WO1991016127A1 - Orbital platform for laboratory shakers and incubators - Google Patents

Orbital platform for laboratory shakers and incubators Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1991016127A1
WO1991016127A1 PCT/GB1991/000624 GB9100624W WO9116127A1 WO 1991016127 A1 WO1991016127 A1 WO 1991016127A1 GB 9100624 W GB9100624 W GB 9100624W WO 9116127 A1 WO9116127 A1 WO 9116127A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
platform
compliant
linkages
base
orbital
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1991/000624
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Geoffrey Luxford
David Ronald Marchunt
Original Assignee
Sanyo Gallenkamp Plc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sanyo Gallenkamp Plc filed Critical Sanyo Gallenkamp Plc
Publication of WO1991016127A1 publication Critical patent/WO1991016127A1/en

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M27/00—Means for mixing, agitating or circulating fluids in the vessel
    • C12M27/16—Vibrating; Shaking; Tilting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F31/00—Mixers with shaking, oscillating, or vibrating mechanisms
    • B01F31/20—Mixing the contents of independent containers, e.g. test tubes
    • B01F31/22—Mixing the contents of independent containers, e.g. test tubes with supporting means moving in a horizontal plane, e.g. describing an orbital path for moving the containers about an axis which intersects the receptacle axis at an angle

Definitions

  • This invention relates to orbital platforms for use in, for example, laboratory shakers and incubators.
  • Agitation is, for many applications, most suitably provided by supporting a flask or other container of liquid on a flat horizontal platform which is subjected to orbital motion in the plane of the platform.
  • the orbital motion may follow a variety of patterns, but it is generally found that a circular orbit is suitable.
  • This motion is conventionally achieved by means of a plurality of eccentric crank mechanisms, each precisely made to match the other eccentrics in radius, angular alignment and location.
  • the bearings of the eccentrics also have to carry the weight and dynamic forces of the platform whilst also
  • the principal object of the present invention is to provide an orbital platform mechanism which overcomes or at least substantially reduces the abovedescribed disadvantages.
  • an orbital mechanism comprising a base, a platform or other support means, drive means for effecting orbital motion of the platform or other support means relative to the base and compliant mounting means supporting the platform or other support means relative to the base, said compliant mounting means including components accommodating motion of the platform or other support means relative to the base in plural transverse directions.
  • the compliant mounting means comprises a first pair of parallel
  • SUBSTITUTESHEET compliant linkages connection connecting the base to an intermediate member and a second pair of parallel compliant linkages connecting the intermediate member to the platform, the first and second pairs of linkages being transverse to each other, and preferably being mutually orthogonal, and being arranged in planes substantially parallel to the plane of the platform.
  • the compliant linkages in such an embodiment can be compliant by virtue of being flexible, and also rigid linkages pivotally connected to the base and the intermediate member or to the intermediate member and the platform, as the case may be, may additionally or alternatively be employed.
  • the first and second pairs of parallel compliant linkages can advantageously be arranged such that one pair lies between the members of the other pair. It is particularly preferred that the second pair of parallel compliant linkages be arranged between the members of the first pair of parallel compliant linkages.
  • the mounting means is preferably itself capable of supporting the platform and this may conveniently be achieved by forming the linkages as flexible strips, e.g. of steel, of sufficient thickness to support the weight of the platform and of the load placed on it. The stiffness of such strips results in
  • each flexible strip may be a single strip or may be a laminar assembly of more than one strip.
  • the drive means is preferably an electric motor and may be connected to the platform by various means, e.g. cams and links. It is preferred, however, that the drive means be connected to the platform via a single eccentric crank which can generate a required circular motion of fixed radius. Th drive means may be connected to any part of the platform, since the same motion is imparted to all parts of the platform.
  • FIG 1 is a perspective view (partially cut away) of an orbital shaker according to the invention.
  • the orbital shaker comprises a base 1, a sample-bearing platform 20 (indicated by the dashed line) and drive means in the form of an electric motor (not shown) connected to the platform by a drive shaft 2 and an eccentric crank 3.
  • the platform is supported and connected to the base 1 by compliant mounting means comprising two base brackets 4, 5 which are connected to an intermediate bracket 6 by a pair of flexible steel spring strips 7, 8 which allow approximately linear oscillation in the horizontal plane.
  • From an extension 9 of the intermediate bracket 6 are attached two further spring strips 10, 11 which are set perpendicular to the first pair of spring strips 7, 8.
  • the second pair of strips 10, 11 connect the intermediate bracket 6 to a platform support bracket 12 such that the platform support bracket 12 can move with approximate linear motion in the horizontal plane relative to the intermediate bracket 6.
  • the platform is attached to the platform support bracket 12 by means of two bolts 13, 14.
  • containers of material to be agitated are

