System for carrying out process steps on objects

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for carrying out process steps on objects, in particular for filling and closing containers, comprising a process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) and a transport system (21) having a plurality of transport units (210), which can be moved relative to the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) simultaneously and independently of one another, and a control device (217), wherein each transport unit (210) is designed to receive at least one object (60), in particular at least two objects, in particular two to six objects (60); the system is designed to carry out one process step per cycle on a plurality of objects (60) at the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28); the plurality of objects (60) are received by a group of transport units (210), the group comprising at least two transport units (210), in particular two to sixteen transport units; and at least two of the plurality of objects (60) are received by different transport units (210) of the group.

Description

[0001] System for carrying out process steps on objects

[0002] SCOPE OF APPLICATION AND STATE OF THE ART

[0003] The invention relates to a system for carrying out process steps on objects. The invention relates in particular to a system for carrying out process steps on objects, especially for filling and sealing containers, particularly pharmaceutical containers such as vials, syringes, cartridges or ampoules, and / or at least partially under cleanroom conditions.

[0004] Process steps are defined here as any form of handling, processing and / or treatment of an object, in particular a container, and / or its contents, including but not limited to filling, closing, labeling of objects designed as containers, as well as treatments without material change to the object and / or its contents, such as weighing and / or other recording, in particular optical inspection.

[0005] It is known to prepare containers for the pharmaceutical industry, also known as packaging, ready-to-use for filling. In some configurations, the containers are prepared in so-called nests or trays. The containers grouped in the nests or trays are pre-sterilized using suitable methods and can then be used for filling without further sterilization. Nests are plate-shaped carriers containing recesses in which the containers can be arranged in several parallel rows. The recesses are designed with a hexagonal offset to achieve high packing density. In some configurations, the nests are held in tubs and then enclosed with at least one bag as a sterile barrier.It is also known to place cover films, especially so-called TyvekO films, on the nests held in the trays and / or to seal the trays with films. A tray is defined as an open-topped packaging medium with a rim, in which the containers are usually, but not exclusively, held upside down. Trays are also referred to as outer packaging. Nests, trays, or other carriers for holding objects are subsequently referred to as object carriers. Objects arranged in an object carrier are subsequently referred to as nested objects, regardless of the design of the object carrier. A unit comprising an object carrier and objects arranged therein is referred to as a container. TASK AND SOLUTION.

[0006] The purpose of the invention is to create an improved system and an improved method for carrying out process steps on objects.

[0007] According to a first aspect, a system is created for carrying out process steps on objects, in particular for filling and closing containers, especially pharmaceutical containers such as vials, syringes, cartridges or ampoules, and / or at least partially under cleanroom conditions.

[0008] The system comprises a process station and a transport system with several transport units that can move simultaneously and independently relative to the process station, and a control device. Each transport unit is designed to hold at least one object, in particular at least two, and in particular two to six, objects.

[0009] The control unit is designed to control the transport system for the movement of the transport units.

[0010] The terms "first," "second," etc., are used in the context of registration solely for differentiation purposes and do not indicate any order. The terms "a," "an," "a," etc., are used in the context of registration only as indefinite articles and not as counter words. In particular, the system, in its various configurations, comprises more than one process stage.

[0011] At least one process station is arranged on the transport system. A process station arranged on the transport system is defined above and below as an arrangement in which objects transported by the transport units can be fed to and removed from the process station. Depending on the configuration, the objects may also be moved at the process station, particularly by the transport system.

[0012] In certain configurations, the system is designed to perform one process step per cycle on multiple objects at the process station. These multiple objects are picked up by a group of transport units, the group comprising at least two, and in particular two to sixteen, transport units. At least two of the multiple objects are picked up by different transport units within the group. Objects picked up by the transport units of the group are also referred to as group objects. In particular, each transport unit is configured to pick up multiple objects, especially two to six objects. Picking up multiple objects on one transport unit allows, in certain configurations, the objects to be arranged closer together along a transport path of the transport system compared to configurations where exactly one object is picked up per transport unit.

[0013] For example, the ability to mount multiple objects on a transport unit allows the objects to be arranged on the transport unit at a distance that corresponds to the distance between the objects in a microscope slide, in particular in a row of the microscope slide.

[0014] The simultaneous processing of objects on different transport units enables higher throughput in certain configurations. Throughput refers to the number of objects processed per unit of time. In some configurations, at least in certain cycles, all objects undergoing a process step are picked up by different transport units within the group. In other configurations, at least in some cycles, at least two objects undergoing a process step are picked up by the same transport unit within the group. For example, the simultaneous processing of objects on different transport units, and sometimes on the same transport units, allows for more flexible and / or time-efficient processing.

[0015] In some configurations, the objects are arranged in a row on the transport unit, with the row being aligned parallel or in the same direction as the transport direction.

[0016] In particular, the objects on the transport unit, for example in a row, are arranged at equal intervals, hereinafter also referred to as transport intervals, to their respective immediately adjacent objects. In certain embodiments, the transport system, and in particular the transport units, is designed such that the transport units can be arranged at least section by section, such that the distance between an object located furthest away from a preceding transport unit with respect to the transport direction and an object located at the front of a subsequent transport unit, wherein the subsequent transport unit immediately follows the preceding transport unit in the transport direction, is equal to the transport interval. In particular, the transport interval is equal to the spacing of the objects in a row of the slide, wherein the spacing of the objects in a row of the slide is also referred to as the nest spacing.

[0017] In particular, the process station has several processing positions, which are arranged in a row parallel to the transport direction. Specifically, the distance between any two immediately adjacent processing positions, for example in a row, is the same within a process station. This equal distance between processing positions within the same process station is subsequently referred to as a processing step.

[0018] For example, the synchronous processing of objects on different transport units in certain configurations enables the simultaneous processing of a number of objects in the same process station if the distance between two processing positions, in particular the processing step, in this process station is greater than the distance between the objects on a transport unit, in particular the transport step. In these configurations, all objects on which a process step is carried out at the process station in one cycle are picked up by different transport units.

[0019] In this configuration, several objects, on which a process step is performed at the process station in one cycle, are picked up by a common transport unit, wherein, in particular, the distance between adjacent processing positions, at which the process step is performed on one of the objects, is equal to the distance between adjacent objects of the same set of objects. Specifically, at this process station, the processing cycle is equal to the transport cycle.

[0020] The control unit is configured to control the transport system, to feed the transport units of the group to the process station as a group, and / or to remove them from the process station as a group. Feeding as a group refers to the process of feeding all transport units of the group to the process station in exactly one or more cycles, whereby the process steps are carried out on the objects of the group only after all transport units of the group have been fed to the process station. Removing as a group refers to the process of removing all transport units of the group from the process station in exactly one or more cycles, whereby the removal of all transport units of the group only occurs after the process steps have been carried out on the objects of the group.Between group feeding and group discharge, process steps are performed on all objects at the transport units of the group in some configurations. In other configurations, process steps are performed on only some objects at the transport units of the group. Whether process steps are performed on all or some objects depends, for example, on the design of the process station and / or on an operating mode. For example, group feeding and / or group discharge occurs at a process station where the distance between two processing positions, particularly their processing steps, is not equal to, and especially greater than, the transport step.

[0021] In various configurations, the control device is designed to control the transport system in order to supply the transport units of the group to the process station as a group in exactly one cycle and / or to remove them from the process station as a group in exactly one cycle.

[0022] The control unit is configured to control the transport system in order to individually feed and / or individually discharge the transport units of the group from the process station. Individual feeding of the transport units of the group is defined as feeding in which at least one transport unit of the group is fed to the process station while at least one other transport unit of the group is already present at the process station, and in particular, a process step has already been carried out on at least one object picked up by the other transport unit. Individual discharge of the group is defined as discharge in which at least one transport unit of the group is removed from the process station while at least one other transport unit of the group remains at the process station to carry out a process step.For example, at the process station, a process step is already performed on (at least) one object from a first transport unit before at least one further transport unit is supplied for performing a process step on objects from a group of transport units, the group comprising the first transport unit and the further transport unit. For example, after performing a process step on objects picked up by a group of transport units, the first transport unit of the group of transport units is removed, while another transport unit of the group of transport units remains at the process station, in particular for performing a process step on another object picked up by the transport unit.

[0023] For example, a single feed and / or discharge occurs at a process station whose processing cycle is the same as the transport cycle. In certain configurations, the control unit is designed to control the transport system to selectively feed and / or dispose of the transport units of the group individually or as a group. For example, in one cycle, all transport units of the group are discharged as a group, and, particularly in the same cycle, a subsequent group of transport units is fed in as a group, with one or more transport units subsequently being discharged individually. In some configurations, during error-free operation, there is a change between discharge and feeding as a group and individual discharge and feeding with a defined repetition sequence.The repetition sequence depends in particular on the number of objects per transport unit on which a process step is to be carried out, and / or the number of processing positions.

[0024] In certain configurations, for at least some transport units, the group membership of the respective transport unit to a formed group is static for at least a period of time longer than one cycle, in particular over several cycles, and / or over a section of the route.

[0025] A transport unit's group affiliation is static if, for the period of static group affiliation and / or the route segment of static group affiliation, the group affiliation of the transport unit is not changed.

[0026] In certain configurations, the group membership of the transport units at the process station is static from the point of supplying the transport units to the process station until the point of removal of the transport units from the process station, in particular the control device is designed to control the transport system in order to supply the transport units to the process station as a group and to remove the transport units from the process station as a group.

[0027] In certain configurations, the group affiliation of at least some transport units to a formed group is dynamic, at least over a period of time and / or over a section of the route.

[0028] A transport unit's group affiliation is dynamic, at least over a period of time and / or a route segment, if the transport unit's group affiliation changes at least once during that period and / or along the route segment. With dynamic group affiliation, the transport units are formed into changing groups.

[0029] In certain configurations, the group membership of transport units at the process station is dynamic, particularly variable on a cycle-by-cycle basis. Specifically, a transport unit is assigned to a group at the process station when it is fed into the process station and is released when it is removed from the process station.

[0030] In certain configurations, the control device is designed to control the transport system in order to supply the transport units of the group to the process station as a group in one cycle, and to remove at least one transport unit of the group individually from the process station in at least one subsequent cycle.

[0031] In certain configurations, the control device is designed to supply at least one further transport unit to the process station individually, in sync with the individual removal of a transport unit, wherein the at least one further transport unit and the transport units remaining at the process station form a group for carrying out a process step at the process station.

[0032] In various configurations, the system comprises at least two process stations, whereby the group membership of the transport units is static at a first process station and dynamic at a second process station.

[0033] In various configurations, the system comprises an inlet station, designed for feeding objects into the transport system, particularly for automated feeding, and an outlet station, designed for removing objects from the transport system, particularly for automated removal. Specifically, the inlet station is designed to arrange the objects onto transport units of the transport system when feeding them into the system. Specifically, the outlet station is designed to remove the objects from their respective transport units when removing them from the transport system.

[0034] The control device is designed in configurations to form a group from a number of several transport units, the number comprising at least two, in particular two to sixteen transport units.

[0035] In some configurations, the group affiliation of the respective transport unit to a group formed between the inlet station and the outlet station is static for at least some transport units.

[0036] In some configurations, the group affiliation of at least some transport units to a group formed between the inlet station and the outlet station is dynamic.

[0037] For example, the control unit is configured to define and / or change the group membership of a transport unit at a process station and / or between two process stations. Group membership is defined, in particular by the control unit, for a time interval, a section of the transport system, a process station, a process step, and / or at specific cycle times. Specifically, the control unit is configured to determine the transport units belonging to the group from among the multiple transport units, particularly at intervals, sections, or cycle times, for example, depending on at least one of

[0038] - Operating mode and / or

[0039] - Process station and / or

[0040] - Number of objects in a transport unit on which a process step is to be carried out and / or a process step has been carried out, and / or

[0041] - Number of processing positions to be occupied at a process station.

[0042] In some configurations, group membership is determined prior to an operating cycle. In others, the control unit is designed to change a predefined group membership, particularly due to faulty and / or missing objects on the transport units and / or irregularities during the execution of a process step.

[0043] In certain configurations, the process station has a number of processing positions, where one object can be positioned at each processing position to perform the process step; in particular, exactly one object can be positioned at exactly one processing position. In certain configurations, a process step can be performed on objects positioned at at least some, and in particular all, processing positions of the process station in a synchronized manner.

[0044] In certain configurations, the number of processing positions equals the number of transport units in the group. Specifically, the control unit is designed to control the transport system in order to position one, and in particular exactly one, object from a transport unit of the group at a processing position for the execution of the process step per cycle. In certain configurations, each transport unit of the group is designed to hold at least two, and in particular two to six, objects. Specifically, the number of objects held is the same for all transport units in the group. In certain configurations, the transport units are fed to the process station as a group. At the process station, process steps are carried out on all objects of each transport unit.In some configurations, the transport units of the group are moved at the process station in a timed sequence to deliver the objects of the transport units one after the other to a processing position, in particular to exactly one processing position. In other configurations, the transport units are removed from the process station as a group.

[0045] In certain configurations, at least one transport unit is assigned to exactly one processing position for carrying out the process step on the objects of that transport unit. Specifically, some, and in particular each, transport unit of the group is assigned to exactly one processing position for carrying out the process step on the objects of the respective transport unit.

[0046] In certain configurations, the process station is designed for the timed execution of the process step. The control unit is configured to move at least one transport unit at the process station in order to sequentially feed the objects of the respective transport unit to the group of the assigned processing position in a timed manner.

[0047] In some configurations, the number of processing positions is greater, for example, an integer multiple, than the number of transport units in the group. In some configurations, the control unit is designed to control the transport system to position at least two objects from at least one transport unit of the group at a processing position for the execution of the process step, per cycle. In other configurations, the control unit is designed to control the transport system to feed transport units to the process station and position them there in such a way that one object is positioned at a processing position for the execution of the process step in each cycle.

[0048] In certain configurations, the number of processing positions is smaller than the number of objects on transport units of the group at the process station. Specifically, at least one transport unit is positioned at the process station for two or more cycles to perform the process step on the objects of the transport unit. In particular, the process step is performed on at least one first object of at least one transport unit in a first cycle and on at least one second object of the at least one transport unit in a second cycle, wherein the first and second cycles are different cycles, in particular, immediately consecutive cycles.

[0049] In configurations, particularly those where the number of processing positions exceeds the number of transport units in the group, at least one transport unit is assigned to multiple processing positions for executing the process step on several objects. This transport unit is moved at the process station in two or more cycles to deliver picked-up objects to processing positions, especially different processing positions, for the execution of a process step. Specifically, the process step is performed at different processing positions for the first object and the second object.

[0050] In particular, some, and especially each, transport unit of the group is assigned to several processing positions for carrying out the process step on several objects of the respective transport unit.

[0051] In certain configurations, the process station is designed for a timed execution of the process step, and the control device is designed to move at least one transport unit, which is assigned to several processing positions, at the process station in order to supply the objects of the transport unit of the group to the assigned processing positions in the same cycle and / or in different cycles.

[0052] In configurations, particularly those where the number of processing positions is greater than the number of transport units in the group, at least one transport unit is assigned to at least two adjacent processing positions for the synchronous execution of the process step on two, in particular adjacent, objects of the at least one transport unit, wherein, for example, some transport units of the group are each assigned to two respective adjacent processing positions for the synchronous execution of the process step on two, in particular adjacent, objects of the respective transport unit.In particular, at least one transport unit and, for example, some of the transport units are assigned to a number of processing positions, the number being equal to the number of objects on the respective transport unit, for the synchronous execution of the process step on each object arranged on the transport unit, wherein, in particular, the processing positions are consecutively adjacent and / or, in particular, the processing positions are arranged at a distance which is equal to a transport stub on the respective transport unit.

[0053] In configurations, particularly those where the number of processing positions exceeds the number of transport units in the group, at least one transport unit, and for example several transport units, are arranged at the process station for exactly one cycle to execute the process step on multiple objects. The transport unit is specifically arranged at the process station in a group comprising at least one other transport unit.

[0054] In configurations, especially those where the number of processing positions is greater than the number of transport units in the group, at least one transport unit is assigned to at least two non-adjacent processing positions for the staggered execution of the process step on two, especially adjacent, objects of the at least one transport unit.

[0055] In particular, the at least two non-adjacent processing positions comprise a processing position located at the front in the transport direction and a processing position located at the rear in the transport direction. Specifically, the object of the at least one transport unit in which the process step is performed at the processing position located at the front, and the object of the at least one transport unit in which the process step is performed at the processing position located at the rear, are adjacent objects.

[0056] In some configurations, the process station is designed to perform a process step on objects arranged on different transport units at at least some, and in particular all, processing positions in each cycle. Alternatively, in some configurations, the process station can perform a process step on objects arranged on the same transport unit at at least one, and in particular several, processing positions in each cycle.In various configurations, the control device is designed to control the transport system for a timed movement of the transport units, whereby at least one step size of the timed movement of the transport units between individual cycles can be defined, in order to move transport units with a first step size at the process station in a timed manner and to supply and / or discharge them from the process station with a different second step size in a cycle.

[0057] Several process stations are provided in the various configurations.

[0058] In various embodiments, the process stations comprise at least one filling station and / or one closing station. In some embodiments, the filling station includes a measuring device for monitoring the fill quantity, wherein, for example, the measuring device comprises a sensor. In other embodiments, the multiple process stations comprise a control station and / or a measuring station. In other embodiments, the multiple process stations comprise at least four process stations, comprising a first control and / or measuring station, for example, a first weighing station or tare weighing station, in particular for recording the empty weight of the objects; a filling station; a second control and / or measuring station, for example, a second weighing station or gross weighing station, in particular for recording the filled weight of the filled objects; and a closing station.In various configurations, several locking stations are provided, comprising a first locking station, in particular designed for inserting a plug, and a second locking station, in particular a crimping station for attaching a cap.

[0059] In certain configurations, at least one process station has a processing step. The processing positions are arranged in a row in the direction of transport.

[0060] In various configurations, the multiple process stations each have a processing step, whereby, for example, at least one of the multiple process stations has a different processing step than at least one of the multiple process stations.

[0061] In certain embodiments, at least one process station has a different distance between processing positions, for example, the processing step, than, and in particular a greater distance between, the objects on at least one transport unit, for example, the transport step. In these embodiments, for the execution of the process step at the process station with a distance between processing positions that differs from the distance between the objects on the transport unit, objects picked up on different transport units are fed to at least two adjacent processing positions.

[0062] In certain configurations, at least one process station has a distance between processing positions, for example, the processing step, equal to the distance between objects on at least one transport unit, for example, the transport step. In these configurations, for the execution of the process step at this process station, objects are fed to at least two adjacent processing positions, which are picked up by exactly one transport unit.

[0063] In certain embodiments, the control device is configured to control the transport system in order to position two successive transport units at at least one process station, such that the distance between two successive objects on the two successive transport units is equal to the distance between, in particular, adjacent processing positions of the process station. In certain embodiments, a process station designed as a control and / or measuring station, in particular as a weighing station, has a distance between processing positions, in particular a processing step, which differs from the distance between the objects on the transport unit. In particular, the distance between the objects on the transport unit is smaller than the distance between two adjacent processing positions, each of which in particular includes a load cell.

[0064] In certain configurations, a process station designed as a filling station has a distance between processing positions, in particular a processing step, which is equal to the distance between objects on the transport unit, in particular equal to a transport step. This is advantageous, for example, to achieve rapid filling of the containers and rapid removal of the filled containers.

[0065] In certain configurations, a process station designed as a filling station has a distance between the processing positions, in particular a processing stitch, which differs from a distance between the objects on the transport unit, in particular from a transport stitch.

[0066] In particular, the distance between the processing positions, especially the processing stitch, at the process station is greater than the distance between the objects at the transport unit, especially greater than the transport stitch.

[0067] In some embodiments, a process station designed as a filling station includes a filling needle holder, wherein the filling needle holder is movable to a point downstream of the filling station in the transport direction for refilling at least one container. This downstream point is specifically located at a downstream control and / or measuring station, which is arranged downstream of the filling station in the transport direction of the containers. In some embodiments, the distance between at least some containers at the downstream point is equal to the distance between at least some filling needles of the filling needle holder.

[0068] For example, the distance between the processing positions, in particular the processing point, at the filling station is equal to the distance between the processing positions, in particular the processing point, at a control and / or measuring station, in particular a downstream control and / or measuring station, which is arranged downstream of the filling station in the transport direction of the containers. In particular, the downstream control and / or measuring station is a gross weighing station.For example, this makes it possible that if an insufficient fill level is detected in at least one container at the control and / or measuring station, especially a downstream one, a filling needle holder from the filling station can be moved to the control and / or measuring station, especially a downstream one, and refilling can take place in at least one container, especially in at least some containers, without having to move the transport units with the objects and / or the filling needle holder at the control and / or measuring station, especially a downstream one.

[0069] In some embodiments, a process station designed as a closing station has a processing position spacing, in particular a processing step, which is equal to the distance between objects on the transport unit, in particular equal to a transport step. In other embodiments, a process station designed as a closing station has a processing position spacing, in particular a processing step, which differs from the distance between objects on the transport unit, in particular from the transport step. In some embodiments, two closing stations are provided. In other embodiments, both closing stations are arranged on the same transport system, in particular on the same transport path, wherein in particular a first closing station has a processing step that differs from the distance between objects on the transport unit, and a second closing station has a processing step that is equal to the distance between objects on the transport unit.In some embodiments, the second closing station is arranged on a different transport route, in particular on a different transport system, than the first closing station. In other embodiments, the first closing station, in particular a closing station for plug insertion, is arranged on the same transport system, in particular on the same transport route, as at least one process station, in particular the filling station, and / or a second closing station, in particular a flanging station, is arranged on a different transport route, in particular on a different transport system, than at least one process station, in particular the filling station.

[0070] In certain configurations, the control device is designed to supply a number of transport units to the process station for the execution of a process step where the distance between the processing positions, in particular their processing point, differs from the distance between the objects on the transport unit, so that one object of a transport unit is positioned at an assigned processing position, in order to then move the transport units at the process station in a timed manner in order to position subsequent objects of the transport units at a processing position, and to remove all transport units and supply a subsequent number of transport units to the process station after the execution of the process steps on all objects to be processed, for example on all objects, of the transport units.In certain embodiments, the control device is configured to supply a number of transport units to the process station for the execution of a process step. The processing positions are spaced at intervals equal to the distance between the objects on the transport unit, and in particular, the processing intervals are equal to the transport unit's length. This ensures that one object is positioned at each processing position. In some embodiments, the number of processing positions is less than the number of objects on the transport units supplied to the process station. Specifically, the transport units are arranged in a row in the transport direction, and the process step is performed immediately after the transport units are supplied only to a portion of the objects located on a transport unit further back in the transport direction.In a subsequent cycle, this transport unit remains at the process station to perform the process step on the other objects. In some configurations, the transport unit is moved at the process station to allow the introduction of further transport units.

[0071] In its various configurations, the control device is designed to adapt the movement of the transport units to, at and / or away from a process station to the respective process station.

[0072] In various embodiments, the control device is designed to control the transport system in order to supply a first group comprising a first number of transport units to a first process station as a group and / or to discharge them from the first process station as a group, wherein in particular the first process station has several processing positions and the first process station is designed to perform a process step on several objects simultaneously, wherein at least some, in particular all, of the several objects are received on different transport units, wherein in particular at least one transport unit of the first group, in particular at least some transport units of the first group, in particular all transport units of the first group are movable at the first process station in order to supply objects on the at least one transport unit, one after the other, to a processing position, in particular exactly one.and to control the transport system to selectively supply transport units to a second process station, either individually or as a group, and / or to selectively discharge them from the first process station, either individually or as a group, to position a second group comprising a second number of transport units at the second process station, wherein in particular the second process station has several processing positions and the second process station is designed to perform a process step on several objects simultaneously, wherein some of the several objects are picked up by different transport units and some of the several objects are picked up by a common transport unit, wherein in particular the process step can be performed simultaneously on all objects to be processed in at least one transport unit of the second group and / or the process step can be performed staggered on objects in at least one transport unit of the second group.wherein at least one transport unit of the second group is movable at the second process station in order to supply at least two of the objects to the at least one transport unit successively, each to a processing position, in particular to two different processing positions. The at least one transport unit is specifically assigned for carrying out the process steps in one cycle of the second group and in a preceding or subsequent cycle of another group.

[0073] In various configurations, the transport system comprises an inlet station and an outlet station. The inlet station is designed to arrange objects on the transport units, in particular to arrange them at least partially automatically. The outlet station is designed to remove objects from the transport units, in particular to remove them at least partially automatically. In various configurations, at least one process station is arranged between the inlet station and the outlet station; in particular, at least several process stations, especially at least four process stations, are arranged, comprising a first weighing station or tare weighing station for recording the empty weight of the objects, a filling station, a second weighing station or gross weighing station for recording the filled weight of the objects, and a closing station.In some configurations, the first process station and the second process station are arranged between the inlet station and the outlet station.

[0074] In various embodiments, the inlet station is designed to feed objects continuously or intermittently and to arrange the objects on a transport unit provided at the inlet station, in particular on several transport units provided at the inlet station. In some embodiments, the objects are fed continuously, for example by a transport wheel rotating at a constant speed. In other embodiments, the objects are fed intermittently, for example by a transfer device with staggered intervals, in particular a transfer wheel with staggered intervals. In some embodiments, objects are arranged in blocks on the transport wheel and / or the transfer device, wherein, in particular, the distance between two consecutive objects in a block is smaller than the distance between two consecutive objects in consecutive blocks.In various embodiments, the discharge station is designed to remove objects from a transport unit provided at the discharge station, in particular several transport units provided at the discharge station, and to discharge them continuously or intermittently. In some embodiments, the objects are discharged continuously, for example by a transport wheel rotating at a constant speed. In other embodiments, the objects are discharged intermittently, for example by a transfer device with staggered rotation, in particular a transfer wheel with staggered rotation.In embodiments, the objects removed from the transport units are arranged block-wise on the transport wheel in a transport direction of the transport wheel and / or the transfer device in a transport direction of the transfer device, wherein in particular a distance between two successive objects of a block is smaller than a distance between two successive objects of successive blocks.

[0075] In its various configurations, the system has exactly one inlet station and / or exactly one outlet station.

[0076] In various configurations, the system is designed to carry out process steps under cleanroom conditions, wherein the inlet station is designed to feed objects to the transport route, wherein at the inlet station no parts of the inlet station or only autoclavable parts of the inlet station are arranged in an airflow, in particular a primary airflow, to the objects.

[0077] In various embodiments, several process stations are provided, wherein the system comprises a processing line, in particular a linear processing line, wherein at least one, in particular at least several, in particular at least four process stations, comprising a first weighing station or tare weighing station for recording the empty weight of the objects, a filling station, a second weighing station or gross weighing station for recording the filled weight of the filled objects, and a closing station, are arranged along the processing line. The transport units are configured to accommodate several objects, in particular in a series parallel to the direction of the processing line.

[0078] In certain configurations, the transport system is designed to drive the transport units electromagnetically. In these configurations, the transport system has a transport track and stators arranged along the transport track, which can be controlled to drive the transport units electromagnetically.

[0079] In various configurations, at least some, and in particular all, transport units have a magnet, especially a permanent magnet.

[0080] In various configurations, the transport system is designed as a linear transport system, comprising at least one closed circular route, wherein the transport units are designed as runners that can be moved simultaneously and independently of each other, in particular speed and / or position controlled, along the circular route.

[0081] In some configurations, the circulation track is the same as the transport track, whereby the transport units can be repeatedly moved along the closed circulation track.

[0082] In various embodiments, the linear transport system comprises a closed first circular track and a closed second circular track, in particular arranged parallel to the first circular track, wherein the first circular track and the second circular track are connected to each other via two transfer devices and the first circular track forms a forward section of a transport section of the transport system and the second circular track forms a return section of a transport section of the transport system.

[0083] In certain embodiments, the first and / or second circular track is arranged vertically. A vertical arrangement of a closed circular track is defined as an arrangement in which the forward and return sections of the closed circular track are offset vertically, with the forward and return sections being arranged, in particular, in a common vertical plane. In some embodiments, sections of the transport system are provided at the forward section, with the return section being arranged, in particular, below the forward section.

[0084] In some embodiments, at least some, and in particular all, transport units each have an object holder. The object holders are each designed to hold at least one object, in particular at least two, and in particular two to six, objects. In some embodiments, the object holders are designed to clamp at least one object, in particular at least two, and in particular two to six, objects in place, in particular by active or passive clamping. In some embodiments, the object holders are designed to hold at least two, in particular two to six, objects in a row, in particular a straight row, in the direction of transport.

[0085] According to another aspect, a system for carrying out process steps on objects, in particular for filling and closing containers, especially pharmaceutical containers such as vials, syringes, cartridges or ampoules, and / or at least partially under cleanroom conditions, is created, comprising several process stations and a control device.

