DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SAMPLING FROM A SEALED BULK PRODUCT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sampling device. In particular, the invention relates to a device for extracting samples from bulk quantities of foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and the like, which may be in solid, granular, or fluid form. For example, the device of the invention is intended for extracting samples for testing from foodstuffs such as cheese, butter, icecream, dehydrated vegetable products, milk powders and the like.

Background of the Invention

Quality sampling of manufactured products has become routine in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Routine samples of the product may be required to test for various quality parameters.

For example, in the cheese industry it is common practice to periodically sample blocks of cheese to test for flavour and texture of the cheese. The conventional method of doing this is to remove a plug or "finger" of cheese from the cheese block by means of a sampling tool called a trier. A trier is a tool having a handle and a blade. The blade has a concave surface such that when inserted in the cheese block and rotated, it cuts a cylindrical "plug" from the cheese block, which is removed from the cheese block with the blade.

Other sampling devices for foodstuffs are known. FR 252770 discloses a sampling probe for sugar beet which consists of a sheath having a quadrangular section, preferably square, which can extend vertically. The upper part of the probe is attached to a lifting jack. The lower part is equipped with two shutters which lie on either side of the

longitudinal plane of symmetry. The shutters are pivotally mounted, with the aid of a control coupling around the sheath, such that they can close or open to cover or uncover an orifice in the lower end of the sheath.

FR 2442441 discloses a device for extracting a plug of a product by a hollow sleeve which cuts through the product. The plug is cut with the required section to obtain a better sample than by cutting and storing all the products during its travel. A square section sleeve has sides with cutting edges. Flat shutters are positioned to pivot to close the lower end of the sleeve. Spaces in opposite faces of the sleeve house the shutters when they are open.

US 3978733A discloses a rotating coring tube which removes a sample from a mass of sugar cane by advancing the rotating coring tube into the mass and then ejecting the core sample from the cutter tube. The apparatus includes a single ram which on its first stroke advances the coring tube in unison with the ejector piston and then retracts to remove the core from the sugar cane mass. On its second stroke the coring tube is held stationary while only the piston is advanced to eject the core from the coring tube. This invention relates in particular to sampling sugar cane mass.

One of the problems associated with known sampling devices is that their use may result in the contamination of the bulk food product from which the sample is taken. For example, the taking of the sample may result in the breaking of a seal where the product is a sealed product resulting in microbiological or other contamination of the product. The environment of the product is then compromised. This is a particular problem in the cheese industry, but is not confined to that industry.

For example, cheddar cheese may be produced on a batch system of 2,000 litres. This is the equivalent of 100x20kg blocks of cheddar. For every batch of cheddar cheese produced there is 1x20kg block which is designated as the "sample block". Cheddar cheese is a live product; it will undergo chemical and compositional changes over time which will affect both the flavour and texture of the cheese. In general, the quality and value of the cheese increases with time.

Cheddar cheese can be sold at ages varying from 1 week old to 18 months old. This will depend on how the quality of the cheese develops on storage, and the market requirements at any given time. In order to monitor how the cheddar is performing the sample block is inspected approximately every 6 weeks. This involves boring the cheddar block and removing a sample or "finger" of cheese. This sample is then graded using conventional methods of cheese grading. The sample block is not sold with the bulk cheese. As a result of the necessity of grading the sample block may have up to 10 bore holes, the average would probably be 2 or 3. These bore holes become mouldy over time due to introduction of air. There is spoilage of the cheese product around the area of the bore holes due to contamination on sampling by use of an improperly/non sterile sampler, and/or because of loss of integrity of the seal encapsulating the cheese. The cheese block requires cleaning before sale by removal of spoiled portions. Cleaning can result in 2.5 - 5.0% loss in weight. Contamination of sample blocks involves cost and loss of product because of:

(i) the cleaning costs involved, (ϋ) the weight loss of product during cleaning, and

(iii) the condition of the cleaned block limits its end use

These problems are not only encountered with cheese products but also with other aseptically/atmospherically sealed products which require sampling after sealing. Weight losses can result in as much as 8 - 10% loss of the sale value in the case of cheeses.

