A scanning apparatus that can include (a) a scan actuator including a linear actuator and a mount for a removeable vessel, wherein the mount has a mechanical fastener that is configured to engage a complementary mechanical fastener on the removeable vessel, and wherein the linear actuator is configured to translate the mount while the mechanical fastener engages the complementary mechanical fastener on the removeable vessel; (b) a reference surface; and (c) a preload configured to urge the vessel to contact the reference surface, wherein the linear actuator is configured to slide the vessel along the reference surface while the preload urges the vessel to contact the reference surface.

Provided is an automatic analyzer capable of switching an apparatus operation mode, such as automatic reexamination, without stopping measurement by efficiently using a rack. The automatic analyzer includes a storage unit that stores an operation mode, such as automatic reexamination, of the automatic analyzer, a detection unit that detects an operation mode switching rack inserted into an insertion unit, and a control unit that switches the operation mode stored in the storage unit on the basis of the detection of the operation mode switching rack by the detection unit. The control unit applies the switched operation mode to an examination object rack transported from the insertion unit to a transport line after the operation mode switching rack.

A method of reading machine-readable labels on sample receptacles held by a sample rack. In the method, an absolute position of the sample rack is measured as the sample rack moves between first and second positions in a housing. During movement between the first and second positions, an image is acquired of a machine-readable label associated with each sample receptacle held by the sample rack. The image of each machine-readable label is thereafter decoded.

The present disclosure relates to a cuvette box conveying device, a cuvette box conveying method, and a sample analyzer. The cuvette box conveying device includes a frame. The frame includes a new box placing position and a waste box recycling position. The new box placing position and the waste box recycling position are arranged on different layers in the direction of Z axis, so as to reduce the space occupied by the new box placing position and the waste box recycling position on an XY plane. In the cuvette box conveying device, the space occupied by the new box placing position and the waste box recycling position on the XY plane is reduced by arranging the new box placing position and the waste box recycling position on different layers in the direction of Z axis.

A smear transporting apparatus transports a smear slide on which a sample is smeared to a smear-image capture apparatus. The smear transporting apparatus includes a smear-container transport part that transports a first smear container accommodating smear slides to a smear pickup position; a smear transfer part that picks a smear slide whose image is to be captured by the smear-image capture apparatus from the first smear container transported to the smear pickup position, transfers the smear slide to the smear-image capture apparatus, and places the smear slide whose image has been captured by the smear-image capture apparatus in a second smear container different from the first smear container; and a storage that stores the first smear container and the second smear container.

A method of reading machine-readable labels on sample receptacles. In the method, a sample rack is moved between a first position and a second position withing a housing, where the sample rack supports a plurality of sample receptacles, and each sample receptacle has a machine-readable label. An absolute position of the sample rack is measured as the sample rack moves between the first and second positions. An image of the machine-readable label associated with each sample receptacle is acquired as the sample rack moves between the first and second positions. Finally, the acquired image of each machine-readable label is decoded.

A receptacle terminal having a housing, and a first transporting unit which is configured to transport at least a first receptacle rack, which is arranged on a movable platform, within the housing from a first position to a second position, and wherein the first receptacle rack is at the second position within the housing and manually accessible by a user through a first opening in the housing.

A wash system for use in an in vitro diagnostic immunoanalyzer utilizes a bridge having a linear track to move cuvettes from one incubation ring portion to another incubation ring portion. Washing stations along the linear track provide a magnetic field and fluid washing of cuvette contents independent of the size and motion of one or more incubation rings.

A sample rack includes a housing that has multiple spaces or compartments each for receiving and retaining sample containers of various sizes. The sample rack includes dual hooks on the ends for engaging a sample rack handling system. Chamfers formed in the housing of the sample rack assist in placing and removing the sample rack from a sample rack handling system. The sample tube rack also includes a handle that extends upward from one end and includes gripping features. groove and bar, incorporated into each sample rack, are able to selectively interlock with adjacent racks to assist in lifting multiple sample racks together.

A smear transporting apparatus transports a smear slide on which a sample is smeared to a smear-image capture apparatus. The smear transporting apparatus includes a smear-container transport part that transports a first smear container accommodating smear slides to a smear pickup position; a smear transfer part that picks a smear slide whose image is to be captured by the smear-image capture apparatus from the first smear container transported to the smear pickup position, transfers the smear slide to the smear-image capture apparatus, and places the smear slide whose image has been captured by the smear-image capture apparatus in a second smear container different from the first smear container; and a storage that stores the first smear container and the second smear container.