Patent ID: 8343772

Claim:
A specimen processing device comprising a specimen transporting unit configured to transport at least one specimen container at one time, the specimen transporting unit comprises: a first conveyance line extending from a receiving point, where the at least one specimen container is received from an upstream of the first conveyance line, to a discharging point, where the at least one specimen container is discharged to a downstream of the first conveyance line, the first conveyance line being controlled by a first controller to transport the at least one specimen container from the receiving point directly to the discharging point; and a second conveyance line extending from a loading point, where the at least one specimen container is loaded from the receiving point, to an unloading point, where the at least one specimen container is unloaded onto the discharging point, via a supply point, where the at least one specimen container is supplied to a specimen processing unit for processing of a specimen contained in the at least one specimen container, wherein responsive to one of (i) an instruction from the first controller and (ii) a detection of the at least one specimen container at the loading point, the second conveyance line begins controlled by a second controller, independently from an operation of the first conveyance line, to transport the at least one specimen container from the loading point to the supply point.