WO2017112454A2

WO2017112454A2 - Nutating mixer with toolless angle adjustment mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2017112454A2
Application number: PCT/US2016/066318
Authority: WO
Inventors: David William HONIG; Harold Gerald YOUNG
Original assignee: Corning Incorporated
Priority date: 2015-12-22
Filing date: 2016-12-13
Publication date: 2017-06-29
Also published as: WO2017112454A3

Abstract

A nutating mixer is provided. The nutating mixer includes a tray defined by a tray plane that is at a tilt angle relative to an axis perpendicular to a surface upon which the nutating mixer rests. The nutating mixer also includes a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, the shaft extending along the longitudinal axis from the distal end to the proximal end, the distal end being connected to the tray, and a bearing connected to the proximal end of the shaft. The nutating mixer further includes an angle adjustment mechanism housed within a crank, wherein the angle adjustment mechanism is in contact with the bearing, and a motor connected to the crank.

Description

NUTATING MIXER WITH TOOLLESS ANGLE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/270,934 filed on December 22, 2015 and U. S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/293,405 filed on February 10, 2016, the contents of which are relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to a nutating mixer or nutator that has an angle adjustment mechanism that operates without the use of a tool.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Nutating mixers are used to mix samples for a broad range of molecular and biological mixing applications. Samples in containers, such as blood and centrifuge tubes or cell culture flasks, are placed on a surface, such as a tray, of a nutating mixer. A motor drives a shaft that gyrates the samples in a circular motion to provide gentle, thorough mixing.

[0004] Although some existing nutating mixers allow for the tilt angle of the tray to be adjusted, such nutating mixers require the use of a tool (e.g. , a wrench) to adjust the tilt angle (e.g., by loosening a nut, adjusting the angle, then re-tightening the nut). In addition, these nutating mixers do not have fixed, predetermined angles to which a user may readily set the tilt angle. Thus, there is a need for a nutating mixer that can have the tilt angle of the tray (a) adjusted without the use of a tool and (b) readily set to fixed, predetermined angles.

SUMMARY

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a nutating mixer is provided. The nutating mixer includes a tray defined by a tray plane that is at a tilt angle relative to an axis perpendicular to a surface upon which the nutating mixer rests. The nutating mixer also includes a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, the shaft extending along the longitudinal axis from the distal end to the proximal end, the distal end being connected to the tray, and a bearing connected to the proximal end of the shaft. The nutating mixer further includes an angle adjustment mechanism housed within a crank, wherein the angle adjustment mechanism is in contact with the bearing, and a motor connected to the crank.

[0006] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for operating a nutating mixer is provided. The method includes raising a tray of a nutating mixer to move a bearing out of a first locked position, the tray being defined by a tray plane that is at a tilt angle relative to an axis perpendicular to a surface upon which the nutating mixer rests, wherein the bearing is connected to a proximal end of a shaft having a distal end connected to the tray, and wherein the bearing is in contact with an angle adjustment mechanism of the nutating mixer in the first locked position; and. The method further includes lowering the tray to move the bearing into contact with the angle adjustment mechanism in a second locked position, wherein a tilt angle of the tray plane is locked at a first angle in the first locked position and is locked at a second angle in the second locked position.

[0007] Additional features and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading and understanding the detailed description or recognized by practicing the embodiments described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, and the appended drawings.

[0008] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description describe various embodiments and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed subject matter. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the various embodiments, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate the various embodiments described herein, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operations of the claimed subject matter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The following is a description of the figures in the accompanying drawings. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity or conciseness.

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example embodiment of a nutating mixer with a cell culture flask resting on its tray.

[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example embodiment of a nutating mixer.

[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of example embodiment of an angle adjustment mechanism of a nutating mixer.

[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates the enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 showing four axes and three angles.

[0014] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the figures. It should be understood that the claims are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the figures. Furthermore, the appearance shown in the figures is one of many ornamental appearances that can be employed to achieve the stated functions of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be clear to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present disclosure can be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known features or processes may not be described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present disclosure. In addition, like or identical reference numerals may be used to identify common or similar elements.

