Abstract: A magnetic type agitator, is provided which has a magnetic agitator element disposed in a magnetically permeable vessel, and a magnetic rotating plate rotatably coupled to the bottom of the vessel. The magnetic type agitator is improved according to present invention in that it further includes a thin ultrasonic vibrating element fixed to the bottom of the vessel, the magnetic rotating plate being placed so as to permit the magnetic force from the magnetic rotating plate to effect the magnetic agitator element, thereby permitting simultaneous agitation and ultrasonic vibration of the liquid in the vessel.

Abstract: A stirrer for stirring a liquid in a container, which includes a stator; a rotor disposed in the container and provided with stirring vanes; and a cylindrical housing of nonmagnetic material having a peripheral wall thereof interposed between the stator and rotor and rotatably supporting the rotor through intervention of the liquid. This arrangement provides a stirrer of simple and compact construction, which can stir the liquid in a container completely in a closed state free of sliding portions of rotary components or shaft seal portions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for staining cell objects on microscope slides includes a container for holding a staining solution and for holding one or more of the slides having the cell objects thereon. The container is preferably a Coplin jar in which is disposed a perforated cage containing a magnetic stirrer. Lower ends of the slides rest on the top of the cage and the stirrer drives liquid in and out of the cage and stirs and mixes the stain solution to obtain uniformity of stain concentration throughout the Coplin jar. A magnetic drive unit is positioned below the container and magnetic flux travels through the imperforated bottom wall of the glass Coplin jar to couple the stirrer rod to rotate within the cage, as the magnetic driver rotates in the unit beneath the jar.

Abstract: A device for the measurement of time at which the physical state of a fluid medium is modified, comprises a vertical cup which contains the fluid and the necessary reagents, and in which a ferromagnetic ball is placed and is driven in rotation by an external magnetic field. The cup has at its lower part an annular travel path for the ball and it comprises a detection device which delivers an electric signal whenever the ball passes in front of it which is associated with a measurement unit determining the variation of the time interval between two consecutive passages of the ball.

Abstract: A stirrer for stirring a liquid in a container, which includes a stator; a rotor disposed in the container and provided with stirring vanes; and a cylindrical housing of nonmagnetic material having a peripheral wall thereof interposed between the stator and rotor and rotatably supporting the rotor through intervention of the liquid. This arrangement provides a stirrer of simple and compact construction, which can stir the liquid in a container completely in a closed state free of sliding portions of rotary components or shaft seal portions.

Abstract: A cooking machine comprising: a mixer body provided with a motor therein; a container placed on said mixer body; and an agitator with at least a discal portion provided in close proximity to the inner bottom surface of said container, said agitator being rotatably provided in said container substantially at the central portion of the bottom surface thereof in such a manner that the center axis of said discal portion is perpendicular to said bottom surface so as to agitate and whip a material charged into said container, and said discal portion being integrally provided with an indicator rod which protrudes upward from the center of the rotation of said discal portion and has a mark for indicating the height that the upper surface of the central portion of the whipped material is to reach when said material charged into said container has been whipped to said predetermined degree by the rotation of said agitator, which is suitable for whipping ice cream materials.

Abstract: Mixing vessel for sterile fluids, having a closed recess forming an integral part of the bottom wall of said vessel. An externally mounted rotatable drive unit on said vessel has means for establishing a magnetic coupling with an impeller inside the vessel. The hub of said impeller is cup-shaped and supported on bearing means on the inner end of the recess with a certain radial play to the wall of said recess, coaxially with said coupling means, and has substantially radially extending passageways between inner and outer hub surfaces.

Abstract: An electronic balance with scale on top having a drive means for a magnetic agitator which integral onto the balance scale. This enables the work steps of agitating and weighing to be performed simultaneously and by the same device.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing mixing in thin liquid layers containing a suspension of a multiplicity of movable particles of magnetic material. The apparatus includes at least two magnets or magnet systems, of which at least one is an electromagnet. the magnets or magnet systems are arranged in order to provide at least one slit for receiving at least one support containing the thin liquid layer, wherein the magnetic particles are present. When the liquid layer in the support is inserted in the slit, the thin layer will be subjected to the combined magnetic field orginating from the two magnets or magnet systems. The apparatus has a driving source for the electromagnet(s), including a timing device, and a current source.

