A process for transporting and handling histological samples, wherein a pneumatic transport system for histological samples is provided, said system comprising:
- a pneumatic transport tube,
- at least one carrier configured to be pneumatically transported in the pneumatic transport tube and arranged to contain histological samples, and
- a station connected to said pneumatic transport tube, for loading and/or unloading the histological samples,
- wherein:
- said carrier is in the form of a substantially cylindrical capsule, having a side carrier door with a hinge axis parallel to an axis of the carrier, said carrier door is configured to be moved between a closed position, for the transport of the histological samples through the pneumatic transport tube, and an open position, for the loading and/or unloading of the histological samples in/from the station,
- said station comprises a station tubular structure coaxially connected to said pneumatic transport tube and arranged to receive the carrier at an end of a stroke of the carrier within the pneumatic transport tube, said station tubular structure having a station door in a side wall thereof, with a hinge axis parallel to the axis of the pneumatic transport tube, said station door is configured be moved between a closed position and an open position,
- said station door and said carrier door are configured so as to engage each other when the carrier door is at an angular position substantially corresponding to an angular position of the station door, so that in this condition, an opening of the station door also causes an opening of the carrier,
- said process comprising the following operations:
- detecting, by means of a sensor, when the carrier reaches a final position against a stop member within said station tubular structure at the end of the stroke of the carrier within the pneumatic transport tube,
- activating, by means of an electronic controller, a servo-controlled electric motor which imparts a rotation to said carrier about the axis of the carrier, by means of said stop member, after the electronic controller has received the signal from said sensor which detects an arrival of the carrier at the final position in the station,
- stopping, by means of the electronic controller, said servo-controlled electric motor and consequently stopping the rotation of the carrier, when the electronic controller receives a second signal from a second sensor which detects a reaching of a mating condition in which the carrier door is at an angular position substantially corresponding to the angular position of the station door,
- activating, by means of said electronic controller, an actuator which controls an opening of the station door and consequently an opening of the carrier door after that the carrier has been stopped in said mating condition of the station door and the carrier door,
- so that when the carrier is in said station, accessibility to the histological samples contained in the carrier is obtained in an automated manner.