APPARATUS FOR RETAINING REACTION VESSELS WHICH CAN BE TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED AND SHAKEN

摘要

The present invention relates to a device for holding reaction vessels (2) which can be thermally adjusted and agitated, wherein said device is preferably made in the shape of a block (1) comprising a plurality of reaction vessels (2). A flow channel extending through the block (1) is used for supplying a liquid or gaseous temperature-adjusting medium to the reaction vessels (2), while an integrated agitation means (5) is provided for moving said vessels (2). At their upper ends, the vessels (2) are maintained at their necks (20) by resilient coupling means in the shape of sleeves (3), while said vessels rest below their necks (20) in resilient means advantageously connected to the agitation means (5). The resilient means supporting the lower part of the vessels (2) include resting recesses extending from the block (1) or coupling means in the shape of sleeves connected to the block (1). The device of the present invention can be used for adjusting the temperature of the vessels (2) thus held while agitating said vessels. This device simultaneously provides access to the inside of the vessels (2) during a processing operation using a product sampling/addition organ for sampling specimens or adding dosed amounts of products. The sampling/addition organ can be guided using a robot. Since the temperature-adjusting medium circulates in closed loop, the vessels (2) can be thermally adjusted in a wide range of temperatures, said vessels (2) being arranged in parallel or in series.