CA2574638A1 - Sample bottle and method for taking samples - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sample bottle comprising a bottle body (1) wherein a receiving chamber (6), which is used to receive a sample, is embodied, a first cover (10) which is arranged on the bottle body (1) and which is used to close the receiving chamber (6), a first through opening (11) which is embodied in the first cover (10) in the receiving chamber (6), a second cover (20) which comprises a second through-opening (22), whereby the second cover (20) can be displaced, interacting with the first cover (10), in the direction of operation such that said movement enables both of the through openings (11, 12) to be placed in an at least partially overlapping manner and/or can be displaced at least partially from said overlapping, and a locking device (25) which locks a movement of the second cover which is counter to the direction of operation. The invention further relates to a method for taking samples with the aid of said type of sample bottle.

Description

SAMPLE BOTTLE AND METHOD FOR TAKING SAMPLES

The invention relates to a sample bottle, particularly a milk sample bottle.
The invention also relates to a sampling method using such a sample bottle.

On accepting milk from a milk supplier samples are regularly taken at the milk coqection tanker in order to establish the milk quality in the laboratory. The values found in the laboratory are used for the reimbursement of the supplier, who receives more remu-neration the higher the milk quality.

In addition, milk samples are regulariy analyzed wrth respect to so-called inhibitors in the milk. Inhibitors are in particular anbbiotics, e.g. peniciliin, which are administered to cows and which can reappear In the milk. In certain circumstances such inhibitors can represent a health risk for the consumer. A single delivery containing such lnhibitors can render unusable the entire tanker load of the milk tanker for further processing pur-poses.

Normally the supplier in question must bear the consequenees of an lnhibitor-contaminated milk delivery. In this connection litigation frequently occurs, In which doubts are cast on the integrity and/or correct association of the sample.
Against this background it is understandable that there Is a need for a largely manipulation-proof sample bottie for milk samples and a largely manipulation-proof sampling method.

Numerous different sample bottles are already commercially available and in particular differ with regards to the construction of the bottle c(osures. Thus, e.g.
sample bottles are known which have a snap-on lid closure, as well as such bottles with a perforatable plastic closure and which after perforation with an injection cannula Is resealed as a re-sult of its elasticity. In addition, sample bottles are known combining the aforementioned closure mechanisms, I.e. having a hinged cover with a snap closure, in which a perfo-ratable plastic membrane or diaphragm is located. Finally sample bottles with a screw closure are also known.

However, all the known sample bottles are at best only manipulation-proof to a certain extent With the known sample botties there can also be an undesired spreading of germs, e.g. due to unintentional entry contact.

A further sample bottle is e.g. known from EP 0 411 274 A2.

In the case of sampling with a known sample bottle the latter is generally delivered to the tanker new from the factory or cleaned by the milk testing laboratory or dairy and is then stored there in a transportation container. If a hinged cover is provided, the sam-ple bottle is opened at the supplier and placed under the sampling device for filling pur-poses. In the simplest case the sample bottle can also be filled using a ladle. If a self-sealing plastic membrane is provided and which can also be referred to as a membrane stopper, the sample bottie Is placed under the injection cannula and for membrane per-foration purposes the bottle is raised or the Injection cannula is lowered.

Following onto the filling operation, the sample bottle Is put back in the transportation container and transported for inspection to the laboratory. The sample bottle cover is opened or removed for analysis in the laboratory. The sample contained in the sample bottle can then undergo several analyses and in particular pass through several analy-sis stations. Following analysis the sample bottle can be destroyed, particularly shred-ded. If the sample bottle is constructed as a reusable bottle, it can be cleaned and then plugged again with a membrane stopper or plug.

Another sample bottle is known from US 5,133,470, which is provided with a double seal. A first seal is fitted during the production process and is intended to ensure integ-rity -of the sample container up to the time of filling. This first seal has an arrow-like barb element by means of which a sample bottle cover is secured on the sample bottie body.
If the cover is opened, the barb element breaks at a predetermined breaking point and said break is visualized by an indicator.

The second seal is used for resealing the bottie after filling. Said second seal also has barb elements. On opening the filled bottle during the return transport said second seal would tear.

The sample bottle known from US 5,133,470, under certain circumstances, only offers limited protection against sample manipulation before or during sampling.
Thus, e.g.
the first seal is broken prior to actual sampling, so that the sample bottle can be con-taminated prior to sample filling. In particular, the seal can be broken in unnoticed manner following the start of the run of the milk tanker. In addition, in certain circum-stances, the first seal can be manipulated by compression, e.g. using tweezers or a ballpoint pen.

Following sampling the second seat is fitted by the tanker driver. Here again there is a manipulation risk, which can either be unintentional, e.g. due to accidental entry contact or throwing on the ground of the bottle, or intentionaliy, e.g. by replacing the sample or adding additives.

It is known from WO 021/21425 A2 to provide a sample bottle with an electromagnetically readable identification device, a so-called RFID tag, for Identification purposes. US
5,670,117 discloses the use of bar codes for identrfying reagent containers.

US 5,395,006, DE 698 10 777 T2, DE 32 01 691 Al, US 4,190,173, DE 76 10 107 U
and US 4,643,881 disclose rotary closures for containers. For forming the rotary clo-sures in each case two cover parts are provided, which are in each case given at least one opening. By rotating one cover part on the other cover part the openings can be brought into an aligned position for opening the container and into an offset position for closing it.

US 5,582,222 and US 3,792,803 disclose closure mechanisms with flat cover elements wrth which through openings can be covered. According to US 3,792,803 a sliding cover is provided and according to US 5,582,222 altematively a sliding cover or a rotary cover.

DE 34 00 660 Al discloses a ball cock-like closure head for containers, particularly tubes. The closure head has a pivotably mounted valve body with a through channel, which in the open position of the valve body Interconnects two open ends of a bearing housing for the valve body and is located substantially at right angles thereto in the clo-sure position.