[0086] The multiple process stations comprise, in various configurations, a workstation, in particular a filling station, and a measuring station with at least one measuring position. The control device is designed to operate the measuring station in several operating modes, the operating modes differing in a measurement pattern and / or in the number of objects on which a measured value is determined at the at least one measuring position of the measuring station within a time interval. A measuring position is defined here as a processing position of the process station configured as a measuring station.

[0087] In particular, the multiple operating modes include a 100 percent control mode in which a measurement is determined for all objects that are supplied to the at least one measuring position in a time interval, and in particular at least one further operating mode in which a measurement is determined for fewer objects that are supplied to the at least one measuring position in a time interval than in the 100 percent control mode, wherein in particular in the at least one further operating mode the number of objects on which a measurement is determined is greater than zero.

[0088] In particular, the multiple operating modes include at least one X percent control mode in which a measurement is determined on some objects that are supplied to the at least one measuring position in a time interval, wherein in the X percent control mode, in particular, a percentage of objects on which a measurement is determined is at least 30% and / or at most 70%, for example, 50%.

[0089] The number of objects on which a measurement is determined at at least one measuring position within a time interval can be zero in an operating mode.

[0090] For example, the multiple operating modes include a control-free mode in which no control takes place, and in particular at least an X percent control mode and / or the 100 percent control mode. Specifically, the control device is designed to monitor the execution of the process step at the workstation based on a measurement taken at the measuring position of the measuring station, in particular to monitor the quantity and / or quality of the execution of the process step at the workstation. In some embodiments, the workstation is a filling station, and the control device is designed to monitor whether at least a defined fill level and / or at least a defined fill quantity has been dispensed. In other embodiments, the control device is designed to monitor whether a dispensed fill level and / or a dispensed fill quantity is within defined target specifications.

[0091] In certain configurations, the measuring station has exactly one measuring position, whereby objects can be successively fed to exactly one measuring position.

[0092] In some configurations, the measuring station has a number of measuring positions. In other configurations, the measuring station has a number of measuring positions and the workstation has a number of processing positions.

[0093] In particular, each measuring position is assigned to a processing position of the workstation, whereby a measured value for an object on which a process step was performed at one of the processing positions is determined at a measuring position assigned to that processing position. Specifically, the number of measuring positions equals the number of processing positions of the workstation, and in particular, the number of filling positions of the filling station. An advantage of a one-to-one correspondence between a processing position and an assigned measuring position is that it is easy to determine at the control device at which processing position of the workstation an irregularity occurred.

[0094] In certain configurations, the number of measuring positions is less than the number of processing positions of the workstation. This allows for a measuring station with a smaller footprint and / or lower costs.

[0095] By adapting a measurement pattern, it is possible to adjust the system to different requirements for process control. In particular, by adapting the measurement pattern in different configurations, the throughput of the measuring station, i.e., the number of objects that pass through the measuring station per unit of time, can be increased. The control device with multiple operating modes is advantageous for moving the transport units to, at, or away from the workstation, independent of the operating mode of the transport system. Specifically, in various configurations of the workstation, transport units, each containing one or more objects, are fed in as a group. A process step is then performed on all objects picked up by the transport units in exactly one cycle, and subsequently, all transport units are removed as a group.In particular, in certain configurations of the workstation, transport units, each containing one or more objects, are fed in as a group. A process step is then performed on the objects picked up by the transport units, at least with a staggered cycle time, and subsequently all transport units are discharged as a group. In particular, in certain configurations of the workstation, transport units, each containing one or more objects, are optionally fed in individually or as a group, and / or transport units are optionally discharged from the workstation individually or as a group.

[0096] In some configurations, the workstation and the measuring station are arranged on the transport system, in particular on exactly one transport route section of the transport system.

[0097] In some configurations, the measuring station is arranged downstream of the work station, in particular the filling station, in the direction of transport of the objects.

[0098] In various configurations, the system comprises several process stations arranged on the transport system, in particular on exactly one transport route section of the transport system, and the control device.

[0099] In various configurations, the multiple process stations comprise the work station, in particular a filling station, a first measuring station with at least one pre-process measuring position and a second measuring station with at least one post-process measuring position.

[0100] The first measuring station is located upstream of the workstation, particularly the filling station, in the direction of object transport. The workstation and the first measuring station, and / or the workstation and the second measuring station, are arranged on a common transport system, specifically on exactly one section of the transport system.

[0101] In some configurations, the first measuring station has exactly one preprocess measuring position, whereby objects can be fed to this exact one preprocess measuring position one after the other. In other configurations, the first measuring station has several preprocess measuring positions, whereby objects can be fed to one preprocess measuring position at a timed interval.

[0102] The second measuring station is located downstream of the work station, especially the filling station, in the direction of transport of the objects.

[0103] In some configurations, the second measuring station has exactly one post-process measuring position, whereby objects can be fed to this exact one post-process measuring position one after the other. In other configurations, the second measuring station has several post-process measuring positions, whereby objects can be fed to one post-process measuring position at a timed interval.

[0104] The two measuring stations arranged upstream and downstream allow, in particular, the determination of an empty weight (tare weight) and a gross weight for an exact recording of the weight of a filled product at a workstation designed as a filling station.

[0105] The control device is specifically designed to operate the first measuring station and / or the second measuring station with multiple operating modes, the operating modes differing in a measurement pattern.

[0106] The measurement pattern defines at least one of the following parameters in its various configurations: a number of objects on which a measurement is determined at the measuring station within a time interval, and / or

[0107] a distribution of the objects on which a measurement is taken at the measuring station, and / or

[0108] a number of transport units on which a measurement is taken at the measuring station within a time interval, and / or

[0109] a distribution of the transport units, at which a measurement is taken at the measuring station.

[0110] In particular, the time interval is a defined period. In certain configurations, the duration of the time interval depends on the measurement pattern. For example, in at least one measurement pattern, the time interval is exactly one cycle. In another, the time interval is several cycles. In yet another, the time interval is a period during which a defined number of objects and / or transport units pass the measuring station. The distribution of objects is defined, in particular, by the number of objects for which no measurement is taken between two objects for which a measurement is taken, and / or by the number of objects for which a measurement is taken between two objects for which no measurement is taken.For example, in configurations for exactly one object or several objects, at least one measurement is taken, followed by no measurement being taken for a number B of objects, and then another measurement being taken for exactly one object or several objects. In particular, the distribution of objects in configurations is chosen such that the number B+1 is not equal to the number of processing positions of the workstation, so that in two consecutive measurement steps, measurement values ​​are determined for objects for which a process step was carried out at different processing positions.

[0111] A distribution of the transport unit is defined in particular by a number of transport units on which no measurement is taken, between two transport units on which at least one measurement is taken, and / or a number of transport units on which at least one measurement is taken, between two transport units on which no measurement is taken, and / or a number of transport units on which N measurement(s) is / are taken, between two transport units on which M measurement(s) is / are taken, where N and M are natural numbers including zero and M is not equal to N.For example, in configurations for a number A of transport units, at least one measurement is determined for each object picked up by the transport unit, then no measurement is determined for a number B of transport units, and then at least one measurement is determined again for the number A of transport units for each object picked up by the transport unit.

[0112] The measurement pattern, in its various configurations, particularly when several objects are arranged in a row in the direction of transport on at least some, and especially all, transport units, defines at least one of the following parameters: a number of objects on which a measurement is determined at the measuring station for each transport unit, and / or

[0113] a distribution of objects on which a measurement is determined at the measuring station for each transport unit.

[0114] The distribution of objects on the transport unit is defined, in particular, by the position of the objects on the transport unit and / or the distance between objects for which no measurement is taken, or between objects for which a measurement is taken. For example, in some configurations, a measurement is taken for each object picked up by the transport unit that is the first, second, nth, or further along its path. For example, in at least one measurement pattern, a measurement is taken for all objects picked up by the transport unit.

[0115] The measurement pattern, in its various configurations, particularly when the measuring station has multiple measuring positions, defines at least one of the following parameters:

[0116] a number of measuring positions at which a measured value is determined at the measuring station for each group of transport units that are positioned at the measuring station in a cycle, and / or

[0117] a distribution of measurement positions at which a measurement value is determined at the measuring station for each group of transport units that are positioned at the measuring station in a cycle.

[0118] In certain configurations, the measuring station can be operated to determine a measurement value at each of several, in particular all, measuring positions of the measuring station in exactly one cycle. In other configurations, the measuring station can be operated to determine a measurement value at each of only some, in particular only one, measuring position of a number of measuring positions of the measuring station in exactly one cycle.

[0119] In some embodiments, the control device can be operated to run only one of the two measuring stations with multiple operating modes, while at the other measuring station, a measurement is taken, in particular for all objects that pass through the measuring station within a given time interval. In other embodiments, both measuring stations can be operated with the same operating modes, so that—at least after a switching delay when changing between operating modes—for every object for which a measurement is taken at the second measuring station, a measurement has also been taken at the first measuring station, and for objects for which no measurement is taken at the second measuring station, no measurement has been taken at the first measuring station.

[0120] In certain configurations, a measurement pattern remains static for at least a certain period in at least one operating mode. A measurement pattern is static if no parameters of the measurement pattern are changed within that period. In particular, in certain configurations, a check is performed using a pattern that is repeated over that period.

[0121] In certain embodiments, a measurement pattern is dynamic in at least one operating mode, at least over a certain period. A measurement pattern is dynamic if at least one parameter defining the measurement pattern is changed at least once within that period. Specifically, in at least one operating mode, the number of objects on which a measurement is taken per time interval remains constant, while at least one other parameter, such as the distribution of the objects, the distribution of the objects on the transport unit, and / or the distribution of the transport units, is changed. In some embodiments, at least one parameter is changed according to a predefined principle. In others, the parameter is changed according to a statistical principle.In particular, certain configurations provide that a measurement is determined for each Xth object with a defined probability, and if no measurement has been determined after a number X, an adjustment is made so that a measurement is determined for the Xth object.

[0122] In particular, the control device is designed such that if a measured value of a predetermined category, in particular a measured value assigned to an error category, is determined for an object at at least one measuring position, especially at at least one post-process measuring position, the control device switches to an operating mode in which, with reference to the current operating mode, a measured value is determined for more objects per time interval and / or more transport units per time interval and / or more objects per transport unit at the measuring station, in particular at the first measuring station and / or the second measuring station.

[0123] unless the control device is already in an operating mode in which a measured value is determined at this measuring station, in particular at the first measuring station and / or the second measuring station, on all objects that are supplied to the at least one measuring position of this measuring station in a time interval.

[0124] In certain configurations, the control device is designed such that if a measured value of a predetermined category, in particular a measured value assigned to an error category, is determined for an object at at least one post-process measuring position, the control device switches to an operating mode in which, within the time interval at the first measuring station, a measured value is determined for more objects per time interval and / or more transport units per time interval and / or more objects per transport unit, in relation to the current operating mode, provided that the control device is not already in an operating mode in which a measured value is determined for all objects that are supplied to the at least one pre-process measuring position of the first measuring station within a time interval.

[0125] In certain configurations, the control device is designed such that if a measured value of a predetermined category, in particular a measured value assigned to an error category, is determined at at least one measuring position, for example at at least one post-process measuring position, the control device switches to 100 percent control mode.

[0126] In some configurations, the second measuring station has several post-process measuring positions, and the first measuring station has several pre-process measuring positions, each corresponding to a post-process measuring position. In other configurations, the number of post-process measuring positions is equal to the number of pre-process measuring positions, with exactly one post-process measuring position and exactly one pre-process measuring position forming a measuring pair, and measurements on objects can be performed by at least one measuring pair.

[0127] In certain configurations, the system can be operated such that if a measured value of a predetermined category, in particular a measured value assigned to an error category, is determined for an object at one of the post-process measuring positions of the second measuring station, the control device switches to an operating mode in which, within the time interval, a measured value is determined for more objects at the pre-process measuring position of the first measuring station corresponding to the post-process measuring position, relative to the current operating mode.

[0128] unless the control device is already in an operating mode in which a measured value is determined at the first measuring station for all objects that are supplied to the corresponding preprocess measuring position of the first measuring station within a time interval.

[0129] In certain configurations, the control device is designed to classify a measured value determined at the at least one post-process measuring position of the second measuring station into a category, in particular selected from the group error category and no-error category, by comparison with a measured value determined at the at least one pre-process measuring position of the first measuring station, in particular at a corresponding pre-process measuring position of the first measuring station.

[0130] In various embodiments, the first measuring station is a first weighing station and / or the second measuring station is a second weighing station, wherein in particular the first weighing station has at least one pre-process measuring position with a load cell and / or the second weighing station has at least one post-process measuring position with a load cell.

[0131] In certain configurations, the system, in particular at least its transport system and / or its process stations and / or its control device for operating the measuring station, is designed to change an operating mode for the operation of the measuring station during the ongoing operation of the system.

[0132] In particular, certain configurations allow for a change in the operating mode of the measuring station without affecting the operation of a workstation located upstream of the measuring station, especially a filling station, and / or a workstation located downstream of the measuring station, especially a closing station. Furthermore, certain configurations provide for an interruption of ongoing system operation if a number of measured values ​​assigned to a specific error category exceed a defined threshold and / or a measured value is assigned to an error category categorized as a critical error.

[0133] In certain configurations, the system includes a reject mechanism, whereby at least conspicuous objects for which a measured value has been determined belonging to a predetermined category, in particular a measured value assigned to a defect category, can be directed to the reject mechanism. In certain configurations, the system, and in particular at least its transport system, can be operated to direct a defined number of objects to the reject mechanism. These objects must have undergone a process step at the same processing position as the conspicuous object, specifically in a defined number of cycles preceding or following the execution of the process step on the conspicuous object. In certain configurations, the objects directed to the reject mechanism can be subjected to a subsequent inspection to verify the quality and / or quantity of the process step performed on these objects.In particular, the number of preceding and / or subsequent cycles can be selected such that objects on which a process step was performed at the same processing position as on the conspicuous object, and for which no measurement value was determined, are sent to the reject pile. Specifically, all objects on which a process step was performed at the same processing position during a period preceding the determination of the measurement value for the conspicuous object, and up to a prior determination of a measurement value for at least one object assigned to this processing position, and in particular all objects assigned to this processing position, can be sent to a reject pile.In particular, all objects can be directed to a reject point if, within a period following the determination of the measured value for the conspicuous object and up to a subsequent determination of a measured value for at least one object assigned to this processing position, and especially all objects assigned to this processing position, a process step was carried out by the same processing position. In some configurations, the transport system has transport units that each hold exactly one object. In other configurations, the transport system has transport units that can each hold several objects.In embodiments, at least some transport units, in particular all transport units, are designed to accommodate at least two, in particular two to six, objects, wherein in particular the transport units each have an object holder, wherein the object holders are each designed to accommodate at least two, in particular two to six, objects, in particular to accommodate them by clamping, in particular to accommodate them actively or passively.

[0134] In some configurations, several transport units form a group, whereby the group membership of the transport units is either the same or different depending on the application case when the process steps are carried out at the first measuring station compared to when the process steps are carried out at the second measuring station.

[0135] In some configurations, the transport units are fed to the first and / or second measuring station as a group. The first and / or second measuring station has / have a number of measuring positions, where one object, in particular exactly one object from each transport unit, can be positioned at each measuring position to determine a measured value. In some configurations, after determining at least one measured value, the transport units are removed as a group from the first and / or second measuring station. In some configurations, the group membership of the transport units is dissolved when the transport units are removed from the first or second measuring station. In some configurations, a group of transport units is positioned at the workstation.The number and group affiliation of the transport units of the group positioned at the workstation differ in their configuration from the number and / or group affiliation of the transport units of the group positioned at the first measuring station. The number and group affiliation of the transport units of the group positioned at the workstation also differ in their configuration from the number and / or group affiliation of the transport units of the group positioned at the second measuring station.

[0136] Depending on the operating mode, measurements can be performed on individual or all objects of a group positioned at the first measuring station and / or the second measuring station. In certain embodiments, the control device is designed to determine a measured value at the first measuring station for exactly one object of each group and / or for exactly one object of each transport unit of the group, in a first operating mode. In some embodiments, the position of the object within the group for which the measured value is determined is varied between successive groups.

[0137] In some configurations, the first measuring station has exactly one preprocess measuring position, whereby objects on different transport units of the group can be fed to exactly one preprocess measuring position at staggered intervals. In other configurations, the first measuring station has several preprocess measuring positions, whereby objects on different transport units of the group can be fed to exactly one of the preprocess measuring positions at the same interval.

[0138] In some configurations, the control device switches from the first operating mode to a different operating mode in which a measured value is determined for each group of more objects, in particular in which a measured value is determined for each group at exactly one or more measuring positions, for example at exactly one or more preprocess measuring positions, at staggered intervals for several objects.

[0139] In certain configurations, the control device is designed to determine a measured value for each object in the group at the first measuring station, encompassing at least one transport unit with several objects attached to it, in a second operating mode.

[0140] In various configurations, the control device is designed to switch between different operating modes for measurements on successive groups. These operating modes differ in the number of objects for which a measurement is taken simultaneously and / or staggered, and / or in the position of the object(s) for which a measurement is taken simultaneously and / or staggered.

[0141] In some embodiments, the control device is configured to switch to the second operating mode when a measured value of a predetermined category is detected. In other embodiments, the control device is configured to switch to the second operating mode and / or a further operating mode, in which measured values ​​are acquired from multiple objects at staggered intervals, independently of whether the measured values ​​are assigned to a predetermined category. In other embodiments, the control device is connected to the control unit of the transport system, at least for data exchange, in order to send signals to the control unit that cause the transport units to move according to an operating mode of the control device.

[0142] In various configurations, the objects are nested within the system as a unit comprising a substrate and the objects arranged within it.

[0143] In various embodiments, the system comprises a removal device arranged upstream of the transport system, designed to remove objects from slides, particularly at least partially automatically. In some embodiments, the number of objects removed from the slides at the removal station per time interval is equal to the number of objects placed on transport units at an inlet station of the transport system per time interval, particularly at least partially automatically. In some embodiments, the removal device and the inlet station can each be operated in a timed manner, whereby the removal of nested objects from slides and the receiving of objects at the inlet station can be carried out with the same flow rate (same number of objects per time unit) and / or in a timed manner, for example, with the same cycle count.

[0144] In various configurations, the system comprises a feed-transport system, wherein the feed-transport system is designed to transport containers, each comprising a slide and objects arranged therein, in particular pharmaceutical containers.

[0145] In particular, the supply transport system is designed to place containers comprising slides and objects inserted therein successively at a removal station and / or a reset station for the removal of the objects from the respective slides, in particular by means of a removal device arranged at the removal station.

[0146] In various embodiments, the feeder transport system comprises at least two transport bodies and a control unit. Each transport body is configured to accommodate a slide and to transport a slide with and / or without objects inserted therein. The control unit is configured to control the feeder transport system so that the transport bodies, with their respective containers comprising slides and objects inserted therein, can be alternately and continuously supplied to the dispensing station. In some embodiments, the control unit of the feeder transport system is at least partially configured as a single unit with the control unit for controlling the transport system. In other embodiments, the control units are configured to communicate with each other directly or indirectly, particularly via a central control unit.

[0147] In various embodiments, the system comprises an insertion device arranged downstream of the transport system, designed for inserting objects into microscope slides, particularly at least partially automatically. In some embodiments, the number of objects inserted into microscope slides by the insertion device per time interval is equal to the number of objects removed from transport units at an outlet station of the transport system per time interval, particularly at least partially automatically. In some embodiments, the insertion device and the outlet station can each be operated in a timed manner, whereby the insertion of objects into microscope slides and the removal of objects at the outlet station can be carried out with the same flow rate (same number of objects per time unit) and / or in a timed manner, for example, with the same number of cycles.

[0148] In various embodiments, the system comprises a reset transport system, wherein the reset transport system is designed to transport containers, each comprising a slide and objects arranged therein, in particular pharmaceutical containers, especially downstream of the transport system.

[0149] In particular, the reset transport system is designed to place the slides one after the other at a removal station and / or a reset station for insertion of the objects into the respective slide, in particular by means of an insertion device arranged at the reset station.

[0150] In embodiments, the reset transport system comprises at least two transport bodies and a control device, wherein the transport bodies are each designed to accommodate a container and transport a container arranged thereon, and wherein the control device is designed to control the reset transport system so that the transport bodies with object carriers arranged thereon can be alternately provided in an endless sequence at the reset station.

[0151] In some configurations, the control unit of the reset transport system is designed, at least partially, as a single unit with the control unit for controlling the transport system. In other configurations, the control units are configured to communicate with each other directly or indirectly, particularly via a central control unit.

[0152] In some configurations, a feed transport system and a reset transport system are provided. In some configurations, the feed transport system and the reset transport system are at least partially identical in design to reduce the number of different parts. In some configurations, the control unit of the feed transport system is at least partially identical to the control unit of the reset transport system. In some configurations, the control unit of the reset transport system and the control unit of the feed transport system are designed to communicate with each other directly or indirectly, particularly via a central control unit.

[0153] In some configurations, the objects are removed from the slides at a removal station that is spatially separate from the reset station. In other configurations, the system is designed to transport emptied slides from the removal station to the reset station for re-inserting the objects. In other configurations, the removal station and the reset station are located on a single transport surface, with the emptied slides being moved to the reset station by a transport mechanism. In other configurations, the removal station is located on a feed transport system, and the reset station is located on a separate, spatially and / or structurally distinct reset transport system, with the slides being transported between the removal station and the reset station, at least in sections, in trays.

[0154] The system is configured to allow process steps to be carried out, at least partially, under cleanroom conditions. In these configurations, the system comprises a cleanroom structure with an enclosure, wherein a cleanroom environment is created within a cleanroom area of ​​the enclosure for carrying out process steps, at least partially, under cleanroom conditions, with the process station being located within this cleanroom area.

[0155] In particular, the cleanroom setup includes an isolator and / or a barrier system. An isolator is defined as a decontaminated unit that allows its interior to be isolated from the external environment. In various configurations, the cleanroom conditions are created within the interior of a closed or open restricted access barrier system (RABS). Cleanroom setups, especially isolators and RABS, are used particularly in the manufacture, processing, and / or handling of pharmaceutical products, biopharmaceutical products, biological products, highly potent products, and / or other highly sensitive products. The required cleanroom conditions are defined by the application, especially by the product being handled and / or the intended use of the handled object. In particular, the cleanroom conditions require at least a certain degree of sterility.Regulations defining cleanroom conditions include, for example, DIN EN ISO 14644-1 and / or VDI 2083 and / or "The Rules Governing Medicinal Products in the European Union, EU Guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practice for Medicinal Products for Human and Veterinary Use" (EU GMP Guide), Annex 1 (currently: Volume 4 dated August 22, 2022) and the regulations mentioned therein. The cleanroom conditions required, at least in part, for handling objects in the system disclosed herein are, in particular, classes A, B, C, and D according to EU GMP, Annex 1, especially classes A, B, and C. Specifically, at least the filling and / or sealing of the containers takes place under cleanroom conditions of class A.

[0156] According to another aspect, a method for carrying out process steps on objects, in particular for filling and closing containers, especially pharmaceutical containers such as vials, syringes, cartridges or ampoules, and / or at least partially under cleanroom conditions, is created at a process station.

[0157] In embodiments, a transport system with several transport units that can be moved simultaneously and independently of each other relative to the process station is provided, wherein each transport unit is designed to accommodate at least one object, in particular at least two, in particular two to six, objects.

[0158] In certain configurations, a process step is carried out on several objects at the process station in at least one cycle, in particular per cycle, wherein the several objects are picked up by a group of transport units, wherein the group comprises at least two, in particular two to sixteen transport units, wherein at least two of the several objects are picked up by different transport units of the group.

[0159] In particular, two directions within the meaning of this disclosure are perpendicular to each other if the angle between these directions is at least 20 degrees, in particular at least 45 degrees, and / or if these two directions are at least mostly, in particular at least approximately, perpendicular to each other. In particular, a feature is realized at least mostly in an entity within the meaning of this disclosure if the feature is realized in at least 65%, in particular at least 80% of the entity, and / or if the feature is realized in the entity at least approximately.

[0160] In particular, a feature is realized at least approximately in an entity within the meaning of this disclosure if the feature is realized in at least 90% of the entity and / or if the feature is realized with technically irrelevant deviations and / or technically caused deviations.

[0161] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0162] Further advantages and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained below with reference to the figures. Identical reference numerals are used for identical or similar components and / or elements.

[0163] This shows:

[0164] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a system for carrying out process steps on objects;

[0165] Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a system for carrying out process steps on objects;

[0166] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a module for removing nested objects from slides, in particular for a system according to Fig. 1 or 2;

[0167] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view detail of another embodiment of a module for removing nested objects from microscope slides;

[0168] Fig. 5 in a side view shows a detail of the module for removing nested objects from microscope slides according to Fig. 3 in a first state; Fig. 6 in a side view shows a detail of the module for removing nested objects from microscope slides according to Fig. 5 in a second state;

[0169] Fig. 7 shows a side view detail of the module for removing nested objects from slides, similar to Fig. 3 in a first state;

[0170] Fig. 8 in a side view shows the detail of the module for removing nested objects from slides according to Fig. 7 in a second state;

[0171] Fig. 9 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a module for inserting objects into microscope slides, in particular for a system according to Fig. 1 or 2;

[0172] Fig. 10 in a perspective view shows a detail of the module for inserting objects according to Fig. 9 in a first state;

[0173] Fig. 11 in a perspective view shows a detail of the module for inserting objects according to Fig. 9 in a second state;

[0174] Fig. 12 shows a top view detail of a second embodiment of a module for inserting objects;

[0175] Fig. 13 in a perspective view shows an embodiment of a module for removing nested objects from slides, in particular for a system according to Fig. 1 or 2;

[0176] Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a module for removing nested objects from slides, in particular for a system according to Fig. 1 or 2;

[0177] Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a module for inserting objects into microscope slides, in particular for a system according to Fig. 1 or 2;

[0178] Fig. 16 shows a schematic view of a detail of a module for carrying out process steps on objects in a first state; Fig. 17 shows a schematic view of the detail of the module according to Fig. 16 in a second state;

[0179] Fig. 18 shows a schematic view of the detail of the module according to Fig. 16 in a third state;

[0180] Fig. 19 shows a schematic view of the detail of the module according to Fig. 16 in a fourth state;

[0181] Fig. 20 in a schematic view shows a detail of a module for carrying out process steps on objects in a first state;

[0182] Fig. 21 in a schematic view shows a detail of the module for carrying out process steps on objects according to Fig. 20 in a second state;

[0183] Fig. 22 shows a schematic view of a detail of an exemplary embodiment of a module for carrying out process steps on objects;

[0184] Fig. 23 shows an exemplary embodiment of a transport system for a module for carrying out process steps on objects in a perspective view;

[0185] Fig. 24 shows a sectional view of the transport system according to Fig. 23;

[0186] Fig. 25 shows a further embodiment of a transport system for a module for carrying out process steps on objects in a perspective view; and

[0187] Fig. 26 shows a top view of an inlet station for a transport system,

[0188] in particular for a transport system of a system according to one of the figures.

[0189] 16 to 24.

[0190] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXECUTION EXAMPLES

[0191] Fig. 1 schematically shows a system 1000 for carrying out process steps on objects not shown in Fig. 1, in particular for filling and closing containers. System 1000 is specifically a system for carrying out process steps on nested objects.

[0192] In configurations as shown, the system 1000 comprises a module 1 for removing nested objects from slides, hereinafter also referred to as first module 1, a module 2 for carrying out process steps on the removed objects, hereinafter also referred to as second module 2, and a module 3 for inserting the objects into slides after carrying out the process steps, hereinafter also referred to as third module 3.

[0193] The second module 2 comprises a transport system 21 and at least one, and in the schematically illustrated embodiment four, process stations 22, 24, 26, 28, hereinafter also referred to as stations 22, 24, 26, 28, arranged along a section of the transport system 21. The second module 2 serves in particular for filling and closing containers. In some embodiments, a first station 22 is designed as a first weighing station or tare weighing station for determining the empty weight of the containers, a second station 24 as a filling station, a third station 26 as a second weighing station or gross weighing station for determining the filled weight of the containers, and a fourth station 28 as a closing station. However, other embodiments with fewer or additional stations and / or with stations designed at least partially differently are conceivable.

[0194] The System 1000 receives objects as containers (not shown in Fig. 1) at Module 1 for removing nested objects from slides (the first Module 1). A container is defined here as a unit comprising slides, in particular nests or trays, and the objects placed therein. The slides have object receptacles arranged in rows, with one object placed in each receptacle. The objects are, in particular, pharmaceutical containers such as vials, syringes, cartridges, or ampoules.

