JPH0113064B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a drive control method in an automatic chemical analyzer, and particularly to a reaction vessel holder that is sequentially transferred to a reaction vessel supply position on a reaction vessel holder transfer line by a reaction vessel holder transfer device. The reaction containers are sequentially supplied by the container supply device, and the reaction container holder holding the reaction containers is transferred along the reaction container holder transfer line by the reaction container holder transfer device, and the sample container containing the sample to be analyzed is transferred. The sample container holder holding the sample container holder is sequentially transferred to the sample suction position by the sample container holder transfer device, and the reaction container held by the reaction container holder is located at the sample dispensing position on the reaction container holder transfer line. Sometimes, the sample dispensing device is actuated to dispense the sample contained in the sample container located at the sample suction position into the reaction container, and the reaction container is moved to the reagent dispensing position on the reaction container holder transfer line. An automated chemistry system that operates a reagent dispensing device to dispense a specified reagent into a reaction container, and then measures a test solution containing a sample and reagent using a measuring device to perform a specified analysis. In an analysis device, a reaction container supply device, a sample dispensing device, a reagent dispensing device,
The present invention relates to a method for controlling the driving of a measuring device.

The sample container holder transfer device of such an automatic chemical analyzer is called a sampler, and for example, a snake chain is loaded with a large number of sample containers containing samples, and these sample containers are sequentially transferred to a sample suction position. Here, a predetermined amount of sample is dispensed into a reaction container by a sample dispensing device.

In such an automatic chemical analyzer, normally the sample container holder of the sampler is filled with sample containers containing samples, and the reaction container holder is also filled with reaction containers without any vacancies. Therefore, the reaction vessel supply device, sample dispensing device, reagent dispensing device, measuring device, etc. are designed to operate at predetermined timing without interruption. However, the sample container holder is not necessarily filled with empty spaces and no sample containers are loaded, and even in such cases, the reaction container supply device, sample dispensing device, reagent dispensing device, and measuring device must be operated. This is not a good idea, as it wastes reaction vessels, reagents, and in many cases diluents.

The reason why the sample container is not filled in the sample container holder is not limited to accidentally leaving a space when setting the sample container in the sampler, but also when additional sample containers are set. To make it easier to identify (to arrange samples by analysis item, to make correspondence between two or more analyzers easier, to make it easier to count), or to make it easier to count. In some cases.

Normally, the operation of each part of an automatic chemical analyzer is controlled by a computer, so if there is space in the sample container holder as described above, the information can be entered into the computer using keys to change the operation control of each part. Although it is conceivable that the above-mentioned disadvantages can be solved by this, the control becomes extremely complicated, which is not preferable. In addition, if there is an empty space in the sample container holder, it is possible to transfer the empty part at high speed using the sample container holder transfer device, but if the empty part is long, the transfer pitch on the reaction container holder transfer line may be considered. It becomes difficult to transfer the empty part within the chamber, and after the empty part is sent, the sample container is sent by the sample container holder transfer device, and the reaction container feeder is sent along the reaction container holder transfer line. It becomes very troublesome to correspond to the reaction container. Furthermore, focusing only on eliminating wasted reaction vessels, the reaction vessel supply device is inactive and the reaction vessel holder is moved during the time when the sample vessel holder without a sample vessel loaded passes the sample suction position. It is possible to disable the device, but since the reaction vessel holder transfer line is also a reaction line, the reaction time (time from detection generation to measurement) for the sample already dispensed into the reaction vessel may fluctuate. As a result, accurate analysis becomes impossible.

As described above, an object of the present invention is to prevent reaction containers and reagents from being wasted even when there is an empty space in the sample container holder where a sample container is not loaded by mistake or intentionally. Moreover, it is possible to easily and accurately obtain the correspondence between the sample and the reaction container, and the drive in an automatic chemical analyzer that enables the accurate analysis of already dispensed samples as usual. It is intended to provide a control method.

