Abstract: The liquid storage device comprises a rotary heat-insulated jacket mounted on a stationary base to rotate about a vertical axis. The jacket is formed to carry a plurality of inverted liquid containing vials, situated at least partially within the jacket, the vials being in communication with respective take-off cups which are arranged near the base of the jacket and around the periphery thereof and from which liquid specimens can be drawn off. A constant level device ensures that the level of liquid in the cups is kept at a substantially constant level. The jacket is provided with a stepping drive so that it can be stepped about its rotary axis to bring any selected cup into a liquid take-off position.The interior of the jacket is cooled with circulating, cold air and the temperature of the vials is kept at a predetermined value, below ambient, by an air heater.The storage device is intended for storing reagents to be used in an automatic blood analyzing machine.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a turntable carrying, in a circular array centered on a central rotational axis of the turntable, a plurality of vials extending below the underside of the turntable. A stepper motor imparts stepwise rotational motion to the turntable so that during dwell periods of the turntable, specimens in the vials can be investigated optically.Air in a space below the turntable and bounded laterally and at the bottom by an enclosure is circulated by a rotating vane, and a thermistor, responsive to the temperature in the region of the vials, controls a heater in the space below the turntable so as to maintain the temperature of the vials substantially at a predetermined value.