Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
Apparatus such as described, comprising: a support for a volume of liquid containing a suspension a multiplicity of magnetic particles, means effecting a rotary movement of said particles relatively to said liquid about an axis, which movement tends to be characterized by redistribution and collection of said particles in one or more localized areas in said liquid, and which rotary movement generates a centrifugal force affecting said particles, and means externally of said liquid generating a magnetic field gradient coacting with said particles to overcome such redistributing effect thereon and balance said force, for substantial uniformity of distribution of said particles in said liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus such as described, comprising: a support for a volume of liquid containing a suspension a multiplicity of magnetic particles, means effecting a rotary movement of said particles relatively to said liquid about an axis, which movement tends to be characterized by redistribution and collection of said particles in one or more localized areas in said liquid, and which rotary movement generates a centrifugal force affecting said particles, and means externally of said liquid generating a magnetic field gradient coacting with said particles to overcome such redistributing effect thereon and balance said force, for substantial uniformity of distribution of said particles in said liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said means effecting a rotary movement of said particles relatively to said liquid comprises a rotating magnetic field gradient generated by a magnet having a rotary axis on which it is driven extending centrally between poles of said magnet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
167 words
Mixing apparatus comprising: a first magnet having its axis between poles of the magnet disposed in a first plane, means for rotating said magnet on a second axis normal to said plane to generate a rotating first magnetic field, the second axis being located centrally between said magnet poles, support means for fixedly supporting substantially on said second axis a volume of plural combined liquids to be intermixed by a suspension of magnetic particles in said liquid volume, and a second magnet having poles, generating a second magnetic field and having its axis substantially on said second axis, one of said poles of said second magnet being spaced nearer said liquid volume than the other of said last-mentioned poles, said support means supporting said liquid volume in both said first and second magnetic fields so that dislocating movement of said magnetic particles by centrifugal force as the latter move through said liquid volume during mixing of the constituents latter is effectively opposed by said second magnetic field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
167 words
Mixing apparatus comprising: a first magnet having its axis between poles of the magnet disposed in a first plane, means for rotating said magnet on a second axis normal to said plane to generate a rotating first magnetic field, the second axis being located centrally between said magnet poles, support means for fixedly supporting substantially on said second axis a volume of plural combined liquids to be intermixed by a suspension of magnetic particles in said liquid volume, and a second magnet having poles, generating a second magnetic field and having its axis substantially on said second axis, one of said poles of said second magnet being spaced nearer said liquid volume than the other of said last-mentioned poles, said support means supporting said liquid volume in both said first and second magnetic fields so that dislocating movement of said magnetic particles by centrifugal force as the latter move through said liquid volume during mixing of the constituents latter is effectively opposed by said second magnetic field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein: said second magnet is a permanent magnet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein: said first and second magnets are permanent magnets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 3 further comprising means to adjustably shift said second magnet and said support means relatively apart or toward one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising a photosensitive device cooperating with said liquid volume to indicate an optical change in said liquid volume during mixing of its constituents.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein: said first magnetic field is horizontally arranged and said second magnetic field is vertically arranged.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein: said support means comprises a tape for intermittent travel in a direction transverse to said second magnetic field which tape supports said liquid volume in the shape of a droplet on a surface of the tape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein: said first magnetic field is horizontally disposed and said second magnetic field is vertically disposed, said second magnet being disposed in spaced relation above said first magnet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein: said support means comprises a tape for intermittent travel in a horizontal direction, which tape supports said liquid volume in the shape of a droplet on an upper surface of the tape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus such as described, comprising: a support for a volume of liquid containing in suspension a multiplicity of magnetic particles, means effecting movement of said particles relatively to said liquid volume, which movement tends to be characterized by redistribution and collection of said particles in one or more localized areas in said liquid volume resulting in a non-uniform particle distribution throughout the liquid volume, and means externally of said liquid generating a magnetic field gradient coacting with said particles to overcome such non-uniform distributing effect thereon, to achieve substantial uniformity of distribution of said particles throughout said liquid volume.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus such as described, comprising: a support for a volume of liquid containing in suspension a multiplicity of magnetic particles, means effecting movement of said particles relatively to said liquid volume, which movement tends to be characterized by redistribution and collection of said particles in one or more localized areas in said liquid volume resulting in a non-uniform particle distribution throughout the liquid volume, and means externally of said liquid generating a magnetic field gradient coacting with said particles to overcome such non-uniform distributing effect thereon, to achieve substantial uniformity of distribution of said particles throughout said liquid volume.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of mixing a volume of plural combined liquids to be intermixed by activation of magnetic particles in suspension in the liquid volume comprising: the step of generating a rotating first magnetic field, generating a second magnetic field substantially at right angles and centrally of said first magnetic field so as to have a portion thereof extending into and overlapping said first magnetic field, and supporting said liquid volume in said overlapping portion of said second magnetic field, so that said magnetic particles are attracted by both magnetic fields.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of mixing a volume of plural combined liquids to be intermixed by activation of magnetic particles in suspension in the liquid volume comprising: the step of generating a rotating first magnetic field, generating a second magnetic field substantially at right angles and centrally of said first magnetic field so as to have a portion thereof extending into and overlapping said first magnetic field, and supporting said liquid volume in said overlapping portion of said second magnetic field, so that said magnetic particles are attracted by both magnetic fields.