The prior art sampling devices discussed above do not provide a method of retrieving an aseptic sample from a product. In particular they do not relate to sampling of products which have been aseptically/ atmospherically sealed and which must be sampled after (aseptic/ atmospheric) sealing has taken place. Known sample devices can be used to pierce the aseptically sealed product and retrieve a sample. The sampler used is exposed to the air and is not protected from contact with various possible contamination sources. Also the product sample taken is exposed to the air and it is thus subject to contamination. Furthermore, the mass of product from which the sample is taken is contaminated because of exposure to the air. The integrity of the seal

is disrupted which also leads to further contamination due to continued exposure of the product to air. Resealing the mass of the product is necessary to restore defined packaging conditions. Because of contamination of the product it may be necessary to discard the complete portion of product sampled, or at least the amount of product contaminated during or subsequent to sampling.

Object of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of known sampling devices and to provide a sampling device and method which allows an aseptic sample to be taken. Furthermore the invention seeks to provide a method of disrupting the integrity of a seal on a sealed product during a sampling process without loss of the sealed environment of the product. It is also an object of the invention to provide for the re-sealing of the product during the sampling process.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved trier.

Summary of the Invention;

The present invention provides a sampling device for extracting a sample from a sealed bulk product comprising a sample extraction means insertable through a seal into the bulk product for extraction of the sample and a receiving means for receiving and containing the extracted sample, characterised in that the sample extraction means is contained within a sealed air-tight encapsulating means and has sealing means for connecting the encapsulating means to the seal of the bulk product, whereby said sealing means and encapsulating means may be used to reseal the bulk product after extraction of the sample.

Preferably the encapsulating means comprises an air-tight envelope comprised of a flexible membrane within which the sample extraction means is located, and means being provided for sealing the envelope after extraction of the sample.

In a preferred embodiment the receiving means for containing the extracted sample is a portion of the envelope.

In an alternative embodiment the receiving means for containing the extracted sample is a container.

The sample extraction means may comprise a trier, a hollow cylindrical tube or a concave part-circular shaped blade.

In a preferred embodiment the sealing means comprises a pad bonded to the encapsulating means and having a film or membrane containing an adhesive layer by means of which the pad may be adhered to a seal of the bulk product, said film or membrane being piercible by the sample extraction means.

Suitably, the environment within the envelope comprises an inert gas or a defined atmosphere. The inert gas or defined atmosphere comprising a gas or mixture of gases which will not cause the product quality to deteriorate substantially over a defined period.

Preferably the sampling device is aseptically sterilised or manufactured in a sterile manner. Suitably the sampling device is sterilised by exposure to a sufficient dose of gamma radiation.

The invention also includes a sampling device for extracting a sample from a bulk product comprising a trier characterised in that the trier has a hollow tubular body and a pointed end, and a wall defining the tubular body of the trier has at least one, but preferably two, lines of weakness extending axially of the trier by means of which the trier may be broken open.

The invention further provides a method of aseptically removing a sample from a bulk product by means of a sampling device as described above, characterised in that the method comprises the steps of:

(i) bonding the sealing means of the encapsulating means to provide an air-tight seal between the encapsulating means and the wrapping or a container enclosing the bulk product,

(ii) piercing the sealing means or a layer thereof with the sampling extraction means and inserting the sample extraction means through the product wrapping and into the bulk product,

(i i) removing a sample of the bulk product, into the receiving means, and

(iv) re-sealing the wrapping of the bulk product by means of the sealing means.

Brief description of the drawings

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described two presently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present specification is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, which is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of the first embodiment of a sampling device of the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section of the line A - A of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-section of the line B - B of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an elevation of the sealing means of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a cross-section of the sealing means of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an elevation of the device of Figure 4 with handle attached, applied to a block of cheese;

Figure 8 is an elevation of the device of Figure 7 partly inserted in a block of cheese;

Figure 9 shows the device of Figure 7, with sample attached, withdrawn from a block of cheese; Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the sealing of the removed sample and block of cheese;

Figure 12 is an elevation of a second embodiment of a sampling device of the invention;

Figure 13 is a part-sectional side view of a trier of the invention; Figure 14 is a front elevation of the trier of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a section on the line A-A of Figure 13;

Figure 16 is a plan view of the trier of Figure 14;

