JPS61760A - Reagent distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the realization of an automatic chemical analyzer, by preparing a number of units having a plurality of rotary valves corresponding to a plurality of distribution syringes to connect a necessary number of units to the distribution syringes. CONSTITUTION:This apparatus is equipped with distribution syringes 1-1-1-4 as a plurality of intake/drain means, rotary valves 5A-1-5D-1 and 5A-2-5D-2 as a plurality of passage selectors which are arranged in the number equal to that of the syringes 1-1-1-4 to selectively connect respective reagent containers 12-1- 12-4 and distribution nozzles 14-1-14-4 to the syringes 1-1-1-4 and driving mechanisms 4-1-4-2 as common means for simultaneously driving them. Then, multiple units of passage selectors are made to communicate with respective syringes 1-1-1-4 through manifold blocks 15-1-15-2 as desired.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a dispensing device, particularly a reagent dispensing device suitable for use in an automatic chemical analyzer.

(Prior Art) Automated chemical analyzers generally use many types of reagents to perform multi-item analysis.

Conventional reagent dispensing devices for dispensing such a wide variety of reagents include: (1) those equipped with a dispensing syringe and dispensing nozzle for each reagent, and (2) one dispensing syringe and dispensing nozzle for each reagent. A common dispensing ring and a dispensing nozzle are provided, and the dispensing nozzle is moved to selectively dispense a plurality of reagents, (3) as known in JP-A-58-76764 Some reagents are equipped with a rotary flow path switching valve, and a plurality of reagent discharge channels are selected by this flow path switching valve.

However, the dispensing device in (1) above requires a number of dispensing syringes corresponding to the number of reagents, which makes the entire analyzer large. However, there are problems in that the movement mechanism becomes complicated and mutual contamination of reagents tends to occur. Also, (3
), when diluting reagents in place with a cleaning solution that also serves as a diluent, the reagents are pushed out by the cleaning solution, so the flow switching valve prevents contamination between reagents. However, if you try to dispense only the reagent, cleaning liquid will remain between the flow path switching valve and the reagent outlet, which will cause contamination between the reagents. There is a problem that makes dispensing practically impossible.

However, in automatic analyzers, the number of channels, ie, the number of analysis items, may be increased. But above (])
In the case of using the above dispensing device, it is necessary to add dispensing syringes as the number of reagents to be dispensed increases, which makes the work extremely troublesome and the structure complicated. Also,
In the case of using the dispensing device (2), if the reagent is set on a turntable and the dispensing nozzle sucks it at a predetermined position, it is possible to easily deal with an increase in the number of dispensed reagents. There is also an ode to contamination between reagents in some cases. ′! ? In addition, in the case of using the dispensing device (3), it is only necessary to replace the flow path switching valve, but the replacement is extremely troublesome and not easy, and the structure is also complicated.

(Objective of the Invention) The object of the present invention is to solve the various problems mentioned above, to enable selective dispensing of only a plurality of reagents without causing contamination among them, and to avoid contamination between the reagents. It is an object of the present invention to provide a reagent dispensing device suitably configured so as to be able to easily cope with the increase.

(Summary of the invention) The present invention provides a plurality of suction/discharge means and an equal number of flow path switching devices,
These are combined into a unit together with a common driving means for driving them simultaneously, and each of the plurality of arbitrary flow path switching devices is connected to each suction/discharge means via a manifold block, and the reagents connected to each flow path switching device are connected to each suction/discharge means through a manifold block. It is characterized in that the container and the dispensing nozzle are configured to be selectively connected to the corresponding suction/discharge means.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows the configuration of essential parts of an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, there are four dispensing syringes 1-1 to 1-4 and two units 2-1.2-. 2. Units) 2!
-1 and 2-2 have the same configuration, and are driven simultaneously by motors 8-1 and 3-2 that are driven independently of each other, and these motors are driven simultaneously via drive mechanisms 4-1 and 4-2, respectively. It has four rotary valves 5A-IN5D-1 and 5A-2 to 5D-2 of the same configuration. Each rotary valve has one analysis item, i.e.
In this example, two types of reagents, first and second, are selectively dispensed by respective rotary valves. For this reason, each rotary valve has a first . 2nd common entrance 6-1
．． 6-2 and these 1st. 2nd common port (i, -1, 6-
2 to 1. Second long groove 7-1.7-2'fr: The first groove selectively connected through the second long groove 7-1.7-2'fr. The second suction row 8-1.8-2 and the first suction row 8-1.8-2. It has six connection ports with the second discharge port 9-1 and 9-2.

