A transfer apparatus includes a first linear transfer part which moves a slider in a first direction by using a first fixed linear module fixed on a first base; a module moving part which moves a module holding member holding a movable linear module in a second direction different from the first direction, to position the movable linear module at a first coupling position to couple with the first fixed linear module and cause the slider to transfer between the movable and first fixed linear modules; a linear scale having a scale extending in the second direction and a sensor which detects the scale; and a controller which acquires first module position information indicating a position of the movable linear module relative to the first fixed linear module in the second direction and controls movement of the module holding member based on the first module position information.

A transfer apparatus includes a first linear transfer part which moves a slider in a first direction by using a first fixed linear module fixed on a first base; a module moving part which moves a module holding member holding a movable linear module in a second direction different from the first direction, to position the movable linear module at a first coupling position to couple with the first fixed linear module and cause the slider to transfer between the movable and first fixed linear modules; a linear scale having a scale extending in the second direction and a sensor which detects the scale; and a controller which acquires first module position information indicating a position of the movable linear module relative to the first fixed linear module in the second direction and controls movement of the module holding member based on the first module position information.

A positioning system for positioning a consumable rack in a diagnostic system is disclosed. The positioning system comprises a rack comprising an upper surface comprising holding positions and a receiving compartment comprising a rectangular chassis comprising front, rear, and two lateral sides. The receiving compartment comprises a holding structure coupled to the chassis to move between first and second positions. The rack comprises sidewalls. At least three sidewalls have a center alignment element. The chassis comprises three chassis alignment elements on the rear and two lateral sides. The holding structure comprises a corner push element between the chassis front and lateral sides to push against a side edge of the rack between two sidewalls when the holding structure is moved from the first position towards the second position forcing the three alignment elements against a chassis alignment element and laterally holding the rack in position by the chassis alignment elements.

A transfer device (19), comprising a carrier (21) including a number of mutually spaced-apart, substantially parallel extending transfer fingers (22) that in use reach into grooves (14) between ribs (13) on a conveying surface of a grooved conveyor belt (2). Back parts (23) of the fingers form a comb shaped part (24) of a substantially planar slide-over surface (25) of the transfer device. The carrier further includes a conveyor guide track (26) that is lowered with respect to the slide over surface and that extends transversely to the fingers, and that in use is provided with a cross conveyor belt (6) movable in a conveying direction transversely to the fingers, so that a conveying surface (9) of the cross conveyor belt forms a conveying part (27) of the slide-over surface that is substantially contiguous to and flush with the comb shaped part (24). At a side opposite to the fingers the carrier further includes a hinge connection (29) extending transversely to the fingers, and being spaced apart from the fingers. Further, the carrier includes support surfaces that in is use are supported on the grooved conveyor belt.

An apparatus for emptying and filling horizontal freezers, which includes a first and a second chain actuator, the chain actuators being arranged parallel to each other and parallel to an y axis, the chain actuators having first and second ends, a sliding beam arranged between the first and second chain actuators nearby, or at, the first end of the first and second chain actuators, and a feeding arrangement for retracting the first and second chain actuators from an extended configuration to a collapsed configuration and for extending the chain actuators from a collapsed configuration to an extended configuration.

An apparatus for emptying and filling horizontal freezers, which includes a first and a second chain actuator, the chain actuators being arranged parallel to each other and parallel to an y axis, the chain actuators having first and second ends, a sliding beam arranged between the first and second chain actuators nearby, or at, the first end of the first and second chain actuators, and a feeding arrangement for retracting the first and second chain actuators from an extended configuration to a collapsed configuration and for extending the chain actuators from a collapsed configuration to an extended configuration.

The present device includes a rotor that is rotated around a cam drum and includes a plurality of units, each unit including: a mover that is guided by the cam drum and reciprocates in an axial direction of the cam drum by virtue of the rotation of the rotor; a first belt linked to the mover; a first pulley and a second pulley that rotate with the first belt wound therebetween; a pad that reciprocates in the axial direction in accordance with the reciprocation of the mover, while holding a sheet piece; a second belt linked to the pad; a third pulley and a fourth pulley that rotate with the second belt wound therebetween; and a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation of the second pulley to the third pulley and changes a rotation speed of the third pulley with respect to a rotation speed of the second pulley.

A method and device for transferring solid particles between zones of different pressures is disclosed. A rotating annular disk spans a pressure barrier and comprises a radial piston cylinder connecting the exterior with the interior. A piston is disposed within the radial piston cylinder comprising a proximal end and distal end, the distal end comprising a cam follower. A stationary closed cam device is located within the interior portion comprising an internal cam profile. The cam follower is in contact with the internal cam profile. As the disk rotates, the cam follower tracks the cam profile causing the piston to move rectilinearly through the radial piston cylinder. As the radial piston cylinder aligns with a solids source, the piston retracts, providing a cavity into which the solid particles fall. As the radial piston cylinder aligns with a solids receptacle the piston returns, ejecting the solid particles into the solids receptacle.

A method and device for transferring solid particles between zones of different pressures is disclosed. A rotating annular disk spans a pressure barrier and comprises a radial piston cylinder connecting the exterior with the interior. A piston is disposed within the radial piston cylinder comprising a proximal end and distal end, the distal end comprising a cam follower. A stationary closed cam device is located within the interior portion comprising an internal cam profile. The cam follower is in contact with the internal cam profile. As the disk rotates, the cam follower tracks the cam profile causing the piston to move rectilinearly through the radial piston cylinder. As the radial piston cylinder aligns with a solids source, the piston retracts, providing a cavity into which the solid particles fall. As the radial piston cylinder aligns with a solids receptacle the piston returns, ejecting the solid particles into the solids receptacle.

Device for conveying piece goods along a conveying path includes a sorting device for sorting piece goods, track profile members extending transversely to a track conveying direction and connected together to form an endless conveyor track with an upper and a lower run. The upper run has a conveyor surface for conveying the piece goods in the track conveying direction. Push shoes are successive along the conveying path and each is displaceable along at least one track profile member of the track profile members so as to constrainedly displace the piece goods laterally on the conveyor surface transversely to the track conveying direction of the endless conveyor track. A drive drives the endless conveyor track in the track conveying direction. Each push shoe includes a guide roller, which is arranged below the upper run and mounted to be rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely to the conveyor surface.