[0195] The containers are fed to a container feeder 10. As described in detail below, the objects are removed from the slides at the first module 1 and fed to the second module 2 for processing. After the processing steps have been completed, particularly after filling and sealing, the objects are removed from the second module 2 and transferred to the third module 3. At the third module 3, the processed objects are reassembled into containers using slides; specifically, the objects are inserted into the slides at the third module. For this purpose, the slides from which the objects are removed at the first module are transported from the first module 1 to the third module 3 along a conveyor 4. Depending on the configuration, transport is carried out manually, semi-automatically, and / or fully automatically.The microscope slides with the objects they contain, in particular nests or trays with filled and sealed containers, can then be discharged from the third module 3 via a container outlet 30. In one configuration, the objects are returned to the microscope slide from which they were removed. In another configuration, the objects are removed from one microscope slide and inserted into another.

[0196] The containers (not shown in Fig. 1) are fed into system 1000 in trays (also not shown in Fig. 1). In some configurations, the containers are removed from the trays at the first module 1. Removing them from the trays allows for easier handling of the containers when removing the objects from the slides. In some configurations, the empty slides are placed back into the trays for transport along the transport path 4 to the third module 3. When the objects are inserted into the slides at the third module 3, the slides remain in the trays in some configurations. In other configurations, the slides are removed from the trays at the third module before the objects are inserted into the slides. In some configurations, the containers, each comprising one slide and objects inserted therein, are placed back into the trays at the third module 3.In some configurations, the trays and slides are transported separately between the first module 1 and the third module 3 in order to provide empty slides and trays at the third module 3.

[0197] The first module 1 and the third module 3 can each be operated in a clocked manner. In these configurations, the first module 1 and the third module 3 are operated such that, after the system starts up and before the system 1000 idles, the flow rate of the first module 1 is equal to the flow rate of the third module in error-free operation. The same number of objects are supplied to module 1 per unit of time as are discharged from module 3. Specifically, after the system 1000 starts up and before the system 1000 idles, the same number of objects per unit of time are transferred from the first module 1 to the second module 2 for the execution of the process steps, and after the execution of the process steps, transferred from the second module 2 to the third module 3.In some configurations, modules 1, 2, and 3 are configured for a continuous transfer of objects from the first module 1 to the second module 2 and / or for a continuous transfer of objects from the second module 2 to the third module 3. In other configurations, modules 1, 2, and 3 are configured for a timed transfer of objects from the first module 1 to the second module 2 and / or for a timed transfer of objects from the second module 2 to the third module 3. In some configurations, one transfer occurs continuously and the other is timed.

[0198] In particular, the first module 1 and the second module 3 can be operated at the same clock rate. For example, with each clock cycle, the same number of objects are transferred to the second module 2 for the execution of the process steps and transferred back from the second module 2 after the process steps have been executed.

[0199] Fig. 2 schematically shows a second embodiment of a system 1000 for carrying out process steps on objects not shown in Fig. 2, in particular for filling and closing containers. The system 1000 according to Fig. 2 is similar to the system 1000 according to Fig. 1, and identical reference numerals are used for identical or similar devices or components. For a description of these elements, reference is made above. In contrast to the design according to Fig. 1, an object outlet 29 is provided on the module 2 for carrying out the process steps on objects, for the removal of objects from the module 2, in particular individually. In particular, the object outlet 29 is arranged in the transport direction towards some, for example, all other stations of the module 2.For example, objects are fed via the object outlet to a further process station, for instance for inspection and / or for being fitted with an additional sealing element. In particular, objects that are not to be placed back into microscope slides, especially vials or ampoules that are not to be placed back into nests and / or trays, are fed to object outlet 29 after the process steps in module 2 have been carried out, especially after filling and sealing, and are subsequently packaged as bulk goods, for example.

[0200] For example, objects removed via the object outlet 29 are, in particular but not necessarily, inserted into a slide in a further module. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, a third module 3 is additionally provided for inserting the objects for flexible operation. In embodiments of the system 1000, no third module 3 for inserting the objects is provided.

[0201] The following describes embodiments of modules 1, 2, or 3. The described modules can each be advantageously used both in a system 1000 comprising at least one further module, in particular a further module according to one of the following embodiments, and without a further module or with one or more different modules. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a module 1 (first module 1) for removing nested objects 60 from slides 62, in particular for a system 1000 according to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, with a section of an adjacent second module 2 comprising a transport system 21. Fig. 4 shows in detail a removal station 14 of the first module 1 with a section of an adjacent second module 2, wherein, in contrast to the design according to Fig. 3, the transport system 21 of the subsequent second module 2 is arranged offset by 90°.

[0202] The second module 2, shown in Figures 3 and 4, for carrying out process steps on objects, in particular for filling and closing containers, comprises in particular a process line with at least one process station (not shown in Figures 3 and 4) and / or configured for carrying out at least one process step, as well as a transport system 21, described in detail below, with several transport units 210 that can be moved simultaneously and independently of one another. The transport units 210 are movable along a transport line 211. In the illustrated embodiment, the transport line 211 is a closed, oval transport line 211. In various configurations, the transport units 210 can be moved along the transport line 211 with speed and / or position control.

[0203] Each transport unit 210 is configured in the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4 to hold several objects 60, five in the illustrated embodiments. In other embodiments, the transport units 210 are configured to hold more or fewer than five objects 60. In other embodiments, the transport units 210 are configured to hold exactly one object 60.

[0204] The first module 1, shown in Figures 3 and 4, comprises a container feeder 10, a feeder transport system 11 with which containers comprising slides 62 and the objects 60 inserted therein can be made available at a dispensing station 14 for removing the objects 60 from the respective slides 62, and a transfer device 12 for transferring the objects 60 removed from the slides 62 to the second module 2 for carrying out process steps on the objects 60. The illustrated first module 1 comprises an inlet station 13, the dispensing station 14, and an outlet station 15. The transfer device 12 is arranged at the dispensing station 14 of the first module 1. At the inlet station 13, the containers are fed into the feeder transport system 11. At the outlet station 15, emptied slides 62 are discharged from the feeder transport system 11. In some configurations, the inlet station 13 also serves as an outlet station for removing the emptied slides 62.In some embodiments, no outlet station is provided. The objects 60 are, in particular, containers, especially pharmaceutical containers. In the illustrated embodiment, the objects 60 are designed as syringes. In other embodiments, the objects are, for example, vials, cartridges, or ampoules. The objects 60 are nested on the first module 1 and provided as containers in microscope slides 62. The microscope slides 62 have, in particular, object receptacles for one object 60 each, wherein the object receptacles are arranged in rows on the microscope slide 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the rows of receptacles are arranged with a hexagonal offset on the microscope slides 62. Microscope slides 62 with objects 60 inserted therein are also referred to as full microscope slides 62, and corresponding microscope slides 62 without objects 60 inserted therein are also referred to as empty microscope slides 62.

[0205] In the illustrated embodiment, the slides 62 with the objects 60 contained therein are fed to the first module 1. In particular, the containers are placed in trays 64 and fed to the first module 1 at the container feed 10.

[0206] The container feeder 10 shown in Fig. 3 comprises a transport device 100, in the illustrated embodiment a transport device 100 comprising at least one conveyor belt 101, in particular two parallel conveyor belts 101. The transport device 100 is designed, in particular the conveyor belts 101 are driveable, to transport a tray 64 with a full slide 62 inserted therein to the inlet station 13. In embodiments not shown, the container feeder 10 includes devices for removing a bag (not shown) in which the trays 64 are held and / or for removing a film attached to and / or inserted into the tray 64.

[0207] The feed transport system 11, also referred to as the first transport system, serves to provide the objects 60 at the dispensing station 14. The feed transport system 11 is designed to successively place containers, each comprising a slide 62 and a number of objects 60 inserted therein, at the dispensing station 14 for removal of the objects 60 from the respective slide 62. In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the objects 60 are removed from the respective slide 62 at the dispensing station 14 by a removal device 17.

[0208] The feed transport system 11 is particularly capable of being operated to place the receiving rows of first one container and subsequently the receiving rows of further containers in an endless sequence, especially in a clocked, endless sequence, at the dispensing station 14 for removal. The, especially clocked, provision of the objects from several successively fed slides 62 at the dispensing station is also referred to as an endless nest. The slides 62 are positioned at the dispensing station 14 in such a way that the receiving rows from which objects 60 are removed are placed successively at exactly one defined dispensing point for removal.

[0209] The supply transport system 11 is in particular capable of being operated to provide the series of objects 60 at the removal station 14 in a timed manner, wherein in particular a cycle time is independent of whether a series of objects 60 inserted therein is arranged in a previous and / or subsequent cycle on the same slide 62 or a different slide 62 as in a current cycle.

[0210] The objects 60 provided in an endless nest at the delivery point of the extraction station 14, in particular provided in a timed manner, are received by the transfer device 12, in particular received in rows, and transferred to the second module 2 for the execution of process steps on the objects 60.

[0211] In the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4, the objects 60 are removed from the slides 62 by the removal device 17 arranged at the removal station 14 for subsequent pickup of the objects 60 at the transfer device 12. In particular, the objects 60 are moved by the removal device 17 in a removal direction, especially at least substantially in the longitudinal direction of the objects 60, relative to the slide 62.

[0212] Transport bodies 116 are provided for moving the containers to the removal station 14, wherein the transport bodies 116 are each designed to accommodate a container and to transport a container arranged on it.

[0213] The feed and transport system 11 shown in Figures 3 and 4 comprises a transport surface 114 with two surface directions x, y and at least two transport bodies 116 that are movable relative to the transport surface 114. The transport bodies 116 are movable simultaneously and independently of each other relative to the transport surface 114. In certain embodiments, the transport bodies 116 are movable relative to the transport surface 114 with speed and / or position control.

[0214] In the illustrated embodiment, the feed transport system 11 comprises four transport bodies 116. The design with four transport bodies 116 has proven advantageous in various configurations for providing, in an endless, timed sequence, rows of consecutive object carriers 62 filled with objects 60, thereby achieving a high cycle rate with a small system size. However, in other configurations, fewer, in particular two or three, or more transport bodies 116 can be provided.

[0215] The first module 1 comprised a schematically represented control device 111, which is configured to control the transport surface 114 and / or the transport bodies 116 for movement of the transport bodies 116 relative to the transport surface 114, particularly without contact. Specifically, actuators (not shown) on the transport surface 114 are controlled, with permanent magnets (not shown) being provided on the transport bodies 116, onto which a force for movement of the transport bodies 116 can be applied by the actuators. The transport bodies 116 are movable independently of one another in at least the two plane directions x, y relative to the transport surface 116. In particular, in embodiments, the transport bodies 116 are movable in at least one plane parallel to the transport surface 114 with three degrees of freedom for changing their position and orientation.In certain embodiments, the transport bodies 116 can move relative to the transport surface with six degrees of freedom. In certain embodiments, the control unit 111 is part of a central control system for carrying out process steps on objects, in particular a system 1000 according to Figures 1 and 2. In certain embodiments, the control unit 111 is connected to the central control system for data exchange.

[0216] The transport surface 114 shown in Figures 3 and 4 is composed of several tiles, in particular sixteen tiles, arranged in two parallel rows. In various embodiments, more or fewer tiles, or tiles arranged differently, are provided. In some embodiments, a single-piece transport surface is provided.

[0217] Each full or empty microscope slide 62 can be arranged on the transport bodies 116 for transport. The illustrated transport bodies 116 each have a receptacle 118 to receive a full or empty microscope slide 62, in the illustrated embodiment a nest for containers designed as syringes.

[0218] In the state of the first module 1 shown in Fig. 3, one of the four transport bodies 116 is located at the inlet station 13, two transport bodies 116 are located at the removal station 14, and one transport body 116 is located at the outlet station 15. As shown in Fig. 3, the feed-transport system 11 includes, in certain embodiments, a manipulator 132 located at the inlet station 13. The manipulator 132 is designed to remove a container, i.e., in the illustrated embodiment, a slide 62 with objects 60 arranged therein, from a tray 64 provided at the inlet station 13 and to transfer the container, as indicated by an arrow, to the feed-transport system 11, in particular to a transport body 116 moving towards the inlet station 13.

[0219] In some configurations, tubs 64 containing containers are provided at the inlet station 13 at a discharge area of ​​the transport device 100 for the transfer of the received container to the supply transport system 11. In some configurations, a transport body 116 moved to the inlet station 13 is positioned at an inlet area, particularly on the transport surface 114, for transferring a container.

[0220] The illustrated manipulator 132 has a container holding device 134 for handling the container during movement with the manipulator 132. In the illustrated embodiment, the container holding device 134 has suction grippers. The suction grippers are arranged on a frame. With the container holding device 134, a container can be held for movement from the tray 64 to a transport body 116, so that, in particular, no elements of the container holding device 134 are arranged above objects 60 of the gripped container. The full slide 62, removed by the manipulator 132 and transferred to the feed transport system 11, is shown in Fig.3 shown twice, both on the transport device 100 inserted into a tub 64, in particular a tub 64 arranged at the extraction area of ​​the inlet station 13, and on the supply transport system 11, inserted into a receptacle 118 of the transport body 116 present at the inlet station 13, in particular a transport body 116 present at an inlet area of ​​the extraction station 13.

[0221] The feed transport system 11 is designed to move the transport bodies 116, as schematically represented by an arrow in Fig. 3, from the inlet station 13 to the removal station 14.

[0222] In the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4, the transport bodies 116 are moved at the dispensing station 14 in a transport direction, also referred to as the delivery direction or x-direction, towards the dispensing point. Two of the four transport bodies 116 are arranged at the dispensing station 14 in the state shown in Figure 3. A slide 62 is arranged on each transport body 116. In the state shown, the removal of objects 60 from one of the two slides 62 has already been completed. Objects 60 are being removed from the other of the two slides 62. In the state shown, the removal from the slide 62 that is held by the transport body 116 at the front in the transport direction (x-direction), shown on the right at the dispensing station 14 in Figure 3, has already been completed. A subsequent full slide 62 is provided by the transport body 116 shown on the left in Figure 3.

[0223] For the removal process, a first row of slides 62, which are held by the transport body 116 and are exposed at a leading edge of the slide 62 in the transport direction (x-direction), is first made available at the dispensing point. As described in detail below with reference to Figures 5 and 6, the objects 60 of the provided row can be removed from the slide 62 and transferred to the transfer device 12. Subsequently, or after the objects 60 have been transferred from the first exposed row, the transport body 116 can be moved relative to the transport surface 114, so that a subsequent row of slides 62, exposed after the removal of the objects 60, is made available at the dispensing point.

[0224] In certain embodiments, the receiving rows, as shown, for example, in Figures 3 and 4, are arranged with a hexagonal offset on the respective slide 62. The transport body 116 is moved relative to the transport surface 114 such that objects 60 from successive receiving rows of the slide 62 are successively provided at the dispensing point of the removal station 14 in defined object positions. For this purpose, the transport body 116 is moved in a plane of movement parallel to the transport surface 114, both in the transport direction (also referred to as the x-direction) for movement to the dispensing point and transversely to the transport direction for positioning in the object positions. In particular, in certain embodiments, the transport bodies 116 are moved perpendicular to the transport direction in a second direction (also referred to as the y-direction).

[0225] As described in detail below with reference to Fig. 4, the illustrated transfer device 12 is designed as a transfer wheel with several transfer units 120, eight in the illustrated embodiment. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the transfer units 120 are arranged, at least temporarily, in the area of ​​the transport surface 114 above an already emptied area of ​​the slide 62, from which objects 60 are provided at the dispensing point, and / or above the already completely emptied slide 62. The distance between the transfer units 120 and the transport surface 114 is sufficiently large to prevent collisions.

[0226] As indicated by another arrow, the transport body 116 with the emptied slide 62 can be transported from the removal station 14 to the discharge station 15. In some embodiments, the discharge station 15 is spatially separated from the removal station 14, as shown in Fig. 3. In other embodiments, transport bodies 116 with emptied slides 62 are transported back to the inlet station 13, which then also serves as the discharge station.

[0227] The fourth transport body 116 is arranged at the outlet station 15 in the state of the first module 1 shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the feed transport system 11 includes, in some embodiments, a manipulator 152 arranged at the outlet station 15. The manipulator 152 is designed to grasp each emptied slide 62 and place it back into a tray 64 provided at the outlet station 15, as indicated by an arrow.

[0228] In some configurations, empty trays are provided at the outlet station 15 at a receiving area of ​​the transport device 100 for receiving the emptied slide 62. In other configurations, a transport body 116 moved to the outlet station 15 is positioned at an outlet area, particularly on the transport surface 114, for transferring the emptied slide 62.

[0229] The illustrated manipulator 152 has a slide-holding device 154 for handling the slide 62 and holding the slide for movement with the manipulator 152. In the illustrated embodiment, the slide-holding device 154 has suction grippers arranged on a frame.

[0230] As shown in Fig. 3, the first module 1 in various embodiments further comprises a feed-tub transport system 16 for transporting the tubs 64.

[0231] In the illustrated embodiment, the feed tray transport system 16 is designed such that each slide 62 is returned to the tray 64 from which it was removed. This is advantageous because no additional trays 64 need to be provided. Since the feed transport system 11 comprises four transport bodies 116 in the illustrated embodiment, two tray buffer areas 161, 162 are provided on the feed tray transport system 16 between the inlet station 13 and the outlet station 15. In some embodiments, a tray discharge 163 is provided at at least one of the two tray buffer areas 162. In the illustrated embodiment, a tray discharge 163 is provided at exactly one tray buffer area 162.

[0232] The illustrated feed tray transport system 16 further has a tray outlet 164, at which trays 64 with slides 62 placed back into the trays 64 can be discharged.

[0233] As shown in Fig. 3, the container feed 10 and the feed-tub transport system 16 are, in some embodiments, at least partially designed as a common transport system, so that the tubs 64 can be transported to the inlet station 13 and from the inlet station 13 to the outlet station 15 without being transferred. As shown in Fig. 3, the container feed 10 comprises, in some embodiments, a transport device 100 with at least one first conveyor belt 101, in particular two parallel first conveyor belts 101, wherein the at least one first conveyor belt 101 extends over the discharge area as well as both buffer areas 161, 162. At least one second conveyor belt 102 is provided longitudinally at a distance from the at least one first conveyor belt 101. In particular, as shown, two parallel second conveyor belts 102 are provided.The at least one first conveyor belt 101 and the at least one second conveyor belt 102 work together to transport a tub 64 downstream of the second buffer area 162 to the receiving area located on the second conveyor belt 102. The use of a second conveyor belt 102, separate from the at least one first conveyor belt 101, allows tubs 64 to be transported simultaneously in different directions and / or allows one tub 64 to be moved while another tub 64 remains in one position.For example, a tub 64 can be positioned at the receiving area for transferring an emptied slide 62, while the tubs 64 are transported by the at least one first conveyor belt 101, in particular for transporting a tub 64 to a buffer area 161, 162 and / or, for example, transporting a tub 64 to the tub discharge 163 and subsequently transporting a tub 64 away via the tub discharge 163.

[0234] The transport device 100 is designed, in particular the conveyor belts 101 are driveable to transport a tray 64 with a full microscope slide 62 inserted therein to the inlet station 13. Fig. 4 shows in a perspective view the removal station 14 of the first module 1 with the transfer device 12 and two transport bodies 116 arranged at the removal station 14.

[0235] Figures 5 and 6 show a side view detail of the extraction station 14 of the first module 1.

[0236] The transport body 116 shown on the left in Figures 4, 5, and 6 is positioned at the dispensing station 14 such that objects 60 from an outer first row of slides 62 are provided at the dispensing point. An already emptied slide 62 is arranged on the transport body 116 shown on the right in Figures 5 and 6, specifically in a receptacle 118 of the transport body 116 shown on the right in Figures 5 and 6.

[0237] In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 6, the objects 60 are removed from the object carriers 62 for transfer to the transfer device 12, in particular by being lifted in the longitudinal direction of the objects 60 relative to the respective object carrier 62. In some embodiments, the transfer device 12 also serves as a removal device for taking the objects 60 out of the object carrier 62.

[0238] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the first module 1, in certain embodiments, comprises, in addition to the transfer device 12 for removal, a removal device 17 arranged at the removal station 14. The removal device 17 shown comprises a removal tool 170. The removal tool 170 shown has receptacles for objects 60. The removal tool 170 shown, comprising several receptacles arranged linearly side by side in a longitudinal direction of the removal tool 170 for a number of objects 60, is also referred to as a comb. The removal tool 170 shown is height-adjustable in certain embodiments.

[0239] The first module 1 shown further comprises a lifting device 18. The lifting device 18 is designed to lift objects 60 for removal by the removal tool 170 relative to the object carrier 62 held in the transport body 116.

[0240] The illustrated lifting device 18 comprises a bar 180. The bar 180 extends in the direction of the receiving row of objects 60 arranged at the dispensing point. The bar 180 is arranged, in particular at least substantially coaxially to the receiving row of objects 60 arranged at the dispensing point, below the receiving row of objects 60 arranged at the dispensing point for the purpose of moving the objects 60 out of the object carrier 62. The objects 60 can be displaced relative to the object carrier 62 by a lifting distance using the bar 180. In embodiments, the lifting distance is selected such that the displaced objects 60 are still guided in the object carrier 62, in particular in object receptacles of the object carrier 62. In particular, the lifting distance is at most 75%, for example at most 50%, of the length of the objects 60.

[0241] As can best be seen in Fig. 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the bar 180 is supported at one end by a height-adjustable rod 182 arranged next to the transport surface 114. As can be seen in Fig. 5, the bar 180 can be moved from below by the rod 182 towards a receiving row in order to lift the objects 60 arranged in this receiving row from the specimen holder 62.

[0242] The objects 60 are lifted such that the upper ends of the objects 60, projecting upwards from the slide 62 and facing away from the transport surface, are grasped by the removal tool 170, and the objects 60 can be removed from the slide 62 by the removal tool 170 as shown in Figures 4 and 6. The removal tool 170 is adjustable, particularly in the longitudinal direction of the objects 60, to facilitate removal of the objects 60.

[0243] The illustrated dispensing tool 170 is designed as a comb and has teeth and recesses between the teeth for each object 60 to be removed, in particular for all objects 60 of the receiving row provided at the dispensing point. Clamping devices are provided at the recesses in some embodiments. If the objects 60, such as the illustrated syringes, have a flange on an upper edge, the objects 60 can be inserted into recesses of the dispensing tool 170 such that the flange of each object 60 rests against a surface of the dispensing tool 170. In some embodiments, clamping devices at the recesses of the dispensing tool 170 for clamping the objects 60 can be omitted. In other embodiments, clamping devices are provided on the dispensing tool 170, in particular at the recesses.In various configurations, the removal tool 170 interacts with an area of ​​the objects 60 that is spaced longitudinally away from the flange of the objects 60.

[0244] In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 6, the removal tool 170 is positioned over the objects 60 from one side of the slide 62 opposite the transfer device 12. The removal tool 170 is guided over the objects 60 still located in the slide 62. In some embodiments, the removal tool 170 is made of a sterilizable, in particular autoclavable, material.

[0245] In some embodiments, a manipulator 176 is provided for at least semi-automated, and in particular fully automated, movement of the removal tool for removing the objects 60. As can be seen in Fig. 4, a manipulator 176 for moving the removal tool 170 is arranged, in particular, next to the transport surface 114. The manipulator 176 is designed such that the removal tool 170 can be automatically advanced by the manipulator 176 in the transport direction, also referred to as the x-direction, to the objects 60 for their subsequent removal.

[0246] In some embodiments, the transport body 116, for an arrangement of full and / or empty slides 62 for transport through the transport body 116, includes a receptacle 118 for the slides 62. As can be seen in Figures 5 and 6, in the illustrated embodiment, the receptacle 118 is attached to the transport body 116 such that access to the objects 60 of the slide 62 held in the receptacle 118 is possible from below and from three sides in an area located between the slide 62 and the transport body 116. For this purpose, in the illustrated embodiment, the receptacle 118 is connected to the disc-shaped transport body 116 via a C-shaped linkage 115. The C-shaped linkage 115 comprises two parallel legs 1151 and a frame part 1152 connecting the legs 1151.

[0247] In the illustrated embodiment, the transport body 116 is fed to the removal station 14 such that the frame part 1152 is arranged on one side of the transport body 116 opposite the rod 182. The bar 180 can be inserted into the space below the objects 60 via two adjacent free sides of the space as the transport body 116 moves in the x-direction, and then fed to the objects 60 from below. After the raised objects 60 have been gripped by the removal tool 170 and, for example, removed from the specimen carrier 62, the bar 180 can be lowered. In some embodiments, the bar 180 is lowered even before the objects 60 have been gripped by the removal tool 170 but not yet removed from the specimen carrier 62. After lowering the bar 180, the transport body 116 with the microscope slide 62 received in the receptacle 118 can be positioned as shown in Fig.

[0248] 6, schematically represented by an arrow, can be adjusted without collision, at least in the transport direction (x-direction), in order to position the subsequent series of samples at the dispensing point. After emptying the slide 62, the transport body 116 can be further adjusted, at least in the transport direction (x-direction), so that a subsequent transport body 116 can be placed in the dispensing station 14 for removal.

[0249] The objects 60 removed from the slide 62 are picked up by the transfer device 12 and transferred to the second module 2. The transfer device 12 has at least two transfer units 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer device has eight transfer units 120. The transfer units 120 are arranged regularly distributed on a, in particular circular, orbit.

[0250] The transfer device 12 is specifically designed for clocked operation. A clocked movement of the transfer units 120 along the orbit is referred to here as clocked movement. The positions to which the transfer units 120 are moved by a clocked movement are referred to as positioning positions. The position in which a transfer unit 120 is located for receiving objects 60 is referred to as the first positioning position. The position in which a transfer unit 120 is located for releasing objects is referred to as the second positioning position.

[0251] The transfer device 12 is particularly operable to receive objects 60 at a transfer unit 120 arranged in the first position at each cycle and to release objects 60 present at a further transfer unit 120, received in a previous cycle, at the second position at the same cycle.

[0252] In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer of objects 60 from the slide 62 to the second module 2 is staggered. Specifically, in exactly one cycle, objects 60, particularly all objects 60 taken from exactly one row of specimens on the slide 62, are picked up at a transfer unit 120 of the transfer device. The objects 60 picked up at the transfer unit 120 are moved by the transfer unit 120 from the first position to the second position in exactly one cycle or in several cycles and transferred to the second module 2 in the second position.

[0253] Simultaneously with the movement of the transfer unit 120 with the picked-up objects 60 from the first position to the second position, another transfer unit 120 is positioned at the first position with each cycle to pick up objects 60.

[0254] In the configuration according to Fig. 3, picking and dropping take place at two positioning positions offset by 180°. In the illustrated embodiment, the eight transfer units 120 are each moved from the first positioning position to the second positioning position via three positioning positions located between the first positioning position and the second positioning position, and from the second positioning position to the first positioning position via three positioning positions located between the second positioning position and the first positioning position, during a cycle movement.

[0255] In the embodiment according to Fig. 4, receiving and dispensing take place at two transfer units 120 offset by 90°. In the illustrated embodiment, the eight transfer units 120 are each moved from the first position to the second position via a position located between the first and second positions, and from the second position to the first position via five positions located between the second and first positions.

[0256] However, the designs shown are merely examples and other arrangements are conceivable.

[0257] The transfer device, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, is designed as a transfer wheel with a rotational axis. The transfer device 12, designed as a transfer wheel, is rotated around the rotational axis with each cycle to position an empty transfer unit 120 for receiving objects 60 at the first position and to position another transfer unit 120 containing objects 60 at the second position for transfer to a successor unit. The offset angle over which the transfer device 12 is moved per cycle depends on the number of transfer units 120. The illustrated transfer device 12 has eight transfer units 120 evenly distributed around its circumference, so that with each cycle the transfer device is moved over an offset angle of 45°, in the illustrated embodiment, in particular, clockwise.

[0258] The transfer units 120 are adjustable from the orbit at the positioning positions for picking up and / or transferring the objects 60. In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer units 120 are each adjustable in the radial direction of the transfer wheel for picking up and / or transferring the objects 60. In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer units 120 are each adjustable on a radially extending rail 121. In the illustrated embodiment, an adjustment movement is applied to the transfer units 120, in particular by means of a crank 122. The transfer units 120 are each coupled to a central adjusting wheel 123 by means of the crank 122. In certain embodiments, the adjusting wheel 123 and the cranks 122 allow the transfer units 120 to be moved radially outwards to pick up or transfer the objects 60.

[0259] As shown in Fig. 6, the transfer units 120 are adjustable at the first position, particularly in the direction of the preceding unit providing the objects 60, in order to receive the objects 60 at the transfer unit 120 in the first position. At the second position, the transfer units 120 are adjustable in the direction of the successor unit receiving the objects 60, in order to transfer the objects 60 from the transfer unit 120 in the second position. After receiving or transferring the objects 60, the transfer units 120 can, in some embodiments, be moved back to an initial position and thus away from the preceding unit providing the objects or the successor unit receiving the objects, in order to enable collision-free cycle movement, in particular an offset by an angle.

