Abstract: A transport system for transport of specimens in a medical or chemical analysis laboratory. The system includes a transport track predefining travel paths, and at least one self-propelled transport carriage configured to moving along the travel paths. The carriage has a specimen receptacle, four wheels driven by an electric motor, an electrical energy store for providing power to a motor drive, and a motor drive controller. The carriage wheels are arranged on two axes aligned parallel to one another, with only the wheels of a first axle being driven. Each wheel of the driven axle is connected to a dedicated electric motor drive and is driven at a rotational speed individually predefined by the controller. Longitudinal grooves are routed along the travel paths in the transport track and a guide projection protruding from the underside of the carriage engages in the longitudinal grooves.

Abstract: An apparatus for archiving specimens in specimen vessels. The apparatus includes an archive room accessible via a lock for automated feeding of vessels into and out of the room. A storage and restacking system is disposed in the room and includes two side-by-side stacks of trays in a receiving area. Each tray has a receptacle area defining a plurality of receptacles therein, each configured to receive a single vessel. A stacking means forms the stacks of trays. One tray is stacked on another in such a way as to maintain a clearance relative to the receptacle area of the lower tray. A lifting means is provided for vertically lifting trays stacked on a selected tray; and a transfer means is provided for horizontal transfer of a selected tray from one stack to the other, or from one stack to the lock, or from the lock to one of the stacks.

Abstract: An apparatus for archiving specimens in specimen vessels. The apparatus includes an archive room accessible via a lock for automated feeding of vessels into and out of the room. A storage and restacking system is disposed in the room and includes two side-by-side stacks of trays in a receiving area. Each tray has a receptacle area defining a plurality of receptacles therein, each configured to receive a single vessel. A stacking means forms the stacks of trays. One tray is stacked on another in such a way as to maintain a clearance relative to the receptacle area of the lower tray. A lifting means is provided for vertically lifting trays stacked on a selected tray; and a transfer means is provided for horizontal transfer of a selected tray from one stack to the other, or from one stack to the lock, or from the lock to one of the stacks.

Abstract: A conveyor system, particularly for material carriers for use in medical laboratories, includes two endless motor-driven round belts which are guided in the conveying area in a horizontal plane parallel to each other and in the same direction. The conveyor belts are guided on components which extend in conveying direction and have upwardly extending side walls. At the beginning and the end of a conveying path, the conveyor belts are guided around deflection rollers. The conveying path is composed of at least two segments each having two conveyor belts which are guided at segment transfer points over deflection rollers, wherein the deflection rollers of adjacent segments located opposite each other are connected by at least one transfer belt.

Abstract: A conveyor system, particularly for material carriers for use in medical laboratories, includes two endless motor-driven belts which are guided in the conveying area in a horizontal plane parallel to each other and in the same direction. The conveyor belts are guided on components which extend in conveying direction and have upwardly extending side walls. At the beginning and the end of a conveying distance, the conveyor belts are guided around deflection rollers. A second conveying path is arranged parallel to and extending along a predetermined portion of the first conveying path, wherein the second conveying path includes two endless conveyor belts which are driven in the same direction independently of the conveyor belts of the first conveying path and extend parallel to each other in a horizontal plane. A switch is provided for transferring the material carriers from one of the conveying paths to the other conveying path.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying substance-coated carriers onto a gel layer for microbiological tests makes it possible to position the carriers, in a single hand operation, in a precise spatial relationship with evaluation scales or rings on the gel dish. The substance-coated carriers are secured on projections of a support which, in one position, serves as a closure for the gel dish. When inverted, the support precisely fits into the gel dish by means of corresponding grooves and projections on the support and the gel dish so that the projections press the substance-coated carriers onto precise positions on the gel.