The present disclosure relates to a food preparation appliance comprising a food preparation pot and a rotatable tool for chopping and/or blending a food in the food preparation pot wherein the tool is detachably connected to a shaft, which is at least partially outside the food preparation pot in order to be coupled to a drive for rotation. Further, a locking mechanism is provided for connecting the tool to the shaft in a locked manner. The locking mechanism is arranged in such a way that, during operation, the tool can be driven by the shaft in both rotation directions for chopping and/or blending a food.

This disclosure relates to equipment utilized to manufacture chemical agents, particularly biopharmaceuticals, using Disposable Containers (DCs).

Magnetically coupled mixer having an impeller magnetically coupled to a drive shaft and thrust bearings that support the impeller. The drive shaft can be moved along its axis, and an upwardly directed axial force is applied to the drive shaft to partially offset downward forces exerted by the impeller and thereby reduce friction between the thrust bearing surfaces while maintaining contact between them. In one disclosed embodiment, the force is applied to the drive shaft by a pair of magnets arranged so that the magnetic fields interact to produce the force, and the magnitude of the force is controlled by adjusting the distance between the magnets. The forces exerted by the impeller can be monitored and utilized in controlling the magnitude of the force applied to the shaft.

A system for driving a reel mixing tool, including a unit structure, a bottom output shaft, an output gearbox, a reel mixer driveshaft, a reel mixer gearbox, a flexible coupling, and a reel mixing tool, is provided. The unit structure supports the bottom output shaft which is connected to the output gearbox, the output gearbox is connected to the reel mixer driveshaft, the reel mixer driveshaft is connected to the reel mixer gearbox, the reel mixer gearbox is directly coupled to the reel mixing tool by the flexible coupling, allowing the bottom output shaft to transfer power through to the reel mixing tool.

Agitation assemblies for a spreader having a rotatable feeding mechanism are provided that utilize the rotation of the feeding mechanism to oscillate an agitation member within the spreader. A crank is coupled to the feeding mechanism and a connecting linkage connects between the agitation member and the crank so that as a drive mechanism rotates the feeding mechanism to dispense spreading material towards a dispensing opening, the connecting linkage oscillates the agitation member. The agitation member can be a baffle or agitation plate. The oscillation of the agitation member can be pivoting or sliding oscillation.

Agitation assemblies for a spreader having a rotatable feeding mechanism are provided that utilize the rotation of the feeding mechanism to oscillate an agitation member within the spreader. A crank is coupled to the feeding mechanism and a connecting linkage connects between the agitation member and the crank so that as a drive mechanism rotates the feeding mechanism to dispense spreading material towards a dispensing opening, the connecting linkage oscillates the agitation member. The agitation member can be a baffle or agitation plate. The oscillation of the agitation member can be pivoting or sliding oscillation.

The sealing performance of a stirring device and the abrasion resistance of a seal are improved. A stirring device includes a stirring tank that defines a stirring chamber; a plurality of stirring blades that are disposed in the stirring chamber; a shear blade drive shaft that extends from a lower side of the stirring tank to the stirring chamber and rotationally drives at least one shear blade among the plurality of stirring blades; and a fixed ring and a rotating ring that is disposed radially outside the shear blade drive shaft and seals between the stirring tank and the shear blade drive shaft. A sealing surface of the mechanical seal structure is formed at the same height as or above a lowermost portion of the stirring chamber.

The sealing performance of a stirring device and the abrasion resistance of a seal are improved. A stirring device includes a stirring tank that defines a stirring chamber; a plurality of stirring blades that are disposed in the stirring chamber; a shear blade drive shaft that extends from a lower side of the stirring tank to the stirring chamber and rotationally drives at least one shear blade among the plurality of stirring blades; and a fixed ring and a rotating ring that is disposed radially outside the shear blade drive shaft and seals between the stirring tank and the shear blade drive shaft. A sealing surface of the mechanical seal structure is formed at the same height as or above a lowermost portion of the stirring chamber.

A blending appliance includes a housing with a jar receiving area defined between an upper housing and a support base. A blender jar includes a base portion and a receptacle portion, and is configured to be laterally received within the jar receiving area of the housing. A magnetic coupling system includes an upper magnetic coupler disposed in the base portion of the blender jar and a lower magnetic coupler disposed in the support base of the housing. The upper and lower magnetic couplers are magnetically coupled to one another for driving a blade assembly disposed in the receptacle portion of the blender jar. A brake mechanism is disposed on the upper magnetic coupler and is configured to stop rotation of the upper magnetic coupler when the blender jar is removed from the jar receiving area.

A fluid mixing system includes a flexible bag having a first end, an opposing second end, and an interior surface bounding a compartment. A first rotational assembly includes a first casing mounted to the first end of the flexible bag and a first hub rotatably mounted to the first casing. A second rotational assembly includes a second casing mounted to the second end of the flexible bag and a second hub rotatably mounted to the second casing. An elongated member has a first end coupled with the first hub and an opposing second end coupled with the second hub, the connector being flexible and having a uniform flexibility along its entire length. A first impeller is mounted to the connector.