Device and method for gripping vessels

The present invention relates to a device for gripping vessels, comprising a stationary mount, an elongate support having a longitudinal axis, coupled to the mount in a manner to be rotatable relative to the mount around the longitudinal axis, a rotating mechanism, adapted for rotating the support, a gripper, coupled to the support in a manner to be translatable relative to the support along the longitudinal axis, wherein the gripper is provided with gripping jaws for gripping a vessel, a translating mechanism, adapted for translating the gripper, at least one actuator for driving the translating mechanism and/or rotating mechanism and at least two reference elements, fixed to the mount in at least two different stop positions, wherein the gripping jaws are passively biasable towards each other for holding a vessel in positions other than the at least two stop positions and wherein the gripping jaws are actively biasable away from each other by pushing the gripper against a reference element in one of the stop positions. It further relates to a system for analyzing comprising such device and a corresponding process for gripping vessels.