Automatic analyzing apparatus

A stirring mechanism for use with an automatic analyzing apparatus, the stirring mechanism comprising:

• a fixed unit comprising:
• a fixed member fixed to an apparatus body,
• a motor attached to the fixed member,
• a driving helical gear provided on a drive axis of the motor, and
• a bearing provided on the fixed member with a central axis thereof maintained parallel to the drive axis of the motor, wherein the bearing comprises a plurality of bearings arranged coaxially, the plurality of bearings comprising at least a first bearing having a top side and a bottom side and a second bearing, and
• a removable unit removably attached to the fixed unit, the removable unit comprising:
• a support member having a circular column shaped and supported so as to be insertable into the bearing from the top side of the first bearing and having a portion thereof positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing when the support member is inserted into the fixed member,
• a driven helical gear fixed to an end of the support member coaxially with the support member, the driven helical gear meshing with the driving helical gear when the support member is inserted in the bearing, and
• a stirring rod extending coaxially with the support member from an end of the support member opposite to the end to which the driven helical gear is fixed, the stirring rod comprising a stirring portion provided at a tip end portion of the stirring rod,
• wherein the driven helical gear is located above the top side of the first bearing when the support member is inserted into the fixed member, such that the stirring rod is configured to be pulled away from the fixed member in a direction away from the top side of the first bearing so as to be removable therefrom,
• wherein the first bearing is disposed near a side from which the support member is inserted having an inner diameter greater than an inner diameter of the second bearing that is disposed near the other side,
• wherein the support member includes a plurality of circular-column-shaped portions having diameters corresponding to the inner diameters of the bearings, and is supported by the bearings at the circular-column-shaped portions.