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US 5,711,601 AGranted
Mixing apparatus for pulverulent materials
AssigneeFluid Management, Inc.
InventorsEdward George Thomas, William Albert Miller, Margaret Mary Lowan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Mixing apparatus develops a clamping pressure on a container to be mixed by bringing a pair of pressure plates together through the application of driving force developed by cranking a crank arm. A pawl and rachet arrangement prevents rotation of the crank arm in a direction which would loosen clamping pressure, unless a pawl unlocking knob is activated. Clamping pressure is limited by a clutch plate arrangement. Mixing apparatus is enclosed within a cabinet having a door interlock system which also automatically activates a brake for positively stopping further movement of the mixing apparatus.
Claims18
Mixing apparatus for pulverulent materials, comprising:
- a pair of opposed pressure plates;
- first frame means for mounting the pressure plates for movement toward and away from each other, between clamped and unclamped positions, into and out of clamping engagement with a container disposed between the pressure plates, respectively;
- second frame means for mounting the pressure plates for a mixing motion which mixes the contents of the container;
- clamp drive means mounted on the first frame means for moving at least one of the pressure plates between the clamped and unclamped positions, the clamp drive means including a crank arm, means for rotatably mounting the crank arm to the first frame means, and at least one manually graspable handle means mounted on the crank arm for movement between locked and unlocked positions;
- and
- lock means carried by the first frame means for locking the crank arm against rotation in a first direction and for unlocking the crank arm when the crank arm is moved in a direction opposite to the first direction, the lock means comprising ratchet gear means carried by the first frame means and pawl means carried by the crank arm, the pawl means including a lever arm pivotally mounted to the crank arm and a pawl member pivotally mounted to the crank arm, with one of the crank arm and the pawl member carrying a pin and the other of the crank arm and the pawl member defining an aperture for receiving the pin, so that as the lever arm is pivoted, the pawl member is disengaged from the ratchet gear means.
3 more elements
Mixing apparatus for pulverulent materials, comprising:
- a pair of opposed pressure plates;
- first frame means for mounting the pressure plates for movement toward and away from each other, between clamped and unclamped positions, into and out of clamping engagement with a container disposed between the pressure plates, respectively;
- second frame means for mounting the pressure plates for a mixing motion which mixes the contents of the container;
- clamp drive means mounted on the first frame means for moving at least one of the pressure plates between the clamped and unclamped positions, the clamp drive means including a crank arm, means for rotatably mounting the crank arm to the first frame means, and at least one manually graspable handle means which is mounted on the crank arm for movement between locked and unlocked positions;
- and
- clutch means carried by the first frame means, coupling the crank arm to the pressure plates so as to limit the force applied by the crank arm to the pressure plates.
3 more elements
Mixing apparatus for pulverulent materials, comprising:
- an outer enclosure defining an opening;
- a door movable between a closed position blocking the opening and an open position;
- a pair of opposed pressure plates;
- first frame means for mounting the pressure plates for movement toward and away from each other, between clamped and unclamped positions, into and out of clamping engagement with a container disposed between the pressure plates, respectively;
- second frame means for mounting the pressure plates for a mixing motion which mixes the contents of the container;
- mixer drive means for driving the first frame means in the mixing motion, the mixer drive means including a power input;
- and
- door interlock means including a door stop member supported by the outer enclosure so as to be movable between a first position out of contact with the door and a second position interfering with movement of the door toward the open position, a manually graspable handle movable between first and second handle positions, coupled to the door stop member, switch means coupled to the power input of the mixer drive means for interrupting a flow of power to the power input of the mixer drive means, said handle means engaging the switch means to interrupt power flow to the mixer drive means when the handle means is in the first handle position, with the first handle position corresponding to the first position of the stop member.
5 more elements
Mixing apparatus for pulverulent materials, comprising:
- an outer enclosure defining an opening;
- a door movable between a closed position blocking the opening and an open position;
- a pair of opposed pressure plates;
- first frame means for mounting the pressure plates for movement toward and away from each other, between clamped and unclamped positions, into and out of clamping engagement with a container disposed between the pressure plates, respectively, the first frame means including a rotating wheel;
- second frame means for mounting the pressure plates for a mixing motion which mixes the contents of the container;
- mixer drive means for driving the first frame means in the mixing motion, and
- brake means for engaging the wheel to stop movement of the container disposed between the pressure plates, the brake means including a lever arm which is movable between first and second positions and which interferes with movement of the door toward the open position so as to be moved by the door to the second position as the door is moved to the open position, and wheel-contacting means carried by the lever arm so as to engage the wheel as the lever arm is moved to the second position.
4 more elements
Mixing apparatus for pulverulent materials, comprising:
- a pair of opposed pressure plates;
- first frame means for mounting the pressure plates for movement toward and away from each other, between clamped and unclamped positions, into and out of clamping engagement with a container disposed between the pressure plates, respectively;
- second frame means for mounting the pressure plates for a mixing motion which mixes the contents of the container;
- mixer drive means for driving the first frame means in the mixing motion, the mixer drive means including a power input;
- clamping drive means mounted on the first frame means for moving at least one of the pressure plates between the clamped and unclamped positions, the clamping drive means including a crank arm, means for rotatably mounting the crank arm to the first frame means, and at least one manually graspable handle means which is mounted on the crank arm for movement between locked and unlocked positions;
- lock means carried by the first frame mean for locking the crank arm against rotation in a first direction and for unlocking the crank arm when the crank arm is moved in a direction opposite to the first direction;
- clutch means carried by the first frame means, coupling the crank arm to pressure plates so as to limit the force applied by the crank arm to the pressure plates;
- an outer enclosure defining an opening;
- a door movable between a closed position blocking the opening and an open position;
- door interlock means including a door stop member supported by the outer enclosure so as to be movable between a first position out of contact with the door and a second position interfering with movement of the door toward the open position, a manually graspable handle movable between first and second handle positions and coupled to the door stop member, switch means coupled to the power input of the mixer drive means for interrupting a flow of power to the power input of the mixer drive means, said handle means engaging the switch means to interrupt power flow to the mixer drive means when handle means is in the first handle position, and the first handle position corresponding to the first position of the stop member;
- and
- brake means for engaging the wheel to stop movement of the container disposed between the pressure plates, the brake means including a lever arm which is movable between first and second positions and which interferes with movement of the door toward the open position so as to be moved by the door to the second position as the door is moved to the open position, and wheel-contacting means carried by the lever arm so as to engage the wheel as the lever arm is moved to the second position.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.