Abstract: An oven for use be in heating stations of thermoforming apparatus, comprises a heating panel constituted by panel portions which can be mutually opened or separated by a controlled falling operation or by gravity. Thus, in an emergency condition, the panel can be immediately removed from the plastic material being deformed, even in a case of a malfunction of the driving mechanism controlling the operation of the oven.

Abstract: A rapid thermal heating apparatus in which lamps are disposed in a plurality of light pipes arranged to illuminate and supply heat to a substrate. The light pipes are positioned so that the illumination patterns overlap. The energy supplied to the lamps is controlled to provide a predetermined heating pattern to the substrate. A liquid cooled window cooperates with the light pipes to transmit energy to a wafer disposed in an evacuated chamber.

Abstract: An incubator is provided wherein the individual wells of a Micro Titer Plate are heated by means of a continuous temperature regulated flow of warm air (typically 37.degree. C.) blowing through a series of holes from a plate underneath onto the bottom of the wells. A typical Micro Titer Plate can have 96 wells and is used, for example, in medical laboratories. The volume of a well is typically 0.35 milliliter. Both the end temperature and the way the end temperature is reached is the same for all individual wells and is not dependent on either the location of the well on the Micro Titer Plate or its surrounding by other wells.