Apparatus for treating objects

1. In an apparatus for treating cytological or histological specimens of a type having a plurality of conventional processing stations and a transport device for delivering said specimens into and out of said plurality of processing stations, the improvement comprising:

at least one running-water station having an inflow and an outflow is provided as a processing station, wherein said running water station comprises a pan and a plurality of containers inserted into said pan, each of said plurality of containers including a connector fitting on a bottom wall thereof for coupling said container to a water supply system, and said pan including a connector rail having a plurality of connector openings spaced therealong for respectively receiving said connector fittings of said plurality of containers.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said inflow is a regulated inflow.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of containers of said running-water station are embodied similarly to containers of said plurality of processing stations.

4. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , further comprising feet for supporting said pan.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said pan has a holding device for holding the plurality of containers.

6. The improvement as defined in claim 5 , wherein said holding device comprises a pair of spaced bars between which said plurality of containers can be supported in a row.

7. The improvement as defined in claim 5 , wherein each of said plurality of containers is connected to the water supply system and has an overflow.

8. The improvement as defined in claim 7 , wherein said overflow from each of said plurality of containers communicates with said pan.

9. The improvement as defined in claim 7 , wherein a plurality of connector rails are provided in said pan.

10. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said connector openings of said connector rail are supplied with water by way of a plurality of respective valves.

11. The improvement as defined in claim 10 , wherein said plurality of valves are solenoid valves.

12. The improvement as defined in claim 10 , wherein said plurality of valves are 3/2-way valves for enabling both filling and emptying of said plurality of containers by way of said plurality of valves.

13. The improvement as defined in claim 10 , wherein one of said plurality of valves has an inflow separate from an inflow leading to others of said plurality of valves.

14. The improvement as defined in claim 10 , wherein more than one of said plurality of valves share a common inflow and a common outflow.

15. The improvement as defined in claim 10 , further comprising a valve rail into which said plurality of valves are combined.

16. The improvement as defined in claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of fluid lines for connecting said plurality of valves to respective connector openings for flow communication.

17. The improvement as defined in claim 16 , wherein said fluid lines are arranged to run below said pan.

18. The improvement as defined in claim 10 , further comprising a sensor arranged to detect a fill level in the pan.

19. The improvement as defined in claim 18 , wherein said sensor is connected to said plurality of valves, whereupon detection of a defined fill level said plurality of valves are actuated so that water infeed is shut off.

20. The improvement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said pan includes an outflow connected to an outlet line.