An agitation device for agitating products held in wells of sample vessels or a laboratory microplate is disclosed. The device is arranged to retain a microplate and to agitate an agitation member comprising an array of agitation projections which enter the wells of the microplate. The agitating motion can be horizontal and damping means can be provided between an actuator and parts of the device to reduce overall vibrations. A related method of agitation of microplate or sample vessel contents is described. A novel arrangement for receiving a replaceable agitation member for the device is also disclosed.

An inner 11 for lining a mixing vessel 1 comprising a feed opening 4 on the upper side and a flange 5 projecting outward in the radial direction and on the lower side a discharge duct 8 with a discharge flap valve 23 that can be adjusted from an open position into a closed position and vice versa, which mixing vessel 1 with bulk material introduced into it for the process of blending can be connected onto a mixing head 18 of an industrial blender 19, said mixing supporting one or multiple mixing tool(s), which inner liner 11 bears a supporting flange joint 17 on the upper side projects outward in the radial direction, and, when inserted into the mixing vessel 1, comes to bear against the flange 5 of the mixing vessel 1 and on its bottom side comprises a discharge duct extension 14, projecting into the discharge duct 8 of the mixing vessel 1, which projects into the discharge duct 8 of the mixing vessel 1 with a length that is at least sufficient to reach the discharge flap valve 23 when it is the closed positon.

A mixing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including a downwardly extending rotatable output shaft for receiving a mixer tool, the head including a planetary system therewithin for effecting rotation of the rotatable output shaft about its axis and orbiting of the shaft axis about another axis. A motor includes an output operatively connected to drive the planetary system. A control system includes a plurality of sensors, each sensor located for detecting a respective condition of mixing machine, and a diagnostic control operable to (i) track outputs from the plurality of sensors over time, (ii) analyze the tracked outputs and (iii) produce an alert indication based upon the diagnostic control identifying a performance characteristic indicative of a need for service or repair of the mixing machine.

A bioreactor system includes a support housing having an interior surface bounding a compartment, the support housing having a sidewall with an opening extending therethrough and communicating with the compartment. A rack is secured to the support housing in alignment with the opening. An elongated first shaft has a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the first shaft being secured to the rack so that the second end of the first shaft projects outwardly away from the sidewall of the support housing. A structure is secured to the first shaft towards the second end of the first shaft, the structure outwardly projecting away from the first shaft. A collapsible bag bounds a chamber and is at least partially disposed within the compartment of the support housing. A member projects from the collapsible bag and passes through the opening on the sidewall, the structure restraining movement of the member.

A manual mixer serves to facilitate mixing and agitating materials for use during surgery. For example, the manual mixer includes a body portion defining an interior area, a mixing assembly provided in the interior area of the body portion, a crank assembly for actuating the mixing assembly, and a valve assembly. The mixing assembly serves to mix and agitate the materials provided in the interior through rotation of a plunger portion and a spring attached thereto, and through upwards and downwards movement of the plunger portion in the interior area. Rotation of the crank assembly serves to rotate the plunger portion and the spring attached thereto, and effectuate upwards and downwards movement of the plunger portion. The valve assembly can be opened to facilitate dispensing of the materials from the interior area.

An easily assembled blender with an internal frame holding a cupholder elevator assembly, a mix motor assembly, a food preparation chamber, a water heater assembly and a steamer assembly. The water heater and steamer assemblies are preferably on modular trays that slide into the internal frame. The water heater preferably also serves as a hot water reservoir and, to avoid overheating, has its heating coil located near its bottom. To resist scale deposits, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing is preferably used to transport steam from the steamer to the food preparation chamber. To expedite manufacture, a spring-biased idler assembly with a drive belt for the cupholder elevator assembly preferably snaps into a lower receiving port on the internal frame. Crisscrossing infrared light beams are preferably placed at the entrance of the food preparation chamber to detect whether the cup entering the chamber is the correct size and detect whether any foreign object is below the food preparation chamber.

A fluid mixing system includes a support housing having an interior surface bounding a compartment, the support housing having a floor and a sidewall upstanding therefrom, an opening extending through the sidewall and communicating with the compartment. An elongated rack is disposed on the support housing adjacent to the opening. A first hanger includes an elongated shaft having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the shaft being removably mounted to the rack so that the second end projects outwardly away from the sidewall of the support housing, the second end of the shaft having a fastener disposed thereat.

The invention relates to a stirring mechanism (90) for a machine for preparing chilled or frozen products comprising one motor, the stirring mechanism (90) comprising one or a plurality of transmission paths between an input shaft (94) rotatable at a speed .sub.in by the motor and an output shaft (98) rotatable at a speed .sub.out, the transmission paths providing different values of the ratio .sub.in/.sub.out and being selectable as a function of the direction of rotation of the input shaft (94). The invention further relates to a machine (100) for preparing chilled or frozen products comprising a stirring mechanism (90) as described, the stirring mechanism (90) entraining in rotation stirring means (9) to prepare the product. Even further, the invention relates to a system comprising such a machine (100) and a container (10) comprising the ingredient or ingredients for preparing the product by the rotation of the stirring means (9).

The invention relates to a stirring mechanism (90) for a machine for preparing chilled or frozen products comprising one motor, the stirring mechanism (90) comprising an input shaft (94) rotatable by the motor and an output shaft (98) providing the output movement of the stirring mechanism (90) such that depending on the direction of rotation of the input shaft (94), the positioning of the output shaft (98) is different with respect to the input shaft (94). Further, the invention relates to a machine (100) for preparing chilled or frozen products comprising a stirring mechanism (90) as described, the stirring mechanism (90) entraining in rotation stirring means (9) to prepare the product. Even further, the invention relates to a system comprising a machine (100) as the one described and a container (10) comprising the ingredient or ingredients for preparing the product by the rotation of the stirring means (9).

This disclosure relates to equipment utilized to manufacture chemical agents, particularly biopharmaceuticals. In some embodiments, reactor systems comprising a mobile carriage assembly; a disposable reaction container removably attached to the carriage assembly; and, a carriage holder into which the mobile carriage assembly may be removably inserted are provided.