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
  • Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Biotechnology (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Mixers With Rotating Receptacles And Mixers With Vibration Mechanisms (AREA)
  • Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)
  • Devices For Use In Laboratory Experiments (AREA)

Abstract

An orbital platform mechanism for laboratory shakers and incubators consists of a base (1), a platform (20), compliant mounting means (7, 8, 10, 11) supporting the platform from the base and a drive motor coupled to the platform by means of an eccentric (3) for causing orbital motion of the platform relative to the base. The compliant mounting means consists of an intermediate support member (6) mounted from the base (1) by means of a first pair of parallel spring metal strips (7, 8), and a platform support member (12) mounted from the intermediate support member (6) by means of a second pair of parallel spring metal strips (10, 11), and the first and second pairs of strips are orthogonally disposed. The resultant mechanism provides a simple and cost-efficient orbital mechanism which can readily be powered by a small electric motor.

Description

ORBITAL PLATFORM FOR LABORATORY SHAKERS AND INCUBATORS
Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to orbital platforms for use in, for example, laboratory shakers and incubators.
Background of the Invention;
When growing biological cultures, it is often necessary to gently agitate the suspension liquid. This is required to keep the culture suspension mixed and to improve the absorption of oxygen.
Agitation is, for many applications, most suitably provided by supporting a flask or other container of liquid on a flat horizontal platform which is subjected to orbital motion in the plane of the platform. The orbital motion may follow a variety of patterns, but it is generally found that a circular orbit is suitable.
This motion is conventionally achieved by means of a plurality of eccentric crank mechanisms, each precisely made to match the other eccentrics in radius, angular alignment and location. The bearings of the eccentrics also have to carry the weight and dynamic forces of the platform whilst also
SUBSTITUTE SHEET accommodating forces caused by misalignments between the eccentrics.
Conventional orbital platform apparatuses of this type suffer from the disadvantages that they are complex and hence costly to manufacture, involve a large number of components which are prone to wear, and necessitate the use of a comparatively powerful motor. Objects and Summary of the Invention; The principal object of the present invention is to provide an orbital platform mechanism which overcomes or at least substantially reduces the abovedescribed disadvantages.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an orbital mechanism comprising a base, a platform or other support means, drive means for effecting orbital motion of the platform or other support means relative to the base and compliant mounting means supporting the platform or other support means relative to the base, said compliant mounting means including components accommodating motion of the platform or other support means relative to the base in plural transverse directions.
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention which will be described in detail hereinafter, the compliant mounting means comprises a first pair of parallel
SUBSTITUTESHEET compliant linkages connection connecting the base to an intermediate member and a second pair of parallel compliant linkages connecting the intermediate member to the platform, the first and second pairs of linkages being transverse to each other, and preferably being mutually orthogonal, and being arranged in planes substantially parallel to the plane of the platform. The compliant linkages in such an embodiment can be compliant by virtue of being flexible, and also rigid linkages pivotally connected to the base and the intermediate member or to the intermediate member and the platform, as the case may be, may additionally or alternatively be employed.
The first and second pairs of parallel compliant linkages can advantageously be arranged such that one pair lies between the members of the other pair. It is particularly preferred that the second pair of parallel compliant linkages be arranged between the members of the first pair of parallel compliant linkages.
The mounting means is preferably itself capable of supporting the platform and this may conveniently be achieved by forming the linkages as flexible strips, e.g. of steel, of sufficient thickness to support the weight of the platform and of the load placed on it. The stiffness of such strips results in
SUBSTITUTESHEET significant forces being developed when the platform is displaced from its central position. Thus, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the stiffnesses of the two pairs of strips are made substantially equal such that the resulting force due to displacement of the platform always acts to oppose the displacement. Provided that the orbital motion is circular about the neutral position, then this displacement force will not introduce any significant resistance to the circular motion. Each flexible strip may be a single strip or may be a laminar assembly of more than one strip.
The drive means is preferably an electric motor and may be connected to the platform by various means, e.g. cams and links. It is preferred, however, that the drive means be connected to the platform via a single eccentric crank which can generate a required circular motion of fixed radius. Th drive means may be connected to any part of the platform, since the same motion is imparted to all parts of the platform.
The above and further features of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims and, together with the advantages thereof, will best be appreciated from consideration of the following detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawing.
SUBSTITUTESHEET Description of the Drawing;
Figure 1 is a perspective view (partially cut away) of an orbital shaker according to the invention. Detailed Description of the Embodiment; Referring to Figure 1, the orbital shaker comprises a base 1, a sample-bearing platform 20 (indicated by the dashed line) and drive means in the form of an electric motor (not shown) connected to the platform by a drive shaft 2 and an eccentric crank 3. The platform is supported and connected to the base 1 by compliant mounting means comprising two base brackets 4, 5 which are connected to an intermediate bracket 6 by a pair of flexible steel spring strips 7, 8 which allow approximately linear oscillation in the horizontal plane. From an extension 9 of the intermediate bracket 6 are attached two further spring strips 10, 11 which are set perpendicular to the first pair of spring strips 7, 8. The second pair of strips 10, 11 connect the intermediate bracket 6 to a platform support bracket 12 such that the platform support bracket 12 can move with approximate linear motion in the horizontal plane relative to the intermediate bracket 6. The platform is attached to the platform support bracket 12 by means of two bolts 13, 14.
In use, containers of material to be agitated are
SUBSTITUTESHEET placed on the platform and the electric motor is switched on. The motion of the platform support bracket 12 relative to the intermediate bracket 6 is approximately perpendicular to the motion of the intermediate bracket 6 relative to the base brackets 4, 5. This allows the platform support bracket 12 and hence the platform to move with limited rectilinear motion in the horizontal plane by combining flexibility within the two pairs of spring strips 7, 8, 10, 11.
The invention having been described by reference to a particular embodiment, it is to be well appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and that modifications and variations thereto are possible without departure from the scope of the invention. For example, the platform of the described embodiment, designed for general purpose use and to accept a variety of shapes and sizes of vessels, may be replaced by a holder designed for a specific application.
SUBSTITUTESHEET