[0016] The present disclosure relates to a nutating mixer 10 that allows for the adjustment of a tilt angle of a tray 30 without the use of a tool. [0017] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and as shown in FIG. 1, a nutating mixer 10 may include a tray 30. The tray 30 may be defined by a tray plane. As used herein, and as described in more detail below, the tray plane is at a tilt angle relative to an axis perpendicular to a surface upon which the nutating mixer rests. The tray 30 may be capable of both nutating and supporting a sample container, such as a cell culture flask 60. The nutating mixer 10 may include housing 12, which may house one or more internal components of the nutating mixer 10. Other samples, such as those stored within blood and centrifuge tubes, may be mixed using the nutating mixer 10.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, and as shown in FIG. 2, the nutating mixer 10 may include a base 11. The tray 30 may include a mat 31. Optionally, the mat 31 may be made of a material that is autoclavable. Optionally, the mat 31 may be made of a material that has a high coefficient of friction (e.g. , as measured between the mat 31 and a sample container such as a cell culture flask 60). For example, the mat 31 could be made of rubber such as a nitrile rubber. Optionally, the mat 31 may include one or more ridges 32. The high coefficient of friction of the ridges 32 may assist in preventing sample containers from sliding around on the mat 31 as the samples are being mixed. The nutating mixer 10 may also include a shaft 40 having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end 41, and a distal end 42 where the shaft extends along the longitudinal axis from the distal end 42 to the proximal end 41. The tray 30 may be connected to the shaft 40 at or close to the distal end 42 of the shaft 40. The proximal end 41 may contact an angle adjustment mechanism 20, which may be housed within a crank 52. A motor 50 may rotate the crank 52 via a motor drive 51. The motor 50 may operate at a speed. The rotation of the crank 52 may cause the shaft 40, and thus the tray 30, to nutate.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, and as shown in FIG. 3, the proximal end 41 of the shaft 40 may connect to a bearing 43 and the bearing 43 may contact the angle adjustment mechanism 20. The proximal end 41 may be connected to the bearing 43 via a screw 45 and one or more washers 48. Optionally, other fasteners (for example, a bolt) may be used to connect the proximal end 41 to the bearing 43. The bearing 43 may be offset and angled inside the crank 52. The bearing 43 may remain fixed relative to the crank 52 during normal operation of the nutating mixer 10. As the crank 52 rotates, the bearing 43 and the one or more washers 48 may rotate to allow the shaft 40 to maintain its orientation relative to the front of the nutating mixer 10 (i.e., the shaft 40 is not rotating around its longitudinal axis during normal operation of the nutating mixer 10). The shaft 40 may be pivoted around by the crank 52 at the angle of the bearing 43 in the crank 52. A pin 46 may be situated in holes in the housing 12 and may extend through a slot 47 in the shaft 40. The pin 46 and slot 47 may limit the range of the movement of the shaft 40 to ensure a gentle nutating motion during operation of the nutating mixer 10. The pin 46 and slot 47 may allow the shaft 40 to pivot front to back and side to side, but not to rotate (on a plane parallel to the base 11) relative to the housing 12. The angle adjustment mechanism 20 may include one or more pockets 21, 22, 23 housed within the crank 52. While the angle adjustment mechanism 20 illustrated in the embodiments shown in the figures includes three pockets 21, 22, 23, the angle adjustment mechanism 20 may include any number of pockets. For example, the angle adjustment mechanism 20 may include at least two pockets, or at least three pockets. The bearing 43 may include a locking tooth 44 that corresponds to the pockets

21, 22, 23 such that the locking tooth 44 may be lowered into each of the pockets 21, 22, 23. During normal operation of the nutating mixer 10, the locking tooth 44 may be locked by at least substantially or fully lowering the locking tooth 44 into one of the pockets (e.g. , 21). Each locked position of the locking tooth 44 in one of the pockets 21, 22, 23 corresponds to a fixed tilt angle of the tray plane. To change the tilt angle of the tray plane, a user may lift the tray 30 to lift the locking tooth 44 out of its current pocket (e.g., 21) and then lower the tray 30 to lock by at least substantially or fully lowering the locking tooth 44 into a different pocket (e.g. , 22). Alternatively, the nutating mixer 10 may be equipped with a controller (not shown) configured to lift the tray 30 to lift the locking tooth 44 out of its current pocket (e.g. , 21) and then lower the tray 30 to lock by at least substantially or fully lowering the locking tooth 44 into a different pocket (e.g. , 22) and thus change the tilt angle of the tray plane. By moving the locking tooth 44 into a different pocket, the tilt angle of the tray plane will be adjusted. When the locking tooth 44 is locked in one of the pockets 21, 22, 23 the tilt angle of the tray plane is locked at a first angle, and when the locking tooth 44 is locked in another of the pockets 21, 22, 23 the tilt angle of the tray plane is locked at a second angle different from the first angle. As nutating mixers according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include any number of pockets, the angle adjustment mechanism 20 as described herein may allow for locking the tray plane at any number of fixed angles. Optionally, the angle adjustment mechanism 20 may include one or more further pockets in addition to pockets 21,

