Abstract: Provided is an automatic analyzer which smoothly discards a used reaction container while preventing space restrictions. The automatic analyzer in this invention includes a housing portion which houses a used container; a hollow discarding cylinder which guides the container to the housing portion in a vertical direction; a container gripping mechanism which grips the container by moving a plurality of gripping pieces close to each other in a horizontal direction and lets the container fall by separating the plural gripping pieces from each other in the horizontal direction; and a control section which controls the container gripping mechanism. A discarding hole in the upper end of the discarding cylinder is formed by a container guide portion for guiding the container and a gripping piece separating portion forming a space for the plural gripping pieces to be separated from each other.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer comprises a reagent storage unit, a reaction promotion unit, and an unused container providing unit. The reaction promotion unit is between the reagent storage unit and the unused container providing unit in a left-right direction, and is on a rear side from the reagent storage unit and the unused container providing unit in a front-rear direction. In the automatic analyzer, a cover covering the reaction promotion unit is with a first fitting portion, a second fitting portion, and a third fitting portion located between the first and the second fitting portion in the left-right direction and a handle that is between the first and the second fitting portion in the left-right direction and on a rear side of the third fitting portion in the front-rear direction. The first and the second fitting portion are high in positioning functionality. The third fitting portion is low in positioning functionality.

Abstract: Provided is an automatic analyzer capable of washing a dispensing nozzle without vertically moving the dispensing nozzle in a washing tank. An automatic analyzer includes a dispensing nozzle which dispenses a specimen or a reagent, and a nozzle washing tank which washes the dispensing nozzle. The nozzle washing tank includes a spraying portion spraying washing water to the dispensing nozzle and an opening for taking the dispensing nozzle in and out, and the opening is provided along a track in a horizontal plane of the dispensing nozzle on a side surface of the nozzle washing tank.

Abstract: A specimen transporting apparatus and method are provided, in which a specimen container having a non-printed region and a printed region on a side surface of the specimen container is rotated intermittently, each time through a certain angle, during a first rotation. Information printed on the printed region is read during the first rotation, and the location of the non-printed region is identified based on the success or failure of the reading. Next, a second rotation is performed, in which the specimen container is rotated continuously. The information printed on the printed region is read during the second rotation, and the location of the printed region is identified based on the success or failure of the reading. Accordingly, the location of an end portion of the printed region is identified, and the orientation of a specimen bar code is aligned relative to a transfer destination rack.

Abstract: Provided is an automatic analyzer capable of simplifying control of a holding unit that holds a plurality of containers having access to an aspiration nozzle whose position is fixed and that rotates and moves up and down. The automatic analyzer includes an aspiration nozzle whose position is fixed and that aspirates reaction liquid or reagent, and a holding unit that holds a plurality of containers accommodating the reaction liquid or the reagent, and that rotates and moves t up and down. The holding unit holds at least three of the containers, and an angle between adjacent containers is an integer multiple of a predetermined angle. The angle between adjacent containers is an angle between adjacent containers in a circumferential direction and an angle around a rotation center of the holding unit.

Abstract: Provided is an automatic analyzer with improved analysis accuracy and analysis processing capacity per unit space. The automatic analyzer includes a reagent container with an opening on an upper side, a first arm that rotates centering around a first shaft, a tip of the first arm accessing to the upper side of the reagent container, and a second arm that rotates centering around a second shaft, a tip of the second arm accessing to the upper side of the reagent container. A recess is formed on a side that is closer to the tip of the first arm than the first shaft and that faces the second arm.

Abstract: Plug-closing processing units are provided with: a first plug chuck parts that grasp plugs; and a second plug chuck part located above the first plug chuck parts, wherein the first plug chuck parts each include at least two first supports that grasp the plugs from more than one direction, and the second plug chuck part is provided with a plug-closing mechanism that includes a second support disposed in the radial direction of plugs and having an inclined lower end surface. Thus, provided are a plug processing device capable of stable plug-opening processing and plug-closing processing on a conveyor line for a specimen container, and a specimen test automation system including the plug processing device.

Abstract: Plug-closing processing units are provided with: a first plug chuck parts that grasp plugs; and a second plug chuck part located above the first plug chuck parts, wherein the first plug chuck parts each include at least two first supports that grasp the plugs from more than one direction, and the second plug chuck part is provided with a plug-closing mechanism that includes a second support disposed in the radial direction of plugs and having an inclined lower end surface. Thus, provided are a plug processing device capable of stable plug-opening processing and plug-closing processing on a conveyor line for a specimen container, and a specimen test automation system including the plug processing device.

Abstract: In the prior art, variability arises in a rotational stopping position depending on the location in which reading of a bar code begins, and it is possible to conceive of situations in which there is inadequate orientational alignment of the bar code relative to the slit after rack transfer, as a result of which it is not possible for the bar code to be read by an analysis system. Accordingly, a first rotation is performed, in which a specimen container having a non-printed region and a printed region on a side surface thereof is rotated intermittently, each time through a certain angle. Additionally, information printed on the printed region on the side surface of the specimen container is read while the first rotation is being performed, and the location of the non-printed region of the specimen container is identified on the basis of the success or failure of said reading. Next, a second rotation is performed, in which the specimen container is rotated continuously.

Abstract: A plurality of transport lines having driving belts are driven to transport specimen racks on which a specimen container is disposed. A single driving motor having a rotating shaft, a shaft for transmitting power of the driving motor, drives the driving belt and a plurality of pulleys transmit rotation of the shaft to the belts to drive the belts.

Abstract: In the prior art, in transport lines equipped with multiple stages of transport lines driven in different directions, it was necessary that drive power sources for driving the belts of the transport lines be provided in a number equal to the number of transport lines. This led to an increased number of drive power sources and to an unavoidable increase in the power consumed by the device as a whole. In the present invention, there is adopted a mechanism for the parallel driving of a plurality of transport lines by a single drive power source, whereby the number of drive power sources needed to drive the transport lines can be reduced, as can the power consumed by the system.