[0260] In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer units 120 each have receptacles 124 for the objects 60 on an exposed end face.

[0261] As shown in the figures, the receptacles 124 of each transfer unit 120 are arranged linearly side by side in various configurations along a single direction. In the first position, this direction is aligned parallel to a row of objects 60, particularly those provided at the dispensing point. The objects 60 can be inserted into the receptacles 124 by moving the transfer unit 120 transversely, and in particular perpendicularly to the direction of arrangement and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the objects 60. The transfer units 120 are first adjustable against the direction of transport (x-direction) to receive the objects 60, and then, with the received objects 60, in the direction of transport.

[0262] The arrangement direction is aligned, particularly in the second position, parallel to a series of receptacles for the objects 60 in object holders of the transport units 210 of the second module.

[0263] The transfer units 120, in configurations as shown, are plate-shaped and have a height in the longitudinal direction of the objects 60 that is a maximum of 50%, and in particular a maximum of 30%, of the length of the objects 60. This allows the weight of the transfer units 120 to be kept low. The transfer units 120 cooperate to receive the objects in configurations with a space between the opposite ends of the objects 60.

[0264] The receptacles 124, in various embodiments not shown in the figures, have clamping devices to hold the objects 60 passively, particularly without driven elements, or actively, particularly by driven elements, at least during movement from the dispensing point to the subsequent unit. The receptacles 124 are adapted to the objects 60 to be received. In some embodiments, the receptacles 124 are provided on format parts, whereby the transfer device 12 can be adapted to different objects 60 by exchanging the format parts.

[0265] In the illustrated embodiment, ten objects 60 are picked up by a transfer unit 120 at the first positioning position in one cycle, and ten objects 60 are delivered by a transfer unit 120 to the second positioning position in the same cycle. Each transport unit 210 of the second module 2 is configured to hold five objects 60 in the illustrated embodiment. For picking up the ten objects 60 at the second positioning position, transport units 210 are provided in some configurations, in particular several transport units 210. In some configurations, especially per cycle, two transport units 210, each configured to hold five objects 60, are provided.In certain configurations, three transport units 210, each designed to hold five objects 60, are provided for the transfer of the ten objects 60 at the second storage position. One of the provided transport units 210 has already received objects 60 in a previous cycle, while another transport unit 210 is not fully loaded. Objects 60 can be received in the still-empty compartments of the other transport unit 210 in a subsequent cycle, particularly an immediately following one.

[0266] In various configurations, the transport units 210 have compartments for more or fewer than five objects 60. For example, in some configurations, the transport units 210 have compartments for four objects 60. In one configuration, three empty transport units 300 are provided at the second position in the first cycle. One of the three transport units 210 is only half-filled in the first cycle and remains at the second position for the following cycle. In the subsequent cycle, two more empty transport units 210 are provided at the second position, and objects 60 are transferred to the half-filled and the two empty transport units 210. The configurations described are merely examples, and numerous variations are conceivable, whereby a sufficient number of transport units 210 with compartments for one or more objects 60 are provided for the transfer of the objects 60.

[0267] In certain embodiments, it is provided that at least one transport unit 210, and in particular two or more transport units 210, are provided for the transfer of a number of objects 60 in each cycle. The at least one transport unit 210, and in particular the two or more transport units 210, together have a number of empty compartments arranged linearly side by side in the longitudinal direction, wherein the number of empty compartments is at least equal to the number of objects 60 to be transferred.

[0268] Figures 7 and 8 show a side view detail of a first module 1 similar to module 1 in Figures 5 and 6 in a first state and a second state, respectively. For a description of identical or similar components and / or elements, please refer to the above.

[0269] In contrast to the design shown in Figures 5 and 6, in the design shown in Figures 7 and 8, the receptacles 118 of the transport bodies 116 have a support surface 1181 by which all objects 60 of the container are lifted. The support surface 1181 is designed such that the objects 60 lifted at the support surface 1181 are still guided in the object carrier 62, in particular in object receptacles of the object carrier 62. Specifically, the objects are lifted by a maximum of 75%, for example, a maximum of 50% of their length. By lifting the objects 60 at the support surface 1181, a lifting device 18 (see Figures 5 and 6) can be omitted at the removal station 14. In some embodiments, a removal tool 170 of the removal device 17 is positioned at the raised objects 60 from one side of the object carrier 62 facing the transfer device 12 in order to remove objects 60 exposed on this side.The removal tool 170 interacts with a region arranged between the opposite ends of the objects 60 in certain configurations. In configurations as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the removal tool 170 is arranged on one side of the transfer unit 120 facing the transport surface 114.

[0270] Figures 7 and 8 show a detail of a dispensing station 14 of a first module 1 with the transfer device 12 and two transport bodies 116 arranged at the dispensing station 14. In the illustrated embodiment, a linkage 115 is provided which connects the receptacles 118 to each transport body 116. The linkage 115 is C-shaped in the illustrated embodiment. However, other designs are conceivable. Due to the support surface 1181, all objects are raised, and individual lifting of the receptacle row at a dispensing point is unnecessary. Access to the space below the objects 60 is not required, at least for lifting the receptacle row at the dispensing point. As schematically shown, it is also conceivable in embodiments to provide a linkage 115 that has a lower height than the linkage 115 in the design according to Figures 5 and 6.

[0271] Fig. 9 shows in a top view a first embodiment of a module 3 (third module 3) for inserting objects 60 into microscope carriers 62, in particular for a system 1000 according to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 and a section of the adjacent transport system 20 comprising transport units 210.

[0272] The third module 3 shown in Fig. 9 comprises a slide feeder 30, a reset transport system 31 for providing empty slides 62 at a reset station 34 for inserting objects 60 into the slides 62, as well as a transfer device 32 and an intermediate rim 38 for transferring the objects 60 from a second module 2 to the third module 3 for performing process steps on the objects 60. The illustrated third module 3 comprises an inlet station 33, the reset station 34, and an outlet station 35. The transfer device 32 is arranged at the reset station 34 of the third module 3. At the inlet station 31, empty slides 62 are fed to the reset transport system 31. At the outlet station 35, slides 62 with objects 60 inserted in them are discharged from the reset transport system 31. In some configurations, the inlet station 31 also serves as an outlet station for removing the slides 62 with the objects 60 inserted therein.

[0273] Figs. 10 and 11 show in a perspective view the reset station 34 of the third module 3, the transfer device 32 and the intermediate wheel 38 in a first and a second state respectively.

[0274] The objects 60 are, in particular, containers, specifically pharmaceutical containers, on which a process step has been carried out. Specifically, the objects 60 are filled and sealed containers. In the illustrated embodiment, the objects 60 are designed as syringes. In other embodiments, the objects are, for example, vials, cartridges, or ampoules. The objects 60 are inserted into the third module 3 in microscope carriers 62 and removed as containers. The microscope carriers 62 have, in particular, receptacles for one object 60 each, with the receptacles being arranged in rows on the microscope carrier 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the rows of receptacles are arranged with a hexagonal offset on the microscope carriers 62.Slides 62 with objects 60 inserted therein are also referred to as full slides 62, and slides 62 without objects 60 inserted therein are also referred to as empty slides 62.

[0275] In the illustrated embodiment, the slides 62, into which the objects 60 are to be placed after the process steps have been carried out, are fed to the third module 3. Specifically, the slides 62 are inserted into trays 64 and fed to the third module 3 via the slide feeder 360.

[0276] The illustrated slide feeder 360 comprises a transport device 300. In various embodiments, the transport device 300 comprises at least one conveyor belt 301; in the illustrated embodiment, it comprises two conveyor belts 301. The transport device 300 is designed to transport a tray 64 containing an empty slide 62 towards the inlet station 33.

[0277] The reset transport system 31, also referred to as the third transport system, serves to provide empty slides 62 at the reset station 34. The reset transport system 31 is designed to position empty slides 62 sequentially at a receiving point of the reset station 34 for the insertion of the objects 60. The insertion of the objects 60 into the respective slides 62 at the insertion station 34 is carried out, in configurations such as those shown in Fig. 9, by an insertion device 37.

[0278] The reset transport system 31 is particularly capable of providing the image sequences of one slide 62 and subsequently the image sequences of further slides 62 in an endless sequence, especially in a clocked, endless sequence, at the reset station 34. The provision of the image sequences for several successively fed slides 62 at the reset station 34, particularly in a clocked sequence, is also referred to as an endless nest. The slides 62 are positioned at the reset station 34 in such a way that the image sequences into which objects 60 are inserted are placed successively at exactly one defined receiving point for the insertion of the objects.

[0279] The objects 60 to be inserted at the receiving station are transferred from the transfer device 32 to the object carriers 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer takes place indirectly via the insertion device 37. The transfer device 32 receives the objects 60 from an intermediate gear 38 in configurations as shown in Fig. 9. The intermediate gear 38 receives the objects 60 from the module 2 for carrying out process steps on the objects 60. The objects 60 are provided, in particular at the receiving station of the reset station 34, especially in a clocked manner, and the provided objects 60 are reset in series into the object carriers 62, which are provided in an endless sequence.

[0280] In the embodiment shown in Figures 9 to 11, the objects 60 are transferred from the transfer device 32 to the insertion device 37 arranged at the insertion station 34 and subsequently inserted into the specimen carriers 62 by the insertion device 37. In particular, the objects 60 are moved by the insertion device 37 in an insertion direction, especially at least substantially in the longitudinal direction of the objects 60, relative to the specimen carrier 62.

[0281] The third module 3 shown in Fig. 9 further comprises the intermediate gear 38, which is arranged between the second module 2 and the transfer device 32 of the third module 3.

[0282] Transport bodies 316 are provided for moving the microscope slides 62 to the reset station 34, wherein the transport bodies 116 are each designed to accommodate an empty or full microscope slide 62 and to transport a microscope slide 62 arranged thereon.

[0283] The reset transport system 31 shown in Figures 9 to 11 comprises a transport surface 314 with two surface directions x, y and at least two transport bodies 316 that are movable relative to the transport surface 314. The transport bodies 316 are movable simultaneously and independently of each other relative to the transport surface 314. In certain embodiments, the transport bodies 316 are movable relative to the transport surface 314 with speed and / or position control.

[0284] In the illustrated embodiment, the reset transport system 31 comprises four transport bodies 316. The design with four transport bodies 316 has proven advantageous in various configurations for providing a continuous, timed sequence of consecutive slides 62, achieving a high cycle rate with a small system size. However, in other configurations, fewer, in particular two or three, or more transport bodies 316 can be provided.

[0285] The third module 3 comprises a schematically represented control device 311, which is configured to control the transport surface 314 and / or the at least one transport body 316 for movement of the transport bodies 316 relative to the transport surface 314. In particular, actuators (not shown) on the transport surface 314 are controlled, wherein permanent magnets (not shown) are provided on the transport bodies 316, onto which a force for movement of the transport bodies 316 can be applied by the actuators. The transport bodies 316 are each independently movable in at least the two plane directions x, y relative to the transport surface 316. In particular, in embodiments, the transport bodies 316 are movable in at least one plane parallel to the transport surface 314 with three degrees of freedom for changing a position and an orientation.In certain embodiments, the transport bodies 316 can move relative to the transport surface with six degrees of freedom. In certain embodiments, the control unit 311 is part of a central control system for carrying out process steps on objects, in particular a system 1000 according to Figures 1 and 2. In certain embodiments, the control unit 311 is connected to the central control system for data exchange.

[0286] In certain configurations, particularly in a system comprising the third module 3 and a first module 1, the control unit 311 is designed as a single unit with the control unit 111 shown in Fig. 3. In other configurations, the control units 111 and 311 are separate units which are connected directly and / or via the central control unit for data exchange.

[0287] The transport surface 314 shown in Figures 9 to 11 is composed of several tiles. Other embodiments provide more or fewer tiles, or tiles arranged differently. Still other embodiments provide a single-piece transport surface.

[0288] In the illustrated embodiment, the transport bodies 316 each have a receptacle 318 to receive a full or empty slide 62, in the illustrated embodiment a nest for containers designed as syringes.

[0289] The illustrated reset transport system 31 comprises a manipulator 332 arranged at the inlet station 33. The manipulator 332 is designed to remove one empty slide 62 from a tray 64 provided at the inlet station 33 and to transfer the slide 62 to the reset transport system 31 as schematically indicated by an arrow. The slide 62, removed by the manipulator 332 and transferred to the reset transport system 31, is shown twice in Fig. 9, both on the transport device 300 and inserted into a receptacle 318 of a transport body 316 on the reset transport system 31. In a state of the third module 3 shown in Fig. 9, one of the four transport bodies 316 is arranged at the inlet station 43, one transport body 316 at the reset station 34, one transport body 316 in a buffer position and one transport body 316 at the outlet station 35.

[0290] In some configurations, trays 64 containing empty slides 62 are provided at the inlet station 33, each at a removal area of ​​the transport system 300, for the transfer of the slide 62 to the return transport system 31. In some configurations, a transport body 316 moved to the inlet station 33 is positioned at an inlet area, particularly on the transport surface 314, for the transfer of a slide 62.

[0291] The illustrated manipulator 332 has a slide-holding device 334 for handling the slide 62 and holding it for movement with the manipulator 332. In the illustrated embodiment, the slide-holding device 334 has suction grippers. The suction grippers are arranged on a frame. The slide-holding device 334 can hold a slide 62 for movement from the tray 64 to a transport body 316. The empty slide 62, removed by the manipulator 332 and transferred to the return transport system 31, is shown in Fig.9 shown twice, both on the transport device 300 inserted into a tub 64, in particular a tub 64 arranged at the extraction area of ​​the inlet station 33, and on the reset transport system 31, inserted into a receptacle 318 of the transport body 316 present at the inlet station 33, in particular a transport body 316 present at an inlet area of ​​the extraction station 33.

[0292] The reset transport system 31 is designed to move the transport bodies 316 from the inlet station 33 to the reset station 34, as schematically represented by an arrow in Fig. 9.

[0293] In the embodiments shown in Figs. 9 to 11, the transport bodies 316 are moved at the reset station 34 in a transport direction, also called x-direction, in the direction of the receiving point.

[0294] Fig. 9 shows a transport body 316, which is arranged at the reset station 34. A slide 62 is arranged on the transport body 316, into which objects 60 are inserted. For inserting the objects 60, a first receiving row of the slide 62, which is arranged at a leading edge of the slide 62 in the transport direction (x-direction) and is held by the transport body 316, is first made available at the receiving point. As described in detail below with reference to Figs. 10 and 11, the objects 60 can be taken from the transfer device 12 and inserted into the receiving row of the slide 62 provided at the receiving point. Subsequently, the transport body 316 can be moved relative to the transport surface 114, so that a subsequent receiving row of the slide 62 is made available at the receiving point.

[0295] In certain embodiments, the receiving rows, as shown, for example, in Figures 9 to 11, are arranged with a hexagonal offset on the respective specimen carrier 62. The transport body 316 is moved relative to the transport surface 314 such that successive receiving rows of the specimen carrier 62 are sequentially provided at the receiving point of the reset station 34 in defined object positions. For this purpose, the transport body 316 is moved in a plane of movement parallel to the transport surface 314, both in the transport direction (also referred to as the x-direction) for movement into the receiving point and transversely to the transport direction for positioning in the object positions. In particular, in certain embodiments, the transport bodies 316 are moved perpendicular to the transport direction in a second direction (also referred to as the y-direction).

[0296] As described in detail below with reference to Figs. 10 and 11, the illustrated transfer device 32 is designed as a transfer wheel with several, in the illustrated embodiment eight, transfer units 320.

[0297] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, a transfer unit 320, in particular with objects 60 contained therein, is arranged at least temporarily in the area of ​​the transport surface 314 above a transport body 316 with a specimen carrier 62 attached to it. In some embodiments, a transfer unit 320 is arranged at least temporarily, at least partially, above an empty specimen carrier 62 and / or an empty area of ​​a specimen carrier 62 into which objects 60 are inserted at the receiving point. In other embodiments, a transfer unit 320 is arranged at least temporarily, at least partially, above a full specimen carrier 62 and / or an already filled area of ​​a specimen carrier 62 into which objects 60 are inserted at the receiving point. The distance between the transfer units 320 and the transport surface 314 is sufficiently large to prevent collisions.Figure 9 shows another transport body 316, which is arranged in a buffer position between the inlet station 33 and the reset station 34. After objects 60 have been inserted into all receiving rows of the slide 62 of the transport body 316 located at the reset station 34, this transport body 316 can be moved away from the reset station 34, and another transport body 316, in particular the transport body 316 waiting at the buffer position with the received slide 62, can be moved to the reset station 34. The movement of this transport body 316 into the reset station 34 is carried out in such a way that the uninterrupted insertion of objects 60 into receiving rows of successive slides 62 is possible at a fixed rate.

[0298] As indicated by another arrow, the transport body 316, with the slide 62 filled with objects 60, can be transported from the reset station 34 to the discharge station 35. In some embodiments, the discharge station 35 is spatially separated from the inlet station 33, as shown in Fig. 9. In other embodiments, the transport body 316 with the filled slides 62 is transported back to the inlet station 33, which then also serves as the discharge station.

[0299] Fig. 9 shows another transport body 316, which is arranged at the discharge station 35. The illustrated reset transport system 31 comprises a manipulator 352 arranged at the discharge station 35. The manipulator 352 is designed to grasp a full microscope slide 62 and reset it into a tray 64 provided at the discharge station 35, as indicated by an arrow. The full microscope slide 62 removed from the reset transport system 31 by the manipulator 352 is shown twice in Fig. 9.

[0300] In some configurations, empty trays are provided at the discharge station 35 at a receiving area of ​​the transport system 300 for receiving the slide 62 with the inserted objects 60. In some configurations, a transport body 316 moved to the discharge station 35 is positioned at a discharge area, particularly on the transport surface 314, for transferring the full slide 62.

[0301] The illustrated manipulator 352 has a container holding device 354 for handling the slide 62 with the inserted objects 60. This device holds the container comprising the slide 62 and the inserted objects, allowing the containers to be moved with the manipulator 352. In the illustrated embodiment, the container holding device 354 has suction grippers arranged on a frame. As shown in Fig. 9, the third module 3 further comprises a reset tray transport system 36 for transporting the trays 64.

[0302] In the illustrated embodiment, the return tray transport system 36 is designed such that each slide 62 is returned to the tray 64 from which it was removed. This is advantageous because no additional trays 64 need to be provided. Since the return tray transport system 31 comprises four transport bodies 316 in the illustrated embodiment, two tray buffer areas 361, 362 are provided on the return tray transport system 36 between the inlet station 33 and the outlet station 35.

[0303] The depicted reset tray transport system 36 further has a tray outlet 364, at which trays 64 with full slides 62 placed back into the trays can be discharged.

[0304] As shown in Fig. 9, the slide feeder 360 and the reset tray transport system 36 are designed as a common transport system, so that the trays 64 can be transported to the inlet station 33 and from the inlet station 33 to the outlet station 35 without being transferred.

[0305] Figures 10 and 11 show a detail of the reset station 34 of the third module 3 in perspective side views.

[0306] The transport body 316, shown on the left in Figures 9, 10, and 11, is positioned at the reset station 34 such that a receiving row of the microscope slide 62 is provided at the receiving point, and objects 60 are inserted into this receiving row. In the illustrated state, this is the third receiving row from the right of the microscope slide 62. After the objects 60 have been inserted into the provided receiving row, the microscope slide 62 is moved in the transport direction (x-direction) as indicated by an arrow. Receiving rows of the microscope slide 62 that are arranged downstream of the receiving row provided at the receiving point already contain objects 60. Receiving rows of the microscope slide 62 that are arranged upstream of the receiving row provided at the receiving point do not yet contain any objects 60. The transport body 316 shown in Figure 9, 10, and 11 is positioned at the reset station 34 such that a receiving row of the microscope slide 62 is provided at the receiving point, and objects 60 are inserted into this receiving row.The transport body 316 shown on the right in figures 9, 10 and 11 is in a buffer position, wherein an empty slide 62 is arranged on the transport body 316, in particular in a receptacle 318 of this transport body 316.

[0307] In the embodiment shown in Figures 9 to 11, the objects 60 are taken from the transfer device 12 and then inserted into the receiving array, in particular moved longitudinally relative to the respective object carrier 62 for insertion. In some embodiments, the transfer device 12 also serves as an insertion device for inserting the objects 60 into the object carriers 62.

[0308] As shown in Figures 9 to 11, the third module 3, in certain embodiments, comprises, in addition to the transfer device 12 for inserting the objects 60, an insertion device 37 arranged at the reset station 34. The insertion device 37 shown comprises an insertion tool 370. The insertion tool 370 shown has receptacles for objects 60. The insertion tool 370 shown, comprising several receptacles arranged linearly side by side in a longitudinal direction of the insertion tool 370 for a number of objects 60, is also referred to as a comb. The insertion tool 370 shown is height-adjustable in certain embodiments. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, in certain embodiments, the objects 60 are inserted into a receptacle row of the specimen carrier 62 by moving the insertion tool 370 in an insertion direction, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the objects 60 being inserted.

[0309] The illustrated insertion tool 370 is designed as a comb and has teeth and 60 recesses between the teeth for each object to be inserted. In particular, the insertion tool 370 has one recess for each object 60 that is to be inserted into an object holder of a series of holders provided at the receiving point.

[0310] If the objects 60, such as the illustrated syringes, have a flange on an upper edge, they can be inserted into recesses of the insertion tool 370 in such a way that the flange of each object 60 rests against a surface of the insertion tool 370. In some embodiments, clamping devices on the recesses of the insertion tool 370 for clamping the objects 60 are not required. In some embodiments, the insertion tool 370 interacts with a region of the objects 60 that is longitudinally spaced from the flange of the objects 60, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. In some embodiments, active and / or passive clamping devices are provided on the insertion tool 370, particularly at the recesses. In particular, some embodiments provide openings at the recesses through which a suction flow can be applied to hold the objects 60 in the recesses.

[0311] In the embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11, the insertion tool 370 is positioned above the slide 62 on the side opposite the transfer device 12 to pick up the objects 60. The insertion tool 370 is guided over the objects 60 already located in the slide 62. In some embodiments, the objects 60 are already sealed containers. In some embodiments, the insertion tool 370 is made of a sterilizable, in particular autoclavable, material.

[0312] The recesses of the insertion tool 370 are arranged in particular at the receiving point above the receiving row of the slide 62 positioned at the receiving point.

[0313] The recesses of the insertion tool 370 point towards a transfer unit 320 of the transfer device 32, which is arranged at a second positioning position. In embodiments described below, the transfer of objects 60 from the transfer unit 320 at the second positioning position to the insertion tool 370 is effected by an adjustment movement of the transfer unit 320 in the transport direction. Following the transfer of the objects 60, the transfer unit 320 is returned to its initial position in the opposite direction of transport, without the objects 60 being transferred. After the objects have been transferred, the insertion tool 370 is adjustable to insert the objects 60 into the receiving row of the object carrier 62 positioned at the receiving point.

[0314] In certain embodiments, a manipulator 376 is provided for at least semi-automated, and in particular fully automated, movement of the insertion tool 370 for inserting the objects 60. As can be seen in Figures 10 and 11, the manipulator 376 for moving the insertion tool 370 is arranged, in particular, next to the transport surface 314. In embodiments as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the manipulator 376 is designed such that the insertion tool 370 with the objects 60 can be moved automatically by the manipulator 376 in the insertion direction, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the objects 60, to insert the objects 60 into the specimen carrier 62.The manipulator 376 is further designed such that the insertion tool 370 can be moved automatically by the manipulator 376 in the transport direction, also referred to as the x-direction, relative to the objects 60, in order to subsequently release the objects 60 from the recesses of the insertion tool 370 after they have been inserted into the slide 62. The insertion tool 370 can then be moved away from the transport surface 314 perpendicular to it, so that collision-free movement of the transport body 316 in the transport direction is possible for the provision of a subsequent empty receiving row at the receiving point.

[0315] The objects 60 to be inserted into the slides 62 are provided by the transfer device 32. The transfer device 32 has at least two transfer units 320. In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer device has eight transfer units 320. The transfer units 320 are arranged regularly distributed on a, in particular circular, orbit.

[0316] The transfer device 32 is specifically designed for clocked operation. A clocked movement of the transfer units 320 along the orbit is referred to here as clocked movement. The positions to which the transfer units 320 are moved by a clocked movement are referred to as positioning positions. The position in which a transfer unit 320 is located for receiving objects 60, in particular from the intermediate wheel 38, is referred to as the first positioning position. The position in which a transfer unit 320 is located for releasing objects is referred to as the second positioning position.

[0317] The transfer device 32 is particularly operable to receive a number of objects 60 at a first position with one of the eight transfer units 320 at each cycle and to transfer objects 60 received at a previous cycle at a second position in the same cycle.

[0318] The transfer device 32 takes over the objects 60 from the intermediate gear 38 in the illustrated embodiment. The intermediate gear 38 has several, in the illustrated embodiment four, holding units 380, each of which has recesses for receiving a group of objects 60.

[0319] The intermediate gear 38 is also designed for clocked operation and can be operated in such a way as to take a group of objects 60 from the second module 2 at a first intermediate gear position at each clock cycle, and to transfer a group of objects 60 taken over in a previous clock cycle to the transfer device 32 at a second intermediate gear position at the same clock cycle. The number of objects 60 per group corresponds in particular to the number of object scans in a scan series of the slides 62.

[0320] For the transfer of objects 60, the second intermediate gear position is located opposite the first position of the transfer device 12. The second intermediate gear position and the first position are arranged in particular to transfer objects 60 located at the second intermediate gear position from the intermediate gear 38 to the transfer device 12, in particular by a linear movement.

[0321] In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer of objects 60 from the intermediate gear 38 to the object carrier 62 occurs in a staggered manner. Specifically, in exactly one cycle, objects 60, particularly all objects 60 provided by a holding unit 380 of the intermediate gear 38 at the second intermediate gear position, are picked up by a transfer unit 320 of the transfer device 32 located in the first position. The objects 60 picked up by the transfer unit 320 are moved by the transfer unit 320 from the first position to the second position and transferred to the object carrier 62 in the second position. In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer to the object carrier 62 is indirect, with the objects 62 being picked up by the insertion device 37 and inserted into the object carrier 62.

[0322] Simultaneously with the movement of the transfer unit 320 with the picked-up objects 60 from the first position to the second position, another transfer unit 320 is positioned at the first position with each cycle to pick up objects 60.

[0323] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 9 to 11, the objects 60 are picked up and dispensed at two positioning positions of the transfer device 32 that are offset by 180°. In the illustrated embodiment, the eight transfer units 320 are each moved from the first positioning position to the second positioning position and from the second positioning position to the first positioning position via three positioning positions located between the first positioning position and the second positioning position during a cycle movement.

[0324] In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer of objects 60 from the second module 2 to the transfer device 32 is staggered. Specifically, in exactly one cycle, objects 60, which are provided by transport units 210 of the second transport system 21 at the first intermediate wheel position, are picked up by a holding unit 380 of the intermediate wheel 38 located in the first intermediate wheel position. The objects 60 picked up by the holding unit 380 are moved with the holding unit 380 from the first intermediate wheel position to the second intermediate wheel position and, in the second intermediate wheel position, transferred to a transfer unit 120 of the transfer device 12 located in the first position, in particular directly from the holding unit 380 to the transfer unit 120.

[0325] Simultaneously with the movement of the holding unit 380 with the picked-up objects 60 from the first intermediate wheel position to the second intermediate wheel position, another holding unit 380 is positioned at the first intermediate wheel position to pick up objects 60 with each cycle.

[0326] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 9 to 11, picking up and dropping takes place at two holding units 380 offset by 90°. In the illustrated embodiment, the four holding units 380 are each moved during a cycle movement from the first intermediate wheel position directly to the second intermediate wheel position and, via two intermediate wheel positions located between the second and first intermediate wheel positions, from the second intermediate wheel position to the first intermediate wheel position.

[0327] The transfer device 32, in embodiments as shown in Figures 9 to 11, is designed as a transfer wheel with a rotational axis. The transfer device 32, designed as a transfer wheel, is rotated around the rotational axis with each cycle to position an empty transfer unit 320 for receiving objects 60 at the first position and to position another transfer unit 320 containing objects 60 at the second position for transfer to a successor unit. The offset angle over which the transfer device 32 is moved per cycle depends on the number of transfer units 320. The illustrated transfer device 32 has eight transfer units 320 evenly distributed around its circumference, so that with each cycle the transfer device is moved over an offset angle of 45°, in the illustrated embodiment, in particular, clockwise.

