Patent ID: 6117683
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
An automated analyzer having a main conveyance line capable of conveying a sample rack holding a sample, a plurality of analysis units arranged along the main conveyance line, a rack supplying device for supplying the sample rack to the main conveyance line and a rack housing device for housing the sample rack conveyed by the main conveyance line, the automated analyzer comprising:(a) a sample processing area arranged in each of the plurality of analysis units;(b) a reception port through which the sample rack from the main conveyance line is received in the sample processing area, the reception port having a first rack detector;(c) a sample delivery port provided in the sample processing area, the sample held by the sample rack moved from the reception port being subjected to a pipetting process at the sample delivery port;(d) a transmission port at which the sample rack moved from the sample delivery port waits until it is shifted to the main conveyance line, the sample rack waiting at the transmission port being shifted to the main conveyance line after the conveying of the waiting sample rack by the main conveyance line is determined, the transmission port being disposed on a downstream side of the main conveyance line relative to the reception port paired with the transmission port corresponding thereto;(e) a rack detector for detecting the sample rack waiting at the transmission port; and(f) a controller for checking, when sample racks waiting to be carried out are detected at transmission ports of at least two analysis units, whether or not the waiting sample racks are receivable by subsequent destinations corresponding to the waiting respective sample racks and determining that one of the waiting sample racks which is receivable as a result of the check should be preferentially shifted to the main conveyance line.