A sampling system and method

Abstract

There is disclosed a sampling system for sampling ore dispensed from an ore outlet chute. The system has laterally spaced guide bars being arranged to guide motion of sample bags from a supply end towards a discharge end at which the sample bags can be manually removed. The sample bags have drawstrings, wherein the sample bags are suspended between the guide bars by hooking opposed loops of the drawstring over the guide bars. A transfer mechanism collects a sample bag from the supply end and, after being filled with ore, slides the sample bag along the guide bars towards the discharge end. The guide bars have end stops that are arranged to trap the drawstring of an endmost filled sample bag to prevent it from sliding off the guide bars so that all the filled sample bags are retained suspended from the guide bars awaiting manual removal.

Description

[0001] A sampling system and method

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a sampling system suitable for sampling ore during a drilling operation.

[0004] More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an automated sampling system forming part of a drill rig used in mineral exploration for sampling ore during a drilling operation and a method of its operation.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] A typical sampling operation at a mining or mineral exploration drill hole involves using a suitable drilling rig to drill one or more holes into the ground in a target area to obtain subterranean cutting or rock samples at predetermined depth intervals. Reverse circulation drilling sampling, diamond bit drilling sampling, and open pit mining blast hole rig sampling are examples of some of the sampling techniques that can be used to obtain subterranean cutting / rock samples in mining or mineral exploration operations.

[0007] Typically, rock samples that are obtained from a drill hole during a sampling operation are placed in sample bags, with all the sample bags for the drill hole being numbered for identification purposes. Normally a record is kept for each sample bag including information relating to the drill hole from which the rock sample was obtained, the depth at which the rock sample was obtained, the type of drill rig that was used to drill the hole, etc.

[0008] In early times, the sample bags were filled and collated manually. This tended to be a rather hazardous procedure for the drill operator due to the environment in which the drilling was conducted and the need for the operator to work in proximity to the drill rig itself, with its various moving parts, sludge, heat and noise, when holding sample bags beneath the discharge chute while filling the bag.

[0009] More recently, use has been made of automated sampling systems to reduce the need of the operator to work in such hazardous environments. An example of such an automated sampling system is described in AU 2020202531 , wherein drawstring sampling bags are arranged to slide along laterally spaced guide bars from a supply area to a discharge chute for opening and filling with the ore, and are subsequently slid further along the guide bars to be released and fall away under gravity, whereby one of the guide bars temporarily retains the drawing so that the sample bag is pulled closed by its weight as the bag falls away from the guide bars. The sample bags are deposited on the ground adjacent the drill rig.

[0010] The sampling system of AU 2020202531 tends to encounter some problems in use, particularly when utilised with wet drilling systems. Once the sample bags are filled with the wet ore and are dropped from a height as they fall away from the guide bars, the sample bags are prone to bursting and / or opening. This is due to the volume of water that is contained in the sample bags and the shockwave caused by hitting the ground - similar to a water balloon being dropped. A further problem is that because the sample bags are deposited on the ground next to the drill rig, they tend to get buried under the rest of the ore waste exhausted by the drill rig. This makes it difficult to find and collect the sample bags, and also potentially leads to contamination of the ore sample in the bags.

[0011] The above references to the background art and any prior art citations do not constitute an admission that the art forms part of the common general knowledge of a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0013] According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a sampling system for use in a drilling operation for sampling ore dispensed from an ore outlet chute of a drilling rig, the sampling system comprising laterally spaced guide bars being arranged to guide motion of sample bags from a supply end towards a discharge end, the guide bars having terminal ends provided at the discharge end allowing manual removal of the sample bags from the guide bars; the supply end being arranged to receive a supply of the sample bags, wherein each sample bag has a drawstring for closing its open mouth, and wherein the sample bags are arranged to be suspended from and between the guide bars by hooking opposed loops of the drawstring over the guide bars; a transfer mechanism arranged to collect a sample bag from the supply end and slide the sample bag along the guide bars into position for being filled with an ore sample from the ore outlet chute, and wherein the transfer mechanism is further arranged to cause sliding movement of the filled sample bag towards the discharge end; and stops provided on the guide bars adjacent their terminal ends, wherein the stops are arranged to trap the drawstring of an endmost filled sample bag to prevent its drawstring from sliding off the guide bars, thereby to retain all the filled sample bags suspended from the guide bars and awaiting manual removal.