22, 23, such that the tray 30 may be locked at additional fixed, predetermined angles. Other angle adjustment mechanisms should be considered within the scope of the present disclosure where such angle adjustment mechanisms allow the tilt angle to be adjusted between different fixed, predetermined angles by first lifting the tray 30 to disengage the tray 30 from a first fixed, predetermined tilt angle and then lowering the tray 30 to lock the tray 30 at a second fixed, predetermined angle.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, and as shown in FIG. 4, the tilt angle of the tray plane may be defined as the angle between a vertical axis 27 and a predetermined angle perpendicular to the tray plane. The vertical axis 27 may be defined as the axis perpendicular to the surface upon which the nutating mixer 10 is resting. If the nutating mixer 10 has a flat base 11 defined by a base plane, the vertical axis 27 will also be perpendicular to the base plane. For example, when the locking tooth 44 is locked in pocket 23, the tilt angle (i.e. , the angle between the vertical axis 27 and a predetermined axis 26) may be x. When the locking tooth 44 is locked in pocket 22, the tilt angle (i. e. , the angle between the vertical axis 27 and a predetermined axis 25) may be y. When the locking tooth 44 is locked in pocket 21, the tilt angle (i.e. , the angle between the vertical axis 27 and a predetermined axis 24) may be z. Optionally, the angle x may be between about 0 and about 30 degrees, or between about 2 and about 10 degrees, or may be about 5 degrees. Optionally, the angle .y may be between about 0 and about 30 degrees, or between about 5 and about 15 degrees, or may be about 12.5 degrees. Optionally, the angle z may be between about 0 and about 30 degrees, or between about 15 and about 25 degrees, or may be about 20 degrees. Alternatively, other fixed, predetermined angles may be used within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0021] The present disclosure also relates to a method for operating a nutating mixer, such as the nutating mixer 10 described herein. The method may include raising a tray 30 of a nutating mixer 10 to move a bearing 43 out of a first locked position, where the bearing 43 is in contact with an angle adjustment mechanism 20 of the nutating mixer 10 in the first locked position. As described above, the bearing 43 may be connected to a proximal end 41 of a shaft 40 of the nutating mixer 10, where the shaft 40 has a distal end connected to the tray. The method may further include lowering the tray 30 to move the bearing 43 into contact with the angle adjustment mechanism 20 in a second locked position. The tilt angle of the tray plane is locked at a first angle in the first locked position and is locked at a second angle in the second locked position. [0022] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, raising the tray 30 may include moving the locking tooth 44 of the bearing 43 out of contact with one of the pockets 21, 22, 23, and lowering the tray 30 may include moving the locking tooth 44 of the bearing 43 into contact with another of the pockets 21, 22, 23. As nutating mixers according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include any number of pockets, raising the tray 30 may include moving the locking tooth 44 of the bearing 43 out of contact with any one of the pockets 21, 22, 23 and lowering the tray 30 may include moving the locking tooth 44 of the bearing 43 into contact with any other of the pockets 21, 22, 23. It should be appreciated that the method described herein is not limited by any order of pockets and that it is not required to move the locking tooth 44 of the bearing 43 out of contact with one of the pockets 21, 22, 23 to subsequently move the locking tooth 44 of the bearing 43 into contact with another of the pockets 21, 22, 23 that is in closest proximity to the one of the pockets 21, 22, 23. For example, in the angle adjustment mechanism 20 shown in FIG. 3, the locking tooth 44 may be moved out of contact with pocket 21 and may be moved into contact with either of the other pockets 22, 23.

