Abstract: It is described an apparatus for transferring a specimen container (2) from a departure support to a container carrier (20). The apparatus comprises 5 a gripper supporting frame (6) and a container gripper (3) selectively movable with respect to said frame (6) between an upper position (101) and a lower position (103) in which gripper fingers (8) of the container gripper (3) are able to catch a container (2) in a departure support or to leave the container in a container carrier (20). The apparatus further comprises gripper 10 blocking means (9) movable between a work position, in which said blocking means (9) stop the movement of the container gripper (3) towards the lower position (103) in an intermediate position (102) between said upper and lower positions (101, 103), and a rest position in which said gripper blocking means (9) allow the container gripper (3) to reach the lower 15 position (103) sliding along the lateral surface of the container (2).

Abstract: It is described an apparatus for removing caps (1) from tubular containers (2), comprising a fixed frame (11) provided with grasping means (8) for holding a container (2) in a fixed vertical position and a head assembly (4) which is movable above containers of variable height along the vertical axis thereof. The head assembly (4) has a cap receiving cavity (15) with an upper abutment surface (65) for matching the upper surface of the cap of containers of variable size and is provided with a plurality of movable sharpened means (17) for catching the cap of the container when received in said cavity (15). There are provided first driving means (18) for moving said sharpened means (17) towards the cap of the container to catch it and second driving means (13, 14) for moving the sharpened means (17) in at least one further direction to remove the cap (1) from the container (2).

Abstract: It is described a conveyor of specimen containers (9) supported by carriers (8) in laboratory automation systems comprising at least one analyzer (10, 50, 60). Said conveyor comprising a main transport unit (2), at least one spur transport unit (4-5, 7) allowing the positioning of the specimen container (9) inside said at least one analyzer (10, 50, 60) without removing said specimen container (9) from its carrier (8).

Abstract: It is described a container carrier turning device for a specimen container (2) provided with an ID barcode (5) and inserted into a carrier (3) made advancing by a conveyor belt (4). The turning device comprises carrier stopping means (10) for rotatably engaging a lateral surface (21) of said carrier (3) to stop the advancing movement of the carrier while leaving it free to rotate around the container axis and carrier pressing means (14) for rotatably engaging an upper surface (20) of said carrier (3). Elastic means (12) force said carrier pressing means to a carrier engaging position. There are provided first pneumatic means (11) for moving said carrier stopping means (10) to a carrier stopping position and second pneumatic means (15) for moving said carrier pressing means (14) to a carrier disengaging position against the action of said elastic means (12). An idle bearing (16), opposite to the carrier stopping means (10), facilitates the carrier rotation.

Abstract: It is described an apparatus for removing a flexible film seal (12) from a tubular specimen container (3), comprising a vertical mounting shaft (5) upon which is mounted a holding member (6) for a head assembly (9) having a cavity (13) and pinch means (14, 15). There is provided driving means for causing coupling motion of said head assembly (9) and said specimen container (3) towards each other to receive the seal (12) into said cavity (13), then operating said pinch means for pinching the flexible film seal (12), and finally causing removing motions of said head assembly (9) and said specimen container (3) away from each other to remove the flexible film seal (12) from the head of the specimen container (3).

Abstract: It is described a specimen container carrier for conveyor in laboratory automation systems, comprising a circular body driven by said conveyor and container holding means (12) arranged in said circular body (3, 5). Said container holding means (12) are kept in a container holding position by respective elastic means (14) and are connected to each other by synchronization means (9) forcing the specimen container (2) to remain coaxially positioned with respect to the circular body (3, 5).

Abstract: It is described a gripping device for vials or similar containers, comprising a tubular body attached to one end of a movable supporting vertical shaft and gripping means associated to said tubular body. Said gripping means comprise non-mechanical gripping members, able to be connected with one end of a vial or container by face-to-face soft contact.

Abstract: It is described a gripping device for vials or similar containers, comprising a tubular body attached to one end of a movable supporting vertical shaft and gripping means associated to said tubular body. Said gripping means comprise non-mechanical gripping members, able to be connected with one end of a vial or container by face-to-face soft contact.

Abstract: A method for the management of a Workcell System capable to control concurrent processes that use pieces of equipment, here called Resources, interacting with each other according to the needs and the changes that have not been forecast in advance in their process cycles, by means of a continuous real-time re-scheduling of automatic tasks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the management of Workcell System capable to control concurrent processes that use pieces of equipment, here called Resources, interacting each other according to the needs and the changes that have not been forecast in advance in their process cycles, by means of a continuous real-time re-scheduling of automatic tasks. Further relates to an Automation Management System.

Abstract: The process provides for the employment of a metallic support (1) provided with channels (5) to accommodate sliding tracks (2) for pneumostatically supported slippers of a mobile car. The tracks are made by application of a respective layer of resin (2, 12) on the bottom of a respective channel (5) and subsequent mechanical machining of the same until the desired characteristics of planarity and parallelism are obtained. The layer of resin can be obtained by pouring resin (2) inside a channel (5) with a preventively roughed background or by gluing a previously formed layer of resin (12).

Abstract: A support device of information for the identification of hospital in- or out-patients is provided in the form of a strip of flexible material that can be wound on the end of limbs or round the neck of the patient like a bracelet or collar. The device includes an element for clamping the two free ends of the strip together formed from a first part and a second part cooperating one with the other and with the free ends of the strip to ensure a permanent adjustable clamping of the bracelet or of the collar. The first part of the element has a flat surface suitable for receiving and storing for a subsequent reading information suitable for the identification of the patient.