Abstract: Provided is an automated analyzer comprising an ultrasonic cleaner capable of obtaining a consistent cleaning effect regardless of the operating temperature environment. This automated analyzer comprises: a dispensing mechanism having a nozzle for dispensing a sample or reagent; an ultrasonic cleaner 26 for cleaning the nozzle; and a control unit 28. The ultrasonic cleaner comprises: a cleaning tank 206; an ultrasonic vibrator 205; and a vibration head 209 that extends from the ultrasonic vibrator to the cleaning tank and has a distal end part that is inserted into the cleaning tank. The control unit inserts the nozzle into the cleaning tank and carries out a heating operation for heating the ultrasonic vibrator by driving the ultrasonic vibrator according to a driving condition different from that for a cleaning operation for cleaning the nozzle by driving the ultrasonic vibrator.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer includes a water supply tank that temporarily stores the water supplied outside of the analyzer and consumed in each mechanism of the same, an optical sensor including a light source and a light receiving unit for receiving the light irradiated from the light source, for detecting the amount of the water within the water supply tank, and a controller that controls the operation of each mechanism within the automatic analyzer, in which the water supply tank is arranged between the light source and the light receiving unit, and the controller determines whether the optical sensor is abnormal or whether there is the contamination within the water supply tank, according to the output voltage supplied from the light receiving unit when the water of the water supply tank is temporarily reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaner includes: a cleaning tank having a recess that enables insertion of a dispensing nozzle to be cleaned; and an ultrasonic transducer having a piezoelectric element and a front mass, in which a lateral surface portion of the cleaning tank is provided with a through-hole having an opening on an outer wall surface of the cleaning tank and an inner wall surface of the recess, the front mass is inserted into the through-hole, and a tip portion of the front mass is disposed so as to emit ultrasonic waves from the side of the dispensing nozzle. Thus, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic cleaner that has a configuration suitable for mounting in a narrow space such as a conveyance rack, that generates small liquid-surface fluctuations, and that is capable of using strong ultrasonic waves to irradiate an outer peripheral portion of a nozzle.

Abstract: A nozzle cleaner includes: a cleaning tank which stores a cleaning solution; a first conductive member that is disposed to be immersed into the cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank when the nozzle is cleaned; an ultrasonic wave generating mechanism which is disposed so that at least a part of a second conductive member is immersed into the cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank when the nozzle is cleaned and generates an ultrasonic vibration in the cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank; a first voltage control unit which controls a potential applied to the first conductive member; and a second voltage control unit which controls a potential applied to the second conductive member, wherein the first voltage control unit applies a second potential V2 higher than a first potential V1 applied to the nozzle when the nozzle is cleaned to the first conductive member.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technology in which an amount of pigment carried from a pigment solution can be accurately measured at the time of testing a surface state of a dispensing probe on the basis of the amount of carried pigment. In a test method according to the present invention, a surface state of a dispensing probe is evaluated on the basis of an amount of pigment carried from an acidic pigment solution into a solution including no pigment.

Abstract: Provided is an automatic analyzer, into or out of which a reagent bottle is automatically carried, capable of reducing a burden of an operator than in the past and preventing suspension of the analyzer. The automatic analyzer includes ribs 300 in a reagent disc 9 or ribs 400 in a reagent loading unit 103, a reflection sensor 200 provided in a reagent transport mechanism 101 to detect the ribs 300 or 400, and a controller 21 that adjusts a transport parameter of the reagent transport mechanism 101 using positions of the ribs 300 or 400 detected by the reflection sensor 200.

Abstract: Stable operation of an ultrasonic vibrator of an ultrasonic cleaner and scattering prevention of a washing liquid are provided. The ultrasonic cleaner includes a washing tank 206 in which a washing liquid is reserved; an ultrasonic vibrator 205; a vibration head 209 provided with a neck 304 extended from the ultrasonic vibrator to the washing tank and a tip end portion 210 having a cylindrical hole 211 whose longitudinal direction is oriented to a perpendicular direction; and a first cover 601 having an opening corresponding to the neck and the cylindrical hole, in which the first cover is arranged to a height in contact with a liquid surface of the washing liquid such that it covers the washing tank.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaner includes: a cleaning tank; an ultrasonic transducer; a vibration head which extends from the ultrasonic transducer toward the cleaning tank and of which a tip portion includes a cylindrical hole having a longitudinal direction aligned to a vertical direction; and an air layer or a metallic member that is provided in an area formed by projecting at least the vibration head in the vertical direction under the cleaning tank, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is driven at a frequency at which the vibration head is vibrated resonantly in a vibration mode accompanied by a deformation in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical hole and a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein an area formed by projecting at least the vibration head in the vertical direction in a bottom portion of the cleaning tank is formed of a material mainly including resin.

Abstract: The fluid temperature within piping of a sample dispensing system is stabilized in order to maintain stable dispensing performance with high precision in an automatic analyzer. A controller executes a first operation sequence to operate the sample dispensing system in a standby state continued until the sample is transported to the sample dispensing position, and executes a second operation sequence to operate the sample dispensing system in an analysis state in which the sample located in the sample dispensing position is dispensed. A time period during interior cleaning performed on the sample probe in a single cycle of the first operation sequence is set to be shorter than a time period during interior cleaning performed on the sample probe in a single cycle of the second operation sequence. Alternatively, the first operation sequence is configured to perform interior cleaning at a rate of once every multiple of cycles.

