Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a starting amount of a first substance which is required for providing a predeterminable number of samples in a liquid handling process. Also disclosed is a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer program product. The liquid handling process is described through at least one work step, taking into account at least one secondary condition. An estimated value for the starting amount of the first substance is determined. A simulation of the at least one work step is then performed. A new estimated value for the starting amount is determined and the simulation is repeated if the prior simulation could not be completed or an actual value ascertained in the simulation deviates from the estimated value by more than a predeterminable tolerance. Otherwise, the actual value ascertained on the basis of the simulation is the starting amount of the first substance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving the measuring performance of automation field devices, wherein each of the field devices determines a process variable using a measuring algorithm and is exposed to measurable environmental influences. The method includes capturing the calibration data of the field devices and capturing an item of environmental information of the field devices at defined time intervals; storing the environmental information, the calibration data, and a time stamp in a database; selecting a group of field devices which determine a process variable using the same measuring algorithm and which are exposed to the same environmental influences; correlating the environmental information and calibration data captured over time; creating a mathematical model relating the calibration data and the environmental information; adapting the measuring algorithm on the basis of the model; and transmitting the adapted measuring algorithm to all field devices in the group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for spatially resolved determination of at least one physical or chemical process variable of a flowable medium arranged in a container in an automation system, at least one sensor being provided, which is movable in the medium and/or in the container and which ascertains information about the at least one process variable, a position determination unit being provided which supplies the information about the respective current position of the sensor relative to the medium and/or to the container, and a data transmission unit being provided which collects information about the respective current position of the sensor and the corresponding information supplied by the sensor about the at least one process variable and/or communicates the information to an external control unit and/or display unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving the measuring performance of automation field devices, wherein each of the field devices determines a process variable using a measuring algorithm and is exposed to measurable environmental influences. The method includes capturing the calibration data of the field devices and capturing an item of environmental information of the field devices at defined time intervals; storing the environmental information, the calibration data, and a time stamp in a database; selecting a group of field devices which determine a process variable using the same measuring algorithm and which are exposed to the same environmental influences; correlating the environmental information and calibration data captured over time; creating a mathematical model relating the calibration data and the environmental information; adapting the measuring algorithm on the basis of the model; and transmitting the adapted measuring algorithm to all field devices in the group.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a multi-channel pipettor, comprising: creating an access plan having a plurality of transfer blocks, each comprising a source access and a destination access, wherein the creating includes: reading of position lists which contain the positions of all source and destination containers and assigning source containers to destination containers; performing a transfer analysis in which the source or destination accesses and the movements of the pipetting head and/or the container holders are determined by forming the difference between the current channel position and the source position or the destination position on the two-dimensional plane; and performing a transfer optimization, whereby the source or destination accesses and the movements of the pipetting head respectively required for the source or destination accesses are sorted into the transfer blocks; and operating the multi-channel pipettor on the basis of the created access plan.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a starting amount of a first substance which is required for providing a predeterminable number of samples in a liquid handling process. Also disclosed is a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer program product. The liquid handling process is described through at least one work step, taking into account at least one secondary condition. An estimated value for the starting amount of the first substance is determined. A simulation of the at least one work step is then performed. A new estimated value for the starting amount is determined and the simulation is repeated if the prior simulation could not be completed or an actual value ascertained in the simulation deviates from the estimated value by more than a predeterminable tolerance. Otherwise, the actual value ascertained on the basis of the simulation is the starting amount of the first substance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for spatially resolved determination of at least one physical or chemical process variable of a flowable medium arranged in a container in an automation system, at least one sensor being provided, which is movable in the medium and/or in the container and which ascertains information about the at least one process variable, a position determination unit being provided which supplies the information about the respective current position of the sensor relative to the medium and/or to the container, and a data transmission unit being provided which collects information about the respective current position of the sensor and the corresponding information supplied by the sensor about the at least one process variable and/or communicates the information to an external control unit and/or display unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a multi-channel pipettor, comprising: creating an access plan having a plurality of transfer blocks, each comprising a source access and a destination access, wherein the creating includes: reading of position lists which contain the positions of all source and destination containers and assigning source containers to destination containers; performing a transfer analysis in which the source or destination accesses and the movements of the pipetting head and/or the container holders are determined by forming the difference between the current channel position and the source position or the destination position on the two-dimensional plane; and performing a transfer optimization, whereby the source or destination accesses and the movements of the pipetting head respectively required for the source or destination accesses are sorted into the transfer blocks; and operating the multi-channel pipettor on the basis of the created access plan.

Abstract: A Cartesian transport device for the transportation of a container plate or a stack of container plates, with a horizontal linear axis, on which a vertical linear axis is arranged such that the plate is movable in the x direction. A transfer unit is arranged on the vertical linear axis such that it is moveable in the z direction. The transfer unit has a support structure and two telescopic arms connected to it and arranged in parallel. A container plate may be grasped and held between the telescopic arms. A horizontal shelf is solidly arranged under the transfer unit on the vertical linear axis between the telescopic arms, such that the container plate may be set down between the telescopic arms.

Abstract: A pipetting apparatus includes a pipetting head with a plurality of pipetting channels disposed in an arrangement pattern. Each pipetting channel includes a plunger and a cylinder. The plurality of pipetting channels includes at least two groups of pipetting channels with different diameters including a group of larger pipetting channels and a group of smaller pipetting channels. Each of the at least two groups of pipetting channels is disposed in an arrangement pattern in the pipetting head. Larger pipette tips communicate with the group of larger pipetting channels or smaller pipette tips communicate with the group of smaller pipetting channels.

Abstract: A device for loading, storing and providing objects having standardized dimensions includes a storage unit with a carrier plate and four stackers. Each stacker includes a bottom surface disposed on top of the carrier plate. The stackers are configured to store objects stacked perpendicular to the carrier plate. The stackers are disposed symmetrically centered around a rotation axis that is perpendicular to the carrier plate and offset with respect to each other by an angle of 90°. A substructure is disposed underneath the carrier plate. An unloading device is configured to unload a selected object from a first of the stackers that is disposed in a transfer position. The storage unit is rotatable around the rotation axis so as to enable movement of each of the stackers into the transfer position.

Abstract: A device for loading, storing and providing objects having standardized dimensions includes a storage unit with a carrier plate and four stackers. Each stacker includes a bottom surface disposed on top of the carrier plate. The stackers are configured to store objects stacked perpendicular to the carrier plate. The stackers are disposed symmetrically centered around a rotation axis that is perpendicular to the carrier plate and offset with respect to each other by an angle of 90°. A substructure is disposed underneath the carrier plate. An unloading device is configured to unload a selected object from a first of the stackers that is disposed in a transfer position. The storage unit is rotatable around the rotation axis so as to enable movement of each of the stackers into the transfer position.

Abstract: An arrangement for transporting microtitration plates in an automatic handling machine is disclosed comprising at least one linear-transport device on which a carriage, which has at least one place of deposit for a microtitration plate, is transported in a straight line, under automatic control, between two limit positions. A lifting device is included with vertically displaceable bolts by which the microtitration plates can be lifted off or deposited on the carriage. At least one rotary device is also included in which a rotary element which has at least one resting place for a microtitration plate can be moved, under automatic control, about a fixed rotation shaft.