Patent ID: 8840851

Claim:
A pipette tip supplying apparatus configured to supply pipette tips that can include pipette tip assemblies in which a first pipette tip and a second pipette tip are coupled together with a distal end of the first pipette tip inserted into the second pipette tip, the apparatus comprising: a storing section that stores the pipette tips; a supplying section configured to supply at least one of the plurality of pipette tips stored in the storing section outside the storing section; a primary detector located at a predetermined distance from a bottom of the storing section so as to discriminate between a length of a pipette tip and a length of a pipette tip assembly, wherein the supplying section comprises a lifting member for lifting a pipette tip and a pipette tip assembly in the storing section, and the primary detector is disposed at a position at which the pipette tip assembly can be detected when the lifting member lifts the pipette tip assembly; a discharging section configured to discharge the pipette tip assembly from the storing section; and a programmed controller coupled to the primary detector to receive detection signals therefrom and electrically connected to activate the supplying section and the discharging section, the controller programmed to determine when a pipette tip assembly is detected by the primary detector and to activate the discharge section.