A pneumatic transport system for histological samples includes a transport tube within which a carrier containing samples is transported. A station for loading/unloading the samples into/from the carrier is arranged at one tube end. When the carrier is arriving at the station, a blower of the system is deactivated and the carrier is braked, allowing stopping within the station against a stop member. Thereafter a motor imparts, via the stop member, rotation to said carrier until a carrier door is at an angular position substantially corresponding to an angular position of a station door. Thereafter, the carrier is stopped and the doors are opened by an actuator, this enabling activation of an operating cycle of loading/unloading of the samples. Upon completion, the doors are closed, a carrier locking device is deactivated and the blower is activated, allowing departure of the carrier from the station and its transport within the tube.

A dispatching device for dispatching sample containers received in respective sample container carriers from a transport surface to an external position and/or from the external position to the transport surface is presented. The dispatching device has a tube and a capsule, a conveying surface with an electromagnetic actuator being formed in the capsule. A sample distribution system with such a dispatching device and a laboratory automation system with such a sample distribution system are also presented.

A dispatching device for dispatching sample containers received in respective sample container carriers from a transport surface to an external position and/or from the external position to the transport surface is presented. The dispatching device has a tube and a capsule, a conveying surface with an electromagnetic actuator being formed in the capsule. A sample distribution system with such a dispatching device and a laboratory automation system with such a sample distribution system are also presented.

A pneumatic dispatch station includes a station housing with receiving and output points, and a gripping device automatically movable within the station housing between the receiving and output points and configured to automatically grip a pneumatic tube capsule that has arrived at the receiving point and move the capsule to the output point. The pneumatic dispatch station further includes at least one removal point adjacent the output point and a tool changer assigned to the output point and having at least one first emptying tool and a second emptying tool. The tool changer includes a drive device designed to automatically move the first or second emptying tool into a working position, wherein the emptying tool is aligned with a pneumatic tube capsule positioned at the output point to output an object in the pneumatic tube capsule, so that the object reaches the removal point.

A pneumatic dispatch station includes a station housing with receiving and output points, and a gripping device automatically movable within the station housing between the receiving and output points and configured to automatically grip a pneumatic tube capsule that has arrived at the receiving point and move the capsule to the output point. The pneumatic dispatch station further includes at least one removal point adjacent the output point and a tool changer assigned to the output point and having at least one first emptying tool and a second emptying tool. The tool changer includes a drive device designed to automatically move the first or second emptying tool into a working position, wherein the emptying tool is aligned with a pneumatic tube capsule positioned at the output point to output an object in the pneumatic tube capsule, so that the object reaches the removal point.

A workstation includes a housing and a pneumatic tube port sized and shaped to connect to tubing of a pneumatic tube delivery system. The workstation includes a carrier dispatch and arrival mechanism coupling to the pneumatic tube port and having an outlet and a slide plate movable from a position opening the outlet to a position closing the outlet. The carrier dispatch and arrival mechanism further including a dispatch arm for loading an outbound carrier for transportation from the workstation through the pneumatic tube delivery system to a further workstation. The workstation further comprises an equipment storage compartment adjacent to the carrier dispatch and arrival mechanism and a bin at the bottom of the housing sized and shaped to receive and store the inbound carriers in combination with a user interface cabinet housing a user interface apparatus and a space for supporting stored carriers.

A workstation includes a housing and a pneumatic tube port sized and shaped to connect to tubing of a pneumatic tube delivery system. The workstation includes a carrier dispatch and arrival mechanism coupling to the pneumatic tube port and having an outlet and a slide plate movable from a position opening the outlet to a position closing the outlet. The carrier dispatch and arrival mechanism further including a dispatch arm for loading an outbound carrier for transportation from the workstation through the pneumatic tube delivery system to a further workstation. The workstation further comprises an equipment storage compartment adjacent to the carrier dispatch and arrival mechanism and a bin at the bottom of the housing sized and shaped to receive and store the inbound carriers in combination with a user interface cabinet housing a user interface apparatus and a space for supporting stored carriers.

A conduit access includes a base plate, a sensor, a motor, and a pivoting door plate. The base plate includes a pivot joint, a pass-through, and a stop. The pivot joint is at an edge of the base plate and extends toward a backside of the base plate. The pass-through is in a center of the base plate. The stop is on a rim of the base plate. The stop has a raised thickness on a frontside of the base plate. The sensor is in the pivot joint to detect motion. The motor is coupled to the pivot joint on the backside of the base plate. The motor activates on detection at the sensor. The pivoting door plate is parallel to the base plate. The pivoting door plate is coupled to the motor through the pivot joint to pivot across the frontside of the base plate to cover the pass-through.

A conduit access includes a base plate, a sensor, a motor, and a pivoting door plate. The base plate includes a pivot joint, a pass-through, and a stop. The pivot joint is at an edge of the base plate and extends toward a backside of the base plate. The pass-through is in a center of the base plate. The stop is on a rim of the base plate. The stop has a raised thickness on a frontside of the base plate. The sensor is in the pivot joint to detect motion. The motor is coupled to the pivot joint on the backside of the base plate. The motor activates on detection at the sensor. The pivoting door plate is parallel to the base plate. The pivoting door plate is coupled to the motor through the pivot joint to pivot across the frontside of the base plate to cover the pass-through.

A pneumatic delivery capsule usable in a pneumatic delivery tube has a tubular side wall extending along and centered on a longitudinal axis, respective capsule heads fixed to respective axially opposite ends of the tubular side wall and dimensioned to slide with the tubular side wall inside the pneumatic delivery tube, and two axially spaced roller bearings each having an outer race fixed to the tubular side wall and an inner race. An insert is fixed to and extends longitudinally between the inner races for receiving an object to be transported. This insert is rotatable on the bearings in the tubular side wall about the longitudinal axis of the tubular side wall with a center of gravity of the insert together with the object to be transported being radially outward of the longitudinal axis.