Patent ID: 7931862

Claim:
A sample rack transport apparatus for transporting a sample rack holding a container containing a sample, comprising: a transport mechanism comprising: a first transporting member for transporting a rack in a first direction; a second transporting member for transporting the rack, transported by the first transporting member, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a third transporting member for transporting the rack, transported by the second transporting member, in a third direction opposite to the first direction; a control unit; a control box for housing the control unit; a case for accommodating the transport mechanism and the control box housing the control unit; and a guide member for guiding movement of the control box between a first position where the control box is accommodated in the case and a second position where the control box is withdrawn from the case; wherein the control unit housed in the control box is positioned below the transport mechanism when the control unit housed in the control box is positioned at the first position, and the control unit housed in the control box executes operations comprising: controlling the first transporting member so as to transport the rack placed on the case in the first direction; controlling the second transporting member so as to transport the rack, transported by the first transporting member, in the second direction; and controlling the third transporting member so as to transport the rack, transported by the second transporting member, in the third direction; where the first transporting member comprises a plurality of multi-actuating members which are actuated to selectively engage the rack and to move in a common direction for transporting the rack in the first direction and are retractile to the case.