A linear transport system includes a stator having a track and coils provided along the track, carriers with a magnet and movable along the track, scales provided on the carriers, sensors provided along the track at respective intervals and configured to detect the carriers to obtain scale positions of the scales, a parameter memory configured to memorize first cumulative values each corresponding to a corresponding sensor, and position calculation circuitry. Each of the first cumulative values is obtained by accumulating, from a reference position to the corresponding sensor, error correction values based on which errors between the respective intervals and measured values of the respective intervals are corrected. The position calculation circuitry is configured to calculate a position of a detected carrier based on detection data of a detecting sensor that has detected the detected carrier and based on the first cumulative value corresponding to the detecting sensor.

A method for operating a transport device in a laboratory sample distribution system, comprising: providing a transport device in a laboratory sample distribution system, the transport device having an arrangement of transport modules, wherein each transport module is provided with a transport surface; a drive device configured to move sample vessel carriers on the transport surface; a module control device configured to control operation of the drive device; and a module network interface connected to the module control device and configured for data communication in a control network; a transport plane; and a controller device connected to the control network through a controller network interface; and assigning a network address to each of the transport modules in the control network; for each transport module, in the module control device storing its own network address and the network address of neighboring transport modules located adjacent to the transport module.

A method for operating a transport device in a laboratory sample distribution system, comprising: providing a transport device in a laboratory sample distribution system, the transport device having an arrangement of transport modules, wherein each transport module is provided with a transport surface; a drive device configured to move sample vessel carriers on the transport surface; a module control device configured to control operation of the drive device; and a module network interface connected to the module control device and configured for data communication in a control network; a transport plane; and a controller device connected to the control network through a controller network interface; and assigning a network address to each of the transport modules in the control network; for each transport module, in the module control device storing its own network address and the network address of neighboring transport modules located adjacent to the transport module.

The invention relates to a method for managing a module for sorting units, which involves arranging said units loose in a reservoir; sorting said units according to a specific orientation into a batch inserted into a housing, by lifting from said reservoir towards an exit at an elevation speed; expelling said batch of sorted units from said outlet towards an entrance of a supply column, said expelled units passing through a circulation area situated between said exit and said entrance. The method comprising, at said circulation area, detecting the number of units expelled in each batch; accelerating or decelerating the elevation speed depending on said number of units detected. The invention also concerns a corresponding management device.

The invention relates to a method for managing a module for sorting units, which involves arranging said units loose in a reservoir; sorting said units according to a specific orientation into a batch inserted into a housing, by lifting from said reservoir towards an exit at an elevation speed; expelling said batch of sorted units from said outlet towards an entrance of a supply column, said expelled units passing through a circulation area situated between said exit and said entrance. The method comprising, at said circulation area, detecting the number of units expelled in each batch; accelerating or decelerating the elevation speed depending on said number of units detected. The invention also concerns a corresponding management device.

A device for conveying products within an industrial line, comprising a conveyor transporting a stream of products along at least one line. The device comprises at least one main zone delimited by primary beacons and covering a segment of the stream; and above the conveyor, at least one member for detecting the primary beacons and for counting the number of products at least inside the main zone. Also a method for conveying products, in which a stream of products is transported along at least one line and, by means of primary beacons at least one main zone is delimited, covering a segment of the stream; the primary beacons are detected and the number of products in the main zone is counted.

A device for conveying products within an industrial line, comprising a conveyor transporting a stream of products along at least one line. The device comprises at least one main zone delimited by primary beacons and covering a segment of the stream; and above the conveyor, at least one member for detecting the primary beacons and for counting the number of products at least inside the main zone. Also a method for conveying products, in which a stream of products is transported along at least one line and, by means of primary beacons at least one main zone is delimited, covering a segment of the stream; the primary beacons are detected and the number of products in the main zone is counted.

A method and system for identification of an item is provided, wherein the system includes a conveyor belt, a positioning device and a reader operable to receive at least one reading at at least one first antenna from at least one tag attached to the item, the first antenna being adapted to be arranged at a read point along the conveyor belt, wherein the positioning device is configured to retrieve a first position of the item at a first time instant before the first antenna and a second position of the item at a second time instant after the first antenna, the first and second time instants defining a time window, wherein the reader is configured to extract from each reading retrieved by the first antenna a measurement (6) of the phase of the signal transmitted by the tag (5) and perform a data processing of the phase measurements whereby the identification of the item (2) is accomplished.

A method and system for identification of an item is provided, wherein the system includes a conveyor belt, a positioning device and a reader operable to receive at least one reading at at least one first antenna from at least one tag attached to the item, the first antenna being adapted to be arranged at a read point along the conveyor belt, wherein the positioning device is configured to retrieve a first position of the item at a first time instant before the first antenna and a second position of the item at a second time instant after the first antenna, the first and second time instants defining a time window, wherein the reader is configured to extract from each reading retrieved by the first antenna a measurement (6) of the phase of the signal transmitted by the tag (5) and perform a data processing of the phase measurements whereby the identification of the item (2) is accomplished.

A tablet press comprises a gate and a control apparatus configured to generate a switching signal. A drive apparatus is configured to move the gate in response to the switching signal received from the control apparatus between a first switching position and at least a second switching position. At least one sensor is configured to generate a detection signal when the gate reaches one of the switching positions. The control apparatus receives the detection signal and is configured to output a switching signal to the drive apparatus to at least partially move the gate back into a home position when there is a switching signal to move the gate out of the home position and there is no detection signal received from the at least one sensor. The control apparatus subsequently outputs a switching signal to again move the gate out of the home position to a target position.