The object of the invention is to provide a sample bottle and a method for sampling us-' ing such a sample bottle ensuring a particularly high protection against manipulation.
According to the invention the object is achieved by a sample bottle having the features of claim I and a sampling method having the features of claim 19. Preferred embodi-ments are given in the dependent claims.

= CA 02574638 2007-01-19 A first aspect of the invention is a sample bottle, particularly a milk sample bottle, having a bottle body, in which Is formed a receiving chamber for receiving a sample, a first cover placed on the bottle body for closing the receiving chamber, wherein in the first cover there is a first through opening into the receiving chamber, a second cover with a second through opening, at least part of the second cover being in movable operative connection with the first cover in an operating movement direction in such a way that this movement brings into at least partial coincidence and/or out of the least partial co-incidence the two through openings, and a locking device stopping a movement of the second cover directed opposite to the operating movement direction.

A first fundamental idea of the invention is that on the sample bottle there are two cov-ers, at least one part of the second cover being movably mounted on the first cover.
Both the first and second covers have in each case at least one through opening. By a movement, particularly a displacement andlor rotation, of at least one part of the second cover on the first cover it is possible to bring the two through openings into a filling posi-tion in which the two through openings are at least zonally aligned. In this position it is.
possible to fill the receiving chamber in the bottie body through the two through open-ings. By further movement, e.g. further rotation, of the second cover foiiowing on to the filling process, there is a displacement or offset of the through openings and the first through opening in the first cover leading into the recelving chamber is closed by the second cover.

In this state it is no longer possible to fill or remove liquid through the through openings.
In addition, according to the invention, a locking device Is provided, which allows a movement, particuiarly rotation, of the second cover on the first cover solely in an oper-ating movement direction, i.e. in an operating rotation direction, but stops a movement of the second cover in a movement direction opposed to the operating movement direc-tion. This ensures that the second cover cannot in unnoticed manner be brought back into the filling position, after it has been moved out of said filling position at the end of filling.

In the case of a sample bottle according to the invention the fi(ling state can be detected easily and rapidly by means of the position, particularly the rotary position, of the sec-ond cover on the first cover. Unlike with the known hinged cover sample botties, in which it is onty possibie to perceive the filling state on the basis of possibly difficultly detectable breaks of individual seals, the invention leads to much greater manipulation security. The locking device which may be relevant with respect to a manipulation can be placed simply and in manipulation-proof manner in an area of the sample bottle not accessible from the outside.

The invention is Inter alia based on the finding that in a known hinged cover bottle the filling opening in the receiving chamber is only created on hinging up the hinged cover and consequently a connection to a sampling device is fundamentally only possible af-ter hinging up the cover. Thus, sample manipulation possibilities exist between the time of hinging up the cover and the start of the actual filling process. As opposed to this, according to the invention the second through opening can already be connected to the sampling device when the through openings are unaligned and only then through a movement of the second cover relative to the first cover a fluid connection can be made into the receiving chamber. With this procedure at no time is the receiving chamber open to the outside, so that sample manipulation is made even more difficult.

The concept of a movement of at least one part of the second cover with respect to the first cover is to be understood here in general terms. In particular it can purely be a ro-tation, a purely linear displacement or a combination of these movements. For exam-ple, a displacement path along a curve can also be implemented.

The implementation of the sample bottle closure in the form of a rotary closure also permits a particularly simple automatic, semiautomatic and/or manual filling.
Moreover, with an inventive sample boitle the integriiy thereof can be checked particularly simply automatically and in particular electronically. The rotary movement of the second cover and the supply of the sample to the sample bottle can be performed in both an auto-mated and a manual manner, but the security level may be less in the latter case.

The inventive sample bottle is fundamentally suitable for receiving different types of solid, liquid and/or gaseous samples. However, the bottle is particularly suitable for liq-uid samples, especially milk sampies. The inventive sample bottle can be used as a disposable bottle or as a reusable bottle.

To permit a particulariy rapid filling of sample bottles, it is advantageous that the two through openings can be brought completely into coincidence in a filling position by ro-tating the second cover. The two through openings can have the same or different = , CA 02574638 2007-01-19 cross-sections_ Advantageously the through openings have a round cross-section and in particular an at least approximately circular cross-section. A particularly robust sam-ple bottle can be obtained through it having a plastics material, particularly polypropyl-ene and/or a polypropylene derivative. If the sample bottle Is to be used for receiving light-sensitive samples, it can in particular be provided that it is preferably coioured brown. Through this the light fastness and stability of the sample bottie itself may itself also be improved. Appropriately the sample bottie body carries a volume scale.
lf the sample bottle is using a plastics material, the volume scale can in particular be moulded.
in during bottle manufacture.

In a particularly preferred variant of the inventive sample bottie, the second cover is in rotary operative connection with the first cover In an operating rotation direction such that said rotation brings the two through openings into at least partial coincidence and/or brings them out of at least parfial coincidence. In this variant the locking device is con-structed in such a way that a rotation of the second cover in opposition to the operating rotation direction is prevented_ Such a variant in which the second cover is preferably constructed in one piece is particularly reliable as a result of the rotary movement.

However, it is also possible to construct the second cover in multipart manner. The second cover can then in particular have a cover base element to be firmly connected to the first cover and a movable covering part, the second through opening being formed in the movable covering part.

The covering part can e.g. be constructed In plate-like manner for placing between the first cover and the cover base element of the second cover.

An advantage of the variant with a multipart second cover is that e.g. with suitable shap-ing of the cover base element it is very easy to detect the state, e.g. the starting position or removal position, in which the covering part is located with respect to the cover base element and therefore the first cover.

Appropriately the covering part is mounted in guided manner between the first cover and the cover base element along a movement path, which leads to a robust construF
tion and high operating reliability.