Abstract: A whipping machine comprising: a mixer body provided with a motor therein; a container placed on said mixer body; and an agitator with at least a disc portion provided in close proximity to the inner bottom surface of said container, said agitator being rotatably provided in said container substantially at the central portion of the bottom surface thereof in such a manner that the center axis of said discal portion is perpendicular to said bottom surface so as to agitate and whip a material charged into said container, and said disc portion being integrally provided with an indicator rod which protrudes upward from the center of the rotation of said disc portion and has a mark for indicating the height that the upper surface of the central portion of the whipped material is to reach when said material charged into said container has been whipped to said predetermined degree by the rotation of said agitator, which is suitable for whipping ice cream materials.

Abstract: A magnetic stirrer provides controlled and uniform stirring of multiple samples in multiple sample containers containing a stirring magnet. An elongate armature of nonmagnetic material is mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis. A motor rotates the elongate armature. First and second drive magnets are mounted at opposite ends of the elongate arms. The drive magnets are oriented with the respective magnetic pole axes in opposite substantially vertical directions. The drive magnets describe a circumference of a circle in a plane upon rotation of the armature. Multiple samples in multiple sample containers are placed at locations spaced from the plane, either above or below, and offset from the circumference of the circle, either outside or inside, for uniform and controlled rotation of the stirring magnets contained in the sample containers. In an alternative embodiment, vertical stems are mounted at the ends of the elongate arm.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser has a cradle for holding a container of liquid to be agitated before dispensing in a downwardly inclined position towards the dispensing outlet and includes an arrangement for causing a wave-like motion to the contents of the container. The arrangement can include a rocking mechanism for the end of the cradle remote from the dispensing end or an arrangement for intermittently applying pressure to the wall of the container adjacent the dispensing end. The diminishing contents of the container may be compensated for.

Abstract: Blood clotting time measuring apparatus has a temperature controlled cabinet with at least one measuring channel for receiving a measuring cell (17) containing a blood sample, the clotting time of which is to be measured. The cabinet includes clamping means (18) for retaining the measuring cell in said measuring channel. A magnetic stirrer (16, 16a) is mounted in the cabinet proximate to the measuring channel and has a metal ball (23) positionable in the measuring cell and magnetically operable with the stirrer. A photo optical turbidity detector has a light source (15) and a light detector (14) forming a photo optical path (32) containing the measuring cell. The light source receives an operating voltage which is at least half the rated voltage of said source. The light detector is connected to a measured value means (27) having two threshold value limiting means.

Abstract: A tofu making apparatus according to the present invention is designed for small business or for domestic use.The tofu making apparatus can automatically and consecutively produce uniform tofu in a simplified manner since such important factors for successful tofu as the boiling time period and the boiling temperature of the raw bean juice, the squeezing time period of the bean juice, the mixing time period with the coagulating agent, etc. can be automatically and stably controlled by the temperature sensor and the controller.

Abstract: The driving (30) and driven (32) members of a magnetic drive (20) are separated by an enlarged gap (35) to provide clearance for a conduit (23) or other member. Flux pins (40) in the gap (35) maintain the torque transmitting capability of the drive (20). The spacing between two of the flux pins is increased to provide space for the conduit (23).

Abstract: A stirrer apparatus for stirring culture medium has a flask with a lid, a floating magnetic stirrer responsive to a moving magnetic field, and a moving field generator including poles and coils. A guide system is provided for the stirrer including a rod which extend upwardly from the stirrer and a tube which extends through the lid, the rod extending into and being rotatable in the tube; the tube has a closed upper end. A stirrer apparatus having a floating magnetic stirrer with a central, downwardly extending, closed end guide tube, and lid with a guide rod extending into the guide tube. The stirrer included one or more continuous impellers extending across the rotational axis of the stirrer; in one embodiment, the impeller is provided by a bar magnet or magnets beneath a float and in another embodiment a bar magnet is within the float, and the impeller is a continuous blade.

