Sample taking device

Claim 1

An apparatus for taking samples of at least one of a toxic and radioactive substance by introducing such substance into sample vessels, comprising: a rotatable cylinder containing a recess for receiving such a sample vessel; means including a drive shaft operatively coupled to said cylinder for imparting rotary and axial movements to said cylinder for moving said recess between first and second positions; needle head filling means disposed above said cylinder at said first position of said recess for filling a sample vessel present in said recess with such substance, said cylinder being axially movable upwardly by said drive shaft for bringing said needle head filling means into engagement with such sample vessel during filling and being axially movable by said drive shaft downwardly for disengaging said needle head filling means from such sample vessel after filling; stripper means located between said cylinder and said needle head filling means for causing said needle head filling means to disengage from such sample vessel during the downward axial movement of said cylinder after filling; a housing which is open at the top, and a cover closing the top of said housing, with said cylinder, said needle head filling means and said stripper means being disposed in said housing, and said cover being provided with an opening above said needle head filling means and dimensioned to permit passage of said needle head filling means through said opening; substance supply means including a supply conduit for supplying such substance to said needle head filling means; a support disc located in said housing and provided with a receiving bore for supporting said needle head filling means while permitting said needle head filling means to be removed from said receiving bore and withdrawn from said housing via said opening in said cover, said support disc being further provided with a fluid flow bore located for placing said supply conduit in fluid flow communication with said needle head filling means; and vessel conveying means including a vessel transporting conduit having one end extending into said housing to a location associated with said second position of said recess.

Claim 2

An apparatus for taking samples of at least one of a toxic and radioactive substance by introducing such substance into sample vessels, comprising: a rotatable cylinder containing a recess for receiving such a sample vessel; means including a drive shaft operatively coupled to said cylinder for imparting rotary and axial movements to said cylinder for moving said recess between first and second positions; needle head filling means disposed above said cylinder at said first position of said recess for filling a sample vessel present in said recess with such substance, said cylinder being axially movable upwardly by said drive shaft for bringing said needle head filling means into engagement with such sample vessel during filling and being axially movable by said drive shaft downwardly for disengaging said needle head filling means from such sample vessel after filling; stripper means located between said cylinder and said needle head filling means for causing said needle head filling means to disengage from such sample vessel during the downward axial movement of said cylinder after filling; a housing which is open at the top, and a cover closing the top of said housing, with said cylinder, said needle head filling means and said stripper means being disposed in said housing, and said cover being provided with an opening above said needle head filling means and dimensioned to permit passage of said needle head filling means through said opening; substance supply means including a supply conduit for supplying such substance to said needle head filling means; a support disc located in said housing and provided with a receiving bore for supporting said needle head filling means while permitting said needle head filling means to be removed from said receiving bore and withdrawn from said housing via said opening in said cover, said support disc being further provided with a fluid flow bore located for placing said supply conduit in fluid flow communication with said needle head filling means; and vessel conveying means including a vessel transporting conduit having one end extending into said housing to a location associated with said second position of said recess.