PATENT DOCUMENT

Abstract:
The present invention is to present a specimen processing apparatus, comprising: an imaging device for imaging a cap of a covered specimen container containing a specimen; an aspirating device including a specimen aspirating tube, moving the specimen aspirating tube so as to pass the specimen aspirating tube through the cap of the covered specimen container and aspirating the specimen contained in the covered specimen container via the specimen aspirating tube; an aspiration controller for controlling a movement of the specimen aspirating tube into the covered specimen container based on an image obtained by the imaging device; and a specimen processing device for processing the specimen aspirated by the aspirating device.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-282055 filed on Oct. 31, 2008 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-155819 filed on Jun. 30, 2009, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a specimen processing apparatus capable of processing a specimen which is aspirated by an aspirating device from an airtight container. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-264340 discloses a specimen processing apparatus for passing an aspiration tube through a cap for sealing a specimen container so as to aspirate a specimen from the specimen container and process the aspirated specimen. There are plural specimen containers with different dimensions and shapes which can be used in the specimen processing apparatus. For example, there are specimen containers of different cap thicknesses, specimen containers with different distances from an opening at the upper end thereof to an inner bottom surface, and the like. Accordingly, it is demanded to be able to perform a proper specimen aspirating operation according to specimen containers even when such different specimen containers are used together. 
         [0004]    Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-264340 discloses a specimen analyzing apparatus for jabbing an aspiration tube into an airtight container so as to aspirate blood and analyze the aspirated blood. In the specimen analyzing apparatus, a bar-code including specimen discriminating information and container type information is adhered to a side face of the airtight container, and a movement distance of the aspiration tube in accordance with the type of the specimen container is determined on the basis of the container type information read by a bar-code reader. 
         [0005]    However, in general, the type of the information recorded in the bar-code is determined in accordance with institutions such as inspection centers or hospitals where the specimen analyzing apparatuses are installed, and it is necessary to change a code scheme of the bar-code in the institutions in order to introduce the specimen analyzing apparatus described in the above Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-264340. Such a change in the code scheme of the bar-code significantly affects other systems. For example, it is necessary to change other systems in the institutions so as to be suitable for the code scheme. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A first aspect of the present invention is a specimen processing apparatus, comprising: an imaging device for imaging a cap of a covered specimen container containing a specimen; an aspirating device including a specimen aspirating tube, moving the specimen aspirating tube so as to pass the specimen aspirating tube through the cap of the covered specimen container and aspirating the specimen contained in the covered specimen container via the specimen aspirating tube; an aspiration controller for controlling a movement of the specimen aspirating tube into the covered specimen container based on an image obtained by the imaging device; and a specimen processing device for processing the specimen aspirated by the aspirating device. 
         [0007]    A second aspect of the present invention is a specimen processing apparatus, comprising: an imaging device for imaging a cap of a covered specimen container containing a specimen; an aspirating device including a specimen aspirating tube, moving the specimen aspirating tube so as to pass the specimen aspirating tube through the cap of the covered specimen container and aspirating the specimen contained in the covered specimen container via the specimen aspirating tube; a first controller for processing an image obtained by the imaging device; a second controller for controlling a movement of the specimen aspirating tube into the covered specimen container based on a processing result by the first controller; and a specimen processing device for processing the specimen aspirated by the aspirating device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view showing the entire configuration of a specimen processing system according to a first embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the appearance of a specimen container; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the appearance of a sample rack; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a plan view showing the configuration of a specimen putting unit; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a plan view showing the configuration of a specimen container accommodating unit according to the first embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram for illustrating the positional relationship between a camera, a white LED and a specimen container in the specimen container accommodating unit according to the first embodiment, and the direction of the light emitted from the white LED; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a plan view showing the configuration of a specimen transport apparatus; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a front view showing the configuration of a first belt of the specimen transport apparatus; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a front view showing the configuration of a second belt of the specimen transport apparatus; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a measuring unit of a specimen analyzing apparatus; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing unit of the specimen analyzing apparatus; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a descent amount table; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a smear preparing apparatus; 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system control apparatus; 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a specimen container table; 
           [0023]      FIG. 16A  is a flowchart (first half) showing the flow of a specimen sorting operation of the specimen putting apparatus; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16B  is a flowchart (second half) showing the flow of the specimen sorting operation of the specimen putting apparatus; 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram showing the structure of storage instruction data; 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is a schematic diagram showing the structure of stored rack information; 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is a flowchart showing the flow of a retreated rack information display operation of the specimen putting apparatus; 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  is a diagram showing an example of a stored rack list screen; 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  is a diagram showing an example of a detailed information screen of a sample rack; 
           [0030]      FIG. 22  is a flowchart showing the flow of a measuring order obtaining operation of the system control apparatus; 
           [0031]      FIG. 23  is a diagram showing examples of specimen container shapes; 
           [0032]      FIG. 24  is a flowchart showing the flow of a specimen container type discriminating process of the system control apparatus according to the first embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 25  is a schematic diagram for illustrating a process of detecting the shape and the position of a cap section of a specimen container in an image according to the first embodiment; 
           [0034]      FIG. 26  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a sorting instruction process of the system control apparatus; 
           [0035]      FIG. 27A  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a first transport instruction process of the system control apparatus; 
           [0036]      FIG. 27B  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a second transport instruction process of the system control apparatus; 
           [0037]      FIG. 28A  is a flowchart (first half) showing the flow of a process of controlling a transport mechanism by a control section of the specimen transport apparatus; 
           [0038]      FIG. 28B  is a flowchart (second half) showing the flow of the process of controlling the transport mechanism by the control section of the specimen transport apparatus; 
           [0039]      FIG. 29A  is a flowchart (first half) showing the procedure of a specimen analyzing operation of a blood cell analyzing apparatus according to the first embodiment; 
           [0040]      FIG. 29B  is a flowchart (second half) showing the procedure of the specimen analyzing operation of the blood cell analyzing apparatus according to the first embodiment; 
           [0041]      FIG. 30  is a schematic plan view showing the entire configuration of a specimen processing system according to a second embodiment; 
           [0042]      FIG. 31  is a plan view showing the configuration of a specimen container accommodating unit according to the second embodiment; 
           [0043]      FIG. 32  is a diagram illustrating an imaging range of a camera according to the second embodiment; 
           [0044]      FIG. 33  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system control apparatus according to the second embodiment; 
           [0045]      FIG. 34  is a flowchart showing the flow of a specimen container type discriminating process of the system control apparatus according to the second embodiment; 
           [0046]      FIG. 35  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a characteristic information correcting process of the system control apparatus according to the second embodiment; 
           [0047]      FIG. 36  is a schematic plan view showing the entire configuration of a specimen processing system according to a third embodiment; 
           [0048]      FIG. 37  is a plan view showing the configuration of a specimen container accommodating unit according to the third embodiment; 
           [0049]      FIG. 38  is a diagram illustrating an imaging range of a camera according to the third embodiment; 
           [0050]      FIG. 39  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system control apparatus according to the third embodiment; 
           [0051]      FIG. 40  is a flowchart showing the flow of a specimen container type discriminating process of the system control apparatus according to the third embodiment; and 
           [0052]      FIG. 41  is a perspective view showing an example of a specimen processing apparatus having another configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0053]    Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0054]    This embodiment relates to a specimen processing apparatus which controls the aspiration of a specimen in a measuring unit on the basis of an image of a specimen container. 
       [Configuration of Specimen Processing System] 
       [0055]      FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view showing the entire configuration of a specimen processing system according to this embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a specimen processing system  1  includes a specimen putting apparatus  2 , specimen transport apparatuses  3  and  301 , a processed specimen accommodating apparatus  4 , a blood cell analyzing apparatus  5 , a smear preparing apparatus  6 , and a system control apparatus  8 . The specimen processing system  1  according to this embodiment is connected to a host computer  9  via a communication network so as to communicate therewith. 
       &lt;Configuration of Specimen Putting Apparatus  2 &gt; 
       [0056]    The specimen putting apparatus  2  includes a specimen putting unit  21 , a specimen container accommodating unit  22  and a specimen delivery unit  23 . The specimen putting apparatus  2  can place plural specimen containers accommodated in a sample rack. In addition, the specimen putting apparatus  2  includes a control section  2   a  composed of a CPU and a memory, and the control section  2   a  can control the operation mechanisms which are the specimen putting unit  21 , the specimen container accommodating unit  22  and the specimen delivery unit  23 . Moreover, the specimen putting apparatus  2  is connected to the system control apparatus  8  via a communication network so as to perform data communication with the system control apparatus  8 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the appearance of a specimen container and  FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the appearance of a sample rack. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a tube-shaped specimen container T is open at an upper end thereof. The specimen container T contains a blood specimen collected from a patient and the opening at the upper end is sealed by a cap section CP. The specimen container T is made of translucent glass or synthetic resin, and the blood specimen therein can be visually confirmed. A bar-code label BL 1  is adhered to a side face of the specimen container T and a bar-code indicating a specimen ID is printed on the bar-code label BL 1 . A sample rack L can hold ten specimen containers T arranged in order. In the sample rack L, the specimen containers T are held in a vertical state (erect state). A bar-code label BL 2  is adhered to a side face of the sample rack L and a bar-code indicating a rack ID is printed on the bar-code label BL 2 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 4  is a plan view showing the configuration of the specimen putting unit  21 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the specimen putting unit  21  has a concave rack placing section  211  for placing the sample rack L accommodating the specimen containers T. The rack placing section  211  has a rectangular shape and can simultaneously hold the plural sample racks L. The sample racks L are placed in the rack placing section  211  so that the specimen containers T line up in a transverse direction. The rack placing section  211  is provided with sensors  212  and  213  for detecting the sample rack L and an engaging section  211   a  for moving the sample rack L. The sensors  212  and  213  are optical sensors. The sensor  212  includes a light-emitting section  212   a  and a light-receiving section  212   b , and the sensor  213  includes a light-emitting section  213   a  and a light-receiving section  213   b . The light-emitting section  212   a  is positioned at the left-front side of the rack placing section  211  and the light-receiving section  212   b  is positioned at the right-center side of the rack placing section  211 . In addition, the light-emitting section  213   a  is positioned at the left-rear side of the rack placing section  211  and the light-receiving section  213   b  is positioned at the right-center side of the rack placing section  211 . The light-emitting section  212   a  is disposed so as to emit light diagonally in a backward right direction and the light-receiving section  212   b  is disposed so as to receive the light over the rack placing section  211 . In addition, the light-emitting section  213   a  is disposed so as to emit light diagonally in a forward right direction and the light-receiving section  213   b  is disposed so as to receive the light over the rack placing section  211 . Accordingly, by the sample rack L being placed in the rack placing section  211 , the light emitted from the light-emitting section  212   a  or  213   a  is interrupted and thus there is a fall in the light-receiving level of the light-receiving section  212   b  or  213   b . Therefore, the sample rack L is detected by the rack sensor  212  or  213 . The sample rack L detected by the rack sensor  212  or  213  is engaged with the engaging section  211   a  and the engaging section  211   a  is moved in a front-back direction while being engaged with the sample rack L so as to move the sample rack L on the rack placing section  211 . 
         [0059]    The specimen putting unit  21  includes a bar-code reading section  21   a  at the inner side of the rack placing section  211 . The bar-code reading section  21   a  includes a specimen bar-code reader  21   b  for simultaneously reading the specimen bar-codes of the plural specimen containers T accommodated in the sample rack L and a rack bar-code reader  21   c  for reading the rack bar-code of the sample rack L. Moreover, the bar-code reading section  21   a  includes a horizontal rotation mechanism  21   d  for simultaneous horizontal rotation of the plural specimen containers T directly above a bar-code reading position at the most inner side of the rack placing section  211 . The sample rack L put into the rack placing section  211  is moved in a direction toward the inner side from the front side, that is, backward on the rack placing section  211 , to reach the bar-code reading position. After that, while the specimen container T accommodated in the sample rack L is horizontally rotated by the horizontal rotation mechanism  21   d , the specimen ID is read from the bar-code label BL 1  by the specimen bar-code reader  21   b . In addition, the rack ID is read from the bar-code label BL 2  of the sample rack L by the rack bar-code reader  21   c . The read rack ID and specimen ID are transmitted to the system control apparatus  8 . 
         [0060]    Further, the specimen putting unit  21  is disposed on the right side of the specimen container accommodating unit  22  (see  FIG. 1  for reference). The sample rack L at the bar-code reading position, in which the rack bar-code and the specimen bar-code have been read, is conveyed to the specimen container accommodating unit  22  from a rack delivery port  215  provided on the left side of the bar-code reading position. 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the specimen putting unit  21  is provided with an operating panel  214 . A user operates the operating panel  214  so as to issue an analysis start instruction or an analysis completion instruction to the specimen processing system  1 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 5  is a plan view showing the configuration of the specimen container accommodating unit  22 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the specimen container accommodating unit  22  includes a rack accommodating section  221 , which has a quadrangular shape when viewed from above, capable of accommodating the plural sample racks L. Further, the specimen container accommodating unit  22  includes a handy bar-code reader  222   c  which is manually operated by the user, an optical sensor  223   a  for detecting the presence or absence of the bar-code label BL 1  of the specimen container T, a camera  225   a  for imaging the specimen container T and a liquid crystal display section  227 . 
         [0063]    The rack accommodating section  221  is a rectangular recessed portion when viewed from above. A rack feed port  221   a  for feeding the sample rack L from the specimen putting unit  21  is provided in a right wall section at the inner end of the rack accommodating section  221 . In addition, a rack delivery port  221   b  for delivering the sample rack L to the specimen delivery unit  23  is provided in a left wall section at the inner end of the rack accommodating section  221 . A transport belt  228  for transporting the sample rack L is provided between the rack feed port  221   a  and the rack delivery port  221   b . The transport belt  228  is an annular belt and is driven by a stepping motor (not shown) so as to transport the sample rack L placed on the transport belt  228  to the left in the drawing. Moreover, a rack delivery section  229  is provided at the further inner side of the transport belt  228 . The rack delivery section  229  is driven by a stepping motor (not shown) or the like so as to push forward the sample rack L on the transport belt  228 . The sample rack L delivered to the front by the rack delivery section  229  is retained by the rack accommodating section  221 . 
         [0064]    By using the transport belt  228 , the sample rack L is intermittently moved to the left in a pitch feeding manner in which the gap between the neighboring specimen containers T is set to one pitch. An imaging position  224  for capturing an image to judge the type of the specimen container T is provided on a transport path which is formed by the transport belt  228 . 
         [0065]    The specimen container T accommodated in the sample rack L reaches the imaging position  224  by moving the sample rack L to the left. The optical sensor  223   a  is disposed in front of the imaging position  224 . The optical sensor  223   a  is composed of a light-emitting element  223   b  and a light-receiving element  223   c . When the specimen container T reaches the imaging position  224 , the specimen container T is irradiated with light by the light-emitting element  223   b . This light is reflected by the specimen container T and the reflected light is received by the light-receiving element  223   c . On the other hand, when the specimen container T is not positioned at the imaging position  224 , the light of the light-emitting element  223   b  is not reflected and the reflected light is not received by the light-receiving element  223   c . Accordingly, the light-receiving level of the light-receiving element  223   c  when the specimen container T is positioned at the imaging position is higher than that in the case in which the specimen container T is not positioned at the imaging position. From the difference in the light-receiving level, the presence or absence of the specimen container T at the imaging position  224  is determined. 
         [0066]    The camera  225   a  is disposed in front of the specimen container T positioned at the imaging position  224 . The camera  225   a  is disposed so that the cap section CP of the specimen container T positioned at the imaging position  224  is in the imaging range. A white LED  225   c  is disposed at a predetermined position with respect to the camera  225   a  and the specimen container T is illuminated by the white LED  225   c.    
         [0067]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram for illustrating the positional relationship between the camera  225   a , the white LED  225   c  and the specimen container T, and the direction of the light emitted from the white LED. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the white LED  225   c  is disposed so that light is emitted toward the specimen container T positioned at the imaging position  224  and the light reflected from the specimen container T does not directly enter the camera  225   a  positioned in front of the specimen container T. Accordingly, the camera  225   a  is not directly exposed to the reflected light and so-called halation due to overexposure can be prevented. 
         [0068]    The specimen container T held in the sample rack L at the imaging position  224  is imaged by the camera  225   a , and the image data obtained in this manner is transmitted to the system control apparatus  8 . The sample rack L in which the imaging of all the specimen containers T has been completed is delivered from the rack delivery port  221   b  by the transport belt  228 . 
         [0069]    The optical sensor  223   a , the camera  225   a  and the white LED  225   c  can be vertically moved by a vertical driving mechanism (not shown). When the sample rack L is on the transport path of the rack accommodating section  221 , the optical sensor  223   a , the camera  225   a  and the white LED  225   c  are disposed in front of the sample rack L. When the sample rack L is moved to the front side of the rack accommodating section  221 , the optical sensor  223   a  is lifted by the vertical driving mechanism up to a position which does not interfere with the movement of the sample rack L. 
         [0070]    The bar-code reader  222   c  includes a light-emitting section and a light-receiving section (line sensor) (not shown), and is connected to a main body of the specimen container accommodating unit  22  by a flexible cable for transmitting an electric signal. The bar-code reader  222   c  is used when the user manually re-reads a bar-code which cannot be read by a bar-code reader  222   b.    
