A rotatable turntable for vortexing reactants comprises a vortexing plate which is rotatable. The motor drives for vortexing and rotation are stationary such that simple mechanical and electrical connection relative to the peripheral supports and to the vortexing plate can be achieved. A vortexing work station located in alignment with the turntable operates in synchronism with the turntable. Reactants at any radial reactant station on the vortexing plate can be withdrawn from and located onto the turntable at any radial location when the turntable stops rotation. The radial position of the turntable in relation to the outside vortexing and non-vortexing periphery remains relatively aligned.

BACKGROUND 
This invention relates to a rotatable vortexing turntable, particularly for 
the agitation and suspension of chemical reactants. 
One of the problems that exists with current vortexing turntables is that 
the drive mechanisms which include electric motors for rotation and 
support mechanisms for the turntables are movable as the vortexing plate 
rotates and vortexes. This creates complex mechanical and electrical 
problems to ensure that wires feeding the electric motors do not become 
twisted about each other and that the plate aligns correctly relative to 
the outside non-rotating areas, such as work stations. 
An additional problem of a motor which moves rotationally or in a vortexing 
motion is that a relatively high mass is movable. This causes undesirable 
vibrations of the turntable and the surrounding areas and the drive 
systems. The heavier mass to be moved also causes heavier duty motors to 
be needed to operate the system effectively. 
A further problem is the alignment or registration of a vortexing turntable 
relative to a work station and other periphery of the turntable. Usually 
complex electronics is required to ensure that the circumferential 
location of the turntable is precisely positioned relative to a work 
station. This is to permit reactants to be moved onto and off the 
vortexing turntable. 
It would be desirable to have a work station which can vortex in 
synchronism with the turntable so that reactants being agitated are 
uniformly subjected to vortexing, both when on the turntable and at the 
work station. In this manner, when testing is done on the reactants at the 
work station, the optimum desired conditions exist in that uniform 
vortexing can be achieved. Vortexing in this sense is the relatively 
strong agitation of the reactants which is necessary to keep particles in 
suspension. Should vortexing at the work station cease, then the incorrect 
chemistry results can be obtained. 
It is also desirable to have a turntable which selectively can vortex so 
that reactants can rotate in their reaction capsules at high speed and 
selectively have the turntable rotate about its rotational axis. It is 
desirable to have a work station which can be selectively vortexed. 
The prior art does not provide a turntable and work station with the above 
characteristics. 
SUMMARY 
By this invention there is provided a turntable and work station which 
meets these characteristics and provides for turntable vortexing and 
rotation with relatively low mass components, and for a work station 
selectively vortexing in synchronism with the turntable. Also provided are 
means to ensure that the turntable is located in a relative 
circumferential location which is unchanged relative to the adjacent 
circumferential non-rotating locations so that alignment is achieved 
between reactant stations on the turntable and the work station and other 
positions about the turntable. 
According to the invention, a rotatable turntable for vortexing reactants 
comprises a vortexing plate on which a reactant is to be located for 
vortexing action. A first motive drive for moving the plate with the 
vortexing action and a second motive drive for causing the plate to rotate 
about a central axis of rotation include respective motive housings, at 
least the second motive housing being mounted to be stationary. Preferably 
both housings are mounted to be stationary. By this construction relative 
low mass motive means are necessary since there is less mass to be moved. 
The vortexing plate is circular, and a rotatable drive plate is mounted 
below the vortexing plate. Below the drive plate there is mounted a base 
plate, the base plate being stationary. The drive plate is subject to 
rotation about the central axis of rotation and is free of vortexing 
action, and the vortexing plate is subject to vortexing and rotational 
movement. 
The turntable drive plate includes preferably three pulley supports for 
carrying the vortexing plate. In some applications there may be more or 
less than three supports. The first motive means is centrally mounted on 
the central axis of rotation to and below the base plate with a drive 
shaft extending upwardly through an aperture in the base plate and an 
aperture in the turntable drive plate. A pulley on the drive shaft engages 
through a pulley belt a drive pulley on at least one of three pulley 
support bearings spaced about the turntable drive plate such that rotation 
of the drive shaft of the first motive means causes three pulleys to each 
rotate on eccentrically mounted bearings which imparts a vortexing action 
to the vortexing plate carried by the support. In an alternate mode the 
hub of the pulleys are eccentric and the shafts are concentric. 
