Abstract: An incubator is provided for exposing samples accommodated in sample containers to a specifically specifiable temperature, comprising a sample chamber, the temperature of which can be controlled and which has at least one closable access opening, and at least one insertion and removal mechanism, which bears a sample container carrier and by means of which the sample container carrier, which in turn bears a sample container, can be moved into the sample chamber and out of the sample chamber through an access opening of the incubator. The incubator according to the invention is furthermore characterized in that the at least one insertion and removal mechanism is installed completely outside of the sample chamber and bears the sample container carrier inserted into the sample chamber even while the access opening is closed.

Abstract: An incubator is provided for exposing samples accommodated in sample containers to a specifically specifiable temperature, comprising a sample chamber, the temperature of which can be controlled and which has at least one closable access opening, and at least one insertion and removal mechanism, which bears a sample container carrier and by means of which the sample container carrier, which in turn bears a sample container, can be moved into the sample chamber and out of the sample chamber through an access opening of the incubator. The incubator according to the invention is furthermore characterized in that the at least one insertion and removal mechanism is installed completely outside of the sample chamber and bears the sample container carrier inserted into the sample chamber even while the access opening is closed.

Abstract: A system comprised of a number of incubators each having a housing, a sample chamber placed inside the housing, a temperature control unit, and control electronics that control the temperature control unit. The sample chambers of the incubators can be heated and/or cooled. The housings of the incubators each have a closeable access opening for loading and unloading the sample chamber. The housings permit the incubators to be vertically stacked. The incubators each have a bus system that interacts with its control electronics. The bus systems of the incubators are interconnected via corresponding connecting elements, and the system comprises a central control unit that is connected to the bus system of one of the incubators of the system (master incubator). Over the bus system architecture, an individual controlling of the control electronics of all incubators of the system is made possible by a central control unit.