Automatic preparation apparatus

An automatic preparation apparatus comprising:

• turntable means having a turntable which is provided with a plurality of container receiving portions, and being constructed so as to rotate the turntable in a horizontal plane and to stop a rotated turntable in a desirable position;
• a rack disposed in a stationary position separate from said turntable means, for receiving a plurality of containers;
• a plurality of probe means each comprising a syringe pump and a probe needle connected to the syringe pump through an extendable flexible pipe, for sampling a liquid contained in one of said plurality of containers mounted on the turntable by a predetermined amount of the liquid and for injecting a sampled liquid into the other of said containers on the turntable by the predetermined amount, said probe means having capacities different from one another;
• robot means constructed to transfer the containers between said turntable and said rack and to move said probe needles to a desired position on said apparatus;
• a pair of chuck members adapted to be attached to said robot means at one ends thereof;
• a plurality of first attachments located in a predetermined position of said apparatus, and each constructed to be able to hold the container when chucked by the other ends of said chuck members which have been attached to said robot means, each of said first attachments being formed into a size conformable with that of each container;
• a plurality of second attachments located in another predetermined position of said apparatus, and each constructed to be able to hold the probe needle when chucked by the other ends of said chuck members which have been attached to said robot means, each of said second attachments being formed into a size conformable with that of each probe needle;
• and
• control means including a microcomputer in which a sequence of desired treatments is programmed, and controlling, according to instructions from the microcomputer, mounting and dismounting operations of said chuck members to and from each of said first attachments, mounting and dismounting operations of said chuck members to and from each of said second attachments, holding and releasing operations of each container by said first attachment which is mounted to said robot means through said chuck members, holding and releasing operations of each probe needle by said second attachment which in mounted to said robot means through said chuck members, transferring operation of a held container, moving operation of a held probe needle to a desired position, sampling operation of the liquid from the container into said probe means, and injecting operation the liquid sampled into said probe means into another container.