A gyroscopic mixer is disclosed which features a direct drive connection to a motor and a clamping mechanism which enables the mixer to accommodate containers of various sizes and configurations. The motor is connected to a drive shaft which is connected to a first bracket. The motor imparts rotation to the bracket about a first axis. An annular gear and single pulley belt is utilized to impart rotation about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis for a gyroscopic mixing motion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

A gyroscopic mixer for mixing the contents of a closed container is disclosed. More specifically, a gyroscopic paint mixer is disclosed which is capable of accommodating newer paint containers having a cubicle body, integrated handle and top equipped with a pour spout. The mixer includes a direct drive between a motor and a bracket that rotates the container about a first axis that extends transversely through the container. Further, only a single belt is utilized for rotating the container about a second axis extending longitudinally through the lid of the container to therefore impart gyroscopic rotation to the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART

Mixing of various materials, for example paint, has heretofore been affected by manually mixing or agitating the material, such as by stirring or shaking. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,723 is directed to a mechanical agitator, while U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,908,561 and 3,265,366 disclose paint shaking devices. The mixing action is relatively slow and inefficient in these devices. Material shaking devices, such as paint shakers, require substantial mechanical structure and a heavy base or anchoring since vibration is a major problem. Due to vibration and the force of the material on the lid of the container, a cumbersome clamping apparatus must be employed to tightly retain the lid in position during the shaking operation. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,599,833 and 2,894,309 disclose clamping apparatuses for use with containers in shaking devices.

Others achieve mixing by accelerating material in a container first in one direction and then in a second opposite direction to achieve mixing by the combination of shear forces and the creation and destruction of a vortex in the material. A mixer of this type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,542,344. While a mixer of this type reduces the problems of vibration and eliminates the necessity to clamp the lid on the container, substantial power and braking apparatus are required to effect the acceleration and reversal of the material in the container.

Another type of mixer spins the container in one direction and oscillates the container at the same time. An example of this type of device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,841. This type of device also requires a complicated mechanical structure, disadvantageously causes vibration and requires clamping of the lid or cover of the container.

Still another type of mixing apparatus simultaneously spins a container of material about two perpendicular axes, or gyroscopically. U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,408 discloses a device in which the container is rotated continuously about the two axes, whereas U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,443 discloses apparatus which rotates the container continuously about one axis but only rocks about a second, perpendicular axis by gyroscopic forces due to imbalance in the system. While the resulting mixing action is relatively rapid, a complicated mechanical structure is required and, because of the vibration, the lid must be securely clamped to the container.

Another type of gyroscopic mixer which has become a standard in the paint industry is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,553. The mixer simultaneously rotates the fluid container in one direction about a first axis and simultaneously rotates the container about a second axis which is non-perpendicular to the first axis. The rotation of the container about two different, non-perpendicular axes results in efficient bottom circulation of the fluid material within the container.

At least two problems associated with the gyroscopic-type mixers disclosed in the '408, '443 and '553 patents relate to the drive mechanisms and the supporting structure for holding the fluid container. First, the supporting structures are typically fixed in size and unable to accommodate containers that are smaller or larger than the standard cylindrically-shaped paint can. A second problem associated with these devices lies in the drive mechanism. Specifically, the complicated belt arrangement is typically required between the supporting structure that holds the fluid container and the motor. The belts are prone to wear and are difficult to replace.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved mixer for fluid materials and suspensions which is capable of accommodating containers of different and varying sizes and shapes and which provides the benefits of gyroscopic mixing but with an improved, more efficient and simplified drive mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In satisfaction of the aforenoted needs, an improved gyroscopic mixer is disclosed which comprises a motor coupled to a bracket. The motor imparts rotational movement to the bracket about a first axis. The bracket is rotatably connected to a pulley gear that is enmeshed with a stationary annular gear that, in turn, is concentric about the first axis and which defines a circular path about the first axis. The pulley gear moves along the circular path as the bracket rotates about the first axis. The pulley gear is connected to a drive pulley. The pulley gear and drive pulley define a second axis. The pulley gear and drive pulley about the second axis as the pulley gear moves along the circular path of the annular gear. The bracket is also rotatably connected to a driven pulley. The drive and driven pulleys are coupled together. The bracket is also rotatably connected to a clamp assembly that is rotatably coupled to a driven platform. The driven pulley is connected to a drive platform. The driven pulley, drive platform and driven platform are all disposed along a third axis. The clamp assembly is capable of adjusting an axial spacing between the driven and drive platforms and providing a clamping force on a container disposed therebetween. The spinning of the pulley gear and drive pulley about the second axis results in a spinning of the driven pulley, drive platform and driven platform about the third axis.

