The present disclosure provides a device and method for powder distribution and an additive manufacturing method, wherein different size or kind of powders could be chosen to be accommodated within a receptacle. The receptacle can uniformly mix the powder by a rotation movement, pour out the powders by the rotation movement and distribute the powders for forming a layer by a translation movement. In another embodiment, the receptacle further comprises a heating element for preheating the powders. Not only can the present disclosure uniformly mix the powders so as to reduce the thermal deformation and distribute the powder layer compactly, but also can the present disclosure distribute different kinds of powder in different layer so as to increase the diversity in additive manufacturing.

Provided herein are apparatuses and systems for mixing liquids and suspensions that include vessels with structures that improve mixing while not contacting liquid delivery components. The apparatuses and systems can include a motor drive that allows speed and directional control of rotation of the vessel. The apparatuses and systems can include one or more magnets for separating magnetic beads in a suspension. Also provided are methods using said apparatuses and systems for mixing and separation processes.

Devices and methods for handling liquids are provided. The devices and methods make use of centrifugal forces to drive liquid flow and facilitate one or more of the mixing, metering and sequencing of liquids, for example on a microfluidic device.

Method and apparatus to agitate a liquid are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a carrier having a base that includes a ridge extending from the base and a collar extending from the base. The example apparatus also includes a container supported on the base, the container movable between (A) a locked positon in which the ridge fixedly engages the container to non-rotatably couple the container to the base and (B) an unlocked position in which the container is disengaged from the ridge and the container is rotatable about the collar.

A printer includes a first cartridge holder including a first insertion port in which a first ink cartridge housing a first ink pack charged with a sedimentation ink is inserted and which is open horizontally, the first cartridge holder housing the inserted first ink cartridge, a first shaft pivotably supporting the first cartridge holder, a first driving mechanism that causes the first cartridge holder to pivot about the first shaft, and a controller that controls the first driving mechanism. The controller includes a first controller that controls the first driving mechanism to cause the first cartridge holder to pivot and agitate the sedimentation ink contained in the first ink pack.

A method of mixing using a tubular reactor wherein process material continuously passes through the tubular reactor which is operating at predetermined reaction conditions. The tubular reactor is rotated through reciprocating arcs about the longitudinal axis of the tube as the process material passes therethrough. Static and/or dynamic mixers or agitators may be provided within the tubular reactor.

Apparatuses and methods based thereon are provided for mixing utilizing mixer inserts. A mixer insert may be adapted to enclose a space in a container, with the mixer insert having one or more securing components for securing the mixer insert to the container, and one or more mixing components, adapted to fit within the enclosed space when the mixer insert is secured to the container, with the one or more mixing components being configured to mix material placed within the enclosed space when the container is subject to a rotational force or movement. The mixer insert may have a closing section that has a shape matching an opening of the container, with the mixer insert being configured such that the closing section engages the opening of the container. At least one of the mixing components may be a blade, which may be twisted along the length of the blade.

Disclosed is a nucleic acid detection device which includes an installation unit on which a cartridge is installed, the cartridge including a chamber configured to store nucleic acid, a reagent for amplifying the nucleic acid and a dispersion medium for dispersing the nucleic acid and the reagent; a sample processing unit configured to produce, within the chamber, an emulsion in which droplets containing the nucleic acid and the reagent are dispersed in the dispersion medium; a temperature regulating unit configured to regulate a temperature of the cartridge to amplify the nucleic acid contained in the droplet; and a detection unit configured to detect a signal based on the nucleic acid amplified by temperature regulation by the temperature regulating unit.

In one example, a build material supply system for additive manufacturing includes a mixer to aperiodically rotate a non-circular mixing chamber containing powdered build material to form mixed powdered build material.