Devices and methods mix a bone cement and comprise at least one cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises in its interior a cylindrical mixing chamber, a discharge piston movable in the cylindrical mixing chamber in the longitudinal direction and sealable against the walls of the mixing chamber, a mixing device for thoroughly mixing the content of the mixing chamber, which is arranged in the interior of the mixing chamber. The mixing device is operable externally via a mixing rod and the mixing rod is guided through a passage in the discharge piston such that it can be rotated and displaced in the longitudinal direction by the discharge piston. The cartridge comprises a discharge opening opposite the discharge piston, wherein, in the mixing chamber, a first component is contained between the discharge piston and the discharge opening, wherein a monomer fluid as a second component is introducable through the discharge opening into the mixing chamber. The device further comprises a locking element with which the mixing rod is affixable to the discharge piston such that the discharge piston is movable by means of the mixing rod in the mixing chamber in the longitudinal direction.

The invention relates to a process of manufacturing a dental milling block with a homogeneous color and/or translucency gradient. This process comprises the steps of providing a mold with a cavity having a z-direction and an x/y-direction, filling the cavity partially with a first powder up to a height H1, the first powder having a volume VP1 with a top and bottom surface, introducing a second powder on top of the first powder up to a height H2, the second powder having a volume VP2 with a top and bottom surface and, the top surface of the first powder being in contact with the bottom surface of the second powder and forming an intermediate region, providing a mixer unit with at least one rotatable mixing element, introducing the rotating mixing element in z-direction into the intermediate region, mixing the powder located in the intermediate region by rotating the mixing element, removing the rotating mixing element from the powder, compacting the powder, optionally applying heat to the compacted powder, the first powder differing from the second powder by its physical properties and/or chemical composition and/or color. The invention also relates to a process of producing a dental restoration using dental milling block obtainable according to this process.

The invention relates to a process of manufacturing a dental milling block with a homogeneous color and/or translucency gradient. This process comprises the steps of providing a mold with a cavity having a z-direction and an x/y-direction, filling the cavity partially with a first powder up to a height H1, the first powder having a volume VP1 with a top and bottom surface, introducing a second powder on top of the first powder up to a height H2, the second powder having a volume VP2 with a top and bottom surface and, the top surface of the first powder being in contact with the bottom surface of the second powder and forming an intermediate region, providing a mixer unit with at least one rotatable mixing element, introducing the rotating mixing element in z-direction into the intermediate region, mixing the powder located in the intermediate region by rotating the mixing element, removing the rotating mixing element from the powder, compacting the powder, optionally applying heat to the compacted powder, the first powder differing from the second powder by its physical properties and/or chemical composition and/or color. The invention also relates to a process of producing a dental restoration using dental milling block obtainable according to this process.

A downhole tool includes a housing configured to be placed into a subterranean environment and a mixer disposed in the housing. The mixer includes a first inlet configured to receive a fusible metal or alloy component and a second inlet configured to receive a solid metal or semi-metal component. Additionally, the mixer includes a mixing chamber configured to mix the fusible metal or alloy component and the solid metal or semi-metal component to form a liquid or partially liquid alloy. Further, the mixer includes an outlet configured to discharge the liquid or partially liquid alloy into the subterranean environment. The liquid or partially liquid alloy is configured to harden into a solid alloy over time.

An apparatus including a computer processor; a first tool device; a first device configured to hold the first tool device; and a second device configured to move the first tool device in x, y, and z directions, when the first tool device is being held by the first device, in response to commands from the computer processor; and a conveyor device having a belt. The first tool device may include a wheel. The first device may be configured with respect to the conveyor device, so that the wheel of the first tool device is configured to be lowered in the z direction into a material located on the belt of the conveyor device, and the first tool device is configured to be moved in the x and y direction, with the wheel simultaneously rotating and rolling through the material on the belt, in response to commands from the computer processor.

An automated system associates an agitator with a respective container for containing fluid, such as paint. The system includes a plurality of agitators; a storage area where the plurality of agitators are arranged; a moving device for moving the agitators at least between the storage area and the container; and a control system for controlling and coordinating the operations of the system. The agitators include a locking mechanism for removably fixing the agitator to the respective container.

A module includes a housing, a sealing feature, a locking feature, and an agitator. The housing has an opening separating inner and outer surfaces and a boss that extends through the housing such that part of the outer surface forms an inner bore of the boss having a terminus pointing toward the opening. The agitator has a base, a shaft, and a mixing element coupled to the base such that the base, in cooperation with the sealing feature, circumferentially seals the opening of the housing to form a cavity defined by the inner surface. The shaft passes through the inner bore. The locking feature when engaged permits independent or simultaneous translational and rotational movement of the shaft while an area between the terminus of the boss and the shaft remains mechanically sealed during the movement against liquid or powder encroachment into a clean area of the inner bore.

A transmission mechanism suitable for a double-rotating paint mixing machine, comprising a rotating spindle installed on a rack, a pressing spindle installed in the rotating spindle, a guide rail frame fixed at a front end of the rotating spindle, an upper supporting arm and a lower supporting arm, and an upper pressing disc and a lower pressing disc, which are installed on the upper supporting arm and the lower supporting arm and are capable of rotating, wherein the rotating spindle can drive the entire guide rail frame to rotate along the axis of the rotating spindle, meanwhile the upper pressing disc can be driven by a transmission system to rotate around its own axis at the same time, wherein the rotating spindle is engaged with and disengaged from the driving wheel through a driving disc locking device.

A beverage mixing system includes a housing, a sealing feature, a locking feature, and an agitator. The housing has an opening separating inner and outer surfaces and a boss that extends through the housing such that part of the outer surface forms an inner bore of the boss having a terminus pointing toward the opening. The agitator has a base, a shaft, and a mixing element coupled to the base such that the base, in cooperation with the sealing feature, circumferentially seals the opening of the housing to form a cavity defined by the inner surface. The shaft passes through the inner bore. The locking feature when engaged permits independent or simultaneous translational and rotational movement of the shaft while an area between the terminus of the boss and the shaft remains mechanically sealed during the movement against liquid or powder encroachment into a clean area of the inner bore.

An apparatus (1) for dissolution testing comprises a tank (2) having a circular cylindrical outer body portion (21) with a transparent side wall and a circular cylindrical inner body portion (22) with a transparent side wall, wherein the inner body portion (22) is coaxially arranged with respect to the outer body portion (21) such that an outer interior (23) having a ring-shaped cross section is defined between the outer body portion (21) and the inner body portion (22) and an inner interior (24) having a circular cross section is defined inside the inner body portion. The apparatus (1) further comprises a plurality of dissolution vessels (4) arranged in the outer interior (23) of the tank and a heater assembly being arranged to heat a test media in the vessels (4) to a predefined temperature. The apparatus (1) according to the invention allows for a comparably precise monitoring of vessels (4) inside the tank (2) and/or an appropriate manipulation of the vessels (4) inside the tank (2).