[001] The present invention relates to an improved sampling apparatus. “Sampling” is defined as the activity of providing or trying a small amount of a product so that an individual can decide whether to buy said product or not. A sampling apparatus according to the invention is an apparatus configured to dispense small packed or unpacked items, free of charge. “Small item” is defined as a light item, easy to hold in the palm of a person’s hand.

[002] Various sampling apparatuses are known in the art, such as those for dispensing beverages, food or snacks, but they all exhibit the disadvantages of having complicated mechanisms (reason why they are expensive) and of being heavy and voluminous (thus difficult to be transported from one place to another). Those are actually vending machines that have been adapted to sampling activities.

[003] The scope of the present invention is to provide a sampling apparatus that is very simple, light in weight, has a small volume, that can be placed in a store, on a shelf, near the promoted product(s), or outside the store, indoor or outdoor, that has an improved control over the dispensed items and that has an improved control over the re-filling with items. Another scope of the invention is to provide an automatic feeder configured to work in co-operation with the sampling apparatus, with the purpose of further improving the items re-filling control, mainly providing a number of items that is sufficient for several re-fillings of the sampling apparatus - for example, in the case of a sampling campaign that lasts several days.

[004] The sampling apparatus according to the invention comprises:

- a control unit,

- a plate provided with a peripheral through hole,

- a plurality of hollow recipients arranged on the plate, wherein each recipient:

-- is open at both of its ends,

-- has a base area larger than a peripheral through hole’s area (thus the recipient cannot fall through the peripheral through hole),

- is capable to accommodate a plurality of stacked items, -- is provided with a sensor capable to detect the number of items inside said recipient,

- a circular retaining means arranged on the plate, for retaining the recipients on the plate (in this case, “circula means that the retaining means has a circular contour),

- a first driving system controlled by the control unit, capable to move any of the recipients in respect to the plate from a position where said recipient is not centered above the peripheral through hole to a position where said recipient is centered above the peripheral through hole, and vice-versa (in this case “centered’ means that the base of the recipient entirely overlaps the through hole), wherein the peripheral through hole is dimensioned such that an item can pass through the peripheral through hole,

- a second driving system controlled by the control unit, and connected to a tray, and capable to move the tray vertically between a first extreme position and a second extreme position, and vice-versa, wherein the tray has an upper area of between 50-95% of the area of the through hole, wherein in the first extreme position, the tray is situated at least partially inside the peripheral through hole and substantially flush with the plate, wherein in the second extreme position, the tray is situated at a distance below the plate, said distance being greater than a thickness of the item,

- a pushing member arranged between the plate and the tray, drivable by a third driving system controlled by the control unit, and capable to push the item from the tray onto a receiving element, until the item falls beyond an edge of the receiving element.

[005] In a preferred embodiment, the sampling apparatus according to the invention further comprises: a housing, a counter capable to count the number of items passing through the peripheral through hole in a given amount of time, a detector capable to detect the presence of a user in the proximity of the apparatus, a display capable to display videos and images, a speaker capable to play audio sounds, a display zone configured to render accessible, for the user, the item after it fell off the receiving element, an item presence detector capable to detect the presence/absence of an item in the display zone, a GPS, Wi-Fi or GSM antenna modem and a SIM card modem.

[006] In a preferred embodiment, the sampling apparatus according to the invention further comprises heating means and/or refrigerating means for heating and respectively for refrigerating the items.

[007] In a preferred embodiment, the sampling apparatus according to the invention is configured to ensure the presence of an item in the display zone whenever the detector detects the presence of a user in the proximity of the apparatus or when the item presence detector detects the absence of an item in the display zone.

[008] In a preferred embodiment, the sampling apparatus according to the invention further comprises a drawer, slidable in respect to the housing, inside the drawer being arranged at least the display, the plate, the recipients, the retaining means, the tray, the pushing member and the receiving element.

