• Lun Klaus
• Karthaus Christoph

Classifications

• B01F2101/23

  Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials · CPC title

• B01F35/221422

  Speed of rotation of the mixing axis, stirrer or receptacle during the operation · CPC title

• B01F35/325

  Driving reciprocating or oscillating stirrers · CPC title

• B01F31/201

  Holders therefor · CPC title

• B01F35/42

  Clamping or holding arrangements for mounting receptacles on mixing devices · CPC title