         [0071]    The specimen delivery unit  23  disposed on the left side of the specimen container accommodating unit  22  includes a rack re-putting section  231  in which the plural sample racks L are placed (see  FIG. 1  for reference). The rack re-putting section  231  has the same rectangular parallelepiped shape as the rack placing section  211  of the specimen putting unit  21  when viewed from above. There is no right wall section at the inner side of the rack re-putting section  231  and this forms a rack feed port. The sample rack L is fed from the specimen container accommodating unit  22 , through the rack feed port, to the specimen delivery unit  23 . In addition, there is also no left wall section at the front side (front-face side) of the rack re-putting section  231  of the specimen delivery unit  23  and this portion serves as a rack delivery port. The sample rack L fed from the rack feed port is moved to the front by the rack re-putting section  231  so as to reach the most forward position and is then delivered to the left from the rack delivery port. Moreover, the specimen delivery unit  23  is provided with a bar-code reader  23   a  for reading a rack bar-code. By using the bar-code reader, the rack ID of the sample rack L transported to the rack re-putting section  231  is read, and before the sample rack L is transported to the following specimen transport apparatus  3 , convey request data including the rack ID is transmitted to the system control apparatus  8 . 
       &lt;Configuration of Specimen Transport Apparatus  3 &gt; 
       [0072]    Next, the configuration of the specimen transport apparatus  3  will be described. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the specimen processing system  1  includes three specimen transport apparatuses  3 . The specimen transport apparatuses  3 ,  3  and  3  are each disposed in front of three measuring units  51 ,  51  and  51  of the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5 . Neighboring specimen transport apparatuses  3  and  3  are connected to each other so as to send and receive the sample rack L to and from each other. The rightmost specimen transport apparatus  3  is connected to the above-described specimen putting apparatus  2  so as to feed the sample rack L conveyed from the specimen putting apparatus  2  thereto. The leftmost specimen transport apparatus  3  is connected to the specimen transport apparatus  301  so as to convey the sample rack L to the specimen transport apparatus  301 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 7  is a plan view showing the configuration of the specimen transport apparatus  3 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the specimen transport apparatus  3  includes a transport mechanism  31  for transporting a specimen and a control section  32  for controlling the transport mechanism  31 . The transport mechanism  31  includes a before-analysis rack holding section  33  capable of temporarily holding the plural sample racks L holding the specimen containers T accommodating the specimens before the analysis is performed, an after-analysis rack holding section  34  capable of temporarily holding the plural sample racks L holding the specimen containers T in which the specimen is aspirated by the measuring unit  51 , a rack transport section  35  for horizontally moving the sample rack L in a straight line in a direction of the arrow X in the drawing so as to supply the specimen to the measuring unit  51  and transporting the sample rack L received from the before-analysis rack holding section  33  to the after-analysis rack holding section  34 , and a rack transport section  321  for conveying the sample rack L from the apparatus (specimen putting apparatus  2  or specimen transport apparatus  3 ) on the upstream side of the transport and conveying the sample rack L to the apparatus (specimen transport apparatus  3  or  301 ) on the downstream side of the transport without supplying the specimen accommodated in the sample rack L to the measuring unit  51 . 
         [0074]    The before-analysis rack holding section  33  has a quadrangular shape when viewed from above, and its width is slightly larger than the width of the sample rack L. The before-analysis rack holding section  33  is formed to be lower by one stage than the surrounding surface, and on an upper face thereof, the before-analysis sample racks L are placed. The before-analysis rack holding section  33  is connected to the rack transport section  321 , and the sample rack L is sent from the rack transport section  321  by a rack delivery section  322  to be described later. A rack sensor  37  is installed near the before-analysis rack holding section  33 , and a rack detection position  33   a  at which the sample rack L is detected by the rack sensor  37  is provided on the before-analysis rack holding section  33 . The rack sensor  37  is an optical sensor and includes a light-emitting section  37   a  and a light-receiving section  37   b . The light-emitting section  37   a  is provided lateral to the rack detection position  33   a  and the light-receiving section  37   b  is provided in front of the rack detection position  33   a . The light-emitting section  37   a  is disposed so as to emit light diagonally in a forward direction and the light-receiving section  37   b  is disposed so as to receive the light. Accordingly, the sample rack L sent from the rack transport section  321  is positioned at the rack detection position  33   a  and the light emitted from the light-emitting section  37   a  is thus blocked by the sample rack L. Therefore, there is a fall in the light-receiving level of the light-receiving section  37   b  and the sample rack L is thus detected by the rack sensor  37 . Further, rack sending sections  33   b  are provided in both faces of the before-analysis rack holding section  33  so as to be protruded inward. When the sample rack L is detected by the rack sensor  37 , the rack sending sections  33   b  protrude so as to be engaged with the sample rack L. In this state, the rack sending sections  33   b  are moved backward (moved in a direction so as to be closer to the rack transport section  35 ) and thus the sample rack L is moved backward. The rack sending sections  33   b  are configured to be driven by a stepping motor  33   c  provided below the before-analysis rack holding section  33 . 
         [0075]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the rack transport section  35  can move the sample rack L, which is moved by the before-analysis rack holding section  33 , in the X direction. On the path of the transport of the sample rack L by the rack transport section  35 , there are a specimen container detection position  35   a  where the specimen container is detected by a specimen container sensor  38  and a specimen supply position  35   c  for supplying the specimen to the measuring unit  51  of the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5 . The rack transport section  35  is configured to transport the sample rack L via the specimen container detection position  35   a  so that the specimen is transported to the specimen supply position  35   c . The specimen supply position  35   c  is positioned on the downstream side in the transport direction so as to be separated from the specimen container detection position  35   a  by a distance corresponding to one specimen. When the specimen is transported to the specimen supply position  35   c  by the rack transport section  35 , a hand section of the measuring unit  51  of the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  to be described later grasps the specimen container T of the specimen and takes out the specimen container T from the sample rack L so as to aspirate the specimen from the specimen container T, and thus the specimen is supplied to the measuring unit  51 . After transporting the specimen container to the specimen supply position  35   c , the rack transport section  35  stands by to transport the sample rack L while the supplying of the specimen is completed and the specimen container T is returned to the sample rack L. 
         [0076]    In addition, the rack transport section  35  has two independently operable belts, that is, a first belt  351  and a second belt  352 . Widths b 1  and b 2  in a direction of the arrow Y of the first belt  351  and the second belt  352  are equal to or smaller than half of a width B in the direction of the arrow Y of the sample rack L. The first belt  351  and the second belt  352  are disposed in parallel so as not to protrude from the width B of the sample rack L when the rack transport section  35  transports the sample rack L.  FIG. 8  is a front view showing the configuration of the first belt  351  and  FIG. 9  is a front view showing the configuration of the second belt  352 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the first belt  351  and the second belt  352  are annularly formed respectively. The first belt  351  is disposed so as to surround rollers  351   a  to  351   c  and the second belt  352  is disposed so as to surround rollers  352   a  to  352   c . In a peripheral section of the first belt  351 , two protrusions  351   d  are provided so as to have an inner width w 1  slightly larger (for example, 1 mm) than a width W in the X direction of the sample rack L, and similarly, in a peripheral section of the second belt  352 , two protrusions  352   d  are provided so as to have nearly the same inner width w 2  as the inner width w 1 . The first belt  351  is configured so that the sample rack L held inside of the two protrusions  351   d  is moved in the direction of the arrow X by being moved along the peripheries of the rollers  351   a  to  351   c  by a stepping motor  351   e  (see  FIG. 7  for reference). The second belt  352  is configured so that the sample rack L held inside of the two protrusions  352   d  is moved in the direction of the arrow X by being moved along the peripheries of the rollers  352   a  to  352   c  by a stepping motor  352   e  (see  FIG. 7  for reference). In addition, the first belt  351  and the second belt  352  are configured so as to move the sample rack L independently of each other. 
         [0077]    The specimen container sensor  38  is a contact sensor and has a contact piece, a light-emitting element for emitting light and a light-receiving element (not shown). The specimen container sensor  38  is configured so that the contact piece is bent when brought into contact with a substance to be detected which is a detection object and the light emitted from the light-emitting element is thus reflected by the contact piece and enters the light-receiving element. Accordingly, while the specimen container T which is a detection object accommodated in the sample rack L passes under the specimen container sensor  38 , the contact piece is bent by the specimen container T and the specimen container T can be detected. 
         [0078]    A rack delivery section  39  is disposed so as to be opposed to the after-analysis rack holding section  34  to be described later with the rack transport section  35  interposed therebetween. The rack delivery section  39  is configured to be horizontally moved in a straight line in the direction of the arrow Y by a driving force of a stepping motor  39   a . Accordingly, when the sample rack L is transported to a position  391  (hereinafter, referred to as “after-analysis rack delivery position”) between the after-analysis rack holding section  34  and the rack delivery section  39 , by moving the rack delivery section  39  toward the after-analysis rack holding section  34 , the sample rack L is pushed so as to be moved to the inside of the after-analysis rack holding section  34 . In this manner, the sample rack L in which the analysis has been completed is delivered to the after-analysis rack holding section  34  from the rack transport section  35 . 
         [0079]    The rack transport section  321  extends in the direction of the arrow X in the drawing and can horizontally move the sample rack L in a straight line in the direction of the arrow X. The rack transport section  321  has an annular belt  321   a  and a stepping motor  321   b  and is configured so as to rotate the belt  321   a  in the direction of the arrow X by a driving force of the stepping motor  321   b . Accordingly, the sample rack L placed on the belt  321   a  can be moved in the X direction. In addition, the rack delivery section  322  is disposed in front of the before-analysis rack holding section  33  so as to be opposed to the before-analysis rack holding section  33  with the rack transport section  321  interposed therebetween. The rack delivery section  322  is configured to be horizontally moved in a straight line in the direction of the arrow Y by a driving force of a stepping motor  322   a . Accordingly, when the sample rack L is transported to a position  323  (hereinafter, referred to as “before-analysis rack delivery position”) between the before-analysis rack holding section  33  and the rack delivery section  322 , by moving the rack delivery section  322  toward the before-analysis rack holding section  33 , the sample rack L is pushed so as to be moved to the rack detection position  33   a  in the before-analysis rack holding section  33 . 
         [0080]    The after-analysis rack holding section  34  has a quadrangular shape when viewed from above, and its width is slightly larger than the width of the sample rack L. The after-analysis rack holding section  34  is formed to be lower by one stage than the surrounding surface, and on an upper face thereof, the sample racks L in which the analysis has been completed are placed. The after-analysis rack holding section  34  is connected to the rack transport section  35 , and as described above, the sample rack L is sent from the rack transport section  35  by the rack delivery section  39 . Rack sending sections  34   b  are provided in both faces of the after-analysis rack holding section  34  so as to protrude inward. When the sample rack L is conveyed by the rack delivery section  39 , the rack sending sections  34   b  protrude so as to be engaged with the sample rack L. In this state, the rack sending sections are moved forward (moved in a direction so as to be closer to the rack transport section  321 ) and thus the sample rack L is moved forward. The rack sending sections  34   b  are configured to be driven by a stepping motor  34   c  provided below the after-analysis rack holding section  34 . 
         [0081]    Due to such a configuration, a measuring line L 1 , which is used as a transport line for the sample rack L passing through the specimen supply position  35   c , and a skip line L 2 , which is used as a transport line for conveying the sample rack L not passing through the specimen supply position  35   c  to the apparatus on the downstream side, are formed in the transport mechanism  31 . 
         [0082]    The transport mechanism  31  having the above-described configuration is controlled by the control section  32 . The control section  32  is composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like (not shown) and a control program of the transport mechanism  31 , which is stored in the ROM, can be executed by the CPU. The control section  32  includes an Ethernet (registered trade name) interface and is connected to an information processing unit  52  and the system control apparatus  8  via a LAN so as to communicate therewith. 
         [0083]    Due to the above-described configuration, the specimen transport apparatus  3  transports the sample rack L, which is transported from the specimen putting apparatus  2 , to the before-analysis rack delivery position  323  by using the rack transport section  321 , moves the sample rack to the before-analysis rack holding section  33  by using the rack delivery section  322 , delivers the sample rack L from the before-analysis rack holding section  33  to the rack transport section  35 , and also transports the sample rack by using the rack transport section  35 , and thus the specimen can be supplied to the measuring unit  51  of the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5 . The sample rack L, which accommodates the specimens for which the aspiration has been completed, is moved to the after-analysis rack delivery position  391  by the rack transport section  35  and is delivered to the after-analysis rack holding section  34  by the rack delivery section  39 . The sample rack L held in the after-analysis rack holding section  34  is moved to the rack transport section  321  and is conveyed to the following apparatus (specimen transport apparatus  3  or  301 ) by the rack transport section  321 . When the sample rack L, which accommodates the specimens to be processed by the measuring unit  51  or the smear preparing apparatus  6  on the downstream side of the transport or the specimens in which the analysis has been completed, is received by the specimen transport apparatus  3  from the preceding apparatus, the sample rack L is transported in the direction of the arrow X by the rack transport section  321  and is conveyed to the following specimen transport apparatus  3 . 
       &lt;Configuration of Specimen Transport Apparatus  301 &gt; 
       [0084]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the specimen transport apparatus  301  is disposed in front of the smear preparing apparatus  6 . The right end of the specimen transport apparatus  301  is connected to the specimen transport apparatus  3  positioned on the downmost-stream side of the transport (left side in the drawing) among the three specimen transport apparatuses  3 ,  3  and  3 . The left end of the specimen transport apparatus  301  is connected to the processed specimen accommodating apparatus  4 . 
         [0085]    The specimen transport apparatus  301  includes a conveyor  302  and a rack slider  303 . The conveyor  302  is provided with two rack transport paths  302   a  and  302   b  extending in a horizontal direction. The rack transport path  302   a  which is closer to the smear preparing apparatus  6  is a measuring line for transporting the sample rack L accommodating the specimen to be supplied to the smear preparing apparatus  6 . The rack transport path  302   b  which is separated from the smear preparing apparatus  6  is a skip line for transporting the sample rack L not accommodating the specimen to be supplied to the smear preparing apparatus  6 . The conveyor  302  includes a CPU, a memory and a control section (not shown) for controlling the operating mechanisms. 
         [0086]    The rack slider  303  is disposed on the right side of the conveyor  302 , and sorts and puts the sample racks L to the measuring line  302   a  and the skip line  302   b  of the conveyor  302 . 
       &lt;Configuration of Processed Specimen Accommodating Apparatus  4 &gt; 
       [0087]    The processed specimen accommodating apparatus  4  is configured so as the plural sample racks L can be placed. The processed specimen accommodating apparatus  4  receives from the specimen transport apparatus  301  the sample rack L in which the analysis or the smear preparation has been completed, and accommodates the sample rack L. 
       &lt;Configuration of Blood Cell Analyzing Apparatus  5 &gt; 
       [0088]    The blood cell analyzing apparatus  5 , which is used as an optical flow cytometry type multiple blood cell analyzing apparatus, obtains the fluorescent intensity, the side-scattered light intensity and the like of blood cells included in a blood specimen, classifies the blood cells included in the specimen on the basis of the above intensities, and counts the number of blood cells for each type. Moreover, the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  creates a scattergram in which the classified blood cells are color-coded for each type, and displays the scattergram. The blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  includes the measuring units  51  for measuring a blood specimen and the information processing unit  52  for processing measuring data output from the measuring unit  51  and displaying analysis results of the blood specimen. 
         [0089]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  includes the three measuring units  51 ,  51  and  51  and the one information processing unit  52 . The information processing unit  52  is connected to the three measuring units  51 ,  51  and  51  so as to communicate therewith and can control the operations of the three measuring units  51 ,  51  and  51 . The information processing unit  52  is also connected to the three specimen transport apparatuses  3 ,  3  and  3 , which are respectively disposed in front of the three measuring units  51 ,  51  and  51 , so as to communicate therewith. 
         [0090]    The three measuring units  51 ,  51  and  51  have the same configuration.  FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the measuring unit  51 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the measuring unit  51  includes a specimen aspirating section  511  for aspirating blood which is a specimen from the specimen container (blood collection tube) T, a sample preparing section  512  for preparing a measurement sample which is used in the measurement from the blood aspirated by the specimen aspirating section  511  and a detecting section  513  for detecting a blood cell from the measurement sample prepared by the sample preparing section  512 . Moreover, the measuring unit  51  further has a taking port (not shown) for taking the specimen container T accommodated in the sample rack L transported by the rack transport section  35  of the specimen transport apparatus  3  into the measuring unit  51 , and a specimen container transport section  515  for taking the specimen container T from the sample rack L into the measuring unit  51  and transporting the specimen container T to an aspiration position where the aspiration is performed by the specimen aspirating section  511 . 
         [0091]    An aspiration tube  511   a  is provided at the tip end of the specimen aspirating section  511 . The specimen aspirating section  511  includes a driving mechanism  511   b  with a belt and a motor, and the aspiration tube  511   a  can be vertically moved by a driving force of the driving mechanism  511   b . As described later, the aspiration tube  511   a  is configured to be moved downward by a descent amount which is determined in accordance with the type of a specimen container, so that the aspiration tube  511   a  penetrates into the cap section CP of the specimen container T transported to the aspiration position so as to aspirate the blood in the specimen container. 