The ratio of the diameter of the pulley of the drive shaft of the first 
vortexing motive drive to the diameter of the drive pulley is such that 
for a single rotation of the plate the pulleys turn through a single 
rotation. In any circumferential location of the vortexing plate when the 
vortexing motive drive is stationary in a constant reference position the 
axis position of the vortexing plate relative to the circumferential 
periphery about the plate is unchanged, and the vortexing plate remains in 
register or alignment with the outer periphery. 
A work station is mounted radially adjacent the vortexing plate, and can 
selectively vortex as required in the operational protocol in synchronism 
with the vortexing plate so that reactants remain in suspension while at 
the work station. During this time the vortexing plate can continue 
rotation and vortexing. The result of this is also to avoid unnecessary 
downtime in the operation of the turntable.

DESCRIPTION 
A rotatable turntable for vortexing reactants 10 inside reaction capsules 
11 contained in reaction wells 12 comprises a vortexing circular plate 13 
rotational about a central axis 14. The reaction capsules 11, as 
illustrated, are in banks of four and are radially arranged on the 
vortexing plate 13 at reactant stations 110 which are discrete working 
positions circumferentially about the plate 13. The capsules 11 are 
arranged on the vortexing plate 13 to be radially moved off and onto the 
plate 13 at a location opposite the work station 15. The reactants 10 can 
be vortexed or agitated as indicated by arrows 16, while on the vortexing 
plate 13 and also at the work station 15. 
A first motive drive 17 for moving the plate 13 with the vortexing action 
is mounted below the vortexing plate 13, with a housing construction 
generally indicated by numeral 18 mounted to and below a base plate 19. A 
drive shaft 20 extends from the housing 18 about the base plate 19 and 
also above a turntable drive plate 21 which is mounted between the base 
plate 19 and the vortexing plate 13. At the free end of the drive shaft 
20, there is a pulley 22 which is connected with a toothed timing pulley 
belt 23 to a remotely located drive pulley 24 which is mounted at the 
circumferential extremity of the drive plate 21. 
The drive pulley 24 is mounted on one of three pulley supports 25, 26 and 
27 which are spaced about the central axis 14 through which the drive 
shaft 20 extends. The pulley supports 25, 26 and 27 are radially spaced 
from axis 14. Pulleys 125 126 and 127 are carried on the supports 25 26 
and 27 respectively in eccentric relationship so that as the drive shaft 
20 rotates, pulley 22 and drive pulley 24 in turn rotate as driven by the 
belt 23. This in turn drives pulley 125 through eccentric bearings mounted 
on the pulley supports 25, 26 and 27 rotating with the shaft: Pulley 125 
is connected through toothed drive belt 28 with pulleys 126 and 127 so 
that the three pulleys 125, 126 and 127 move in synchronism causing the 
vortex plate 13 to agitate or vortex in the small circles as indicated by 
arrows 16. The approximate speed of rotation is about 1200 rpm and this 
should be regarded as strong or violent agitation as required to keep the 
reactants 10 in capsules 11 in suspension. 
Mounted below the base plate 19 is a second motive drive 29 located in a 
housing generally indicated by numeral 30 which is mounted below and onto 
the drive plate 21 with a drive shaft 31 extending above the drive plate 
21. Drive shaft 31 is connected with a pulley 32 which drives a toothed 
belt 33 and in turn, a pulley 34 which is attached to drive plate 21 
through a central hub structure 35 to rotate on and, about housing 36 
which surrounds the drive shaft 20. When the second motive means 29 
operates to rotate the shaft 31, the pulley belt 33 turns pulley 34 which 
in turn causes the turntable drive plate 21 to rotate about the central 
axis of rotation 14. In this manner the three pulleys 125, 126 and 127 are 
rotatable about the central axis 14 as the turntable drive plate 21 
rotates as indicated by arrow 37. 
