Abstract: A container collecting device which stacks and collects containers each formed by closing a small-diameter side of a tapered cylinder. The container collecting device comprises that a guide cylinder having an inner diameter larger than the largest outer diameter of the container and extending in a gravity direction, and a supporter that supports the container at a lower end of the guide cylinder; and an actuator to move the container.

Abstract: A cap removal apparatus for a vacuum blood collection tube is configured to remove a cap from the collection tube of which an opening is closed by the cap so that the tube is kept under vacuum inside. The cap removal apparatus comprises, a tube clamping mechanism which clamps the collection tube upright in a cap removal position, a chuck mechanism which is disposed in the cap removal position and chucks the cap of the collection tube, seal pressure reduction unit which is disposed in the a chuck mechanism and configured to seal a region around the opening including the cap and reduce the pressure of the sealed region to substantially the same level as the internal pressure of the collection tube when the cap is chucked, and a lift mechanism which raises the chuck mechanism from a cap chucking position, thereby removing the cap from the collection tube.

Abstract: A automated test tube cap removal apparatus includes, a cap remover, a test tube rack which holds a plurality of capped test tubes upright in a row, a clamping mechanism which is disposed in the cap removing position and clamps the plurality of test tubes, and a cap removal unit disposed in the cap removing position and configured to move upward to remove caps from some of a plurality of test tubes and move upward to remove caps from the remaining test tubes. The cap removal unit includes engaging members which are capable of advance and retreat with respect to the caps and clamp each cap, a lift mechanism which raises the engaging members while alternately moving the engaging members upward, thereby removing the cap from each test tube, a cap guide member which separates the cap and guides the cap for dropping.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a sample conveyor apparatus for conveying a sample holder which permits a sample container to be held therein, the sample container permitting a sample to be received therein, includes, a belt base extending along a conveyance path, a conveyor belt stretched on the belt base and to be run to form the conveyance path, and a frame unit including a pair of guide rails which extend along the conveyance path to guide the sample holder along the conveyance path, the frame unit being detachable from the belt base, the conveyor belt being detachable from the belt base.

Abstract: A specimen preprocessing/transport apparatus includes a test tube transport path on which test tubes filled with specimens are held in test tube holders and transported, a rack transport path on which sample cups are held in a sample cup rack and the rack is transported, a filled-tube loading section which loads the test tubes into the test tube transport path, a rack loading section which loads the sample cup rack into the rack transport path, an aliquoting/dispensing device which is located in the middle of the test tube transport path and configured to simultaneously aliquot the specimens in the test tubes, and simultaneously dispense the sample cups on the rack transport path, and an analyzer which is located on the downstream side of the rack transport path and configured to receive the sample cup rack stored with the specimens and analyze the specimens.

Abstract: A self-running sample holder includes a holder main body, a motor provided in the holder main body, a wheel, a transceiver and a battery. The holder main body has a holder portion which holds a sample with recorded information in an upright state. The wheel is provided in the holder main body and rotated in conjunction with the motor. The motor allows the self-running sample holder to self-run in an upright state. The transceiver is provided in the holder main body. The transceiver outputs a drive signal and drive stop signal to the motor in response to a signal from an external controller. The transceiver exchanges a signal with the controller. The battery is provided in the holder main body. The battery supplies the motor and transceiver with electricity. The battery is chargeable.

Abstract: A tip mounting position, an aliquoting position, a dispensing position, and a tip casting position are circumferentially arranged around a rotating shaft, and a plurality of aliquoting/dispensing mechanisms are circumferentially arranged corresponding to the plurality of operating positions around the rotating shaft. Each aliquoting/dispensing mechanism is provided with a nozzle lift mechanism and a nozzle mechanism that includes a nozzle lift mechanism and a nozzle portion. The rotating shaft is intermittently rotated to locate the aliquoting/dispensing mechanisms individually in the positions whereupon tip mounting, aliquoting, dispensing, and tip casting operations are performed continuously.