[0014] The stops may be recesses or annular grooves cut into the guide bars. Alternatively, the stops may be protruding knobs extending from the guide bars. In one example, the stops are anti luce latches.

[0015] The discharge end may be located beneath the control box. The discharge end may be at least partially enclosed to assist in protecting the filled sample bags from the environment and contamination by ore waste. The sampling system may further include a depending skirt mounted to the control box, wherein the skirt at least partially laterally surrounds the discharge end and any filled sample bags suspended in the discharge end.

[0016] The sampling system may further include terminal support members being removably joined to the terminal ends of the guide bars and arranged to alleviate a moment force exerted onto the guide bars by any filled sample bags suspended in the discharge end, and which terminal support members are arranged to be disengaged from the terminal ends to permit manual removal of the filled sample bags from the guide bars. The terminal support members may be chains, ropes, bars, brackets, or latches extending from a support structure and being removably joined to the terminal ends of the guide bars.

[0017] The sampling system may further include intermediary support members being provided at a suitable location along the length of the guide bars between the ore outlet chute and the discharge end. The intermediary support members may be arranged to be normally disengaged from the guide bars during operation of the sampling system and while the terminal support members are engaged, and wherein the intermediary support members are arranged to be temporarily engaged with the guide bars prior to and while the terminal support members are disengaged for removal of filled sample bags, and wherein the intermediary support members are arranged to be disengaged after the terminal support members are re-engaged. The intermediary support members may be L-shaped brackets having legs with bent off feet.

[0018] The transfer mechanism may further include a control box from which a bag grabber extends, the bag grabber having a pivotable hook mounted on a piston enabling the hook to engage in a grab tape of the sample bag to pull the sample bag along the guide bars when the piston is retracted.

[0019] The transfer mechanism may further include a pushing member arranged to be moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, whereby in its retracted position the pushing member is remote from the guide bars to avoid hindering sliding movement of any sample bags along the guide bars, and whereby in its extended position the pushing member can abut a sample bag to move the sample bag further towards the discharge end. The pushing member may have a cylinder housing an extendable rod. The pushing member may be located intermediate the guide bars and in a vertical orientation so that the rod can extend downwardly between the guide bars.

[0020] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] The above and other features will become more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. In the drawings, which are given for purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a sampling system according to the disclosure;

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a sampling system according to the disclosure.

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The present disclosure relates to a sampling system suitable for sampling ore during a drilling operation. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an automated sampling system configured to be mounted to a drill rig (not shown) used in mineral exploration for sampling ore during a drilling operation. In the drawings there is shown a sampling system 10. Although not shown, it should be appreciated that the sampling system 10 is only shown partially and in a standalone manner separate from the drill rig, and further that the sampling system 10 may include other parts that have been omitted from the drawings for clarity purposes. The sampling system 10 is configured to be joined to the drill rig by a support structure or frame (schematically indicated at various places by reference numeral 12) so that ore samples can be received from an ore outlet chute 14 extending from the drill rig. The skilled addressee will understand that the sampling system 10 can further comprise various operational control units, electrical boxes and electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic pipes. However, these are not described herein in detail as their working should be clear to the skilled addressee.

[0025] As generally indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the sampling system 10 comprises a pair of laterally spaced guide bars 16 that originate from a supply end 18, extend beneath and past the ore outlet chute 14, and terminate at a discharge end 20. The guide bars 16 extend generally horizontally from the supply end 18 to beneath the outlet chute 14, whereafter the guide bars 16 bend downwardly away from the outlet chute 14, initially through a relatively steep slide section 16.1 which then shallows out into a shallow slide section 16.2 towards the discharge end 20. The guide bars 16 are cantilevered, being mounted to the support structure 12 at their ends at the supply end 18, while their opposed terminal ends 22 at the discharge end 20 are generally free hanging.