Figure 17 is an elevation of a third embodiment of a sampling device

of the invention;

Figure 18 is a plan view of the underside of sealing means of the device of Figure 17;

Figure 19 shows a detail, to an enlarged scale, of the device of Figure 17; ,

Figures 20 and 21 are elevations of a fourth embodiment of a sampling device of the invention, in compressed and uncompressed positions, respectively;

Figures 22 and 23 are elevations of a fifth embodiment of a sampling device of the invention, in compressed and uncompressed positions, respectively;

Figure 24 is an elevation of a further embodiment of a sampling device of the invention for use with granular products;

Figure 25 is a plan view of the device of Figure 24; Figure 26 is an elevation of the device of Figure 24 applied to the underside of a container containing the product to be sampled.

Figure 27 is a view similar to Figure 26 showing the extraction of the sample;

Figure 28 illustrates the sealing of the container and sample.

Detailed Description of the preferred embodiments

A first embodiment of a sampling device of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 11. This device is particularly suitable for extracting samples from hard or semi-soft products, for example cheese blocks, and its operation will be described for this purpose.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, the sampling device 1 comprises a sample extraction means comprising a sampling blade 2 and a handle 3; an encapsulating envelope 4, a sealing means 5 and a cap 6. The sampling blade 2 is a trier, having a concave surface in cross section, on the line B-B (Figure 3), preferably a part circular cross section. The sampling blade 2 is joined to the cap 6. The cap 6 is detachably connected to the handle 3. Preferably the handle 3 consists of a strong rigid material, for example heavy duty polypropylene and the like. The cap 6 and handle 3 have interlocking complementary connections 7 which allow the handle 3 to be removed from the cap 6.

The connections 7 comprise a hollow boss 14 fitted to the end of the handle 3. The boss 14 has a narrow rectangular opening 15. A complementary spigot 16 is provided on the cap 6. The spigot 16 is substantially T-shaped and has a rectangular head 17 which fits through the opening 15. On inserting the spigot 16 in the boss 14 and turning the handle 3, the handle is locked onto the cap 6. The sampling blade 2 preferably has sharpened edges 8 and a tapered point 9. Preferably the sampling blade 2 consists of a suitable rigid material which can be sterilised. For sampling a hard solid product the sampling blade 2 may comprise a rigid disposable material, preferably comprising a biodegradable material. In particular a durable rigid plastic material may be used for sampling cheeses. In particular the sampling device 1 may be disposable, the handle 3 being detachable and reusable.

In a modified version (not shown) of the handle 3, the spigot 16 is provided on the handle 3, and the complementary opening 15, to receive the spigot, is located in the cap 6.

The sampling blade 2 may be suitably shaped so as to retain the sample taken from the product where the sample is a 'core' or "finger ¹ or 'plug' of the product. The cap 6 is rigidly fixed to the sampling blade 2 so that when the handle 3 is attached to the cap 6 by the connections 7, the handle 3 controls motion of the sampling blade 2.

The cap 6 may comprise a rigid plastic material which may be sealed via an airtight bond to an envelope 4 e.g. by heat sealing. The envelope 4 comprises a durable flexible film, suitably a transparent, non- permeable, polymeric film, and is collapsible. The envelope 4 encapsulates the sampling blade 2. Suitably the envelope 4 extends from the cap 6 in dimensions sufficient to allow ease of movement of the sampling blade 2 within and independently of the envelope 4.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the sealing means 5 is attached to the envelope 4 by an airtight bond. The sealing means 5 comprises a base pad 20. The lower peripheral edge portion 40 of the envelope 4, which is of circular shape, is bonded, for example by heat sealing to the upper surface of the base pad 20. The base pad 20 comprises an adhesive film, membrane or tape 21 having an adhesive layer 22 on the

surface remote from the envelope 4. A removable protective covering film 23, which may be a polymeric film, protects the adhesive layer 22 when not in use. The peripheral edges of the adhesive tape 21 are protected by a rigid backing 24 of flexible polyethylene. The rigid backing 24 has a central aperture 27, which is large enough to accommodate the sampling blade 2. The edge portion 40 of the envelope 4 is sealed in an airtight manner to the rigid backing 24 between the circumference of the aperture 17 and the edges of the rigid backing 24.