The locking device, which can also be called a direction-shifted clutch, freewheel mechanism or return stop, can fundamentaNy have a random construction. It is thus i -e.g. possible to provide a grip roller freewheel and/or a grip body freewheel.
However, a particularly simple and economic sample bottle is obtained by the locking device hav-ing a pawl freewheel mechanism. Such a pawl freewheel, which can also be called a ratchet, has at least one stop pawl, which is positively entrained in only one rotation di-rection.

If a pawl freewheel is provided, it is particularly advantageous for it to have at least one recess, which is located on the first cover, as well as at least one stop pawl formed on the second cover and which is in particular integral therewith. The at least one stop pawl can also be provided on the first cover and is in preferred manner integral therewith and the at least one recess is located on the second cover. It is also possible to have both on the first cover and the second cover stop pawis and recesses.
Advan-tageously there are several recesses and/or stop pawls. For operating the at least one stop pawl it is possible to provide a spring mechanism. However, the at least one stop pawl can also be constructed with a sufficiently high natural elasticity for locking or stopping purposes. The at least one stop pawl is appropriately constructed as a lug with a preferably roughly rectangular outer circumference, which projects at an angle from the first cover and/or second cover.

In order to prevent, following the filling of the receiving chamber, the second cover being in unnoticed manner completely tumed round in the operating rotation direction one or more times and as a result the through openings again being made to coincide, it is e.g_ possible to provide a seal constructed as a strip of predetermined length or otherwise and which on exceeding a predetermined rotation angle breaks in an extemally visibie' manner. However, it is parEicularly preferred to provide a stop mechanism, which limifs the rotation of the second cover in the operating rotation direction. This stop mecha-nism can e.g. have a stop web or some other projection located on one of the two cov-ers and which on reaching a maximum rotation angle engages on a corresponding stop face on the in each case other cover. To further Increase security against manipulation,-there can also be several webs or projections. The web or projection is advantageously located on the cover where the stop pawl is also provided. In particular, the web or pro-jection can be on the second cover.

The locking device can be constructed with only two dwell positions. In this case, the two through openings can be aligned with one another in a rotation angle range of the ~8-second cover between the first dwell position and the second dwel) position in the oper-ating rotation direction and with rotation angles above the second dwell position can be mutually displaced. A dwell position is understood to mean a position of the second cover in which the locking device in the case of a torque opposed to the operating rota-tion direction has an immediate stopping action without there initially being a significant return of the second cover opposed to the operating rotation direction. Thus, there is no longer any roll-in path of the locking device In the dweil posttions.
According to this em-bodiment with two dwell positions the second cover is already in a filling position with aligned through openings prior to sampling at the supplier. It is therefore advantageous to provide a further cover device, e.g. a perforatable membrane or diaphragm, which seals the first and/or second through opening.

However, It Is particularly preferred for the locking device to have three dwell positions for the rotation of the second cover. It can in particular be provided that the two through openings only overlap if the second cover is in a filling position, which is between the second and third dwell positions In the operating rotation direction.
According to this embodiment the second cover on delivery for sampling is preferably in an installation area between the first and second dwell positions in the rotation direction and in which the two through openings do not overlap. By rotating the second cover in the operating rotation direction the second dwell position can be exceeded or passed beyond and the second cover can be brought into the filling area in which the two through openings can coincide. By further rotation in the operating rotation direction the third dwell position can be exceeded or passed beyond and the so-called removal area reached, where once again there is no coincidence of the two through openings and consequently a subsequent Injection Is not possible. A further rotation of the second cover out of the removal area can be prevented by the stop mechanism. Besides being defined by at least one stop pawl, the first dwell position can also be defined by a stop, particularly by the same stop web giving the maximum rotation angle in the operating rotation direc-tion.

It is possible for the first cover to be fixed on the bottle body and in particular have an integral construction therewith. For removing the sample from the sample bottte for sample analysis purposes, it is then e.g, possible to drill the sample bottle and/or the two covers or in some other way bring about a material removal so as to form an open-ing. However, particulariy simple sampling is brought about in that the sample body has a removal opening, which is reieasably sealable with the first cover. Thus, in this em-bodiment for accessing the sample in the receiving chamber of the sample bottle for analysis purposes the first cover, particularly together with the second cover, undergoes removal accompanied by the freeing of the removal opening. Particularly if the sample bottle is constructed as a reusable bottle, the sample body can be constructed reseal-ably with the first cover. If the sample is to be directly analyzed within the sample bottle, the removal opening can also be constructed as an access opening for the supply of analyzing devices and/or reagents. However, the removal opening Is appropriately used for removing the sample from the sample bottle. Advantageously the removal opening is sufficientiy large to permit the insertion of a stirrer, which thoroughly mixes the sample, particularly the milk. The first cover is advantageously constructed as a hinged cover. In this case the two covers can be referred to as a combination rotary-hinged cover.

To further improve security against manipulation it is advantageous to provide a closure device, particularly a iocking closure, with which the first cover, with the removal open-ing closed, can be secured in manipulation-proof manner to the bottie body.
Manipula-tion-proofness can mean that the closure device, once closed, cannot be reopened, at least manually, without destroying or at least visually modifying the closure device.
Thus, the closure device can also be referred to as a destructively separable closure device. To ensure manipuiation-proofness the closure device can e.g. have a barb, which is guided for closure purposes through a corresponding opening. Such a barb can in particular be provided on the top of a locking pin. For opening the closure device it is possible in this case to e.g. sever the locking pin. The closure device can also have one or more predetermined breaking points.

In order to bring about a particularly reliable closure of the removal opening, the inven-tive sample bottle can be constructed in such a way that a hinge, particularly a film hinge is provided, with which the first cover is articulated on the bottle body. Such a film hinge can in particular be formed by a flexible, thin joint groove In a connecting part be-tween the first cover and the bottle body. Preferably the hinge is In the form of a ta-pered plastic strip.