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. An orbital mechanism comprising a base, a platform or other support means, drive means for effecting orbital motion of the platform or other support means relative to the base and compliant mounting means supporting the platform or other support means relative to the base, said compliant mounting means including components accommodating motion of the platform or other support means relative to the base in plural transverse directions.
2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compliant mounting means comprises a first plurality of compliant linkages connecting the base to an intermediate member and a second plurality of compliant linkages connecting the intermediate member to the platform or other support means, the first and second pluralities of compliant linkages extending generally transversely to each other.
3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first and second pluralities of compliant linkages comprise respective pairs of parallel linkages and said first and second pairs of parallel linkages
SUBSTITUTE SHEET extend orthogonally with respect to each other.
4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein one of the pairs of compliant linkages is disposed between the linkages of the other pair.
5. A mechanism as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 wherein said compliant linkages are compliant by virtue of being flexible.
6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein said compliant linkages comprise spring metal strips.
7. A mechanism as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 wherein said compliant linkages are compliant by virtue of being pivotally connected to the base and/or the intermediate member and/or the platform or other support means.
8. A mechanism as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor.
9. A mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein the electric motor is coupled to the platform or other support means by means of an eccentric crank.
SUBSTITUTESHEET
10. An orbital mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
SUBSTITUTESHEET
PCT/GB1991/000624 1990-04-19 1991-04-19 Orbital platform for laboratory shakers and incubators WO1991016127A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9008827.9 1990-04-19
GB909008827A GB9008827D0 (en) 1990-04-19 1990-04-19 Device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1991016127A1 true WO1991016127A1 (en) 1991-10-31