The environment within the envelope 4 may be suitably adapted to meet different requirements. Preferably the envelope 4 contains an atmosphere of a suitable gas in particular an inert gas (e.g. carbon dioxide, nitrogen or any 'noble gas'). However the envelope may contain any atmosphere suitable to the product being sampled i.e. an atmosphere of a gas or mixture of gases which will not substantially affect the quality of the product over a defined period.

The sampling device 1 may be manufactured in sterile form or may be sterilised e.g. by exposure to a sufficient amount of gamma radiation.

A method of taking a sample using the sampling device 1 of the invention is described below with reference to Figures 7 to 11 of the drawings. In Figures 10 and 11 the handle 3 is not shown. Firstly, the protective covering 23 is removed from the single-sided adhesive tape 21 and the exposed adhesive surface 22 is attached to the wrapping containing the product 10. In the case of cheese the wrapping is typically a plastics wrapping film 25. The adhesive tape 21 forms an air-tight bond with the wrapping film 25. The sampling blade 2 is then pushed down and forced through the adhesive tape 21 and into the product 10, piercing the wrapping film 25. Optionally a rotating or oscillating movement can be used to help insertion of the sampling blade 2 in the product 10. The presence of inert gas within the envelope 4 maintains the membrane forming the envelope 4 away from the blade 2.

Figure 8 shows the sampling blade 2 inserted in the product 10, in this case a cheese block. As shown in Figure 9 the sampling blade, with a plug or finger or core 11 of cheese contained within the sampling blade

is withdrawn from the block of cheese 10, to leave a cavity 26. Withdrawal of the blade 2 may be achieved by rotating the handle 3 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 9. Inert gas contained within the envelope 4 flows into the cavity 26 to fill the cavity.

Referring now to Figure 10, the next step is that the handle 3 is disconnected from the blade 2. The membrane forming the envelope 4 is stretched, as shown in Figure 10. Using a conventional heat-sealing device, the membrane of the envelope 4 is joined together and heat-sealed to form an air-tight seal 12. A second heat seal 12a is formed in the membrane adjacent to the base pad 20.

As shown in Figure 11, the membrane is now cut between the two heat seals 12, 12a along a line 13. Thus, the sample has been taken without loss of the integrity of the environment encapsulating the product. The envelope 4 is divided into two separately sealed airtight portions: The portion 18 bonded to the product 10 by sealing means 5 and the portion 19 encapsulating the sampling blade 2 and the sample 11, and both containing inert gas.

Finally, the heat seal 12a of the portion 18 may be attached to the upper surface of the base pad 20 or to the exterior of the wrapping film 25. Thus, the sample 11 of the cheese block 10 has been removed without permitting the ambient air from entering the wrapping film 25 which seals the cheese block 10. Therefore the cheese block 10 remains uncontaminated.

A second embodiment of a sampling device of the invention is illustrated in Figure 12. This is a simplified version of that described in Figures 1 to 11, and like numerals in the drawings denote like parts.

The device comprises an encapsulating envelope or bag 4, made from a flexible, durable, plastics film. The film is preferably transparent and may comprise a nylon or polyethylene laminate film. The envelope 4 is air-tight. Air has been extracted from the interior of the envelope 4, and replaced with a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

At one end of the envelope 4, the plastics film is bonded to circular sealing means 5. The sealing means 5 is identical in construction to that described above in relation to Figures 5 and 6.

A sample extraction means is loosely contained within the envelope 4. The sample extraction means preferably comprises a tubular trier 30 of novel construction, which is described in more detail below in relation to Figures 13 to 16.

In use, the sealing means 5 is adhered to the wrapping film of the product to be sampled, as described above in relation to Figures 5 to

11. The envelope 4 is sufficiently large and flexible to enable the trier 30 to be manipulated by the fingers of the user, from outside the envelope. The trier 30 pierces the adhesive tape 21 of the sealing means 5, also pierces the wrapping material 25 of the cheese block 10, and is pushed into the block 10. A core of the cheese 10 is held within the trier 30, and is withdrawn with the trier 30 into the envelope 4. The envelope 4 is then heat-sealed along parallel lines

12, 12a, and is cut between the two heat seals, as described above. The sample of the cheese 10, is thus held in an air-tight portion 19 of the envelope 4 containing an aseptic atmosphere. A portion 18 of the envelope 4, bounded by the heat-seal 12a remains attached to the wrapping 25 of the product 10, by means of the sealing means 5.