The present invention detects whether or not a sample container is loaded in a sample container holder that is sequentially transferred to a sample suction position, and when it is detected that a sample container is not loaded in a sample container holder, a sample container is detected. Without changing the operations of the container holder transfer device and the reaction container holder transfer device, the reaction container supply device, This is characterized by interrupting the operations of the sample dispensing device, reagent dispensing device, and measuring device.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of an automatic analyzer suitable for applying the drive control method of the present invention. The apparatus of this example is a discrete type automatic analyzer that employs a batch process, and is also a sequential multi-type automatic analyzer that sequentially and continuously analyzes multiple items. Sample containers 1 each containing a sample to be analyzed are held in a sample container holding section 2 shaped like a snake chain, for example, and are intermittently transferred in the direction of arrow A by a sample container holding section transfer device 3.
A predetermined amount of the sample contained in the sample container 1 is sequentially aspirated by the sample dispensing device 4 at a predetermined sample suction position B according to the number of analysis items, and diluted into a cuvette, which is a reaction container, located at the sample dispensing position C. It is dispensed together with liquid 5. The cuvette 6 is held in the cuvette holder 7 while being transferred to the reaction container holder transfer device 8.
As shown by arrow D, the liquid is intermittently transferred along the reaction vessel holder transfer line, that is, the reaction line, for example, at a rate of 6 seconds per step. Further, this cuvette 6 is sequentially supplied by a cuvette supply device 9 to a cuvette holding section 7 located at a reaction vessel supply position E on the reaction line. The cuvette 6 into which the sample has been dispensed is further moved several steps, and at a predetermined reagent dispensing position F on the reaction line, the reagent dispenser 10 dispenses a reagent according to the analysis item together with the diluent 11 into the cuvette 6. Note. Reagents necessary for analysis are stored in reagent containers 12 ₁ to 12 _o , respectively.
The reagent container is held in a reagent container transfer mechanism 13 movable in the direction indicated by the double-headed arrow G, and is configured such that the reagent dispensing device 10 aspirates a reagent corresponding to the analysis item at a predetermined reagent suction position H. The sample and reagent can be sufficiently stirred by, for example, discharging the reagent and diluent into the cuvette 6 at an appropriate flow rate using the reagent dispensing device 10. The cuvette 6 that has received the reagent dispensed in this way is placed at a plurality of predetermined locations on the reaction line D, for example, the reagent dispensing position F.
12 seconds, 24 seconds, 36 seconds and 60 seconds after that, the cuvette 6 that received the reagent is 2, 4,
The reaction state of the test solution in the cuvette 6 is monitored by photometric colorimeter 14 to 17 consisting of a light source and a light-receiving element, which are respectively provided at four positions moved by 6 and 10 steps.

Monitoring of reaction conditions is particularly important for measuring enzymatic reactions. In other words, in enzymatic reaction measurements, accurate reaction rates cannot be determined unless the linear portion of NADH/NAD levels versus time is measured. Figure 2 is a diagram showing a typical reaction curve.
The vertical axis represents the absorbance (OD), and the horizontal axis represents the reaction time (t) after the addition of the reagent. In Figure 2, area a represents the delayed part (lag phase) of the reaction due to the heating time of the test solution, stirring, etc., and area b
represents a linear portion (linear phase) where the reaction rate can be measured reliably. Also, region c is a reagent (substrate)
Alternatively, it represents a portion (end point) where a component in the sample has been depleted, and measurement within this range will give a falsely low value. The time of linear phase b can be changed appropriately by adjusting the substrate concentration and the total reaction volume, but this adjustment is almost impossible even for test solutions with fast and slow reaction rates, as shown by the broken lines. Photoelectric colorimeter 14-1 for most test liquids
7 (see FIG. 1), a change in absorbance is detected at the end point of the lag phase a, that is, at the photoelectric colorimeters 14 to 17. Preferably, the time for linear phase b is 1 to 2 minutes for a normal test solution, and the absorbance change for determining the end point for lag phase a is measured for 12 seconds after reagent addition for the test solution with the slowest reaction (photoelectric colorimeter 14 Set the substrate concentration and total reaction volume so that it is at least 0.05 at With this setting, it is possible to almost completely monitor the sequentially detected love phases in the photoelectric colorimeters 14 to 17.

