Abstract: Disclosed is a method and laboratory instrument aimed at reducing the loss of time of liquid level determination each time a liquid container is loaded into an instrument and at the same time reducing waste of liquid containers due to unforeseen changes in the liquid levels by combining a fast liquid level check at an expected liquid level with a liquid level search if no liquid level is found at the expected level, while also ensuring proper liquid aspiration as the liquid level is always verified (expected level is not blindly relied upon).

Abstract: Various embodiments include a combustion apparatus comprising: a burner; a supply channel in fluid communication with the burner; an actuator affecting a supply of a fluid through the supply channel; and a control facility communicatively coupled to the actuator. The control facility is configured to: generate a first change signal from a first end value and to send the first change signal to the actuator; and generate a second change signal from a second end value and to send the second change signal to the actuator. The actuator comprises a processing unit configured to: receive the first and the second change signal; determine a first change speed with the aid of the processing unit, based on the first and the second change signal; and begin a first change of a speed or of a position of the actuator using the first change speed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for control of a combustion apparatus. An example includes loading a first characteristic curve from a memory; determining a current value of a performance variable; determining a first input value of the variable for an open-loop control mode; assigning the first input value to a first speed and/or to a first position using the first characteristic curve; determining a first open-loop control signal as a function of the first speed and/or the first position; and sending the first open-loop control signal to the first actuator, wherein the first open-loop control signal causes the first actuator to change a combustion variable including the air supply and/or the fuel supply.

Abstract: An example includes a combustion device comprising: a burner; a feed duct; an actuator adjusting a feed of fluid through the feed duct; and a control apparatus programmed to adjust the actuator. The actuator, upon receipt a request signal, checks for a stored rate of change in an associated memory and, if the stored rate of change is present, sends a response signal to the control apparatus. The control apparatus determines a rate of change from the response signal, and generates a first automation signal as a function of the stored rate of change. The first automation signal causes the actuator to change a mechanical variable of the actuator so the mechanical variable changes no faster than the stored rate of change.

Abstract: A filter system for filtering a fluid has a filter housing with filter housing head module and housing cover. The filter housing accommodates a filter element with raw side and clean side. A fluid inlet is in fluid connection with the raw side of the filter element. A fluid outlet is in fluid connection with the clean side of the filter element. The filter housing head module has a tube section as a main channel connecting the clean side of the filter element to the fluid outlet when the housing cover is attached to the filter housing head module. The tube section projects into the clean side of the filter element and has a ball valve seat of a ball valve for closing or opening the main channel. The filter housing head module has a pump chamber of a pump as a bypass channel bypassing the ball valve seat.

Abstract: A method for controlling a laboratory system or device comprising at least one pipettor with a pressure sensor, at least one humidity sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and a control unit. The control unit receiving a humidity value from the humidity sensor and a temperature value from the temperature sensor, comparing the pair of humidity and temperature values with a threshold database connected to the control unit, the threshold database comprising, for different pairs of humidity and temperature values, instructions to activate or deactivate an anti droplet control system of the pipettor, determining if the anti droplet system of the pipettor has to be activated or deactivated, activating or deactivating said anti droplet system of the pipettor.

Abstract: A method for controlling an anti droplet system of a laboratory system or device comprising at least one air displacement pipettor with a pressure sensor and a control unit for controlling operation of the pipettor, the method comprising the following steps controlling the pipettor to be moved such that the pipettor tip is immerged in a fluid to be aspirated, aspirate a predetermined volume of fluid, move the pipettor such that the pipettor tip is emerged from the fluid, continuously monitoring the pressure above the fluid column in the pipettor tip and generating pressure curve over time, and determining if a pressure increase above the fluid column has been detected.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for thermocycling of a reaction mixture is provided. The device comprises an inlet opening, an outlet opening, a flow channel connecting the inlet opening and the outlet opening and defining a flow direction from the inlet opening through the flow channel to the outlet opening, wherein the flow channel comprises a first flow channel surface and a second flow channel surface opposite to the first flow channel surface, and an array of wells provided in the first flow channel surface for fluidic communication with the inlet opening and the outlet opening. Further, the first flow channel surface provides a first hydrophilicity and at least a part of the second flow channel surface provides a second hydrophilicity, wherein the first hydrophilicity is greater than the second hydrophilicity.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for thermocycling of a reaction mixture is provided. The device comprises an inlet opening, an outlet opening, a flow channel connecting the inlet opening and the outlet opening and defining a flow direction from the inlet opening through the flow channel to the outlet opening, wherein the flow channel comprises a first flow channel surface and a second flow channel surface opposite to the first flow channel surface, and an array of wells provided in the first flow channel surface for fluidic communication with the inlet opening and the outlet opening. Further, the first flow channel surface provides a first hydrophilicity and at least a part of the second flow channel surface provides a second hydrophilicity, wherein the first hydrophilicity is greater than the second hydrophilicity.