Abstract: A magnetic rotor (3) of suitable configuration is supported so that it is free to rotate in a vessel or tube, whereby the rotor is in direct contact with the stirred or pumped medium and is rotated by the rotary magnetic field of an electromagnetic drive system (2). The rotary magnetic field is generated by a number of coil segments (6,6',6",6"') controlled by phase-shifted alternating currents (8,8'), whereby the coil segments are arranged on an annular core (4) of ferromagnetic material. With the appropriate arrangement and control of the coil segments, the rotor located near the ring axis turns very smoothly, since the presence of individual magnetic poles can be dispensed with. The annular design of the core also allows stirring to be performed in a vessel with a central outlet at the bottom. The electromagnetic drive device (1) together with its core and winding, which require only one cable lead connection to the power source arrangement (1), can be of compact, leakproof and chemically resistant design.

Abstract: A stirrer for biochemical reactions comprising a magnetically permeable vessel for containing a solution of biochemically reacting substances, at least one magnetic bead placed in the vessel, and a magnetic device which is installed outside the vessel and generates an oscillating magnetic field acting on the bead. The stirrer is advantageous for stirring the solution of biochemically reacting substances for biochemical reactions without direct contact.

Abstract: A cell culturing apparatus having a unitary filter and stirring head suspended within a culture vessel by a flexible conduit which permits movement of the head in a predetermined nonrotary path for stirring the culture medium within the vessel while at the same time permitting filtering and removal of expended medium and culture byproducts by passage through the head and flexible conduit. The flexible conduit has an upper portion fixedly secured to the culture vessel so as to eliminate the necessity for rotary bearings and the like between relative moving parts, and the head carries a magnet which is movable by means of a magnetic drive located outside the culture vessel. In one embodiment, an auxiliary supply line is disposed within the flexible conduit and head to permit the introduction of fluids into the culture vessel simultaneously with the removal of expended medium therefrom.

Abstract: In a magnet stirring apparatus comprising a base which includes a plurality of magnet coils and onto which respective vessels can be placed, said vessels being made of a non-magnetic material and each containing a magnetic stirring bar as well as the liquid to be stirred, the stability of the stirring operation within a wide range of lengths of stirring bars and of adjusted rotational speeds is achieved by pole shoes which are long straggling in the radial direction toward one center.

Abstract: A drive means for a photographic film developing tank and a developing tank for use therewith, including magnetic coupling means connecting an agitator in the tank with the reciprocating-type drive means, such as a rack and pinion, and an electric motor.

Abstract: A stirrer for stirring liquid in a flask comprises a magnetically attractable member formed by or supported by a buoyancy chamber, the stirrer having less density than the liquid to be stirred; the stirrer may include an impeller. A method of stirring a liquid comprising introducing liquid and a buoyant, magnetically attractable stirrer into a vessel, and causing a rotating magnetic field to rotate the stirrer.

Abstract: The contents of a container are stirred by continuously and successively subjecting a magnetic stirring element provided in the container to a plurality of moving magnetic fields.

Abstract: A processor for processing undeveloped photographic film discs carried on a rotatable spindle includes a conveyor for conveying the spindle intermittently from a first end of the processor along a generally horizontal conveyor path to each of a plurality of stations along the conveyor path. The intermittent conveying of the spindle by the conveyor is cyclical, with each cycle of the conveyor having a transport portion during which the spindle is conveyed from one station to another and a processing portion during which the spindle is positioned at one of the stations for processing. The spindle and film discs mounted thereon are rotated when positioned for processing at each station, and a rotation sensor at each station senses a failure of the spindle to be rotated. The processor also has a spindle sensor which senses the presence of the spindle adjacent the first end of the processor.

Abstract: A processor for processing undeveloped photographic film discs carried on a rotatable spindle includes a conveyor for conveying the spindle intermittently along a generally horizontal conveyor path. The spindle has a follower magnet attached adjacent one end thereof and has an axial direction which is generally horizontal and perpendicular to the conveyor path. A plurality of stations for processing the film discs are spaced along the conveyor path, with a drive magnet rotatably mounted adjacent each station in spaced axial alignment with the follower magnet of the spindle when the spindle is positioned at that station. Operably connected to the drive magnet is a drive motor for rotating the drive magnet to cause the follower magnet, spindle and film discs mounted thereon to be rotated due to magnetic coupling of the drive magnet and the follower magnet.