In addition, photoelectric colorimeters 14 to 17 are Lugfaze a
It monitors not only linear phase b but also linear phase b. That is, photoelectric colorimeter 14-17
The test liquid for which the end point of the lag phase was detected is photometered by another colorimeter located behind the colorimeter while it is in the linear phase.
Discard all cubes 6.

The operations of the sample container holder transfer device 3, sample dispensing device 4, reaction container holder transfer device 8, reaction container supply device 9, reagent dispensing device 10, and sample container transfer device 13 described above are controlled by a mechanism control device 18. is,
Photometric data from the colorimeters 14 to 17 is processed in a data calculation device 19. Further, these mechanism control device 18 and data calculation device are controlled by a central information processing device 20. Central information processing unit 20
Information can be inputted from the outside using an input device 21, and output information such as analysis results can be outputted using an output device 22.

The drive control method of the present invention detects whether the sample container 1 is set in the sample container holding section 2,
The reaction container supply device 9, the sample dispensing device 4, the reagent dispensing device 10, and the reagent container transfer at the timing that should be performed for the sample contained in the sample container that should originally be set here when the sample container is not set. The operations of the device 13, the photometric sections 14 to 17, and the photometric data calculation device 19 are interrupted. For this purpose, a sample container detection device 23 is provided that detects the sample container at a position on the transfer line of the sample container holder 2 (this position is upstream of the sample suction position B), and provides information indicating the presence or absence of the sample container. is supplied to the mechanism control device 18. In this example, a detection device 24 for the sample container holding section 2 is also provided. FIG. 3 shows these detection devices 23 and 2.
4 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the sample container 1 and the sample container holding part 2. FIG. In this example, the sample container 1 is in the shape of a test tube, and the sample container holder 2 is in the shape of a cylinder, and these cylinders are connected in a snake chain shape. Such a sample container holder transfer device 3 can be constructed using a sprocket wheel. A notch 2A is formed in one side of the sample container holding portion 2, and the sample container detection device 23 detects the sample container 1 through this notch 2A. Furthermore, the sample container detection device 23
The bar code is moved in the axial direction of the sample container 1 as shown by arrow J to read the bar code recorded on the card attached to the sample container 1. This barcode specifies, for example, an analysis item. An opening 2B is formed on the opposite side of the sample container holder 2, and the opening 2B is detected by the sample container holder detection device 24. In this example, a maximum of three openings can be formed vertically, and the type of sample set in the sample container holder can be specified by the combination thereof. That is, in an automatic analyzer, a specific liquid is used when creating a calibration curve or performing calibration, and the opening 2B is used to identify the liquid. Furthermore, in this example, the sample number is specified by counting signals from the detection device 24 of the sample container holding section 2.

In FIG. 1, when the sample container detection device 23 does not detect a sample container at the sample container detection position, the information is sent to the mechanism control device 18, and from there to the central information processing device 20. The central information processing unit 20 receives this information and controls the operations of each section in accordance with a preset program as follows.

(a) There is no change in the operations of the sample container holder transfer device 3 and the reaction container holder transfer device 8.

(b) The operation of the sample dispensing device 4 is not changed until the sample container holder 2' comes to the sample suction position B.

(c) When the sample container holder 2', in which no sample container is loaded, comes to the sample suction position B, the operation of the sample dispensing device 4 is interrupted.

(d) The operation of the reaction container supply device 9 is interrupted at the timing that should be performed for the sample contained in the sample container to be loaded into the sample container holding section 2' (ie, in the state shown in FIG. 1).
Therefore, no reaction container is set in the reaction container holding section 7'.

