Plate changer for auto-sampler

A plate changer for an auto-sampler, comprising:

• a plate storage provided with a plate installation stand for installing a sample plate thereon, an installation window portion for installing the sample plate on the plate installation stand by inserting the sample plate in one direction within a horizontal plane, and a transport window portion for taking out the sample plate installed on the plate installation stand in the one direction, the transport window portion being provided on an opposite side across the installation window portion via the plate installation stand;
• and
• a transport mechanism provided with a gripping portion for gripping the sample plate, the transport mechanism being configured to transport the sample plate installed on the plate installation stand with the sample plate gripped by the gripping portion,
• wherein the plate storage is provided with a plate stopper, the plate stopper being configured to be arranged at an interfering position where the plate stopper comes into contact with a transport window portion-side end face of the sample plate when the sample plate inserted from the installation window portion has reached a predetermined position in the one direction to stop the sample plate,
• wherein the plate stopper is configured to be arranged at a non-interfering position where the plate stopper does not interfere with the gripping portion and the sample plate when the sample plate on the plate installation stand is taken out from the transport window portion by the gripping portion, and
• wherein the plate stopper is provided with a vertical bar extending in a vertical direction and a rotating plate rotatable within a horizontal plane while holding one end of the vertical bar, the rotating plate being configured to rotate within the horizontal plane to move the vertical bar between the interfering position and the non-interfering position.