[009] In a preferred embodiment, the sampling apparatus according to the invention further comprises a software, stored in a hardware with memory controlled by the control unit, for audio-video interaction with a user.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the sampling apparatus according to the invention is provided with a software stored in a hardware with memory controlled by the control unit and is connected via internet to a server or a website, said server or website being also connected to at least one further sampling apparatus; said software being designed for audio-video interaction with a user, said software being capable to send, to a database stored in “the cloud” or on a server, information related to the sampling apparatus state and/or to the items, and also related to the location of the sampling apparatus, the sampling apparatus being controlled, and said database being accessible, via internet, by means of a program installed on one or more remote intelligent electronic devices. “The cloud’ has the meaning of server(s) owned and managed by a hosting company that is different from the proprietor of the stored data.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the sampling apparatus according to the invention further comprises:

- a container capable to accommodate a plurality of items, and having a base provided with an outlet situated in a central zone of the base, the base being configured such that the items are constrained to move under their own weight towards and through the outlet,

- a plurality of vibrating elements capable to vibrate the container,

- a conduit connecting the outlet to a through hole provided in an upper panel situated below the container,

- a lower panel situated below the upper panel, provided with a through hole, and kept at a distance in respect to the upper panel by means of a spacer, said distance being greater than a thickness of an item,

- the lower panel resting on top of the recipients, the recipients being capable to move in respect to the lower panel,

- the outlet, the conduit, the upper panel through hole and the lower panel through hole are all dimensioned such that they allow the passing through of an item,

- the upper panel through hole being offset in respect to the lower panel through hole, such that an item passing through the upper panel through hole falls onto the lower panel,

- the lower panel through hole being centered in respect to the plate through hole,

- a pusher arranged between the upper panel and the lower panel, and drivable by a fourth driving system controlled by the control unit, and capable to push an item situated on the lower panel until said item falls through the lower panel through hole. [0012] In a preferred embodiment, the sampling apparatus according to the invention further comprises:

- a container capable to accommodate a plurality of items and having a base provided with an outlet situated in a central zone of the base, the base being configured such that the items are constrained to move under their own weight towards and through the outlet,

- a plurality of vibrating elements capable to vibrate the container,

- a conduit connecting the outlet to a through hole provided in a lower panel that rests on top of the recipients, the recipients being capable to move in respect to the lower panel,

- the outlet, the conduit and the lower panel through hole are both dimensioned such that they allow the passing through of an item,

- the lower panel through hole is positioned such that one recipient can be centered in respect to both the plate through hole and the lower panel through hole. [0013] In a preferred embodiment, the lower panel through hole is provided with a movable flap capable to obturate, in a reversible manner, the lower panel through hole.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the container is provided with refrigerating and/or heating means for keeping the temperature inside the container within a desired temperature range.

[0015] The following non-limiting embodiments of a sampling apparatus according to the invention relate to Figures 1-18, representing:

Fig. 1 : the sampling apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 2: the sampling apparatus from Figure 1 , with the tray in a different position;

Fig. 3: some components of the sampling apparatus, in a partial exploded view;

Fig. 4: the components of Figure 3, in normal view from above;

Fig. 5: view of some of the components of the sampling apparatus;

Figs. 6A-6D: moving sequences of the pushing member;

Figs. 7A-7FI: operation steps of the sampling apparatus;

Fig. 8-9: the sampling apparatus including the housing and the drawer;

Fig. 10: the sampling apparatus placed on a products shelf;

Figs. 11-12: sampling apparatus according to the invention further comprising a first type of automatic feeder;

Figs. 13A-13D: operation steps of the sampling apparatus of Figs. 11-12;

Figs. 14: schematic view of the sampling apparatus comprising the automatic feeder; Fig. 15: the sampling apparatus comprising the automatic feeder placed on products shelves;

Figs.16A-16B: the first type of automatic feeder according to the invention;

Figs. 17A-17B: sampling apparatus according to the invention further comprising a second type of automatic feeder;

Figs. 18A-18B: operation steps of the sampling apparatus of figs. 17A-17B.

[0016] Figure 1 shows a sampling apparatus according to the invention, comprising: - a plate 1 provided with a peripheral through hole 2; by “peripheral’ is meant a region closer to the contour of the plate than to the central region of the plate; the plate 1 is preferably circular, but may have any other suitable shape (ex.: oval, square, etc.)

