Patent ID: 7654730

Claim:
A mixing apparatus comprising: (a) a rotation assembly including a gear-driven rotatable platform for supporting a container, and a gear network including a gear support angled from horizontal, a bevel gear rotatably mounted to an upper surface of the support, a pivot coupled in rotation with and mounted concentrically with the bevel gear and eccentric to a vertical axis of the platform, and a beveled platform gear concentric and in axial alignment with the vertical axis of the platform and mated with the bevel gear; (b) a motor for driving the rotation of the bevel gear; and (c) a container holding assembly having a vertical extent, carried by the platform and moveable between a closed position wherein the holding assembly is positioned proximate the container to retain the container on the platform during movement of the platform, and an open position wherein the holding assembly is positioned away from the container whereby the container can be removed from the platform without lifting the container over the vertical extent of the holding assembly; wherein the platform is mounted for movement at an angle from vertical to rotate the container about a non-vertical rotational axis while simultaneously rotating the container about a vertical axis in an orbital motion to achieve a non-tumbling, vortex mixing; wherein rotation of the bevel gear drives the platform gear and the pivot causing the platform to which the pivot is mounted to rotate simultaneously about two axes, one vertical, and one at an angle to vertical.