Apparatus for manipulating magnetic particles

An apparatus for manipulating magnetic particles, comprising:

• a main body that holds a tubular container in which a liquid layer is formed and which is filled with magnetic particles;
• a movable magnet provided in the main body that attracts the magnetic particles in the container;
• a door that is pivotally attached to the main body and pivotably moves between a closed position opposing the container and an open position separated from the container;
• and
• a latch mechanism that keeps the door in a state of being located in the closed position, wherein
• the latch mechanism has:
• a pivoting part pivotable about a pivot axis;
• and
• an engaging part that engages with the pivoting part by contacting the pivoting part at a contact position in a state that the door is located in the closed position, in which an engaging state is released when the pivoting part is pivoted in a predetermined direction about the pivot axis, wherein
• the engaging part is configured, in a case where an external force to the apparatus is applied in a direction toward the open position to the door located in the closed position, a second force operates on the pivoting part at the contact position from the engaging part in a direction to pivot the pivoting part toward a side opposite to the predetermined direction, and the closed position of the door is maintained by the second force without releasing the engaging state of the engaging part,
• wherein in a state that the door is located in the closed position, the pivot axis is located closer to a pivot center side of the door than the contact position in a radial direction orthogonal to both an opposing direction of the door and the main body and a vertical direction in which the pivot axis extends,
• wherein the magnetic particles are attracted to the movable magnet.