[0328] In certain embodiments, the intermediate wheel 38 rotates about an axis of rotation, particularly with a direction of rotation opposite to that of the transfer device 32. The illustrated intermediate wheel 38 has eight holding units 380 evenly distributed around its circumference, so that with each cycle the intermediate wheel is moved through an offset angle of 90°, in the illustrated embodiment particularly counterclockwise. In certain embodiments, the transfer units 120 and / or the holding units 380 are adjustable from the orbit at the positioning positions or the intermediate wheel positioning positions for picking up and / or transferring the objects 60.

[0329] In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer units 320 are each adjustably mounted in the radial direction of the transfer wheel for picking up and / or transferring the objects 60. In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer units 320 are each adjustably mounted on a radially extending rail 321.

[0330] In the illustrated embodiment, an adjustment movement is applied to each of the transfer units 320 by means of a crank 322. The transfer units 320 are each coupled to a central adjusting wheel 323 by means of the crank 322. In certain embodiments, the adjusting wheel 323 and the cranks 322 enable the transfer units 320 to move radially outwards to receive or transfer the objects 60.

[0331] In the illustrated embodiment, the holding units 380 are each adjustably mounted in the radial direction of the intermediate wheel 38 for picking up and / or transferring the objects 60. In the illustrated embodiment, the holding units 380 are each adjustably mounted on a radially extending rail 381.

[0332] In the illustrated embodiment, an adjustment movement is applied to each of the holding units 380 by means of a crank 382. The holding units 380 are each coupled to a central adjusting wheel 383 by means of a crank 392. In certain configurations, the adjusting wheel 383 and the cranks 382 enable the holding units 380 to be moved radially outwards to receive or transfer the objects 60.

[0333] As shown in Fig. 10, the transfer units 320 are adjustable at the first positioning position, particularly in the direction of the preceding unit providing the objects 60, especially in the direction of the intermediate wheel 38, in order to receive the objects 60 at the transfer unit 320 in the first positioning position.

[0334] The transfer units 320 are adjustable at the second position, particularly in the direction of the successor unit that receives the objects 60, in order to transfer the objects 60 from the transfer unit 320 at the second position, especially in embodiments as shown, to the insertion device 27. After picking up or transferring the objects 60, the transfer units 320 can be moved back to an initial position in embodiments and thus away from the preceding successor unit that provides the objects or the successor unit that receives the objects, in order to enable collision-free cycle movement, in particular an offset by an angle.

[0335] The holding unit 380, located at the second intermediate wheel position, is adjustable in the direction of the transfer device 12, particularly simultaneously with the transfer unit 320 located in the first position, in order to transfer the objects 60 to the transfer unit 320 located in the first position.

[0336] In various configurations, the transfer units 320 and / or the holding units 380 each have receptacles 324 or receptacles 384 for the objects 60 on an exposed end face.

[0337] As shown in Figs. 9 to 11, the receptacles 324 of a respective transfer unit 320 and / or the receptacles 384 of a respective holding unit 380 are arranged linearly next to each other in one arrangement direction.

[0338] The arrangement direction of the receptacles 324 of the transfer units 320 is, particularly in the second position, aligned parallel to a series of receptacles of the object carrier 62 provided, in particular at the receiving point. The objects 60 can be removed from the receptacles 324 by moving the transfer unit 320 perpendicular to the arrangement direction and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the objects 60.

[0339] The transport direction of the transport bodies 316 on the transport surface 314, particularly for providing empty receiving rows for the objects 60, can be selected appropriately depending on the application. In particular, the transport direction is selected in embodiments such that it coincides with the radial direction of the transfer unit 320 arranged in the second position.

[0340] The transfer units 120 are, in particular, first adjustable in the transport direction (x-direction) to transfer the objects 60, especially to the removal tool 370, and then in the opposite direction of transport without the transferred objects 60.

[0341] The arrangement direction of the receptacles 324 of the transfer units 320 is, in particular in the first position, parallel to an arrangement direction of the receptacles 384 of the holding units 380 in the second intermediate wheel position. The arrangement direction of the receptacles 384 of the holding units 380 is, in particular in the first position, aligned parallel to a series of receptacles for objects on object holders of the transport units 210 of the second module 2.

[0342] The transfer units 320, in configurations as shown, are plate-shaped and have a height in the longitudinal direction of the objects 60 that is a maximum of 50%, and in particular a maximum of 30%, of the length of the objects 60. This allows the weight of the transfer units 120 to be kept low. The transfer units 320 interact with an area of ​​the objects 60 adjacent to a flange of the objects 60 to receive the objects.

[0343] The receptacles 324 of the transfer units 320 and / or the receptacles 384 of the holding units 380, in embodiments not shown in the figures, have clamping devices to hold the objects 60 passively, in particular without driven elements, or actively, in particular by driven elements, at least during movement from the dispensing point to the successor unit. The receptacles 324, 384 are adapted to the objects 60 to be received in various embodiments. In some embodiments, the receptacles 324, 384 are provided on format parts, whereby the transfer device 32 and / or the intermediate wheel 38 can be adapted to different objects 60 by exchanging the format parts.

[0344] In the illustrated embodiment, ten objects 60 are dispensed from a transfer unit 320 to the insertion device 37 at the second positioning position in one cycle. In certain configurations, the number of objects corresponds to the number of object scans per scan row of the slides 62.

[0345] At the same interval, at the first positioning position, a group of objects, in the illustrated embodiment ten objects 60, are transferred from a holding unit 380 of the intermediate wheel 38 to a transfer unit 320, and at the first intermediate wheel positioning position, ten objects 60 are transferred from the transport system 21 of the second module 2 to a holding unit 380.

[0346] The holding unit 380, located at the first intermediate wheel position, receives the objects 60 from transport units 210 of the transport system 21. In the illustrated embodiment, each transport unit 210 of the second module 2 is designed to hold five objects 60. In some embodiments, two transport units 210 are provided at the first intermediate wheel position for the transfer of the objects 60 to the holding unit 380, with objects 60 being present at all receiving points of the provided transport units 210, and objects 60 being received from the transport units 210, in particular all provided objects 60.In certain configurations, three transport units 210 are provided at the first intermediate wheel position for the transfer of objects 60 to the holding unit 380. One of the provided transport units 210 is not fully occupied, for example, because objects 60 were already removed in a previous cycle and / or objects 60 are missing due to an irregularity. In this case, not all objects 60 are picked up from another transport unit 210. The remaining objects 60 are picked up in a subsequent cycle, particularly an immediately following one, at a holding unit 380 located at the first intermediate wheel position.

[0347] In various configurations, the transport units 210 have more or fewer receptacles for objects 60. For the transfer of the objects 60 to the holding unit 380, a sufficient number of transport units 210 can be provided, each with one receptacle for exactly one object and / or with multiple receptacles for each object 60, so that, particularly in error-free operation, objects 60 can be transferred to all or a desired number of receptacles of the holding units 380.

[0348] In certain embodiments, the transfer device 12 and the intermediate wheel 38 are arranged to transfer objects 60 at a zone transition between two atmospherically separated zones. In particular, in certain embodiments, the second intermediate wheel position and / or the second position is located in the area of ​​the airlock. Specifically, objects 60 can be transferred from one zone to a separate zone by adjusting a holding unit 380 located at the second intermediate wheel position and / or a transfer unit 320 located at the first position.

[0349] In particular, the second module 2 is arranged in a first zone of a sterile environment in certain embodiments. This sterile environment is, for example, a cleanroom created inside an isolator. The third module 3 is, in certain embodiments, arranged at least partially outside a sterile environment. In some embodiments, the third module 3 is arranged in a second zone of the sterile environment, wherein the second zone is spatially and / or atmospherically separated from the first zone of the sterile environment.

[0350] In the embodiment shown in Figures 9 to 11, the objects 50 are inserted into the slides 62 using the insertion tool 370. In contrast to the design of the first module 1 shown in Figures 3 to 6, no lifting device 18 or the like, which is inserted into a space between the transport surface 314 and the receptacle 318 for accessing the objects 60, is necessary. In the illustrated embodiment, the linkages 315, via which the receptacles 318 are connected to the transport bodies 316, are nevertheless identical in design to the linkages 115 of the first module 1. In other embodiments, differently designed linkages 315 are provided on the third module.

[0351] Fig. 12 shows a top view detail of a second embodiment of a module 3 for inserting objects. The third module 3 according to Fig. 12 is similar to the third module 3 according to Figs. 9 to 11, and for a detailed description, reference is made to the figures above.

[0352] In contrast to the design according to Figures 9 to 11, the third module 3 has a special removal device 39. The special removal device 39 serves, for example, for a sample pull, such as to remove one or more objects 60 from the system 1000 for inspection, particularly before inserting the object 60 or objects 60 into the slide 62. The special removal device 39 also serves, for example, for rejecting defective items, such as one or more objects 60, particularly objects that have been identified and / or marked as conspicuous or defective on the transport system 21.

[0353] The special removal device 39 is configured as shown in Fig. 12 to take a number of objects 60, in particular all objects 60 arranged on the transfer unit 320, from a transfer unit 320 of the transfer device 32 at a third position of the transfer device 32 and to make the taken-up objects 60 available at a special delivery point on the transport surface 314. In certain configurations, the special delivery point serves a sample train and is also referred to as the sample train delivery point.

[0354] The special removal device 39 is configured as shown in Fig. 12 to receive a number of objects 60, in particular individual objects 60 arranged on the transfer unit 320, which have been identified and / or marked as conspicuous or defective, from a transfer unit 320 of the transfer device 32 at a third position of the transfer device 32. In particular, further objects 60 may remain on the transfer unit 320. The reset transport system 31 can be operated in such a way that when the transfer unit 320, which is empty due to the transfer of all objects 60 at the third position, reaches the first position for transferring the objects to the specimen carrier 62, the transport body 316, which provides an empty receiving row at the receiving point, remains at the receiving point, so that the specimen carrier 62 is completely filled with objects.

[0355] The special removal device 39 shown comprises a manipulator 392 which is equipped with an active and / or passive holding device 394 for the objects 60.

[0356] In the illustrated embodiment, the manipulator 392 is designed as a rotatable arm with a pivot axis arranged perpendicular to the transport surface 314. The rotatable arm is provided with the holding device 394 at its free end. In some embodiments, the holding device 394 is arranged on the arm in a translationally adjustable manner. In other embodiments, the holding device 394 is arranged fixedly on the arm.

[0357] The manipulator 392, designed as an arm, is rotatable about its axis of rotation. The manipulator 392 can be moved into a removal position (shown with dashed lines) in which the holding device 394 of the transfer unit 320 is opposite the third position, so that in the removal position of the manipulator 392, objects 60 can be removed from the third position using the holding device 394. In certain embodiments, removal is achieved by moving the transfer unit 320, located at the third position, radially. This radial movement transfers the objects 60 to the holding device 394.

[0358] The manipulator 392 can be moved further into a dispensing position shown in Fig. 12 with solid lines, whereby in the dispensing position of the manipulator 392, objects 60 removed with the holding device 394 can be made available at the special dispensing point.

[0359] In the illustrated embodiment, the special dispensing point is located on or adjacent to the transport surface 314. In certain configurations, the special dispensing device 39 further comprises an additional transport body 395, shown in Fig. 12, with a holding device 396. The control unit 311 (see Fig. 9) is designed to control the transport surface 314 and / or the additional transport body 395, so that the additional transport body 395 can be moved to the special dispensing point for the transfer of the objects 60, as shown in Fig. 12. The additional transport body 395 can then be moved to a suitable position, for example, to a counter station and / or to an outlet from which the objects 60 can be removed by a person for quality control. In certain configurations, the special dispensing device 39 can also be used as a reject outlet to remove defective objects 60 from the system before they are inserted into a slide 62.The removed objects 60 are transferred to the special drop-off point by the additional transport unit 395 and transported to a suitable disposal location. In some configurations, the manipulator 392 can be moved into a position where conspicuous and / or defective objects 60 can be disposed of.

[0360] In the illustrated embodiment, two holding devices 396 are provided on the additional transport body 395. In other embodiments, only one holding device or more than two holding devices are provided.

[0361] In the illustrated embodiment, the manipulator 392 is arranged next to the transport surface 314. In certain embodiments, the manipulator 392 can be moved into a rest position shown in dashed lines in Fig. 12. In these embodiments, the rest position is selected such that no parts of the manipulator 392 are located in the movement range of the transfer device 32 and / or on the transport surface 314.

[0362] In some embodiments, the manipulator's rest position also serves as a special discharge point for objects 60 removed by means of the holding device 394. In these embodiments, the special discharge point is configured such that objects 60 can be removed, particularly manually, from the holding device 394 of the manipulator 392 when it is in its rest position. In some embodiments, the special discharge point is designed so that objects 60, especially conspicuous and / or defective objects 60 and / or marked objects 60, can be disposed of at the special discharge point. For example, the objects 60 can be disposed of at the special discharge point via a gravity conveyor, such as a chute and / or a roller conveyor.

[0363] Fig. 12 does not show an intermediate gear 38 (cf. Fig. 9). In embodiments, the gear shown in Fig.

[0364] However, the third module shown in Figure 12 also features an intermediate gear 38, which transfers objects 60 to the transfer device 32. In some embodiments, the special removal device 39 is designed to remove objects 60 from the intermediate gear 38.

[0365] Fig. 13 shows a section of another embodiment of a system for carrying out process steps, wherein a first module 1 and a section of a transport system 21 of a second module 2 are shown in Fig. 13. The first module 1 according to Fig. 13 is similar to the module 1 according to Figs. 3 and 4, and uniform reference numerals are used for identical or similar components.

[0366] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 13, the first module 1 comprises a feed-transport system 11, an inlet station 13 at which containers comprising slides 62 and objects 60 inserted therein are fed to the feed-transport system 11, and a removal station 14 at which objects 60 are removed from the respective slides 62.

[0367] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 13, transport bodies 116 with empty slides 62 are transported from the removal station 14 back to the inlet station 13 in order to place the empty slides 62 back into trays 64 at the inlet station 13. The inlet station 13, which then also serves as the outlet station, is also referred to as the extended inlet station 13. In some embodiments, the transfer of full microscope slides 62 from trays 64 into transport bodies 116 before the removal of objects 60 from the microscope slide 62, and the transfer of empty microscope slides 62 from the transport bodies 116 into trays 64 after the removal of objects from the microscope slide 62, is carried out by exactly one manipulator 132 provided at the extended inlet station 13. In other embodiments, several manipulators are provided at the extended inlet station 13 for transferring full or empty microscope slides 62.

[0368] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 13, the feed transport system 11 comprises exactly two transport bodies 116, which are alternately placed at the removal station 14 for the removal of objects 60 from a specimen carrier 62 arranged on the respective transport body 116.

[0369] Containers comprising microscope slides 62 and the objects 60 inserted therein are placed in trays 64 and transported to the inlet station 13. At the inlet station 13, the microscope slides 62 with the objects 60 inserted therein are removed from the trays 64 and transferred to a transport body 116.

[0370] In Fig. 13, a full microscope slide 62 arranged at the inlet station 13 is shown twice: first, inserted into a tray 64 at a removal point of the feed tray transport system 16, and then, after being transferred from the tray 64, onto a transport body 116 arranged at the inlet station 13. After the objects 60 have been removed at the removal station 13, the microscope slides 62 are placed back into trays 64. Fig. 13 does not show a tray 64 from which the microscope slide 62 arranged at the removal station 14 has been removed.

[0371] In some configurations, the full slide 62 is removed at the removal station, while an empty tray (not shown in Fig. 13) is positioned at a receiving station at the tray outlet 164. After the objects 60 have been removed, the slide 62, shown at the removal station 14 in Fig. 13, can be moved to the receiving station 13 and transferred to the tray (not shown in Fig. 13) located at the tray outlet 164. Each slide 62 can thus be returned to the tray 64 from which it was removed.

[0372] In embodiments, a tub 64 is transported to the receiving area at the tub outlet 164 after the full slide 62 has been transferred to a transport body 116 of the supply transport system 11, wherein a slide 62 previously transferred to the supply transport system 11 is transferred into the tub 64 provided at the tub outlet 164 after the objects 60 have been removed.

[0373] In embodiments as shown in Fig. 13, a bad discharge of the feed trough transport system 16 is provided at a discharge area.

[0374] Fig. 14 shows a section of an embodiment of a system for carrying out process steps, wherein Fig. 14 depicts a first module 1 for removing objects from slides and a section of a transport system 21 of a second module 2. The first module 1 according to Fig. 14 is similar to the module 1 according to Fig. 13, and uniform reference numerals are used for identical or similar components. In embodiments, such components have the same features and / or combinations of features as described in connection with another embodiment.

[0375] In contrast to the design according to Fig. 13, the first module 1 according to Fig. 14 comprises a feed transport system 11 with two parallel transport rails 112, 113 and two transport bodies 116. In the illustrated embodiment, exactly one transport body 116 is coupled to exactly one transport rail 112, 113 for a back-and-forth movement along the transport rail 112, 113 in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the transport rail 112, 113. In various configurations, the transport bodies 116 are movably mounted on the respective transport rail 112, 113 via coupling units, in particular being slidable or movable with rollers.

[0376] For the movement of the transport bodies 116 along the transport rails 112, 113, drive devices not visible in the embodiments shown in Fig. 14 are provided. In these embodiments, the drive devices each comprise a drive motor and a transmission device for transmitting the drive movement of the drive motor to the associated transport body 116. The transmission devices are, for example, each designed as a closed drive belt movably mounted around the circumference of the associated transport rail 112, 113.

[0377] In various configurations, the transport rails 112, 113 are each designed as stators and the transport bodies as runner units of a linear motor system.

[0378] The transport bodies 116 are each designed to hold at least one full or empty microscope slide. In the illustrated embodiment, the transport bodies 116 each have a receptacle 118 into which a container comprising a microscope slide 62 and the objects 60 inserted therein is inserted.

[0379] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 14, an extended inlet station 13 is provided, at which containers comprising microscope slides 62 and the objects 60 inserted therein are removed from trays 64 and transferred to a transport body 116. The transport bodies 116 are each coupled to one of the two transport rails 112, 113 and are transported along the respective transport rail 112, 113 from the inlet station 13 to a removal station 14 for the removal of the objects 60 from the microscope slide 62. At the removal station 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the objects 60 are removed from the microscope slide 62 in series.

[0380] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 14, the feed transport system 11 comprises exactly two transport bodies 116, which are alternately placed at the removal station 14 for the removal of objects 60.

[0381] The illustrated feed transport system 11 comprises a first transport rail 112 and a second transport rail 113, wherein a first of the two transport bodies 116 is coupled to the first transport rail 112 and a second of the two transport bodies 116 is coupled to the second transport rail 113 for movement along the respective transport rails 112, 113. The transport bodies 116 can be moved automatically, at least section by section, simultaneously and independently of one another. In particular, the transport body 116 arranged on the first transport rail 112 and the transport body 116 arranged on the second transport rail 113 are connected schematically by arrows in Fig.

[0382] 14 are shown simultaneously and independently movable in opposite directions.

[0383] In the operating state shown in Fig. 14, one of the two transport bodies 116 is moved, as schematically indicated by an arrow, along the first transport rail 112 at the removal station 14, in particular intermittently, to provide objects from a receiving row of the slide 62 for removal. The other transport body 116 is moved along the second transport rail 113 to the inlet station 13, so that an empty slide 62 can be removed from the transport body 116 and replaced by a full slide 62.

[0384] The transport bodies 116 each protrude into a space between the two parallel transport rails 112, 113.

[0385] In this configuration, transport along one of the two transport rails 112, 113 takes place to provide the objects 60 at the removal station 14 at a processing height. Transport along a second of the two transport rails 112, 113 for moving the empty slides 62 back to the extended inlet station 13 takes place at a transport height different from the processing height, so that a collision between transport bodies 116 moving in opposite directions is avoided.

[0386] In the illustrated embodiment, the transport bodies 116 are each assigned to one of the two transport rails 112, 113, whereby the transport rails 112, 113 can be positioned alternately in the processing height.

[0387] The feed transport system 11 comprises, in embodiments, at least one, in particular as shown in Fig. 14, two displacement devices 117. The transport rails 112, 113 are movable transversely to their respective longitudinal direction by the displacement devices 117, each with the transport body 116 arranged thereon.

[0388] In particular, the transport rails 112, 113 are movable in a longitudinal direction of the object holders of an object carrier 62 arranged on the transport body 116 in order to position the transport rails 112, 113 alternately at the processing height. In an operating state shown in Fig. 14, the first transport rail 112 is arranged at the processing height. The second transport rail 113 is arranged at the transport height. After or before transport of the transport body 116 along the second transport rail 113 to the removal station 14, the second transport rail can be arranged at the processing height.In particular, in a process immediately following the removal of the objects 60 from the last receiving row of the object carrier 62 of the transport body 116 arranged on the first transport rail 112, the object carrier 62 received by the transport body 116 arranged on the second transport rail 113 can be placed at the removal station 14 for the removal of the objects 60.

[0389] After the objects 60 have been removed, the first transport rail 112 can be adjusted to the transport height, in particular lowered. The associated transport body 116 can then be moved along the first transport rail 112 to the inlet station 13 without collision.

[0390] In embodiments such as those shown in Fig. 14, the objects 60 are removed from the object carrier 62 by a transfer device 12. In some embodiments, the transfer device 12 functions as a removal device. In particular, the transfer device 12 has a feature and / or a combination of features as described in connection with the other embodiments.

[0391] In some embodiments, to remove the objects 60 from the respective object carrier 62, at least parts of the transfer device 12, in particular transfer units 120 of the transfer device 12, are adjusted longitudinally along the objects 60. In other embodiments, to remove the objects 60 from the respective object carrier 62, the transport rails 112, 113 with the transport bodies 116 are adjusted longitudinally along the objects 60.

[0392] In some embodiments, when objects 60 are removed, the transport body 116 is moved along with the respective object carrier 62. In other embodiments, the transport rail 112, 113 with the transport body 116 attached to it is moved, in particular by the associated displacement devices 117, in the removal direction, especially in the longitudinal direction of the objects 50, when objects 60 are removed.

[0393] In various embodiments, objects 60 from a series of images on the slide 62, in particular all objects 60 from a series of images on the slide 62 provided at a dispensing point, are picked up by a transfer unit 120 of the transfer device 12. The objects 60 are picked up, in particular, by a transfer unit 120 arranged at a first positioning position. In particular, the transfer unit 120 arranged at the first positioning position is adjusted, in particular in the radial direction, to pick up objects 60, in particular to insert them into receptacles.

[0394] After the objects 60 have been picked up at the transfer unit 120, the transport body 116 with the attached object carrier 62 is adjustable relative to the objects 60 in a removal direction in the longitudinal direction of the objects 60. In some embodiments, the movement of the transport body 116 with the attached object carrier 62 relative to the objects 60 is effected by a movement of the associated transport rail 112, 113 away from the transfer unit 120 in the removal direction.

[0395] In certain configurations, the transfer device 12 serves as a removal device to remove the objects 60 from the object carrier 62 during the movement of the respective transport rail 112, 113.

[0396] The objects 60 removed from the object carrier 62 by the transfer device 12 during movement in the removal direction, in particular during lowering, of the respective transport rail 112, 113 are subsequently transferred by the transfer device 12 to a second module 2 with a process section for carrying out process steps on the objects 60.

[0397] After the objects 60 have been removed, the associated transport rail 112, 113 can be moved back to the processing height in the opposite direction to the removal direction. Subsequently, the transport body 116 can be moved along the transport rail 112, 113 to pick up objects 60 from a subsequent picking row of the object carrier 62 at a transfer unit 120.

[0398] As schematically shown, in various embodiments, successive rows of the slides 62 are arranged with a hexagonal offset. In these embodiments, the transport rails 112, 113 are adjustable transversely, and in particular perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the transport rails 112, 113 parallel to an extension direction of the slide rows, at least in the processing height, in order to provide the slide rows successively at a delivery point in defined object positions, in particular for removal by the transfer device 12.

[0399] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 14, transport bodies 116 with empty slides 62 are transported from the removal station 14 back to an extended inlet station 13 in order to place the empty slides 62 back into trays 64 at the inlet station 13. In some embodiments, the transfer of the full slides 62 from the trays 64 into the transport bodies 116 before the removal of the objects 60 from the slide 62, and the transfer of the empty slides 62 from the transport bodies 116 into the trays 64 after the removal of the objects from the slide 62, is carried out by exactly one manipulator 132 provided at the extended inlet station 13. In other embodiments, several manipulators are provided at the extended inlet station 13 for transferring full or empty slides 62.

[0400] The feed tray transport system 16, as shown in Fig. 14, does not include a tray buffer area. In certain configurations, after the removal of a full slide 62, the empty tray 64 remains in its position until a previously emptied slide is returned to the tray 64 from which it was removed at the tray outlet 164 and transported away. The tray 64 can then be moved to the tray outlet 164 so that the removed slide 62, after the removal of the objects 60, can be transferred to the tray 64 provided at the tray outlet 164.

[0401] System 1000, and in particular the first module 1, is at least partially arranged in a cleanroom environment in certain configurations. The vats 64 are introduced into the cleanroom environment via an airlock 104 (schematically represented by a line in Figures 13 and 14).

[0402] Fig. 15 shows a section of an embodiment of a system for carrying out process steps, wherein a third module 3 and a section of a transport system 21 of a second module 2 are depicted in Fig. 15. The third module 3 according to Fig. 15 is similar to the module 3 according to Fig. 9, and uniform reference numerals are used for identical or similar components. In embodiments, such components have the same features and / or combinations of features as described in connection with another embodiment.

[0403] In contrast to the design according to Fig. 9, the third module 3 according to Fig. 15 comprises a reversing transport system 31 with two parallel transport rails 312, 313 and two transport bodies 316. In certain embodiments, each transport body 316 is coupled to exactly one transport rail 312, 313 for a back-and-forth movement along the transport rail 312, 313 in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the transport rail 312, 313. In certain embodiments, the transport bodies 316 are movably mounted on the respective transport rail 312, 313 via coupling units, in particular being slidable or movable with rollers.

[0404] For the movement of the transport bodies 316 along the transport rails 312, 313, drive devices not visible in the embodiments shown in Fig. 15 are provided. In these embodiments, the drive devices each comprise a drive motor and a transmission device for transmitting the drive movement of the drive motor to the associated transport body 316. The transmission devices are, for example, each designed as a closed drive belt movably mounted around the circumference of the associated transport rail 312, 313.

[0405] In various configurations, the transport rails 312, 313 are each designed as stators and the transport bodies as runner units of a linear motor system.

[0406] The transport bodies 316 are each designed to receive at least one full or empty microscope slide 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the transport bodies 316 each have a receptacle 318 into which exactly one microscope slide 62 can be inserted.

[0407] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 15, an extended inlet station 33 is provided, at which empty slides 62 are removed from trays 64 and transferred to a transport body 316. The transport bodies 316 are each coupled to one of the two transport rails 312, 313 and are transported along the respective transport rail 312, 313 from the inlet station 33 to a reset station 34 for inserting the objects 60 into the slides 62. At the reset station 34, in the illustrated embodiment, the objects 60 are inserted row by row into the provided slides 62.

[0408] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 15, the reset transport system 31 comprises exactly two transport bodies 316, which are alternately placed at the reset station 34 for the insertion of objects 60.

[0409] The illustrated reset transport system 31 comprises a first transport rail 312 and a second transport rail 313, wherein a first of the two transport bodies 316 is coupled to the first transport rail 312 and a second of the two transport bodies 316 is coupled to the second transport rail 313 for movement along the respective transport rails 312, 313. The transport bodies 316 can be moved automatically, at least section by section, simultaneously and independently of one another. In particular, the transport body 316 arranged on the first transport rail 312 and the transport body 316 arranged on the second transport rail 313 are shown schematically by arrows in Fig.

[0410] 15 are shown simultaneously and independently movable in opposite directions.

[0411] In the operating state shown in Fig. 15, one of the two transport bodies 316 is moved, as schematically indicated by an arrow, along the first transport rail 312 at the reset station 34, in particular moved intermittently, to provide a receiving row of the slide 62 for the insertion of the objects 60 into the receiving row. The other transport body 316 is moved along the second transport rail 313 to the inlet station 33, so that a slide 62 loaded with objects 60 can be removed from the transport body 316 and replaced by an empty slide 62.

[0412] The transport bodies 316 each protrude into a space between the two parallel transport rails 312, 313.

[0413] In this configuration, transport along one of the two transport rails 312, 313 to provide the receiving rows for the objects 60 at the reset station 14 takes place at a processing height. Transport along a second of the two transport rails 312, 313 for moving an empty slide 62 from the extended inlet station 13 towards the reset station 34 takes place at a transport height different from the processing height, so that a collision between transport bodies 316 moving in opposite directions is avoided.

[0414] In the illustrated embodiment, the transport bodies 316 are each assigned to one of the two transport rails 312, 313, whereby the transport rails 312, 313 can be positioned alternately in the processing height.

