Abstract: The invention relates to a laboratory sample container carrier handling apparatus comprising a revolving device and a guiding surface, wherein an entry segment of the guiding surface is adapted to smoothly receive a laboratory sample container carrier. The invention further relates to a laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory sample container carrier handling apparatus and to a use of such a laboratory sample container carrier handling apparatus for handling a laboratory sample container carrier in, in particular such, a laboratory automation system.

Abstract: A sample preparation dosing unit for liquid dosing is provided comprising an inlet port and an outlet port fluidically coupling the sample preparation dosing unit to a supply and target, respectively; a pump, fluidically arranged between the inlet port and the outlet port; an outlet flow restrictor with an outlet flow resistance, fluidically arranged between a pump outlet and outlet port; and a control arrangement with a branch, a control valve, and a control flow restrictor with a control flow resistance. The branch divides the flow at the pump outlet into an outlet flow through the outlet flow restrictor and into a control flow through the control flow restrictor. The control flow downstream of the control flow restrictor is fed, depending on the state of the control valve, either into the outlet port thereby merging with the outlet flow downstream of the outlet flow restrictor, or into a bypass conduit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser spot welding process for executing a spot weld in two successive steps, namely a first step of preparing the surface state of the material to be welded and a second step of welding as such. The luminous energy (BR) reflected by the weld region of the material is measured in real time during the first step and then processed by a controller circuit (37) connected to a control circuit (30) of the laser source (31). In this way, the characteristics (LM) of the laser beam are adjusted in real time as a function of the measurements effected to allow effective control of the quality of the weld obtained, and in particular of its dimensions. The invention also relates to a welding device for implementing this process.

Abstract: An adjustable pinhole, in particular for a beam path for illumination and/or detection in a laser-scanning microscope. The pinhole consists of at least two planar basic modules, which have frame-like joints, on which at least one blade is arranged in a displaceable manner in one direction, whereby the basic component advantageously contains at least one integrated, preferably optical or electromagnetic actuator. A device is provided at the blade, or connected with it, for preferably optical or electromagnetic detection of the position, and is provided, advantageously, with two asymmetric apertures, with mutually opposite orientation, for optical detection of the position, whereby in front of or behind the apertures, a slit is provided, oriented preferably at a right angle to the direction of displacement, and the quantity of light passing through the slit is detected separately for each aperture.

Abstract: A sample preparation dosing unit for liquid dosing is provided comprising an inlet port and an outlet port fluidically coupling the sample preparation dosing unit to a supply and target, respectively; a pump, fluidically arranged between the inlet port and the outlet port; an outlet flow restrictor with an outlet flow resistance, fluidically arranged between a pump outlet and outlet port; and a control arrangement with a branch, a control valve, and a control flow restrictor with a control flow resistance. The branch divides the flow at the pump outlet into an outlet flow through the outlet flow restrictor and into a control flow through the control flow restrictor. The control flow downstream of the control flow restrictor is fed, depending on the state of the control valve, either into the outlet port thereby merging with the outlet flow downstream of the outlet flow restrictor, or into a bypass conduit.

Abstract: An adjustable pinhole, in particular for a beam path for illumination and/or detection in a laser-scanning microscope. The pinhole consists of at least two planar basic modules, which have frame-like joints, on which at least one sharp edge is arranged in a displaceable manner in one direction, whereby the basic component advantageously contains at least one integrated, preferably optical or electromagnetic positioning element. A device is provided at the sharp edge, or connected with it, for preferably optical or electromagnetic detection of the position, and is provided, advantageously, with two asymmetric apertures, with mutually opposite orientation, for optical detection of the position, whereby in front of or behind the apertures, a slit is provided, oriented preferably at a right angle to the direction of displacement, and the quantity of light passing through the slit is detected separately for each aperture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser spot welding process for executing a spot weld in two successive steps, namely a first step of preparing the surface state of the material to be welded and a second step of welding as such. The luminous energy (BR) reflected by the weld region of the material is measured in real time during the first step and then processed by a controller circuit (37) connected to a control circuit (30) of the laser source (31). In this way, the characteristics (LM) of the laser beam are adjusted in real time as a function of the measurements effected to allow effective control of the quality of the weld obtained, and in particular of its dimensions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously cutting parallel slots in a pavement surface is provided, especially for dowel bar retrofit load transfer restoration at joints. The apparatus includes a movable frame lockable with a brake, plurality of parallel cutting blades rotatably mounted on twin cutting heads on the frame, vertical travel unit for raising and lowering the blades independently or in unison, and horizontal travel units for moving the blades horizontally. One of the twin cutting heads is mounted on each side of the frame, with hydraulic adjusting rams for independently setting the width therebetween. A slurry control system which is mounted on the frame provides the blades with coolant and vacuums up the slurry produced during cutting.

Abstract: An optically pumped laser comprising a securing arrangement (14) for the bar assuring, on one hand, the rigid interconnection of the bar (4) and the framework (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) by gripping the former and in bearing on the latter and, on the other hand the thermal insulation of the lateral faces of the bar. The securing arrangement (14) is obtained from an elastically deformable fitting of plastics material.

Abstract: A method is provided for observing, preferably through the medium of an optoelectronic pick-up, the carrier to be checked which is illuminated by a light beam having an angle of incidence of at least 45.degree. through a rotary disc comprising alternately transparent and opaque sectors spaced from one another by a distance at least substantially equal to the distance measured between the lines of the copperplated printing formed on the carrier. The carrier image is formed in the plane of a detector by means of an optical system. If the carrier has a copperplate printing formed thereon, a moire effect is observed. If the pick-up extends over several transparent sectors of the disc this moire effect is converted electrically into a very pronounced periodic variation of the current delivered by the pick-up, at the sector passage frequency.