(e) The operation of the sample dispensing device 4 is interrupted when the reaction vessel holder 7', in which no reaction vessel is set, reaches the sample dispensing position C. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the empty reaction vessel holding section 7' is located at the sample dispensing position C.
The timing at which the empty sample container holder 2' reaches the sample suction position B is the same as the timing at which the empty sample container holder 2' reaches the sample suction position B.

(f) When the empty reaction container holding section 7' reaches the reagent dispensing position F, the operations of the reagent dispensing device 10 and the reagent container transferring device 13 are interrupted.

〓 The empty reaction container holding part 7' is the colorimeter 14 to 17
When the colorimeter reaches the position , the operation of these colorimeters and the operation of the data calculation device 19 are interrupted.

(h) When using a device for discarding the reaction vessel 6 from the reaction vessel holder 7, the operation of the discard device is interrupted when the empty reaction vessel holder 7' reaches this disposal position.

(i) The output device 22 displays a specific symbol or the like indicating that the sample container is not loaded in the sample container holder.

When the sample container 1 is detected again at the position, the sample dispensing device 4, the reaction container supplying device 9, the reagent dispensing device 10, and the colorimeter 14 to 17 are activated at the timing for the sample contained in this sample container.
Then, the data calculation device 19 starts operating again.

By controlling the operation of each part by detecting that the sample container is not loaded in the sample container holder in this way, unnecessary operations of each part can be omitted, and the reaction container 6, diluent 5, 11 and wasteful consumption of reagents can be eliminated. Furthermore, since the operations of the sample container holder transfer device 3 and the reaction container holder transfer device 8 are not changed in any way,
There is no effect on the correspondence between the sample and the test solution.
The control program does not become complicated and the reliability of analysis is improved. In this case, the sample number counts the output of the detection device 24 to the sample container holder 2, but by not counting it when the sample container is not set, the correspondence relationship will not deviate. When setting the sample container 1 in the sample container holder 2, the analyzer will operate normally even if you actively create an empty space, so you can use this empty space to add and set samples, or to make it easier to distinguish. You can line them up. Therefore, operator operations become easier and analysis can be performed more efficiently.

In the above example, the detection device 2 of the sample container holding section 2
4, it is also possible to detect the presence or absence of the sample container holder at its position. As mentioned above, when the absence of the sample container 1 was detected, the operation of each part was temporarily stopped, but when the absence of the sample container holder 2 was detected, the entire device stopped. The device then stops when all successful analyzes on previously processed samples have been completed. In this case, after resetting the sample container holder 2, the analyzer is started again by turning on the start switch.

Figure 4 shows the above-mentioned reaction vessel, the cuvette 6.
This figure shows a magazine 30 in which the following items are arranged and housed.
The cube 6 in this example is approximately box-shaped. Storing the cuvette 6 into the magazine is not performed by the user, and the user can obtain the magazine in which the cuvette 6 is stored. Therefore, there is no risk of scratches or fingerprints on the keyboard 6. Magazine 3
0 can be made of synthetic resin molded product or metal, and in this example, 10 in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrow
pieces, and 10 pieces in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow Y perpendicular to this.
A total of 100 cuvettes 6 are stored in an array.
An outlet 31b having a width approximately equal to the thickness of the cuvette 6 is provided at one end of one side wall 31a of the magazine 30.
The front side wall 31 has a narrow width so that the cuvette 6 forming the
A protruding piece 31c having elasticity is formed in a portion adjacent to the outlet 31b of a. The magazine 30 is further formed with three grooves 31f extending from the top wall 31d to the rear wall 31e. Furthermore, a push plate 32 is interposed between the cuvette array and the rear wall 31e, and by moving this push plate 32 in the direction of the arrow Y, as will be described later, the cuvette array can be simultaneously moved in the Y direction. ing. Furthermore, the side wall 31
A notch 31g is formed at the right end of a, and the magazine 3
0 into the reaction vessel supply device 9, the protrusion of the device is fitted into the notch 31g to prevent reverse insertion.

