Hitachi-high-technologies Corporation

Hitachi High-tech Corporation

Goro Yoshida

Toshihide Orihashi

Hideyuki Yanami

Kenichi Nishigaki

Ryohei Ishigami

Jun Maeda

An automated analyzer includes a conveyance mechanism to convey a specimen, an analysis portion to analyze the specimen, and a device cover to cover a movable mechanism including the conveyance mechanism. The automated analyzer is provided with an interlock mechanism and an interlock release mechanism. The interlock mechanism stops an operation of the movable mechanism when the device cover is opened. The interlock release mechanism disables all or part of the interlock mechanism. The interlock mechanism is enabled when a leveris in contact with a safety switch. The interlock mechanism is disabled or partially disabled when the leveris not in contact with the safety switch. This enables to prevent a user from inadvertently touching the movable mechanism including a hazard region during analysis of the automated analyzer or a maintenance task. Only a specific maintenance task can be performed with the device cover opened.

Automated analyzer and maintenance method for same

In a liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a dispensing probe for sipping and injecting a liquid sample and a dispensing controller for operating the dispensing probe to ascend, descend and rotate, the liquid dispensing apparatus includes a sample moving device for moving a rack holding the liquid sample, a light beam generator, a photosensor for receiving a light beam reflected from a surface of the liquid sample, a computing unit for computing a liquid surface level based on an output signal from the photosensor, and a controller for controlling operations of those components in a supervising way and processing information necessary for the operations. With the liquid dispensing apparatus, precise information of the liquid surface level can be obtained before the start of the dispensing operation.

Liquid dispensing apparatus, automatic analyzer using same, and liquid surface detecting apparatus

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Tokyo, Japan

Goro Yoshida