Patent ID: 8226889

Claim:
A sample processing system comprising: a first sample processing apparatus; a second sample processing apparatus; a third sample processing apparatus; a variable deployment unit comprising: a first moving part comprising a rail, wherein the first moving part is configured to simultaneously move the second and third sample processing apparatuses relative to the first sample processing apparatus back and forth in a first direction via the rail; a second moving part comprising a rail connected with the first moving part, wherein the second moving part is configured to support the second sample processing apparatus and to move, via the rail of the second moving part, the second sample processing apparatus relative to the first moving part and to the first sample processing apparatus back and forth in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and a third moving part comprising a rail connected with the first moving part, wherein the third moving part is configured to support the third sample processing apparatus and to move, via the rail of the third moving part, the third sample processing apparatus relative to the first moving part and to the first sample processing apparatus back and forth in the second direction, wherein the second moving part and third moving part are each further configured to respectively move the second sample processing apparatus and the third sample processing apparatus independent of the other in the second direction.