SPECIMEN TRANSFER APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a specimen transfer apparatus which smoothly and reliably transfers containers housing specimens held in a rack to another rack. SOLUTION: The specimen transfer apparatus transfers the tubular containers 300 housing the specimens from a first rack to a second rack. The specimen transfer apparatus is provided with both a gripping mechanism 3 capable of gripping the containers 300 and a moving means for moving the gripping mechanism 3. The gripping mechanism 3 comprises: press members 31 for pressing the peripheral surfaces of the containers 300; a flat plate member 32 for sandwiching the containers 300 in-between with the press members 31; and a drive means for bringing the press members 31 close to and away from the plate member 32. Recess parts 321 constituted of openings are formed in the plate member 32 at locations orresponding to the containers 300. The press member 31 comprises V-shaped recession parts 311 at locations to be in contact with the containers 300. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO