A transfer apparatus comprises first and second rod-shaped members comprising a magnetic material; a driving device configured to rotate the first and second rod-shaped members about central axes of the first and second rod-shaped members, and a movable portion facing a part of side surfaces of the first and second rod-shaped members and comprising a magnetic material, the movable portion moving along the central axes of the first and second rod-shaped members when the driving device rotates the first and second rod-shaped members; a movable bearing capable of being coupled to the movable portion by a magnetic force, the movable bearing receiving a load from the first rod-shaped member and movable along the central axis of the first rod-shaped member in association with a movement of the movable portion; and a decoupling mechanism configured to decouple the movable bearing from the movable portion.

A system for moving a receptacle. The system includes: a coupling wall; an internal carriage provided substantially adjacent the coupling wall, the internal carriage being movable along the coupling wall along a predetermined path; an external carriage provided substantially adjacent the coupling wall and substantially in register with the internal carriage with the coupling wall extending between the internal and external carriages, the external carriage being movable along the coupling wall, the external carriage including a receptacle attachment for securing the receptacle thereto; and a carriage actuator operatively coupled to the internal carriage for moving the internal carriage along the predetermined path. The internal and external carriages are magnetically coupled to each other across the coupling wall so that when the internal carriage is moved along the predetermined path, the external carriage follows the internal carriage and remains substantially in register therewith.

Present embodiments include a linear drive transport system. The system includes a plurality of fixed tracks and a junction track disposed on a conveyor configured to align the junction track with each of the plurality of fixed tracks. The plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track include one of electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets arranged in series along the respective plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track. Further, present embodiments include a plurality of movers configured to move along the fixed tracks and configured to transition between each of the plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track when aligned, wherein the movers comprise the other of the electromagnetic coils or the permanent magnets.

A linear drive transport system includes a plurality of fixed tracks and a junction track disposed on a conveyor configured to align the junction track with each of the plurality of fixed tracks. The plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track include one of electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets arranged in series along the respective plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track. In addition, the linear drive transport system includes a plurality of movers configured to move along the fixed tracks and configured to transition between each of the plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track when aligned, wherein the movers comprise the other of the electromagnetic coils or the permanent magnets.

A transport system, apparatus and method are used to transport and process containers, such as pharmaceutical containers. The transport system has a transport path defining a transport direction. At least one station for the containers is positionable on the transport path. The station includes or defines container locations. Two or more transport devices are positioned one behind the other along the transport direction, each transport device having container receptacles and being designed to move back and forth along the transport direction in a clocked manner independently of one another and to transfer containers to and/or from the station. A control device controls the transport devices. A range of movement of the transport devices overlaps along the transport direction in such a way that at least some of the container locations of the station are reachable by two or more transport devices.

A device (10) for conveying an object (60) in order to move said object (60) from an initial position to a final position, on a conveying surface (46).

Present embodiments include a linear drive transport system. The system includes a plurality of fixed tracks and a junction track disposed on a conveyor configured to align the junction track with each of the plurality of fixed tracks. The plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track include one of electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets arranged in series along the respective plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track. Further, present embodiments include a plurality of movers configured to move along the fixed tracks and configured to transition between each of the plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track when aligned, wherein the movers comprise the other of the electromagnetic coils or the permanent magnets.

A conveying system with a conveying line and a number of shuttles. The conveying line includes a number of conveying modules, wherein each conveying module includes a conveying belt, the conveying belt generally extending in parallel with a longitudinal conveying line axis. The conveying belt includes a counter-magnetic member that substantially along the whole circumference of the conveying belt. Each shuttle includes a product interface for operatively coupling with a product to be conveyed and a magnetic member. Each shuttle and each conveying module may be temporarily associated with each other to establish a shuttle conveying module combination. In a shuttle conveying module combination, the magnetic member of the shuttle and the counter-magnetic member of the conveying belt of the conveying module interact by way of ferromagnetic forces, thereby releasably coupling the shuttle to the conveying belt of the conveying module.

A system for moving a receptacle. The system includes: a coupling wall; an internal carriage provided substantially adjacent the coupling wall, the internal carriage being movable along the coupling wall along a predetermined path; an external carriage provided substantially adjacent the coupling wall and substantially in register with the internal carriage with the coupling wall extending between the internal and external carriages, the external carriage being movable along the coupling wall, the external carriage including a receptacle attachment for securing the receptacle thereto; and a carriage actuator operatively coupled to the internal carriage for moving the internal carriage along the predetermined path. The internal and external carriages are magnetically coupled to each other across the coupling wall so that when the internal carriage is moved along the predetermined path, the external carriage follows the internal carriage and remains substantially in register therewith.

A method of rotating a sample container carrier on a transport plane of a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The sample container carrier is rotated by using a movement relative to a number of rotator elements. A laboratory sample distribution system being able to perform such a method and a laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory sample distribution system are also presented