The second cover can be placed in random manner on the first cover, but for the secure closure of the sample bottie the second cover, when the through openings are not aligned, must generally sealingly engage on the first cover. In particularly advanta-geous manner the first cover is cup-like and the second cover is placed in the first cover. With such an arrangement the second cover is particularly well protected against an accidental rotary movement by the first cover. Advantageously at least the second cover is constructed with an at least approximately circular circumference.

A particularly easily operable sample bottle is characterized in that on the second cover is provided a particularly transversely, e.g. radially or diagonally directed operating web for the rotary operation of the second cover. This web can e.g. be manually gripped for rotating the second cover or can be embraced by a mechanical rotating device, e.g. in positive manner. The operating web can also be used for the display, particularly visu-alization, of the rotary position of the second cover on the first cover. To further improve the visualization of the rotary position, on the first cover can be provided position marks, e.g. in the form of projections or colour markings.

A particular(y reliably fiflable sample bottle can be obtained In 'that, particularly on the front on the operating web, is provided a filling sleeve with a filling channel located therein and which is in fluid connection with the second through opening. This filling sleeve appropriately projects axially on the second cover and can be used for connect-ing a sampling device.

Manipulation security of the sample bottle can be increased in that on the second cover is provided a perforatable membrane covering the second through opening. The mem-brane can in particular be located on the filling channel. The perforatable membrane frees the second opening as soon as the membrane is subject to the action of an injea tion device, e.g. an injection cannula or injection needle. The membrane can e.g. have predetermined breaking points and is in particular slotted. Preferably the membrane is of silicone. Altematively or additionally a membrane can also be provided on the first through opening.

To improve the sample bottle sealing effect, according to the invention on the second bottle can be provided an in particular domed seal for sealing the first through opening.
A domed seaf can be understood to mean a flat seal which projects convexly on the second cover for engagement in the first through opening. The seal can in particular form a ball seat in the second through opening. Advantageously the seal is placed on the second cover in such a way that it sealingly engages on the first through opening in the removal area of the second cover_ Particularly for automatic or semiautomatic filling of the sample bottle, it is possible to provide on the bottle body at least one projection, particularly a holding web, and/or a depression for the positive retention of the bottle body in a bottle receptacle. Through such a projection and such a depression it is also possible to positively hold in the bottle receptacle an otherwise cross-sectionally round bottle body. Appropriately the web runs in the axial direction of the bottle body.

To achieve a partlcularly reliable association of samples, it is advantageous, particularly on the bottie body, to form a holding device for a tag. To make difficult manipulation by replacing tags, the holding device can be constructed for manipulat-on-proof holding of the tags. To this end the holding device can e.g. have a locking closure with a barb.
The tag is appropriately constructed as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, which has an electronic random access memory writable and/or readable by means of electromagnetic waves. A bar code can also be applied, e.g. printed onto the sample bottle for identification purposes.

The inventive sampling method is perfonned with an inventive sample bottle.
The method is characterized In that - the sample bottle is introduced axially into a bottle receptacle, - the sample bottle in the sample receptacle is fixed particularly in torque-proof manner in at least one direction, - the position of the second cover on the first cover and/or the Integrity of a membrane placed on the second through opening is determined, - in the absence of a predetermined starting position of the second cover and/or In the presence of a damaged membrane an error signal is outputted and filling is broken off and otherwise - at least part of the second cover Is moved, particularly rotated into a filling area, in which the first through opening at ieast partly coincides with the second through opening, subsequently, particularly accompanied by the perforation of the membrane, a sample is filled into the sample bottle through the coinciding through openings, - the second cover is then moved, particularly rotated into a removal area, in which the second cover seals the first through opening and - subsequently the sample bottle is released from the bottle receptacle.
Corresponding to preferred variants of the inventive sample boitle, in which the second cover rotates relative to the first cover, a particularly preferred variant of the inventive method consists of the sample bottle being initially fixed in torque-proof manner in the bottle receptacle, that the rotary position of the second cover on the first cover and/or the integrity of a membrane placed on the second through opening is determined, that the second cover is rotated into the filling area and that the second cover, after filling the sample, Is rotated into the removal area.

It is fundamentally also possible for a covering part of the second cover to be displaced from a starting position, via the filling area, into the removal area.

The invention is described In greater detail hereinafter relative to preferred embodi-ments and the attached diagrammatic drawings, wherein show:

Figs. 1 to 3 Different perspective exploded views of an inventive sample bottle' with detached second cover and detached tag.

Fig. 4 An exploded view from the side of the sample bottle of figs. I to 3.
Fig. 5 A sectional side, exploded view of the sample bottle of tigs, 1 to 4.
Fig. 6 A perspective view of an assembled sample bottle accordingto figs.
1 to 5 in the transportation state prior to sampling.

Fig. 7 A plan view of the sample boitle of figs. I to 6 to Illustrate the differ-ent rotation positions of the second cover.
Figs. 8 and 9 Sectional detail side views of the second cover in the vicinity of the second through opening on perforating a membrane.

Fig. 10 A side view of a sample bottle on insertion Into a bottle receptacle.
Fig. 11 A side view of a sample bottle in a bottle receptacle with mounted sampling device.

Fig. 12 A plan view of a first variant of a sample bottle with a multipart sec-ond cover.

Fig. 13 A plan view of a second variant of the inventive sample bottle with a multipart second cover.

Fig. 14 A plan view of the sample bottle of fig. 13, where the second cover is in the removal position.

Identically operating elements are given the same reference numerals throughout.

An embodiment of an inventive sample bottle is shown in figs. I to 11. The sample bot-tle has a bottle body 1 with a cylinder barrel-like jacket element 2, which is terminated in its lower area by a circular disk-like bottom element 3. A cylindrical receiving chamber 6 is fornned by jacket element 2 and bottom element 3 In the interior of bottle body 1. On the top end face of the jacket element 2 the botUe body 1 is open, accompanied by the formation of a circular removal opening 7 in the cross-section of bottle body 1. Through' said removal opening 7 a sample can be introduced into the receiving chamber 6, the sample can be removed from receiving chamber 6 and sample analyzing devices can be introduced into receiving chamber 6.