         [0092]    The aspiration tube  511   a  is formed of a pipe made of stainless steel and includes an aspiration flow path (not shown) at the center of the pipe. At the tip end of the aspiration tube  511   a , a tapered, sharp pyramidal section having a trigonal pyramid shape is formed toward the apex. Accordingly, the descent force of the aspiration tube  511   a  is concentrated on the apex and thus the aspiration tube  511   a  can easily break through the cap section CP of the specimen container T. 
         [0093]    Moreover, the aspiration tube  511   a  has, in its peripheral surface, three groove-like elongated concave sections which are parallel to a center axis and extend in a line. These concave sections are provided with predetermined intervals therebetween. When the aspiration tube  511   a  configured in this manner is lowered and the tip end of the aspiration tube penetrates into the cap section CP, the inside of the specimen container T is directly released to the open air by the concave sections of the peripheral surfaces of the aspiration tube  511   a  and the pressure in the specimen container T is thus returned to atmospheric pressure. Accordingly, the blood in the specimen container T is smoothly aspirated by the aspiration tube  511   a  and can be aspirated in certain quantities with high accuracy. The technique in which the inside of the specimen container T is released to the open air by the concave sections of the peripheral surface of the aspiration tube  511   a  is described in detail in JP-A-2004-170156. 
         [0094]    The sample preparing section  512  includes plural reaction chambers (not shown). Further, the sample preparing section  512  is connected to a reagent container (not shown) and can supply reagents such as a smearing reagent, a hemolytic agent and a diluent to the reaction chamber. The sample preparing section  512  is also connected to the aspiration tube  511   a  of the specimen aspirating section  511  and can supply the blood specimen aspirated by the aspiration tube  511   a  to the reaction chamber. The sample preparing section  512  mixes and stirs the specimen and the reagent in the reaction chamber to prepare a sample (measurement sample) for the measurement by the detecting section  513 . 
         [0095]    The detecting section  513  can detect red blood cells (RBC) and platelets (PLT) by using a sheath flow DC detection method. In detecting RBCs and PLTs by using the sheath flow DC detection method, a measurement sample in which a specimen and a diluent are mixed is measured, and measuring data obtained in this manner is analyzed by the information processing unit  52  so as to measure the RBCs and PLTs. In addition, the detecting section  513  is configured to detect hemoglobin (HGB) by using a SLS-hemoglobin method and detect white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils (NEUT), lymphocytes (LYMPH), eosinophils (EO), basophil (BASO) and monocytes (MONO) by using a flow cytometry method using semiconductor lasers. In the detecting section  513 , the detection of WBCs unaccompanied by 5 classifications of white blood cells, that is, the detection of WBCs unaccompanied by the detection of NEUTs, LYMPHs, EOs, BASOs and MONOs is different in detection method from the detection of WBCs accompanied by 5 classifications of white blood cells. In the detection of WBCs unaccompanied by 5 classifications of white blood cells, a measurement sample in which a specimen, a hemolytic agent and a diluent are mixed is measured, and measuring data obtained in this manner is analyzed by the information processing unit  52  so as to measure WBCs. In the detection of WBCs accompanied by 5 classifications of white blood cells, a measurement sample in which a smearing reagent, a hemolytic agent and a diluent are mixed is measured, and measuring data obtained in this manner is analyzed by the information processing unit  52  so as to measure NEUTs, LYMPHs, EOs, BASOs, MONOs and WBCs. 
         [0096]    The specimen container transport section  515  includes a hand section  515   a  capable of grasping the specimen container T. The hand section  515   a  includes a pair of grasping members opposed to each other and can allow the grasping members to be closer to each other or farther from each other. The specimen container T can be held by allowing the grasping members with the specimen container T interposed therebetween to be closer to each other. Further, the specimen container transport section  515  can move the hand section  515   a  in a vertical direction and in a front-back direction (Y direction) and can oscillate the hand section  515   a . Accordingly, by holding the specimen container T accommodated in the sample rack L and positioned at the supply position  35   c  with the hand section  515   a  and moving the hand section  515   a  upward, the specimen container T is pulled out of the sample rack L, and by oscillating the hand section  515   a , the specimen in the specimen container T can be stirred. 
         [0097]    In addition, the specimen container transport section  515  includes a specimen container setting section  515   b  having a hole to which the specimen container T can be inserted. The specimen container T grasped by the above-described hand section  515   a  is moved after the completion of stirring and the grasped specimen container T is inserted into the hole of the specimen container setting section  515   b . Then, by allowing the grasping members to be separated from each other, the specimen container T is released from the hand section  515   a  and the specimen container T is set in the specimen container setting section  515   b . The specimen container setting section  515   b  can be horizontally moved in the Y direction by the power of a stepping motor (not shown). A bar-code reading section  516  is provided in the measuring unit  51 . The specimen container setting section  515   b  can be moved to a bar-code reading position  516   a  near the bar-code reading section  516  and an aspiration position  511   a  where the aspiration is performed by the specimen aspirating section  511 . When the specimen container setting section  515   b  is moved to the bar-code reading position  516   a , the set specimen container T is horizontally rotated by a rotation mechanism (not shown) and the specimen bar-code is read by the bar-code reading section  516 . Accordingly, even when the bar-code label BL 1  of the specimen container T is positioned on the opposite side with respect to the bar-code reading section  516 , the bar-code label BL 1  can face the bar-code reading section  516  by rotating the specimen container T and the bar-code reading section  516  can read the specimen bar-code. When the specimen container setting section  515   b  is moved to the aspiration position, the specimen is aspirated from the set specimen container T by the specimen aspirating section  511 . 
         [0098]    Next, the configuration of the information processing unit  52  will be described. The information processing unit  52  is composed of a computer.  FIG. 11  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing unit  52 . The information processing unit  52  is realized by a computer  52   a . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the computer  52   a  includes a main body  521 , an image display section  522  and an input section  523 . The main body  521  includes a CPU  521   a , a ROM  521   b , a RAM  521   c , a hard disk  521   d , a reading device  521   e , an I/O interface  521   f , a communication interface  521   g  and an image output interface  521   h . The CPU  521   a , ROM  521   b , RAM  521   c , hard disk  521   d , reading device  521   e , I/O interface  521   f , communication interface  521   g  and image output interface  521   h  are connected to each other by a bus  521   j.    
         [0099]    The CPU  521   a  can execute a computer program loaded to the RAM  521   c . The CPU  521   a  executes a computer program  524   a  for analyzing a specimen and controlling the measuring unit  51 , which will be described later, so that the computer  52   a  functions as the information processing unit  52 . 
         [0100]    The ROM  521   b  is composed of a mask ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM or the like and the computer program executed by the CPU  521   a  and data used for the computer program are recorded in the ROM. 
         [0101]    The RAM  521   c  is composed of a SRAM, a DRAM or the like. The RAM  521   c  is used to read the computer program  524   a  recorded in the hard disk  521   d . Moreover, the RAM is used as an operating area of the CPU  521   a  when the CPU  521   a  executes a computer program. 
         [0102]    In the hard disk  521   d , various computer programs for execution by the CPU  521   a , such as an operating system and an application program, and data, which are used to execute the computer programs, are installed. The computer program  524   a  to be described later is also installed in the hard disk  521   d.    
         [0103]    The reading device  521   e  is composed of a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD-ROM drive or the like and can read the computer program or data recorded in a portable recording medium  524 . In the portable recording medium  524 , the computer program  524   a  for prompting the computer to function as the information processing unit  52  is stored. The computer  52   a  can read the computer program  524   a  from the portable recording medium  524  and install the computer program  524   a  in the hard disk  521   d.    
         [0104]    The computer program  524   a  is provided by the portable recording medium  524  and can be also provided from an external device, which is connected to the computer  52   a  by an electric communication line (which may be wired or wireless) to communicate therewith, through the electric communication line. For example, the computer program  524   a  is stored in a hard disk of a server computer on the internet and the computer  52   a  accesses the server computer to download the computer program and install the computer program in the hard disk  521   d.    
         [0105]    Furthermore, in the hard disk  521   d , for example, a multitasking operating system such as Windows (registered trade name), which is made and distributed by Microsoft corporation in America, is installed. In the following description, the computer program  524   a  according to this embodiment operates on the above operating system. 
         [0106]    Moreover, a descent amount table TBL 1  which is used to determine a descent amount of the specimen aspirating section  511  is provided in the hard disk  521   d .  FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the descent amount table TBL 1 . As shown in the drawing, the descent amount table TBL 1  is data having a two-dimensional table form and each row corresponds to the type of a specimen container. Each row includes a container type ID for specifying the type of a specimen container and a descent amount of the specimen aspirating section  511  when the specimen is aspirated from this specimen container. 
         [0107]    The I/O interface  521   f  is composed of, for example, a serial interface such as USB, IEEE1394 or RS-232C, a parallel interface such as SCSI, IDE or IEEE 1284, and an analog interface including a D/A converter and an A/D converter. The input section  523  composed of a keyboard and a mouse is connected to the I/O interface  521   f  and the user uses the input section  523  so as to input data to the computer  52   a . In addition, the I/O interface  521   f  is connected to the three measuring units  51 ,  51  and  51  so as to send and receive data to and from the respective three measuring units  51 ,  51  and  51 . 
         [0108]    The communication interface  521   g  is an Ethernet (registered trade name) interface. The communication interface  521   g  is connected to the system control apparatus  8  via a LAN. Via the communication interface  521   g , the computer  52   a  can send and receive data to and from the system control apparatus  8  connected to the LAN by using a predetermined communication protocol. In addition, the communication interface  521   g  is connected to the host computer  9  and each of the specimen transport apparatuses  3 ,  3 , and  3  via the LAN so as to communicate therewith. 
         [0109]    The image output interface  521   h  is connected to the image display section  522  composed of a LCD, a CRT or the like so as to output a picture signal corresponding to the image data provided from the CPU  521   a  to the image display section  522 . The image display section  522  displays an image (screen) in accordance with an input picture signal. 
       &lt;Configuration of Smear Preparing Apparatus  6 &gt; 
       [0110]    The smear preparing apparatus  6  aspirates a blood specimen so as to deliver it onto a slide glass by drops, spreads and dries the blood specimen on the slide glass, and supplies a stain solution to the slide glass to stain the blood on the slide glass. In this manner, the smear preparing apparatus prepares a smear. 
         [0111]      FIG. 13  is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the smear preparing apparatus  6 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the smear preparing apparatus  6  includes a specimen dispensing section  61 , a smearing section  62 , a slide glass transport section  63 , a staining section  64  and a control section  65 . 
         [0112]    The specimen dispensing section  61  includes an aspiration tube (not shown) and the aspiration tube is stuck in the cap section CP of a specimen container T in the sample rack L transported on a measuring line  31   a  of the specimen transport apparatus  3  so as to aspirate a blood specimen from the specimen container T. The specimen dispensing section  61  is configured to drop the aspirated blood specimen onto a slide glass. The smearing section  62  is configured to smear and dry the blood specimen dropped onto the slide glass and perform printing on the slide glass. 
         [0113]    The slide glass transport section  63  is provided to accommodate the slide glass on which the blood specimen is smeared by the smearing section  62  in a cassette (not shown) and to transport the cassette. The staining section  64  supplies a stain solution to the slide glass in the cassette transported to a staining position by the slide glass transport section  63 . The control section  65  controls the specimen dispensing section  61 , the smearing section  62 , the slide glass transport section  63  and the staining section  64  in accordance with a smear preparing instruction issued from the specimen transport apparatus  3  so as to perform the above smear preparing operation. The smear prepared in this manner is delivered to a blood cell image display apparatus  7 . 
         [0114]    The control section  65  includes a CPU and a memory. This memory includes a nonvolatile memory and a descent amount table TBL 2  is stored in the nonvolatile memory. The descent amount table TBL 2  is a two-dimensional table in which container type IDs correspond to descent amounts, as in the above-described descent amount table TBL 1 . However, in the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  and the smear preparing apparatus  6 , a descent amount of the aspiration tube varies even in the specimen containers of the same type. Thus, the descent amounts stored in the descent amount table TBL 2  are descent amounts when the aspiration tube of the specimen dispensing section  61  is lowered and the tip end of the aspiration tube approaches near to the bottom surface of the specimen container T but is not brought into contact with the bottom surface of the specimen container T. In addition, the descent amounts stored in the descent amount table TBL 2  are different from the descent amounts stored in the descent amount table TBL 1 . 
         [0000]    &lt;Configuration of System control Apparatus  8 &gt; 
         [0115]      FIG. 14  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the system control apparatus  8  according to this embodiment. The system control apparatus  8  is composed of a computer and controls the entire specimen processing system  1 . The system control apparatus  8  receives the number of the sample rack L from the specimen putting apparatus  2  and determines the transport destination of the sample rack L. 
         [0116]    The system control apparatus  8  is realized by a computer  8   a . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the computer  8   a  includes a main body  81 , an image display section  82  and an input section  83 . The main body  81  includes a CPU  81   a , a ROM  81   b , a RAM  81   c , a hard disk  81   d , a reading device  81   e , an I/O interface  81   f , a communication interface  81   g  and an image output interface  81   h . The CPU  81   a , ROM  81   b , RAM  81   c , hard disk  81   d , reading device  81   e , I/O interface  81   f , communication interface  81   g  and image output interface  81   h  are connected to each other by a bus  81   j.    
         [0117]    In the hard disk  81   d , various computer programs for execution by the CPU  81   a , such as an operating system and an application program, and data, which are used to execute the computer programs, are installed. A system control program  84   a  to be described later is also installed in the hard disk  81   d.    
         [0118]    A specimen container table TBL 3  which is used to discriminate the types of the specimen containers is provided in the hard disk  81   d .  FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the specimen container table TBL 3 . As shown in the drawing, the specimen container table TBL 3  is data having a two-dimensional table form and each row corresponds to the type of a specimen container. Each row stores reference values (hereinafter, referred to as “reference characteristic information”) of characteristic information indicating characteristics of a specimen container. Specifically, this reference characteristic information includes a container type ID for specifying the type of specimen container, a length (height) of the specimen container, a length of a cap section, a diameter of the cap section, a length of a small diameter section of a two-stage cap (cap section having two cap diameters of the small diameter section and a large diameter section), a diameter of the small diameter section and color information of the cap section (R value (luminance of red color components), G value (luminance of green color components) and B value (luminance of blue color components)). 
         [0119]    The reading device  81   e  is composed of a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD-ROM drive or the like and can read the computer program or data recorded in a portable recording medium  84 . In the portable recording medium  84 , the system control program  84   a  for prompting the computer to function as the system control apparatus  8  is stored. The computer  8   a  can read the system control program  84   a  from the portable recording medium  84  so as to install the system control program  84   a  in the hard disk  81   d.    
         [0120]    The I/O interface  81   f  is composed of, for example, a serial interface such as USB, IEEE1394 or RS-232C, a parallel interface such as SCSI, IDE or IEEE1284, and an analog interface including a D/A converter and an A/D converter. The input section  83  composed of a keyboard and a mouse is connected to the I/O interface  81   f  and the user uses the input section  83  so as to input data to the computer  8   a.    
         [0121]    The communication interface  81   g  is an Ethernet (registered trade name) interface. The communication interface  81   g  is connected to the specimen putting apparatus  2 , the specimen transport apparatus  3 , the processed specimen accommodating apparatus  4 , the information processing unit  52  and the host computer  9  via a LAN. Via the communication interface  81   g , the computer  8   a  can send and receive data to and from the above respective apparatuses connected to the LAN by using a predetermined communication protocol. 
         [0122]    Since the other configurations of the system control apparatus  8  are the same as the configurations of the above-described information processing unit  52 , a description thereof will be omitted. 
       &lt;Configuration of Host Computer  9 &gt; 
       [0123]    The host computer  9  is composed of a computer and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, a communication interface and the like. The communication interface is connected to the above-described LAN so as to communicate with the system control apparatus  8 , the information processing unit  52  of the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5 , an image processing unit  73  of the blood cell image display apparatus  7 , the specimen putting apparatus  2 , the specimen transport apparatus  3  and the processed specimen accommodating apparatus  4 . In the hard disk, measuring orders are stored. The measuring orders include specimen IDs and information on measuring items of objects. When having received request data for a measuring order including a specimen ID from another apparatus, the host computer  9  reads measuring data corresponding to the specimen ID from the hard disk and transmits the measuring data to the apparatus which was the request source. Since the other configurations of the host computer  9  are the same as the configurations of the above-described other computers, a description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0124]    Hereinafter, an operation of the specimen processing system  1  according to this embodiment will be described. 
       &lt;Operation of Specimen Putting Apparatus  2 &gt; 
     Specimen Sorting Operation 
       [0125]    When a specimen is put into the specimen processing system  1 , the specimen putting apparatus  2  sorts the sample rack L as to whether it is a rack to be transported to the measuring unit  51  or not.  FIGS. 16A and 16B  are flowcharts showing the flow of the specimen sorting operation of the specimen putting apparatus  2 . The user places the sample rack L accommodating the specimen containers T on the rack placing section  211  of the specimen putting unit  21  and operates the operating panel  214  of the specimen putting unit  21  so as to issue an analysis start instruction to the specimen processing system  1 . The control section  2   a  of the specimen putting apparatus  2  detects the sample rack L put into the rack placing section  211  by the sensors  212  and  213  when the analysis start instruction has been received (Step S 101 ). When an event occurs in which the sensors  212  and  213  detect the sample rack L, the control section  2   a  starts the movement of the sample rack L. The sample rack L placed on the rack placing section  211  of the specimen putting unit  21  is moved backward on the rack placing section  211  and reaches the bar-code reading position (Step S 102 ). 