[0023] According to an aspect (1) of the present disclosure, a nutating mixer is provided. The nutating mixer comprises: a tray defined by a tray plane that is at a tilt angle relative to an axis perpendicular to a surface upon which the nutating mixer rests; a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, the shaft extending along the longitudinal axis from the distal end to the proximal end, the distal end being connected to the tray; a bearing connected to the proximal end of the shaft; an angle adjustment mechanism housed within a crank, wherein the angle adjustment mechanism is in contact with the bearing; and a motor connected to the crank.

[0024] According to another aspect (2) of the present disclosure, the nutating mixer of aspect

(1) is provided, wherein the bearing comprises a locking tooth and the angle adjustment mechanism comprises at least two pockets, wherein the tilt angle of the tray plane is locked at a first angle when the locking tooth is in a first pocket and at a second angle when the locking tooth is in a second pocket.

[0025] According to another aspect (3) of the present disclosure, the nutating mixer of aspect

(2) is provided, wherein the angle adjustment mechanism comprises at least three corresponding pockets, wherein the tilt angle of the tray plane is locked at a third angle when the locking tooth is in a third pocket.

[0026] According to another aspect (4) of the present disclosure, the nutating mixer of aspect (3) is provided, wherein each of the first angle, the second angle and the third angle is between about 0 degrees and about 30 degrees.

[0027] According to another aspect (5) of the present disclosure, the nutating mixer of any of aspects (l)-(4) is provided, wherein the first angle is between about 2 degrees and about 10 degrees.

[0028] According to another aspect (6) of the present disclosure, the nutating mixer of any of aspects (l)-(5) is provided, wherein the second angle is between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees.

[0029] According to another aspect (7) of the present disclosure, the nutating mixer of any of aspects (3)-(6) is provided, wherein the third angle is between about 15 degrees and about 25 degrees.

[0030] According to another aspect (8) of the present disclosure, the nutating mixer of any of aspects (l)-(7) is provided, wherein the shaft further comprises a slot that extends a distance along the longitudinal axis, and wherein a pin extends through the slot into a housing of the nutating mixer.

[0031] According to another aspect (9) of the present disclosure, the nutating mixer of any of aspects (l)-(8) is provided, wherein the tray further comprises a plurality of ridges.

[0032] According to another aspect (10) of the present disclosure, a method for operating a nutating mixer is provided. The method comprises : raising a tray of a nutating mixer to move a bearing out of a first locked position, the tray being defined by a tray plane that is at a tilt angle relative to an axis perpendicular to a surface upon which the nutating mixer rests, wherein the bearing is connected to a proximal end of a shaft having a distal end connected to the tray, and wherein the bearing is in contact with an angle adjustment mechanism of the nutating mixer in the first locked position; and lowering the tray to move the bearing into contact with the angle adjustment mechanism in a second locked position, wherein the tilt angle of the tray plane is locked at a first angle in the first locked position and is locked at a second angle in the second locked position. [0033] According to another aspect (11) of the present disclosure, the method of aspect (10) is provided, wherein the bearing comprises a locking tooth and the angle adjustment mechanism comprises at least two pockets, wherein raising the tray comprises moving the locking tooth out of contact with one of the at least two pockets, and wherein lowering the tray comprises moving the locking tooth into contact with another of the at least two pockets.

[0034] According to another aspect (12) of the present disclosure, the method of aspect (11) is provided, wherein the angle adjustment mechanism comprises at least three pockets, the tilt angle of the tray plane being locked at a third angle when the locking tooth is in a third pocket, wherein raising the tray comprises moving the locking tooth out of contact with one of the at least three pockets, and wherein lowering the tray comprises moving the locking tooth into contact with another of the at least three pockets.

[0035] According to another aspect (13) of the present disclosure, the method of aspect (12) is provided, wherein each of the first angle, the second angle and the third angle is between about 0 degrees and about 30 degrees.

[0036] According to another aspect (14) of the present disclosure, the method of any of aspects (10)-(13) is provided, wherein the first angle is between about 2 degrees and about 10 degrees.

