초록 ▼

An improved system (10) is provided for providing access to a sealed container (14) which temporarily provides an opening in the closures of the containers, and either removes contents, senses properties of the contents, or dispenses material into the container. In one embodiment, this system includ

An improved system (10) is provided for providing access to a sealed container (14) which temporarily provides an opening in the closures of the containers, and either removes contents, senses properties of the contents, or dispenses material into the container. In one embodiment, this system includes a carousel assembly (12) which receives sample containers and moves them to a first location. There, a lift assembly (31) moves each sample container upward against a puncture tube (55) of a penetrating assembly (32). This puncture tube provides an opening in the closure of the container. The system takes a sample through this opening or inserts a probe (65) through the opening to measure the properties of the sample. After the system has performed the sampling, sensing, or dispensing function, a stripper assembly (67) strips the container from the puncture tube, allowing the opening to close.

대표청구항 ▼

An automated system for providing access to a sealed container and performing sampling operations, said container including closure means, said system comprising: movable container transfer means for holding the container and moving the container to a first location; penetrating means disposed at th

An automated system for providing access to a sealed container and performing sampling operations, said container including closure means, said system comprising: movable container transfer means for holding the container and moving the container to a first location; penetrating means disposed at the first location for penetrating the closure means of the container and temporarily defining an opening through the closure; driving means disposed at the first location for providing relative displacement between the container and the penetrating means at said first location, said driving means providing the force for moving the penetrating means into the container; probe means separate from the penetrating means for removing sample from the container, placing sample into the container, or sensing the properties of sample in the container, said probe means being movable between the first location and a second location disposed laterally outwardly of the container a predetermined distance from the first location, said probe means also being movable inwardly and outwardly of the opening at the first location to extend in and out of said container through the opening; and stripping means separate from the penetrating means and the probe means for disengaging the penetrating means from the container.