| 主权项 |
1. A tube sorter comprising:
a controller coupled to a memory that stores operational programs executable by the controller; a rack stocker configured to stock therein a plurality of empty sample racks, each empty sample rack capable of holding one or more sample tubes, the rack stocker including a storage region configured to sequentially store the one or more empty sample racks therein; a transporting section coupled to the controller, the controller configured to command the transporting section to transport sample racks along a transport path, the storage region sequentially storing the one or more empty sample racks in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the transport path; an archive rack configured to store a plurality of sample tubes; a buffer rack configured to temporarily store a plurality of sample tubes; a tube conveyor including a guide arranged above the transporting section and the rack stocker, a sliding part slidably coupled to the guide and having an ascending/descending part with a gripper attached thereto, the controller configured to command the tube conveyor to perform: a first operation of loading sample tubes held by a sample rack transported to the transport path by the transporting section to the archive rack or the buffer rack, or both, by gripping and vertically moving and horizontally moving each of the sample tubes and a second operation of loading one or more sample tubes stored in the buffer rack to an empty rack at a predetermined position and not holding sample tubes by gripping and vertically moving and horizontally moving each sample tube; a rack pushing mechanism configured to convey an empty sample rack to the rack stocker by pushing the empty sample rack at the predetermined position onto the rack stocker; and a rack sending mechanism opposite the transport path from the rack pushing mechanism and configured to convey the empty sample rack from the rack stocker to the predetermined position for action by the second operation of the tube conveyor, wherein the controller commands the transporting section to transfer a loaded sample rack which holds sample tubes and is provided for the first operation of the tube conveyor at the predetermined position along transport path, and the controller commands the rack pushing mechanism to convey the unloaded sample rack, after being emptied by performing the first operation, to the rack stocker. |