         [0126]    Next, the control section  2   a  reads the specimen IDs of the specimens accommodated in the sample rack L and the rack ID of the sample rack L by the bar-code readers  21   b  and  21   c  (Step S 103 ). At this time, each of the specimen containers T is horizontally rotated by the horizontal rotation mechanism  21   d  while being held in the sample rack L, and the specimen bar-code is read when the bar-code label BL 1  faces the bar-code reader  21   b . In addition, the control section  2   a  transmits the read specimen IDs and rack ID to the system control apparatus  8  (Step S 104 ). In the data transmitted in Step S 104 , holding positions ( 1  to  10 ) of the specimen containers T in the sample rack L correspond to the specimen IDs of the held specimen containers. Then, the control section  2   a  moves the sample rack L to the left to deliver the sample rack to the specimen container accommodating unit  22 . When the specimen ID cannot be obtained due to a failure to read the specimen bar-code, data indicating the reading failure of the specimen bar-code associated with the holding position is transmitted. 
         [0127]    The control section  2   a  moves the sample rack L, which is fed to the specimen container accommodating unit  22 , to the left one pitch at a time by using the transport belt  228  of the rack accommodating section  221  (Step S 105 ). The control section  2   a  determines whether the specimen container T is positioned at the imaging position  224  (Step S 106 ). This process is performed by referring to a light-receiving level of the light-receiving element  223   c  of the optical sensor  223   a . When the specimen container T is not positioned at the imaging position  224  (No in Step S 106 ), the control section  2   a  performs a process of Step S 108 . On the other hand, when the specimen container T is positioned at the imaging position  224  (Yes in Step S 106 ), the control section  2   a  transmits an image taking instruction signal to the system control apparatus  8  (Step S 107 ). The image taking instruction signal includes the rack ID of the rack, the specimen ID of the specimen and information on the holding position of the specimen container in the sample rack L. As described later, the system control apparatus  8  takes an image captured by the camera  225   a  when the image taking instruction signal has been received, and then performs image processing on the image so as to determine the type of the specimen container T. 
         [0128]    The control section  2   a  determines whether all the specimen containers T accommodated in the sample rack L have been subjected to the above process, or more precisely, whether a specimen container holding position at the right end of the sample rack L is positioned at the imaging position  224  (Step S 108 ). When the right end of the sample rack L has not yet reached the imaging position  224  (No in Step S 108 ), the control section moves the sample rack L to the left by one pitch (Step S 109 ) and returns the process to Step S 106 . 
         [0129]    When the right end of the sample rack L has reached the imaging position  224  (Yes in Step S 108 ), the control section  2   a  transmits sorting preparation completion data to the system control apparatus  8  (Step S 110 ) and then stands by to receive transport instruction data or storage instruction data (No in Step S 111 ). The transport instruction data is transmitted from the system control apparatus  8  when the sample rack L accommodates only the specimens to be provided for the blood cell analysis of the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5 , and the storage instruction data is transmitted from the system control apparatus  8  when the sample rack L accommodates a specimen which is not to be provided for the blood cell analysis of the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5 . 
         [0130]    When having received the transport instruction data or the storage instruction data (Yes in Step S 111 ), the control section  2   a  determines whether the received data is the storage instruction data (Step S 112 ).  FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the storage instruction data. Storage instruction data D 1  includes the rack ID of the sample rack L, the holding positions ( 1  to  10 ) of the specimen containers T in the sample rack L, the specimen IDs of the specimen containers T and error information (abnormal code) indicating the details of the abnormality. The holding position, the specimen ID and the error information of the specimen container T correspond to each other, and the holding position, the specimen ID and the error information of the specimen container T in which an error has occurred can be specified. 
         [0131]    In Step S 112 , when the received data is the storage instruction data (No in Step S 112 ), the control section  2   a  adds the information on the sample rack L to the stored rack information in the memory of the control section  2   a  on the basis of the storage instruction data (Step S 113 ).  FIG. 18  is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the stored rack information. As shown in the drawing, stored rack information D 2  includes the rack IDs, the specimen IDs of the holding positions and the error information of the holding positions. The specimen ID and the error information correspond to each other, and it is possible to specify which specimen has which kind of error. In such stored rack information D 2 , the information relating to all the sample racks L accommodated in the rack accommodating section  221  is included. After that, the control section  2   a  moves the sample rack L to the rack accommodating section  221  by using the rack delivery section  229  (Step S 114 ) and completes the process. 
         [0132]    In Step S 112 , when the received data is the transport instruction data (Yes in Step S 112 ), the control section  2   a  further moves the sample rack L to the left so as to deliver the sample rack L to the specimen delivery unit  23  (Step S 115 ). The control section  2   a  reads the rack bar-code of the sample rack L by using the bar-code reader  23   a  (Step S 116 ) and moves the sample rack L to the rack conveying position for conveying the sample rack L to the following specimen transport apparatus  3  (Step S 117 ). Then, the control section  2   a  transmits conveyance request data including the rack ID of the sample rack L to the system control apparatus  8  (Step S 118 ) and stands by to receive conveyance instruction data to be transmitted from the system control apparatus  8  (No in Step S 119 ). When having received the conveyance instruction data from the system control apparatus  8  (Yes in Step S 119 ), the specimen putting apparatus  2  conveys the sample rack L to the adjacent specimen transport apparatus  3  (Step  5120 ) and transmits conveyance completion data to the system control apparatus  8  (Step S 121 ). After that, the control section  2   a  completes the process. 
       Retreated Rack Information Display Operation 
       [0133]    The information relating to the sample rack L, which has been retreated to the rack accommodating section  221  of the specimen container accommodating unit  22  as described above, is displayed on the liquid crystal display section  227  of the specimen container accommodating unit  22 .  FIG. 19  is a flowchart showing the flow of the retreated rack information display operation. When the storage instruction data D 1  is transmitted from the system control apparatus  8 , the stored rack information D 2  of the control section  2   a  is updated and the sample rack L is moved to the rack accommodating section  221 , the control section  2   a  displays a stored rack list screen on the liquid crystal display section  227  on the basis of the stored rack information D 2  (Step S 131 ). 
         [0134]      FIG. 20  is a diagram showing an example of the stored rack list screen. As shown in the drawing, in a stored rack list screen W 1 , a list display area A 1  in which the rack IDs of the sample racks L in which an abnormality has been detected are displayed as a list is provided. In the list display area A 1 , an operator touches each rack ID with a finger so as to select the rack ID. The selected rack ID is displayed with a color different from that of the rack IDs which are not selected. In addition, in the stored rack list screen W 1 , a display switching button B 1  is provided for switching the screen display into a detailed information screen of the rack ID selected in the list display area A 1 . When accepting the selection of the rack ID from the operator and a display instruction of the detailed information screen of the sample rack L (Step S 132 ), the control section  2   a  displays the detailed information screen on the liquid crystal display section  227  (Step S 133 ). The operator may not operate the touch panel so as to select the rack ID and input the display instruction of the detailed information screen, but may read the rack bar-code of the sample rack L by the handy bar-code reader  222   c  so as to input the read rack ID to the control section  2   a  to thereby display the detailed information screen of the sample rack L. After displaying the detailed information screen, the control section  2   a  completes the process. 
         [0135]      FIG. 21  is a diagram showing an example of the detailed information screen of the sample rack L. As shown in the drawing, a detailed information screen W 2  includes a rack ID  200   a , holding position numbers  200   b  in the sample rack and error information  200   c  and  200   d  corresponding to the holding positions. The error information  200   c  is information indicating the failure in specimen bar-code reading and the error information  200   d  is information indicating the specimen container type error. Furthermore, the detailed information screen W 2  is provided with a first delete button B 21  for deleting the information on the sample rack L, a second delete button B 22  for deleting the selected error information and a close button B 23  for instructing the completion of the display of this screen. In the detailed information screen W 2 , desired error information can be selected through the touch panel operation by the operator. In a state in which the error information is selected in this manner, the operator selects the second delete button B 22  and thus can input an instruction to delete the error information. Moreover, by selecting the specimen bar-code reading error, taking out the specimen container T in which the specimen bar-code reading has failed from the sample rack L, and re-reading the specimen bar-code with the handy bar-code reader  222   c , the operator can solve the specimen bar-code reading error. 
         [0136]    By confirming with the detailed information screen, the operator can take appropriate action, such as taking out the specimen container T having a specimen container shape error from the sample rack L and replacing the specimen container with another specimen container, or taking out the specimen container T in which the bar-code reading has failed, re-reading the specimen bar-code by using the handy bar-code reader  222   c , returning the specimen container to its original holding position in the sample rack L and placing the sample rack L in the rack re-putting section  231  of the specimen delivery unit  23 . The sample rack L re-put into the rack re-putting section  231  is automatically conveyed to the specimen transport apparatus  3 . 
       &lt;Operation of System Control Apparatus  8 &gt; 
       [0137]    Next, an operation of the system control apparatus  8  will be described. 
       Measuring Order Obtaining Operation 
       [0138]    The system control apparatus  8  receives a specimen ID from the specimen putting apparatus  2  and makes an inquiry to the host computer  9  for a measuring order by using the specimen ID as a key. Herein, the measuring order is data indicating an instruction of analysis items to be analyzed for the specimen, and includes attribute information on the specimen, such as the specimen ID, patient ID and the name of the patient, and information on the analysis item. Hereinafter, this operation will be described in detail. 
         [0139]      FIG. 22  is a flowchart showing the flow of the measuring order obtaining operation of the system control apparatus  8 . As described above, the specimen putting apparatus  2  transmits the specimen IDs and rack ID read by the bar-code readers  21   b  and  21   c  to the system control apparatus  8 . The rack ID and the specimen IDs are received by the communication interface  81   g  of the system control apparatus  8  (Step S 201 ). In the CPU  81   a , a process of Step S 202  is invoked when an event occurs in which the rack ID and the specimen IDs are received. 
         [0140]    In Step S 202 , the CPU  81   a  determines whether specimen ID reading failure data is included in the received data (Step S 202 ). When the specimen ID reading failure data is included in the received data (Yes in Step S 202 ), the CPU  81   a  stores in a hard disk  51   d  specimen bar-code reading error information, indicating that a specimen bar-code reading failure has occurred, which corresponds to the rack ID of the sample rack L (in the case of a rack ID reading failure, a rack sequential number sequentially assigned to the put sample rack L) and the holding position of the specimen container (Step S 203 ), and performs a process of Step S 204 . On the other hand, when the specimen ID reading failure data is not included (No in Step S 202 ), the CPU  81   a  performs the process of Step S 204 . 
         [0141]    In Step S 204 , the CPU  81   a  transmits one of the received specimen IDs to the host computer  9  and requests a measuring order corresponding to the specimen ID from the host computer  9  (Step S 204 ). The CPU  81   a  stands by to receive the measuring order (Step S 205 ). When the system control apparatus  8  receives the measuring order transmitted from the host computer  9  (“successful reception” in Step S 205 ), the CPU associates the received measuring order with the rack ID and stores the measuring order in the hard disk  81   d  (Step S 206 ). On the other hand, when the measuring order corresponding to the specimen ID cannot be received (when the measuring order is not received within a predetermined reception period, or when information indicating that the corresponding measuring order does not exist is received from the host computer  9 ) (“reception failure” in Step S 205 ), the information indicating that the measuring order does not exist (measuring order obtaining error information) is associated with the rack ID and the holding position of the specimen container T and this information is stored (Step S 207 ). 
         [0142]    Next, the CPU  81   a  determines whether the specimen IDs corresponding to the rack ID, that is, the specimen IDs of all the specimens accommodated in the sample rack L with the rack ID have been subjected to an inquiry of measuring order (Step S 208 ). When there is a specimen ID not subjected to the inquiry of measuring order (No in Step S 208 ), the CPU returns the process to Step S 204  and requests a measuring order corresponding to the specimen ID not yet subjected to the inquiry of measuring order from the host computer  9 . 
         [0143]    On the other hand, when all of the specimen IDs have been subjected to the inquiry of measuring order (Yes in Step S 208 ), the CPU  81   a  completes the process. 
       Specimen Container Type Discriminating Process 
       [0144]      FIG. 23  is a diagram showing examples of a specimen container shape. Currently, various types of specimen containers are commercially available. Depending on the type, these specimen containers have different heights, widths (sizes), heights of inner bottom surfaces and the like, so their shapes are different from each other. The thickness and width of the cap section CP also vary in accordance with the specimen container type. When plural types of specimen containers are intermingled with each other, the biggest problem is that the heights of inner bottom surfaces of specimen containers are different. In specimen containers having different inner bottom surface heights, if a movement distance of the aspiration tube of the specimen aspirating section  511  of the measuring unit  51  is not changed for each container, the aspiration tube is brought into contact with and jabbed into the inner bottom surface of the specimen container, or the movement distance is insufficient and the specimen cannot be aspirated in an amount necessary for the measurement. In this manner, a failure is caused in aspiration. 
         [0145]    In specimen processing systems having a transport apparatus for automatically transporting specimens, specimen containers sealed by cap sections are used. In many cases, cap sections of these specimen containers have different shapes and colors in accordance with the type. Accordingly, the system control apparatus  8  according to this embodiment obtains an image of the specimen container T put into the specimen putting apparatus  2  so as to discriminate the type of the specimen container on the basis of the cap section in the image. Hereinafter, this operation will be described in detail. 
         [0146]      FIG. 24  is a flowchart showing the flow of the specimen container type discriminating process of the system control apparatus  8  according to this embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 24 , in the CPU  81   a  of the system control apparatus  8 , a process of Step S 212  is invoked when an event occurs in which an image taking instruction signal transmitted from the specimen putting apparatus  2  is received by the system control apparatus  8  (Step S 211 ). 
         [0147]    In Step S 212 , the CPU  81   a  takes an image captured by the camera  225   a  at that time point (Step S 212 ). The entire cap section CP of the specimen container T is included in the image. Next, the CPU  81   a  detects a shape and a position of the cap section CP of the specimen container T in the taken image (Step S 213 ). Hereinafter, this operation will be described in detail. 
         [0148]      FIG. 25  is a schematic diagram for illustrating the process of detecting the shape and the position of the cap section CP of the specimen container T in the image. First, the CPU  81   a  performs the following process on a processing area  101  for detecting the shape and the position of the cap section of the specimen container T in an image  100 . In this embodiment, imaging is performed while a white wall or the like is disposed behind the specimen container T, so that a background in the image captured by the camera  225   a  is brighter than the cap section. The processing area  101  is a predetermined area, which includes the cap section of the specimen container T. For each Y coordinate in the processing area  101 , the CPU  81   a  accumulates luminance values of pixels in an X direction in the processing area  101 . That is, an accumulation value (hereinafter, referred to as “horizontal luminance accumulation value”) of the luminance values of the pixels in a transverse row of pixel groups at the upper end included in the processing area  101  is calculated, and a horizontal luminance accumulation value of a transverse row of pixel groups on the lower side thereof is calculated. This operation is repeated until reaching the lower end of the processing area  101  while incrementing a Y coordinate value. A horizontal luminance accumulation value HD is expressed by the following formula (1). 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     HD 
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       y 
                       ) 
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       ∑ 
                       
                         x 
                         = 
                         XL 
                       
                       
                         x 
                         = 
                         XR 
                       
                     
                      
                     
                       Y 
                        
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           x 
                           , 
                           y 
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   1 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0149]    Herein, XL is an X coordinate value at the left end of the processing area  101 , and XR is an X coordinate value at the right end of the processing area  101 . A luminance value Y of a pixel (coordinate=x, y) is obtained by the following formula (2). 
         [0000]        Y ( x,y )= R ( x,y )×0.30 +G ( x,y )×0.59 +B ( x,y )×0.11  (2) 
         [0150]    Herein, R is a luminance of red color components, G is a luminance of green color components and B is a luminance of blue color components. 
         [0151]    In  FIG. 25 , a graph of the horizontal luminance accumulation value obtained as described above in the processing area  101  is denoted by reference numeral  101   a . The horizontal luminance accumulation value related to the processing area  101  is high in the background and is low in the image of the cap section CP of the specimen container T. Accordingly, the CPU  81   a  differentiates the horizontal luminance accumulation value in a Y direction and detects a portion in which the horizontal luminance accumulation value is sharply lowered in a direction toward the lower side from the upper end of the processing area  101 . In this manner, a position of the upper end of the cap section CP is detected. 
         [0152]    The CPU  81   a  further checks the horizontal luminance accumulation value in the direction toward the lower side of the processing area  101 . Herein, when a portion in which the horizontal luminance accumulation value is sharply lowered is detected, the position of this portion is determined as a stage section (boundary position between a small diameter section and a large diameter section) of a two-stage cap (cap section having two cap diameters of the small diameter section and the large diameter section). 
         [0153]    The CPU  81   a  further checks the horizontal luminance accumulation value in the direction toward the lower side of the processing area  101  and detects a portion in which the horizontal luminance accumulation value sharply increases. In this manner, a position of the lower end of the cap section CP is detected. When the stage section of the two-stage cap is not detected and the position of the lower end of the cap section CP is detected, this cap section is a one-stage cap (cap section having no stage section and having the same diameter as a whole). 
         [0154]    A portion in which the horizontal luminance accumulation value is sharply lowered is also detected in the direction toward the lower side of the processing area  101 . When the position of this portion is in a prescribed range, the position is recognized as the upper end of the sample rack L. 
