Patent ID: 8354078

Claim:
A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising: a dispenser which comprises a dispensing nozzle for aspirating and discharging liquid on which a pipette tip is attached, and a moving mechanism for moving the dispensing nozzle; a separating section for separating the pipette tip from the dispensing nozzle; a nozzle cleaning section for cleaning a distal end of the dispensing nozzle, the nozzle cleaning section including a water absorbing member that absorbs liquid adhered to the distal end of the dispensing nozzle; and a controller configured to control the moving mechanism so as to move the dispensing nozzle to the separating section in order to separate the pipette tip from the dispensing nozzle, and subsequently control the moving mechanism so as to move the dispensing nozzle in order to contact the distal end of the dispensing nozzle on the water absorbing member, wherein the controller controls the moving mechanism so as to contact the distal end of the dispensing nozzle on the water absorbing member each time a pipette tip is separated from the dispensing nozzle, such that a contacting position of the dispensing nozzle on the water absorbing member is different from a previous contacting position of the dispensing nozzle on the water absorbing member.