Patent ID: 8790002

Claim:
Apparatus for mixing, comprising a tumble-blender adapted to receive and tumble a container to mix the contents of the container, the apparatus including a mixer, drive means for driving the mixer, the drive means being adapted to dock with the mixer when the container is received by the tumble-blender to enable operation of the mixer by the drive means, wherein the apparatus comprises a top assembly comprising a base comprising upper and lower plates, the lower surface of the upper plate having a mounting plate movable thereto and mounted on bolts, the mounting plate mounting a dependent guide cylinder that extends downwardly through and out of a correspondingly sized circular aperture in the lower plate; the apparatus further comprising pneumatic bellows clamps provided between the mounting plate and the lower plate; wherein the mixer comprises a mixer shaft comprising a tapered guide boss adapted to be received by the guide cylinder provided on the mounting plate, and wherein the drive means comprises a drive motor; wherein the correct alignment of the drive means with the mixer is assisted by the tapered inner surface of the guide cylinder and the shoulders of the tapered guide boss, such that the drive means is movable laterally, relative to the tumble-blender, to facilitate docking of the drive means with the mixer; wherein the mounting plate is mounted so as to allow it to move laterally, relative to the base, the extent of lateral movement being limited by the size of the gap between the wall of the dependent guide cylinder and the wall of the aperture; and wherein the drive motor is mounted on the blender such that the mounting plate has a limited degree of lateral movement.