In unit 2-1, one rotary valve 5A
-1 first and second suction ports 8-1 and 8-2,
The first and second discharge ports 9-1 and 9-2 are connected to the corresponding first and second reagent containers 12-1 and 12-2 stored in the reagent cold storage 11, respectively, and the test liquid is connected to the first and second reagent containers 12-1 and 12-2, respectively. The first and second common ports 6-1 and 6-2 are respectively connected to dispensing nozzles 14-1 and 14-2 arranged at predetermined positions to which the accommodated reaction vessels 1a are transferred.
Each is connected to a continuous manifold block 15-1. The manifold block 15-1 has two connecting channels 16-
1 and 16-2, and first and second common channels 17-1 and 17-2 connected to these connecting channels, respectively.
The first and second common ports 6 of the rotary valve 5A-1 are connected to the connecting channels 16-1 and 16-2.
-1 and 6-2 are connected respectively.

Similarly, in the unit 2-2, the first rotary valve 5A-2. The second suction port 8-1°8-2 is connected to the corresponding first suction port stored in the reagent cold storage 11. Second reagent container 1
2-8. Connected to 12-4, the 11th second discharge port g-1,
9-2 is connected to a dispensing nozzle 14-8, 14-4 arranged at a predetermined position to which the reaction container 18 containing the test liquid is transferred, and is connected to the dispensing nozzle 14-8, 14-4. The second common port 6-1, 6-2 is connected to the connecting channels 16-1 and 16-2 of a dual manifold block 15-2 having the same configuration as the manifold block 15-1.

The manifold fours 15-1 and 15-2 connect one port/tally valve 5A-1 and 6A-2 of the units 2-1 and 2-2, respectively.
common flow path 17-1 and second common flow path 17-2
One end of the first common flow path is connected to the normally open contact (no) of the three-way valve 21, the other end is connected to the branch block 28 via the three-way valve 22, and the second common flow path is connected. Connected to the normally closed contact (nc) of the three-way valve 21. In addition, the common contact (com) of the three-way valve 21 is connected to the branch block 28 via the dispensing syringe 1-1 and the three-way valve 24.
Connect to. The branch block 28 has two main channels 25 and 26, and four main channels connected to each of these main channels.
Two branch channels 27-1 to 27-4 and 28-1 to 28
-4 and 2, one branch flow path 2 of the main flow path 25
7-1 is connected to the three-way valve 24, and one branch flow path 28-1 of the main flow path 26 is connected to the three-way valve 22. In addition, the main flow path 2
5 is connected to a cleaning liquid tank (not shown) via a pump 2g, and the 1st main channel 26 is connected to a waste liquid tank (not shown).

Above is the dispensing syringe 1-1. Although the connections for the other dispensing syringes 1-2 to 1-4 have been explained, the connections for each of the other dispensing syringes 1-2 to 1-4 are also connected to the other glue valves 5B-1 to 6D-1 and 5B- 2 to 5D-2, for example, to a dispensing syringe 1-2 with a rotary valve 5B-
1, 5B-2, rotary pulp 5C-1, 50-2 to dispensing syringe 1-8, rotary pulp 5D-1, 5D-2 to dispensing syringe 1-4,
Similarly, two two-way manifold blocks and a three-way valve are used to connect each dispensing syringe 1-2 to 1-4 through the three-way valve to the branch flow path 27- of the branch block 28.
2 to 27-4, and the first common flow paths of the two mutually connected manifold blocks are respectively connected to branch flow paths 28-2 to 28-4 via three-way valves.

In this way, in this example, each dispensing syringe 1-1 to
1-4, each of the four types of reagents is selectively dispensed, but if additional reagents are required, an additional unit is installed, and each of them is provided with a manifold block or a corresponding connection port. Replace with the dispensing syringe 1-
1 to 1-4.