[0415] The resetting transport system 31 comprises, in embodiments, at least one, in particular as shown in Fig. 15, two displacement devices 317. The transport rails 312, 313 are movable transversely to their respective longitudinal direction by the displacement devices 317, each with the transport body 316 arranged thereon.

[0416] In particular, the transport rails 312, 313 are movable in a longitudinal direction of the object supports of an object carrier 62 arranged on the transport body 316 in order to position the transport rails 312, 313 alternately in the processing height.

[0417] In an operating state shown in Fig. 15, the first transport rail 312 is arranged at the processing height. The second transport rail 313 is arranged at the transport height. After or before transporting the transport body 316 along the second transport rail 313 to the reset station 34, the second transport rail 313 can be arranged at the processing height. In particular, immediately following the insertion of the objects 60 into the last empty receiving row of the object carrier 62 of the transport body 316 arranged on the first transport rail 312, the empty object carrier 62 received by the transport body 316 arranged on the second transport rail 313 can be positioned for insertion of the objects 60 at the reset station 14.

[0418] After the objects 60 have been inserted into the fixtures, the first transport rail 312 can remain at the processing height and the transport bodies 316 can be moved along the transport rail 312 to the inlet station 33 at the processing height. Once the full slide 62 on the transport body 316 has been replaced by an empty slide 62 at the inlet station 33, the transport rail 312 can be adjusted to the transport height, in particular, lowered. The associated transport body 116 can then be moved along the first transport rail 112 to the reset station 34 without collision.

[0419] In certain embodiments, the objects 60 are inserted into the provided object carrier 62 by means of a transfer device 32, as shown in Fig. 15. In some embodiments, the transfer device 32 functions as an insertion device.

[0420] In some embodiments, when the objects 60 are inserted into the object carrier 62, at least parts of the transfer device 32, in particular transfer units 320 of the transfer device 32, are adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the objects 60.

[0421] In some embodiments, when objects 60 are inserted into the slide, the transport body 316 is moved along with the respective slide 62. In other embodiments, the transport rail 312, 313 with the transport body 316 attached to it is moved, in particular by the associated displacement device 317, in the insertion direction, especially in the longitudinal direction of the objects 50, when objects 60 are inserted. In particular, in some embodiments, the transport rail 312, 313 with the transport body 316 is moved in an insertion direction towards the transfer unit 320 in order to insert the objects 60 arranged on the transfer unit 320 into the receiving row of the slide 62.

[0422] In various embodiments, objects 60 are inserted into object images of a series of images of the object carrier 62, in particular into all object images of a series of images of the object carrier 62 provided at a receiving point, by means of a transfer unit 120 of the transfer device 12. The objects 60 are inserted, in particular by a transfer unit 120 arranged at a second positioning position. In particular, the transfer unit 120 arranged at the second positioning position is adjusted, in particular in the radial direction, to provide objects 60 at the receiving point.

[0423] After the objects 60 have been placed at the receiving point, the transport body 316 with the attached object carrier 62 is adjustable relative to the objects 60 in an insertion direction along the longitudinal direction of the objects 60. In some embodiments, the movement of the transport body 316 with the attached object carrier 62 relative to the objects 60 is achieved by moving the associated transport rail 312, 313 in the insertion direction towards the transfer unit 320.

[0424] In certain configurations, the transfer device 32 serves as an insertion device to insert the objects 60 into the object carrier 62 during the movement of the respective transport rail 312, 313.

[0425] After the objects 60 have been inserted into the slide 62, the transfer unit 320 is adjustable to remove the objects 60 from the transfer unit 320, in particular to remove the objects 60 from the receptacles of the transfer unit 320. In some embodiments, the transport body 316 is movable along the transport rail 312, 313 to separate the inserted objects 60 from the transfer unit 320 and / or to position a subsequent row of receptacles of the slide 62 at the discharge point.

[0426] After the transfer unit 320 has been inserted and separated from the objects 60, the associated transport rail 312, 313 can be moved back to the processing height in the opposite direction to the insertion direction.

[0427] As schematically shown, in various embodiments, successive rows of the slides 62 are arranged with a hexagonal offset. In these embodiments, the transport rails 312, 313 are adjustable at least in the processing height transversely, and in particular perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the transport rails 312, 313, in order to provide the rows of slides one after the other at a delivery point in defined object positions.

[0428] A reset tub transport system 36 is provided for moving the tub 64 to and from the extended inlet station 33.

[0429] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 15, transport bodies 316 with slides 62 containing the objects 60 are transported from the reset station 34 back to the extended inlet station 33 in order to place full slides 62 into trays 64 at the inlet station 33. In some embodiments, the transfer of the full slides 62 from the transport bodies 316 into the trays 64 and the transfer of the empty slides 62 from the trays 64 into the transport bodies 316 before the objects 60 are inserted is carried out by exactly one manipulator 332 provided at the extended inlet station 33. In other embodiments, several manipulators are provided at the extended inlet station 33 for transferring full or empty slides 62.

[0430] The system 1000, shown for example in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises in various embodiments at least one process station 22, 24, 26, 28 for carrying out process steps on objects and a transport system 21. In particular, the transport system 21 comprises in various embodiments several transport units 210 that can be moved simultaneously and independently of one another relative to the process station 22, 24, 26, 28.

[0431] The transport units 210 are in configurations simultaneously and independently of each other, in particular speed and / or position controlled, in particular one after the other to the at least one process station 22, 24, 26, 28.

[0432] In embodiments such as those shown in Figures 3, 4 and 9, each transport unit 210 is designed to accommodate at least two objects 60. In particular, the transport units 210 shown in Figures 3, 4 and 9 are each designed to accommodate up to five objects 60.

[0433] In some embodiments, object holders 204 are arranged on the transport units 210 for receiving and holding the objects 60 during transport. In some embodiments, the object holders 204 are detachable from the transport units 210 without tools. In other embodiments, the object holders 204 are permanently attached to the transport units 210. Figures 16 to 19 show schematic views of a detail of an embodiment of module 2 of a system for carrying out process steps on objects 60, where in Figure 1...

[0434] Figures 16 to 19 show the detail of a process station in a first state, a second state, a third state and a fourth state.

[0435] In the system shown in Figures 16 to 19, a module 2 is provided comprising a transport system 21 and a schematically represented process station 23. The illustrated process station 23 includes several, in the illustrated embodiment twelve, processing positions 230. In some embodiments, the process station 23 is a measuring station, for example a weighing station. In other embodiments, the process station is a working station, for example a filling station. A transport direction is schematically represented by an arrow in Figure 16.

[0436] The transport system 21 comprises several transport units 210 that can be moved simultaneously and independently of one another along a transport path 211 relative to the process station 23. In the illustrated embodiment, an object holder 204 is arranged on each transport unit 210. The illustrated object holders 204 are each designed to hold at least two, and in the illustrated embodiment four, objects 60. In other embodiments, the object holders 204 are each designed to hold two, three, five, six, or seven objects 60. The illustrated object holders 204 are each designed to hold the objects 60 aligned in a straight line parallel to a transport direction schematically represented by an arrow in Fig. 16, and in particular to hold them in this arrangement during transport.

[0437] The object holders 204 have in their designs devices to hold the objects 60 actively or passively, in particular to hold them by clamping.

[0438] The transport system 21 further comprises a control unit 217, which is shown schematically in Fig. 16. The control unit 217 is configured to control the transport system 21, in particular the stators arranged along the transport path 211 and / or the transport units 210, in order to move the transport units 210 along the transport path 211. In the illustrated embodiment, the control unit 217 is configured to control the transport system 21 so that a group of transport units 210 is positioned at the process station 23.

[0439] In certain configurations, the control device 217 is designed to control the transport system 21, so that the number of several transport units 210 is supplied as a group to the process station 23, in particular supplied as a group to the process station 23 in exactly one cycle.

[0440] In some embodiments, the number of processing positions 230 is equal to the number of transport units 210 in the group. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, the process station 23 comprises twelve processing positions, with twelve transport units 210 being supplied to the process station 23 as a group. In the illustrated embodiment, the twelve transport units 210 are removed from the process station 23 as a group. The group membership of the twelve transport units positioned at the process station 23 remains unchanged and / or static from the moment the transport units are supplied to the process station 23 as a group until they are removed from the process station 23 as a group.

[0441] The process station 23 has a number of processing positions 230, whereby exactly one object 60 can be positioned at exactly one processing position 230 to carry out the process step.

[0442] In the illustrated embodiment, the number of processing positions 230 is equal to the number of transport units 210 of the group of transport units 210 positioned at the process station 23.

[0443] Each transport unit 210 of the group is assigned to a processing position 230, in the illustrated embodiment exactly one processing position 230. The process station 23 is designed to carry out a process step on the object 60 of the transport unit 210 that is placed in the processing position 230.

[0444] In the illustrated embodiment, objects 60 of the transport units 210 are positioned one after the other at their respective assigned processing position 230, and the process step is carried out on the positioned object 60. Specifically, all objects 60 of a given transport unit 210 are positioned one after the other at their respective assigned processing position 230.

[0445] The system shown is specifically designed for the timed execution of process steps.

[0446] The control device 217 is designed, in particular in the illustrated embodiment, to control the transport system 21 in order to position one object of each transport unit 210 of the group at an assigned processing position 230 for the execution of the process step per cycle.

[0447] The control device 217 is specifically designed to move the transport units 210 as schematically shown in Figs. 16 to 19 in the process station 23 in order to feed the objects 60 of each transport unit 210 to the group of the assigned processing position 230 in a timed sequence.

[0448] As shown in Fig. 16, in particular, an object 60 arranged at the front of a transport unit 210 in the transport direction is first positioned at the assigned processing position 230. Subsequently, as shown in Figs. 17 to 20, the objects 60 arranged along this transport unit 210 in the transport direction are successively positioned at the assigned processing position 230.

[0449] After all objects 60 of the transport units 210 of the group to be processed, in particular all objects 60 arranged on the transport units 210, have been processed at the process station 23, the transport units 210 are transported away from the process station 23 as a group, in particular in exactly one cycle, and a subsequent group of transport units 210 is supplied to the process station 23, in particular in the same cycle.

[0450] For feeding the group of transport units 210 to the process station 23 as a group in one cycle and / or for removing them as a group in one cycle, the transport units 210 are moved in configurations with a larger step size, wherein the larger step size is larger than a step size for a movement in one cycle at the process station 23 for positioning successive objects 60 of the transport units 210 at the respective assigned processing positions.

[0451] The process station 23 shown in Figures 16 to 19 has a machining pass. A machining pass is defined as a constant distance between the machining positions 230 of the process station 23.

[0452] The processing step of process station 23 according to Figures 16 to 19 is, in the illustrated embodiment, greater than the distance between adjacent objects 60 on the transport units 210. A constant distance between adjacent objects 60 on the transport units 210 is referred to as a transport step. Positioning the transport units 210 as a group on process station 23, and in particular performing a process step simultaneously on objects 60 which are picked up by different transport units 210 of the group, is especially advantageous for picking up objects 60 on the transport units 210 at a distance that deviates from a processing step, and in particular is smaller than a processing step.

[0453] The process station 23 shown in Figs. 16 to 19 is, for example, a first weighing station or tare weighing station for recording the empty weight of the objects, a filling station, a second weighing station or gross weighing station for recording the filled weight of the filled objects, or a closing station.

[0454] As described in connection with Fig. 1, the second module 2 comprises several process stations in various embodiments. In particular, a second module for filling and closing containers comprises at least four process stations 22, 24, 26, 28, comprising a first weighing station 22 or tare weighing station for recording the empty weight of the objects, a filling station 24, a second weighing station 26 or gross weighing station for recording the filled weight of the objects, and a closing station 28.

[0455] In certain embodiments, the system comprises several process stations arranged on a transport system 21, in particular on exactly one transport path of the transport system 21. In certain embodiments, a first of the several process stations has a different processing step and / or a different number of processing positions than at least a second of the several process stations. The control device 217 is therefore configured in certain embodiments to adapt the distance of the transport units 210 at the process station, the movement of the transport units 210 at the process station, the number of transport units 210 at the process station, and the supply and / or removal of the transport units 210 to the process station to the distance of and / or the number of processing positions of the respective process station. For example, Fig.

[0456] 20 and 21 as described in detail below, a process station 25, wherein a processing pass of the process station 25 is at least substantially equal to a distance of the objects 60 at the transport units 210.

[0457] The transport system 21 is designed as a linear transport system, comprising at least one closed circular track. The transport units 210 are designed as runners of the linear transport system, which can move simultaneously and independently of one another along the circular track. In particular, the transport system 21 comprises actuators arranged along the circular track, which can be controlled to move the transport units along the circular track.

[0458] Figures 20 and 21 show a schematic view detail of an embodiment of a system for carrying out process steps on objects in a first and a second state, respectively. The system shown in Figures 20 and 21 comprises a module 2 with a transport system 21 with several transport units 210 that can be moved along a transport track 211 and with a process station 25.

[0459] In the illustrated embodiment, the transport units 210 can be moved simultaneously and independently of one another, in particular one after the other. One direction of transport is schematically represented by an arrow in Fig. 20.

[0460] The illustrated transport units 210 are each designed to hold several objects 60. In particular, the illustrated transport units 210 are designed to hold several objects 60 in a straight line parallel to a transport direction along the transport path 211. In the illustrated embodiment, object holders 204 are arranged on the transport units 210, the object holders 204 being designed to hold several objects 60. In particular, the object holders 204 in the illustrated embodiment are designed to hold four objects 60 each.

[0461] Process station 25 has several processing positions 250, where the number of processing positions 250 is greater than the number of objects 60 on a transport unit 210. For example, process station 25 comprises ten processing positions 250.

[0462] For example, process station 25 is designed to perform a process step on an object 60 positioned at some, in particular all, processing positions 250 in exactly one cycle. For example, process station 25 is a filling station for filling objects designed as containers.

[0463] The system shown in Figures 20 and 21 is designed to perform a process step on several objects 60 per cycle at process station 25, wherein the several objects 60 are picked up by a group of transport units 210. In the illustrated embodiment, the group of transport units 210 comprises three transport units 210, each of which holds four objects 60. The illustrated process station 25 has ten processing positions 250 to perform a process step on ten objects 60 per cycle. The transport system 21 is specifically designed to position a group of transport units 210 at process station 25 such that an object 60 is positioned at each processing position 250.Since the number of processing positions 250 is greater than the number of objects 60 on a transport unit 210, at least two of the objects 60 arranged at the processing positions are picked up by different transport units 210 of the group. In the illustrated embodiment, the objects 60 are arranged on three transport units 210.

[0464] The transport system 21 is specifically designed to place a group comprising several transport units 210 at the process station 25 for each cycle, in order to perform one process step per cycle on several objects 60 of the respective group of transport units 210. In the illustrated embodiment, the group membership of the transport units 210 is dynamic and, in particular, variable on a cycle-by-cycle basis.

[0465] In particular, a transport unit 210 is assigned to a group at process station 25 by being fed into process station 25 and is dissolved by being removed from process station 25. The transport units 210 of the respective group for carrying out a process step can be fed into process station 25 either individually or as a group and can be removed from process station 25 either individually or as a group.

[0466] In particular, in certain configurations, transport units 210 are supplied individually or as a group, so that, as shown in Fig. 20, an object 60 is positioned at each processing position 250.

[0467] In embodiments such as those shown in Figures 20 and 21, the number of processing positions 250 is not an integer multiple of the number of objects 60 per transport unit 210. In some embodiments, an object 60, for example, several objects 60, of a transport unit 210 of the group is not positioned at a processing position 250. At these objects 60, a process step is performed with a synchronized cycle time compared to at least one other object 60 of the same transport unit.

[0468] In particular, as shown in Fig. 20, objects 60 arranged at the rear in the transport direction of a transport unit 210 located at the rearmost point of the group of transport units 210 are not positioned at a processing position 250. In the state shown in Fig. 20, the process step is not carried out on two objects 60 arranged at the rear in the transport direction of the transport unit 210. This transport unit 210 remains at the process station 25 for the process step to be carried out in a subsequent cycle, while the other transport units 210 are removed from the process station 25 and released from the group shown in Fig. 20.

[0469] The transport unit 210 remaining at process station 25 is moved at process station 25 to allow the feeding of further transport units 210, so that objects 60 are positioned at all processing positions in the subsequent cycle. The transport unit 210 remaining at the process station and the fed transport units 210 form a group of transport units 210. The transport unit 210 remaining at process station 25 is moved at process station 25 in such a way that the objects 60 of this transport unit 210 that have already been processed are not positioned at a processing position 250, and the objects 60 of this transport unit 210 on which the process step is still to be carried out are positioned at a respective processing position 250, in particular located at the front in the transport direction.

[0470] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 20 and 21, the belonging of the transport units 210 to a group is dynamic and can be changed with each cycle, wherein a group can be positioned at the process station 25 for carrying out the process steps at some, in particular all, processing positions.

[0471] In configurations, the number of processing positions 250 is an integer multiple of the number of objects 60 per transport unit 210, wherein in configurations transport units 210 are positioned as a group at the process station 25, so that a process step is carried out on objects 60 of at least one transport unit 210 of the group with a staggered cycle.For example, the process station has eight processing positions 250 in certain configurations, and the transport units 210 are designed to accommodate four objects. A group of these units is positioned at the process station and comprises a first transport unit 210, located at the front in the transport direction, on which at least one object 60 is provided (for example, exactly one, two, or three objects on which a process step has already been performed, and at least one object on which a process step is to be performed), as well as a second and a third transport unit 210, each comprising objects on which a process step is to be performed. Not all objects 60 of the third transport unit 210, located at the rear in the transport direction, are positioned at processing positions 250.No process step is performed simultaneously, particularly in the same cycle time, on objects 60 not positioned at processing positions 250, as on objects 60 positioned at processing positions 250. On these objects 60, a process step is performed subsequently, particularly in an immediately following cycle time. The third transport unit 210 is repositioned, particularly when the first and second transport units 210 are removed from process station 25, so that the transport unit 210 is positioned at the front in the transport direction of the transport units 210 when the process step is subsequently performed.

[0472] In exemplary embodiments, as shown in Figs. 20 and 21, at least two of the several objects 60 are picked up by different transport units 210 of the group and at least two objects 60 are picked up by a common transport unit 210.

[0473] In the illustrated embodiment, the distance between the processing positions 250 of the process station 25, in particular a processing step, is equal to the distance between the objects 60 on a transport unit 210, in particular a transport step. At least two, in particular several, objects 60, which are positioned at different processing positions 250, in particular adjacent processing positions 250, are arranged on the same transport unit 210. Successive transport units 210 can be positioned on the process station such that the distance between two successive objects 60 on successive transport units 210 is equal to the processing step.

[0474] In the illustrated embodiment, the number of objects 60 of the transport unit 210 remaining at the process station, on which a process step is carried out in a first cycle, for example shown in Fig. 20, is equal to the number of objects 60 of this transport unit on which no process step is carried out in the first cycle.

[0475] In certain configurations, the number of objects 60 of the transport unit 210 remaining at the process station, on which a process step is carried out in a first cycle, is not equal to the number of objects 60 of this transport unit on which no process step is carried out in the first cycle.

[0476] In the illustrated embodiment, the number of objects 60 of the transport unit 210 remaining at the process station, on which no process step was performed in a first cycle (for example, shown in Fig. 20), is such that the number of processing positions 250, at which objects 60 are positioned that are picked up by transport units 210 newly supplied in the subsequent cycle (for example, the cycle shown in Fig. 21), is an integer multiple of the number of objects per transport unit 210. Thus, in a subsequent cycle, a group of transport units 210 can be positioned at the process station 25, at which a process step is performed on the objects 60 of the remaining transport unit on which no process step was performed in the first cycle, as well as on all objects 60 of the other transport units 210 in the group.The transport units 210 of this group are then transported away as a group in one cycle, and another group of transport units 210 is supplied as a group. However, since in this embodiment the number of processing positions is not an integer multiple of the number of objects 60 per transport unit 210, not every object 60 will be positionable at a processing position in a transport unit 210 of the further group.

[0477] In certain embodiments, an advantage of the system shown, for example, in Figures 20 and 21, is its high flexibility, particularly for handling defects and / or gaps instead of an object 60 on a transport unit 210. For example, the transport system 21 is configured to position transport units 210 at a process station in such a way that defects and / or gaps of the transport units 210 are not positioned at any processing position during any cycle. This is advantageous, for example, for a process station that requires all processing positions to be occupied for a process to be carried out, such as a process station designed as a closing station for vacuum plug insertion.In various configurations, the system is designed to position a transport unit 210, which has a defect and / or vacancy, at the process station such that – particularly depending on the position of the defect and / or vacancy and / or the transport unit 210 – at least one object, in particular at least some objects 60 picked up by this transport unit 210, preferably as many as possible picked up by this transport unit 210, is / are supplied to a processing position. This can, for example, reduce the number of objects that have to be discarded.

[0478] Fig. 22 schematically shows a detail of a system for carrying out process steps with a transport system 21 comprising several transport units 210 and with several process stations 22, 24, 26 arranged along a transport path 211 of the transport system, and with a control device 5. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 22, two objects are picked up by each transport unit 210.

[0479] The process stations are configured as a first measuring station 22, specifically a first weighing station, a work station, specifically a filling station 24, and a second measuring station 26, specifically a second weighing station, wherein the measuring stations 22 and 24 are designed for in-process control of a work operation, specifically a filling operation, which is carried out at the work station 24. The first measuring station 22 is arranged upstream of the filling station 24 in the transport direction. The second measuring station 26 is arranged downstream of the filling station 24 in the transport direction.

[0480] In certain configurations, only one measuring station is provided, in particular a measuring station 26 arranged downstream of the filling station 24 in the direction of transport.

[0481] The measuring stations 22, 26 each have at least one measuring position 240, 260. In the illustrated embodiment, each measuring station 22, 26 has two measuring positions 240, 260. In the illustrated embodiment, each transport unit 210 arranged at a measuring station 22, 26 is assigned to a measuring position 240, 260, wherein, for determining a measured value on all objects 60 picked up by a transport unit 210, the objects can be fed to the measuring position 240, 260 one after the other, in particular in successive cycles.

[0482] The measuring positions 260 of, for example, the second measuring station 26, which is arranged downstream of the workstation 24 in the transport direction, are also referred to as post-process measuring positions 260. The measuring positions 220 of, for example, the first measuring station 22, which is arranged upstream of the workstation 24 in the transport direction, are also referred to as pre-process measuring positions 220.

[0483] In embodiments, a measuring station comprises exactly one measuring position, wherein, for determining a measured value on one object, some objects or all objects, 60 transport units 210 can be supplied to the exact one measuring position one after the other and / or the transport units 210 can be moved at the measuring station.

[0484] In various embodiments, the workstation, for example the filling station 24, comprises several processing positions 240 as shown. In the illustrated embodiment, four processing positions 240 are provided, wherein two transport units 210, each with two objects 60, can be positioned at the filling station 24 for a filling operation, in particular for a synchronized filling operation for all objects 60 positioned at the filling station 24 in a single cycle. In some embodiments, the number of measuring positions 220, 260 of at least one measuring station 22, 26, in particular the number of post-process measuring positions 260, is equal to the number of processing positions 240 of the workstation 24.

[0485] In embodiments, the number of measuring positions 220, 260 of at least one measuring station 22, 26, in particular at both measuring stations 22, 24 as shown, is less than the number of processing positions 240 of the work station 24.

[0486] The control device 5 is designed to operate at least one of the measuring stations 22, 26, in particular both measuring stations 22, 26, with multiple operating modes.

[0487] The operating modes for operating measuring stations 22 and 26 differ, in particular, in the number of objects 60 on which a measurement is taken at least once at the respective measuring station within a time interval. Here, a time interval is defined as a period during which a defined number of objects pass the measuring station. Alternatively or additionally, the operating modes may differ in a measurement pattern.

[0488] In particular, the multiple operating modes in embodiments include a 100% control mode in which a measurement is taken for all objects 60 that pass the measuring station 22, 26, and in particular at least one operating mode in which a measurement is taken for fewer objects 60 that pass the measuring station 22, 26 in a time interval than in the 100% control mode. In particular, in the at least one further operating mode, the number of objects 60 for which a measurement is taken is greater than zero.

[0489] In certain embodiments, the control device 5 is configured such that if a measured value of a predetermined category, in particular a measured value assigned to an error category, is determined for an object 60 at at least one post-process measuring position 260 or at one of the several post-process measuring positions 260, the control device 5 switches to an operating mode in which, at at least one of the first measuring station 22 and the second measuring station 25, a measured value is determined for more objects 60 per time interval and / or more transport units 210 per time interval and / or more objects 60 per transport unit 210, with reference to the current operating mode, provided that the control device is not already in an operating mode in which, at least at the first measuring station 22 and / or the second measuring station 26, a measured value is determined for all objects 60 that are supplied to the first measuring station 24 and / or the second measuring station 26 per time interval.A measured value is determined. In embodiments, as schematically shown in Fig. 22, it is provided that the second measuring station has several post-process measuring positions 260 and the first measuring station 22 has several pre-process measuring positions 220, each corresponding to a post-process measuring position 260. In embodiments, it is provided that if a measured value of a predetermined category, in particular a measured value assigned to an error category, is determined for an object 60 at one of the post-process measuring positions 260 of the second measuring station 26, the control device 5 switches to an operating mode in which a measured value is determined at the pre-process measuring position 220 of the first measuring station 22 corresponding to the post-process measuring position 260 for more objects 60 per time interval and / or more transport units 210 per time interval and / or more objects 60 per transport unit 210, relative to the current operating mode.unless the control device 5 is already in an operating mode in which a measured value is determined at the first measuring station 22 for all objects 60 that are supplied to the corresponding preprocess measuring position 220 of the first measuring station 22 per time interval.

[0490] In certain embodiments, it is provided that, at least after a switching delay when switching to an operating mode in which a measured value is determined for more objects at the first measuring station 22, the control device also switches to an operating mode for the second measuring station 26 in which a measured value is determined for more objects at the second measuring station 26. In particular, it is provided in certain embodiments that for all objects 60 for which a measured value is determined at the first measuring station 22, a measured value is also determined at the second measuring station 26.

[0491] The control device 5 is designed in configurations to classify a measured value determined at the at least one post-process measuring position 260 of the second measuring station 26 into a category, in particular selected from the group error category and no-error category, by comparison with a measured value determined at the at least one pre-process measuring position 220 of the first measuring station 22, in particular at a corresponding pre-process measuring position of the first measuring station.

[0492] In certain embodiments, the system shown in Fig. 22 can be operated to determine a measurement value for exactly one object 60 of each transport unit 210 in a first X-percent control mode for each group of transport units 210 with several objects 60 held on them, positioned at the first measuring station 22 and / or the second measuring station 26. In particular, in certain embodiments, each transport unit 210 in the group is assigned to a measuring position at the first measuring station 22 and / or the second measuring station 27, especially to determine a measurement value at all measuring positions simultaneously. In the illustrated embodiment, two transport units 210, each with two objects 60, are positioned as a group at the first measuring station 22 and / or the second measuring station 26. In the first X-percent control mode, a measurement value is then determined for 50% of the objects.In some embodiments, a measurement pattern is varied in the first X-percent control mode. Specifically, some embodiments vary the distribution of the objects 60 on the transport units 210. For example, in some embodiments, a measurement is taken for each transport unit 210 on the first object 60 of a first group positioned at the first and / or second measuring station 22, 26. Then, a measurement is taken for each transport unit 210 on the second object 60 of a second group subsequently positioned at the first and / or second measuring station 22, 26.

[0493] In certain embodiments, the system shown in Fig. 22 can be operated in a second X-percent control mode to determine a measured value for exactly one object 60 of each group of transport units 210, each carrying several objects 60, positioned at the first measuring station 22 and / or the second measuring station 26. In the illustrated embodiment, two transport units 210, each with two objects 60, are positioned as a group at the first measuring station 22 and / or the second measuring station 26. In the second X-percent control mode, if a measured value is determined for exactly one object in the group, a measured value is then determined for 25% of the objects. In certain embodiments, a measurement pattern is varied in the second X-percent control mode.In particular, certain configurations provide for varying the distribution of transport units and / or the distribution of objects 60 to the transport units.For example, in some embodiments, a measurement is first taken on the first object 60 at a transport unit 210 located at the front in the transport direction by a first group positioned at the first and / or second measuring station 22, 26; then, a measurement is taken on the second object 60 at a transport unit 210 located at the front in the transport direction by a second group subsequently positioned at the first and / or second measuring station 22, 26; then, a measurement is taken on the first object 60 at a transport unit 210 located at the rear in the transport direction by a third group subsequently positioned at the first and / or second measuring station 22, 26; and finally, a measurement is taken on the second object 60 at a transport unit 210 located at the rear in the transport direction by a fourth group subsequently positioned at the first and / or second measuring station 22, 26. In other embodiments, this is shown in Fig.The system shown in Figure 22 can be operated in a 100% inspection mode to determine a measurement value for each group of transport units 210, each carrying several objects 60, positioned at the first measuring station 22 and / or the second measuring station 26. In the illustrated embodiment, two transport units 210, each carrying two objects 60, are positioned as a group at the first measuring station 22 and / or the second measuring station 26. The measuring stations 22 and 26 each have only two measuring positions 220 and 260. For a 100% inspection mode, the objects 60 of each transport unit 210 are fed sequentially, particularly in a timed manner, to an assigned measuring position 220 or 260.

