Abstract: The invention comprises a novel modular, generalizable meso-micro-nano-fluidic platform apparatus, design and methodology which in exemplary embodiments may be applied in conjunction with a novel external triggering and automation/feedback loop control mechanism deployed via computer to explore the phase space of single or double emulsification for applications including the encapsulation of hydrophilic active pharmacological ingredients (APIs). End use applications include the mass production of particulate encapsulation of hydrophobic or hydrophilic APIs with automatic or user-supervised feedback methodology to control and discover mass production or per-drug customized settings of interest for the manufacture of novel or extant therapeutics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to containers for holding liquid samples. The containers may be useful for mixing a liquid sample or lysing cells in a liquid sample. The invention also relates to methods of using the containers of the invention.

Abstract: A dispensing device, comprising a plurality of microfluidic pumps, microfluidic valves, and a microfluidic mixer chip, for receiving and mixing microfluidic amounts of a plurality of fluids having differing viscosities, is disclosed. The device includes a plurality of pathways for moving fluids from associated reservoirs to the microfluidic mixer chip. A mix controller controls the microfluidic pumps and valves so that the fluids, having different viscosities, can be accurately mixed at specified microfluidic amounts or volumes according to a specified microfluidic recipe, and the microfluidic mixture dispensed from the device. The device can be in communication with a software application implemented on a mobile compute device, such as a smartphone, and receive instructions for implementing the specified microfluidic recipe from the software application such that the operation of device components is at the direction of the software application executed on the mobile compute device.

Abstract: A method for operating a bioreactor includes passing a drive shaft into a first tubular connector and a second tubular connector projecting from the first tubular connector, the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector being at least partially disposed within a container, the first tubular connector being more flexible than the second tubular connector, the second tubular connector having a length that comprises at least 20% of a combined length of the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector. Rotating the drive shaft so as to rotate the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector within the container.

Abstract: A method of reducing the pressure of a liquid includes the steps of providing a conduit containing a packing material, such that a large number of small passages are formed in the packing material, and passing the liquid through the conduit and the packing material. The amount of packing material through which the liquid flows can be varied to vary the pressure drop experienced by the liquid passing through the packing material. The reduction in pressure achieved may be stepwise (discrete) or continuous. The method may be used to reduce the pressure of an aqueous polymer solution for use in a polymer flood technique for oil extraction, and allows the pressure to be reduced without damage to the polymer.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a culinary whisk with an elongate profile defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising a handle portion and a utility portion, wherein the utility portion includes a plurality of wire loops, and wherein the wire loop has an asymmetric profile and includes an upper elongate leg portion and a lower foot portion and wherein each wire loop has a web member extending across a wire segment of the lower foot portion.

Abstract: Provided herein are apparatuses and systems for mixing liquids and suspensions that include vessels with structures that improve mixing while not contacting liquid delivery components. The apparatuses and systems can include a motor drive that allows speed and directional control of rotation of the vessel. The apparatuses and systems can include one or more magnets for separating magnetic beads in a suspension. Also provided are methods using said apparatuses and systems for mixing and separation processes.

Abstract: Metastable state spore incubation mixing systems are described. An example system includes a spores container to store spores, a nutrient container to store nutrients, a water supply line, a syringe tank, a syringe pump, an adjustable valve, a heater, and a controller. In a drawing phase of the system, a controller can cause the syringe pump and the adjustable valve to draw into the syringe tank a volume of spores, nutrients, and water to form a mixture. The controller causes the heater to heat the mixture for a period of time. In a dispensing phase of the system, the controller can cause the syringe pump to expel the mixture through the adjustable valve and into a water distribution system. The controller can direct the system through a number of other phases of operation.

Abstract: The invention relates an extrusion device (100) for extruding a semi¬finished product made of elastomeric material, comprising an extrusion body (10) extending along a feeding direction (A) and a pump (20) arranged downstream of the extrusion body (10) along said feeding direction (A). The extrusion body (10) comprises a hopper (30) for loading an elastomeric material and an extrusion screw (50) extending along said feeding direction (A) and having an inlet portion (50a) arranged close to the hopper (30) and an exit portion (50b) arranged close to the pump (20). The extrusion body (10) also comprises a motorised roller (40) arranged at the inlet portion (50a) of the extrusion screw (50) and configured to receive the elastomeric material from the hopper (30) and feed it to the extrusion screw (30). The extrusion screw (50) has a length and a diameter such that the ratio between length and diameter is comprised between 4 mm and 8 mm.

Abstract: Various exemplary agitators for a carbonation system, systems including an agitator for a carbonation system, and methods including an agitator for a carbonation system are provided. In general, an agitator is configured to rotate in a chamber to mix together a gas, such as carbon dioxide, and a liquid, such as water, to form a carbonated fluid. The agitator includes a plurality of paddles configured to encourage the mixing of the gas and the fluid by agitating the gas and the liquid during the agitator's rotation. Each of the arms has an angled outer tip to facilitate the efficient mixing. The agitator includes a hollow shaft through which the gas is configured to flow during the agitator's rotation. The agitator can be part of a carbonation system configured to dispense the carbonated fluid as a beverage.

