Patent ID: 8277755

Claim:
An apparatus for discharging packing material from a sample column which is adapted to remove the packing material filled in the sample column having a tube shape, comprising: a tubular discharge apparatus body which is disposed concentrically to the sample column held in a predetermined position by means of a holding mechanism for the sample column, and which is capable of moving close to and away from the sample column; a column positioning hub which is mounted to a tip end of the discharge apparatus body ones the side of the body facing the sample column so as to be movable upward and downward with respect to the column, and which is biased toward the sample column; a push-out pin which is inserted into the discharge apparatus body and the column positioning hub to extend substantially along center lines of the discharge apparatus body and the column positioning hub, and which is allowed to relatively project from a tip end of the column positioning hub when the column positioning hub is moved upward with respect to the discharge apparatus body; and a vibration generating means for applying vibration to the push-out pin when the push-out pin is allowed to project from the column positioning hub.