Patent Publication Number: US-6709148-B2

Title: Adapters for mounting containers on a shaker

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to apparatus for mounting one or more containers on an arm of a shaker for shaking the containers and their contents and particularly relates to one or more sets of adapters for mounting on cradle heads of a shaker for shaking one or more containers carried by the adapters on the cradle heads. 
     Shakers having cradle heads for oscillatory movement are well known. In shakers of this type, an electric motor oscillates a shaker arm on which is mounted a pair of cradle heads. The cradle heads are generally mounted on slides for movement toward and away from one another so that containers of different sizes can be disposed on and mounted between the spaced cradle heads. In one form of prior cradle head, a plurality of fingers project outwardly from each head and have reversely turned flanges for gripping the ends of a container such as a paint can. While shakers of this type have proved eminently useful, they have not heretofore been specifically adapted for shaking a plurality of containers or containers of various sizes. Accordingly, there has developed a need for a shaking apparatus which can be adapted to shake a plurality of containers of different sizes and configurations. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided one or more sets of adapters for mounting on modified cradle heads of a conventional shaker so that one or more containers can be disposed between and supported by the adapters and shaken. To accomplish the foregoing, the cradle heads of a standard shaker are each modified to provide at least one of an arcuate projecting flange and an arcuate groove, and preferably both. One or more sets of adapters each including a pair of adapters are also provided. Each adapter of each set includes a mounting base having at least one of an arcuate groove and arcuate flange, preferably both, corresponding with the arcuate flange and groove, respectively, of the cradle heads. 
     Upstanding portions of the adapters from their mounting bases include one or more recesses serving as supports for the ends of containers disposed between the adapters. The recesses of the one or more of the adapters may have a through opening to accommodate smaller diameter projections on the containers, e.g., spray nozzle heads or caps sealing the containers. With a matched set of adapters upstanding from the cradle heads, it will be appreciated that the containers can be supported between the adapters with the containers being shaken by the oscillatory motion of the cradle heads mounted on the shaker. A set of adapters may also include a spacer extending between registering recesses of the opposed adapters. The spacer facilitates support of the adapters and also includes openings at one end or both ends to receive smaller containers such as vials for shaking. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an adapter is provided for mounting between the cradle heads, the adapter supporting a tray which, in turn, supports a plurality of containers. The tray has conventional container supports along an upper side thereof. The adapter is mounted along the underside of the tray. The adapter has arcuate ends for reception in the arcuate grooves of the cradle heads whereby the adapter and tray are mounted to the shaker for shaking the containers carried by the tray. 
     In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for mounting one or more containers on an arm of a shaker wherein the arm is mounted for oscillatory movement comprising a cradle carried by the shaker arm for oscillatory movement therewith, the cradle including a pair of cradle heads spaced from one another and mounted for movement toward and away from one another, one of the cradle heads including one of an arcuate groove and an arcuate flange facing another of the cradle heads, a pair of adapters for mounting to the cradle heads, respectively, one of the adapters having one of an arcuate flange and an arcuate groove, the one arcuate groove and arcuate flange of the one cradle head and the one arcuate flange and arcuate groove of the one adapter interfitting with one another, respectively, joining the one adapter and the one cradle head to one another and each adapter having at least one container end support for mounting a container therebetween enabling the one container for oscillatory movement with the shaker arm. 
     In a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for mounting one or more containers on an arm of a shaker wherein the arm is mounted for oscillatory movement comprising a cradle carried by the arm for oscillatory movement therewith, the cradle including a pair of cradle heads spaced from one another and mounted for movement toward and away from one another, each cradle head including an arcuate groove in spaced opposition to one another and an adapter carried by each cradle head having one or more supports for carrying one or more container ends, the adapters including projecting arcuate flanges for reception within the arcuate grooves of the cradle heads, respectively. 
