Closed Sampling Attachment for Contamination-Free Powder Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for sampling solids from manufacturing plants are not fully closed, leading to contamination risks, particulate issues, and unsuitable for products with poor flow properties, which can result in false-positive analytical results and product loss.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a walled container with a reinforcing element, where a fracture is made for a hollow tube insertion to transfer samples into a sealed container, ensuring a tight connection and minimizing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sample is taken from a container using conventional methods, then the sample can be obtained, but the sample becomes contaminated with external substances and the original sample composition is altered
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling device uses a nested structure where the sampling probe is inserted through a stopper into the sample container. The probe contains internal channels that are sealed during sampling to prevent contamination, and the stopper acts as a barrier between the external environment and the sample. This nesting approach allows the sampling system to be contained within the container while maintaining sample integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper serves as an intermediary element between the sampling device and the sample container. It provides a sealed interface that allows the sampling probe to access the sample without creating openings in the container wall, thus preventing contamination while enabling sample retrieval.
2Ease of operation
If the sample container is opened to retrieve a sample, then the sample can be accessed, but the container structure is compromised and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling system is segmented into separate functional components: a stopper that can be inserted/removed from the container, and a sampling probe that can be inserted through the stopper. This segmentation allows the container to remain intact while providing access to the sample through the stopper-probe interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper acts as an intermediary that maintains container integrity while enabling sample access. It provides a sealed interface that can be opened and closed without compromising the container structure, allowing repeated sampling operations.
3Reliability
If a stopper is inserted into the sample container to maintain integrity, then contamination is prevented, but the sampling process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling probe and stopper are merged into a single integrated assembly that functions as one unit. The probe is inserted through the stopper as a single operation, and the combined structure provides both sampling capability and contamination prevention in one mechanism, reducing procedural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper-probe assembly serves multiple functions: it maintains container integrity, provides sample access, and enables contamination-free sampling. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and procedures, simplifying the overall sampling process.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1f
Figure 2a~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for closed sampling from filling systems, comprising the following steps: filling a container (1) comprising a wall (3) with a sample amount; applying a reinforcing element (20) to the container (1) comprising the wall; introducing a breakpoint (22) into the wall of the container (1) in the region of the reinforcing element (20); introducing a sampling attachment (30) with a hollow tube (40) into the wall of the container (1) in the region of the breakpoint (22); filling a sample container (50) connected to the hollow tube (40) once or multiple times; removing the sample container (50) from the hollow tube (40) and sealing the sample container (50); removing the sampling attachment (30) with the hollow tube (40) from the container; and sealing the breakpoint (22) of the container in the region of the reinforcing element (20). The invention also relates to a sampling device, in particular for carrying out the method.