Apparatus and method for resonant-vibratory mixing

An apparatus for agitation comprising:

• a base;
• a first movable mass, said first movable mass being movable in a first linear direction and in an opposite linear direction;
• two means for rotating an eccentric mass, each of said eccentric masses having a centroid, each of said means for rotating being rigidly connected to said first movable mass and being adapted to rotate its eccentric mass in a first plane that is parallel to a second plane in which said first direction and said opposite direction lie;
• a second movable mass, said second movable mass being movable in the same directions as said first movable mass and being movably connected to said first movable mass by a first resilient means and being movably connected to said base by a second resilient means;
• and
• a third movable mass, said third movable mass being movable in the same directions as said first movable mass and being movably connected to said second movable mass by a third resilient means and movably connected to said base by a fourth resilient means;
• wherein each of said eccentric masses has substantially the same weight and inertial properties, and wherein the eccentric masses are rotatable at substantially the same rotational speed in opposite rotational directions and around axes that lie in the same plane and, during rotation, are operative to produce a first force on said first movable mass in said first direction and a second force on said first movable mass in said opposite direction and substantially no other forces on said first movable mass.

An apparatus for agitation comprising:

• a base;
• a first movable mass, said first movable mass being movable in a first linear direction and in an opposite linear direction;
• means for cyclically imposing forces on said first movable mass in said first direction and in said opposite direction;
• a second movable mass, said second movable mass being movable in the same directions as said first movable mass and being movably connected to said first movable mass by a first resilient means and being movably connected to said base by a second resilient means;
• and
• a third movable mass, said third movable mass being movable in the same directions as said first movable mass and being movably connected to said second movable mass by a third resilient means and movably connected to said base by a fourth resilient means;
• wherein each of said means for imposing forces is operative to produce a first force on said first movable mass in said first direction and a second force on said first movable mass in said opposite direction and substantially no other forces on said first movable mass.

An apparatus for agitation comprising:

• a base;
• a first movable mass, said first movable mass being movable in a first linear direction and in an opposite linear direction;
• a driver for cyclically imposing a force on said first movable mass in said first direction or in said opposite direction;
• a second movable mass, said second movable mass being movable in the same directions as said first movable mass and being movably connected to said first movable mass by a first resilient means and being movably connected to said base by a second resilient means;
• and
• a third movable mass, said third movable mass being movable in the same directions as said first movable mass and being movably connected to said second movable mass by a third resilient means and movably connected to said base by a fourth resilient means;
• wherein said driver is operative to produce a first force on said first movable mass in said first direction or a second force on said first movable mass in said opposite direction and substantially no other forces on said first movable mass.

An apparatus for agitation comprising:

• a base;
• a first movable mass, said first movable mass being movable in a first linear direction and in an opposite linear direction;
• two means for rotating an eccentric mass, each of said eccentric masses having a centroid, each of said means for rotating being rigidly connected to said first movable mass and being adapted to rotate its eccentric mass in a first plane that is parallel to a second plane in which said first direction and said opposite direction lie;
• a second movable mass, said second movable mass being movable in the same directions as said first movable mass and being movably connected to said first movable mass by a first resilient means and being movably connected to said base by a second resilient means;
• and
• a third movable mass, said third movable mass being movable in the same directions as said first movable mass and being movably connected to said second movable mass by a third resilient means;
• wherein each of said eccentric masses has substantially the same weight and inertial properties, and wherein the eccentric masses are capable of rotation at substantially the same rotational speed in opposite rotational directions and around axes that lie in the same plane and, during rotation, are operative to produce a first force on said first movable mass in said first direction and a second force on said first movable mass in said opposite direction and substantially no other forces on said first movable mass.