     In a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for mounting one or more containers on an arm of a shaker wherein the arm is mounted for oscillatory movement comprising a cradle carried by the arm for oscillatory movement therewith, the cradle including a pair of cradle heads spaced from one another and mounted for movement toward and away from one another, each cradle head including an arcuate flange in spaced opposition to one another and an adapter carried by each cradle head having supports for carrying one or more container ends, the adapters including arcuate grooves for receiving the arcuate flanges of the cradle heads, respectively. 
     In a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for mounting one or more containers on an arm of a shaker wherein the arm is mounted for oscillatory movement comprising a cradle carried by the arm for oscillatory movement therewith, the cradle including a pair of cradle heads spaced from one another and mounted for movement toward and away from one another, each cradle head including an arcuate groove facing in opposition to one another, an adapter for carrying the one or more containers, the adapter including a mounting member having arcuate flanges at opposite ends thereof for reception within the arcuate grooves of the cradle heads, respectively. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shaker having cradle heads constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with adapters mounted on the cradle heads of the shaker; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the adapters on the cradle heads with containers between the adapters; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the adapters with a spacer therebetween; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another set of adapters; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a tray for containing a plurality of containers mounted on the shaker employing an adapter of a further embodiment hereof; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the underside of the tray of FIG. 6 illustrating the adapter mounting the tray to the shaker; and 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view thereof taken generally about on line  8 — 8  in FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a shaker, generally designated  10 , having a housing  12  within which is an electric motor, not shown, for oscillating an arm  14  back and forth in the direction of the arrows  16 . As illustrated, the shaker  10  includes a timer which is adjustable by rotation of the knob  18  to control the duration of the shaking cycle. The mechanism for oscillating the arm  14  in the direction of the arrows  16  is conventional and further description thereof is not necessary. Suffice to say that the arm  14  oscillates for shaking a container mounted on the shaker. 
     The oscillatory arm  14  mounts a cradle, generally designated  23 , including a pair of laterally spaced rods  20  projecting to opposite sides of arm  14 . A pair of cradle heads  22  are slidably carried on the rods  20  on opposite sides of the arm  14 . A central threaded rod  24  threadedly engages with each of the cradle heads  22  and has reverse threads on opposite sides of the arm  14 . The threaded rod  24  includes a knob  26  for manual rotation of the rod. Rod  24  is also fixed against axial movement relative to the arm  14 . By rotation of the knob  26 , the reversely threaded portions of the rod  24  enable the cradle heads  22  to be displaced toward and away from one another. 
     Each of the cradle heads  22  includes a plurality of elongated fingers  28  terminating at distal ends in reversely bent flanges  30 . The flanges  30  on each cradle head  22  project toward the opposite cradle head defining lips. The lips on the fingers  28  are utilized to secure opposite ends of a container, for example, a can, to the shaker, enabling the arm  14  and cradle heads  22  to oscillate the can and shake its contents. In prior cradle heads, the arcuate surface  32  of each cradle head  22  included a flat end face inwardly of the fingers  28 . In accordance with the present invention, the end face of each cradle head is provided with one of a groove  34  and a projecting flange  36 , preferably both. Thus, the arcuate grooves  34  of the cradle heads lie in registration with one another and the flanges  36  radially inwardly of the grooves  34  lie in registration one with the other. The grooves  34  and flanges  36  lie in partial concentricity with one another and facilitate securement of adapters to the shaker, enabling the shaker to simultaneously mount one or more containers and containers of different sizes, as will now be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, a set of adapters, generally indicated  38 , are provided for mounting on the shaker  10 . Particularly, each adapter  40  includes a base portion  42  for mounting the adapter to a cradle head and an upstanding portion  44  carrying one or more supports for supporting ends of containers disposed between the adapters  40 . In a particular and preferred embodiment of the present invention, each adapter  40  has one or more recesses  46  opening through an inside face  48  thereof for receiving and supporting ends of containers disposed between the adapters. One or more of the recesses  46  may also have reduced openings  50  whereby the recess  46  and opening  50  form an aperture through the adapter. The openings  50  accommodate reduced diameter end portions on containers, for examples, caps, spray nozzles and the like. In the illustrated adapters  38 , six recesses  46  and six openings  50  are provided at laterally and vertically spaced positions relative to one another. It will be appreciated that the adapters  40  are formed of a plastic material and that different numbers of recesses and openings may be formed in the adapters and in various arrangements and configurations thereof whereby adapters can be formed for specific applications and sizes of containers. 