- a plurality of hollow recipients 3 arranged on the plate 1, wherein each recipient 3 is open at both of its ends (i.e. at its upper end and at its lower end; in other words, each recipient is not provided with the upper and lower base surfaces), has a base area larger than the peripheral through hole’s 2 area, and is capable to accommodate a plurality of stacked items 4 (not represented inside the recipients of Figure 1 , for simplicity reason); each recipient 3 is provided with a sensor 11 capable to detect the number of items inside said recipient 3,

- a circular retaining means R for retaining each recipient 3 on the plate 1 in a fixed position in respect to the other recipients,

- a first driving system 5, comprising a plurality of teeth 5.1 provided on the lateral contour (i.e. lateral surface) of the retaining means R, a sprocket 5.2 and a motor 5.3; the sprocket 5.2 is in mesh at any given time with some of the teeth 5.1 and is driven by the motor 5.3; the motor 5.3 is capable to drive the sprocket 5.2 which drives (meshing with the teeth 5.1) the retaining means R together with the recipients 3, in a rotation movement. The first driving system 5 is controlled by a control unit (not shown in the figures, for simplicity reason) and is capable to move any of the recipients 3 in respect to the plate 1 from a position where said recipient 3 is not above the peripheral through hole 2 to a position where said recipient 3 is centered above the peripheral through hole 2, and vice-versa. By “centered’ is meant that the base of the recipient entirely overlaps the through hole. The peripheral through hole 2 is dimensioned such that an item can pass through the peripheral through hole 2. The first driving system 5 is not limited to the embodiment of Figure 1 (i.e. motor + sprocket + teeth): any other suitable embodiment of driving system 5 may be used;

- a tray 6 situated under the hole 2, at a distance from the plate 1 that is bigger than the thickness of any of the items 4; the tray 6 has an upper area of between 50-95% of the area of the through hole 2,

- a second driving system 7, also controlled by the control unit, is connected to the tray 6, and is capable to move the tray 6 vertically (i.e. perpendicularly to the plate 1) between a first extreme position and a second extreme position, and vice-versa. In the first extreme position, the tray 6 is situated at least partially inside the peripheral through hole 2 and substantially flush with the plate 1 (as shown in Figure 2); in the second extreme position (as shown in Figure 1), the tray 6 is situated at a distance below the plate 1 , said distance being greater than a height of the item 4,

- a pushing member 8, arranged between the plate 1 and the tray 6, and drivable by a third driving system (not represented in Figure 1 , for simplicity reason) controlled by the control unit, and capable to push the item 4 from the tray 6 onto a receiving element 10, until the item 4 falls beyond an edge of the receiving element 10. The receiving element 10 has a fixed position, and its upper surface is preferably situated flush with the upper surface of the tray 6 when the tray 6 is in its second extreme position (as shown in the Figs.1 , 5, 7B-7D, 7G, 7H, 17A, 17B and 18B).

In Figure 1 , the recipients 3 are cylinders, the peripheral through hole 2 has a circular shape and the tray 6 has also a circular shape. Flowever, the invention is not limited to the afore-mentioned shapes; the cross-section of the recipients 3, of the peripheral through hole 2 and of the tray 6 may have any suitable shape, provided that the other conditions specified in the present paragraph 0016 are met.

[0017] Figure 2 shows the same apparatus of Figure 1 ; while in Figure 1 the tray 6 is in its second extreme position, at the maximum distance below the plate 1, in Figure 2 the tray 6 is in its first extreme position, inside the through hole 2 and substantially flush with the plate 1.

[0018] Figure 3 shows, from a different angle (i.e. from above), some of the apparatus components of Figure 1 , but also some further components, namely:

- a rod A, fixed to the center of the plate 1 and perpendicular to the plate 1. The circular retaining means R is provided with a central aperture (which is in fact a through hole) configured to allow the rod A to pass through said central aperture;

- the edge of the through hole 2 is provided with a counter C capable to count the number of items passing through the hole 2 in a given amount of time.

In Figure 3, the plate 1 and the retaining means R with the recipients 3 are represented spaced apart, in a concentric arrangement.