Abstract: A multi-row dough-portioning apparatus has a chamber housing having a number of portioning chambers for predetermining a portioned quantity of dough. Measuring pistons can each be displaced in the portioning chambers along a displacement direction between a retracted, measuring position and a pushed-out, ejecting position. A rotation-prevention bar is installed in a releasable manner on a rear wall of the chamber housing and interacts with a circumferential recess in the measuring pistons in order to prevent rotation of the same. The chamber housing has a projecting section, which projects beyond the rear housing wall. The rotation-prevention bar is installed on the chamber housing such that, upon release, it can be removed from the chamber housing in a removal direction perpendicular to the displacement direction of the measuring pistons. This results in a dough-portioning apparatus which, even in the case of large-volume portioning chambers, is easy to maintain and clean.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for sending a data packet from a first communication unit of a communication system via a transmission channel that is shared with at least one further communication unit. The method comprises determining a current access priority for the shared transmission channel by the first communication unit, wherein the current access priority is directed towards data currently transmitted over the transmission channel. The data packet is segmented into packet segments, wherein the packet segments have a priority value which corresponds to a priority value of the data packet. The method also comprises sending the packet segments from the first communication unit via the shared transmission channel, wherein the packet segments are sent successively depending on the priority value and the current access priority.

Abstract: A method for introducing a sample rack holding a plurality of sample receptacles into a receiving bay in a housing of an automated analytical system is disclosed. The method is carried out by manually moving the sample rack from a loading position towards a processing position along a lane in the receiving bay, pausing the movement when the rack reaches a focusing position, moving a reader to focuse onto the lane, resuming the movement of the sample rack and detecting features of the sample rack during the movement, positioning, detecting, and locking the sample rack in the processing position, and processing the content of the sample receptacles.

Abstract: A method for configuring identical network components wherein network components are each connected to a physical port of a network switch via a network cable. An additional network station is also connected to the network switch. Configuration messages are transmitted from the additional network station to the network components wherein the configuration message of each network component communicates the physical port of the network switch to which the network component is connected. The network component performs a reconfiguration of its function in the network corresponding to the connection to the physical port.

Abstract: A method for detection of a bottom of a well of a multiwell plate for a pipetting device is disclosed. The pipetting device includes a pipetting head configured for being coupled to a plurality of pipetting tips. A force sensor configured for measuring a resistance force depending on a force on a pipetting tip exerted by the bottom is used. The method includes measuring the resistance force during movement of one of the pipetting tips from a start position downstream towards the bottom of the well and stopping the movement at a bottom position. The method further includes storing the bottom position together with a corresponding logical position of the well in the multiwell plate in a database. Further disclosed is a pipetting device, a laboratory instrument for processing and/or analyzing a sample and a computer program and a computer-readable storage medium for performing the method.

Abstract: A laboratory instrument for processing a sample and a method for automatic surveillance of at least one pipetting procedure of at least one laboratory instrument for processing a sample are disclosed. The laboratory instrument includes at least one pipetting device with at least one pipetting head configured for being coupled to a plurality of pipetting tips. The laboratory instrument further includes a compartment configured for receiving, storing, and/or releasing at least one sample holder. The pipetting device is configured for performing at least one pipetting procedure on the sample holder and the laboratory instrument includes at least one sensor unit configured for gravimetric measuring of the sample holder.

Abstract: A filter system for filtering a fluid has a filter housing with filter housing head module and housing cover. The filter housing accommodates a filter element with raw side and clean side. A fluid inlet is in fluid connection with the raw side of the filter element. A fluid outlet is in fluid connection with the clean side of the filter element. The filter housing head module has a tube section as a main channel connecting the clean side of the filter element to the fluid outlet when the housing cover is attached to the filter housing head module. The tube section projects into the clean side of the filter element and has a ball valve seat of a ball valve for closing or opening the main channel. The filter housing head module has a pump chamber of a pump as a bypass channel bypassing the ball valve seat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining a synchronization accuracy of a time synchronization of a first communication unit. A time request is sent via a communication channel at a corresponding instant of time of transmission from the first communication unit to a second communication unit. The method comprises receiving a time response at the first communication unit, the time response providing a synchronization time information for the second communication unit. The synchronization accuracy is determined based on the instant of time of transmission and the instant of time of reception.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and laboratory instrument aimed at reducing the loss of time of liquid level determination each time a liquid container is loaded into an instrument and at the same time reducing waste of liquid containers due to unforeseen changes in the liquid levels by combining a fast liquid level check at an expected liquid level with a liquid level search if no liquid level is found at the expected level, while also ensuring proper liquid aspiration as the liquid level is always verified (expected level is not blindly relied upon).

Abstract: A stamping device serves to create one or more rows of endless dough rings. The stamping device has a stamping head with a stamping punch or a plurality of stamping punches, wherein each stamping punch is associated with a dough ring row. A dough piece support of the stamping device has a dough piece holder or a plurality of dough piece holders. Each dough piece holder of the dough piece support is associated with one of the stamping punches. An opening for the associated stamping punch is configured in a dough piece holder or in each of the dough piece holders as a die. A stamping device results in which the stamping of dough rings in particular to produce doughnuts can also be used, for example, for baking by hand.

Abstract: A dough kneading device has a kneading drum for predefining the bottoms and side walls of kneading chambers, which serve to receive dough pieces to be kneaded. A kneading belt over a circumferential portion abuts the kneading drum for closing the kneading chambers. The kneading belt has a plurality of passage openings with a typical diameter which is smaller than 12 mm. This results in a dough kneading device with which even moist doughs can be kneaded without the use of anti-adhesive agents, if possible, without the dough adhering to the kneading belt and/or the kneading chambers in an unwanted manner.