[0026] A stack of sample bags 24 are stored in the sampling system 10 at the supply end 18. The sample bags 24 are of a drawstring-type comprising a bag body 26 having a mouth that is surrounded by a drawstring 28 and that is arranged to close the mouth by pulling on the drawstring 28. The sample bags 24 are suspended from and between the guide bars 16 by hooking opposed loops of the drawstring 28 over the guide bars 16 so that the sample bags 24 can slide along the guide bars 16. A grab tape 30 is provided on the forward-facing side of the bag body 26, i.e. the side facing towards the ore outlet chute.

[0027] The sampling system 10 further includes a transfer mechanism for operatively collecting or retrieving a sample bag 24 from the supply end 18 and sliding the sample bag 24 along the guide bars 16. The transfer mechanism includes a control box 32 that is mounted to the support structure 12, and from which a bag grabber 34 extends. The bag grabber 34 includes a pivotable hook 36 that is mounted on a piston 38 that can be extended or retracted into the control box 32. The piston 38 can be hydraulically or pneumatically operable.

[0028] In use, the bag grabber 341 piston 38 is extended by the control box 32 so that the hook 36 can engage into the grab tape 30 of the next available sample bag 24. Thereafter the piston 38 is partially retracted so that the bag grabber 34 pulls the sample bag 24 along the guide bars 16 until the sample bag 24 it is located beneath the ore outlet chute 14 - at the same time the mouth of the sample bag 24 is pulled partially opened by the pulling action of the bag grabber 34. The sampling system 10 can include various other operative parts which are not pertinent to the present disclosure, e.g. for locating and securing the sample bag 24 to the outlet chute 14 and ensuring the mouth of the sample bag 24 is fully open so that ore can be dispensed from the ore outlet chute 14 into the sample bag 24. Examples of such other operative parts are, for example, described in the patent specifications of AU 2020202531 describing a drop tube extending from the ore outlet chute into the mouth of the sample bag 24, or WO 2023 / 115100 describing clamping assemblies and / or spikes for trapping the bag against the ore outlet chute 14.

[0029] After the sample bag 24 is filled with ore from the ore outlet chute 14, the piston 38 is fully retracted by the control box 32 so that the bag grabber 34 pulls the filled sample bag 24 onto the steep slide section 16.1 of the guide bars 16 so that the sample bag 24 slides downwardly away from the bag grabber 34 under the influence of gravity and disengages the grab tape 30 from the hook 36. The filled sample bag 24 then slides further along the shallow slide section 16.2 of the guide bars 16 under its momentum and / or under the further influence of gravity towards the discharge end 20 where the sample bag 24 remains suspended awaiting manual removal. The transfer mechanism can be further operated to fill the next sample bag 24 which will also be deposited and stored in a suspended manner along the shallow slide section 16.2.

[0030] The guide bars 16 each include a stop 40 adjacent or near to their terminal ends 22, which stops 40 are arranged to impede or trap the drawstring 28 of the endmost filled sample bag 24.1 to prevent the drawstring 28 from sliding off from the guide bars 16. Subsequently filled sample bags 24 that slide down and along the guide bars 16 will then butt up against the endmost sample bag 24.1 as illustrated in Figure 1 and await manual removal. In the exemplary embodiment the stops 40 are recesses or annular grooves cut into the guide bars 16, but in other embodiments the stops 40 could be protruding knobs or the like extending from the guide bars 16, e.g. in one example the stops 40 could be anti luce latches joined to a through-hole in the guide bars 16.

[0031] Keeping the filled sample bags 24 suspended from the guide bars 16 allows any excess water contained in the sample bags 24 to drain away to the environment. Keeping the filled sample bags 24 suspended from the guide bars 16 also keeps them off the ground and away from other borehole waste so that the ore samples contained in the sample bags 24 are less prone to contamination by other ore material. Also, the relatively small sample bags 24 will not become buried under the larger amount of general ore waste.

[0032] Intermittently, or as needed, an operator can manually remove the filled sample bags 24 from the guide bars 16 by lifting the drawstring 28 over the stops 40 and sliding the drawstring 28 off the terminal ends 22, then pull the drawstring 28 closed, and transfer the sample bags 24 to a container or cart for removal and further processing.

