Patent ID: 9213041
Filing Date: 2015-12-15
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A rack transporting apparatus for transporting a sample rack to a sample processing unit which processes a sample, comprising: a first transport path configured to transport a sample rack to the sample processing unit; a second transport path configured to receive a sample rack holding a sample container from an upstream side of the rack transporting apparatus and transport the received sample rack toward a downstream side of the rack transporting apparatus; a third transport path configured to receive a sample rack from the downstream side of the rack transporting apparatus and transport the received sample rack toward the upstream side of the rack transporting apparatus; a first storing section that is arranged between the first transport path and the second transport path, and that has a space for storing a sample rack; a first rack transferring mechanism configured to transport the sample rack located on the second transport path to the first storing section, and transfer the sample rack from the first storing section to the first transport path such that a path through which the sample rack is transported from the second transport path to the first transport path passes through the first storing section and is orthogonal to the first transport path; a second storing section that is arranged between the first transport path and the second transport path, and that has a space for storing the sample rack; a second rack transferring mechanism configured to transfer the sample rack located on the first transport path to the second storing section, and to transfer the sample rack from the second storing section to both of the second transport path and the third transport path such that a path through which the sample rack is transported from the first transport path to the second and third transport paths is a single continuous path that passes through the second storing section and is orthogonal to the first transport path; and a controller configured to control both the first rack transferring mechanism and the second rack transferring mechanism, wherein when the sample processing unit is to process a sample in the sample rack located on the second transport path, the controller is programmed to control the first rack transferring mechanism so as to transfer the sample rack to the first storing section and so as to stay the sample rack in the first storing section until a transportation state of another sample rack on the first transport path meets a predetermined condition; and when the sample rack located on the first transport path is to be transported to the downstream side of the rack transporting apparatus, the controller is programmed to control the second rack transferring mechanism so as to transfer the sample rack to the second transport path through the second storing section, and when the sample rack located on the first transport path is to be transported to the upstream side of the rack transporting apparatus, the controller controls the second rack transferring mechanism so as to transfer the sample rack to the third transport path through the second storing section.