An insert for a liquid-holding container includes a body comprising a wall, open first and second ends, and a lumen extending from the open first end to the open second end. A plurality of first openings are formed in the wall, each of the first openings defining an area, and one or more second openings are formed in the wall, each of the one or more second openings defining an area that is greater than the area defined by any of the first openings. The first openings are arranged in a first row of at least three first openings in axial alignment and a second row of at least three first openings in axial alignment. At least one of the one or more second openings is situated closer to the first end than any of the first openings, and each of the first and second openings is sized to permit the passage of a liquid.

The disclosure is directed to a sample preparation apparatus for grinding or homogenizing test samples. More specifically, the disclosure relates to grinding samples using rotational and linear motion. Grinding samples can be accomplished with an apparatus with a slider-crank mechanism that is attached to an oscillating connecting linkage. The amplitude of oscillatory motion can be greater than or equal to a length of a sample processing chamber.

The disclosure is directed to a sample preparation apparatus for grinding or homogenizing test samples. More specifically, the disclosure relates to grinding samples using rotational and linear motion. Grinding samples can be accomplished with an apparatus with a slider-crank mechanism that is attached to an oscillating connecting linkage. The amplitude of oscillatory motion can be greater than or equal to a length of a sample processing chamber.

A device for shaking samples includes a carrier (62) and a drive element (66) which is rotatably bearing-mounted on the carrier (62) about a drive axle and is drivable by a drive (65). Furthermore, the device includes a tray (61) arranged for loading the samples (69), a tray shaft (67) which is connected to the tray (61) and is bearing-mounted eccentrically on the drive element (66), and a counterweight (66a) which is attached to the drive element (66) and is adapted to compensate for an imbalance occurring during operation of the device with a defined load on the tray (61). A center of gravity of the counterweight (66a) is located opposite the tray shaft (67) in relation to the drive axle of the drive element (66). The center of gravity of the counterweight (66a) and a center of gravity of the tray (61) together with the tray shaft (67) and defined load are located in the same plane orthogonal to the drive axle. When the drive element (66) rotates about the drive axle, a first torque, which is exerted on the drive axle by the tray (61) together with the tray shaft (67) and defined load, is equal in magnitude and directed in the opposite direction to a second torque, which is exerted on the drive axle by the counterweight (66a). As a result, the counterweight (66a) is adapted in such a way that it compensates for both a static and a dynamic imbalance on the drive axle. Accordingly, a shaking frequency of the tray (61) due to the drive (65) reaches at least 1000 rpm, in particular at least 2000 rpm.

A device for shaking samples includes a carrier (62) and a drive element (66) which is rotatably bearing-mounted on the carrier (62) about a drive axle and is drivable by a drive (65). Furthermore, the device includes a tray (61) arranged for loading the samples (69), a tray shaft (67) which is connected to the tray (61) and is bearing-mounted eccentrically on the drive element (66), and a counterweight (66a) which is attached to the drive element (66) and is adapted to compensate for an imbalance occurring during operation of the device with a defined load on the tray (61). A center of gravity of the counterweight (66a) is located opposite the tray shaft (67) in relation to the drive axle of the drive element (66). The center of gravity of the counterweight (66a) and a center of gravity of the tray (61) together with the tray shaft (67) and defined load are located in the same plane orthogonal to the drive axle. When the drive element (66) rotates about the drive axle, a first torque, which is exerted on the drive axle by the tray (61) together with the tray shaft (67) and defined load, is equal in magnitude and directed in the opposite direction to a second torque, which is exerted on the drive axle by the counterweight (66a). As a result, the counterweight (66a) is adapted in such a way that it compensates for both a static and a dynamic imbalance on the drive axle. Accordingly, a shaking frequency of the tray (61) due to the drive (65) reaches at least 1000 rpm, in particular at least 2000 rpm.

A drive with which a container can be driven and positively guided in a plane along a trajectory curve, and a method for treating ingredients, in particular mixtures, in a container which is driven and positively guided along a trajectory curve by means of the drive. The drive has the advantage of using only rotary drives to move a container in a positively guided reciprocating movement along a trajectory curve.

A drive with which a container can be driven and positively guided in a plane along a trajectory curve, and a method for treating ingredients, in particular mixtures, in a container which is driven and positively guided along a trajectory curve by means of the drive. The drive has the advantage of using only rotary drives to move a container in a positively guided reciprocating movement along a trajectory curve.

A laboratory shaker is provided having a shaker platform and a shaker mechanism operatively connected to the shaker platform. The shaker mechanism is configured to oscillate the shaker platform and at least one liquid-containing vessel supported on the platform. A spill tray is located beneath the shaker platform that has at least one aperture extending through the spill tray. The at least one aperture is configured to permit the operative connection of the shaker mechanism to the shaker platform through the aperture, wherein the spill tray is configured to contain spilled liquid from the at least one liquid-containing vessel.

A laboratory shaker is provided having a shaker platform and a shaker mechanism operatively connected to the shaker platform. The shaker mechanism is configured to oscillate the shaker platform and at least one liquid-containing vessel supported on the platform. A spill tray is located beneath the shaker platform that has at least one aperture extending through the spill tray. The at least one aperture is configured to permit the operative connection of the shaker mechanism to the shaker platform through the aperture, wherein the spill tray is configured to contain spilled liquid from the at least one liquid-containing vessel.

A device for use as a mixing apparatus comprising a container having a cross-section of at least 5 mm diameter, the cross-section being spanned by a wall having protrusions projecting into the cross-section, the protrusions preferably being distributed over the entire wall, the container being driven to reciprocate along a path curve obtainable by superimposing the movement along at least two axes lying at an angle to each other and preferably in the plane of the cross-section of the container at different frequencies.