Abstract: A nozzle device, comprising a nozzle body, a ball provided in the nozzle body and elastically deformable by compression, an aliquoting/dispensing tip having a barrel portion in which the nozzle body including the ball is inserted, and a ball compressing mechanism which is provided in the nozzle body, configured elastically to deform the ball by compression so that the diameter of the ball increases with the nozzle body including the ball inserted in the barrel portion of the aliquoting/dispensing tip, thereby pressing the ball airtightly against an inner peripheral surface of the barrel portion of the tip, when the tip is attached to the nozzle body, and configured to remove a compressive force from the ball so that the diameter of the ball is reduced, thereby separating the ball from the inner peripheral surface of the barrel portion of the tip, when the tip is detached from the nozzle body.

Abstract: A specimen transport system for transporting a specimen, includes, a preceding section, a succeeding section located apart from the preceding section, a conveyor-type rack transport mechanism attached to the preceding section and/or the succeeding section and configured to transport a rack capable of holding a plurality of specimen containers which contain the specimen, and a car configured to travel between the preceding section and the succeeding section and provided with a conveyor-type rack transport mechanism configured to transport the rack capable of holding a plurality of specimen containers which contain the specimen.

Abstract: A sample-conveying system has first and second conveying paths which are separated from each other. A first transition base is located at a conveyance terminal end portion of the conveying path. A second transition base is located at a conveyance starting end portion of the conveying path. A mobile unit moves between the first and second conveying paths. The transition base is provided with a receptacle carrier and a rack carrier. The receptacle carrier transfers receptacles on the conveying path to a rack on the transition base. The rack carrier transfers the rack on the transition base onto the mobile unit. The transition base is provided with a rack carrier and a receptacle carrier. The second rack carrier transfers the rack on the mobile unit onto the transition base. The second receptacle carrier transfers each receptacle held in the rack to a holder in the conveying path.

Abstract: A test tube includes a barcode indicative of identification information. The barcode is printed directly on an outer peripheral surface of a barrel of a test tube body by an inkjet printer.

Abstract: A cap removal apparatus for a vacuum blood collection tube is configured to remove a cap from the collection tube of which an opening is closed by the cap so that the tube is kept under vacuum inside. The cap removal apparatus comprises, a tube clamping mechanism which clamps the collection tube upright in a cap removal position, a chuck mechanism which is disposed in the cap removal position and chucks the cap of the collection tube, seal pressure reduction unit which is disposed in the a chuck mechanism and configured to seal a region around the opening including the cap and reduce the pressure of the sealed region to substantially the same level as the internal pressure of the collection tube when the cap is chucked, and a lift mechanism which raises the chuck mechanism from a cap chucking position, thereby removing the cap from the collection tube.

Abstract: A automated test tube cap removal apparatus includes, a cap remover, a test tube rack which holds a plurality of capped test tubes upright in a row, a clamping mechanism which is disposed in the cap removing position and clamps the plurality of test tubes, and a cap removal unit disposed in the cap removing position and configured to move upward to remove caps from some of a plurality of test tubes and move upward to remove caps from the remaining test tubes. The cap removal unit includes engaging members which are capable of advance and retreat with respect to the caps and clamp each cap, a lift mechanism which raises the engaging members while alternately moving the engaging members upward, thereby removing the cap from each test tube, a cap guide member which separates the cap and guides the cap for dropping.

Abstract: A tip mounting position, an aliquoting position, a dispensing position, and a tip casting position are circumferentially arranged around a rotating shaft, and a plurality of aliquoting/dispensing mechanisms are circumferentially arranged corresponding to the plurality of operating positions around the rotating shaft. Each aliquoting/dispensing mechanism is provided with a nozzle lift mechanism and a nozzle mechanism that includes a nozzle lift mechanism and a nozzle portion. The rotating shaft is intermittently rotated to locate the aliquoting/dispensing mechanisms individually in the positions whereupon tip mounting, aliquoting, dispensing, and tip casting operations are performed continuously.