Abstract: An assembly for insertion into a holder of a mixer, comprising: a dispenser having an exterior surface of which at least a band is symmetric about a longitudinal axis of the dispenser; and an adapter for surrounding at least the band of the exterior surface of the dispenser. The adapter comprises a closeable shell, the shell being configured to lock the dispenser in at least a region of the band so as to impede rotational slippage of the dispenser relative to the adapter about the longitudinal axis with the shell being closed. If the assembly is then locked to/engaged with the holder of a planetary mixer, this causes the assembly to undergo superimposed revolution and rotation movements in tandem with those of the holder, resulting in a desired level of mixing being imparted to the dispenser's contents, which may improve homogeneity and predictability of the mixing results.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a food processor, comprising: a cutter head, wherein a cutter is arranged on the cutter head, the intersecting line of the side wall of the cutter head and the cross section of the cutter head is a cutter head contour line, the maximum inscribed circle or the minimum circumscribed circle of the cutter head contour line is a cutter head base circle, and the central axis of the cutter head penetrates the center of the cutter head base circle; and a cup body arranged on the cutter head, wherein the intersecting line of the cup wall of the cup body and the cross section of the cup wall is a cup body contour line, the maximum inscribed circle or the minimum circumscribed circle of the cup body contour line is a cup body base circle.

Abstract: A bottle includes a base, neck that defines an aperture, and a body. The bottle has at least one indent in the body that projects into an interior of the bottle and extends around at least part of a circumference of the body. This at least one indent is configured to agitate a substance contained in the bottle. For example, the bottle may contain a powder, such as protein powder, and the at least one indent helps mix the powder with a liquid. In an example, two indents are used in the bottle.

Abstract: A liquid-liquid mixing device (10, 210) includes a barrel (20, 220) with a liquid port (23) at or adjacent one end. A plunger assembly (30) is reciprocably moveable along an axis in the barrel (20, 220) and includes a seal member (31, 231) and an agitator (50, 250). The seal member (31, 231) is in sealingly slidable engagement with the internal wall of the barrel (20, 220) to define a variable volume chamber (24, 224) therein in communication with the liquid port. The agitator (50, 250) is reciprocably moveable in the variable volume chamber (24, 224), which agitator (50, 250) includes one or more end to end passages (54) through which liquid in the chamber (24, 224) is forced as the agitator (250) reciprocates in the chamber (24, 224).

Abstract: An adjustable additive cartridge that provides adjustable metering of additive to a base fluid as the base fluid is flowing through the cartridge. A spout is mounted for limited rotation within a base element of the cartridge. Rotation of the spout results in varying degrees of flow of additive into a base fluid flow path through the cartridge. The cartridge may be used with a portable beverage container, such as a sports bottle or off-the-shelf water bottle. The supply of base fluid in a container used with the cartridge may be kept in an unmixed, pure state, and other cartridges, each having different additives (i.e., flavors) may be used interchangeably with the same base fluid supply. The cartridge allows a consumer/user to experience different additives, such as different flavors or supplement compositions, for a given supply of base liquid in a single container. A check valve on the cartridge prevents backflow of the base fluid.

Abstract: Proposed is a blender, in which a blender body operates when closure of the container lid on a container body is detected. In the blender, when the closure of the container lid is detected, power is transmitted from a first inductive coil of the blender body to a second inductive coil of the container body. A transmission module of the container body transmits a signal to a receiving module of the blender body by suing the power transmitted to the second inductive coil. When the signal is received by the receiving module, the blender body detects the closure of the container lid and is operated.

Abstract: A glass furnace for continuous operation, including a melting tank for containing a glass melt, and at least one magnetic actuator configured to generate a time-varying magnetic field suitable for moving a stirring body immersed in the glass melt.

Abstract: Dispensing sequences for beverage mixture dispensing systems are disclosed. A disclosed method for operating a beverage mixture dispensing system includes flowing a first solvent from a first reservoir to a mixing area of the beverage mixture dispensing system, dispensing concentrated ingredients into the mixing area to combine the first solvent from the first reservoir with the concentrated ingredients to form an intermediate mixture, flowing the intermediate mixture to a mixing chamber of the beverage mixture dispensing system, flowing a sweetening liquid from a second reservoir to the mixing chamber, without flowing the sweetening liquid through the mixing area, to combine the sweetening liquid from the second reservoir with the intermediate mixture to form a beverage, and dispensing the beverage from the mixing chamber. A disclosed device is configured to execute this method. A disclosed computer-readable medium includes instructions for a device to execute this method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a turntable color machine includes a rack, a controller is arranged on the rack, a wheel-type turntable that rotates vertically is arranged on the rack, a plurality of color paste bags are arranged on the wheel-type turntable, the color paste bags are evenly arranged along the circumference of the wheel-type turntable, the color paste bags are connected with a piston pump that is driven by a lifting mechanism to perform constant volume injection via a valve body, and a material receiving device that moves up and down is arranged at the middle of the wheel-type turntable.

Abstract: The present set of embodiments relate to a system, method, and apparatus controlling a cell culture media mixing system. The control system includes an integrated control unit capable of controlling a broad ranges of peripheral devices commonly used in bioproduction through a graphical user interface displayed on a touch sensitive screen. The bioproduction system is designed to be highly customizable through process modification and recipe creation by user with little or no knowledge of programming and is capable of controlling a wide variety of devices using a single unit. The bioproduction system allows for auto-detection, auto-calibration, and automatic of device related processes into a bioproduction workflow.