[0019] Figure 4 shows the same concentric arrangement of Figure 3, wherein the plate 1 is in contact with the retaining means R and with the recipients 3. In fact, the retaining means R and the recipients 3 rest on the plate 1, while the rod A protrudes through the retaining means R.

The retaining means R together with the recipients 3 are capable to move freely, either in vertical direction along the length of the rod A, or about the rod A.

[0020] The apparatus according to the invention may have five recipients, as depicted in Figures 1-4, but it is not limited to this number: in other embodiments it may have less or more than five recipients.

[0021] Figure 5 shows, from a different angle and from above some of the apparatus components of Figure 1 , namely:

- the tray 6 that, when driven by the second driving system 7, is capable to move vertically (i.e. perpendicularly to the plate 1), as indicated by the vertical double arrow;

- the pushing member 8 that, when driven by the third driving system 9, is capable to move horizontally (i.e. parallel to the plate 1) as indicated by the horizontal double arrow; the third driving system 9 comprises, for example, a motor 9.1 and a threaded shaft 9.2; the third driving system 9 is not limited to the embodiment of Figure 5 (i.e. motor + threaded shaft): any other suitable embodiment of driving system 5 may be used (for example motor + piston);

- the receiving element 10 situated flush with the tray 6.

The second driving system 7 comprises, for example (but not being limited to this example only), a motor (not represented in the figures, for simplicity reason) capable to move a platform connected to the tray 6.

[0022] Figures 6A - 6D show the moving sequences of the pushing member 8.

The pushing member 8 has a threaded hole such that the threaded shaft 9.2 can be screwed in said threaded hole.

The motor 9.1 and the threaded shaft 9.2 are fixed relative to the tray 6. Consequently, when the threaded shaft 9.2 rotates, the pushing member 8 is moved along the threaded shaft’s length. The moving direction of the pushing member 8 depends on the rotation direction of the threaded shaft 9.2. [0023] Figures 7 A - 7H show, schematically, the operation steps of the sampling apparatus according to the invention.

[0024] Initially, as shown in Figure 7A, all the recipients are completely filled with stacked items 4. Each recipient is filled with four items 4, but in practice the number of items may vary (more or less than four items), depending on the actual situation. A first recipient 3.1 is centered above the peripheral through hole 2. The tray 6 is in its first extreme position, flush with the plate 1. The last (lowermost) item 4.1a from said first recipient 3.1 is in contact with the tray 6. The receiving element 10 is for example a slab 10 provided with an opening G such that when the tray 6 is flush with the slab 10, the tray is situated inside the opening G (as in Figure 7B).

[0025] Next, as shown in Figure 7B, the tray 6 is brought to its second extreme position, below the plate 1. Said last item 4.1a will pass through the open lower end of the recipient 3.1 and then through the peripheral through hole 2, while all the items 4 remain stacked.

[0026] Next, as shown in Figure 7C, the pushing member 8, that preferably has a flattened elongated shape and is substantially parallel to the plate 1, pushes the item 4.1a from the tray 6 onto the receiving element 10 until the item 4.1a falls beyond the edge of the receiving element 10. The next to last item 4.1b that was on top of the last item 4.1a (dispensed beyond the edge of the receiving element 10) now rests on the pushing member 8.

[0027] Next, as shown in Figure 7D, the pushing member 8 retracts to its initial position from Figure 7A. Consequently, the previously next to last item 4.1b (presently the last item) falls through the hole 2 onto the tray 6.

One of the purposes of the apparatus according to the invention is to ensure a uniform dispensing of the items 4. In other words, to avoid the situation where one or some of the recipients 3 are completely empty or almost empty, while the other recipients 3 are full or completely full. This goal is achieved in the next operation steps.

[0028] In the next step, as shown in Figure 7E, the tray 6 moves to its first extreme position, flush with the plate 1. The positions of all the apparatus components of Figure 7E are identical to the positions of Figure 7A (except for the item 4.1a missing from recipient 3.1). [0029] Next, as shown in Figure 7F, the retaining means R rotates together with the recipients 3, such that the recipient 3.1 is no longer centered above the peripheral through hole 2, while, on the other hand, another recipient 3.2 is now centered above the peripheral through hole 2.