In a refinement, the drive and driven pulleys are coupled together by an endless belt. In such a refinement, the belt coupling the drive and driven pulleys is only the belt used in the mixer design. In a further refinement of this concept, the endless belt is a toothed endless and the drive and driven pulleys each comprise a plurality of slots for receiving the teeth of the endless belt.

In another refinement, the motor is coupled to the bracket by a drive shaft assembly. In such a refinement, the drive shaft assembly may comprise a primary drive shaft connected to the motor and a secondary drive shaft connected to the bracket. The primary and secondary drive shafts may be coupled together with a flexible bushing disposed therebetween.

In another refinement, the bracket is c-shaped with a generally vertical middle arm disposed between generally horizontal first and second arms. The middle arm is connected to the motor and the first arm is connected to the clamp assembly and supports the driven platform. The second arm rotatably supports the drive and driven pulleys and the drive platform. In such a refinement, the pulley gear may be supported by the middle arm and may be connected to the drive pulley by a generally vertical shaft that is parallel to the middle arm. In such a refinement, the generally vertical shaft may be embedded within the middle arm.

In another refinement, the clamp assembly comprises a threaded shaft threadably connected to a first arm of the bracket and which is fixedly connected to a clamp member. The clamp member is rotatably connected to the driven platform so that rotation of the threaded shaft adjusts the distance between the drive and driven platforms for generating the clamping force therebetween but leaving the drive and driven platforms free to rotate about the third axis.

In another refinement, the motor is coupled to the bracket by a drive shaft that passes through a casing. The casing comprises an annular flange that is connected to and supports the annular gear.

In another refinement, the mixer further comprises a housing with an opening providing access to the clamp assembly and drive and driven platforms. The housing also comprises a bottom panel. The mixer further comprises a wedge support disposed beneath the bottom panel of the housing to support the mixer so that the second and third axes are not vertical and so that the first axis is not horizontal. In short, the mixer is tilted backwards for easy access and manipulation by the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

InFIG. 1, a mixer10is illustrated in part because the motor11(seeFIG. 2) and cabinet12(seeFIGS. 3 and 4) are not shown. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2together, the mixer includes a primary drive shaft13which is coupled to a secondary drive shaft14by a flexible coupling element15that is commercially available and known to those skilled in the art. The secondary drive shaft14is connected to a c-shaped bracket16which includes a vertical middle arm17disposed between an upper or first arm18and a lower of second arm19. The secondary drive shaft passes through a casing21which is connected to an annular flange22. The casing21supports a pair of bearings23,24through which the drive shaft14passes. A bushing25is disposed between the bearings23,24as shown inFIG. 2. The distal end26of the drive shaft14is connected to the middle arm17of the bracket16by way of the bolt27or other suitable attachment mechanism. The fixed connection between the drive shaft14and the bracket16results in rotation of the bracket16about the axis of the drive shafts13,14or in the direction of the arrows28shown inFIG. 1. Of course, an opposite rotation would also be possible, depending upon the design of the motor11.

The drive shaft14may also pass through a thrust or bearing washer such as the one shown at31inFIG. 2. The annular flange22is connected to and supports an annular gear32. The annular gear32may be connected to the flange22by threaded fasteners, such as those shown at33or another suitable attachment mechanism. The annular gear32is enmeshed with a beveled gear34which is disposed within the middle arm17of the bracket16. The beveled gear34is connected to a shaft35which, in turn, is connected to a drive pulley36.

