Abstract: The invention relates to an appliance for opening and closing a reagent-container stopper in a partially or fully automatic analysis apparatus, and to the method, which is applied by means of this appliance, for opening and closing a reagent-container stopper in a partially or fully automatic analysis appliance.

Abstract: An incubation apparatus for microtiter plates includes an heating chamber and a incubation chamber. The heating chamber has a controllable hot air generator over which are arranged air guide devices for equalizing and distributing a stream of hot air to the microtiter plates. Air return devices are provided for collecting and returning hot air to the hot air generator. The heating chamber can be closed by a gate, and incubation chamber is divided by shelves into a plurality of compartments for receiving the microtiter plates. It is possible to close each compartment with a gate, and the side walls of the compartments are provided with heating devices. Furthermore, the incubation apparatus is provided with a gripping and transporting device having a working platform that is vertically displaceable and having a horizontally displaceable gripping arm.