Patent ID: 8475044

Claim:
An analyzing apparatus for analyzing a disc shaped sample, which comprises: a cassette unit comprising a cassette for accommodating the sample and a cassette identifying section for identifying a type of the cassette and then generating a cassette identification signal descriptive of the diameter of the sample to be accommodated; a sample holder having defined therein an insertion hole with a diameter, corresponding to the diameter of the sample, and through which the sample is inserted from above and including a ring shaped pedestal with an inner diameter, corrresponding to the diameter of the sample, and on which the sample is placed from above; a transport section for transporting the sample from the cassette onto the sample holder; a sample stage on which the sample holder is placed; a sample holder identifying section for detecting a radially oriented end of the insertion hole in the sample holder or a radially inward end of the ring shaped pedestal and then generating a sample holder identification signal for identifying the type of the sample holder that corresponds to the diameter of the sample to be placed; a determining section for determining whether or not the diameter of the sample to be accommodated in the cassette and the diameter of the sample to be placed on the pedestal of the sample holder match with each other, based on the cassette identification signal, generated from the cassette identifying section, and the sample holder identification signal generated from the sample holder identifying section; and a sample holder replacement door which is selectively opened or closed at the time of replacement of the sample holder, the sample holder retaining the sample holder identification signal when closed, but invalidating the sample holder identification signal when opened; in which in the event that the determining section determines that the diameter of the sample to be accommodated in the cassette and the diameter of the sample to be placed on the pedestal of the sample holder match with each other, the transport section transports the sample from the cassette onto the sample holder placed on the sample stage.