Abstract: Provided is an automated analyzer comprising an ultrasonic cleaner capable of obtaining a consistent cleaning effect regardless of the operating temperature environment. This automated analyzer comprises: a dispensing mechanism having a nozzle for dispensing a sample or reagent; an ultrasonic cleaner 26 for cleaning the nozzle; and a control unit 28. The ultrasonic cleaner comprises: a cleaning tank 206; an ultrasonic vibrator 205; and a vibration head 209 that extends from the ultrasonic vibrator to the cleaning tank and has a distal end part that is inserted into the cleaning tank. The control unit inserts the nozzle into the cleaning tank and carries out a heating operation for heating the ultrasonic vibrator by driving the ultrasonic vibrator according to a driving condition different from that for a cleaning operation for cleaning the nozzle by driving the ultrasonic vibrator.

Abstract: To clean a reagent probe 7a, 8a or a sample probe 11a, 12a with a heated cleaning solution, after a first cleaning solution is caused to overflow from a first cleaning container 23 or a second cleaning container 24, the first cleaning solution is temporarily drawn back into the cleaning-solution heating passage 125 to be heated by the heating mechanism 123. After the heating, the first cleaning solution thus heated is re-supplied to the first cleaning container 23 or the second cleaning container 24. As a result, the cleaning solution heated to clean a dispensing probe can be supplied to a cleaning bath with efficiency.

Abstract: Stable operation of an ultrasonic vibrator of an ultrasonic cleaner and scattering prevention of a washing liquid are provided. The ultrasonic cleaner includes a washing tank 206 in which a washing liquid is reserved; an ultrasonic vibrator 205; a vibration head 209 provided with a neck 304 extended from the ultrasonic vibrator to the washing tank and a tip end portion 210 having a cylindrical hole 211 whose longitudinal direction is oriented to a perpendicular direction; and a first cover 601 having an opening corresponding to the neck and the cylindrical hole, in which the first cover is arranged to a height in contact with a liquid surface of the washing liquid such that it covers the washing tank.

Abstract: To suppress precipitation of a cleaning solution to a vibration head of an ultrasonic cleaner. An ultrasonic cleaner includes: a cleaning tank which stores a cleaning solution; an ultrasonic transducer; and a vibration head which extends from the ultrasonic transducer toward the cleaning tank and of which a tip portion includes a cylindrical hole having a longitudinal direction aligned to a vertical direction, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is driven at a frequency at which the vibration head is vibrated resonantly, and wherein the vibration head is provided with a hydrophobic or hydrophilic coating film 502 which has an interface between an area 223 corresponding to a vibration antinode and area corresponding to a vibration node during the resonant vibration of the vibration head, and covers the area 222 corresponding to the vibration node.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technology in which an amount of pigment carried from a pigment solution can be accurately measured at the time of testing a surface state of a dispensing probe on the basis of the amount of carried pigment. In a test method according to the present invention, a surface state of a dispensing probe is evaluated on the basis of an amount of pigment carried from an acidic pigment solution into a solution including no pigment.

Abstract: To suppress precipitation of a cleaning solution to a vibration head of an ultrasonic cleaner. An ultrasonic cleaner includes: a cleaning tank which stores a cleaning solution; an ultrasonic transducer; and a vibration head which extends from the ultrasonic transducer toward the cleaning tank and of which a tip portion includes a cylindrical hole having a longitudinal direction aligned to a vertical direction, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is driven at a frequency at which the vibration head is vibrated resonantly, and wherein the vibration head is provided with a hydrophobic or hydrophilic coating film 502 which has an interface between an area 223 corresponding to a vibration antinode and area corresponding to a vibration node during the resonant vibration of the vibration head, and covers the area 222 corresponding to the vibration node.

Abstract: A nozzle cleaner includes: a cleaning tank which stores a cleaning solution; a first conductive member that is disposed to be immersed into the cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank when the nozzle is cleaned; an ultrasonic wave generating mechanism which is disposed so that at least a part of a second conductive member is immersed into the cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank when the nozzle is cleaned and generates an ultrasonic vibration in the cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank; a first voltage control unit which controls a potential applied to the first conductive member; and a second voltage control unit which controls a potential applied to the second conductive member, wherein the first voltage control unit applies a second potential V2 higher than a first potential V1 applied to the nozzle when the nozzle is cleaned to the first conductive member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaner includes: a cleaning tank; an ultrasonic transducer; a vibration head which extends from the ultrasonic transducer toward the cleaning tank and of which a tip portion includes a cylindrical hole having a longitudinal direction aligned to a vertical direction; and an air layer or a metallic member that is provided in an area formed by projecting at least the vibration head in the vertical direction under the cleaning tank, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is driven at a frequency at which the vibration head is vibrated resonantly in a vibration mode accompanied by a deformation in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical hole and a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein an area formed by projecting at least the vibration head in the vertical direction in a bottom portion of the cleaning tank is formed of a material mainly including resin.

Abstract: To clean a reagent probe 7a, 8a or a sample probe 11a, 12a with a heated cleaning solution, after a first cleaning solution is caused to overflow from a first cleaning container 23 or a second cleaning container 24, the first cleaning solution is temporarily drawn back into the cleaning-solution heating passage 125 to be heated by the heating mechanism 123. After the heating, the first cleaning solution thus heated is re-supplied to the first cleaning container 23 or the second cleaning container 24. As a result, the cleaning solution heated to clean a dispensing probe can be supplied to a cleaning bath with efficiency.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an image using an image forming sheet that is normally non-photosensitive but can be rendered photosensitive by preheating and is exposed at the preheated area to a light image to form therein a latent image and then heat-developed to form a visible image. After preheating, the preheated area is cooled by cooling means prior to exposure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an image using an image forming sheet that is normally non-photosensitive but can be rendered photosensitive by preheating and is exposed at the preheated area to a light image to form therein a latent image and then heat-developed to form a visible image. After preheating, the preheated area is cooled by cooling means prior to exposure.