FIG. 2A-0 shows the configuration of an example of the unit. In this example, four rotary pulps are provided, and these four rotary pulps (in the figure, one rotary pulp is indicated by reference numeral 5) are held on a base 31,
Each of the drive shafts 32 is mounted on the base 31 with a bearing 88.
Valve drive shafts 84-1 to 84-8 rotatably pivotally connected via
4-4 through drive pins 85, respectively.

Note that each drive bin 85 is held at a drive bin receiver 86°. One end of levers 87-1 to 37-4 is fixed to each of the valve drive shafts 84-1 to 84-4, and the other end of each of these levers is connected to a connecting plate 89 via a bearing 88. The other end of one of the valve drive shafts, valve drive shaft 84-2 in the figure, is connected via a coupling 40 to an output shaft 41 of a motor δ held on a base 81. In this way, one motor 8 drives the four valve drive shafts 84-1 to 84-4, and therefore each of the four rotary pulp drive shafts 82 to the levers 87-1 to 87-.
4 and the connecting plate 89 at the same time. Note that a tearing spring 42 is wound between each of the levers 87-1 to 87-4 and the drive pin receiver 86, respectively.

The four rotary pulps are set to the same state at the same time by driving the motor 8, that is, the origin state, the first reagent suction state, the second reagent suction state, the second reagent discharge state, and the first reagent discharge state. Set to . In order to detect each state, a detection plate 48 is attached to the coupling 40, and eight notches 44-1 to 44-8 are provided at predetermined positions.
and attach these notches to the base 8 in a predetermined positional relationship.
1, a first suction sensor 46, and a second suction sensor 4 consisting of a photointerrupter fixedly arranged at the origin position sensor 45;
7. The second discharge sensor 48 and the first discharge sensor 49 are configured to detect the discharge.

8 and B show the structure of an example of the rotary pulp 5. FIG. One end of the drive shaft 32 is pivotally connected to a pen head 52 via a bearing 51, and the other end is pivotally attached to a housing 54 fixed to an end of a cylindrical housing 58 via a bearing 55. The pen head 52 has a first . 2nd common entrance 6-1.6-2・
1st degree second suction port b-1, 8-2 and the first degree second suction port b-1, 8-2. A second discharge port 9-1, 9-2 is formed, and on the pulp mounting side, a cap 56 is provided at each connection port and a pulp mounting plate 57 is provided, and this pulp mounting plate 57 is attached together with the pen head 52 by a mounting screw 5S. It is fixed to the housing 58.

On the side opposite to the pulp attachment side of the pen head 52, there is a first.
Second common port 6-1. (1-2 and 1st. 2nd suction 108-
1.8-2 and 1st. The arcuate first outlet ports 9-1 and 9-2 are selectively connected to the second outlet ports 9-1 and 9-2. Second long groove 7-
1.7-2 is formed by fitting the switching valve 61 to the drive shaft 82, and the two switching valves 61 are engaged via the pin 62, and the valve holder 68 is fitted to the drive shaft 82. Provided.

A pin 64 provided through the drive shaft 82 in the radial direction is engaged with the valve bush 68, so that the valve bush 6''8 and therefore the switching valve 61 rotate together with the drive shaft δ2. At the same time, the valve retainer 68 is pressed against the pen head 52 side by a pressing spring 65 to maintain the sliding surface between the pen head 52 and the switching valve 61 airtight.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4A to 5E and FIG.

(1) Initializing the dispensing device First, the initial setting operation of the dispensing device will be explained. Since the rotary pulps 5A to 5D-2 are in the same state at the same time, the operation thereof will be explained by focusing on one rotary pulp 5A to 5D-1 of the unit 2-1. In the steady state, the unit) 2-'1.2-2 is in the home state where the home position sensor 45 detects the notch 44-1 formed in the detection plate 48, and in that state, the rotary valves of each unit are Each has its first. Second length m7-1゜7-
2 corresponds to the first one as shown in FIG. 4A. 2nd common entrance 6
-1.6-2 only.