5 and 6 show reaction vessels for sequentially loading the cuvettes 6 stored in the magazine 30 mentioned above into the notches constituting the successive reaction vessel holding parts 7 of the reaction vessel holding part transfer device 8. The configuration of an example of the supply device is shown, with FIG. 5 being a plan view and FIG. 6 being a sectional view. The turntable-shaped reaction vessel holder transfer device 8 rotates counterclockwise at a predetermined pitch as shown by arrow D in FIG. The portions 7 are formed at equal intervals.

The reaction vessel supply device includes a substrate 40, and as shown in FIG.
1 is fixed. A magazine receiver 42 is disposed within the magazine storage section 41 so as to be movable in the vertical direction.One end of a wire 44 that is stretched around a pulley 43 is fixed to the magazine receiver 42, and the other end of the wire is fixed to the wire 44 that is stretched over a pulley 43. It is fixed to a weight 46 which is movably arranged. The guide 45 supports the magazine receiver 42 via a linear bearing 47. Therefore, the magazine receiver 42 is always biased upward. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of magazines 30 containing a large number of cuvettes 6 can be loaded into the magazine storage section 41.

A first opening 40a through which the magazine passes is formed in the substrate 40 above the magazine storage section 41. A pair of L-shaped levers 48 and 49 are provided on the upper surface of the substrate 40 so as to sandwich the first opening 40a and are rotatable about shafts 48a and 49a, respectively. These levers 48 and 49 are provided with ring-shaped stoppers 50 and 51 on shafts 50a and 51, respectively.
and 51a, and rollers 52 and 53 for rotating these levers are attached via shafts 52a and 53a, as will be described later. Furthermore, engaging protrusions 48b and 49b are formed at the free ends of these levers 48 and 49. Further, L-shaped pillars 54 and 55 are provided on the sides of the first opening 40a of the substrate 40, and stoppers 54a and 55a are attached to the tips of these pillars.

The substrate 40 is further formed with a second opening 40b through which the magazine passes. A pair of magazine receiving levers 56 and 57 are provided on the sides of the second opening 40b.
are provided to rotate about shafts 56a and 57a, respectively. Pins 56b and 57b are installed near the free ends of these levers 56 and 57, respectively, and these pins are engaged with the engaging protrusions 48b and 49b of the levers 48 and 49. The levers 56 and 57 also have pins 56
c and 57c, and connect these pins to the fifth
Axes 58a and 59a extending parallel to the plane of the figure
push levers 58 and 59 that rotate around
engage with the protruding piece. These levers 48,4
A spring is attached to each of 9, 56, 57, 58 and 59, and biased to the position shown by the solid line. The push levers 58 and 59 rotate in a plane perpendicular to the plane shown in FIG. 5 when the levers 56 and 57 are displaced as shown in phantom lines.

The substrate 40 has two guide shafts 60a extending above the first and second openings 40a and 40b.
and 60b are fixed via legs 61a and 61b. This pair of guide shafts 60a and 60
b, a first slider 62 is slidably provided via a linear bearing, one end of a wire 63 is fixed to this first slider 62, and this wire is connected to a pulley 64 and a motor 65 attached to the leg 61a. It is stretched over a pulley 66 attached to the drive shaft and a pulley 67 attached to the leg portion 61b, and the other end is similarly fixed to the slider 62. Therefore, by reversibly rotating the motor 65, the slider 62 can be moved back and forth in the Y direction along the guide shafts 60a and 60b. This movement is to move the magazine 30 located above the first opening 40a to the loading position above the second opening 40b and to feed the cuvettes 6 in the magazine 30 in the Y direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, three arms 62a that can enter the groove 31f formed in the magazine 30 are attached below the slider 62.

Further, a pair of guide shafts 68a and 68b are attached to the substrate 40 via legs 69a and 69b, which extend along the side edge of the second opening 40b in a direction orthogonal to the guide shafts 60a and 60b. A slider 70 is slidably provided on this guide shaft, one end of a wire 71 is fixed to this slider 70, a pulley 72 has this wire 71 attached to its leg 69a, and a pulley 74 is attached to the drive shaft of a motor 73. and a pulley 75 attached to the leg portion 69b, and the other end is fixed to the slider 70. Therefore, by rotating the motor 73 in the forward and reverse directions, the slider 70 can be moved in the X direction along the guide shafts 68a and 68b, thereby forming the reaction vessel holding section 7, one by one, from the magazine 30. It can be loaded into the notch. For this purpose, the slider 70 has a pin 70.
A is provided, a pushing claw 70b is fixed to the tip thereof, and a coil spring 70c is inserted into the pin 70a, so that the side wall of the cuvette 6 at the end can be pushed by this pushing claw 70b.

Since a coil spring 76 is inserted between the guide shaft 68b and the leg 69a and is slidable on the leg 69b, the guide shafts 68a and 68b are biased to the right in the plane of FIG. Ru. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the slider 70 has a guide shaft 68a.
is slidably inserted into the guide shaft 68b via a linear bearing, and a coil spring 77 is inserted into the guide shaft 68b.
and a ball 78 in frictional engagement. Therefore, the slider 7 and the guide shaft 68b move together over a certain range. An L-shaped rail receiver 79 is fixed to the other end of this guide shaft 68b, and the cuvette 6 is fixed to this rail receiver.
A guide rail 80 having a recess with a width approximately equal to the thickness of the guide rail 80 is fixed. This guide rail is guided by guide rollers 81a to 81d and reciprocates slightly in the X direction. Near the tip of the guide rail 80 is a presser spring 82 that presses down the cuvette 6 at the tip.
Install.

Next, the operation of this example device will be explained. For convenience of explanation, there are several magazines 30 in the magazine storage section 41.
It is assumed that the magazine is loaded and the upper surface of the magazine at the uppermost position engages with stoppers 50 and 51 attached to levers 48 and 49 at the solid line positions. Further, a magazine 30 is provided above the second opening 40b.
, and is supported by levers 56 and 57 located at the solid line position to prevent it from falling downward. That is, this magazine 30 is in the cuvette loading position, and the cuvettes 6 stored therein can be sequentially inserted into the notches 7. That is, by rotating the motor 73 in the normal direction, the wire 71 moves clockwise in FIG. 5, and the slider 70 moves in the X direction accordingly. At this time, the guide shaft 68b also moves in the X direction, so that the rail receiver 79 and the guide rail 80
also moves in the X direction. At this time, the cuvette row (the cuvette placed horizontally at the top in FIG. 5) also moves in the X direction. Next, when the nut 68c at the right end of the guide shaft 68b comes into contact with the leg 69a, the guide shaft 68b no longer moves, and only the slider 70 moves in the X direction. As a result, the cuvette row is further pushed out in the X direction, and the cuvette at the left end comes off the guide rail 80 and is inserted into the notch 7 of the reaction vessel holder transfer device 8. Since the cuvette 6 is formed with an elastic protrusion, it is elastically fitted into the notch 7. Next, when the motor 73 is reversed, the slider 70 and the guide shaft 68b
both return in opposite directions in the X direction, bringing the rail receiver 79 into contact with the leg portion 69b. During this time, the push pawl 70b of the slider 70 remains in contact with the cuvette. By repeating the above operations, successive cuvettes 6 can be inserted into the notches 7. When the insertion of the uppermost cuvette row is completed, the motor 73 is reversed and the slider 70 is returned to the right end position. Next, the motor 65 is rotated forward by a predetermined amount,
Rotate the wire 63 counterclockwise and slide 6
2 by a predetermined pitch (equal to the thickness of the cuvette). This allows the magazine 30
The inner cuvette 6 is pushed by the pushing plate 32 and moves upward in FIG.

