Patent ID: 7144309

Claim:
A rotational processor comprising: an outer vessel defining an inner surface and have a central axis; a plurality of inner vessels each defining an interior for receiving a processing container or a component to be processed, each of the inner vessels having its own central axis, each inner vessel adapted to roll along the inner surface of the outer vessel; a traction surface located between the outer surface of the inner vessel and the inner surface of the outer vessel the traction surface facilitating the rolling of the inner vessel along the inner surface of the outer vessel; a plurality of drive rollers each located between an adjacently located pair of the inner vessels; and a drive system supporting each of the drive rollers and adapted to drive the drive rollers such that the inner vessels are driven about a center line of the outer vessel in rolling contact with the inner surface of the outer vessel, the drive system supporting the drive rollers such that each of the drive rollers contacts each of the adjacently located pair of the inner vessels when the inner vessels are not being driven about the center line of the outer vessel, each drive roller adapted to drive at least one inner vessel about the central axis of the outer vessel while causing the inner vessel through its contact with the outer vessel to rotate about its own axis.