Disclosed is a reaction vessel handling apparatus adapted for use in a biological fluid testing apparatus. The reaction vessel handling apparatus includes an incubation member and wash member that are overlapping. A transfer device transfers reaction vessels between the incubation member and wash member at the overlapping portions. Incubation and wash members may be rings. Testing apparatus (e.g., immunoassay apparatus or clinical analyzer apparatus) including the reaction vessel handling apparatus and methods of operating the apparatus are provided, as are other aspects.

Sample analysis system and method are provided. The sample analysis system includes a first sample analyzer, a second sample analyzer, a sample rack transport device, and a sample sorting device provided between the first and second sample analyzers. The sample rack transport device includes a transport track for conveying a sample rack with sample containers to the first and/or second sample analyzer for testing. The first and second sample analyzers are arranged in sequence along a first transport direction of the transport track. The sample sorting device includes a connecting track, a sorting platform, and a sample transfer mechanism. The sample transfer mechanism is capable of moving to a position above the connecting track, so as to transfer the sample container(s) in the sample rack conveyed to the connecting track to a sample rack on the sorting platform. Efficiency of sample analysis is improved.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for handling an equipment-tray assembly. The present invention in particular concerns the fields of bioburden testing, water testing, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food processing, semiconductor production, electronics, and environmental monitoring of closed processing areas.

A sample processing unit includes a sample loading component, a transfer component and an output component. The sample loading component includes first and second feed bins, a feeding mechanism and a flow limiting mechanism, the first feed bin forms a storage space storing sample containers received by the second feed bin and flowing from the second feed bin into the first feed bin, the feeding mechanism is connected to the first feed bin and transports the sample containers in the storage space to the transfer component one by one. When the sample containers flow from the second feed bin into the first feed bin, the flow limiting mechanism is configured to limit quantity of sample containers flowing into the storage space, and the storage space is capable of storing multiple sample containers.

A system and method for a hybridized control architecture for a liquid handler system. The hybridized control system can control the movement of the vessel movers of the liquid handler system using a hybridized movement control approach that incorporates both position, velocity and current-based control outputs. The control system can further dynamically control the relative degree to which velocity or position-based control is applied to the vessel movers based on the vessel movers' relative positions along the track system.

A container transfer method for transferring a container from a container holder capable of holding a plurality of containers, by using a holding section capable of performing an opening/closing operation, vertical movement, and horizontal movement. The method includes: moving the holding section downward to a position lower than a head portion of the container, at a position where the container is not held in a plan view; horizontally moving the holding section in an opened state, toward a target container on the container holder; after the horizontal movement of the holding section to the target container, closing the holding section with respect to the target container; and moving upward the holding section in a closed state.

An automated analyzer includes: a measurement device; at least one sample tray on which a plurality of sample containers is placed; a conveyance device configured to select one of the plurality of sample containers placed on the sample tray, convey the selected sample container to the measurement device, and return the sample container to an original sample tray on which the sample container was originally placed after measurement by the measurement device; a control device for controlling an operation of the conveyance device; and a retreat portion provided at a position different from positions where the measurement device and the sample tray are provided, the retreat portion being configured to temporarily place the sample container. The control device causes the sample container to retreat to the retreat portion in a case where the sample container cannot be returned from the measurement device to the sample tray.