Disclosed and claimed are methods and apparatuses for obtaining a sample with a sampler that includes a tip and tube that are positionable so as to be in or without fluid communication, and methods and apparatuses for obtaining a sub-sample therefrom while maintaining in situ pressure.

A robot accessory and/or device that provides a sample collector device, a sample storage device, and a work surface. Upon activation, the sample collector device performs a full cycle in which an actuator causes the movement (i.e., extension and then retraction) of an actuator arm that simultaneously causes the top link plate, the lance plunger, the plunger guide, and the plunger to likewise move, including the depression and/or compression and release of the pipette. During this full cycle, this single device is able to remotely collect solid, liquid and/or multiphase samples of potentially hazardous materials and reduces human exposure to this hazardous material and dangerous environment.

A soil sampling collection system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a soil sampling collection system comprises a blade mounted on the front of the utility vehicle. The utility vehicle is powered to move through a designated area and configured to automatically collect soil samples as the system moves through the designated area. The blade is configured to move up and down via power hydraulics. A blade guard is mounted to the blade. A soil collection reservoir mounted on or near the back of the blade guard. A conveyor is mounted in between the soil collection reservoir and the front of the vehicle. The conveyor comprises a plurality of soil bags or cups configured to receive individual soil samples from the soil collection reservoir. A method for collecting soil samples is also disclosed.

The present document relates to a piston corer for acquiring a soil sample. The piston corer comprises a sample reception cylinder for taking in and retaining the soil sample, and which comprises a piston. The piston is moveable over a piston stroke inside the sample reception cylinder. An intake opening at a first end of the sample reception cylinder allows to receive the soil sample upon penetration of the ground, and the piston is configured to move in a direction away from the intake opening during taking in of the soil sample towards an end position of the piston stroke. The piston corer further comprises an activator cooperating with a valve arranged for closing of the intake opening upon activation. The activator is configured for activating a closing action of the valve in response to the piston reaching the end position of the piston stroke. The document further relates to a method of acquiring a soil sample using such a piston corer.

To attach an ear tag (6, 10) to an ear (16) and to remove a sample (22) containing tissue of the ear therefrom, a mandrel (8), which is fastened to a mandrel region (6) of the ear tag, is brought by means of pliers (1) on a first movement path through the ear (16) into a hole (12) formed in a hole part (10) of the ear tag and anchored there, while the sample (22) is taken with the aid of a removal head (17) and is brought out of engagement with the hole (12) by interaction with the mandrel (8) with a movement component oriented transversely to the first movement path, before the mandrel (8) is anchored in said hole.

A device for black sand collection having a two-piece housing holding a rod with a magnet at an end thereof. A button and coil allow the rod to be depressed such that the magnet is pushed toward an end of the device, allowing the device to magnetically collect black sand. Releasing the button allows the device to release the black sand.

A sampling device (1) for filling a sample vessel (4) with sample material from a material container, wherein the sampling device (1) comprises a first locking unit (2), a sterilization unit and a sampling chamber (3), wherein the sampling chamber (3) has an internal chamber space (5), a manipulation unit (6), an opening unit (7) arranged within the internal chamber space (5) as well as a coupling unit (8) arranged within the internal chamber space (5), the first locking unit (2) is arranged between the material container and the coupling unit (8), and the sterilization unit is connected to the internal chamber space (5) and configured to sterilize the internal chamber space (5), wherein the manipulation unit (6) is configured to accommodate the sample vessel (4) at least in part within the internal chamber space (5), movable between the opening unit (7) and the coupling unit (8), the opening unit (7) is configured to open and close the sample vessel (4), and the coupling unit (8) is configured to be coupleable to the sample vessel (4).

A cervical cells sampling device includes a tubular sleeve with a first opening and an opposing second opening, an elongate rod having a retractable part with a mounting tip enclosed within the sleeve and a handle section extending out from the sleeve through the second opening. A cell collecting construct with a resilient sheath is stretched to cap onto the mounting tip of the rod and the stretched resilient sheath is in a constant contracting state that the cell collecting construct and portion of the retractable part are allowed to project out, or retract into sleeve, through the first opening by moving the handle section. A stripping member is fabricated within the sleeve to detach the resilient sheath from the mounting tip upon retracting the retractable part into the sleeve up to a predetermined level and the resilient sheath resumes original form once detached from the mounting tip, while prodding the rod back into the sleeve pushes the construct out of the sleeve.

A tablet sampler assembly is provided for a tablet coating machine which comprises a rotatable drum for containing a bed of tablets being coated. The tablet sampler assembly comprises a housing configured for attachment to said tablet coating machine, and a receptacle for receiving a sample of said tablets. At least a portion of the receptacle is movable between a collecting position in which the receptacle is configured to be in communication with the interior of the drum, thereby enabling collection of a sample by the receptacle from the drum, and a non-collecting position in which the receptacle is configured to be substantially out of communication with the interior of the drum.

The present subject matter relates to systems, devices, and methods for agricultural sample collection. In one aspect, a sample collection system includes an aerial robotic platform, an arm assembly coupled to the aerial robotic platform and comprising an arm that extends away from the aerial robotic platform, and a sample collector connected to a distal end of the arm, wherein the sample collector is configured to selectively remove one or more samples of agricultural material from a plant to be analyzed.