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
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WO (1) WO1991016127A1 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0626194A1 (en) * 1993-05-22 1994-11-30 KUSTON (DEUTSCHLAND) GmbH Mixer with vibratory drive
GB2312632A (en) * 1996-05-03 1997-11-05 New Brunswick Scientific Co A rotary shaker having flexible straps constraining motion of shaker tray to a circular orbit
WO2012000502A1 (en) * 2010-07-01 2012-01-05 Stobbe Tech A/S Rocking device and bioreactor
US9511334B2 (en) 2013-08-29 2016-12-06 Burrell Scientific LLC Clamp for a fluid container and method of use thereof
DE102015014024A1 (en) * 2015-10-31 2017-05-04 Ika-Werke Gmbh & Co. Kg Bearing and mixing device with bearings

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4214913C2 (en) * 1992-05-05 1994-06-23 Liebisch Geb Test tube shaker
US5564826A (en) * 1995-09-27 1996-10-15 Robbins Scientific Corporation Reciprocating bath shaker
KR100671780B1 (en) * 2005-02-25 2007-01-19 배석규 Experimental Mixing Device
DE202006001514U1 (en) * 2006-02-01 2006-04-06 Berthold Technologies Gmbh & Co. Kg mixing device

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR55336E (en) * 1947-04-11 1952-01-02 Stirrer device for reaction tubes
US3251681A (en) * 1962-11-06 1966-05-17 Amagasaki Iron & Steel Mfg Co Method of stirring a molten metal in a transfer ladle
US4183677A (en) * 1977-09-07 1980-01-15 Bruyne Norman A De Mechanism for effecting orbital motion of a member
EP0037955A2 (en) * 1980-04-08 1981-10-21 Scientific Manufacturing Industries Inc. Vortexer
EP0295850A2 (en) * 1987-06-15 1988-12-21 Cymatics, Inc. Speed control for orbital shaker with reversing mode

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2137277C2 (en) * 1971-07-26 1982-05-13 Dietmar Prof. Dr.-Ing.habil. 5100 Aachen Boenisch Device for mixing materials, in particular foundry mold materials
US4109319A (en) * 1975-12-18 1978-08-22 Spectroderm International Agitator for laboratory tubes and flasks and the like
US4061315A (en) * 1976-06-16 1977-12-06 American Hospital Supply Corporation Orbital platform stirring system
US4673297A (en) * 1984-07-19 1987-06-16 Cymatics, Inc. Orbital shaker
US4702610A (en) * 1985-04-18 1987-10-27 Reynolds Jr Albert B Undulating mixing device

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR55336E (en) * 1947-04-11 1952-01-02 Stirrer device for reaction tubes
US3251681A (en) * 1962-11-06 1966-05-17 Amagasaki Iron & Steel Mfg Co Method of stirring a molten metal in a transfer ladle
US4183677A (en) * 1977-09-07 1980-01-15 Bruyne Norman A De Mechanism for effecting orbital motion of a member
EP0037955A2 (en) * 1980-04-08 1981-10-21 Scientific Manufacturing Industries Inc. Vortexer
EP0295850A2 (en) * 1987-06-15 1988-12-21 Cymatics, Inc. Speed control for orbital shaker with reversing mode

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0626194A1 (en) * 1993-05-22 1994-11-30 KUSTON (DEUTSCHLAND) GmbH Mixer with vibratory drive
GB2312632A (en) * 1996-05-03 1997-11-05 New Brunswick Scientific Co A rotary shaker having flexible straps constraining motion of shaker tray to a circular orbit
WO2012000502A1 (en) * 2010-07-01 2012-01-05 Stobbe Tech A/S Rocking device and bioreactor
US9511334B2 (en) 2013-08-29 2016-12-06 Burrell Scientific LLC Clamp for a fluid container and method of use thereof
DE102015014024A1 (en) * 2015-10-31 2017-05-04 Ika-Werke Gmbh & Co. Kg Bearing and mixing device with bearings

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9108470D0 (en) 1991-06-05
GB2243089A (en) 1991-10-23
GB2243089B (en) 1994-05-11
GB9008827D0 (en) 1990-06-13

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