Patent ID: 9720009
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: B01L,G01N,Y10T

Claim:
1. A sample processing apparatus comprising: a transporting section configured to transport a first sample rack that holds first sample containers at a plurality of holding positions and a second sample rack that holds second sample containers at a plurality of holding positions and a rack distinction member at a designated holding position of the second sample rack, the second sample rack being different from the first sample rack without holding the rack distinction member, each of the second sample containers being different from each of the first sample containers, each of the first and second sample containers being a tubular container made of glass or synthetic resin having translucency, and the rack distinction member having lower translucency than that of each of the first and second sample containers and having shorter length than that of each of the first and second sample containers; a detecting section configured to detect a presence or an absence of the rack distinction member at the designated holding position of the transported first or second sample rack; an aspirating section configured to aspirate a sample in each of the first and second sample containers and including a piercer for aspirating the sample and a driver for driving the piercer in the up and down direction; and a control section configured to control an aspirating operation of the aspirating section based on the presence or the absence of the rack distinction member at the designated holding position, wherein the piercer is driven in the downward direction for the aspirating operation of the aspirating section so that the tip of the piercer is positioned at a first position when the detecting section detects the absence of the rack distinction member at the designated holding position, and the piercer is driven in the downward direction for the aspirating operation so that the tip of the piercer is positioned at a second position different from the first position when the detecting section detects the presence of the rack distinction member at the designated holding position.