[0494] In its various configurations, the control device 5 is designed to switch between an operating mode for the operation of the first measuring station 22 and / or the second measuring station 26.

[0495] In particular, the control device 5 is configured to switch from the second X percent control mode to the first X percent control mode or the 100 percent control mode when a measured value of a predetermined category, in particular an error category, is determined. Specifically, the control device 5 is configured to switch from a control mode, for example the first and / or second X percent control mode, to the 100 percent control mode when a measured value of a predetermined category, in particular an error category, is determined.

[0496] Figures 23 and 24 show in a perspective view and a section view, respectively, an embodiment of a transport system 21, in particular for the second module 2.

[0497] Transport system 21 comprises a circulating transport track 211 with a first track section 212 and a second track section 213, and several transport units 210. The terms "first" and "second" serve only for differentiation and do not indicate any hierarchical order or the like. In certain configurations, the first track section 212 forms a forward section of the circulating transport track 211 of transport system 21, and the second track section 213 forms a return section of the transport track 211.

[0498] In embodiments shown in Figs. 23 and 24, process stations (see, for example, Fig. 1, process stations 22, 24, 26, 28) not shown are arranged on the first track section 212 and / or on the second track section 213. The illustrated transport system 21 comprises two, in particular parallel, closed circular tracks 215, wherein the first track section 212 is provided on a first closed circular track 215 and the second track section 213 on a second closed circular track 215.

[0499] In embodiments, as shown in Figs. 23 and 24, a first proportion of the transport units 210 is assigned to the first circuit 215 and a second proportion of the transport units 210 to the second circuit 215.

[0500] The transport system 21 is designed in particular as a linear motor system, wherein the first circular track and second circular track 215, in particular actuators arranged on the first circular track and the second circular track 215 respectively, can be controlled by a control device not shown, so that the first part of the transport units 210 can be moved along the first circular track 215 and the second part of the transport units 210 can be moved along the second circular track 215.

[0501] The transport system 21, in embodiments as shown in Figures 23 and 24, comprises several object holders 204. Each object holder 204 can be coupled to a transport unit 210 for movement along the first track section 212 or along the second track section 204. In embodiments as exemplified in Figure 24, the object holders 204 and the transport units 210 have coupling elements 2040 and 2100. In the illustrated embodiment, coupling is achieved by first coupling elements 2040, arranged, for example, as bolts, and second coupling elements 2100, provided, for example, as clamping devices, on the transport units 210. The bolts and the clamping device form, for example, a plug connection for coupling each object holder 204 with each transport unit.

[0502] The object holders 204 can be coupled to the transport units 210 without tools by means of a relative movement, or decoupled from the transport units 210 without tools by means of a relative movement.

[0503] In the illustrated embodiment, the first track section 212 and the second track section 213 are each arranged in a horizontal plane.

[0504] In particular, the first track section 212 and the second track section 213 are arranged in a common horizontal plane in the illustrated embodiment. The first track section 212 and the second track section 213 are each arranged straight and parallel to each other in the illustrated embodiment. In other embodiments, at least one track section 212, 213 does not run along a straight line, at least partially. During normal operation of the transport track 21, the object holders 204 traverse the track sections 212, 213, for example, in opposite directions.

[0505] The first section 212 and the second section 213 are spaced apart from each other, so that a free flow space 209 is formed between the first section 212 and the second section 213.

[0506] A flow of air supplied from above through the flow space 209 is shown in Fig.

[0507] Figure 24 schematically illustrates the airflow through the flow space 209. As shown in Figure 24, the airflow is guided, at least partially, through the flow space 209. Specifically, the airflow exits the flow space 209 at an outlet area 2090 located below the first section 212 and the second section 213, relative to the vertical direction. The outlet area 2090 leads into an outflow area located below the first section 212 and the second section 213, relative to the vertical direction. In some embodiments, the outflow area allows the airflow to flow out at at least one end in the longitudinal direction of the sections 212 and 213. In other embodiments, the outflow area allows the airflow to flow out at least one side transversely to the longitudinal direction of the sections 212 and 213.For example, the outflowing airflow exits the outflow area on the opposite side of the section 212, 213, wherein the opposite side of the section 212, 213 is located opposite to the side of the section 212, 213 on which the flow space 209 is formed.

[0508] In some embodiments, the outflow area is designed so that the airflow can flow out to both sides as shown schematically in Fig. 24.

[0509] In some configurations, an airflow can flow through the flow space 209 and exit at a floor area 1100. For example, the airflow is extracted.

[0510] As shown in Fig. 24, the circuit sections 215 in various embodiments have sections 2150 facing each other and extending at least substantially vertically and / or transversely to the track sections 212, 213. In particular, the flow space 209 extends between the facing sections 2150 of the track sections 212, 213. The clear cross-section of the flow space 209 perpendicular to the first track section 212 and the second track section 213 depends on a distance between the first track section 212 and the second track section 213, in particular on a distance between the facing sections 2150, which extend transversely to the track sections 212, 213. In the illustrated embodiment, the distance between the first track section 212 and the second track section 213 is chosen such that the clear cross-section is approximately...one third of the width of the transport system 21 perpendicular to the first track section 212 and the second track section 213.

[0511] The two track sections 212, 213 are connected to each other via two overpass facilities 216.

[0512] The transfer devices 216, in embodiments such as those shown in Figures 23 and 24, each comprise conveyor drives with an endless conveyor element 2160. In particular, the transfer devices 216, as shown in Figures 23 and 24, each comprise conveyor drives with conveyor elements 2160 designed as wheels.

[0513] In configurations for repeated circular movement along the transport route 21, the object holders 204 are decoupled from the transport units 210 at the end of the first route section 212 and the second route section 213, respectively, and coupled to the conveying element 2160 of the conveying drive in order to transfer object holders 204 from the first route section 212 to the second route section 213 and from the second route section 212 to the first route section 213.

[0514] At the outlet of the transfer devices 216, the transferred object holders 204 are decoupled from the conveying element 2160 and coupled to a provided transport unit 210. After the object holders 204 have been decoupled, the empty transport units 210 are, in various configurations, moved from one end of the track sections 212, 213 back to the beginning of the track sections 212, 213 via a track, particularly one running parallel to them, also referred to as an empty track.

[0515] In embodiments, the transport section 211, as shown in Fig. 23, comprises a guide rail, wherein the object holders 204 are guided and movable along the guide rail, in particular for a repeated circular movement along the transport section 211. The object holders 204 are driven along the first section 212 and the second section 213 by the transport units 210 and when transferring the object holders 204 between the first section 212 and the second section 213 by the conveyor elements 2160 designed as wheels.

[0516] In the embodiment shown in Figures 23 and 24, the circular sections 215 are arranged vertically. A vertical arrangement of a circular section 215 is defined as an arrangement in which a forward section of the closed circular section 215 and a return section of the closed circular section 215, arranged in a vertical direction, are offset from each other, particularly parallel to the forward section. In the illustrated embodiment, the return section is designed as an empty section, with the transport units 210 moving along the empty section without object holders 204. In particular, the return section with the empty section is arranged below the forward section with the respective section segment.

[0517] Fig. 25 shows in a perspective view a further embodiment of a transport system 21, in particular for a module 2 for carrying out process steps.

[0518] The transport system 21 shown in Fig. 25 comprises a circulating transport track 211 with a first track section 212 and a second track section 213, several transport units 210, and several object holders 204, each of which can be coupled to the transport units 210. The first track section 212 forms a forward section of the circulating transport track 211 of the transport system 21, and the second track section 213 forms a return section of the transport track 211. In embodiments not shown in Fig. 25, process stations (see, for example, Fig. 1, process stations 22, 24, 26, 28) are arranged at the forward and / or the return section.

[0519] The transport system 21 shown in Fig. 25 also comprises two parallel, vertically arranged, closed circular routes 215, wherein the first route section 212 is provided on a first circular route 215 and the second route section 213 on a second circular route 215.

[0520] Fig. 25 shows only one end of the transport system 21, whereby a second end may be identical or different in design.

[0521] In contrast to the design shown in Figures 23 and 24, the transfer device 216 shown in Figure 25, which connects the two track sections 212 and 213, includes a manipulator 218. The manipulator 218 has a holding device 2180 as its end effector. The holding device 2180 allows a number of object holders 204 to be removed from the transport units 210 on one circulating track 215, transferred to the second circulating track 215, and, in particular, coupled there with transport units 210 provided by the second circulating track 215.

[0522] The number of object holders 204 that can be transferred simultaneously by the manipulator 218 between the first track section 212 and the second track section 213 is, in embodiments, equal to the number of object holders 204 that are positioned as a group in a process station 23 as shown in Figs. 16 to 19 and / or in Figs. 20 and 21.

[0523] In some embodiments, the number of object holders 204 transferred by the manipulator 218 differs from the number of object holders 204 which are positioned as a group in a process station 23 as shown in Figs. 16 to 19 and / or in Figs. 20 and 21.

[0524] The transport units 210 with the object holders 204 are grouped together for processing after being transferred. In these configurations, after the transfer, two or more transport units 210 with object holders 204 are positioned for taking objects 60 from module 1 to remove the objects 60 and / or for transferring objects to module 3 to reset the objects 60.

[0525] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 25, the transport route 211 is closed at the ends of the two route sections 212, 213 via the transfer devices 216, so that the transport route 211 is also a continuous transport route 211 for the object holders 204 within the meaning of this application.

[0526] In some embodiments of the transport system 21 according to Fig. 25, guide rails with two free ends, not shown in Fig. 25, are provided on the track sections 212, 213.

[0527] Transport systems, in particular the transport systems 21 shown in Figs. 16 to 24, with several transport units 210, have in embodiments at least one inlet station, in particular exactly one inlet station, which is designed to supply objects 60 in a continuous sequence or in a timed manner and to arrange the objects 60 on a transport unit provided at the inlet station, in particular on several transport units provided at the inlet station.

[0528] In certain embodiments, the objects 60 are fed in a timed manner, for example by a time-shifted transfer device, in particular a time-shifted transfer wheel. For example, the transfer device 12 is a transfer device 12, designed as a transfer wheel and shown in Figures 3 and 4, comprising several transfer units 120. The transfer device 12 is shifted in a timed manner, so that for each cycle, a transfer unit 120 is positioned at a position to transfer objects 60 present on the transfer unit 120. For a transfer, the transfer unit 120 is adjusted, in particular, radially. The transfer device 12 and the transport system 21 are positioned relative to each other, in particular, such that the transfer units 120 are moved transversely, in particular vertically, to a series of object receivers on the transport units 210 of the transport system 21.The transport units 210 include in particular object holders 204 with object recordings.

[0529] Fig. 26 schematically shows an embodiment of an inlet station for a transport system 21 comprising a transport wheel 1012 rotating at a particularly constant rotational speed, via which objects 60 are fed to and transferred to the transport system 21. The transport wheel 1012 rotates at a particularly constant speed in a direction of rotation indicated by an arrow. The transport wheel 1012 has receptacles 1120 for objects 60 distributed around its circumference, in particular one receptacle 1120 for each object 60. For clarity, only some, in particular eight, objects 60 are shown in Fig. 26.

[0530] The illustrated transport system 21 comprises transport units 210. In the illustrated embodiment, each transport unit 210 is configured to hold a number of objects 60, in particular two. The receptacles 1120 for the objects 60 are arranged in blocks on the transport wheel 1012, with the number of receptacles per block corresponding to the number of objects that a transport unit 210 can hold. In the illustrated embodiment, in particular, two receptacles 1120 are arranged in each block. The distance between the objects 60 arranged in the receptacles of the block corresponds, in some embodiments, to the distance between the objects 60 arranged on one of the transport units 210, in particular a transport step.

[0531] To transfer the objects 60 from the transport wheel 1012, in particular to transfer a block of objects 60, a transport unit 210 is movable synchronously with the transport wheel 1012 in a transfer area. After transferring the objects 60, the transport unit 210 with the objects 60 can be moved away from the inlet station and in particular to a process station (22, 24, 26, 28; see Figs. 1 and 2).

[0532] In the illustrated embodiment, the distance in the transport direction of the transport wheel 1012 between two successive objects 60 of a block is smaller than the distance between two successive objects 60 of successive blocks. In some embodiments, the blocks of objects 60 are provided at the transfer area at a fixed time interval. Exactly one transport unit 210 or several transport units 210 can be positioned at this fixed time interval to pick up the objects 60 of a block.

[0533] Transport systems, in particular the transport systems 21 shown in Figs. 16 to 24, with several transport units 210, have in their configurations at least one outlet station, in particular exactly one outlet station, which is designed to remove objects 60 from a transport unit 210 provided at the outlet station, in particular from several transport units 210 provided at the outlet station, and to discharge them in a continuous sequence or in a timed manner.

[0534] In certain embodiments, the objects 60 are conveyed at intervals, for example by a transfer device that is offset at intervals, in particular an offset transfer wheel, and / or by an intermediate wheel that is moved at intervals. For example, the transfer device 32 is a transfer device 32, designed as a transfer wheel and comprising several transfer units 320, as shown in Figures 9 to 11, or an intermediate wheel 38 as shown in Figures 9 to 11. The transfer device 32 or the intermediate wheel 38 is offset at intervals so that, for each interval, one transfer unit 320 or one unit of the intermediate wheel 38 is positioned at a positioning position to receive objects 60 provided at that position. For receiving, the transfer unit 320 or the unit of the intermediate wheel 38 is adjusted, in particular, in the radial direction.The transfer device 32 and the transport system 21, or the intermediate wheel 38 and the transport system 21, are positioned relative to each other such that the transfer units 320 or the units of the intermediate wheel are moved transversely, in particular vertically, to a series of object receptacles on the transport units 210 of the transport system 21. The transport units 210 have, in particular, object holders 204 with object receptacles.

[0535] In some embodiments, an outlet station has a transport wheel 1012, shown in Fig. 26, which rotates at a particularly constant rotational speed and over which objects 60 are conveyed from the transport system 21. The transfer of the objects from the transport system 21 to the transport wheel 1012 takes place as described above in connection with the inlet station.

[0536] The embodiments described with reference to the figures are merely examples, and numerous variations are conceivable. In particular, individual features of the embodiments shown in the figures can be combined in different configurations to obtain further embodiments.

[0537] In particular, the present disclosure includes embodiments with combinations of features according to the following numbered embodiments:

[0538] 1. System (1000) for carrying out process steps on nested provided objects (60), in particular at least partially under cleanroom conditions, the system (1000) comprises a feed transport system (11) and a removal station (14), wherein

[0539] - the feed transport system (11) is designed for transporting microscope slides and / or containers, each comprising a microscope slide (62) and objects (60) arranged therein, in particular containers, especially pharmaceutical containers,

[0540] - the removal station (14) is designed to remove the objects (60) from the respective slide (62),

[0541] - the supply transport system (11) is designed to place the containers one after the other at the removal station (14) for removal of the objects (60) from the respective object carrier (62), in particular by means of a removal device (17) arranged at the removal station (14),

[0542] - the supply transport system (11) comprises at least two transport bodies (116) and a control device (111),

[0543] - the transport bodies (116) are each designed to accommodate a container and to transport a container arranged on them, and - the control device is designed to control the feed transport system (11) so that the transport bodies (116) with containers arranged on them can be made available alternately, in particular in an endless sequence, at the dispensing station (14).

[0544] 2. System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the objects (60) are to be removed from the object carriers (62) at the dispensing station (14), in particular by means of the dispensing device (17), wherein in particular a cycle time is independent of whether the objects (60) are removed in a preceding and / or subsequent cycle from the same object carrier (62) or a different object carrier (62) as in a current cycle. System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the control device is configured to control the feed transport system (11) so that the transport bodies (116) with the containers can be moved to and / or at the dispensing station (14) in order to provide series of containers on successive transport bodies (116) successively at a dispensing point of the dispensing station (14).

[0545] wherein in particular the control device is designed to control the supply transport system (11) to perform at least one of the following functions:

[0546] to make the recording sequences available at the delivery point one after the other at a set pace; and / or

[0547] to provide the series of recordings one after the other at the delivery point in defined object positions.

[0548] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the feed transport system is designed and the control device (111) is designed to control the feed transport system (11) so that the transport bodies (116) with the containers are movable at least at the removal station (14) at least in one transport direction and transversely to the transport direction,

[0549] in particular to provide objects (60) from successive rows of the container, especially rows of the container arranged with a hexagonal offset, successively at the dispensing point of the dispensing station (14) in defined object positions; and / or

[0550] in particular to provide series of images of the container sequentially at a fixed interval at the delivery point; and / or

[0551] in particular to provide series of containers on successive transport bodies one after the other at a fixed interval at the delivery point.

[0552] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the at least two transport bodies are simultaneously and at least partially independently movable relative to each other, and / or

[0553] which at least two transport bodies are speed-controlled and / or position-controlled, and / or

[0554] at least one transport body comprises a receiving (118). System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the feed transport system (11) comprises a transport surface (114) with two surface directions and several actuators for moving at least one transport body;

[0555] wherein in particular at least one of the following features is provided: that the transport bodies (116) are movable without contact with the transport surface (114); and / or

[0556] that at least one actuator, in particular at least some actuators, is / are arranged on the transport surface (114); and / or

[0557] that at least one actuator, in particular at least some actuators, is / are arranged on the transport bodies (116); and / or

[0558] that at least one actuator, in particular at least some actuators, is / are controllable in order to move the transport bodies (116) simultaneously and at least partially independently of each other relative to the transport surface (114); and / or

[0559] that at least one actuator, in particular at least some actuators, is / are controllable in order to move the transport bodies (116) in a speed-controlled and / or position-controlled manner.

[0560] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the feed transport system (11) comprises at least one transport rail (112, 113), wherein the transport bodies (116) are movable along the at least one transport rail (112, 113), in particular in the longitudinal direction of the transport rail (112, 113),

[0561] in particular at least one of the following features is provided:

[0562] that the transport bodies (116), in particular by means of a displacement device, are movable relative to the at least one transport rail (112, 113) transversely to a longitudinal extension direction of the transport rail (112, 113), in particular in a removal direction of the objects (60) from object receptacles of an object carrier arranged on the transport body and / or parallel to an extension direction of a receptacle row of an object carrier arranged on the transport body, and / or

[0563] that the at least one transport rail (112, 113) or at least one transport rail (112, 113), in particular by means of a displacement device, is movable with at least one transport body transversely to a longitudinal extension direction of the transport rail (112, 113), in particular in a removal direction of the objects (60) from object receptacles of an object carrier arranged on the transport body and / or parallel to an extension direction of a receptacle row of an object carrier arranged on the transport body.

[0564] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the feed transport system (11) has a first transport rail (112) and a second transport rail (113) running parallel to the first transport rail (112) at least partially, wherein a first of the at least two transport bodies (116) is connected to the first transport rail (112) at a first side of the first transport body (116), in particular via a first drive unit and / or via a first coupling unit, and a second of the at least two transport bodies (116) is connected to the second transport rail (113) at a first side of the second transport body (116), in particular via a second drive unit and / or via a second coupling unit.

[0565] wherein in particular the transport bodies (116) each project with a second side opposite the first side into a space between the two transport rails (112, 113).

[0566] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the system (1000) comprises an inlet station (13), wherein the feed transport system (11) is designed to move the transport bodies (116) to the inlet station (13) for receiving the container, and to move the transport bodies (116) with the received container from the inlet station (13) to the discharge station (14),

[0567] wherein in particular the control device (111) is designed to control the supply transport system (11), in particular at least one drive device of the supply transport system and / or at least one actuator, in particular at least some actuators of the supply transport system (11), to move the transport bodies (116) to take over the container to the inlet station (13), and to move the transport bodies (116) with the taken-over container from the inlet station (13) to the removal station (14).

[0568] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the inlet station (13) has a manipulator (132) which is designed to arrange the container on the transport body (116) moved to the inlet station (13), in particular to insert it into the receptacle (118) of the transport body (116) moved to the inlet station (13), wherein the manipulator (132) is in particular equipped with a container holding device (134), wherein in particular the container holding device (134) is designed to grip the slide (62) of the container for transferring the container, and / or wherein in particular the container holding device has suction grippers.

[0569] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the manipulator, in particular its container holding device (134), is designed to remove the container from a tub (64).

[0570] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the system (1000) comprises an outlet station (15), wherein the feed transport system (11) is designed to move the transport bodies (116) from the removal station (14) to the outlet station (15),

[0571] wherein in particular the control device (111) is designed to control the supply transport system (11), in particular at least one drive device and / or at least one actuator, in particular at least some actuators of the supply transport system (11), in order to move the transport bodies (116) from the removal station (14) to the discharge station (15) after the objects (60) have been removed from the respective object carrier (62).

[0572] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the discharge station (15) has a manipulator (152) configured to remove the slide (62) from the transport body (116) moving to the discharge station (15), in particular to remove it from the receptacle (118) of the transport body (116) moving to the discharge station (15), wherein in particular the manipulator (152) has a slide holding device (154), wherein in particular the slide holding device (154) is designed to grip the slide (62) of the container for repositioning the slide (62), and / or wherein in particular the slide holding device (154) has suction grippers.

[0573] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the system (1000) comprises a feed-tub transport system (16) configured to transport tubs (64), in particular empty tubs (64), wherein in particular the system (1000) comprises the inlet station (13) and the outlet station (15), and the feed-tub transport system (16) is configured to transport tubs (64), in particular empty tubs (64), from the inlet station (13) to the outlet station (15). System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the feed-tub transport system (16) comprises a tub buffer area (161, 162), in particular provided between the inlet station (13) and the outlet station (15), and / or a tub discharge (164), wherein in particular the tub discharge (163) is located at the A buffer basin (162) is provided.

[0574] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the feed transport system (11) comprises three, four or more transport bodies (116) that can be moved simultaneously and at least partially independently of one another,

[0575] wherein the transport bodies (116) are each configured to accommodate a container and to transport a container arranged thereon, wherein in particular the transport bodies (116) each have a receptacle (118) configured to accommodate a container,

[0576] and wherein, in particular, the control device (111) is configured to control the feed transport system (11), in particular at least one drive device and / or at least one actuator, in particular at least some actuators of the feed transport system (11), so that the transport bodies (116) are movable in order to move the transport bodies (116) successively to the dispensing station (14), in particular for providing series of receiving objects (60) at the dispensing point in an endless sequence, and / or

[0577] in particular for a timed provision of recording series with objects included therein (60) at the delivery point.

[0578] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the feed transport system (11) has a buffer position, wherein the control device (111) is designed to control the feed transport system (11), in particular at least one drive device and / or at least one actuator, in particular at least some actuators of the feed transport system (11), such that when a first transport body (116) of the at least two transport bodies is arranged at the removal station (14), at least a second transport body (116) of the at least two transport bodies (116) with an arranged, in particular received in its receptacle (118), container can be made available at the buffer position.

[0579] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein a dispensing device (17) is arranged at the dispensing station (14) and wherein the dispensing device (17) is configured to remove objects (60) from a slide, in particular from a receiving array arranged at the dispensing point. System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the dispensing device (17) is configured to remove a number of objects (60), preferably all objects (60) of a receiving array provided at the dispensing point, simultaneously; and / or wherein the dispensing device (17) comprises a removal tool for removing objects from a provided container, wherein in particular at least one of the following features is provided:

[0580] the removal tool comprises a receptacle, in particular several receptacles arranged linearly next to each other in a longitudinal direction of the removal tool for a number of objects, preferably all objects (60), of a series of receptacles provided at the dispensing point;

[0581] The removal tool is adjustable in a removal direction for the objects (60) from the slide; and / or the removal tool is arranged at least partially above the objects (60) of the provided container for the removal of objects (60); and / or the removal tool is made of an autoclavable material; and / or the removal tool has clamping devices, in particular passive and / or active clamping devices, for the objects (60).

[0582] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the dispensing device (17) comprises a lifting device (18) designed to lift objects (60) of a receiving row of a container provided at the dispensing point for dispensing in a dispensing direction, wherein in particular at least one of the following features is provided:

[0583] that the lifting device (18) is designed to lift a number, preferably all, of objects from a receiving array provided at the dispensing point for removal; and / or

[0584] that the lifting device (18) has a lifting bar (180) that can be delivered to the objects, wherein

[0585] in particular the lifting bar (180) at one end of the objects (60), in particular an end at the rear in the removal direction, for example an end facing the transport surface (114), is accessible to the objects (60), and / or

[0586] in particular the receptacle (118) is arranged on the at least one transport body (116) such that a free space is created on one side of the object carrier (62), in particular on the side facing the transport surface (114), wherein the lifting bar (180) can be positioned over the free space to access the objects (60) and wherein the free space is accessible from at least two, preferably three, sides of the room, and / or

[0587] in particular the at least one transport body (116) is disc-shaped with a top surface pointing away from the transport surface (114) and the receptacle (118) is attached to the transport body (116) by means of a C-shaped or L-shaped linkage (115) spaced parallel to the top surface of the transport body (116).

[0588] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the transport body (116) and / or the feed transport system (11) is designed to move at least at the removal station a transport body (116) with a container and / or a slide carrier (62) arranged thereon and / or a container and / or a slide carrier (62) arranged on the transport body (116) in the removal direction transverse to the transport direction, in particular for the removal of the objects.

[0589] System (1000) for carrying out process steps on objects (60), in particular nested objects, in particular at least partially under cleanroom conditions, in particular according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the system (1000) comprises a transfer device (12), wherein the transfer device (12) is designed for clocked operation and is operable to receive at least one object (60) provided at a preceding unit at a first position at each clock cycle, and to transfer at least one object (60) received with a previous clock cycle to a successor unit at a second position, in particular to a unit of a module (2) for carrying out process steps on objects.

[0590] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the transfer device (12) is arranged at the removal station (14), wherein in particular the transfer device (12) is operable to take over objects (60) removed from the slides (62) in the first position, in particular all objects (60) removed from a series of images in one cycle.

[0591] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the transfer device (12) comprises at least two, in particular six to ten, transfer units (120), wherein in particular each of the transfer units (120) is designed to receive at least one object (60) and / or to transfer at least one object (60) in one cycle,

[0592] wherein in particular the transfer units (120) can be moved alternately into the first position and the second position,

[0593] wherein in particular the transfer units (120) are alternately movable along a closed orbit into the first position and the second position, and / or

[0594] wherein in particular the transfer device between the first and second positioning positions has further positioning positions, and / or

[0595] in particular the number of positioning positions equals the number of transfer units.

[0596] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the transfer device (12) comprises at least one displacement drive for moving the transfer units (120) from their respective positioning position to their respective next positioning position, wherein in particular at least one of the following features is provided:

[0597] that the transfer device (12) comprises a common displacement drive for moving the transfer units (120) from their respective positions to their respective next positions, and / or

[0598] that the dislocation drive is a rotary drive; and / or

[0599] that the transfer drive is designed to move the transfer units (120) per cycle in a cycle movement from their respective position to their respective next position; and / or

[0600] that the transfer units (120) are only mounted to be movable in one transfer movement plane; and / or

[0601] that the first and second positioning positions, and in particular all positioning positions, are located in one plane.

[0602] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the transfer device (12) is designed as a transfer wheel rotating about a, in particular, vertical axis of rotation, with at least two, in particular six to ten, transfer units (120), wherein in particular the transfer wheel is rotatable in order to pick up at least one object (60), in particular from a series of receiving units provided at the delivery point, at the first position with a first of the at least two transfer units (120) at each cycle, and to transfer at least one object (60) present at the second transfer unit (120) that was picked up with a previous cycle with a second of the at least two transfer units (120) at the second position.

[0603] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the transfer units (120) each have at least one receptacle (124) for the at least one object (60) to be received on an exposed end face, wherein in particular at least one of the following features is provided:

[0604] that at least one recording (124) is designed to passively and / or actively hold the object (60) at least during a movement from the first position to the second position; and / or

[0605] that several receptacles (124) for objects (60) to be received are provided on the exposed end face, wherein the receptacles (124) of a respective transfer unit (120) are arranged linearly next to each other in an arrangement direction, wherein in particular in the first position the arrangement direction is aligned parallel to a row of objects (60) provided, in particular at the delivery point, and / or in the second position the arrangement direction is aligned parallel to a row of receptacles for objects of the successor unit.