First, the motor 8-1 of the unit 2-1 is driven, and the second
In FIG. B, the detection plate 48 is rotated counterclockwise until the first discharge sensor 49 detects the notch 44-8, and thereby only the first common port 6-1 and the first discharge port 9-1 are As shown in 41i4E, the first reagent is connected via the long groove 7-1, and the first reagent is discharged. In this state, the three-way valve 21 is turned OFF to communicate the com-no passage, the two-way valve 24 is opened, the three-way valve 22 is closed, and the horn z9 is operated, thereby transferring the cleaning liquid to the com-no passage of the three-way valve 21.
o Passage, first of manifold block 15-2.15-1
The pulp is discharged from the dispensing nozzle 14-1 through the common flow path 17-1 and the rotary pulp 5A-1.

Next, the four-tally valve 5A-1 is set to the home position shown in FIG.
9, thereby directing the cleaning liquid to the com of the three-way valve 21.
-no passage, manifold block 15-2.15-1
The first common flow path 17-1 is discharged through the three-way valve 22 and the branch block 28 to fill this flow path with cleaning liquid.

Next, the rotary valve 5A-1 is connected to the first rotary valve 5A-1 shown in FIG. 4E.
Set the reagent discharge state, turn on the three-way valve 21, and turn on the com
-no passage is communicated, the three-way valve 24 is opened, the three-way valve 22 is closed, and the pump 29 is operated, whereby the cleaning liquid is supplied to the three-way valve 21 from the com-nc communication passage manifold block 15-2.15-1. 2 common flow path 17-2
and the dispensing nozzle 14 via the rotary valve 5A-1.
Discharge from -1.

By the above operation, the flow path from the dispensing nozzle 14-1 to the first discharge port 9-1 of the rotary valve 5A-1, the first
This means that all channels connected to the long groove 7-1 and the first common port 6-1 are filled with the cleaning liquid.

Next, the motor 8-1 is driven, and the first
The detection plate 48 is rotated clockwise until the suction sensor 46 detects the notch 44-1, thereby opening the first common port 6-1.
1 and the first suction port 8-1 are connected through the long groove 7-1 as shown in FIG. 4B, thereby creating the first reagent suction state.

In this state, both the two-way valves 24 and 22 are closed, and the three-way valve 2
1 is turned OFF and the oom-no communication path is communicated with the first reagent container 12 by the suction operation of the dispensing syringe 1-1.
-1, the reagent is sucked through the rotary valve 5A-1 to near the connecting channel 16-1 of the manifold block 15-1. Thereafter, the four-tally valve 5A-1 is set to the first reagent discharging state shown in FIG. Extrude to the 1st side. The above operation is performed once or multiple times to fill the area from the first discharge port 9-1 to the tip of the dispensing nozzle 14-1 with the reagent. Note that, at this time, it is okay if a little extra reagent remains on the side of the connecting channel 16-1 of the manifold block 15-1 from the first common port 6-1.

Next, the motor 8-1 is driven, and the second
The detection plate 48 is rotated counterclockwise from the original position until the discharge sensor 48 detects the notch 44-1, thereby moving only the second common port 6-2 and the second discharge port 9-2 to the fourth position. As shown in FIG. 3, they are connected via the second long groove 7-2 to create a second reagent discharge state. In this state, perform the cleaning liquid supply operation similar to that described above, and dispense the cleaning liquid per 1714 oz.
Discharge from -2.

Next, move the rotary valve 5A-1 to the second position shown in the g+ diagram.
In the reagent discharge state, turn on the three-way valve 21 and perform the same cleaning liquid supply operation, thereby supplying the cleaning liquid to the three-way valve 21.
com-nc communication path manifold block 15-2.
The liquid is discharged from the dispensing nozzle 14-2 through the second common flow path 17-2 of 15-1 and the rotary valve 5A'-1t-u.

By the above operation, the flow path leading to the second discharge port 9-2 of the dispensing nozzle 14-2J and the rotary valve 6A-1, the second
This means that all channels connected to the long groove 7-2 and the second common port 6-2 are filled with the cleaning liquid.

Next, drive the motor 3-1 to drive the second
The detection plate 43 is rotated clockwise until the suction sensor 47 detects the notch 44-2, thereby opening the second common port 6-
As shown in FIG. 4C, only the second suction port 8-2 and the second suction port 8-2 are connected through the long groove 7-2 to form a second reagent suction state.

