This specimen inspection automation system is provided with: a processing unit which processes a specimen; a conveying line which conveys carriers; a control device which controls the conveying of the carriers; and external connection modules which deliver the carriers to and from external devices. The control device controls the number of carriers in the specimen inspection automation system within a fixed range on the basis of the number of carriers conveyed into and out of the system by the external connection modules.

An automated system and method for storing/retrieving vessel holders is presented. A first storage compartment comprises first storage sections. A first translating mechanism vertically translates one storage section to a loading level for loading holders into the first storage compartment and translates one storage section to a handing-in level for handing in holders to/from an analyzer. A second storage compartment comprises second storage sections. A second translating mechanism vertically translates one second storage sections to a handing-out level and translates one storage section to an unloading level for unloading holders from the second storage compartment. A first transport mechanism comprises a first conveyor for transporting holders from a first storage section at the handing-in level to a handing-over station. A second transport mechanism comprises a second conveyor for transporting holders from the handing-over station to a second storage section at the handing-out level. A controller operates the mechanisms.

A fully automatic test card conveying apparatus for an instant testing instrument is used for conveying a test card and includes a test card conveying arm, frame, push rod, buffer support, buffer cartridge, and card extraction mechanism. A first electric motor, second electric motor, first sliding rail, and second sliding rail are provided on the arm. The frame is connected in a sliding manner to the first sliding rail via a sliding block, and connected to the first electric motor via a first synchronization belt. A stepping motor is provided on the sliding block and an output end of the stepping motor is connected to the frame. The push rod is connected in a sliding manner with the second sliding rail, and connected to the second electric motor via a second synchronization belt.

An automatic analyzer with high processing capacity is capable of immediately measuring an emergency specimen rack. The automatic analyzer includes a conveying line for conveying a specimen rack, and an analysis unit which has a dispensing line in which a plurality of specimen racks are arranged for waiting until sample dispensing, and a sampling area for dispensing the sample to the analysis unit. A rack save area is provided in the dispensing line and at a position adjacent to the upstream side of the sampling area. When a specimen rack exists in the sampling area at the time of measuring an emergency specimen rack, a controller moves the specimen rack to the save area and positions the emergency specimen rack to be moved from a downstream side of the sampling area to the sampling area.

It is possible to realize a sample container transfer device capable of handling a plurality of racks in which a sample container can be efficiently transferred from a preprocessing system to a carrier used in an analysis system and can be transferred to a plurality of kinds of carriers of the analysis system. A plurality of kinds of racks A and racks B is held by an empty rack holding area 330. The racks A or the racks B can be used for conveyance of specimen containers according to the application of a specimen. After a fixed number of specimen containers separated by a separation mechanism 301 according to an application are collected by stoppers 303a and 303b, the specimen containers are conveyed to a transfer start position 309 to be transferred from a holder to a rack. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress an occurrence of a state in which the rack does not have a part where no specimen is mounted.

A biochemical analyzer delivery system, comprising a sample feeding track (42), an advancing track (43), a recovery track (44), at least one to-be-tested sub-track (45), at least one emergency sub-track (46) and at least one return sub-track (47); the sample feeding track (42), the advancing track (43) and the recovery track (44) are parallel to each other; the to-be-tested sub-track (45), the emergency sub-track (46) and the return sub-track (47) are disposed between and perpendicular to the sample feeding track (42) and the advancing track (43), an emergency sample may enter the emergency sub-track via the advancing track (43), and then enters the sample feeding track for sample suction. The track-based delivery system can be horizontally disposed in a biochemical analyzer, and can be butt-jointed with a vertical track in the biochemical analyzer, thereby greatly increasing the buffer amount of sample holders without increasing the length of the biochemical analyzer.

The automatic analyzer includes a control unit provided with a determination unit which determines requirement or non-requirement of the calibration executed to the loaded reagent when the reagent ID reader identifies the reagent, a request generation unit which makes a notice of a standard solution necessary for the calibration when the determination unit determines requirement of the calibration, and generates a calibration request when loading of the standard solution is detected, and a planning unit which makes a plan of the carry-in and the calibration to execute the calibration as required immediately after the carry-in of the reagent into the reagent disc. This makes it possible to lessen the process to be performed by the user until the reagent is made available for measurement of the patient specimen.

A sample rack manipulation device (10), a testing system (1) and a testing method using the sample rack manipulation device (10), and a computer-readable medium implementing the testing method. The sample rack manipulation device (10) comprises: a loading/unloading zone (TA) in which a plurality of sample racks (50) carrying sample containers (51) containing samples can be arranged side by side; a sampling zone (TD, TE) in which samples in each sample container (51) on the sample racks (50) are sampled by an automatic testing apparatus; and a docking device (114) configured to transfer the sample racks (50) between the loading/unloading zone (TA) and the sampling zone (TD, TE). The docking device (114) is configured to be able to remove the sample racks (50) loaded in the loading/unloading zone (TA) in any order and to transfer the removed test sample racks (50) to the sampling zone (TD, TE) for sampling.

A conveyor assembly for transporting a carrier coupled to a receptacle to a processing station located within a housing of an instrument. The conveyor assembly includes a spur conveyor subassembly and a buffer conveyor subassembly for transporting the carrier from a host conveyor assembly to the spur conveyor subassembly. The spur conveyor subassembly includes (i) a rotatable diverter having at least one recess for receiving and moving the carrier between the buffer conveyor subassembly and the spur conveyor subassembly and (ii) a gripper configured to grasp the carrier and move it from the diverter to the processing position located within the housing of the instrument.

A conveyor assembly for transporting a carrier coupled to a receptacle to a processing station located within a housing of an instrument. The conveyor assembly includes a spur conveyor subassembly and a buffer conveyor subassembly for transporting the carrier from a host conveyor assembly to the spur conveyor subassembly. The spur conveyor subassembly includes (i) a rotatable diverter having at least one recess for receiving and moving the carrier between the buffer conveyor subassembly and the spur conveyor subassembly and (ii) a gripper configured to grasp the carrier and move it from the diverter to the processing position located within the housing of the instrument.