[0030] Next, as shown in Figure 7G, the tray 6 will move to its second extreme position, below the plate 1. The last item 4.2a from the recipient 3.2 will pass through the open lower end of the recipient 3.2 and then through the peripheral through hole 2, while all the items remain stacked.

[0031] Next, as shown in Figure 7H, the pushing member 8, pushes the item 4.2a from the tray 6 onto the receiving element 10 until the item 4.2a falls beyond the edge of the receiving element 10. The next to last item 4.2b that was on top of the last item 4.2a (dispensed beyond the edge of the receiving element 10) now rests on the pushing member 8.

At present, both recipients 3.1 and 3.2 have three items each.

The previous steps will repeat accordingly, until all the recipients remain with three items each, then until all the recipients remain with two items each, and so on, until all the recipients are completely empty.

[0032] Figure 8 shows a sampling apparatus according to the invention further comprising:

- a housing H accommodating the apparatus components;

- a detector 12 capable to detect the presence of a user in the proximity of the sampling apparatus;

- a display 13;

- a speaker 14.

The apparatus further comprises a drawer D capable to slide inside and outside of the housing H. The drawer D has a so-called display zone Z, provided in a cut-out of the drawer D, where an item 4 lands after falling off the receiving element 10. A user can see and grab an item 4 from the display zone Z. Figure 8 shows the drawer D inside the housing H, while Figure 9 shows the drawer D partially outside the housing H. The sliding motion takes place, for example, along a pair of groves (not represented in Figure 9) that match a corresponding pair of rails 16 provided on the drawer D. The drawer D is configured such that it can slide together with at least: the display 13, the recipients 3, the retaining means R, the plate 1, the pushing member 8, the receiving element 10 and the tray 6. When the sampling apparatus is in use, the drawer D is in a position wherein all the parts mentioned in the previous sentence, except the screen of the display 12, are situated inside the housing H. When the recipients 3 need to be refilled, or for servicing purpose, the drawer slides in a position wherein all the parts mentioned above are exposed outside the housing H and can be manipulated by a user.

The drawer D may also be provided with a lock L (for preventing unauthorized access inside the housing H) and a handle 15 (for pulling the drawer D outside the housing H).

The sampling apparatus also comprises (not represented in the figures, for simplicity reason) a battery and a plug for power supply from the electric power supply network, as well as an item presence detector (which is different from the detector 12) capable to detect the presence/absence of an item 4 in the display zone Z.

The sampling apparatus may also comprise one or more of the following components: a heating means, a refrigerating means, a GSM antenna modem, a Wi Fi antenna modem, a GPS antenna modem, a SIM card modem.

[0033] The display 13 is preferably resistant to low temperatures, as low as -15°C, so that the sampling apparatus can be placed outdoor, even during the cold season. A video message may be displayed on the display 13 and/or audio sounds may be played by the speaker 14 whenever the detector 12 detects the presence of a user, (for example within a 2 meters distance from the sampling apparatus).

[0034] An item 4 may be dispensed whenever the detector 12 detects the presence of a user in the proximity of the sampling apparatus or when the item presence detector detects the absence of an item 4 in the display zone Z.

[0035] The sampling apparatus may further comprise a software stored in a hardware with memory controlled by the control unit, for audio-video interaction with a user. By means of said software, data can be exchanged (sent or received), via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Infrared, between the sampling apparatus and a user device (such as a smartphone or a tablet). [0036] A plurality of sampling apparatuses may be part of a centralized data communication system. All the sampling apparatuses are provided with a hardware with software stored in a memory controlled by the control unit and are connected via internet (through Wi-Fi and/or through a modem for accessing the GSM network by means of a SIM card). Said software is capable to send information related to the sampling apparatus and/or to the samples to a database stored in “the cloud” or on a Central Server.

The display 13 can show videos and the speaker 14 can play sounds, streamed from the Central Server or saved locally in the sampling apparatus memory.

The control unit of each sampling apparatus can count the number of items 4 inside each recipient 3 after each refill, as well as the total number of dispensed items 4 (counted by the counter C), and send all this data to the database.

Each sampling apparatus has its individual ID and can send localization information by means of GPS to the database.

