Patent ID: 7526947

Claim:
An automatic sample introduction apparatus comprising: a sample loop for measuring a sample; a needle provided at a tip portion of the sample loop; a measuring pump; a multi-position valve; a first multi-port valve; and a tray, for loading thereon a first bottle for containing the sample, a second bottle for containing a solution to be mixed to the sample, and a third bottle for containing a mixed solution which is obtained by mixing the sample and the solution, wherein the multi-position valve includes: a first port connected to the first multi-port valve; a second port connected to a mobile phase; a third port connected to a cleaning solution; and a common port connected to the measuring pump, the multi-position valve has a state in which the common port is communicated with any one of the ports by switching, and a state in which any two of the ports are communicated with each other, the first multi-port valve includes: a fourth port connected to the sample loop; a fifth port connected to a flow path on an upstream side that supplies the mobile phase; a sixth port connected to a flow path on a downstream side including a column; a seventh port connected to a sample introduction port; and an eighth port connected to the multi-position valve to which the measuring pump is connected, the first multi-port valve is confiqured to be selectively placed in one of an injection state in which a flow path is formed in which the mobile phase flows to the column through the sample loop, the needle and the sample introduction port, and a load state in which a flow path is formed in which the mobile phase flows to the column without flowing through the sample loop, the needle, and the sample introduction port, and the automatic sample introducing apparatus is configured to move the needle to the tray to mix the sample and the solution by performing the switching operation of the multi-position valve while placing the first multi-port valve in the load state, and then to place the first multi-port valve in the injection state after moving the needle, into which the mixed solution has been sucked, to the sample introduction port.