         [0155]    By the information obtained as described above, the CPU  81   a  obtains a length (hereinafter, referred to as “cap length”) from the upper end to the lower end of the cap section, a length (hereinafter, referred to as “cap small diameter section length”) from the upper end to the stage section of the two-stage cap, and a length (height) of the specimen container. The length of the specimen container is obtained by adding the length from the upper end position of the cap section to the upper end position of the rack to an insertion depth (predetermined value) of the specimen container in the sample rack L. 
         [0156]    Moreover, the CPU  81   a  determines a square processing area  102 , of which the upper and lower ends are equal to the upper end position and the lower end position of the cap section obtained as described above, and the left and right ends are equal to the left and right ends of the processing area  101 . For each X coordinate value in the processing area  102 , the CPU  81   a  calculates a luminance accumulation value (hereinafter, referred to as “vertical luminance accumulation value”). That is, an accumulation value (vertical luminance accumulation value) of luminance values of pixels in a vertical column of pixel groups at the left end included in the processing area  102  is calculated, and a vertical luminance accumulation value of a vertical column of pixel groups on the right side thereof is calculated. This operation is repeated until reaching the right end of the processing area  102  while incrementing an X coordinate value. A vertical luminance accumulation value VD is expressed by the following formula (3). 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     VD 
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       x 
                       ) 
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       ∑ 
                       
                         y 
                         = 
                         YT 
                       
                       
                         y 
                         = 
                         YB 
                       
                     
                      
                     
                       Y 
                        
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           x 
                           , 
                           y 
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   3 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0157]    Herein, YT is a Y coordinate value at the upper end of the processing area  102  and YB is a Y coordinate value at the lower end of the processing area  102 . 
         [0158]    In the drawing, a graph of the vertical luminance accumulation value in the processing area  102  is denoted by reference numeral  102   a . As shown by the graph  102   a , the vertical luminance accumulation value is high in a background and is low in the image of the cap section CP of the specimen container T. In the case of the two-stage cap, the vertical luminance accumulation value of the large diameter section is lower than that of the small diameter section. Accordingly, the CPU  81   a  differentiates the vertical luminance accumulation value in the X direction and detects a portion in which the vertical luminance accumulation value is sharply lowered in a direction toward the right side from the left end of the processing area  102 . In this manner, a position of the left end of the cap section CP is detected. 
         [0159]    The CPU  81   a  checks the vertical luminance accumulation value in the direction toward the right side of the processing area  102 . Herein, when a portion in which the vertical luminance accumulation value is sharply lowered is detected, the position of this portion is determined as the left end of the small diameter section of the two-stage cap. When the left end position of the two-stage cap is detected, the CPU  81   a  checks the vertical luminance accumulation value in the direction toward the right side of the processing area  102  and determines a portion in which the vertical luminance accumulation value sharply increases as the right end of the small diameter section. 
         [0160]    The CPU  81   a  further checks the vertical luminance accumulation value in the direction toward the right side of the processing area  102  and detects a portion in which the vertical luminance accumulation value sharply increases. In this manner, a position of the right end of the cap section CP is detected. When the left and right ends of the two-stage cap are not detected and the position of the right end of the cap section is detected, this cap section is a one-stage cap. 
         [0161]    By the information obtained as described above, the CPU  81   a  obtains a diameter (the length from the left end to the right end of the cap section. Hereinafter, referred to as “cap diameter”) of the cap section and a diameter (the length from the left end to the right end of the small diameter section. Hereinafter, referred to as “small cap diameter”) of the small diameter section of the two-stage cap. 
         [0162]    The CPU  81   a  determines whether the detection of the shape and the position of the cap section of the specimen container, which is performed by the above-described process, has succeeded (Step S 214 ). When the detection of the shape and the position of the cap section has failed (No in Step S 214 ), the CPU associates specimen container cap error information indicating that the specimen container does not have a cap section with the rack ID of the sample rack L, the specimen ID of the specimen and the holding position of the specimen container T in the sample rack L, stores the information in the hard disk  81   d  (Step S 215 ), and completes the process. 
         [0163]    On the other hand, when the detection of the shape and the position of the cap section has succeeded (Yes in Step S 214 ), the CPU  81   a  uses the positions of the upper, lower, left and right ends of the cap section obtained as described above, and as well as the above positions, the position of the stage section and the positions of the left and right ends of the small diameter section in the case of the two-stage cap, to specify an area of the cap section in the image, and then obtains R, G and B values of pixels in this area. The CPU calculates an average value of each of the R, G and B values (Step S 216 ). 
         [0164]    Next, the CPU  81   a  compares the characteristic information on the specimen container obtained by the above-described process, that is, the length of the specimen container, the shape information (cap length, cap diameter, cap small diameter section length and small cap diameter) of the cap section and the color information (average value of each of the R, G and B values) of the cap section with the reference characteristic information on the various specimen containers registered in the specimen container table TBL 3  so as to determine whether there is a specimen container type corresponding to the specimen container T in a predetermined error range (Step S 217 ). When there is a specimen container type corresponding to the specimen container T in the predetermined error range (Yes in Step S 217 ), the CPU  81   a  associates the container type ID for specifying the type of the specimen container with the rack ID of the sample rack L, the specimen ID of the specimen and the holding position of the specimen container T in the sample rack L, stores the container type ID in the hard disk  81   d  (Step S 218 ) and completes the process. On the other hand, when there is no specimen container type corresponding to the specimen container T in the predetermined error range (No in Step S 217 ), the CPU  81   a  associates specimen container type error information indicating a specimen container type abnormality with the rack ID of the sample rack L, the specimen ID of the specimen and the holding position of the specimen container T in the sample rack L, stores the information in the hard disk  81   d  (Step S 219 ) and completes the process. 
       Sorting Instruction Process 
       [0165]    The system control apparatus  8  instructs the specimen putting apparatus  2  to sort specimens into the specimens (sample rack L) to be transported to the following measuring unit  51  and the specimens (sample rack L) which are not to be transported to the measuring unit  51 . Hereinafter, this process will be described in detail. 
         [0166]      FIG. 26  is a flowchart showing the procedure of the sorting instruction process of the system control apparatus  8 . As shown in  FIG. 26 , in the CPU  81   a , a process of Step S 242  is invoked when an event occurs in which the system control apparatus  8  receives sorting preparation completion data transmitted from the specimen putting apparatus  2  (Step S 241 ). 
         [0167]    The sorting preparation completion data includes the rack ID. When having received the sorting preparation completion data, the CPU  81   a  reads from the hard disk  51   d  the specimen IDs, the specimen bar-code reading error information (information indicating that the reading of the specimen ID has failed), the specimen container cap error information (information indicating that the specimen container does not have a cap), the measuring order obtaining error information (information indicating that the measuring order corresponding to the specimen ID does not exist), and the specimen container type error information (information indicating that the type of the specimen container is unknown), which correspond to the rack IDs included in the sorting preparation completion data (Step S 242 ). Then, the CPU  81   a  performs a determining operation on all the specimen containers corresponding to the rack ID for determining whether the error information exists (Step S 243 ). When there is no error information on any of the specimen containers (Yes in Step S 243 ), the CPU transmits transport instruction data to the specimen putting apparatus  2  (Step S 244 ) and completes the process. On the other hand, in Step S 243 , when the error information exists on at least one specimen container (No in Step S 243 ), the CPU  81   a  transmits the storage instruction data D 1  (see  FIG. 17  for reference) including the above read error information to the specimen putting apparatus  2  (Step S 245 ) and completes the process. In the sorting instruction process, even when the sorting preparation completion data does not include the rack ID (when the reading of the rack bar-code has failed), the storage instruction data including rack ID reading error information is transmitted. 
       Transport Instruction Process 
       [0168]    The system control apparatus  8  receives the conveyance request data from the specimen putting apparatus  2 , determines the transport destination of the sample rack L by using the specimen ID included in the conveyance request data and instructs the respective apparatuses to transport the sample rack to the determined transport destination. Hereinafter, this operation will be described in detail. 
         [0169]      FIG. 27A  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a first transport instruction process of the system control apparatus  8 . In the first transport instruction process, the transport destination of the sample rack L is determined and a transport instruction is issued to the specimen transport apparatus  3  disposed in front of the measuring unit  51  on the uppermost-stream side in the transport direction. The conveyance request data transmitted from the specimen putting apparatus  2  is received by the communication interface  81   g  of the system control apparatus  8  (Step S 251 ). In the CPU  81   a , a process of Step S 252  is invoked when an event in which the conveyance request data is received occurs. 
         [0170]    In Step S 252 , the CPU  81   a  searches the measuring order stored in the hard disk  81   d  by using the rack ID, included in the received conveyance request data, as a key (Step S 252 ). Next, the CPU  81   a  determines the transport destination of the sample rack L on the basis of the measuring items included in each received measuring order (Step S 253 ). In this process, the measuring unit  51 , which is capable of executing all the measuring items included in the measuring order and which is not performing a measurement or has the smallest number of planned measurements at that time point is determined as a measurement destination. 
         [0171]    Next, on the basis of the determined transport destination, the CPU  81   a  transmits conveyance preparation instruction data of the sample rack L to the specimen transport apparatus  3  (that is, the rightmost specimen transport apparatus  3  in  FIG. 1 ) adjacent to the specimen putting apparatus  2  (Step S 254 ). The conveyance preparation instruction data includes data (hereinafter, referred to as “designated transport line instruction data”) indicating the transport line (measuring line L 1  or skip line L 2 ) for transporting the sample rack L in the specimen transport apparatus  3 . In addition, the conveyance preparation instruction data includes the measuring orders of the specimens and the container type IDs of the specimen containers in the sample rack L. That is, when the transport destination of the sample rack L is the measuring unit  51  on the uppermost-stream side in the transport direction of the sample rack L, data indicating the measuring line L 1  as the designated transport line instruction data is set in the conveyance preparation instruction data. On the other hand, when another measuring unit  51  is determined as the transport destination, data indicating the skip line L 2  as the designated transport line instruction data is set in the conveyance preparation instruction data. The specimen transport apparatus  3  receiving the conveyance preparation instruction data performs an operation of preparing the transport mechanism indicated by the designated transport line instruction data included in the conveyance preparation instruction data (an operation to receive the sample rack L), and then transmits conveyance preparation completion data. 
         [0172]    The CPU  81   a  stands by to receive the conveyance preparation completion data from the specimen transport apparatus  3  (No in Step S 255 ). When the conveyance preparation completion data is transmitted from the specimen transport apparatus  3  and is received by the system control apparatus  8  (Yes in Step S 255 ), the CPU  81   a  transmits conveyance instruction data of the sample rack L to the specimen putting apparatus  2  (Step S 256 ). As described above, when having received the conveyance instruction data, the specimen putting apparatus  2  conveys the sample rack L to the specimen transport apparatus  3  and transmits conveyance completion data. The CPU  81   a  stands by to receive the conveyance completion data from the specimen putting apparatus  2  (No in Step S 257 ). When the conveyance completion data is transmitted from the specimen putting apparatus  2  and is received by the system control apparatus  8  (Yes in Step S 257 ), the CPU  81   a  stands by to receive conveyance completion data from the specimen transport apparatus  3  (No in Step S 258 ). When the conveyance completion data is transmitted from the specimen transport apparatus  3  and is received by the system control apparatus  8  (Yes in Step S 258 ), the CPU  81   a  completes the process. 
         [0173]    Next, a second transport instruction process of the system control apparatus  8  will be described. In the second transport instruction process, a transport instruction is issued to the specimen transport apparatus  3  disposed in front of the second or third measuring unit  51  in the transport direction of the sample rack L.  FIG. 27B  is a flowchart showing the procedure of the second transport instruction process. When the sample rack L transported by the specimen transport apparatus  3  reaches a conveyance position for conveying the sample rack L to the following specimen transport apparatus  3  (or specimen transport apparatus  301 ), conveyance request data including the rack ID of the sample rack L is transmitted from the specimen transport apparatus  3 . The conveyance request data transmitted from the specimen transport apparatus  3  is received by the communication interface  81   g  of the system control apparatus  8  (Step S 261 ). In the CPU  81   a , a process of Step S 262  is invoked when an event in which the conveyance request data is received from the specimen transport apparatus  3  occurs. 
         [0174]    In Step S 262 , the CPU  81   a  transmits conveyance preparation instruction data of the sample rack L to the specimen transport apparatus  3  following the present specimen transport apparatus  3  on the basis of the transport destination determined by the transport destination determining process (Step S 262 ). Since the conveyance preparation instruction data is the same as the above-described conveyance preparation instruction data, a description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0175]    Next, the CPU  81   a  stands by to receive conveyance preparation completion data from the specimen transport apparatus  3  (No in Step S 263 ). When the conveyance preparation completion data is transmitted from the specimen transport apparatus  3  and is received by the system control apparatus  8  (Yes in Step S 263 ), the CPU  81   a  transmits conveyance instruction data of the sample rack L to the preceding specimen transport apparatus  3  (conveyance side) (Step S 264 ). When having received the conveyance instruction data, the preceding specimen transport apparatus  3  conveys the sample rack L to the following specimen transport apparatus  3  and transmits conveyance completion data. The CPU  81   a  stands by to receive the conveyance completion data from the preceding specimen transport apparatus  3  (No in Step S 265 ). When the conveyance completion data is transmitted from the preceding specimen transport apparatus  3  and is received by the system control apparatus  8  (Yes in Step S 265 ), the CPU  81   a  stands by to receive conveyance completion data from the following specimen transport apparatus  3  (No in Step S 266 ). When the conveyance completion data is transmitted from the following specimen transport apparatus  3  and is received by the system control apparatus  8  (Yes in Step S 266 ), the CPU  81   a  completes the process. 
       &lt;Operation of Control Section  32  of Specimen Transport Apparatus  3 &gt; 
       [0176]    Herein, an operation of the control section  32  of the specimen transport apparatus  3  disposed in front of the measuring unit  51  will be described.  FIGS. 28A and 28B  are flowcharts showing the flow of the process of controlling the transport mechanism  31  by the control section  32 . The conveyance preparation instruction data transmitted from the system control apparatus  8  is received by the control section  32  (Step S 301 ). A transport control program which is executed by the CPU of the control section  32  is an event-driven program, and in the control section  32 , a process of Step S 302  is invoked when an event in which the conveyance preparation instruction data is received occurs. 
         [0177]    In Step S 302 , the control section  32  performs a conveyance preparation operation by driving the belt  321   a  of the transport mechanism  31  and the like (Step S 302 ). When the conveyance preparation is completed, the control section  32  transmits conveyance preparation completion data for notifying that the conveyance preparation is completed to the system control apparatus  8  (Step S 303 ). 
         [0178]    In response to the transmission of the conveyance preparation completion data, the sample rack L is conveyed from the preceding apparatus and is thus conveyed to the transport mechanism  31  (Step S 304 ). When the conveyance of the sample rack L is completed, the control section  32  transmits conveyance completion data for notifying that the conveyance of the sample rack L is completed to the system control apparatus  8  (Step S 305 ). 
         [0179]    Next, the control section  32  determines whether designated transport line instruction data included in the conveyance preparation instruction data indicates the measuring line L 1  or the skip line L 2 , that is, whether the object transport line to be used is the measuring line L 1  or the skip line L 2  (Step S 306 ). In Step S 306 , when the designated transport line instruction data included in the conveyance preparation instruction data indicates the measuring line L 1 , that is, when the object transport line to be used is the measuring line L 1  (“measuring line L 1 ” in Step S 306 ), the control section  32  controls the transport mechanism  31  so as to move the sample rack L until the holding section positioned at the leftmost side in  FIG. 3 , out of the holding sections for the specimen containers T in the sample rack L, reaches the specimen container detection position (Step S 307 ). Next, the control section  32  sets a variable i, which indicates the holding position of the specimen container T in the sample rack L, to 1 (Step S 308 ), and determines whether the specimen container sensor  38  detects the specimen container T at the specimen container detection position (Step S 309 ). When the specimen container T is detected (Yes in Step S 309 ), the control section moves the sample rack L to the left by one specimen distance (Step S 310 ) and transmits specimen aspiration instruction data indicating a specimen aspiration instruction to the information processing unit  52  (Step S 311 ). This specimen aspiration instruction data includes the container type ID for specifying the type of the specimen container for the specimen. When the information processing unit  52  receives the specimen aspiration instruction data, as described below, the specimen container T detected by the specimen container sensor  38  is transported to the specimen supply position  35   c , the specimen container T is taken into the measuring unit  51 , the specimen aspirating section  511  is lowered by a descent amount corresponding to the type of the specimen container T, and the specimen is aspirated. When the aspiration of the specimen is completed, the information processing unit  52  transmits specimen aspiration completion data. The control section  32  stands by to receive the specimen aspiration completion data (No in Step S 312 ). When having received the specimen aspiration completion data (Yes in Step S 312 ), the control section performs a process of Step S 314 . 
         [0180]    On the other hand, when the specimen container T is not detected in Step S 309  (No in Step S 309 ), the control section  32  moves the sample rack L to the left by one specimen direction (Step S 313 ) and performs the process of Step S 314 . In Step S 314 , the control section  32  determines whether i is equal to or greater than 10 (Step S 314 ). When i is less than 10 (No in Step S 314 ), the control section increments i by 1 (Step S 315 ) and returns the process to Step S 309 . 