For the fluid-tight sealing of receiving chamber 6, up to sample analysis in the laboratory removal opening 7 can be closed by a first cover 10. Said first cover 10 is in the form of a hinged cover pivotably mounted by means of a film hinge 18 on jacket element 2 of bottle body 1. The film hinge 18 has a plastic strip, on which is centrally formed a wall thickness reduction, where the film hinge 18 is bendable.

On the side of bottle body I radially facing film hinge 18 is provided a closure device 30, by means of which, accompanied by the sealing of removal opening 7, the first cover 10 can be fixed on jacket element 2. As can in particular be gathered from figs.
1, 3 and 4, closure device 30 has a holding tongue 32, which projects radially from jacket element 2 in the upper area of bottle body 1. Closure device 30 also has a lifting tongue 34, which projects radially on the first cover 10 constructed with an approximately circular outer circumference. The two tongues 32, 34 and film hinge 18 are positioned in such a way that when the first cover 10 is closed, the lifting tongue 34 is positioned axially above holding tongue 32. On holding tongue 32 fs provided a locking pin 36 running upwards in the axial direction of bottle body 1. Locking pin 36 has a mushroom-shaped head 37 which, when the first cover 10 is closed, passes through a closure opening In lifting tongue 34 for locking closure device 30. The mushroom-shaped head 37, like the entire-sampie bottie, is made from an elastic plastics material. Due to said elasticity, the mushroom-shaped head 37 on passing through the closure opening is compressed for (ocking purposes and in this way can pass through the smaller diameter closure open-ing. Without auxiliary means, a removal of locking pin 36 from lifting tongue 34 Is im-possible without destroying or at least visually changing the same, because the under-side of mushroom head 37 rests flat on lifting tongue 34. The mushroom head 37 con-sequently functions as a barb, which effectively forms a manipulation-proof closure.

A destruction of locking pin 36 for opening the first cover 10 can in particular be visuaiiy or electronically detected. To facilitate the opening of closure device 30 and therefore cover 10 whilst destroying the locking pin 36, on the latter is provided a predetermined breaking point 39 on which the locking pin 36 has a reduced material thickness. In ad-dition, predetermined breaking points can also be provided on holding tongue 32, lifting tongue 34 and/or film hinge 18.

In the cross-section of bottle body 1, lifting tongue 34 has a larger area than holding tongue 32. On jacket element 2 of bottle body 1 a holding ring 44 is provided level with holding tongue 32 and passes in ring-like manner around jacket element 2. To facilitate the manual opening of the first cover 10 on its top surface holding ring 44 is constructed with a radially planar holding face. As can in particular be gathered from fig. 5, the closed first cover 10 engages via sealing lips 13 on the top collar of bottle body 1 and thereby seals removal opening 7. The cover 10 is cap-like and has a cross-sectionally larger diameter than jacket element 2 at removal opening 7.

The first cover 10 is oniy opened In the analytical laboratory. Prior to initiating analysis, it is possible to e.g. fully automaticaliy check the integrity of the sample bottle, particu-larly of the closure device 30.

The first cover 10 constructed as a closure cap is centrally provided with a cup-shaped depression 17 which, when the cover 10 is closed, projects into receiving chamber 6 of boftie body 1. For example by pressing during or after the production process, into the first cover 10 is rotatably integrated a second cover 20 in such a way that the latter is received in the cup-shaped depression 17.

As can in particular be seen in figs. 1 to 3, the second cover 20 is cup-shaped with a cylinder barrel-like side wall 26 and a circular disk-like bottom wall 27 an-anged at the botiom thereof. On the side wall 26 is provided a stop pawl 25, which Is constructed integrally with the second cover 20 and projects at an angle from side wall 26. In a cyl-inder barrel-like side wall 16 of the cup-shaped depression 17 of the first cover 10 are formed three recesses 15, 15', 15" corresponding to the stop pawl 25. Recesses 15, 15', 15" are formed by wedge-shaped'wall tapers of the side wall 16. Stop pawl 25 and recesses 15, 15', 15" form a locking device only permitting the rotation of second cover 20 in an operating rotation direction. As can in particular be gathered from fig. 7, said operating rotation direction is In the present example counterclockwise.

To prevent a complete rotation of the second cover 20 on the first cover 10 in the oper-ating rotation direction, a stop mechanism is provided. As can be gathered from figs. 1 and 2, said stop mechanism has a stop web 52, which runs axially on side wall 26 of second cover 20. The stop web 52 is placed on the side of the second cover 20 oppo-site to stop pawl 25. As can in particular be seen in figs. 2 and 5, the stop mechanism also has also a stop face 53, which is formed by a step-like wall thickness increase on the side wall 16 of first cover 10. If the second cover 20 is rotated up to a predeter-mined maximum rotation angle a, the stop web 52 engages on stop face 53 and a fur-ther rotation of second cover 20 is prevented.

As is more particularly shown in figs. 2, 8 and 9, in the inner area of the second cover 20 on bottom wall 27 there is an axially directed filling sleeve 56, which can also be called a cannula insert In said filling sleeve 56 is formed a cylindrical filling channel 57, into which can be introduced a sample filling cannula 59. Filling sieeve 56 Is sealed by a plastics material membrane 50 when delivered. On the bottom wall 27 of the second cover 20, following on to the filling sleeve 56, is provided a radially directed operating web 23, which can also be referred to as an operating engagement. By means of said operating web 23 the second cover 20 can be rotated automatically or manually.