In this state, both the three-way valves 24 and 22 are closed, and the three-way valve 2
1 is turned OFF and its con-Ω0 passage is communicated with the second reagent container 12- by the suction operation of the dispensing syringe 1-1.
2, the reagent is sucked through the rotary valve fiA-1 to near the connecting channel 16-2 of the manifold block 15-1. Thereafter, the p-tally valve 5A-1 is set to the second reagent discharge state shown in the fourth diagram, and the aspirated reagent is discharged from the dispensing syringe 1-1 through the rotary valve 5A-1 to the dispensing nozzle 14-2 side. extrude This operation is performed once or multiple times to fill the area from the second discharge port 9-2 to the tip of the dispensing nozzle 14-2 with the reagent.

Above, the initial setting operation has been explained focusing on the p-tally valve 5A-1, but the rotary valves 5A-1 to 5D
-1 is in the same state at the same time, so the other dispensing syringe 1
-ni1 to ni1 to 4 and the three-way valves connected to each of them and the three-way valves can be operated in the same manner to perform similar initialization at the same time.

After initializing unit 2-1,
Each p-tally valve 5A-1 to 5D- of unit 2-1
Unit 2-2 is similarly initialized with unit 1 as the origin state.

, (2) After the initialization of dispensing reagents into reaction containers, units 2-1 and 2-
2 is selected, and the reagent is simultaneously and/or selectively dispensed through the selected unit using the dispensing nozzles 1-1 to 1-4. Hereinafter, the sequential dispensing operation of two types of reagents by the rotary valve 5A-1 of the unit 2-1 will be described. First, with the three-way valve 21 turned OFF and the three-way valves 22 and 24 both closed, the rotary valve 5A-1 is rotated clockwise from the original position shown in FIG. 4A to the first position shown in FIG. 4B. Set the reagent suction state, and in this state, insert the dispensing syringe 1-1.
By the suction operation, a predetermined amount or a slightly larger amount of Arashi reagent is suctioned from the first reagent container 12-i. the result,
The sucked amount of reagent is sucked into the flow path leading from the first common port 6-1p to the connection flow path 16-1 of the manifold block 15-1. Next, the rotary valve 5A-1'f: is further rotated to the right to obtain the second reagent suction state shown in FIG.
A predetermined amount or a little more than that from the reagent container 12-2,
A large amount of reagent is inhaled into the channel leading from the second common port 6-2 to the connecting channel 16-2 of the manifold block 15-1.

Then, rotate the rotary valve 5A-1 to the left, and II! 1 reagent@V] state and the 4th state after the origin state.
Set the second reagent discharge state as shown in the figure, and in this state, the three-way valve 2
1 is turned ON to communicate the com-nc communication path, and the dispensing syringe 1-1 is discharged to discharge the aspirated second reagent into the reaction vessel 18, which is being conveyed from the dispensing nozzle 14-2 directly below it. Dispense a predetermined amount. Next, the rotary valve 5A-1 is further rotated to the left to set the first reagent discharging state shown in FIG. Dispensing reagent nozzle 1
Reaction container 1a being transported directly below from 4-1
Dispense a predetermined amount. After that, three-way valve 21 'E OFF
Then, the rotary valve 6A-1 is rotated to the right through the second reagent discharge portion to return to the original state shown in FIG. 4A.

Both valves 22 and 24 are opened to operate the pump 29, thereby transferring the cleaning liquid to the manifold block 15.
-2.15-1 first common flow path 1? -1 to drain and clean the flow path.

This cleaning operation removes the manifold block 15-2, 15-1, which is used as a common suction channel for four types of reagents.
Since the first common flow path 17-1 is cleaned, contamination between reagents will not occur at all. Note that this cleaning operation does not necessarily have to be performed every time.

A time chart showing the operations of the dispensing syringe 1-1, rotary valve 5A-1, three-way valve 21, three-way valve 22, Q4, and pump 29 in the first reagent dispensing process regarding one or more rotary valves 5A-1. It is shown in FIG.