After all the cuvettes 6 in the magazine 30 at the cuvette loading position are loaded into the reaction vessel holding section 7 in this way, the motor 65 is reversed and the slide 62 is moved in the opposite direction in the Y direction. At the end of this movement, the slide 62 abuts and pushes against the rollers 52 and 53 of the levers 48 and 49, so that they pivot as shown in phantom. This rotation causes the ring 50
and 51 are removed from the magazine, and the uppermost magazine in the magazine storage section 41 moves upward by the action of the weight 46, and the stoppers 54a and 55
a. On the other hand, when the arms 48 and 49 rotate, the levers 56 and 57 are engaged with the projections 48b and 49b and the pins 56b and 57b.
rotates, and the empty magazine 30 above the second opening 40b falls through this opening and is ejected from the loading position. In order to assist this ejection operation, the push lever 5 is moved in conjunction with the rotation of arms 56 and 57.
8 and 59 rotate and push the magazine downward.

Next, when the motor 65 is rotated in the normal direction, the slide 62 moves upward in FIG.
9, 56, 57, 58 and 59 return to the positions indicated by solid lines. In this manner, a new magazine 30 can be transferred to the cuvette loading position.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and can be modified and modified in many ways. For example, the automatic chemical analyzer to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the above-mentioned type, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to various types of analyzers. Further, although the sample container detection device is designed to read the barcode of the card attached to the sample container, it may be a device that simply detects only the sample container. Furthermore, the reaction vessel supply device is not limited to the above-mentioned example, but may be of any configuration as long as it can selectively supply reaction vessels to the reaction vessel holding section. Furthermore, in the above example, the colorimeter of the measuring device was placed along the reaction vessel holding section transfer line, but it is also possible to install the measuring device outside this line and transfer the test liquid to the measuring device with each reaction vessel or from the reaction vessel. You can also do it. In such a case, the operation of this transfer device will also be interrupted at a predetermined timing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram diagrammatically showing the configuration of an example of an automatic chemical analyzer suitable for applying the drive control method according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a typical reaction curve, and FIG. A perspective view showing the structure of an example of a sample container detection device and a sample container holding part, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a reaction container magazine used in the reaction container supply device, and FIG. 5 is a reaction container using the magazine shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the configuration of an example of the supply device, and a sectional view thereof. 1...Sample container, 2...Sample container holding part, 3...
...Sample container holder transfer device, 4...Sample dispensing device, 6...Reaction container, 7...Reaction container holder, 8
... Reaction container holding unit transfer device, 9 ... Reaction container supply device, 10 ... Reagent dispensing device, 14-17 ...
Photoelectric colorimeter, 18... Mechanism control device, 19... Data calculation device, 20... Central information processing unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The reaction container supply device sequentially supplies the reaction containers to the reaction container holders that are sequentially transferred by the reaction container holder transfer device, and the sample container holder that holds the sample container containing the sample to be analyzed is transferred to the sample container holder. The transfer device sequentially transfers the sample containers to the sample suction position, and when the reaction containers held by the reaction container holding section are located at the sample dispensing position, the sample dispensing device is driven to remove the sample containers that are at the sample suction position at this time. When the reaction container is located at the reagent dispensing position, the reagent dispensing device is driven to dispense a predetermined reagent into the reaction container, and the sample and reagent are combined. In an automatic chemical analyzer that measures a test solution containing a sample using a measuring device to perform a predetermined analysis, detecting whether or not a sample container is loaded in a sample container holder that is sequentially transferred to the sample suction position. However, when it is detected that a sample container is not loaded in the sample container holder, the operation of the sample container holder transfer device and the reaction container holder transfer device is not changed, and the sample container is loaded into the sample container holder. Driving in an automatic chemical analyzer characterized by interrupting the operation of a reaction container supply device, a sample dispensing device, a reagent dispensing device, and a measuring device at a timing when the operation should be performed on a sample contained in a sample container to be processed. Control method.