The sampling apparatuses as well as all the data stored in the database can be controlled, via internet, by means of a program installed on one or more remote intelligent electronic devices, such as desktop PC, laptop, tablet, mobile phone, by means of an adequate program (by program is meant a software such an application) installed on said devices.

By means of said software, data referring to the sampling apparatus position and/or ID, along with the data referring to item’s management, can be sent via internet. Said data sent by the sampling apparatuses is received by a data base, hosted on the internet (in “the cloud”) or on a server. The data from the database is accessed by a user by means of a management program installed on a remote device such as a desktop PC, tablet or smartphone. In other words, by means of the program, database and software, a user can remotely manage the sampling apparatuses.

[0037] Figure 10 shows the sampling apparatus of Figure 8 placed on a shelf among other products, thus highlighting the approximate relative size of the apparatus.

[0038] After all the items 4 from the recipients 3 have been dispensed, the empty recipients 3 are usually manually re-filled by an operator. Depending on the particular conditions, the operator may re-fill the recipients 3 more often (for example several times a day, or every day) or more rarely (for example every few days). Re-filling often the recipients 3 is a time-consuming activity, thus it would prove advantageous to re-fill the recipients 3 automatically, with items 4 stored in a separate container. In other words, it would be advantageous to connect the sampling apparatus to an automatic feeder configured to automatically feed the recipients 3 with items 4. Said automatic feeder would in fact work together with the sampling apparatus.

[0039] Figure 11 shows the sampling apparatus according to the invention, further comprising a first type of automatic feeder. The automatic feeder comprises a container 17 that can accommodate a plurality of items 4. For example, the total number of items 4 that can be held within the container 17 are enough to re-fill ten times each of the recipient 3. The bottom B (i.e. the base) of the container 17 is provided with an outlet 18 situated in a central zone of the base B. The base B of the container 17 is configured such that the items 4 are constrained to move under their own weight towards and through the outlet 18. The base B may have, for example, a reversed pyramidal frustum shape, as shown in Figure 11 , or any other adequate shape, such as a reverse conical frustum shape, etc.

The automatic feeder also comprises a plurality of vibrating elements 19, capable to vibrate the container 17 and thus, on one hand, to ensure that the outlet 18 will not be clogged by items 4 and, on the other hand, to help the movement of the items 4 towards the outlet 18.

The automatic feeder also comprises (depicted more clearly in Figure 13A) a conduit 20 connecting the outlet 18 to a through hole H1 provided in an upper panel P1. The upper panel P1 is situated below the container 17 and is kept at a distance in respect to a lower panel P2 by means of a spacer S. The distance between the upper panel P1 and the lower panel P2 is greater than the thickness/height of an item 4. The lower panel P2 rests on top of the recipients 3 and is provided with a through hole H2. The recipients 3 are free to move in respect to the lower panel P2.

The outlet 18, the conduit 20 and the through holes H1 and H2 are all dimensioned such that an item 4 can pass through any of said outlet 18, conduit 20 and through holes H1, H2. The cross-section of the conduit 20 is substantially constant; in Figs. 1 1 -12, the cross-section of the conduit 20 and the size of the items 4 are variable because the drawing intended to express perspective.

The upper panel through hole H1 is offset in respect to the lower panel through hole H2, such that an item 4 passing through the upper panel through hole H1 falls onto the lower panel P2. The lower panel through hole H2 is centered in respect to the plate through hole 2.

The automatic feeder further comprises a pusher 21 arranged between the upper panel P1 and the lower panel P2, and drivable by a fourth driving system 22 that is capable to push an item 4 situated on the lower panel P2 until said item 4 falls through the lower panel through hole H2 into a recipient 3. The fourth driving system 22 is controlled by the same control unit that controls the other three driving systems 5, 7 and 9.

The pusher 21 together with its corresponding driving system 22 are identical (from the operational point of view; the dimensions may not be identical) to the pushing member 8 and its corresponding driving system 9.

In Figure 1 1 , an item 4 fed by the conduit 20 is situated on the lower panel P2.

[0040] Figure 12 shows the automatic feeder of Figure 1 1 , wherein the item 4 was pushed by the pusher 21 to a position above the lower panel through hole H2. Obviously, from this position, the item 4 will fall through the through hole H2 into a recipient 3.

