An apparatus for mixing and cutting animal feed including a container with a sidewall, a rotary mixing and cutting device positioned inside the container and arranged to be driven by a driving unit. At least one counter element is provided at the sidewall. The apparatus includes a positioning device for moving the counter element between a retracted position and an inserted position, and a control unit to control the positioning device of the counter element and arranged to determine an indication of the amount of instantaneous power consumed by the driving units for driving the rotary mixing and cutting device and to control positioning device based on the determined indication of the amount of instantaneous power.

A centrifugal mixing device can include a shaft assembly that is operably coupled to a motor such that the motor rotates the shaft assembly about a first axis. The devices can further include a turret that is rotatably coupled to the shaft assembly such that the turret rotates about the first axis relative to the shaft assembly. The turret can include a first support, a first canister rotatably coupled to the first support such that the first canister rotates about a second axis, and a second canister rotatably coupled to the first support such that the second canister rotates about a third axis. The turret is configured to rotate about the first axis in a first rotational direction and each of the first and second canisters is configured to rotate about the second and third axes, respectively, in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction.

A stirring device and method for stirring a material using an applicator with an electrically controllable element placed on an outside surface of the applicator so that a controllable power source coupled to the electrically controllable element provides a controlled electrostatic charge to the element. The controlled electrostatic charge provided by the power source creates a variable electric field exterior to the outside surface of the applicator. The variable electric field induces a stirring movement to the material.

A fluid mixing device is provided with a plurality of flow channel units disposed to be divided in a plurality of layers. Each of the flow channel units has an inflow port, an outflow port, and a plurality of branch flow channels making the inflow port and the outflow port communicate with each other. The flow channel units located in different layers are connected to each other at the inflow port and the outflow port between the flow channel units, thereby configuring a three-dimensional flow channel as a whole. When the direction from the inflow port to the outflow path of each flow channel unit is set to be a flow direction in the flow channel unit, the flow directions intersect each other between the respective layers.

An agitation device used in the production of red wine that breaks the cap during fermentation is provided. The device has a body, a depth sensor and a flotation device secured to the exterior of the body. Holes in the body enable the body to submerge into wine in a vessel below the surface. A control system is coupled to the agitator and inflates the inflation device to move the device to the surface of the wine to break through a fermentation cap formed on the surface of the wine.

A system for preparing recipes with components coming from closed containers (S1-S5) provides for using one or more robotic units (1), each of which withdraws a selected container, arranging a plurality of hoppers (7.1-7.5), in each of which the withdrawn selected container is inserted by the robotic unit (1), and in each of which the container is automatically opened for loading the component into the hopper (7), discharging a preset component dose from each hopper (7), and collecting the dosed components for preparing the required recipe; a driving and control unit (15) provides for driving and controlling all of these operations as a function of the required recipe. Thereby, an automatic system for preparing recipes is achieved, which is fast, with a low processing cost, and free from risks related to the processing.

A sample plate for an ion source is disclosed comprising a plurality of ionization regions, each ionization region comprising a first electrode and a second separate electrode separated by an insulator.

A mixing bag for use in bioprocessing in which a fluid is received and agitated using an internal fluid-agitating element driven by an external motive device is disclosed. The bag may include an integral sparger and sensor receiver. Related methods are also disclosed.

Apparatus for processing liquids or liquid-based substances includes a plurality of volumes at least two of which are defined at least in part by one or more phaseguides inside the volume and/or in a conduit connected thereto for controlling aliquoting of one or more liquids or liquid-based substances inside the volume. Each volume has an upstream and downstream side with respect to meniscus advancement direction via which it may be filled with or emptied of one or more liquids or liquid-based substances. The apparatus also includes at least one common upstream-side conduit connected to supply a liquid or liquid-based substance via a plurality of the inlet or extraction conduits, a plurality of the phaseguides exhibiting a predetermined level of stability and one or more of the phaseguides exhibiting a predetermined different stability compared with the stability of at least one of the other phaseguides whereby to control the preference order in which the volumes fill and/or empty. The stability is determined by the value and radius of an acute angle along a said phaseguide at the downstream side of the phaseguide.

The enclosed offset pail mixer is an invention which allows for safe, efficient and clean mixing of liquid solutions and liquid mechanical mixtures. The mixer includes a moveable head assembly that is constrained to two positions. In the operating position, the mixer geometry substantially encloses the moving parts of the mixer, preventing personnel from coming in contact with moving parts. The geometry also acts to contain dusts and vapors. A safety control circuit ensures that the impeller motor will not operate unless the vessel and the shroud are both in their respective operating position. In the operating position, the impeller shaft axis is strategically offset from the vessel axis to reduce large vortices and associated aeration. When the movable head is in the retracted position, the impeller is positioned over a removable drip cup to prevent residue from dripping on the floor or machine frame.