With this structure, the first drive housing 18 and the second drive 
housing 30 are stationary, both being mounted to the base plate 19. By 
having this structure and arrangement the electrical and control system 
illustrated diagrammatically as 131 to operate the motors which constitute 
the first motive drive 17 and second motive drive 29 can be housed in a 
stationary manner. The motors 17 and 29 are mounted with the facility to 
prevent any twisting of the electrical wires connecting the motors 17 and 
29 with the electronic control system 131. This provides for a simple 
drive system of low mass, and hence the motive drives 17 and 29 need be of 
relatively lower power. In some cases only one of the motive housings, 
namely the rotating motive housing 30, is stationary. While this is not 
preferred, the mass is still reduced relative to two moving motive means. 
In operation the turntable drive plate 21 can be selectively rotated by the 
second motive drive 29 and thereby rotate the vortexing plate 13 so that 
the work reactant stations 110 located on the vortexing plate 13 line up 
sequentially and in registration with the work station 15 as required. 
Simultaneously or selectively, the vortexing drive motor 17 can cause the 
vortexing action as indicated by arrow 16 of the vortexing plate 13 during 
the rotation of the vortexing plate 13 or when the vortexing plate 13 is 
stationary. 
The pulley ratio between the pulley 22, namely the drive shaft vortexing 
pulley, and the drive pulley 24 is 1:1. When the vortexing motor drive 
shaft 20 is stationary, and the second motive means 29 is operational, a 
single rotation of the turntable drive plate 21 causes the drive pulley 24 
and the eccentric pulleys, 125, 126, and 127 to turn through a single 
rotation. Eccentric bearings 225, 226 and 227 are mounted into the base of 
the plate 13 to interreact with respective pulleys 125, 126 and 127. 
Alternatively, supports 25, 26 and 27 provide an eccentric surface to 
engage the bearings remounted on the eccentric hub ends of shafts 25, 26 
and 27. In such a case, the pulleys 125, 126 and 127 are mounted on the 
concentric portion of the shafts 25, 26 and 27. Shock absorbing elements 
are located in the space between the plate 13 and bearings 225, 226 and 
227. With the various constrictions, eccentric vortexing motion is 
imparted to the plate 13. 
When the vortexing motor 17 is stationary in a reference position and the 
rotating motor 29 is operational, this registration location between the 
vortexing plate 13 and outside vortexing or stationary components is 
unchanged. This mechanical configuration provides for an effective manner 
of ensuring that the capsules 11 of each radial reactant station 110 work 
position are aligned with the work station 15 and receiving stations 112A, 
112B, and 112C without the necessity of complex electronic adjustment 
circuitry for locating and adjusting the circumferential position of the 
capsules 11 relative to the work station 15 or other outside components. 
In the diagrammatic illustration in FIG. 3, a different location of the 
pulleys 125, 126, 127 is illustrated at about 180.degree. offset relative 
to FIG. 1. This shows the vortexing plate 13 maintaining the same relative 
position to outside peripherally circumferentially disposed components in 
different locations at different circumferential positions. As the work 
station 15 vortexes in synchronism, this maintains the work stations 110 
in the same relative position to the outer peripheral circumferential 
position for different positions. Thus when the reactant stations 110 are 
in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, there will be alignment with 
receiving station 112 of the work station 15 as indicated. As different 
reactant stations 110 come into alignment with station 112, there will be 
alignment with the station 112. Similarly as indicated in FIG. 3, the 
different reactant stations 110 in the illustrative 180.degree. 
circumferentially offset position are in the same position relative to the 
circumferential peripheral position around and adjacent any other work 
station about the vortexing plate 13. The relative location of any of the 
reactant stations 110 relative to the outside circumferential peripheral 
area or a plate 113 remains unchanged due to the 1:1 ratio between the 
vortexing motive shaft pulley 22 and drive pulley 24. Thus for different 
receiving stations 112A, 112B and 112C which could be located about the 
turntable, and whether or not they vortex in synchronism with the 
vortexing plate 13, there is the synchronous and registration lineup of 
reactant stations 110 and work station 112, 112A, 112B and 112C. This 
exists irrespective of the position at which the vortexing plate 13 stops 
on its rotational path. 