[0041] Figures 13A - 13D show, schematically, the operation steps of the sampling apparatus according to the invention provided with the first type of automatic feeder. [0042] Initially, as shown in Figure 13A, all the recipients are completely empty. A plurality of items 4, fallen under their own weight from the container 17 (not shown), are stacked inside the conduit 20. The last item 4 of the stack rests on the lower panel P2, while the tray 6 is in its first extreme position, flush with the plate 1. A first recipient 3.1 is arranged centered in respect to the lower panel through hole H2 and the plate peripheral through hole 2.

[0043] Next, the pusher 21 pushes one item 4 at a time until the first recipient 3.1 is filled with items 4, as shown in Figure 13B. [0044] Next, as shown in Figure 13C, the retaining means R rotates together with the recipients, such that the first recipient 3.1 (presently full with items 4) is no longer centered in respect to the through holes 2 and H2, but a second empty recipient 3.2 is now centered in respect to the through holes 2 and H2.

[0045] Next, the pusher 21 pushes one item 4 at a time until the second recipient 3.2 is filled with items 4, as shown in Figure 13D.

[0046] The previous steps will repeat until all the recipients are completely filled with items 4.

[0047] Figure 14 shows a schematic view of the sampling apparatus provided with the automatic feeder.

[0048] Figure 15 shows the sampling apparatus provided with the automatic feeder (of which only the container is visible) placed among other products, thus highlighting their approximate relative sizes.

[0049] Figures 16A and 16B show exclusively the components of the first type of automatic feeder.

[0050] The container 17 may be provided with refrigerating and/or heating means 23 (as shown in Figures 11 , 12, 14, 16A, 16B) for keeping the items 4 inside the container 17 within a desired or prescribed temperature range.

[0051] Figures 17A and 17B show the sampling apparatus according to the invention, further comprising a second type of automatic feeder (instead of the first type of automatic feeder). The differences between the second type and the first type of automatic feeder consist in that:

- the first panel P1, the spacer S and the pusher 21 are absent,

- the end of conduit 20 is connected to the hole H2 of the lower panel P2.

Instead of filling each recipient 3 with one item at a time by means of the pusher 21, in the second type of automatic feeder only one recipient 3 is continuously filled with a plurality of items 4 falling gravitationally from the conduit 20; the rest of the recipients remain empty (will not be used in operation). The receiving element 10 is made in one piece and provided with an opening G for the tray 6 (this applies also for the previously described embodiments). When in its second extreme position, the upper surface of the tray 6 is flush with the upper surface of the receiving element 10.

[0052] Figures 18A - 18B show, schematically, the operation steps of the sampling apparatus according to the invention provided with the second type of automatic feeder.

[0053] Initially, all the recipients are completely empty and the tray 6 is brought in its first extreme position, flush with the plate 1. Then, one empty recipient 3 is placed centered in respect to both the through holes H2 and 2. A plurality of items 4, fallen gravitationally from the container and then from the conduit 20, will completely fill the recipient 3 with stacked items 4, as shown in Figure 18A.

[0054] Next, the tray 6 is brought in its second extreme position, consequently an item 4 passes through the plate through hole 2, and then, as shown in Figure 18B, the pushing element 8 pushes the item 4 until the item 4 falls beyond the edge of the receiving element 10.

[0055] The lower panel through hole H2 may be provided with a movable flap (not shown in the figures, for simplicity reason) capable to obturate, in a reversible manner, the hole H2. When the hole H2 is obturated by the flap, the items 4 cannot fall from the conduit 20 into the recipient 3 beneath.

[0056] The first and the second type of automatic feeders are not (according to the applicant’s knowledge) prior art solutions. The sampling apparatus according to the invention may or may not comprise an automatic feeder (either of the first type or of the second type). When present, the automatic feeder (i.e. all its components) is a constituent part of the sampling apparatus.

[0057] Although the invention has been described in connection with particular illustrative embodiments, it will be clear that it is not, in any way, limited to these embodiments and that it covers all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations, insofar as the same function is achieved.