Patent ID: 8158060

Claim:
A sample analyzer for analyzing a sample comprising: a main body including an analyzing system; the main body further comprising: a sample container acceptor that receives and holds a sample container, the sample container being supplied to the sample container acceptor either manually or automatically; an aspirator for aspirating a sample in the sample container at an aspirating position in the main body; and a mover having a reciprocating slide plate with the sample container acceptor at a distal end thereof for moving the sample container acceptor from a receiving position outside of the main body to the aspirating position in the main body; and a sample container supplier comprising: a rack holder that receives a rack containing a plurality of sample containers; a sample container supplying unit including a gripping mechanism coupled to a vertical elevator base that grips the selected sample container and vertically removes the selected sample container from the rack, a transport mechanism that transports the selected sample container to the sample container acceptor at the receiving position and a rotation mechanism for rotating the sample container held by the sample container acceptor; and a reader that reads identifier information provided on the sample container held by the sample container acceptor and is arranged between the receiving position and the main body, wherein the rotation mechanism rotates the selected sample container to bring the selected sample container into proximity with the reader, whereby the reader converts the information into an electronic signal.