TEST TUBE TYPE DISCRIMINATION APPARATUS

A test tube type discrimination apparatus includes first and second electronic cameras which pick up images of a plurality of test tubes. The first electronic camera picks up an image from an opening of each of the test tubes, and the second electronic camera picks up an image from a side thereof. A pattern recognition unit receives data of the images picked up by the first and second electronic cameras and extracts an edge of each of the images to recognize a test tube pattern of each of the test tubes including opening and side patterns of each of the test tubes. A standard pattern memory stores the opening and side patterns of the test tubes as standard patterns, and a comparison determination unit compares the test tube pattern and the standard patterns to determine a type of each of the test tubes.