Automated Analyzer and Method of Adjusting Liquid Amount of Probe Cleaner

An automated analyzer comprising:

• a dispensing mechanism including a dispensing probe that dispenses a sample or a reagent into a reaction container;
• a cleaning nozzle configured to eject a probe cleaner to an outer surface of the dispensing probe;
• a liquid amount adjustment means configured to adjust a liquid amount of probe cleaner ejected from the cleaning nozzle;
• a probe cleaner detection means provided in the dispensing mechanism and configured to detect a liquid contact to the dispensing probe;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the dispensing mechanism, the liquid amount adjustment means, and the probe cleaner detection means,
• wherein, during cleaning of the dispensing probe, the control unit ejects a reference liquid amount of probe cleaner from the cleaning nozzle in a state where a tip of the dispensing probe is at a cleaning position, and
• wherein, in a case where a first adjustment position is a position at which a horizontal distance from the cleaning nozzle is more distant than the cleaning position, which is lower than the cleaning position, and at which the probe cleaner detection means detects the liquid contact during ejection of the reference liquid amount of probe cleaner from the cleaning nozzle when a tip of the dispensing probe is at the position,
• in the adjustment of the liquid amount of probe cleaner, after the control unit ejects the probe cleaner from the cleaning nozzle to check whether the probe cleaner detection means has detected the liquid contact in a state where the tip of the dispensing probe is at the first adjustment position,
• the control unit ejects the probe cleaner from the cleaning nozzle to check whether the probe cleaner detection means has detected the liquid contact in a state where the tip of the dispensing probe is at a position above the first adjustment position or a position at which the horizontal distance from the cleaning nozzle is more distant than the first adjustment position, and
• the control unit determines a setting of the liquid amount adjustment means required to set a liquid amount of probe cleaner to the reference liquid amount based on check results.