[0033] As shown in the drawings, in the exemplary embodiment the discharge end 20 is located beneath the control box 32. In this way the filled sample bags 24 that are suspended in the shallow slide section 16.2 are partially protected from the environment and contamination. It is envisaged that the control box 32 may be provided with a depending skirt 41 or curtain (shown in dashed outline in Figure 1) to laterally surround and partially enclose the shallow slide section 16.2 and the discharge end 20 to further protect the filled sample bags 24 from dust contamination. The skirt 41 can be slidably provided on a rail or attached to the control box 32 by hooks, thereby allowing the skirt 41 to be moved away and provide easier access to the sample bags 24 for removal from the shallow slide section 16.2.

[0034] Due to the weight of the filled sampling bags 24 suspended in the discharge end 20, there tends to be a relatively large moment force exerted onto the cantilevered guide bars 16 at their mounting to the support structure 12. To alleviate this moment force, the sampling system 10 includes terminal support members 42 that extend from the control box 32 and which are removably joined to the terminal ends 22 of the guide bars 16. In the exemplary embodiment the terminal support member 42 are chains that engage into grooved recesses on the guide bars 16, but these could also be ropes, bars, brackets, or any other suitable latch. In other embodiments the terminal support members 42 could also be mounted to any other suitable part of the support structure 12 and / or to the drill rig itself instead of being joined to the control box 32. In some embodiments the terminal support members 42 can be joined to the stops 40, for example when the terminal support members 42 are chains, the chains can be clipped onto anti luce latches operating as the stops 40.

[0035] When the operator needs to remove the filled sample bags 24 from the discharge end 20, the operator will simply unhook the terminal support members 42 from the terminal ends 22 of the guide bars 16, whereafter the endmost sample bag 24.1 can be lifted off from the guide bars 16. The remaining suspended sample bags 24 can then slide further along the guide bars 16 until the drawstring 28 of the previously penultimate sample bag 24 engages with the stops 40 to prevent it falling off from the guide bars 16.

[0036] The sampling system 10 further includes intermediary support members 44 for the guide bars 16, which intermediary support members 44 are provided at a suitable location along the length of the guide bars 16 between the ore outlet chute 14 and the discharge end 20. The intermediary support members 44 are arranged to be normally disengaged from the guide bars 16 during normal operation of the sampling system 10 and while the terminal support members 42 are engaged. The intermediary support members 44 are arranged to be temporarily engaged with the guide bars 16 prior to the operator disengaging the terminal support members 42 for removal of the filled sample bags 24. In this way the intermediary support members 44 assist in supporting the weight of the remaining filled sample bags 24 hanging from the guide bars 16 and to reduce the moment force acting on the guide bars 16 at their junction to the support structure 12. After the desired filled sample bags 24 are removed, the operator will reattach the terminal support members 42 to the terminal ends 22 and then disengage the intermediary support members 44 so that filled sample bags can slide past the intermediary support members 44 towards the discharge end.

[0037] In the exemplary embodiment the intermediary support members 44 are L-shaped brackets that have legs 46 with bent off or laterally extending feet 48. The legs 46 are rotatably mounted to the control box 32 enabling the feet 48 to be moved between a disengaged position, wherein the feet 48 are remote from the guide bars 16, and an engaged position, wherein the feet 48 extend beneath the guide bars 16 so that the guide bars 16 can rest on the feet 48. In other examples the intermediary support members 44 can be chains or ropes that can be suitably connected to the guide bars 16.

[0038] Referring now to Figure 2, the sampling system 10 is shown having a pushing member 50 joined to the control box 32. In the exemplary embodiment the pushing member 50 is mounted to the piston 38 of the bag grabber 34 but is independently movable relative thereto. In other examples the pushing member 50 can be mounted onto a separate secondary rod extending from the control box 32. The pushing member 50 is arranged to move from a retracted position adjacent to the control box 32 (shown in dashed outline in Figure 2) to an extended position spaced away from the control box 32 (shown in solid outline in Figure 2). The pushing member 50 includes a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 52 housing an extendable rod 54. The pushing member 50 is located intermediate the guide bars 16 and in a vertical orientation so that the rod 54 can extend downwardly between the guide bars 16.