As the c-shaped bracket16rotates about the common axis of the drive shafts13,14and in direction of the arrow28ofFIG. 1, the beveled gear34follows the orbital path of the annular gear32and in turn rotates about its common axis with the shaft35and drive pulley36. This axis is labeled37inFIG. 1and the rotation is indicated by the arrow38inFIG. 1. Thus, rotation of the bracket16and the direction of the arrow28results in rotation of the drive pulley36in the direction of the arrow38.

The drive pulley36is coupled to a driven pulley41by an endless belt42. The endless belt42may be a toothed belt and the pulleys36,41may, in turn, include grooves for receiving the teeth or ribs disposed on an interior surface of the belt42. A standard pulley and belt arrangement may also be utilized. Thus, rotation of the drive pulley36in the direction of the arrow38results in rotation of the driven pulley41and direction of the arrow43as shown inFIG. 1.

The driven pulley41is fixedly connected to a drive platform44by way of the shaft45. The shaft45passes through the lower or second arm19of the bracket16and is supported by a pair of bearings46,47and an annular bushing48. Thus, rotation of the pulleys36,41results in rotation of the drive platform44in the direction of the arrow49.

The drive platform44provides support for one end of the container shown in phantom at51. The container51is sandwiched between the drive platform44and the driven platform52. The driven platform52is connected to the first or upper arm18of the bracket16by way of the clamp mechanism53. The clamp mechanism53includes a threaded shaft54that is threadably received in the upper arm18of the bracket16. The shaft54is fixedly connected to the clamp member55, which, in turn, is rotatably connected to the driven platform52. The driven platform52is free to rotate with respect to the clamp member55by way of its support by the bearings56,57which receive the shaft58that is connected to the driven platform52by way of the bolt59or other suitable attachment mechanism. The shaft54, in turn, is fixedly connected to the client member55by way of the shaped stud61that fits within a correspondingly shaped hole in the upper end62of the client member55. The stud61may also be equipped with a pin or spring-biased bead63for receipt within corresponding holes shown at64in the upper end62of the clamp member55.

The driven platform52and drive platform44may be clamped together with the container51clamped therebetween by rotating the clamp member55. Also, a handle (not shown) may be mounted to the upper end of the shaft54.

The clamping mechanism53enables the mixer10to accommodate containers51of various sizes. The design is particularly advantageous to the cubicle-shaped containers51with handle openings65that are currently being marketed by paint manufacturers.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the threaded shaft54is received within a threaded bushing67that is connected to the arm18of the bracket16by way of the bolts or fasteners shown at68. A washer69and bolt71are disposed at the upper end of the shaft54to prevent the upper end of the shaft54from being screwed down into the bushing67. Similarly, the bushing48that supports the bearings46,47in the lower arm19is also connected to the lower arm19by a plurality of fasteners, one of which is shown at72. The shaft45is fixedly connected to the drive platform44by a bolt or fastener shown at73.

Turning toFIGS. 3 and 4, the mixer10is housed within a cabinet12. The casing21is connected to the wall75by way of the flange22being bolted into place using the threaded openings shown at76inFIGS. 1 and 2. The wall75includes an opening76which encircles the annular gear32. The cabinet12also includes a door77with a handle78that provides access to the mixer10. Preferably, the bottom panel79of the cabinet12is supported by a wedge structure81which tilts the mixer as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4to provide easier access when the entire apparatus is supported on the floor. The wedge81can tilt the mixer at varying angles of convenience ranging from about 5 to about 30 degrees. The wedge81may be a separate component from the cabinet12or may an integral part of the cabinet12as shown inFIG. 3.

Returning toFIG. 1, it will be noted that the beveled gear34can be accommodated in an opening83within the middle arm17and, as shown inFIG. 2, the shaft35may extend down through the middle17to provide a compact design. The shaft35is also supported by the bearings84,85and the bushing86. The freely rotating shaft35is also held in place by the washers86,87and bolts or fasteners88,89.

Thus, an improved gyroscopic mixer10is disclosed which rotates the container51, containing a liquid slurry such as paint, gyroscopically in the rotational directions shown by the arrows28and49. The compact design provides a direct drive connection to a motor11and uses only a single endless belt42.

While only certain embodiments have been set forth, alternative embodiments and various modifications will be apparent from the above description to those skilled in the art. These and other alternatives will be considered equivalents and within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.