The locking device with its stop pawi 25 and its three recesses 15, 15', 15"
defines three dwelt positions R1, R2, R3 of the second cover 20, as shown in fig. 7. These dwell po-sitions R1, R2, R3 are such that on their being exceeded in the operating rotation direc-tion it is no longer possible to rotate back the second cover 20 In the rotation direction opposed to the operating rotation direction. In dwell positions R1, R2, R3 stop pawl 25 engages in each case in one of the three recesses 15, 15', 15".

DifFerent ranges for the rotation angle a of second cover 20 on first cover 10 are pro-vided between dwell positions R1, R2 and R3. If the second cover 20 Is between the first dwell position R1 and the second dwell position R2, it Is in Installation area I in which the sample bottle is delivered. If seEond cover 20 is between the second dwell position R2 and the third dwell position R3, opver 20 is in the fiiling area II. As will be described hereinafter, in said filling area II a liiIuid passage through the two covers 10, 20 into receiving chamber 6 Is possible. If second cover 20 is between the third dwell position R3 and a maximum stop position in which the stop web 52 engages on stop face 53, then the second cover 20 is in a removal area Iit, in which receiving chamber 6 Is resealed.

In a bottom wali 19 of cup-shaped depression 17 of cover 10 is provided an eccentric through opening 11 with a circular cross-section. This first through opening 11 passes through the first closed cover 10 into receiving chamber 6. In the bottom wall 27 of sec-ond cover 20 there is also an eccentric, cross-sectionally circular, second through open-ing 22. Filling sleeve 56 is so positioned on second cover 20, that the filling channel 57 formed therein is aligned with the second through opening 22.

In installation area I and removal area III boitom wall 27 of second cover 20 Is pressed flat against bottom wall 19 of cover 10 and the first through opening 11 of first cover 10 is sealed by bottom wall 27 of second cover 20. This is illustrated in fig. 8 showing the second cover 20 in installation area I. Sealing lips can also be provided for further seal-ing. It is in particular possible to provide on bottom wall 27, as shown in fig. 5, a flat seal 28 projecting convexly from bottom wall 27 and which fonns a ball seat in the first through opening 11. There are preferably two seals 28 sealing the first through opening 11 both in installation I and in removal area Ill.

In filling area II located between Installation area I and removal area Ill the two through openings 11 and 12 at least partly coincide, i.e. they are axially aligned.
Thus, it is pos-sible in filling area II to fill liquid through the two covers 10, 20 into receiving chamber 6.
The sample bottle shown can be designed both as a disposable bottle and as a reus-able bottle, use as reusable bottles fundamentally leading to a certain extra cost, par-ticularly for cleaning purposes.

In order to bring about a clear association of the sample bottle with a supplier, it carries in the boftorn area of the bottle body 1 an electronic random access memory in the form of a tag 70, particularly a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. Before, during and/or after fi(ling it is possible to write and/or read said tag 70.
Advantageously a valid data set only arrives on tag 70 if correct sampling has been proved.

As is especially shown in figs. 3 and 5 a holding device 71 is provided for holding tag 70 on bottom element 3 of bottle body 1. This holding device 71 has a ring-like holder 74 into which can be inserted cylindrical tag 70. Holding device 71 also has a pin 76 pro-jecting axially and centrally on bottom element 3 and which when tag 70 is inserted in holder 74 passes through a central hole 73 in tag 70. Pin 76 has a mushroom-shaped barb 78 and a predetermined breaking point 77, which is broken on removing tag and consequently permits the detection of a manipulation. As is shown in fig.
3, in jacket element 2 are provided openings 79 and In ring-like holder 74 openings 80, open-ings 79 being radially aligned with openings 80. These openings 79, 80 are used for the inser#ion of a release tool, particularly a ram, for removing tag 70. Tag 70 can be re-used for economy reasons. Besides for inserting a release tool, opening 79 in jacket element 2 can also be used for sample bottle orientation, particularly on analyzing the sample in the laboratory. To avoid a 180 incorrect positioning of the bottle, openings 79 must not diagonally face one another, but must instead be somewhat offset.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a detail of a membrane or diaphragm 50, which covers the filling channel 57 of filling sleeve 56. Membrane 50 is so placed on the collar of the cannula receptacle constructed as a filling sleeve 56 by means of a hinge 51 constructed as a film hinge that after perForation with a cannula 59 it remains on the collar of filling sleeve 56. For the clearly defined perforation of membrane 50 the latter also has a predeter-mined breaking point 49.

The sequence of a typical sampling operation according to the inventive method is more particularly shown in figs. 10, 11 and 7 but hereinafter reference will be made also to the remaining drawings.

At the start of sampling the sample bottle with its bottle body 1, as indicated by the ar-row in fig. 10, is introduced axially into a cup-shaped bottle receptacle 60.
In the bottom area of bottle receptacle 60 can be provided a RFID reader 90 electromagnetically communicating with tag 70. On jacket element 2 of bottle body I are provided axially directed holding webs 41, 41', which positively lock in corresponding cutouts 62 pro-vided In the interior of bottle receptacle 60. Through the positive engagement of holding webs 41, 41' in cutouts 62 the bottle body 1 is fixed in torque-proof manner in bottle re-ceptacle 60.

After retaining bottle body 1 is received in bottle receptacle 60, the latter is moved up-wards, e.g_ through a rotary movement. The upper area of bottle body 1 with covers 10 and 20 consequently passes into a complimentary constructed sampling device 66, which can also be called a cannula-injection-rotary device. This state is illustrated in fig.
11. Advantageously the botNe receptacle 60 and sampling device 66 are so con-structed that they at least approximately completely surround the sample bottle in this state and consequently protect the same against manual manipu!ation. Bottle recepta-, cle 60 and the sample bottle are preferably made transparent or given viewing open-ings, so that it is possible to observe the sample flow, particularly milk flow, and/or sam-ple functionality.