Abstract: A specimen preprocessing/transport apparatus includes a test tube transport path on which test tubes filled with specimens are held in test tube holders and transported, a rack transport path on which sample cups are held in a sample cup rack and the rack is transported, a filled-tube loading section which loads the test tubes into the test tube transport path, a rack loading section which loads the sample cup rack into the rack transport path, an aliquoting/dispensing device which is located in the middle of the test tube transport path and configured to simultaneously aliquot the specimens in the test tubes, and simultaneously dispense the sample cups on the rack transport path, and an analyzer which is located on the downstream side of the rack transport path and configured to receive the sample cup rack stored with the specimens and analyze the specimens.

Abstract: A specimen transport system for transporting a specimen, includes, a preceding section, a succeeding section located apart from the preceding section, a conveyor-type rack transport mechanism attached to the preceding section and/or the succeeding section and configured to transport a rack capable of holding a plurality of specimen containers which contain the specimen, and a car configured to travel between the preceding section and the succeeding section and provided with a conveyor-type rack transport mechanism configured to transport the rack capable of holding a plurality of specimen containers which contain the specimen.

Abstract: A nozzle device, comprising a nozzle body, a ball provided in the nozzle body and elastically deformable by compression, an aliquoting/dispensing tip having a barrel portion in which the nozzle body including the ball is inserted, and a ball compressing mechanism which is provided in the nozzle body, configured elastically to deform the ball by compression so that the diameter of the ball increases with the nozzle body including the ball inserted in the barrel portion of the aliquoting/dispensing tip, thereby pressing the ball airtightly against an inner peripheral surface of the barrel portion of the tip, when the tip is attached to the nozzle body, and configured to remove a compressive force from the ball so that the diameter of the ball is reduced, thereby separating the ball from the inner peripheral surface of the barrel portion of the tip, when the tip is detached from the nozzle body.

Abstract: A cap removing apparatus includes a transfer path through which a container closed by a cap is transferred, a rotary driving mechanism provided in a first position and rotates the container, a correcting mechanism which corrects the posture of a knob of the cap, and a cap-removing mechanism which is provided in a second position, pinches the knob and removes the cap. A movable body, configured to move forward and backward between the first position and the second position, is provided on the transfer path. The movable body has a clamping mechanism. The clamping mechanism clamps the container with the cap whose knob has been posture-corrected in the first position, and moves the container from the first position to the second position. The clamping mechanism releases the clamping state at a time when the removal of the cap is completed, and returns to the first position.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a holder which holds a container blocked by a cap, and a transport path which has a correcting position. A rotation mechanism is provided at the correcting position. When the container is rotated by the rotation mechanism, a posture of a knob portion of the cap is corrected by a correction mechanism. The corrected knob portion is grasped by a removing mechanism. The removing mechanism removes the cap from the container. The correction mechanism can be moved between a first position at which the correction mechanism advances to the correcting position and a second position at which the correction mechanism retreats from the correcting position. The removing mechanism can be moved between a third position at which the removing mechanism advances to the correcting position and a fourth position. The removing mechanism is moved to the third position when the correction mechanism retreats to the second position.

Abstract: A cap removing apparatus includes a transfer path through which a container closed by a cap is transferred, a rotary driving mechanism provided in a first position and rotates the container, a correcting mechanism which corrects the posture of a knob of the cap, and a cap-removing mechanism which is provided in a second position, pinches the knob and removes the cap. A movable body, configured to move forward and backward between the first position and the second position, is provided on the transfer path. The movable body has a clamping mechanism. The clamping mechanism clamps the container with the cap whose knob has been posture-corrected in the first position, and moves the container from the first position to the second position. The clamping mechanism releases the clamping state at a time when the removal of the cap is completed, and returns to the first position.