Abstract: Small apparatus for developing photosensitive materials, in particular table-top apparatus, comprises a housing divided by partitions into a plurality of processing stations, for example a developing station, a fixing station and a washing station. Each of the stations comprises a trough containing the respective processing liquid. The photosensitive material to be developed is conveyed by transport rolls from an inlet, through the successive stations and out of an outlet. Liquid in a trough is circulated by a device comprising a magnetic rotor which rotates in a submerged rotor housing in the trough and has inlet openings in its cover and a tangential outlet opening in its periphery. The rotor is rotated by a rotating magnetic field arrangement outside the trough. In one embodiment it comprises a motor-driven permanent magnet. In another, it comprises magnetic coils arranged in a circle and energized sequentially.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a rotatable stirrer assembly for maintaining microcarrier beads in suspension in a cell culture. The stirrer assembly includes at least one blade radially disposed with respect to the vessel axis and connected to the assembly adjacent a magnet member for rotation therewith about said axis.

Abstract: A heat storage apparatus and method including a heat storage medium encapsulated within a container and heat exchange apparatus for exchanging thermal energy with the heat storage medium. The heat storage medium may include a salt having a relatively high latent heat of reaction at a relatively low temperature range. The dehydration reaction of sodium sulfate decahydrate appears to the most promising reaction for this application. Other suitable salts and salt mixtures for other temperature ranges may also be used. The apparatus includes, where necessary, techniques for stirring the heat storage medium to inhibit stratification of the salt during cycles of dissolution and recrystallization or fusion.

Abstract: A plurality of magnetic field generating, electrical coils are preferably arranged in a circle, in one embodiment. Digitally controlled, recurring switching pulses are generated for sequentially defining a plurality of discrete time periods. During each of these time periods, a separate magnetic field is generated responsive to each switching pulse. The pulses are applied to the coil, in turn, for sequentially stepping a magnetic field in a rotary motion about the circle of coils. In other embodiments, the pole pieces may be arranged in another geometry. For example, they could be linearly positioned to slide a stirrer or to lift a stirrer member up a test tube. A substance which is to be stirred is placed in a non-magnetic container positioned within the stepping magnetic field. A stir rod of magnetic material is placed in the container and within the stepping magnetic field, so that the stir rod couples into and rotates or otherwise moves with the rotary magnetic field.

Abstract: A lightweight magnetic stirrer apparatus which may be positioned for rotation in a fluid containing vessel, having a magnetic rotor assembly including a generally vertical center hub on which is mounted a generally horizontal magnetic impeller. The rotor assembly is rotatably mounted in a positioning cage which generally positions the rotor assembly within the vessel and prevents it from contacting the walls of the vessel to allow the rotor assembly hub to rotate free relative to the vessel in the cage under the influence of an exterior magnetic drive. The magnetic stirrer apparatus is also provided with a cage in which the legs are totally removeable so as to make it any size for different beakers. Furthermore, the magnet may be removed completely from the cage so that it may be dropped into the neck of a bottle and the magnet per se used by itself. High lubricity bearing surfaces of the hub and cage reduce frictional forces and allow rotation of the impeller at very low speeds.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for small, ferrometallic, precision items, e.g., dental burs, includes a cabinet unit housing a plurality of magnets mounted on a motor driven, rotatable disc with the magnets being arranged and designed to provide a rotating, unipolar, non-uniform, magnetic field coacting with the items in which individual fields are induced and which provide for rotation separation and oscillation of the dental burs being cleaned in a solution within an appropriate container; a second group of magnets also mounted on a rotatable disc for rinsing of the cleaned dental burs; and a degaussing unit for demagnetizing the dental burs once cleaned and rinsed. A magnetic bur pick-up device allows for moving the dental burs from one area to the next without physical contact of the already cleaned burs.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying lettuce and other vegetables including a basket in which wet lettuce is placed, a stand in which the basket is removably received, a holding mechanism that rotatably supports the basket using magnets to maintain its position, and an electric motor for rotating the basket. The sidewalls of the basket are perforated to allow water propelled by centrifugal force to escape as the basket is rotated. A removable splash shield that surrounds the basket confines the water causing it to be collected in a drip pan.The holding mechanism is normally held against rotation by a brake. When the motor is energized, current flows through the brake to release it. As a safety feature, no power is applied to the motor and brake circuits when the device is not in operation.