Automated biochemical analyzer

An automated analyzer for automatically assaying a specific component in a sample by utilizing a top-opened reaction vessel which contains a reagent capable of reacting with the specific component, and having a top-face opening which is sealed with a seal foil on which a symbol for the reagent is shown:

• said analyzer comprising means for breaking the seal foil, means for dispensing the sample to the vessel, means for separating a liquid component keeping a solid component in the reaction vessel, means for dispensing a second reagent other than the reagent sealed in the reaction vessel, and means for detecting a reaction signal caused by a reaction with the specific component and the reagent;
• means for transferring the reaction vessel to the measuring system;
• and means for discriminating the symbol shown on the seal foil, which is placed at a position on a transfer route of the reaction vessels transferred by the transferring means and at a position before the seal-foil breaking means, the symbol-discriminating device comprising a video camera placed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the seal foil closing tightly the opening of the reaction vessel on the transferring device for the reaction vessel, and a seal-foil-illuminating device placed between the seal foil and the video camera;
• the seal-foil-illuminating device comprising a light source positioned such that light from the light source is reflected by the seal foil into the video camera and a light diffuser positioned between the light source and seal foil so as to cover the seal foil, said light diffuser having an opening in a portion thereof which is between the video camera and the seal foil.