[0039] During use it can sometimes occur that the sample bags 24 do not slide all the way along the guide bars 16 to the stops 40, i.e. the sample bags 24 can come to rest and hang midway along the shallow slide section 16.1. The pushing member 50 is arranged to then engage the most recently filled sample bag 24 and push it further towards the discharge end 40 - this sample bag 24 will then press against any other sample bags 24 in shallow slide section 16.1 and move all the sample bags 24 further along the guide bars 16 until the endmost sample bag 24.1 abuts the stops 40.

[0040] When at rest, the pushing member 50 is in its retracted position with the rod 54 fully retracted, i.e. located above the guide bars 16, so that the pushing member 50 will not interfere with the operation of the bag grabber 34 or hinder the sliding movement of any sample bags 24 along the guide bars 16. After the most recently filled sample bag 24 disengages from the hook 36 and slides down the steep slide section 16.1 , and before the bag grabber 34 is extended to fetch a new sample bag 24 from the supply end 18, the pushing member 50 is activated and moved to its extended position. The rod 54 is then extended out from the cylinder 52 so that it can abut the bag body 26, whereafter the pushing member 50 is again moved to its retracted position, thereby causing the rod 54 to push against the bag body 26 to move the sample bag 24 towards the discharge end 20. When the pushing member 50 reaches its retracted position, the rod 54 is retracted back into the cylinder 52, after which the next operative cycle of the bag grabber 34 can be repeated. The operation of the pushing member 50 thus operates between each operative cycle of the bag grabber 34.

[0041] In some embodiments the rod 54 is a telescopic rod having a fully extended length greater than the length of the cylinder 52.

[0042] In some embodiments the sampling system 10 can be provided with an optional weight scale 56 and RFID scanner 58.

[0043] The weight scale 56 is located beneath the ore outlet chute 14 and is arranged to weight the sample bag 24 as it is filled with ore. In use, and as described above, the bag grabber 34 will pull the sample bag 24 along the guide bars 16 until the sample bag 24 it is located beneath the ore outlet chute 14, at which stage the bottom of the sample bag 24 will be located on the weight scale’s 26 weighing table. The weight scale 26 is thus able to continually measure the weight of the sample bag 24 as ore is discharged into it through the ore outlet chute 14. In some examples, the weight scale 26 can be used to control the volume / mass of ore discharged from the ore outlet chute 14 into the sample bag 24, e.g. to ensure the sample bags 24 are optimally filled. In other examples, the weight scale 26 can be used to measure only final weight of the sample bag 24 after it is filled with ore. After the sample bag 24 is filled with ore from the ore outlet chute 14, the bag grabber 34 pulls the filled sample bag 24 off the weight scale 26 towards the steep slide section 16.1 of the guide bars 16 for further operation as described above.

[0044] The RFID scanner 58 is arranged to communicate with an RFID chip 60 that is provided on each of the sample bags 24. In one example the RFID scanner 58 is arranged to read information from the RFID chip 60 of the sample bag 24, e.g. a bag identification number or code associated with each specific sample bag 24. In one example the RFID scanner 58 is further arranged to program information onto the RFID chip 60 of the sample bag 24, e.g. the GPS location at which the sample bag 24 was filled, the drill hole depth from which the ore was obtained, and the weight of the sample bag 24 as measured by the weight scale 26. The skilled person will appreciate that other information can be included as may be required in the industry.

[0045] In some examples the entire sampling system 10 can be mounted onto the drill rig in a pivotable manner so that the entire sampling system 10 can be pivoted relative to a horizontal plane. In other examples the drill rig may itself be pivotable relative to a horizontal plane, whereby the drill rig can be pivoted to cause the entire sampling system 10 to be pivoted relative to a horizontal plane. Pivoting the entire sampling system 10 in this manner can be used to change the inclination angle of the guide bars 16, for example to temporarily increase the inclination angle of the steep slide section 16.1 and / or shallow slide section 16.2, to enhance the sliding of the sample bags 24 towards the discharge end 20.