         [0181]    In Step S 314 , when i is equal to or greater than 10 (Yes in Step S 314 ), the control section  32  controls the transport mechanism  31  so as to bring the sample rack L to a conveyance position for conveying the sample rack L (Step S 316 ). After that, the control section  32  performs a process of Step S 318 . 
         [0182]    On the other hand, in Step S 306 , when the designated transport line instruction data included in the conveyance preparation instruction data indicates the skip line L 2 , that is, when the object transport line to be used is the skip line L 2  (“skip line L 2 ” in Step S 306 ), the control section  32  controls the transport mechanism  31  so as to move the sample rack L on the skip line L 2  to thereby bring the sample rack to a conveyance position for conveying the sample rack L (Step S 317 ). After that, the control section  32  performs the process of Step S 318 . 
         [0183]    In Step S 318 , the control section  32  transmits conveyance request data including the rack ID assigned to the sample rack L to the system control apparatus  8  (Step S 318 ). Then, the control section  32  stands by to receive conveyance instruction data from the system control apparatus  8  (No in Step S 319 ). When having received the conveyance instruction data (Yes in Step S 319 ), the control section drives the stepping motor  321   b  to convey the sample rack L to the adjacent specimen transport apparatus  3  (Step S 320 ) and transmits conveyance completion data to the system control apparatus  8  (Step S 321 ). In addition, the control section  32  completes the process. 
       &lt;Operation of Blood Cell Analyzing Apparatus  5 &gt; 
       [0184]    Next, an operation of the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  will be described. The information processing unit  52  controls the operation of the measuring units  51 ,  51  and  51  so as to perform the specimen measurement and analyzes measuring data obtained by the measurement. 
         [0185]      FIGS. 29A and 29B  are flowcharts showing the procedure of the specimen analyzing operation of the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  according to this embodiment. First, the information processing unit  52  receives aspiration instruction data transmitted from the control section  32  of the specimen transport apparatus  3  (Step S 401 ). In the CPU  521   a , a process of Step S 402  is invoked when an event in which the aspiration instruction data is received occurs. The aspiration instruction data includes a measuring unit ID of the measuring unit  51  which is an object to be operated and a container type ID corresponding to the type of the specimen container T which is an object. 
         [0186]    In Step S 402 , the CPU  521   a  controls the specimen container transport section  515  so as to pull the specimen container T at the supply position  35   c  out of the sample rack L (Step S 402 ) and controls the hand section  515   a  so as to oscillate the specimen container T to thereby stir the specimen in the specimen container (Step S 403 ). Next, the CPU  521   a  controls the hand section  515   a  so as to set the specimen container T in the specimen container setting section  515   b  (Step S 404 ) and further controls the specimen container transport section  515  so as to transport the specimen container T to the bar-code reading position  516   a  (Step S 405 ). Next, the CPU  521   a  reads the specimen bar-code of the specimen container T by the bar-code reading section  516  to obtain the specimen ID (Step S 406 ). Further, the CPU  521   a  transmits order request data including the specimen ID to the host computer  9  via the communication interface  521   g  (Step S 407 ) so as to make an inquiry of measuring order. After that, the CPU  521   a  stands by to receive a measuring order (No in Step S 408 ). When the measuring order transmitted from the host computer  9  is received by the communication interface  521   g  of the information processing unit  52  (Yes in Step S 408 ), the received measuring order is stored in the hard disk  521   d  (Step S 409 ). 
         [0187]    Moreover, the CPU  521   a  determines a descent amount (movement distance) of the specimen aspirating section  511  corresponding to the type of the specimen container (Step S 410 ). As described above, the descent amount table TBL 1  is provided in the hard disk  521   d , and the descent amount is set by using the descent amount table TBL 1 . In this process, the CPU  521   a  extracts the container type ID from the aspiration instruction data and obtains the descent amount corresponding to the container type ID from the descent amount table TBL 1 . In this manner, the descent amount of the specimen aspirating section  511  is determined. 
         [0188]    Next, the CPU  521   a  controls the specimen container transport section  515  so as to transport the specimen container T to the aspiration position (Step S 411 ) and controls the specimen aspirating section  511  so as to lower the aspiration tube  511   a  by the determined descent amount (Step S 412 ). In this manner, the movement distance of the aspiration tube  511   a  into the specimen container T (insertion amount of the aspiration tube  511   a  from the upper end of the cap section CP) is controlled and thus the aspiration tube  511   a  can be lowered to a suitable position for the type of the specimen container T. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of aspiration failures such as air aspiration due to the movement distance of the aspiration tube  511   a  being too short or jabbing of the aspiration tube  511   a  into the inner bottom surface of the specimen container T. Next, the CPU  521   a  controls the specimen aspirating section  511  so as to aspirate the specimen from the specimen container T in an amount necessary for the measuring items included in the stored measuring order (Step S 413 ). After completing the aspiration of the specimen, the CPU  521   a  controls the specimen container transport section  515  so as to return the specimen container T to the sample rack L (Step S 414 ) and transmits specimen aspiration completion data to the specimen transporting apparatus  3  which is transporting the sample rack L (Step S 415 ). Accordingly, the sample rack L is transported by the rack transport section  35  as described above. 
         [0189]    Furthermore, the CPU  521   a  controls the sample preparing section  512  so as to prepare a measurement sample in accordance with the measuring items (Step S 416 ) and supplies the measurement sample to the detecting section  513  so as to perform the specimen measurement by the detecting section  513  (Step S 417 ). In this manner, the CPU  521   a  obtains measuring data output from the detecting section  513 . The CPU  521   a  performs a process of analyzing the measuring data (Step S 418 ), classifies the blood cells included in the specimen and counts the number of blood cells for each type so as to create a scattergram in which the classified blood cells are color-coded for each type. The analysis result data generated by the measuring data analyzing process is stored together with the patient information and the like included in the measuring order in the hard disk  521   d  (Step S 419 ) and is transmitted to the host computer  9  (Step S 420 ). The host computer  9  integrates the analysis result data and the above-described measuring order and stores the result thereof in the hard disk. After the process of Step S 420 , the CPU  521   a  completes the process. 
       &lt;Operation of Specimen Transport Apparatus  301 &gt; 
       [0190]    The sample rack L delivered from the specimen transport apparatus  3  positioned on the downmost-stream side in the transport direction is fed to the rack slider  303 . Although a detailed description is omitted, the rack slider  303  receives an instruction from the system control apparatus  8  and delivers the sample rack L to the measuring line  302   a  or the skip line  302   b  of the conveyor  302 . When the sample rack L is conveyed to the measuring line  302   a , the control section of the conveyor  302  operates the measuring line  302   a  so as to transport the sample rack L so that the specimen container T which is a smear preparing object is positioned at a supply position for supplying the specimen to the smear preparing apparatus  6 . Herein, the control section of the specimen transport apparatus  301  transmits aspiration instruction data including the container type ID to the smear preparing apparatus  6 . The control section  65  of the smear preparing apparatus  6  obtains the descent amount corresponding to the container type from the descent amount table TBL 2  and lowers the aspiration tube of the dispensing section  61  by the descent amount to thereby aspirate the specimen. After the aspiration is completed, the specimen container T is returned to the sample rack L. After the supplying of the specimen to the smear preparing apparatus  6  is completed, the measuring line  302   a  is further driven so as to convey the sample rack L to the processed specimen accommodating apparatus  4 . In addition, when the sample rack L is conveyed to the skip line  302   b , the control section of the conveyor  302  operates the skip line  302   b  so as to transport the sample rack L on the skip line  302   b  to thereby convey the sample rack to the processed specimen accommodating apparatus  4 . 
       &lt;Operation of Processed Specimen Accommodating Apparatus  4 &gt; 
       [0191]    The sample rack L delivered from the specimen transport apparatus  301  is fed to the processed specimen accommodating apparatus  4 . The processed specimen accommodating apparatus  4  transports the sample rack L on the rack placing section and accommodates the sample rack. 
         [0192]    By employing the above configuration, the type of the specimen container is determined on the basis of an image of the cap section of the specimen container, which is not affected by the presence or absence of the bar-code label adhered to the specimen container and the specimen amount in the specimen container, and thus the type of the specimen container can be accurately determined by image processing. Accordingly, the descent amount of the aspiration tube  511   a  suitable for the type of the specimen container is determined and the movement distance of the aspiration tube  511   a  into the specimen container can thus be controlled in accordance with the type of the specimen container. 
         [0193]    In addition, the characteristic information includes dimension and color information, which indicates the characteristics of the cap section of the specimen container, of the cap section, and the type of the specimen container is determined on the basis of the dimensions and color of the cap section. Since the specimen containers of each type have a dedicated characteristic cap section, accuracy of the determination of the specimen container type is improved. 
         [0194]    The configuration has been employed, in which the characteristic information, which is extracted from an image, of the specimen container is compared with the reference characteristic information registered in the specimen container table TBL 3  so as to determine the type of the specimen container to thereby obtain the descent amount corresponding to the container type ID of the determined type of the specimen container from the descent amount table TBL 1 . Accordingly, only by adding reference characteristic information of a new type of specimen container to the specimen container table TBL 3  and adding the descent amount corresponding to the type of the specimen container to the descent amount table TBL 1 , the system can easily deal with the new type of specimen container. 
         [0195]    The configuration has been employed in which the descent amount tables TBL 1  and TBL 2  are individually provided in the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  and the smear preparing apparatus  6 . In the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  and the smear preparing apparatus  6 , a descent amount of the aspiration tube varies even in the specimen containers of the same type. However, by employing the above configuration, individual appropriate descent amounts can be set in the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  and the smear preparing apparatus  6 . When another specimen processing apparatus is added to the system, a descent amount table suitable for a specimen dispensing mechanism of this specimen processing apparatus is provided in the specimen processing apparatus, so more specimen processing apparatuses can be easily added without a change in the configuration of the system control apparatus  8  and the like. 
         [0196]    Since the cap section CP of the specimen container T accommodated in the sample rack L protrudes from an upper face of the sample rack L, it is not necessary to pull the specimen container T out of the sample rack L to image the cap section CP. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for pulling the specimen container T out of the sample rack L, and this suppresses the system from becoming more complicated and increasing in cost. 
         [0197]    When a specimen container of an unknown type or a specimen container with no cap section is put, such a specimen container is automatically detected and accommodated in the rack accommodating section  221  of the specimen container accommodating unit  22 . Accordingly, while continuously performing another specimen process by using the specimen processing system  1 , the operator can take appropriate action, such as replacing the specimen from the specimen container of an unknown type with a specimen container suitable for the system or mounting a cap section on the specimen container. In addition, breakdown of the apparatus, which occurs by jabbing the aspiration tube into the bottom surface of the specimen container of an unknown type, is prevented, and pollution due to spilling of the specimen, which occurs by transport of the specimen container with no cap section, is prevented. 
         [0198]    When a specimen container type error or a specimen container cap error is detected, the stored rack list screen and the detailed information screen are displayed on the liquid crystal display section  227  of the specimen container accommodating unit  22 , and thus the operator can easily learn that such an error has occurred. Moreover, it can be easily confirmed which specimen container T in which sample rack L has the above error. 
         [0199]    Since the above-described detailed information screen performs a display operation so as to specify which kind of error is generated, the operator can specify which kind of abnormality was generated with a simple confirmation of the detailed information screen displayed on the liquid crystal display section  227 . Accordingly, it is possible to easily and rapidly judge which action is required. 
         [0200]    Moreover, the rack re-putting section  231  is provided in the specimen delivery unit  23  following the specimen container accommodating unit  22 . Accordingly, when although the sample rack is determined not to be provided for the measurement for the moment, all the specimens accommodated in the sample rack L are made measurable with an operation of the user (for example, specimen replacement to a proper specimen container, mounting of a cap section, and the like), the operator can put the sample rack L into the rack re-putting section  231  of the specimen delivery unit  23 , not into the specimen putting unit  21 . Accordingly, it is not necessary to re-read the specimen IDs of the specimens in the sample rack L by the specimen bar-code reader  21   b  and thus this improves system process efficiency. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0201]    This embodiment relates to a specimen processing apparatus which images a label section having a certain color and a certain size, corrects characteristic information obtained from an image of a cap section of a specimen container on the basis of the image of the imaged label section, and discriminates the type of the specimen container on the basis of the characteristic information after the correction. 
       [Configuration of Specimen Processing System] 
       [0202]      FIG. 30  is a schematic plan view showing the entire configuration of a specimen processing system according to this embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 30 , a specimen processing system  1 A according to this embodiment includes a specimen putting apparatus  2 A and a system control apparatus  8 A. The specimen putting apparatus  2 A includes a specimen container accommodating unit  22 A. Since the other configurations of the specimen processing system  1 A according to this embodiment are the same as the configurations of the specimen processing system  1  according to the first embodiment, the same constituent elements will be denoted by the same reference numbers and a description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0203]      FIG. 31  is a plan view showing the configuration of the specimen container accommodating unit  22 A according to this embodiment. In the specimen container accommodating unit  22 A, a color bar  241  is provided near the imaging position  224 . The color bar  241  does not interfere with the transport of the sample rack L by the transport belt  228  and is provided so that a part thereof (a part including a label section  242  to be described later) falls within an imaging range of the camera  225   a.    
         [0204]      FIG. 32  is a diagram illustrating the imaging range of the camera  225   a  according to this embodiment. As shown in the drawing, the camera  225   a  is disposed so that a cap section CP of a specimen container T, which is held in the sample rack L and positioned at the imaging position  224 , is positioned at the center of the imaging range of the camera  225   a . When viewed from the camera  225   a , the color bar  241  is disposed on the right side of the specimen container T positioned at the imaging position  224 . Since a part (label section  242 ) of the color bar  241  also falls within the imaging range, a part (label section  242 ) of the color bar  241  is simultaneously imaged when the specimen container T positioned at the imaging position  224  is imaged by the camera  225   a.    
         [0205]    The color bar  241  has an erected rectangular parallelepiped plate shape, and its front face (face opposed to the camera  225   a ) is provided with the label section  242  which is a reference for correcting cap characteristic information to be described later. The label section  242  is divided into 4 areas which are a white area  242   a , a red area  242   b , a green area  242   c  and a blue area  242   d . A length of the label section  242  in a vertical direction is accurately defined. In addition, tone, intensity and brightness of the white color of the white area  242   a  are previously defined, and similarly, tones, intensities and brightnesses of the red color of the red area  242   b , the green color of the green area  242   c  and the blue color of the blue area  242   d  are previously defined. Accordingly, label sections  242  in two specimen processing systems  1 A have hardly any individual difference therebetween and thus have generally the same length and color. 
         [0206]      FIG. 33  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the system control apparatus  8 A according to this embodiment. The system control apparatus  8 A is composed of a computer and controls the entire specimen processing system  1 A. 
         [0207]    The system control apparatus  8 A is realized by a computer  810   a . AS shown in  FIG. 33 , the computer  810   a  includes a main body  811 , an image display section  812  and an input section  813 . The main body  811  includes a CPU  811   a , a ROM  811   b , a RAM  811   c , a hard disk  811   d , a reading device  811   e , an I/O interface  811   f , a communication interface  811   g  and an image output interface  811   h . The CPU  811   a , ROM  811   b , RAM  811   c , hard disk  811   d , reading device  811   e , I/O interface  811   f , communication interface  811   g  and image output interface  811   h  are connected to each other by a bus  811   j.    
         [0208]    In the hard disk  811   d , various computer programs for execution by the CPU  811   a , such as an operating system and an application program, and data which are used to execute the computer programs are installed. A system control program  814   a  to be described later is also installed in the hard disk  811   d.    
         [0209]    Further, a specimen container table TBL 3  which is used to discriminate the types of the specimen containers is provided in the hard disk  811   d . Since the configuration of the specimen container table TBL 3  is the same as that described in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. Moreover, a color bar reference data CB is stored in the hard disk  811   d . The color bar reference data CB includes the length of the label section  242  of the color bar  241  and color information of the color areas  242   a ,  242   b ,  242   c  and  242   d . That is, the color bar reference data CB includes information including L 2 , the number of pixels in a vertical direction in the partial image of the label section  242  included in the image captured by the camera  225   a , a luminance value (hereinafter, referred to as “reference luminance”) LU 2  which is a reference for the partial image of the white area  242   a , an upper limit value N and a lower limit value M of the luminance value of the partial image of the white area  242   a , a R value (hereinafter, referred to as “reference R value”) r 2  which is a reference for the partial image of the red area  242   b , a G value (hereinafter, referred to as “Reference G value”) g 2  which is a reference for the partial image of the green area  242   c , and a B value (hereinafter, referred to as “reference B value”) b 2  which is a reference for the partial image of the blue area  242   d . The upper limit value N and the lower limit value M indicate an upper limit value and a lower limit value of an average luminance of the partial image of the white area  242   a  included in the image captured by the camera  225   a  when the camera  225   a  and a white LED  225   c  are normal. That is, when an average luminance value of the partial image of the white area  242   a  included in the image captured by the camera  225   a  is more than the upper limit value N or less than the lower limit value M, it is possible to determine that the camera  225   a  or the white LED  225   c  has an abnormality. 
         [0210]    The reading device  811   e  is composed of a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD-ROM drive or the like and can read the computer program or data recorded in a portable recording medium  814 . In the portable recording medium  814 , the system control program  814   a  for prompting the computer to function as the system control apparatus  8 A is stored. The computer  810   a  can read the system control program  814   a  from the portable recording medium  814  and install the system control program  814   a  in the hard disk  811   d.    
