Abstract: An incubation apparatus for microtiter plates includes an heating chamber and a incubation chamber. The heating chamber has a controllable hot air generator over which are arranged air guide devices for equalizing and distributing a stream of hot air to the microtiter plates. Air return devices are provided for collecting and returning hot air to the hot air generator. The heating chamber can be closed by a gate, and incubation chamber is divided by shelves into a plurality of compartments for receiving the microtiter plates. It is possible to close each compartment with a gate, and the side walls of the compartments are provided with heating devices. Furthermore, the incubation apparatus is provided with a gripping and transporting device having a working platform that is vertically displaceable and having a horizontally displaceable gripping arm.

Abstract: An automatic set-up system is provided for setting up on a pallet work to be machined by a flexible manufacturing system automatic machine tool. The pallet has a support plate and a jig plate which overlies the support plate on which the work is placed. The support plate, the jig plate and the work are sequentially conveyed by a convey unit on a setting table. The relative positions of the support plate and the jig plate, and of the jig plate and the work are usually held constant by the engagement of positioning recesses and positioning pins. Even if the position of the jig plate or the work conveyed by the convey unit deviates from a predetermined position, a float base and a support plate (the float base, the support plate, and the jig plate) are floated by means of air bearing pads. The horizontal movement of these components can be readily controlled, so that positioning pins can be easily fitted in the positioning recesses.