Daniel L Fields

US Patent:

7438462, Oct 21, 2008

Filed:

Mar 18, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/803864

Inventors:

Christine J. Bodie - Plymouth MI, US
Daniel Jay Fields - South Lyon MI, US

International Classification:

B01F 11/00

US Classification:

366197, 366208, 366209, 366216, 366218, 366219, 366239

Abstract:

Methods and mechanisms for shaking containers are disclosed. The shaking motion can be made to vary in a dynamic fashion so that the different components within the container are not made to separate, as if subjected to the processing of a centrifuge. Such dynamic motion can appear to be random. A cantilevered base plate or other type of based place can be coupled to a base. A motor can be coupled to the base plate and configured to rotate a generally vertical shaft. A cam or other type of wheel can be coupled to the shaft and configured to eccentrically rotate about the shaft, wherein the wheel is configured to rotate within a bearing. A container base is coupled to the bearing such that the container base is configured to translate or otherwise move is general accordance with the eccentric rotation of the cam. The container base can be configured to tilt based at least in part on the translation of the container base.