Disclosed are high-throughput vessel receiving systems and methods of receiving sample vessels, such as samples stored in test tubes. A system for receiving a plurality of individual vessels that each contains a sample, and systems and apparatus for guiding, reorienting, collecting, and transporting a plurality of articles, including vessels, are disclosed.

Disclosed are high-throughput vessel receiving systems and methods of receiving sample vessels, such as samples stored in test tubes. A system for receiving a plurality of individual vessels that each contains a sample, and systems and apparatus for guiding, reorienting, collecting, and transporting a plurality of articles, including vessels, are disclosed.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sample lifting/lowering mechanism and a sample conveying device able to transport a sample holder without tipping over the sample holder. In order to achieve said purpose, a sample lifting/lowering mechanism of the present invention comprises a sample holder carrying part for carrying the sample holder and able to rotate around a rotary shaft, and which lifts, lowers, and transports the sample holder loaded on the sample holder carrying part, wherein an operation in which the sample holder carrying part rotates around the rotary shaft is initiated after an operation in which the rotary shaft lifts or lowers is completed. Additionally, this sample conveying device comprises: a first conveying line that conveys the sample holder; a second conveying line that is provided above or below the first conveying line and conveys the sample holder; and the sample lifting/lowering mechanism that, when the sample holder conveyed by the first conveying line has been loaded, lifts or lowers the sample holder and transports the sample holder to the second conveying line.