The first motive drive means 17 is connected through the drive shaft 20 
with a further pulley 38 and toothed pulley belt 39 to a pulley 139 
mounted on an eccentric pulley bearing 40 which is mounted to and below a 
work station drive plate 41. Above the work station drive plate 41 are 
spaced pillars 42 and 43 which mount a working plate 44 so that it is 
vertically aligned with the vortexing plate 13. Spaced apart and to either 
side of a line between the pulleys 42 and 43 are a pair of flexible 
columns 45 and 46 which act to maintain planar motion of the working plate 
44 of the work station 15. With this structure as the vortexing drive 
motor 17 rotates, the pulley 38 turns, and belt 39 drives the mounted 
pulley 139 and eccentric bearing 40 so as to cause the drive plate 41 to 
move in eccentric motion. This motion is in synchronism with the vortexing 
plate 13. Pillars 42 and 43 similarly move in vortexing motion as does the 
plate 44 as indicated by arrows 16. The reaction capsules 111 are 
illustrated in phantom on the working plate 44. 
Capsules 11 in this manner can be loaded onto and removed from the 
vortexing plate 13 or plate 44 as indicated by arrow 47 since the work 
station 15 is kept in circumferential alignment with the vortexing plate 
13. As the capsules 11 are drawn onto the work station 15, as indicated by 
position 48, vortexing of the reactants 10 can be maintained during 
processing at the work station 15. 
With the construction therefore it is possible to have a situation where 
vortexing of reactants 10 on vortexing plate 13 and vortexing of reactants 
10 on the working plate 44 occurs in synchronism and thus the reactants 10 
undergo equivalent action while on the plate 13 and on the working plate 
44 and remain in the same state of solution. This provides for more 
accurate chemical analysis and determinations at the work station 15. In 
some sequences the vortexing plate 13 can continue rotation while a 
particular capsule set 111 is at the work station 15. After an appropriate 
time, when the appropriate reaction station 110 on the vortexing plate 13 
-s again aligned with the work station 15, then the capsules 111 can be 
loaded once again onto the vortexing plate 13 as indicated by numeral 11. 
Various transfer mechanisms 144 can be used to load and withdraw the 
capsule sets 111 between the vortexing plate 13 and the working plate 44. 
At the work stations 15 all vortexing service functions such as drain, 
fill, wash and reagent additions can be performed. While vortexing, there 
is no relative vortex motion differences between the work station 15 and 
the vortexing plate 13 even though the turntable drive motor 29 is 
rotating. This advantage saves cycle time since the vortexing plate 13 can 
be rotated while vortexing to bring a particular reactant capsule 11 into 
the transfer off position from vortexing plate 13 for servicing at work 
station 15 as required. 
The vortexing system advantage -s that the drive motors 17 and 29 and 
electronic components 131 remain stationary and therefore the minimum mass 
is vortexed. This allows for easier mechanical decoupling from the rest of 
the instrument and improved reliability of the system. 
It should be appreciated that while a preferred embodiment of the invention 
has been described, many other examples are possible without departing 
from the scope of the invention. For instance, instead of three 
equidistantly related pulleys 125, 126 and 127 about the vortexing plate 
13, there could be more pulleys and eccentric bearings arranged in the 
same fashion. Moreover, although only one work station 15 is shown, there 
can be several other work station spaced about the turntable to perform 
functions as required. Also instead of pulley 22 and drive pulley 24 being 
in a 1:1 relationship, the actual shaft 20 and support 25 are in a 1:1 
ratio and the belt 23 engages teeth on the shaft 20 and support 25 to 
effect movement. 
Many other examples of the invention exists, each differing from others in 
matters of detail only. The invention is not to be limited by the 
described embodiment but should be considered in terms of the spirit and 
scope of the following claims.