[0046] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and / or modifications may be made to the sampling system as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

[0047] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in a non-limiting and an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in the various embodiments of the crusher. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0048] Reference numerals

[0049] 10 sampling system

[0050] 12 support structure

[0051] 14 ore outlet chute

[0052] 16 guide bars

[0053] 16.1 steep slide section (of guide bars)

[0054] 16.2 shallow slide section (of guide bars)

[0055] 18 supply end

[0056] 20 discharge end

[0057] 22 terminal ends

[0058] 24 sample bag(s)

[0059] 24.1 endmost sample bag

[0060] 26 bag body

[0061] 28 drawstring

[0062] 30 grab tape

[0063] 32 control box

[0064] 34 bag grabber

[0065] 36 hook

[0066] 38 piston

[0067] 40 stops

[0068] 41 skirt

[0069] 42 terminal support members

[0070] 44 intermediary support members

[0071] 46 legs

[0072] 48 feet

[0073] 50 pushing member

[0074] 52 cylinder

[0075] 54 rod

[0076] 56 weight scale

[0077] 58 RFID scanner

[0078] 60 RFID chip

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sampling system for use in a drilling operation for sampling ore dispensed from an ore outlet chute of a drilling rig, the sampling system comprising laterally spaced guide bars being arranged to guide motion of sample bags from a supply end towards a discharge end, the guide bars having terminal ends provided at the discharge end allowing manual removal of the sample bags from the guide bars; the supply end being arranged to receive a supply of the sample bags, wherein each sample bag has a drawstring for closing its open mouth, and wherein the sample bags are arranged to be suspended from and between the guide bars by hooking opposed loops of the drawstring over the guide bars; a transfer mechanism arranged to collect a sample bag from the supply end and slide the sample bag along the guide bars into position for being filled with an ore sample from the ore outlet chute, and wherein the transfer mechanism is further arranged to cause sliding movement of the filled sample bag towards the discharge end; and stops provided on the guide bars adjacent their terminal ends, wherein the stops are arranged to trap the drawstring of an endmost filled sample bag to prevent its drawstring from sliding off the guide bars, thereby to retain all the filled sample bags suspended from the guide bars and awaiting manual removal.

2. The sampling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stops are recesses or annular grooves cut into the guide bars.

3. The sampling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stops are protruding knobs extending from the guide bars.

4. The sampling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the discharge end is located beneath the control box.

5. The sampling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the discharge end is at least partially enclosed to assist in protecting the filled sample bags from the environment and contamination by ore waste.

6. The sampling system as claimed in claim 5, which further comprises a depending skirt mounted to the control box, wherein the skirt at least partially laterally surrounds the discharge end and any filled sample bags suspended in the discharge end.

7. The sampling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, which further comprises terminal support members being removably joined to the terminal ends of the guide bars and arranged to alleviate a moment force exerted onto the guide bars by any filled sample bags suspended in the discharge end, and which terminal support members are arranged to be disengaged from the terminal ends to permit manual removal of the filled sample bags from the guide bars.

8. The sampling system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the terminal support members are chains, ropes, bars, brackets, or latches extending from a support structure and being removably joined to the terminal ends of the guide bars.

9. The sampling system as claimed in claim 7 or 8, which further comprises intermediary support members being provided at a suitable location along the length of the guide bars between the ore outlet chute and the discharge end.

10. The sampling system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the intermediary support members are arranged to be normally disengaged from the guide bars during operation of the sampling system and while the terminal support members are engaged, and wherein the intermediary support members are arranged to be temporarily engaged with the guide bars prior to and while the terminal support members are disengaged for removal of filled sample bags, and wherein the intermediary support members are arranged to be disengaged after the terminal support members are re-engaged.

11. The sampling system as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the intermediary support members are L-shaped brackets having legs with bent off feet.

12. The sampling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the transfer mechanism further comprises a control box from which a bag grabber extends, the bag grabber having a pivotable hook mounted on a piston enablingthe hook to engage in a grab tape of the sample bag to pull the sample bag along the guide bars when the piston is retracted.

13. The sampling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the transfer mechanism further comprises a pushing member arranged to be moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, whereby in its retracted position the pushing member is remote from the guide bars to avoid hindering sliding movement of any sample bags along the guide bars, and whereby in its extended position the pushing member can abut a sample bag to move the sample bag further towards the discharge end.

14. The sampling system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the pushing member includes a cylinder housing an extendable rod.

15. The sampling system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pushing member is located intermediate the guide bars and in a vertical orientation so that the rod can extend downwardly between the guide bars.

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