6A to 6F show configuration examples of an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with the reagent dispensing device of the present invention. FIG. 6A is composed of one analysis unit 71 with 24 channels, and FIG. 6B is 1
Two analysis units with two channels 78-1.73-2
FIG. 6C consists of eight analysis units (75-1 to 7b-3) of eight channels, each of which analyzes up to 24 items. In addition, the 6th diagram uses 8 channels of 4 analysis units q7-1 to 77-4.
The analysis is performed up to the item, and FIG. 6 E and F show six analysis units 79-1 to 79-6 each having four channels.
Eight analysis units 79-1 to 79-8 perform analysis on up to 24 items and 82 items, respectively. In each configuration example, a plurality of racks 83 each holding a plurality of sample cups 82 are set in the rack feeding section 81, and under the control of a controller 84, the racks 83 are sequentially moved through a predetermined path 85 to be stored in ranks. While the sample is stored in the sample cup 86, the sample in each sample cup 82 is dispensed into a reaction container provided in the reaction line 87 of each analysis unit according to the number of channels of that analysis unit, and a predetermined analysis operation is performed. It is supposed to be done.

Each analysis unit is equipped with four dispensing syringes. Therefore, in the analysis unit 71 shown in FIG. 6A, as shown in FIG. 2-6, four dispensing syringes 1-
Two manifold blocks 91-1 and 91-2 for 6 units are made to correspond to each of 1 to 1-4, and each of the rotary valves of each unit is connected to each dispensing syringe via the manifold block. The configuration is similar to that shown in FIG. In this way, one dispensing syringe is equipped with six rotary valves to selectively dispense up to 12 types of reagents. In addition, in FIG. 6B, analysis unit) 78-1.
Since each 78-2 has 12 channels, each analysis unit uses three units 2-1 to 2-8, as shown in FIG. Each of the tally pulps may be connected to each of the dispensing syringes 1-1 to 1-4 via one manifold block 91 for six units, which corresponds to each of the dispensing syringes 1-1 to 1-4.

In addition, since each analysis unit shown in FIGS. 6C and D has eight channels, each analysis unit has two units (2-1.2-2) as shown in FIG. 7C. The structure may be configured in the same manner as shown in FIG. 1 using . Furthermore, in Figures 6E and F, each analysis unit has four channels, so as shown in Figure 7, each of the four rotary valves of one unit 2 is
Dispensing syringe 1 via continuous manifold block 15
-1 to 1-4 may be connected to each other.

As shown in the configuration example above, by preparing a large number of units each having four rotary valves corresponding to four dispensing syringes and connecting the required number of units to the dispensing syringes, various channel configurations can be created. It is possible to easily realize and implement an automatic chemical analyzer having the following functions. therefore,
User requests can be quickly and easily met, and inspections and repairs can be easily performed. Furthermore, since the configurations of the units are exactly the same, the manufacturing cost of the entire device can be reduced.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example, and can be modified or changed in many ways.

For example, if the capacity of the dispensing syringe is sufficiently large for the amount of reagent to be dispensed, multiple m reagents may be suctioned into the rotary valves of multiple units connected to the syringe in sequence, and these reagents may be discharged in sequence. You can also do it. Further, the rotary valve can be configured to handle one reagent or eight or more reagents, and other suction/discharge means such as a rotary pump can be used instead of the dispensing syringe. Furthermore, the number of rotary valves to be made into a unit can also be set according to the number of suction/exhaust means.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to selectively dispense a plurality of reagents without causing contamination among them, and it is also possible to increase the number of dispensed reagents. This can be easily handled without adding any suction/exhaust means.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the main part of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2
-0 is a diagram showing the configuration of an example of the unit shown in Figure 1, Figures 8A and B are diagrams also showing the configuration of an example of the rotary valve, and Figures 4A-E and 5 explain the operation. Figures 6A-F are diagrams showing configuration examples of an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with a reagent dispensing device according to the present invention, and Figures 7A-D are diagrams showing analysis units shown in Figures 6A-F. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of main parts of a reagent dispensing device. 1-1 to 1-4...Dispensing syringe 2-1.2-2...Unit 8-1t8-2...Motor 4-1.4-2...Drive mechanism 5A-1... 5D-1, 5A-2 to 5D-2... Rotary pulp 112-1 to 12-4... Reagent container 18... Reaction container

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of suction/discharge means, a plurality of flow path switchers provided in a number equal to the number of suction/discharge means, each selectively connecting a reagent container and a dispensing nozzle to the suction/discharge means, and a common drive for driving these simultaneously. 1. A reagent dispensing device comprising: a unit having a means for dispensing a reagent, and each of the plurality of flow path switching devices is connected to each of the suction and discharge means via a manifold block.