After placing the sample bottle on the sampling device 66, it Is established by sensors 67, 67' provided on sampling device 66 whether the second cover 20 is in the installa-tion area I and whether membrane 50 is intact. If the second cover 20 has been oper-ated beforehand and is in the filling area 11 or removal area ill, this can be established through the position of operating web 23 and/or filling sleeve 56. It is In particular pos-sible to detect an incorrect setf-ciosure or form fix with respect to these elements. If the rotary position of the second cover 20 is incorrect or the membrane 50 is damaged, then sampling is stopped by a control means.

If the second cover 20 is correctly positioned in installation area I of the bottle, cannula 59 positioned above fiiling channel 57 is lowered and perforates membrane 50.
Bottle body I together with the first cover 10 is then rotated, whereas the second cover 20, particularly on operating web 23 is secured by means of the sampling device 66. The rotation of bottle body I can e.g. take place through rotating bottle receptacle 60, said rotation being passed on to bottle body I via holding webs 41, 41'. Bottle body 1 is ro-tated until dwell position R2 is exceeded and the second cover 20 is in filling area t!, in which the filling channel 57 is aligned with the first through opening 11.
Snapping in of stop pawl 25 in recess 15' prevents a rotating back of second cover 20 into installation area I.

' = CA 02574638 2007-01-19 During the rotation of bottle body I into filfing area II or following on to said rotation, cannu(a 59 can be lowered and/or bottle body 1 can be raised by raising the bottle re-ceptacle 60. Therefore cannula 50 further penetrates the filling channel 57.
The end of cannula 59 can penetrate the first through opening 11 and therefore the bottom wall 19 of first cover 10, which largely prevents contamination through spraying of sample mate-rial in the vicinity of filling sleeve 56. To ensure a reliable filling, the first through open-ing 11 can be larger than the second throcigh opening 22.

When the cannula 59 has been passed through the first through opening 11, at the end of sample filling into the receiving chamber 6 It Is drawn back again to such an extent that it no longer penetrates the first through opening 11. The cannula 59 can be com-pletely extracted from filling channel 57 or also can remain therein. However, if the cannula 59 has not been lowered through the first through opening 11, it is not neces-sary to extract ist. Rather, it can remain in the filling channel 57. However, cannula 59 can also be completely extracted from filling channel 57.

Now bottle body 1 together with cover 10 is rotated on by means of bottle receptacle 60 over holding webs 41, 41' with the second cover 20 stationary until the stop pawl 25 engages in recess 15" and consequently dwell position R3 is reached. Second cover 20 is now in removal area 111, where, by means of the stop mechanism a further rotation of second cover 20 beyond a maximum rotation angle is prevented. Stop pawl 25 pre-vents a rotating back. Thus, cover 20 can be rotated neither clockwise, nor counter-clockwise, apart from a certain predetermined clearance or tolerance.

If an attempt is made by increasing the torque on second cover 20 to rotate the latter, this leads to a destruction of the sample bottle, e.g. the predetermined breaking points on operating web 23, on film hinge 18 and/or on closure device 30.

Only on placing the second cover 20 in removal area III is it possible to downwardly re-move the sample bottle again from the vicinity of the sampling device 66, which can also be called an injection mechanism. To bring about this effect, it is e.g.
possible to provide a suitable locking mechanism which acts back on the film hinge 18 and/or clo-sure device 30_ A suitable locking mechanism e.g. has, on a sampling device 66, a groove running in the circumferential direction of bottle body I and which is constructed with axially downwardiy directed openings so that the groove is inverted U-shaped. On Inserting the bottie, bottle body 1 engages via a corresponding projection with said groove and is axially guided by the latter during the rotation of bottie body 1. As the second cover 20 is fixed by its operating web 23 on sampling device 66 and since as a result of the lock-ing device the bottte body I cannot be rotated backwards, said body 1 can only be re-moved in removal area Itl.

Aiternativety or additionally to the rotation of bottfe body 1, during sampling it is also possible to rotate second cover 20 and then bottle body 1 can optionally be fixed in torque-proof manner.

For the laboratory analysis of the sample contained in the inventive sample bottie, firstly the integrity of the bottle, particularly of closure device 30, can be checked fully auto-matically. This can take place as a result of the striking detection features in the cover-ing area, e.g. using automatic image recognition. When there are doubts concerning bottle integrity, said bottle can be removed for further visual inspection.
With the aid of opening 79 and/or holding webs 41, 41', the sample bottle can be precisely posifioned, which facilitates image recognition, However, it is also possible to use for detection purposes other sensors, e.g. light guide light barriers.

After proving the Integrity of the bottle, the locking pin 36 is released and the entire first cover 10 together with the second cover 20 located thereon is opened and raised.
Through removal opening 7 a stirrer can be introduced and the sample analyzed.

Also following the severing of locking pin 36 the two covers 10, 20 via film hinge 18 re-main on bottle body 1. Iri the case of a multiple analysis the first cover 10 can be closed again between the Individual analysis steps to prevent contamination of the sample in receiving chamber 6.

Fig. 12 shows In plan view a variant of the inventive sample bottle, in which the second cover 20 is in multipart form, comprising a cover base element 62 and a disptaceably positioned covering part 63. Cover base element 62 is fixed to the first cover, whereof figs. 12 to 14 only show film hinge 18.

A transversely directed elongated hole 64 is formed in the cover base element 62 and in it is displaceably mounted covering part 63.

Covering part 63 essentially comprises a plate displaceably arranged between the first cover and cover base element 62, as well as a filling sleeve 56 fitted thereto and which simultaneously represents the second through opening 22. In the example shown In fig.
12 on two facing sides of the filling sleeve 56 are also provided operating webs 23 with which the covering part 63 as part of the second cover 20 can be manually or automati-cally linearly displaced in a movement direction. With the situation shown in fig. 12 cov-ering part 63 is in the starting position, i_e. in the delivery state.

