Optical-type automatic analyzing and measuring apparatus

An optical-type automatic analyzing and measuring apparatus which comprises an X-Y drive mechanism, and optics/dispensing mechanism having an optical system and dispensing means including a dispensing needle, a dispensing needle cleaning mechanism, a lifting mechanism having a lifter adapted to lift and lower an object remote of said dispensing needle, and a reagent/sample holder accommodating reagents and samples, wherein said optics/dispensing mechanism and said lifting mechanism are mounted on the same movable structure and transported together in two dimensions by said X-Y drive mechanism, the optical system of said optics/dispensing mechanism, the dispensing needle of said dispensing means and the lifter of said lifting mechanism are located spaced apart from one another by predetermined distances so as not to impede the operation of one another, said dispensing means is adapted to take up a predetermined quantity of a reagent or sample from said reagent/sample holder and dispense the same in prescribed quantities at each of a number of predetermined positions to allow reagents and samples to react, said optical system determines the positions of said mechanisms and said holder in a two-dimensional plane by confirming the operating position of said needle or lifting mechanism spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, said optical system being adapted to read the optical characteristics of a sample following a reaction with a reagent and to generate a detection signal for providing the measured results, said optical system includes a lamp housing, a light condenser, light guiding optical fibers, an irradiation lens housing, an irradiation lens, an objective lens and a light receiving element, and said rinsing needle cleaning mechanism passes a rinsing liquid and air through the interior of the dispensing needle before said needle takes up a reagent or sample, and ejects a rinsing liquid and air toward the outer surface of the dispensing needle after said needle takes up a reagent or sample, whereby the dispensing needle is rinsed and blown dry.