         [0211]    The I/O interface  811   f  is composed of, for example, a serial interface such as USB, IEEE1394 or RS-232C, a parallel interface such as SCSI, IDE or IEEE 1284, and an analog interface including a D/A converter and an A/D converter. The input section  813  composed of a keyboard and a mouse is connected to the I/O interface  811   f  and a user uses the input section  813  so as to input data to the computer  810   a.    
         [0212]    The communication interface  811   g  is an Ethernet (registered trade name) interface. The communication interface  811   g  is connected to the specimen putting apparatus  2 A, the specimen transport apparatus  3 , the processed specimen accommodating apparatus  4 , the information processing unit  52  and the host computer  9  via a LAN. Via the communication interface  811   g , the computer  810   a  can send and receive data to and from the above respective apparatuses connected to the LAN by using a predetermined communication protocol. 
         [0213]    Since the other configurations of the system control apparatus  8 A are the same as the configurations of the system control apparatus  8  described in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. 
       [Operation of Specimen Processing System] 
       [0214]    Next, an operation of the specimen processing system  1 A according to this embodiment will be described. As described above, in the specimen processing system  1 A according to this embodiment, the camera  225   a  images the label section  242  of the color bar  241  as well as the cap section CP of the specimen container T when the specimen container T is positioned at the imaging position  224  of the specimen container accommodating unit  22 A. In order to eliminate discrimination error occurring due to individual differences between the devices, such as light intensity of the white LED  225   c  used as a light source, light-receiving sensitivity of the camera  225   a  and mounting position of the camera  225   a  in a specimen container type discriminating process, the specimen processing system  1 A corrects the characteristic information by using a portion of the label section  242  in the image captured by the camera  225   a . Hereinafter, the specimen container type discriminating process of the system control apparatus  8 A according to this embodiment will be described. 
         [0215]      FIG. 34  is a flowchart showing the flow of the specimen container type discriminating process of the system control apparatus  8 A according to this embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 34 , in the CPU  811   a  of the system control apparatus  8 A, a process of Step S 272  is invoked when an event in which an image taking instruction signal transmitted from the specimen putting apparatus  2  is received by the system control apparatus  8 A occurs (Step S 271 ). 
         [0216]    In Step S 272 , the CPU  811   a  takes an image captured by the camera  225   a  at that time point (Step S 272 ). The entire cap section CP of the specimen container T and the entire label section  242  of the color bar  241  are included in the image. Next, the CPU  811   a  detects the label section  242  by using a method such as a luminance value differentiating process in a portion including the label section  242  in the image and obtains a length (the number of pixels in a vertical direction) L 1  of the label section  242 , an average luminance value LU 1  of the partial image of the white area  242   a , an average R value r 1  of the partial image of the red area  242   b , an average G value g 1  of the partial image of the green area  242   c  and an average B value b 1  of the partial image of the blue area  242   d  (Step S 273 ). 
         [0217]    Next, the CPU  811   a  compares the obtained average luminance value LU 1  of the partial image of the white area  242   a  with the upper limit N and the lower limit M included in the color bar reference data CB so as to determine whether the expression M≦LU 1 ≦N is satisfied (Step S 274 ). From this process, it is determined whether the state of the imaging by the camera  225   a  is normal. That is, when the expression M≦LU 1 ≦N is satisfied, it can be judged that both of the sensitivity of the camera  225   a  and the light intensity of the white LED are normal, and when the expression M≦LU 1 ≦N is not satisfied, it can be judged that the sensitivity of the camera  225   a  or the light intensity of the white LED is not normal. Herein, when the expression M≦LU 1 ≦N is not satisfied (No in Step S 274 ), the CPU  811   a  associates imaging error information with a rack ID, a specimen ID and a holding position, stores the information in the hard disk  811   d  (Step S 275 ) and completes the process. When the imaging error information is stored, “imaging error” (not shown) associated with the holding position is displayed in a detailed information screen (see  FIG. 21  for reference) of the sample rack L of the specimen container accommodating unit  22 A. By confirming the display of the imaging error, a user or a service man can recognize that there is an abnormality in the sensitivity of the camera  225   a  or the light intensity of the white LED, and necessary measures can be taken, such as adjustments in the sensitivity of the camera  225   a , adjustments in the light intensity of the white LED  225   c  and replacement of the white LED  225   c.    
         [0218]    In Step S 274 , when the expression M≦LU 1 ≦N is satisfied (Yes in Step S 274 ), the CPU  811   a  detects a shape and a position of the cap section CP of the specimen container T in the taken image (Step S 276 ). Since this process is the same as the process of Step S 213  described in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0219]    Next, the CPU  811   a  determines whether the detection of the shape and the position of the cap section of the specimen container by the above-described process has succeeded (Step S 277 ). When the detection of the shape and the position of the cap section has failed (No in Step S 277 ), the CPU associates specimen container cap error information indicating that the specimen container has no cap section with the rack ID of the sample rack L, the specimen ID of the specimen and the holding position of the specimen container T in the sample rack L, stores the information in the hard disk  811   d  (Step S 278 ), and completes the process. 
         [0220]    On the other hand, when the detection of the shape and the position of the cap section has succeeded (Yes in Step S 277 ), the CPU  811   a  uses the positions of the upper, lower, left and right ends of the cap section obtained as described above, and as well as the above positions, the position of a stage section and the positions of the left and right ends of a small diameter section in the case of a two-stage cap, to specify an area of the cap section in the image, and then obtains R, G and B values of pixels in this area. The CPU calculates an average value of each of the R, G and B values (Step S 279 ). 
         [0221]    Next, the CPU  811   a  performs a characteristic information correcting process for correcting the characteristic information of the specimen container obtained by the above-described process, that is, the length of the specimen container, the shape information (cap length, cap diameter, cap small diameter section length and small cap diameter) of the cap section and the color information (average value of each of the R, G and B values) of the cap section (Step S 280 ). 
         [0222]      FIG. 35  is a flowchart showing the procedure of the characteristic information correcting process of the system control apparatus  8 A according to this embodiment. In the characteristic information correcting process, first, the CPU  811   a  reads from the hard disk  811   d  the length L 2  of the label section  242  included in the color bar reference data CB (Step S 280   a ). Next, the CPU  811   a  calculates a ratio L 1 /L 2  which is a ratio of the length L 1  to length L 2  (Step S 280   b ). Further, the CPU  811   a  multiplies the length of the specimen container and the shape information (cap length, cap small diameter section length, cap diameter and small cap diameter) of the cap section included in the characteristic information by the ratio L 1 /L 2  so as to correct the length of the specimen container and the shape information of the cap section included in the characteristic information (Step S 280   c ). 
         [0223]    Subsequently, the CPU  811   a  reads from the hard disk  811   d  the reference R value r 2 , the reference G value g 2  and the reference B value b 2  included in the color bar reference data CB (Step S 280   d ). Further, the CPU  811   a  calculates a ratio r 1 /r 2  which is a ratio of the average R value r 1  to the reference R value r 2 , a ratio g 1 /g 2  which is a ratio of the average G value g 1  to the reference G value g 2  and a ratio b 1 /b 2  which is a ratio of the average B value b 1  to the reference B value b 2  (Step S 280   e ). Moreover, the CPU  811   a  multiplies the average R value of the cap section included in the characteristic information by the ratio r 1 /r 2 , multiplies the average G value of the cap section included in the characteristic information by the ratio g 1 /g 2  and multiplies the average B value of the cap section included in the characteristic information by the ratio b 1 /b 2  so as to correct the color information of the cap section included in the characteristic information (Step S 280   f ). 
         [0224]    Next, the CPU  811   a  reads from the hard disk  811   d  the reference luminance LU 2  included in the color bar reference data CB (Step S 280   g ) and calculates a ratio LU 1 /LU 2  which is a ratio of the luminance LU 1  to the luminance LU 2  (Step S 280   h ). Further, the CPU  811   a  multiplies the R value, the G value and the B value after the correction, which are obtained in Step S 280   f , by the ratio LU 1 /LU 2  so as to further correct the R value, the G value and the B value of the cap section (Step S 280   i ) and returns the process to the calling address of the characteristic information correcting process. 
         [0225]    Next, the CPU  811   a  compares the after-correction characteristic information of the specimen container obtained by the above-described process, that is, the length of the specimen container, the shape information (cap length, cap diameter, cap small diameter section length and small cap diameter) of the cap section and the color information (average value of each of the R, G and B values) of the cap section with the reference characteristic information on the various specimen containers registered in the specimen container table TBL 3  so as to determine whether there is a specimen container type corresponding to the specimen container T in a predetermined error range (Step S 281 ). When there is a specimen container type corresponding to the specimen container T in the predetermined error range (Yes in Step S 281 ), the CPU  811   a  associates the container type ID for specifying the type of the specimen container with the rack ID of the sample rack L, the specimen ID of the specimen and the holding position of the specimen container T in the sample rack L, stores the container type ID in the hard disk  811   d  (Step S 282 ) and completes the process. On the other hand, when there is no specimen container type corresponding to the specimen container T in the predetermined error range (No in Step S 281 ), the CPU  811   a  associates specimen container type error information indicating that the type of the specimen container cannot be discriminated with the rack ID of the sample rack L, the specimen ID of the specimen and the holding position of the specimen container T in the sample rack L, stores the information in the hard disk  811   d  (Step S 283 ) and completes the process. 
         [0226]    Since the other operations of the system control apparatus  8 A according to this embodiment are the same as those of the system control apparatus  8  according to the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. In addition, since the other operations of the specimen processing system  1 A according to this embodiment are the same as those of the specimen processing system  1  according to the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0227]    Due to the above-described configuration, in the specimen processing system  1 A according to this embodiment, the characteristic information of the cap section CP obtained by imaging the cap section CP of the specimen container T is corrected to prevent an error from being generated by the individual differences between the devices and to discriminate the type of the specimen container with higher accuracy. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0228]    This embodiment relates to a specimen processing apparatus which images a label section showing a certain color (white color), determines a threshold for a binarization process of an image, which is obtained by imaging a cap section of a specimen, on the basis of the image of the imaged label section, performs the binarization process on the image by the determined threshold, obtains characteristic information indicating characteristics of the cap section of the specimen container from the binarized image, and discriminates the type of the specimen container on the basis of the characteristic information. 
       [Configuration of Specimen Processing System] 
       [0229]      FIG. 36  is a schematic plan view showing the entire configuration of the specimen processing system according to this embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 36 , a specimen processing system  1 B according to this embodiment includes a specimen putting apparatus  2 B and a system control apparatus  8 B. The specimen putting apparatus  2 B includes a specimen container accommodating unit  22 B. Since the other configurations of the specimen processing system  1 B according to this embodiment are the same as the configurations of the specimen processing system  1 A according to the second embodiment, the same constituent elements will be denoted by the same reference numbers and a description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0230]      FIG. 37  is a plan view showing the configuration of the specimen container accommodating unit  22 B according to this embodiment. In the specimen container accommodating unit  22 B, a reference bar  251  is provided near the imaging position  224 . The reference bar  251  does not interfere with the transport of the sample rack L by the transport belt  228  and is provided so that a part thereof (a part including a white section  252  to be described later) falls within an imaging range of the camera  225   a.    
         [0231]      FIG. 38  is a diagram illustrating the imaging range of the camera  225   a  according to this embodiment. As shown in the drawing, the camera  225   a  is disposed, so that the cap section CP of the specimen container T held in the sample rack L and positioned at the imaging position  224  is positioned at the center of the imaging range of the camera  225   a . When viewed from the camera  225   a , the reference bar  251  is disposed on the right side of the specimen container T positioned at the imaging position  224 . Since a part (white section  252 ) of the reference bar  251  also falls within the imaging range, a part (white section  252 ) of the reference bar  251  is simultaneously imaged when the specimen container T positioned at the imaging position  224  is imaged by the camera  225   a.    
         [0232]    The reference bar  251  has an erected rectangular parallelepiped plate shape, and its front face (face opposed to the camera  225   a ) is provided with the white section  252  which is a reference for determining a threshold used in a binarization process to be described later. The white section  252  has a white color, the tone, the intensity and the brightness of which are previously defined. Accordingly, white sections  252  in two specimen processing systems  1 B have hardly any individual difference therebetween and thus have generally the same white color. 
         [0233]      FIG. 39  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the system control apparatus  8 B according to this embodiment. The system control apparatus  8 B is composed of a computer and controls the entire specimen processing system  1 B. 
         [0234]    The system control apparatus  8 B is realized by a computer  820   a . AS shown in  FIG. 39 , the computer  820   a  includes a main body  821 , an image display section  822  and an input section  823 . The main body  821  includes a CPU  821   a , a ROM  821   b , a RAM  821   c , a hard disk  821   d , a reading device  821   e , an I/O interface  821   f , a communication interface  821   g  and an image output interface  821   h . The CPU  821   a , ROM  821   b , RAM  821   c , hard disk  821   d , reading device  821   e , I/O interface  821   f , communication interface  821   g  and image output interface  821   h  are connected to each other by a bus  821   j.    
         [0235]    In the hard disk  821   d , various computer programs for execution by the CPU  821   a , such as an operating system and an application program, and data, which are used to execute the computer programs, are installed. A system control program  824   a  to be described later is also installed in the hard disk  821   d.    
         [0236]    Further, a specimen container table TBL 31  which is used to discriminate the types of the specimen containers is provided in the hard disk  821   d . The specimen container table TBL 31  is data having a two-dimensional table form and each row corresponds to the type of a specimen container. Each row stores reference characteristic information indicating characteristics of a specimen container. Specifically, this reference characteristic information includes a container type ID for specifying the type of a specimen container, a length (height) of the specimen container, and information indicating a shape of a cap section including a length of the cap section, a diameter of the cap section, a length of a small diameter section of a two-stage cap (cap section having two cap diameters of the small diameter section and a large diameter section) and a diameter of the small diameter section (not shown). In addition, a coefficient P is stored in the hard disk  821   d . This coefficient P is a coefficient for determining a threshold which is used in a binarization process for obtaining characteristic information. 
         [0237]    The reading device  821   e  is composed of a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD-ROM drive or the like and can read the computer program or data recorded in a portable recording medium  824 . In the portable recording medium  824 , the system control program  824   a  for prompting the computer to function as the system control apparatus  8 B is stored. The computer  820   a  can read the system control program  824   a  from the portable recording medium  824  and install the system control program  824   a  in the hard disk  821   d.    
         [0238]    The I/O interface  821   f  is composed of, for example, a serial interface such as USB, IEEE1394 or RS-232C, a parallel interface such as SCSI, IDE or IEEE 1284, and an analog interface including a D/A converter and an A/D converter. The input section  823  composed of a keyboard and a mouse is connected to the I/O interface  821   f  and a user uses the input section  823  so as to input data to the computer  820   a.    
         [0239]    The communication interface  821   g  is an Ethernet (registered trade name) interface. The communication interface  821   g  is connected to the specimen putting apparatus  2 B, the specimen transport apparatus  3 , the processed specimen accommodating apparatus  4 , the information processing unit  52  and the host computer  9  via a LAN. Via the communication interface  821   g , the computer  820   a  can send and receive data to and from the above respective apparatuses connected to the LAN by using a predetermined communication protocol. 
         [0240]    Since the other configurations of the system control apparatus  8 B are the same as the configurations of the system control apparatus  8  described in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. 
       [Operation of Specimen Processing System] 
       [0241]    Next, an operation of the specimen processing system  1 B according to this embodiment will be described. In the specimen processing system  1 B according to this embodiment, before the sample rack L is conveyed to the specimen container accommodating unit  22 B, the camera  225   a  images an area including a part (portion including the white section  252 ) of the reference bar  251  once to obtain a background image. Then, when the specimen container T is positioned at the imaging position  224  of the specimen container accommodating unit  22 B, the camera  225   a  images the cap section CP of the specimen container T. In order to eliminate discrimination error occurring due to individual differences between the devices, such as light intensity of a white LED  225   c  used as a light source, light-receiving sensitivity of the camera  225   a  and mounting position of the camera  225   a  in a specimen container type discriminating process, the specimen processing system  1 B determines a threshold which is used in a binarization process by using a portion of the white section  252  in the image captured by the camera  225   a  and obtains a difference image between the image which is obtained by imaging the specimen container and the background image to binarize the difference image by using the threshold, and thus obtains characteristic information indicating characteristics of the cap section CP. Hereinafter, the specimen container type discriminating process of the system control apparatus  8 B according to this embodiment will be described. 
         [0242]    Before the sample rack L is conveyed to the specimen container accommodating unit  22 B, the CPU  821   a  of the system control apparatus  8 B takes the image captured by the camera  225   a  just one time. At this time, the specimen container T is not positioned at the imaging position  224  and the CPU  821   a  of the system control apparatus  8 B stores this image as a background image in the hard disk  821   d . In addition, from the partial image of the white section  252  included in the background image, the CPU  821   a  of the system control apparatus  8 B obtains an average luminance value W of the portion and stores the average luminance value W in the hard disk  821   d . In this state, the following specimen container discriminating process is performed. 
         [0243]      FIG. 40  is a flowchart showing the flow of the specimen container type discriminating process of the system control apparatus  8 B according to this embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 40 , in the CPU  821   a  of the system control apparatus  8 B, a process of Step S 502  is invoked when an event in which an image taking instruction signal transmitted from the specimen putting apparatus  2 B is received by the system control apparatus  8 B occurs (Step S 501 ). 
