Auto sampler rack mounts and fluid vials that can be used with them are described. In some configurations, the rack mount can be configured to spin each fluid vial rotationally to assist in mixing or stirring of fluid in the vial and/or to maintain fluid homogeneity. If desired, the fluid vial may include one or more internal features to assist in the mixing or stirring.

A biological production system includes a mixing vessel and an agitation device. The mixing vessel includes an outer housing, an internal mixing structure, and a reaction chamber. The mixing vessel is configured to provide low shear agitation to materials in the reaction chamber in response to force from the agitation device.

An adapter for a jar for use with a planetary mixer, the adapter securing a dispensing container having a body and a removable cap, the adapter having a central aperture through which a longitudinal axis of the jar passes when the adapter is inside the jar. When the dispensing container is secured to the adapter and the adapter is inside the jar: (i) the adapter maintains the container spaced from an inner wall and from a bottom of the jar; (ii) a gap is provided between a top of the jar and the container; (iii) a point on the cap of the container extends further from the bottom of the jar than does a point on the body of the container; (iv) the body of the container crosses the longitudinal axis of the jar; and (v) the container extends over more than half the diameter of the jar.

A device for mixing and dispensing a flowable material or mixture of materials, the device comprising a cup having a bottom with a protrusion having an opening; a plunger having a dispensing port and air vent holes; a plug; a nozzle; and, a lid. The plug can be associated with and plug the cup protrusion opening when the cup is being filled or mixed, or the plug can be associated with the plunger port to seal off the air vent holes when material is dispensed from the device. Also disclosed is a method of mixing and dispensing a flowable material.

In a method of and an apparatus for improving the quality of an asphalt pavement, the asphalt is charged in a supply arrangement (2) adapted to be fitted in an inlet space (11) of a road finishing machine (1). The supply arrangement comprises a rotary vessel (3) in the shape of a truncated cone with a top inlet (30) and a smaller bottom outlet (31). The rotary vessel (3) has internal irregularities (32) for homogenizing the asphalt as to particle size and temperature. Preferably a distributing device (9) including at least one dividing member (93) and a rearrangement device (95) is also used, having the at least one dividing member (93) extending transversely over the belt conveyor (12) under the bottom outlet (31) to divide the flow of asphalt into layers, on top of one another, and the rearrangement device (95) to optimize form and feeding.

A dispensing container and adapter system for use with a planetary mixer is disclosed. The dispensing container has a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. The dispensing container may include a nozzle and a removable cap to cover the nozzle. The removable cap may have a first width dimension measured along the transverse axis. The dispensing container may include a body having a second width dimension measured along the transverse axis. An adapter may receive the dispensing container. The adapter may include a cavity to receive the removable cap. The cavity may have a cavity width that exceeds the first width dimension. The adapter may also include a recess for receiving a portion of the dispensing container. The recess may extend from the cavity. At least a portion of the recess may have a width dimension smaller than both the first width dimension and the second width dimension.

An improved blending apparatus for manufactured wood products with a rotating blending drum or cylinder with a pattern of alternating flights of different configurations extending from the interior of the drum. The flights lift the strands as the drum rotates to different heights before the strands free-fall back to the bottom of the drum. One flight is shorter, and may be trapezoidal in cross-section. The second flight is taller, and may have a bull-nose configuration with substantially vertical sides. During operation, the design of the bull-nose flight tends to hold more strands and to carry them closer to the top of the drum before the strands drop and fall. In contrast, the shorter height and angled sides of the trapezoidal flight tends to hold fewer strands and to not carry them as high along the side before strands drop and fall. The alternating pattern causes a more consistent and dispersed fall of strands as the drum rotates, resulting in a significantly larger and more consistent amount of the sprayed adhesives and waxes being applied to the strands, and not passing through gaps to build up on the drum wall.

A mixing container for a mixer, the container comprising, in exemplar embodiments, a cup and a lid, in which the lid has at least two sets of closely-spaced pins projecting therefrom. The sets of pins are spaced generally equidistant from each other and provide increased shearing of fluids or particulate matter being mixed within the cup.