Sample rotator with manually energized spring motor
US5641229A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jun 24, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01F2101/23
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A manual sample rotator and method provides a mechanical orbital motion, which is useful in medical industries. The rotator has a substantially rectangular orbiting member with four guiding wells, complementary to four guiding posts provided on a fixed member, such as a housing. Each guiding post is inserted into one of the guiding wells. The guiding wells are larger than the counterpart guiding posts so that when the guiding posts are seated into the wells, the clearance therebetween allows the orbiting member to move in the horizontal plane in all directions within the bounds of the guiding wells. The guiding post and well arrangement thus restrains the orbiting member from rotating about the orbital axis, but permits the member to orbit thereabout. The orbiting member is orbited around a main orbital axis using an offset crank (output shaft end), which rotates about the main orbital axis and is rotatable about an axis offset from the main axis relative to the orbiting member. A manually operated spring motor rotates the orbiting member. The spring motor also has a time indicator, a level indicator, and a level adjuster.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.