Abstract: A combing machine includes a machine frame, drive unit, gearing mechanism, operating device, and nipper unit pivotably mounted in the machine frame and having a lower nipper plate with a nipper lip and an upper nipper plate. The combing machine also includes a pair of detaching rollers forming a clamping line, wherein a drive arm of the nipper unit is connected to an intermittently-driven nipper shaft in a rotationally-fixed manner. The nipper shaft is driven by means of a coupling element, which is connected to a driven gearing element. An adjusting device connected to the nipper shaft is provided for adjusting a distance between the nipper lip and the clamping line. The gearing mechanism also includes a fixation in a basic position with a mechanical blocking, and a sensor for measuring the distance or a variable proportional to the distance, and a display of the distance on the operating device.

Abstract: A heating device for heating a thermally fixable sealing cover disposed over the microplate adjacent the wells, a cooling device for actively cooling the microplate and a controller set up to control activity of the heating and cooling devices in a manner to heat the sealing cover so as to thermally fix it to the microplate and to actively cool the microplate so as to keep a temperature of the samples below a predefined temperature when heating the sealing cover. It further relates to a method for automatically sealing a microplate in which the thermally fusible sealing cover is disposed over the microplate, the sealing cover is heated to thermally fix it to the microplate and the microplate is actively cooled in a manner that a temperature of the liquid reaction mixtures is kept below a predefined temperature when heating the sealing cover.

Abstract: A heating device for heating a thermally fixable sealing cover disposed over the microplate adjacent the wells, a cooling device for actively cooling the microplate and a controller set up to control activity of the heating and cooling devices in a manner to heat the sealing cover so as to thermally fix it to the microplate and to actively cool the microplate so as to keep a temperature of the samples below a predefined temperature when heating the sealing cover. It further relates to a method for automatically sealing a microplate in which the thermally fusible sealing cover is disposed over the microplate, the sealing cover is heated to thermally fix it to the microplate and the microplate is actively cooled in a manner that a temperature of the liquid reaction mixtures is kept below a predefined temperature when heating the sealing cover.

Abstract: A heating device for heating a thermally fixable sealing cover disposed over the microplate adjacent the wells, a cooling device for actively cooling the microplate and a controller set up to control activity of the heating and cooling devices in a manner to heat the sealing cover so as to thermally fix it to the microplate and to actively cool the microplate so as to keep a temperature of the samples below a predefined temperature when heating the sealing cover. It further relates to a method for automatically sealing a microplate in which the thermally fusible sealing cover is disposed over the microplate, the sealing cover is heated to thermally fix it to the microplate and the microplate is actively cooled in a manner that a temperature of the liquid reaction mixtures is kept below a predefined temperature when heating the sealing cover.

Abstract: The invention relates to a combing machine (1) having at least one combing unit (X1-X16) for combing out fiber material (Z) supplied to the combing unit in a direction of conveyance (F), wherein the combing unit has a gripper unit (10) with a lower gripper plate (2) and an upper gripper plate (3) mounted so that it is movable relative to the lower gripper plate, and the lower gripper plate (2) has on its top side a feed trough (19) with an upstream feed area (ZF), wherein a rotatably mounted feed cylinder (9) protrudes into the feed trough, the fiber material (Z), which is connected to the feed trough, being supplied to a gripper lip (5) mounted on the front end of the lower gripper plate (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a combing machine having a plurality of combing heads (10), wherein each combing head (10) has a nipper assembly (18) with a pivotably mounted upper nipper plate (22) and a rotationally fixed lower nipper plate (20) and each has a combing cylinder (16) which is mounted in a rotationally fixed mount on a common shaft (12). A movement of the upper nipper plate (22) is controlled by a rotational angle position of the combing cylinder (16) by means of a control unit (29). Each combing cylinder (16) is provided on its circumference with a combing segment (38) and detaching segment (46), wherein a rotatably mounted detaching roller (48) can be advanced to the detaching segment (46). According to the invention, at least one combing cylinder (16a) is arranged on the common shaft (12) with an offset (14) relative to the other combing cylinders (16b, 16c) to reduce the mechanical load on the common shaft (12).

Abstract: A heating device for heating a thermally fixable sealing cover disposed over the microplate adjacent the wells, a cooling device for actively cooling the microplate and a controller set up to control activity of the heating and cooling devices in a manner to heat the sealing cover so as to thermally fix it to the microplate and to actively cool the microplate so as to keep a temperature of the samples below a predefined temperature when heating the sealing cover. It further relates to a method for automatically sealing a microplate in which the thermally fusible sealing cover is disposed over the microplate, the sealing cover is heated to thermally fix it to the microplate and the microplate is actively cooled in a manner that a temperature of the liquid reaction mixtures is kept below a predefined temperature when heating the sealing cover.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for monitoring a thermoelectric heating and cooling device (103, 203, 303) of a system (100, 200, 300) for cycling liquid reaction mixtures through a series of temperature excursions, and such systems adapted to perform these methods. A first quantity being either an electric current or an electric voltage is applied to the heating and cooling device (103, 203) or a portion (314) thereof (303), and a second quantity being either the non-selected first quantity or temperature is measured to obtain a first test value. The selected first quantity is applied to another thermoelectric heating and cooling device (104, 204) or another portion (315) of the first device (303), and the second quantity is measured to obtain a second test value. Comparison of the first and second test values yields a monitoring value which is compared with a pre-defined threshold value to obtain a monitoring result.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermocycler module for heating and/or cooling of a thermocycling device comprising a thermal switch, a heating block and a heat sink. The thermal switch comprises a thermoconducting liquid, e.g. a magnetic fluid or a liquid metal, and a stimulating unit, e.g. a magnetic unit or a Lorentz-force unit, for moving the thermoconducting liquid. The movement of the thermoconducting liquid provides, in an on-state of the thermal switch, a thermal connection between the heating block and the heat sink.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to methods for monitoring a thermoelectric heating and cooling device (103, 203, 303) of a system (100, 200, 300) for cycling liquid reaction mixtures through a series of temperature excursions, comprising applying a first quantity selected from an electric current and an electric voltage to, in a first case, said heating and cooling device (103, 203) or, in a second case, to a portion (314) of said heating and cooling device (303), and measuring a second quantity selected from the non-selected first quantity and temperature to obtain a first test value; applying the selected first quantity to, in the first case, another thermoelectric heating and cooling device (104, 204) or, in the second case, another portion (315) of the heating and cooling device (303) and measuring the second quantity to obtain a second test value; determining a monitoring value based on a comparison of said first and second test values; and comparing said monitoring value with a pre-defined threshold valu

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermocycler module for heating and/or cooling of a thermocycling device comprising a thermal switch, a heating block and a heat sink. The thermal switch comprises a thermoconducting liquid, e.g. a magnetic fluid or a liquid metal, and a stimulating unit, e.g. a magnetic unit or a Lorentz-force unit, for moving the thermoconducting liquid. The movement of the thermoconducting liquid provides, in an on-state of the thermal switch, a thermal connection between the heating block and the heat sink.