         [0244]    In Step S 502 , the CPU  821   a  takes an image captured by the camera  225   a  at that time point (Step S 502 ). The entire cap section CP of the specimen container T is included in the image. Next, the CPU  821   a  reads the above-described background image from the hard disk  821   d  (Step S 503 ) and obtains differences between corresponding pixels of the image taken in Step S 502  and the background image so as to obtain a difference image (Step S 504 ). 
         [0245]    Next, the CPU  821   a  reads the average luminance value W and the coefficient P from the hard disk  821   d  (Step S 505 ). Further, the CPU  821   a  obtains a result of multiplication of the average luminance value W and the coefficient P as a threshold WP (Step S 506 ). 
         [0246]    The CPU  821   a  binarizes the difference image obtained in Step S 504  by using the threshold WP so as to obtain a binarized image (Step S 507 ). The difference image is an image in which the background portion, which is not required for obtaining characteristic information of the cap section, is removed from the image which is obtained by imaging the specimen container T. Accordingly, by such a binarization process, the binarized image in which the cap section CP of the specimen container T can be distinguished from the other portion can be obtained. 
         [0247]    Next, the CPU  821   a  obtains the characteristic information indicating characteristics of the cap section from the above-described binarized image (Step S 508 ). Since pixels in the area of the cap section have values different from those of pixels in another area in the binarized image, a shape of the cap section CP can be recognized in the binarized image. Accordingly, the characteristic information is information indicating the shape (a length of the cap section, a diameter of the cap section, a length of a small diameter section of a two-stage cap (cap section having two cap diameters of the small diameter section and a large diameter section) and a diameter of the small diameter section) of the cap section. 
         [0248]    Next, the CPU  821   a  compares the characteristic information obtained by the above-described process, that is, the shape information (cap length, cap diameter, cap small diameter section length and small cap diameter) of the cap section with the reference characteristic information on the various specimen containers registered in the specimen container table TBL 31  so as to determine whether there is a specimen container type corresponding to the specimen container T in a predetermined error range (Step S 509 ). When there is a specimen container type corresponding to the specimen container T in the predetermined error range (Yes in Step S 509 ), the CPU  821   a  associates the container type ID for specifying the type of the specimen container with the rack ID of the sample rack L, the specimen ID of the specimen and the holding position of the specimen container T in the sample rack L, stores the container type ID in the hard disk  821   d  (Step S 510 ) and completes the process. On the other hand, when there is no specimen container type corresponding to the specimen container T in the predetermined error range (No in Step S 509 ), the CPU  821   a  associates specimen container type error information indicating that the type of the specimen container cannot be discriminated with the rack ID of the sample rack L, the specimen ID of the specimen and the holding position of the specimen container T in the sample rack L, stores the information in the hard disk  821   d  (Step S 511 ) and completes the process. 
         [0249]    Since the other operations of the system control apparatus  8 B according to this embodiment are the same as those of the system control apparatus  8  according to the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. In addition, since the other operations of the specimen processing system  1 B according to this embodiment are the same as those of the specimen processing system  1  according to the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0250]    Due to the above-described configuration, in the specimen processing system  1 B according to this embodiment, by using the image of the white section  252 , where luminance as a reference is previously determined, as the basis for determining the threshold which is used in the binarization process, which is performed to obtain the characteristic information of the cap section CP, of the image of the cap section CP of the specimen container T, an error can be prevented from being generated by the individual differences between the devices and the type of the specimen container can be discriminated with higher accuracy. 
       Other Embodiments 
       [0251]    In the above-described first to third embodiments, the specimen processing system which includes the plural measuring units  51 ,  51  and  51  and transports specimens to the measuring units has been described. However, the invention is not limited to this. A specimen analyzing apparatus which includes a measuring unit and a specimen transport unit and transports specimens to the measuring unit by the specimen transport unit may be used. In this case, the specimen transport unit includes a putting area in which plural sample racks accommodating specimens before analysis can be placed, a storage area in which plural sample racks accommodating specimens after analysis can be placed and a camera. The specimen processing apparatus images a cap section of a specimen container accommodated in a sample rack L in the putting area, determines the type of the specimen container from the image, lowers an aspiration tube by a descent amount corresponding to the type of the specimen container, aspirates a specimen from the specimen container and measures the specimen. 
         [0252]      FIG. 41  is a perspective view showing an example of a specimen processing apparatus having another configuration. The specimen processing apparatus of this example is a multiple blood cell analyzing apparatus detecting blood cells (white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets and the like) which are included in a blood specimen and counting the number of each kind of blood cell. As shown in  FIG. 41 , a specimen processing apparatus  1 C includes a first measuring unit  2 C, a second measuring unit  3 C, a specimen transport unit  4 C which is disposed in front of the first measuring unit  2 C and the second measuring unit  3 C, and an information processing unit  5 C which can control the first measuring unit  2 C, the second measuring unit  3 C and the specimen transport unit  4 C. The first measuring unit  2 C and the second measuring unit  3 C have the same configuration as that of the measuring unit  51  of the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  according to the first to third embodiments. The specimen transport unit  4 C transports a sample rack L so as to supply a specimen container T held in the sample rack L to the first measuring unit  2 C and the second measuring unit  3 C. Such a specimen transport unit  4 C is provided with a white LED  401  as a light source and a camera  402  as an imaging section. The information processing unit  5 C can control the driving of the white LED and the camera  402  so as to illuminate a cap section CP of the specimen container T held in the transported sample rack L by using the white LED and image the cap section CP by using the camera  402 . The information processing unit  5 C uses the image captured by the camera  402  to discriminate the type of the specimen container by the same process as in the above-described first to third embodiments. When aspirating a specimen by aspiration sections in the first measuring unit  2 C and the second measuring unit  3 C, the first measuring unit  2 C and the second measuring unit  3 C determines a descent amount of the aspiration section in accordance with the type of the specimen container discriminated as described above and aspirates the specimen. The aspirated specimen is measured by the first measuring unit  2 C and the second measuring unit  3 C as in the above-described first to third embodiments. In addition, in this configuration, a label section with a certain color or a certain size may be imaged so that by using the image of the imaged label section, as in the above-described second and third embodiments, an imaging error can be prevented from occurring due to individual differences between the devices and the type of the specimen container can be discriminated with higher accuracy. 
         [0253]    In the above-described first to third embodiments, the configuration has been described in which the system control apparatus  8  determines the type of a specimen container and the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  and the smear preparing apparatus  6  determine a descent amount of an aspiration tube in accordance with the type of the specimen container. However, the invention is not limited to this. A configuration in which the system control apparatuses  8 ,  8 A and  8 B determine descent amounts of the aspiration tubes of the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  and the smear preparing apparatus  6  from an image of the cap of a specimen container and notify the determined descent amounts to the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  and the smear preparing apparatus, or in which the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  and the smear preparing apparatus (or one of the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  and the smear preparing apparatus) obtain an image of the cap section of a specimen container and analyze the image to determine the descent amount of the aspiration tubes may be employed. 
         [0254]    In the above-described first and second embodiments, the configuration in which shape (dimension) and color information of a cap section is extracted from an image of the cap section and the type of a specimen container is determined by using the shape and color information has been described. In addition, in the third embodiment, the configuration in which shape (dimension) information of a cap section is extracted from an image of the cap section and the type of a specimen container is determined by using the shape information has been described. However, the invention is not limited to these. A configuration in which color information of a cap section is extracted from an image of the cap section and the type of a specimen container is determined by using the color information may be employed. A configuration in which a reference image of a cap section is stored for each type of specimen container and an image of the imaged cap section is compared with the reference image by pattern matching to determine the type of the specimen container may also be employed. 
         [0255]    In the above-described first to third embodiments, the configuration in which a specimen container T accommodated in a sample rack L is imaged to determine the type of the specimen container by using the image has been described. However, the invention is not limited to this. A configuration in which a mechanism for pulling a specimen container T out of a sample rack L is provided so as to image the specimen container pulled out of the sample rack L and thereby determine the type of the specimen container by using the image may be employed. 
         [0256]    In the above-described first to third embodiments, the configuration in which the measuring unit  51  including the aspiration tube  511   a  which can be vertically moved determines the descent amount of the aspiration tube  511   a  corresponding to the type of the specimen container on the basis of an image obtained by imaging a cap section CP of a specimen container T and the aspiration tube  511   a  is lowered by this descent amount has been described. However, the invention is not limited to this. A configuration in which the measuring unit includes a mechanism for grasping a specimen container and tilting the specimen container so that a cap section is positioned lower than the bottom of the specimen container, and an aspiration section for passing the aspiration tube through the cap section of the tilted specimen container by moving the aspiration tube diagonally in a forward direction to determine a movement distance of the aspiration tube on the basis of an image of the cap section of the specimen container and pass the aspiration tube through the cap section of the specimen container by moving the aspiration tube diagonally in a forward direction by the movement distance to thereby aspirate a specimen may be employed. In this case, the movement distance is determined not by the position (depth) of the bottom of the specimen container but to be suitable for the shape of the cap section such as the thickness and the length of the cap section, and the movement distance (insertion amount of the aspiration tube from the upper end of the cap section) of the aspiration tube into the specimen container is thus controlled. 
         [0257]    In the above-described first to third embodiments, the configuration in which the aspiration tube  511   a  is lowered by a descent amount determined on the basis of an image of a cap section and the aspiration tube  511   a  is thus passed through the cap section of a specimen container to thereby aspirate a specimen has been described. However, the invention is not limited to this. An aspiration section may be configured so as to detect that the tip end of the aspiration tube is brought into contact with a cap section, and a descent amount (insertion amount) of the aspiration tube  511   a  from the cap section may be determined on the basis of an image of the cap section to thereby control the movement distance of the aspiration tube into a specimen container. In this case, a configuration in which when aspirating a specimen, the specimen is aspirated after the aspiration tube is further lowered by the determined descent amount from when it has been detected that the aspiration tube is being lowered and the tip end of the aspiration tube has been brought into contact with the cap section may be employed. 
         [0258]    In the above-described first to third embodiments, the configuration in which the specimen processing systems  1 ,  1 A and  1 B include the blood cell analyzing apparatus  5  for classifying blood cells included in a specimen and counting the number of blood cells for each blood cell type has been described. However, the invention is not limited to this. A configuration in which the specimen processing system includes a specimen analyzing apparatus other than the blood cell analyzing apparatus, such as an immunity analyzing apparatus, a blood coagulation measuring apparatus, a biochemical analyzing apparatus or a urine analyzing apparatus and transports a blood specimen or an urine specimen to a measuring unit of the specimen analyzing apparatus may be employed. 
         [0259]    In the above-described first to third embodiments, the configuration in which the computer performs the specimen container type discriminating process of the computer programs  84   a ,  814   a  and  824   a  so as to determine the type of a specimen container by using the computer operating as the system control apparatuses  8 ,  8 A and  8 B has been described. However, the invention is not limited to this. A configuration in which the specimen container type discriminating process is performed by using a dedicated hardware such as FPGA, ASIC or the like, capable of executing the same process as the above computer programs may be employed. 
         [0260]    In the above-described first to third embodiments, the configuration in which the single computers  8   a ,  810   a  and  820   a  execute all the processes of the computer programs  84   a ,  814   a  and  824   a  has been described. However, the invention is not limited to this. A distribution system for distributing the same process as the above-described computer programs  84   a ,  814   a  and  824   a  to plural devices (computers) and performing the process may be employed. 
         [0261]    In the above-described first to third embodiments, when a specimen container type error is detected, specimen container type error information (information indicating that the type of a specimen container is not registered in the specimen container table TBL 3  or TBL 31 ) is displayed on the liquid crystal display section  227 . However, not only may the specimen container type error information be displayed on the liquid crystal display section  227 , but reference characteristic information of the type of the specimen container in which the specimen container type error has been detected may also be newly registered in the specimen container table TBL 3  or TBL 31  to display on the liquid crystal display section  227  a registration screen for newly registering a descent amount corresponding to the type of the specimen container in the descent amount table TBL 1 . In addition, the registration screen may be displayed on a display section other than the liquid crystal display section  227 . 
         [0262]    In the above-described first and second embodiments, when the type of a specimen container is determined, R, G and B values of pixels in a specified area in an image are obtained and an average value of each of the R, G and B values is calculated so as to use the average values of the R, G and B values as color information of a cap section. However, the invention is not limited to this. Relative average values of the R and B values when an average value of the G value is set to 100 may be used as color information of a cap section. Even when the specimen container is illuminated with the same color, there is a variation in each of the R, G and B values by the brightness of the illumination. By using the relative average values of the R and B values with respect to the G value, the influence exerted by the brightness of the illumination is suppressed and the type of the specimen container can thus be determined with high accuracy. 
         [0263]    In the above-described first to third embodiments, the configuration in which the cap section CP of the specimen container T is imaged so as to determine a descent amount of the aspiration tube  511   a  corresponding to the type of the specimen container T on the basis of the image has been described. However, the invention is not limited to this. A configuration in which the entire specimen container T including the cap section CP is imaged and the type of the specimen container T is discriminated on the basis of the image of the cap section in the image to determine a descent amount of the aspiration tube  511   a  corresponding to the type of the specimen container T may be employed. 
         [0264]    In the above-described second embodiment, the configuration in which the label section  242  is imaged together with the cap section CP of the specimen container T has been described. In addition, in the third embodiment, the configuration in which the white section  252  is imaged together with the cap section CP of the specimen container T has been described. However, the invention is not limited to these. A configuration in which the label section  242  or the white section  252  is singly imaged separately from the cap section CP of the specimen container T so as to correct characteristic information or determine a threshold for a binarization process on the basis of the image may be employed. For example, a configuration in which when the device is started, the label section  242  or the white section  252  is automatically imaged so as to correct characteristic information or determine a threshold for a binarization process on the basis of the image until the device is shut down may be employed. 
         [0265]    In the above-described second embodiment, the configuration in which when an average luminance value of the partial image of the white area  242   a  is more than the upper limit value N or less than the lower limit value M which are used as references, it is judged that the state of the imaging by the camera  225   a  is not normal, and an imaging error is thus output in order to prompt a user or a service man to take necessary measures, such as adjustment of the sensitivity of the camera  225   a , adjustment of the light intensity of the white LED  225   c  and replacement of the white LED  225   c  has been described. However, the invention is not limited to this. A configuration in which the system control apparatus can control light intensity by adjusting a voltage which is applied to the white LED  225   c  used as a light source, and the system control apparatus automatically adjusts the light intensity of the white LED  225   c  when it is judged that the state of the imaging by the camera  225   a  is not normal may be employed. In addition, a configuration in which the system control apparatus can control light-receiving sensitivity of the camera used as the imaging section  225   a , and the system control apparatus automatically adjusts the sensitivity of the camera  225   a  when it is judged that the state of the imaging by the camera  225   a  is not normal may also be employed. A configuration in which the system control apparatus adjusts both the light intensity of the white LED  225   c  and the sensitivity of the camera  225   a  may also be employed. 
         [0266]    In the above-described second embodiment, the configuration in which characteristic information of the cap section CP is corrected on the basis of the shape (length), luminance and color information of the label section  242 , which are obtained from the partial image of the label section  242  in an image, and thus the type of a specimen container is discriminated on the basis of the characteristic information after the correction has been described. In addition, in the third embodiment, the configuration in which a threshold for a binarization process is determined on the basis of luminance information obtained from the partial image of the white section  252  in an image and characteristic information is obtained from the binarized image obtained by binarizing a difference image with this threshold to discriminate the type of a specimen container on the basis of the characteristic information has been described. However, the invention is not limited to this. A configuration in which reference characteristic information which is an object for comparison with characteristic information is corrected on the basis of the shape (length), luminance and color information of the label section  242  or the luminance information of the partial image of the white section  252  and the characteristic information and the reference characteristic information after the correction are compared with each other to discriminate the type of a specimen container may be employed. A configuration in which a difference between characteristic information and reference characteristic information is obtained and corrected on the basis of the shape (length), luminance and color information of the label section  242  or the luminance information of the partial image of the white section  252 , and when the difference after the correction is close to zero in an error range, a specimen container type corresponding to the reference characteristic information is judged as the type of an imaged specimen container may also be employed. 
         [0267]    In the above-described second embodiment, the configuration in which the color bar  241  is disposed near the imaging position  224  has been described. In addition, in the third embodiment, the configuration in which the reference bar  251  is disposed near the imaging position  224  has been described. However, the invention is not limited to these. The color bar  241  and the reference bar  251  may be provided at any positions if they are in the imaging range of the camera  225   a  during the imaging of the cap section CP of the specimen container T. For example, the color bar  241  and the reference bar  251  may be provided in a sample rack L. Moreover, any object other than the color bar  241  and the reference bar  251  may be provided if it is a tangible entity having a certain color and a certain size. For example, when the camera  225   a  is configured to obtain monochrome images and characteristic information of a cap is obtained by analyzing a monochrome image obtained by the camera  225   a , a gray-scale may be used as the label section. In this manner, the image analyzing process can be easily performed. 
         [0268]    In the second embodiment, the configuration in which the color bar  241  with an opening at the center thereof is provided to image a specimen container has been described. However, a configuration in which information on a width of the opening of the color bar  241  is obtained from an image and length information of the cap is thus corrected may be employed.