     The base of each of the adapters  40 , as best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8, the arcuate base portion  42  corresponds in shape to the arcuate surface  32  of the cradle head. The base portion  42  also includes an arcuate recess  54  and an outwardly extending arcuate flange  56  in partial concentricity with one another. It will be appreciated that the arcuate recess  54  and arcuate flange  56  on each adapter registers with and is complementary to the arcuate flange  36  and arcuate recess  34  on the cradle head. Also, with this configuration, the base portion  42  of the adapter  40  can be mated to the arcuate portion of the cradle head and maintained in an upright position, as illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
     With the adapters  40  in place, seated on the cradle heads, and with containers  58  (FIG. 3) disposed between the adapters  40 , the arm  14  causes the cradle heads  22  and, in turn, the adapters  40  and containers  8  carried therebetween, to oscillate. From a review of FIG. 3, it will be appreciated that the containers may have projecting end portions  59  which project through the openings  50  of the recesses  46 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a spacer  60  may also be provided for extension between the adapters  40 . The spacer  60  comprises a cylindrical sleeve having a solid mid-portion and cylindrical recesses  62  at opposite ends. Additionally, diametrically opposed slots  64  are formed in each of the opposite ends of the spacer  60 . The slots  64  may receive small containers, e.g., vials, for shaking. When spacer  60  is installed between the adapters  40  with the spacer ends received in the recesses  46  of adapters  40 , the slots  64  are partially closed to confine the vials within the ends of the spacer. Thus, small vials, together with larger size containers, may be shaken simultaneously using the adapters  40  and spacer  60  mounted on the cradle heads. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated adapters  70  of another set of adapters. Each adapter  70  has a single recess  72  and opening  74  similar to the recesses  36  and openings  50  of adapters  40 . Additionally, each of the adapters  70  of the pair thereof includes a base  76  having an arcuate groove  78  and an arcuate flange  80  complementary to the groove  34  and flange  36  of the cradle heads  22  whereby the adapters  70  are mounted to the cradle heads similarly as adapters  40 . It will be appreciated that the sets of adapters  40  and  70  are two of a large number of differently sized and configured sets of adapters which may be provided for shaking one or more different sized and configured containers. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the shaker  10  is illustrated with a tray  90  mounted on the cradle heads  22 . The tray  90  has an upper surface  91  to which is secured a plurality of spring clips  92  having flanges  93  formed at their tips for grasping the lower ends of containers or vials disposed on the tray  90 . It will be appreciated that multiple spring clips  92  are arranged on the tray  90  to secure a plurality of containers or vials to the tray, e.g., twelve container positions being illustrated, whereby the oscillatory movement of the cradle heads  22  shakes the containers mounted on the tray  90 . 
     Referring to FIG. 7, the tray  90  includes a mounting adapter  96  for releasably securing the tray to the cradle heads  22 . The adapter  96  comprises an arcuate elongated sleeve having arcuate edges or flanges  98  at opposite ends. A pair of side flanges  100  secure, for example, by welding, the adapter  96  to the tray  90 . By first spreading the cradle heads  22  away from one another, e.g., by rotating knob  26 , the ends  98  of the sleeve  96  can be disposed on the arcuate surfaces  32 . By rotating the knob  26  in an opposite direction, the cradle heads  22  are driven toward one another, capturing the ends or flanges  98  of sleeve  96  within the grooves  34  of the cradle heads whereby the tray is releasably secured to the cradle heads. With the tray releasably secured thereto, the arm  14  is oscillated, shaking the one or more containers or vials mounted on the tray  90 . 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.