Methods and apparatus for mixing and shipping fluids

摘要

A method for mixing includes releasably coupling a first container station to a docking station, the first container station having a shipping vessel bounding a compartment, the docking station having a stand and a drive motor assembly adjustably mounted to the stand. The vertical or horizontal position of the drive motor assembly is adjusted relative to the stand so that the drive motor assembly is in a first position. A drive shaft is advanced through the drive motor assembly and into a chamber of a first collapsible bag disposed within the compartment of the shipping vessel. The drive motor assembly is activated so that the mixer rotates the drive shaft causing mixing of the fluid within the first collapsible bag.

主权项

1. A method for shipping a fluid, the method comprising:
removably securing a retention ring to a shipping vessel that bounds a chamber, the retention ring having a plurality of catches disposed thereon; inserting a collapsible bag within the chamber of the shipping vessel so that a plurality of alignment tabs secured to the collapsible bag are removably secured to corresponding catches of the retention ring; dispensing a fluid into a compartment of the collapsible bag, the shipping vessel being removably positioned on a movable first cart such that a lower end of the shipping vessel is supported on the first cart; coupling the first cart directly to a first docking station, the first docking station comprising a stand and a first drive motor assembly mounted thereon; mixing the fluid within the compartment of the collapsible bag by using the first drive motor assembly to rotate a drive shaft extending between the first drive motor assembly and the collapsible bag, the drive shaft passing into the chamber of the shipping vessel through an opening formed at an upper end of the shipping vessel, the upper end of the shipping vessel being disposed above the lower end of the shipping vessel; separating the first cart from the first docking station; removing the shipping vessel containing the collapsible bag and fluid from the first cart; shipping the shipping vessel removed from the first cart and containing the collapsible bag and fluid to a second location; positioning the shipping vessel on a movable second cart; coupling the second cart to a second docking station, the second docking station comprising a stand and a second drive motor assembly mounted thereon; and mixing the fluid within the compartment of the collapsible bag by using the second drive motor assembly to rotate a drive shaft extending between the second drive motor assembly and the collapsible bag.