[0037] According to another aspect (15) of the present disclosure, the method of any of aspects (10)-(14) is provided, wherein the second angle is between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees.

[0038] According to another aspect (16) of the present disclosure, the method of any of aspects (12)-(15) is provided, wherein the third angle is between about 15 degrees and about 25 degrees.

[0039] According to another aspect (17) of the present disclosure, the method of any of aspects (10)-(16) is provided, wherein the shaft further comprises a slot that extends a distance along the longitudinal axis, and wherein a pin extends through the slot into a housing of the nutating mixer.

[0040] According to another aspect (18) of the present disclosure, the method of any of aspects (10)-(17) is provided, wherein the tray comprises a plurality of ridges. [0041] While the present disclosure has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure should be limited only by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What Is Claimed Is:

1. A nutating mixer comprising: a tray defined by a tray plane that is at a tilt angle relative to an axis perpendicular to a surface upon which the nutating mixer rests; a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, the shaft extending along the longitudinal axis from the distal end to the proximal end, the distal end being connected to the tray; a bearing connected to the proximal end of the shaft; an angle adjustment mechanism housed within a crank, wherein the angle adjustment mechanism is in contact with the bearing; and a motor connected to the crank.

2. The nutating mixer of claim 1 , wherein the bearing comprises a locking tooth and the angle adjustment mechanism comprises at least two pockets, wherein the tilt angle of the tray plane is locked at a first angle when the locking tooth is in a first pocket and at a second angle when the locking tooth is in a second pocket.

3. The nutating mixer of claim 2, wherein the angle adjustment mechanism comprises at least three corresponding pockets, wherein the tilt angle of the tray plane is locked at a third angle when the locking tooth is in a third pocket.

4. The nutating mixer of claim 3, wherein each of the first angle, the second angle and the third angle is between about 0 degrees and about 30 degrees.

5. The nutating mixer of any of claims 1-4, wherein the first angle is between about 2 degrees and about 10 degrees.

6. The nutating mixer of any of claims 1-5, wherein the second angle is between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees.

7. The nutating mixer of any of claims 3-6, wherein the third angle is between about 15 degrees and about 25 degrees.

8. The nutating mixer of any of claims 1 -7, wherein the shaft further comprises a slot that extends a distance along the longitudinal axis, and wherein a pin extends through the slot into a housing of the nutating mixer.

9. The nutating mixer of any of claims 1 -8, wherein the tray further comprises a plurality of ridges.

10. A method for operating a nutating mixer, the method comprising: raising a tray of a nutating mixer to move a bearing out of a first locked position, the tray being defined by a tray plane that is at a tilt angle relative to an axis perpendicular to a surface upon which the nutating mixer rests, wherein the bearing is connected to a proximal end of a shaft having a distal end connected to the tray, and wherein the bearing is in contact with an angle adjustment mechanism of the nutating mixer in the first locked position; and lowering the tray to move the bearing into contact with the angle adjustment mechanism in a second locked position, wherein the tilt angle of the tray plane is locked at a first angle in the first locked position and is locked at a second angle in the second locked position.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the bearing comprises a locking tooth and the angle adjustment mechanism comprises at least two pockets, wherein raising the tray comprises moving the locking tooth out of contact with one of the at least two pockets, and wherein lowering the tray comprises moving the locking tooth into contact with another of the at least two pockets.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the angle adjustment mechanism comprises at least three pockets, the tilt angle of the tray plane being locked at a third angle when the locking tooth is in a third pocket, wherein raising the tray comprises moving the locking tooth out of contact with one of the at least three pockets, and wherein lowering the tray comprises moving the locking tooth into contact with another of the at least three pockets.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the first angle, the second angle and the third angle is between about 0 degrees and about 30 degrees.

14. The method of any of claims 10-13, wherein the first angle is between about 2 degrees and about 10 degrees.

15. The method of any of claims 10-14, wherein the second angle is between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees.

16. The method of any of claims 12-15, wherein the third angle is between about 15 degrees and about 25 degrees.

17. The method of any of claims 10-16, wherein the shaft further comprises a slot that extends a distance along the longitudinal axis, and wherein a pin extends through the slot into a housing of the nutating mixer.

18. The method of any of claims 10-17, wherein the tray comprises a plurality of ridges.