The variant shown in figs. 13 and 14 differs from that of fig. 12 in that there are no oper-ating webs 23 and instead covering part 63 is displaced via filling sleeve 56 with respect to cover base element 62.

Fig. 13 shows the sample bottie in the filling position, whereas the end position, i.e. the removal state is shown in fig. 14. There, the filling sleeve 56 has reached the right-hand end position of the path given by elongated hole 64. In the embodiment of figs. 13 and 14 the filling sleeve 56 consequently also consti#utes an operating slider 23.

In the variants of figs. 12 to 14 there are preferabl'y stop pawls as a locking device along the displacement path.

Additionally or alternatively on the cover base element 62, first cover and/or covering part 63 there can also be thickenings and on the in each case adjacent parts corre-sporrding recesses as locking devices. The thickenings can in particular have a hemi-spherical construction.

Claims (22)

1. Sample bottle, particularly milk sample bottle, having - a bottle body (1) in which is formed a receiving chamber (6) for receiving a sam-ple, - a first cover (10) placed on the bottle body (1) for closing the receiving chamber (6), wherein in the first cover (10) there is a first through opening (11) into the re-ceiving chamber (6), - a second cover (20) with a second through opening (22), at least part of the sec-ond cover (20) being in movable operative connection with the first cover (10) in an operating movement direction in such a way that through this movement the two through openings (11, 22) can be brought at least partly into coincidence and/or at least partly out of coincidence and - a locking device preventing a movement of the second cover (20) opposite to the operating movement direction.

2. Sample bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that the second cover (20) is in rotatable operative connection with the first cover (10) in an operating rotation direction in such a way that through this rotation the two through openings (11, 22) can be brought into at least partial coincidence and/or brought out of at least partial coincidence and that the locking device prevents a ro-tation of the second cover (20) opposite to the operating rotation direction.

3. Sample bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that the second cover (20) is constructed in multipart manner with a cover base element (62) to be firmly connected to the first cover (10) and a movable covering part (63), the second through opening (22) being formed in the movable covering part (63).

4. Sample bottle according to claim 3, characterized in that the covering part (63) has a plate-like construction for placing between the first cover (10) and the cover base element (62) of the second cover (20).

5. Sample bottle according to one of the claims 3 or 4, characterized In that the covering part (63) is mounted in guided manner along a movement path be-tween first cover (10) and cover base element (62).

6. Sample bottle according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking device has a pawl freewheel.

7. Sample bottle according to claim 6, characterized in that the pawl freewheel has at least one recess (15) located on the first cover (10) and at least one stop pawl (25) formed on the second cover (20) and in particular inte-grally therewith.

8. Sample bottle according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized In that a stop mechanism is provided limiting the rotation of the second cover (20) in the operating rotation direction.

9. Sample bottle according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the locking device has three dwell positions (R1, R2, R3) for the rotation of the sec-ond cover (20).

10. Sample bottle according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the bottle body (1) has a removal opening (7) which is detachably closable with the first cover (10).

11. Sample bottle according to claim 10, characterized in that a closure device (30), particularly a locking closure is provided, with which the first cover (10) can be fixed in manipulation-proof manner on bottle body (1) when the removal opening (7) is closed.

12. Sample bottle according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a hinge, particularly a film hinge (18) is provided and articulates the first cover (10) to bottle body (1).

13. Sample bottle according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the first cover (10) has a cup-shaped construction and that the second cover (20) is located in first cover (10).

14. Sample bottle according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that on the second cover (20) is provided an in particular radially directed operating web (23) for the rotary operation of the second cover (20) and/or that, particularly fron-tally on operating web (23), is provided a filling sleeve (56) with a filling channel (57) therein and which is in fluid connection with the second through opening (22).

15. Sample bottle according to one of the claims 1 to 14, characterized In that on the second cover (20) is provided a perforatable membrane (50) covering the second through opening (22).

16. Sample bottle according to one of the claims 1 to 15, characterized in that on the second cover (20) is provided an in particular domed seal (28) for sealing the first through opening (11).

17. Sample bottle according to one of the claims 1 to 16, characterized in that on bottle body (1) is provided at least one projection, particularly a holding web (41), and/or a depression for the positive holding of the bottle body (1) in a bottle receptacle (60).

18. Sample bottle according to one of the claims 1 to 17, characterized in that a holding device (71) for a tag (70) is more particularly provided on bottle body (1).

19. Method for sampling with a sample bottle according to one of the claims 1 to 18, wherein - the sample bottle is axially introduced into a bottle receptacle (60), - the sample bottle is fixed in at least one direction In bottle receptacle (60), - the position of the second cover (20) on the first cover (10) and/or the integrity of a membrane (50) located on the second through opening (22) is determined, - in the absence of a predetermined starting position of the second cover (20) and/or in the presence of a damaged membrane (50), an error signal is outputted and filling is stopped and otherwise - at least part of the second cover (20) is moved into a filling area (II), in which the first through opening (11) is brought into at least partial coincidence with the sec-ond through opening (22), - then and in particular accompanied by the perforation of membrane (50), a sam-ple is filled into the sample bottle through the openings (11, 22) being in coinci-dence, - the second cover (20) is then moved into a removal area (III), in which the sec-ond cover (20) seals the first through opening (11) and - the sample bottle is then freed from the bottle receptacle (60).

20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that - the sample boitle is fixed in torque-proof manner In bottfe receptacle (60), - the rotary position of the second cover (20) on the first cover (10) and/or the in-tegrity of a membrane (50) placed on the second opening (22) is determined, - the second cover (20) is rotated into the filling area and - following the filling of the sample, the second cover (20) is rotated into the re-moval area.

21. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that a covering part (63) of the second cover (20) is moved from a starting position, via the filling area into the removal area.

22. Sample bottle according to one of the claims 1 to 18, characterized in that a tag (70) is placed in manipulation-proof and in particular reusable manner in the bottom area of bottle body (1).