[0606] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the transfer units (120) are each mounted in the transfer device (12) in a linear and / or adjustable manner at least in the first positioning position and / or in the second positioning position, and wherein in particular at least one of the following features is provided:

[0607] that the transfer units (120) are each mounted in a linearly adjustable position transverse to the direction of a cycle movement, at least in the first position and / or in the second position; and / or

[0608] that the transfer units (120) are each mounted in a linearly adjustable position in the radial direction for the cycle movement, in particular in the radial direction of the transfer wheel;

[0609] that the transfer units (120) are each linearly adjustable for receiving and / or transferring the objects (60);

[0610] that the transfer units (120) are each mounted in a linearly adjustable position transverse to the arrangement direction of the transfer unit.

[0611] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the transfer device (12) comprises an actuator designed to move several transfer units (120), in particular all transfer units (120), simultaneously to the positioning positions linearly and / or transversely to the cycle movement and / or out of an orbit of the transfer units (120).

[0612] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein parts of the transfer device (12), in particular the transfer units (120), are permanently or temporarily arranged in a movement area of ​​the transport bodies (116), wherein in particular the parts are arranged perpendicular to a movement plane of the transport bodies at a distance from the movement plane, and / or

[0613] wherein in particular transport bodies can be moved without collision below the parts of the transfer device (12).

[0614] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the system (1000) comprises a cleanroom structure with a housing, wherein a cleanroom condition is created in a cleanroom area of ​​the housing of the cleanroom structure for carrying out process steps at least partially under cleanroom conditions, and a transfer area to the cleanroom area, wherein the feed transport system (11) and the removal station (14), and in particular a successor unit of the removal station (14), are arranged in the cleanroom area, wherein in particular the system comprises a container feed (10) designed to transport containers from an area outside the cleanroom area through the transfer area into the cleanroom area.

[0615] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, comprising a process section (20) for carrying out process steps on the objects (60) taken from the slides (62), in particular for filling and / or closing containers, especially pharmaceutical containers.

[0616] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein an insertion device (37) is provided which is designed for inserting objects (60) into microscope slides (62), wherein in particular the removal of nested objects (60) from microscope slides (62) and the insertion of objects (60) into microscope slides (62) can be carried out with the same flow rate and / or in a timed manner, for example timed with the same number of cycles.

[0617] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the system comprises a reset transport system (31), wherein the reset transport system (31) is designed for transporting containers, each comprising a slide (62) and objects (60) arranged therein, in particular pharmaceutical containers, and

[0618] the reset transport system (31) is designed to place microscope slides (62) successively at the removal station (14) and / or a reset station (34) for insertion of the objects (60) into the respective microscope slides (62), in particular by means of an insertion device (37) arranged at the reset station (34),

[0619] wherein in particular the reset transport system (31) comprises at least two transport bodies (316) and a control device (311), wherein the transport bodies (316) are each configured to arrange a slide (62) on them and to transport a slide (62) arranged thereon, and the control device (311) is configured to control the reset transport system (31) so that the transport bodies (316) with the slides (62) arranged thereon can be alternately provided in an endless sequence at the insertion device (37) and / or the reset station (34).

[0620] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the system is designed to transport empty microscope slides (62) from the removal station (14) to the reset station (34) for inserting the objects into the microscope slides (62) after removal of the objects (60), wherein transport takes place at least in sections in trays.

[0621] System (1000) for carrying out process steps on objects (60), in particular nested objects to be transported, in particular at least partially under cleanroom conditions, in particular according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein

[0622] the system (1000) comprises a reset transport system (31) and a reset station (34), wherein

[0623] the reset transport system (31) is designed for transporting microscope slides and / or containers, each comprising a microscope slide (62) and objects (60) arranged therein, in particular containers, especially pharmaceutical containers,

[0624] the reset station (34) is designed for inserting the objects (60) into the respective slide (62),

[0625] the reset transport system (31) is designed to place the slides one after the other at the reset station (34) for insertion of the objects (60) into the respective slides (62), in particular by means of an insertion device (37) arranged at the reset station (34), the reset transport system (31) comprises at least two transport bodies (316) and a control device (311),

[0626] the transport bodies (316) are each designed to accommodate a slide (62) and to transport a slide (62) arranged thereon, and

[0627] the control device is designed to control the reset transport system (31) so that the transport bodies (316) with object carriers (62) arranged on them can be made available alternately, in particular in an endless sequence, at the reset station (34).

[0628] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the objects (60) can be inserted into the slides (62) at the reset station (34), in particular by means of the insertion device (37), wherein in particular a cycle time is independent of whether the objects (60) are inserted into the same slide (62) or a different slide (62) as in a current cycle in a preceding and / or subsequent cycle.

[0629] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the control device (311) is configured to control the reset transport system (31) so that the transport bodies (316) with the specimen carriers (62) can be moved to and / or at the reset station (34) in order to provide series of specimen carriers (62) on successive transport bodies (316) successively at a receiving point of the reset station (34), wherein in particular the control device is configured to control the reset transport system (31) in order to perform at least one of the following:

[0630] to make the recording sequences available one after the other at a set pace at the receiving point; and / or

[0631] to provide the recording sequences one after the other at the receiving point in defined object positions.

[0632] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the reset transport system (31) is configured and the control device (311) is configured to control the reset transport system (31) so that the transport bodies (316) with the object carriers (62) are movable at least at the reset station (34) at least in one transport direction and transversely to the transport direction,

[0633] in particular to provide successive series of images of the slide (62), especially series of images of the slide (62) arranged with a hexagonal offset, successively at the receiving point of the reset station (34) in defined object positions; and / or

[0634] in particular to provide series of images of the slide (62) sequentially at a fixed interval at the receiving point; and / or

[0635] in particular to provide series of slides (62) on successive transport bodies at the receiving point one after the other at a fixed interval.

[0636] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the at least two transport bodies (316) are simultaneously and at least partially independently movable relative to each other, and / or

[0637] which at least two transport bodies (316) are speed-controlled and / or position-controlled, and / or

[0638] at least one transport body (316) includes a receptacle (318).

[0639] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the resetting transport system (31) comprises a transport surface (314) with two surface directions and several actuators for moving at least one transport body; wherein, in particular, at least one of the following features is provided:

[0640] that the transport bodies (316) are movable without contact with the transport surface (314); and / or

[0641] that at least one actuator, in particular at least some actuators, is / are arranged on the transport surface (314); and / or

[0642] that at least one actuator, in particular at least some actuators, is / are arranged on the transport bodies (316); and / or

[0643] that at least one actuator, in particular at least some actuators, is / are controllable in order to move the transport bodies (316) simultaneously and at least partially independently of one another relative to the transport surface (314); and / or

[0644] that at least one actuator, in particular at least some actuators, is / are controllable in order to move the transport bodies (316) in a speed-controlled and / or position-controlled manner. System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the reset transport system (31) comprises at least one transport rail (312, 313), wherein the transport bodies (316) are movable along the at least one transport rail (312, 313), in particular in the longitudinal direction of the transport rail (312, 313), wherein in particular at least one of the following features is provided:

[0645] that the transport bodies (316), in particular by means of a displacement device, are movable relative to the at least one transport rail (312, 313) transversely to a longitudinal extension direction of the transport rail, in particular in an insertion direction of the objects into object receptacles of an object carrier (62) arranged on the transport body (316) and / or parallel to an extension direction of a receptacle row of an object carrier (62) arranged on the transport body (316), and / or

[0646] that the at least one transport rail (312, 313) or at least one transport rail (312, 313), in particular by means of a displacement device, is movable with at least one transport body (316) transversely to a longitudinal extension direction of the transport rail (312, 313), in particular in an insertion direction of the objects into object receptacles of an object carrier (62) arranged on the transport body (316) and / or parallel to an extension direction of a receptacle row of an object carrier (62) arranged on the transport body (316).

[0647] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the reversing transport system (31) has a first transport rail (312) and a second transport rail (313) running parallel to the first transport rail (312) at least partially, wherein a first of the at least two transport bodies (316) is connected to the first transport rail (312) at a first side of the first transport body (316), in particular via a first drive unit and / or via a first coupling unit, and a second of the at least two transport bodies (316) is connected to the second transport rail (313) at a first side of the second transport body (316), in particular via a second drive unit and / or via a second coupling unit.

[0648] wherein, in particular, the transport bodies (316) each project with a second side opposite the first side into a space between the two transport rails (312, 313). System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the system (1000) comprises an inlet station (33), wherein the reset transport system (31) is designed to move the transport bodies (316) to the inlet station (33) for taking over the slide (62), and to move the transport bodies (316) with the taken-over slide (62) from the inlet station (13) to the reset station (34),

[0649] wherein in particular the control device (311) is designed to control the reset transport system (31), in particular at least one drive device of the reset transport system and / or at least one actuator, in particular at least some actuators of the reset transport system (31), to move the transport bodies (316) to the inlet station (33) to receive the slide (62), and to move the transport bodies (316) with the received slide from the inlet station (33) to the reset station (34).

[0650] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the inlet station (13) has a manipulator (332) which is designed to arrange the slide (62) on the transport body (316) moved to the inlet station (33), in particular to insert it into the receptacle (318) of the transport body (316) moved to the inlet station (13), wherein the manipulator (332) is in particular equipped with a slide holding device (334), wherein in particular the slide holding device (334) is designed to grip the slide (62) for transfer, and / or wherein in particular the slide holding device (334) has suction grippers.

[0651] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the manipulator (332), in particular its slide holding device (334), is designed to remove the slide (62) from a tub (64).

[0652] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the system (1000) comprises an outlet station (35), wherein the reset transport system (31) is designed to move the transport bodies (316) from the reset station (34) to the outlet station (35),

[0653] wherein in particular the control device (311) is designed to control the reset transport system (31), in particular at least a drive device and / or at least an actuator, in particular at least some actuators of the reset transport system (31), in order to move the transport bodies (316) from the reset station (34) to the discharge station (35) after the objects (60) have been inserted into the respective object carrier (62).

[0654] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the discharge station (35) has a manipulator (352) configured to remove the slide (62) from the transport body (316) moved to the discharge station (35), in particular to remove it from the receptacle (318) of the transport body (316) moved to the discharge station (35), wherein in particular the manipulator (352) has a container holding device (354), wherein in particular the container holding device (354) is configured to grip the slide (62) for transferring the slide (62) with the objects (60) inserted therein, and / or wherein in particular the container holding device (354) has suction grippers.

[0655] System according to one of the preceding and / or following embodiments, wherein the system (1000) comprises a reset tub transport system (36) configured to transport tubs (64), in particular empty tubs (64), wherein in particular the system (1000) comprises the inlet station (33) and the outlet station (35), and the reset tub transport system (36) is configured to transpor...

Claims

Patent claims 1. System for carrying out process steps on objects, in particular for filling and closing containers, especially pharmaceutical containers such as vials, syringes, cartridges or ampoules, and / or at least partially under cleanroom conditions, comprising a process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) and a transport system (21) with several transport units (210) that can be moved simultaneously and independently of each other relative to the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) and a control device (217), wherein each transport unit (210) is designed to accommodate at least one object (60), in particular at least two, in particular two to six, objects (60), wherein the system is configured to perform one process step on multiple objects (60) per cycle at the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28), wherein the multiple objects (60) are picked up by a group of transport units (210), wherein the group comprises at least two, in particular two to sixteen, transport units (210), and wherein at least two of the multiple objects (60) are picked up by different transport units (210) of the group.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device (217) is configured to control the transport system (21) in order to supply the transport units (210) of the group to the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) as a group and / or to discharge them from the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) as a group, in particular to supply the transport units (210) of the group to the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) as a group and / or to discharge them from the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) as a group in exactly one cycle.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The control device (217) is configured to control the transport system (21) in order to individually supply the transport units (210) to the group of process stations (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) and / or individually discharge them from the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28).

4. System according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a group membership of the transport units (210) at the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) from the supply of the transport units (210) to the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) until the discharge of the transport units from the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) is static, wherein in particular the control device (217) is designed to control the transport system (21) to supply the transport units (210) to the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) as a group and to discharge the transport units (210) from the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) as a group.

5. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the group membership of the transport units (210) at the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) is dynamic, in particular variable on a cycle-by-cycle basis, in particular, the assignment of a transport unit to the group at the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) is carried out by supplying the transport unit to the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) and / or is resolved by removing the transport unit from the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28).

6. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an inlet station, configured for feeding the objects (60) to the transport system (21), in particular for automated feeding, and an outlet station, configured for removing objects (60) from the transport system (21), in particular for automated removal, are provided, wherein in particular the control device is configured to form a group from a number of the several transport units (210), the number comprising at least two, in particular two to sixteen transport units (210), wherein for at least some transport units the group membership of the respective transport unit to a formed group between the inlet station and the outlet station is static,and / or for at least some transport units, the group membership of the respective transport unit to a formed group between the inlet station and the outlet station is dynamic.

7. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the process station (23) has a number of processing positions (230), wherein an object (60) can be positioned at each processing position (230) for carrying out the process step.

8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the number of processing positions (230) is equal to the number of transport units (210) of the group, wherein in particular the control device (217) is designed to control the transport system (21) in order to position one object of a transport unit (210) of the group at a processing position (230) for the execution of the process step per cycle.

9. System according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that at least one transport unit (210) is assigned to exactly one processing position (230) for carrying out the process step on the objects (60) of which at least one transport unit (210) is assigned, in particular that some, in particular each, transport unit (210) of the group are assigned to one processing position (230) for carrying out the process step on the objects (60) of the respective transport unit (210), wherein in particular the process station (23) is designed for a timed execution of the process step, and the control device (217) is designed to move the at least one transport unit (210) at the process station (22) in order to supply the objects (60) of the respective transport unit (210) to the group of the assigned processing position (230) in a timed sequence.

0. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the number of processing positions is greater than the number of transport units (210) of the group, wherein in particular the control device (217) is designed to control the transport system (21) in order to position at least two objects (60) from at least one transport unit (210) of the group at each processing position (230) for the execution of the process step per cycle.

1. System according to one of claims 7, 8 or 10, characterized in that at least one transport unit (210) is assigned to several processing positions (230) for carrying out the process step on several objects (60) of the at least one transport unit (210), in particular that some, in particular each, transport unit (210) of the group are assigned to several processing positions (230) for carrying out the process step on several objects (60) of the respective transport unit (210), wherein in particular the process station (23) is designed for a timed execution of the process step, and the control device (217) is designed to move the at least one transport unit (210) at the process station (22) in order to supply the objects (60) of the transport unit (210) of the group to the assigned processing positions (230) in the same cycle and / or in different cycles.

12. System according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the process station (23) is designed to perform a process step on objects (60) at at least some, in particular all, processing positions in each cycle, which are arranged on different transport units (210).

13. System according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the process station (23) is designed to perform a process step on objects (60) arranged on the same transport unit (210) at at least one, in particular some, processing positions in each cycle.

14. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (217) is designed to control the transport system (21) for a clocked movement of the transport units, wherein at least one step size between individual clock cycles can be defined in order to move transport units with a first step size in a clocked manner at the process station and with a different second step size to supply and / or remove them from the process station in a clock cycle.

15. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several process stations (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) are provided, in particular at least four process stations, comprising a first weighing station or tare weighing station for recording an empty weight of the objects, a filling station, a second weighing station or gross weighing station for recording a filled weight of the filled objects and a closing station.

16. System according to claim 15, characterized in that at least one process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) has a processing step, wherein in particular The process stations (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) each have a processing stitch, wherein at least one first of the several process stations has a different processing stitch than at least one second of the several process stations.

7. System according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that at at least one process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) the distance between processing positions is different from the distance between the objects at at least one transport unit (210), and / or at at least one process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) the distance between processing positions is equal to the distance between the objects at at least one transport unit (210), and / or the control device (217) is designed to control the transport system (21) to position two successive transport units (210) at at least one process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) such that a distance between two successive objects at the two successive transport units (210) is equal to a distance between processing positions of the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28).

8. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (217) is configured to control the transport system (21) to supply a first group comprising a first number of transport units (210) to a first process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) as a group and / or to discharge them from the first process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) as a group, wherein in particular the first process station has several processing positions and the first process station is configured to perform a process step on several objects (60) simultaneously, wherein at least some, in particular all, of the several objects (60) are received on different transport units (210) of the first group, wherein in particular at least one transport unit (210) of the first group, in particular at least some transport units (210) of the first group, are movable at the first process station.to supply objects (60) to at least one transport unit (210) successively to one, in particular exactly one, assigned processing position, and wherein, the control device (217) is configured to control the transport system (21) to selectively supply transport units (210) to a second process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) either individually or as a group and / or to selectively discharge them from the second process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) either individually or as a group, in order to position a second group comprising a second number of transport units (210) at the second process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28), wherein in particular the second process station has several processing positions and the second process station is configured to perform a process step on several objects (60) simultaneously, wherein some of the several objects (60) are received on different transport units (210) and some of the several objects (60) are received on a common transport unit (210),wherein, in particular, the process step can be carried out simultaneously on all objects (60) to be processed by at least one transport unit (210) of the second group and / or the process step can be carried out staggered on objects (60) by at least one transport unit (210) of the second group, wherein the at least one transport unit (210) of the second group is movable at the second process station in order to supply at least two of the objects (60) to a processing position one after the other on the at least one transport unit (210).

9. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport system (21) has an inlet station and an outlet station, wherein the inlet station is configured to arrange objects (60) on the transport units (210), in particular at least partially automatically, and the outlet station is configured to remove objects (60) from the transport units (210), in particular at least partially automatically, and wherein at least one process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) is arranged between the inlet station and the outlet station, in particular at least some process stations (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28), in particular at least four process stations, comprising a first weighing station or tare weighing station for recording an empty weight of the objects, a filling station, a second weighing station or gross weighing station for recording a filled weight of the filled objects and a closing station, and / or wherein the first process station and the second process station are arranged between the inlet station and the outlet station.

0. System according to claim 19, characterized in that the inlet station is designed to feed objects (60) in a continuous sequence or in a timed manner and to arrange them on a transport unit (210) provided at the inlet station, in particular on several transport units (210) provided at the inlet station, and / or The outlet station is designed to remove objects (60) from a transport unit (210), in particular several transport units (210) provided at the outlet station, and to discharge them in a continuous sequence or in a timed manner.

21. System according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the system has exactly one inlet station and / or exactly one outlet station.

22. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several process stations (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) are provided, wherein the system comprises a processing section, in particular a linear processing section, wherein at least one, in particular at least some, in particular at least four process stations (22, 24, 26, 28) comprising a first weighing station or tare weighing station for recording an empty weight of the objects, a filling station, a second weighing station or gross weighing station for recording a filled weight of the filled objects and a closing station, are arranged along the processing section.

23. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport system is designed to drive the transport units electromagnetically, wherein in particular the transport system has a transport track and stators arranged along the transport track which can be controlled to drive the transport units electromagnetically, and / or at least some, in particular all transport units (210) have a magnet, in particular a permanent magnet.

24. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport system (21) is designed as a linear transport system, comprising at least one closed circular route (215), wherein the transport units (210) are designed as runners which can be moved simultaneously and independently of one another, in particular speed and / or position controlled, along the circular route (215).

25. System according to claim 24, characterized in that the linear transport system comprises a closed first circular track (215) and a closed second circular track (215), in particular arranged parallel to the first circular track (215), wherein the first circular track (215) and the second circular track (215) are connected to each other via two transfer devices (216) and the first circular track (215) forms a forward path of a transport section (211) of the transport system (21) and the second circular track (215) forms a return path of a transport section (211) of the transport system (21).

26. System according to claim 25, characterized in that the first circular track (215) and / or the second circular track (215) is arranged vertically.

27. System (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some, in particular all, transport units (210) each have an object holder (204), wherein the object holders are each designed to receive at least two, in particular two to six, objects (60), in particular to receive them by clamping, in particular to receive them actively or passively, and / or in particular to receive them in a, in particular straight, row in the transport direction.

28. System for carrying out process steps on objects, in particular for filling and closing containers, especially pharmaceutical containers, such as vials, syringes, cartridges or ampoules, and / or at least partially under cleanroom conditions, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, comprising several process stations (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28), a transport system (21) with several transport units (210) and a control device (5) , wherein the multiple process stations comprise a work station, in particular a filling station (24), and a measuring station (22, 26) with at least one measuring position (220, 260), wherein the control device (5) is designed to operate the measuring station (22, 26) with several operating modes, wherein the operating modes differ in a measurement pattern and / or a number of objects (60) on which a measured value is determined at the at least one measuring position (220, 260) of the measuring station (22, 26) during a time interval.

29. System according to claim 28, characterized in that the workstation (24) and the measuring station (22, 26) are arranged on the transport system (21), in particular on exactly one transport section of the transport system (21), wherein, in particular in the direction of transport of the objects, the measuring station (26) is arranged downstream of the work station (24), in particular the filling station.

30. System according to claim 28 or 29, characterized in that the process stations comprise a first measuring station (22) with at least one pre-process measuring position (220) and a second measuring station (26) with at least one post-process measuring position (260), wherein, in the direction of transport of the objects, the first measuring station (22) is arranged upstream of the work station, in particular the filling station (24), and the second measuring station (26) is arranged downstream of the work station, in particular the filling station (24), wherein the control device (5) is configured to operate the first measuring station (22) and / or the second measuring station (26) with multiple operating modes, the operating modes being defined in a measurement pattern and / or a number of objects (60) differentiate.

1. System according to one of claims 28 to 30, characterized in that the measurement pattern defines at least one of the following parameters: a number of objects (60) on which a measurement is taken at the measuring station (22, 26) within a time interval, and / or a distribution of the objects (60) on which a measurement is determined at the measuring station (22, 26), and / or a number of transport units (210) at which a measurement value for an object (60) picked up by the transport unit (210) is determined at the measuring station (22, 26) within a time interval, and / or a distribution of the transport units (210) at which a measured value for an object (60) picked up by the transport unit (210) is determined at the measuring station (22, 26), and / or a number of objects (60) on which a measurement is taken at the measuring station for each transport unit (210), and / or a distribution of the objects (60) on which a measurement is determined at the measuring station (22, 26) for each transport unit (210), and / or a number of measuring positions (220, 260) at which a measured value is determined at the measuring station (22, 26) for each group of transport units (210) that are positioned at the measuring station (22, 26) in a cycle, and / or a distribution of measuring positions (220, 260) at which a measured value is determined at the measuring station (22, 26) for each group of transport units (210) which is positioned at the measuring station (22, 26) in a cycle.

2. System according to one of claims 28 to 31, characterized in that the control device (5) is designed so that when a measured value of a predetermined category, in particular a measured value that is assigned to a fault category, is determined at the at least one measuring position (220, 260) of an object (60), in particular at the post-process measuring position (260), the control device (5) switches to an operating mode in which, with reference to the current operating mode, a measured value is determined at the measuring station (22, 26), in particular at the first measuring station (22) and / or the second measuring station (26), for more objects (60) per time interval and / or more transport units (210) per time interval and / or more objects (60) per transport unit (210), provided that the control device (5) is not already in an operating mode in which a measured value is determined at this measuring station, in particular at the first measuring station (22) and / or the second measuring station (26), for all objects (60) that are supplied to the at least one measuring position (220, 260) of this measuring station (22, 26) in a time interval.

3. System according to one of claims 28 to 32, characterized in that the number of measuring positions (220, 260), in particular the number of post-process measuring positions, is equal to the number of processing positions (240) of the workstation (24).

4. System according to one of claims 28 to 33, characterized in that the second measuring station (26) has several post-process measuring positions (260) and the first measuring station (22) has several pre-process measuring positions (220), each corresponding to a post-process measuring position (260), wherein when a measured value of a predetermined category, in particular a measured value that is assigned to a defect category, is determined for an object (60) at one of the post-process measuring positions (260) of the second measuring station (26), the control device switches to an operating mode in which, within the time interval, a measured value is determined at the preprocess measuring position (220) of the first measuring station (22) corresponding to the postprocess measuring position (260), with reference to the current operating mode, for more objects (60) per time interval and / or more transport units (210) per time interval and / or more objects (60) per transport unit (210). provided that the control device (5) is not already in an operating mode in which a measured value is determined at the first measuring station (22) for all objects (60) that are supplied to the corresponding preprocess measuring position (220) of the first measuring station (22) within a time interval.

35. System according to one of claims 28 to 34, characterized in that the control device (5) is configured to classify a measured value determined at the at least one postprocess measuring position (260) of the second measuring station (26) into a category, in particular selected from the group error category and no-error category, by comparison with a measured value determined at the at least one preprocess measuring position (220) of the first measuring station (22), in particular at a corresponding preprocess measuring position of the first measuring station.

36. System according to one of claims 28 to 35, characterized in that the first measuring station (22) is a first weighing station and / or the second measuring station (26) is a second weighing station, wherein in particular the first weighing station has at least one pre-process measuring position with a load cell and / or the second weighing station has at least one post-process measuring position with a load cell.

37. System according to one of claims 28 to 36, characterized in that the control device (5) is designed to determine a measured value in a first operating mode comprising at least one transport unit (210) with several objects (60) attached to it for each group at exactly one object (60) of the group and / or at exactly one object (60) of each transport unit (210) of the group at the measuring station (22, 26), in particular at the first measuring station (22).

38. System according to one of claims 28 to 37, characterized in that the control device (5) is designed to determine a measured value for each group comprising at least one transport unit (210) with several objects (60) attached to it, for each object (60) of the group at the measuring station (22, 26), in particular at the first measuring station (22).

39. System according to one of claims 28 to 38, characterized in that The control device (5) is configured to change an operating mode, in particular to switch to the second operating mode, when a measured value of the predetermined category is determined.

40. System according to one of the preceding claims further comprising a removal device (37) arranged upstream of the transport system (21), which is designed for removing objects (60) from slides (62), in particular at least partially automated, wherein in particular the number of objects (60) removed from the slides (62) at the removal station (14) per time interval is equal to the number of objects (60) arranged at an inlet station of the transport system (21) on transport units (210) per time interval, in particular at least partially automated, and / or the removal station (14) and the inlet station can be operated in the same time sequence.

41. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system (1000) comprises a feed transport system (11), wherein the feed-transport system (11) is designed for transporting containers, each comprising a slide (62) and objects (60) arranged therein, in particular pharmaceutical containers, the feed transport system (11) is designed to place microscope slides (62) successively at a reset station (34) and / or at a removal station (14) for the removal of the objects (60) from the respective microscope slide (62), in particular by means of a removal device (17) arranged at the removal station (14), wherein in particular the feed transport system (11) comprises at least two transport bodies (116) and a control device (111), wherein the transport bodies (116) are each designed to accommodate a container and to transport a container arranged thereon, and the control device (111) is designed to control the feed transport system (11) so that the transport bodies (116) with the containers arranged thereon can be alternately provided in an endless sequence at the dispensing station (14) and / or the dispensing device (17).

42. System according to one of the preceding claims further comprising an insertion device (37) arranged downstream of the transport system (21), which is designed for inserting objects (60) into microscope carriers (62), in particular at least partially automated, wherein in particular the number of objects (60) inserted into microscope carriers (62) by the insertion device (37) per time interval is equal to the number of objects (60) removed per time interval from transport units (210) at an outlet station of the transport system (21), in particular at least partially automated, and / or the insertion device (14) and the outlet station can be operated in the same time sequence.

43. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system (1000) comprises a reset transport system (31), wherein The reset transport system (31) is designed for transporting containers, each comprising a slide (62) and objects (60) arranged therein, in particular pharmaceutical containers, and the reset transport system (31) is designed to place the slides (62) successively at a removal station (14) and / or a reset station (34) for insertion of the objects (60) into the respective slide (62), in particular by means of an insertion device (37) arranged at the reset station (34), wherein in particular the reset transport system (31) comprises at least two transport bodies (116) and a control device (311), wherein the transport bodies (116) are each designed to accommodate a container and to transport a container arranged thereon, and wherein the control device is designed to control the reset transport system (31) so that the transport bodies (116) with each of the object carriers (62) arranged thereon can be alternately provided in an endless sequence at the reset station (34).

44. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system (1000) comprises a cleanroom structure with a housing, wherein a cleanroom condition is created in a cleanroom area of ​​the housing of the cleanroom structure for carrying out process steps at least partially under cleanroom conditions, wherein the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28) is arranged in the cleanroom area.

45. Methods for carrying out process steps on objects, in particular for filling and closing containers, especially pharmaceutical containers, such as vials, syringes, cartridges or ampoules, and / or at least partially under cleanroom conditions, at a process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28), wherein a transport system (21) is provided with several transport units (210) that are movable simultaneously and independently of each other relative to the process station (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28), wherein each transport unit (210) is configured to accommodate at least one object (60), in particular at least two, in particular two to six, objects (60), wherein at the process station a process step is carried out on several objects (60) in at least one cycle, in particular per cycle, wherein the multiple objects (60) are picked up by a group of transport units (210), wherein the group comprises at least two, in particular two to sixteen transport units (210), wherein at least two of the multiple objects (60) are picked up by different transport units (210) of the group.

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