The novel trier 30 of the invention is now described in more detail with reference to Figures 13 to 16 of the drawings. The trier 30 is a disposable trier in that it is designed for a single use. Preferably, the trier 30 is injection moulded from a suitable plastics material, such as polystyrene. The trier 30 has a flattened flanged top 31 to facilitate the pushing of the trier into a product 10 by means of the palm of the hand. The body 32 of the trier is tubular having a hollow interior. The wall 33 defining the body 32 of the trier is of circular cross-section as shown in Figure 15. The body 33 is at its widest at the top and tapers to a sharp point 34 at the bottom. The tapering configuration has a number of advantages. Firstly, it facilitates removal of the trier 30 from the mould of an injection moulding machine. Secondly, it facilitates easier insertion of the trier 30 into the product 10, and easier removal of a core of the product 10.

In use the trier 30 is driven directly into the product to be sampled, in this case a block of cheese 10, and withdrawn without rotation of the trier. This is in contrast to conventional steel triers which must be rotated through 180 . The tubular construction of the trier 30 strengthens the trier and enables this direct driving of the trier into the product.

The core or plug of cheese 10 to be withdrawn is contained within the tubular wall 33 of the trier 30. Suitably, the wall 33 is formed, adjacent the sharpened end 34, with a plurality of fins or barbs 35. These are hingedly connected at their lower ends to the inner surface of the wall 33, such that when the trier is pushed into the cheese block 10, the fins 35 are flattened against the inner wall surface. However, as the trier is withdrawn from the cheese block 10, the fins 35 open to engage the sample cheese core to aid its retention within the hollow interior of the tubular trier 30.

To facilitate removal of the cheese core from the trier, the wall 33 of the trier is formed with at least one but preferably two lines of weakness 36, extending axial ly of the length of the trier 30, at diametrically opposite sides thereof. The lines of weakness may be formed by thinning the thickness of the wall section and/or by forming a line or perforations along the length of the wall. To remove the cheese core, the trier is broken open, into two halves, along the lines of weakness 36, to release the core.

A third embodiment of a sampling device of the invention is now described with reference to Figures 17 to 19 of the drawings. In this embodiment the encapsulating envelope or bag 4, has a flat top 41. The envelope 4 simply is made from a welded extruded sheet of nylon/ polyethylene laminate. The laminate is a heavy duty laminate. As shown more clearly in Figure 19, the lower edge portion 40 of the envelope 4 is welded, in an airtight manner, to the outer surface of an annular flange 41 of sealing means 5.

In this embodiment, the sealing means 5 comprises a rigid annular ring 42, formed with the annular tubular flange 41. These define a circular opening 43. The rigid sealing means 5 suitably is injection moulded

- 13 - from polystyrene. The lower surface of the annular ring 42 has a membrane or tape 44 welded or bonded to the surface of the annular ring. The membrane or tape 44 bridges across the opening 43. Suitably, the membrane 44 is a nylon/polyethylene laminate, for example of a thickness of about 0.1 mm. The lower surface of the membrane 44 is provided with an adhesive layer and a removable protective covering film (not shown) similar to that described above in relation to Figures 5 and 6.

A trier 30 is contained within the envelope 4. The trier 30 is of the construction described above in relation to Figures 13 to 16 of the drawings. The sharpened end 34 of the trier 30 is held within the tubular flange 41. The trier 30 can be a relatively snug fit within the tubular flange 41. Alternatively, the tubular flange 41 may be provided with retaining means, in the form of a ring, which engages with the wall of the trier.

In the use of the device, the removable protective covering film is removed from the adhesive layer of the membrane 44 and the annular ring 42 is bonded in an air-tight manner, by means of the adhesive layer, to the wrapping film of the product 10.

The trier 30 is then pressed downwardly. The annular flange 41 acts as a guide for the trier as it is pressed. The sharp end 34 of the trier pierces the membrane 44, pierces the wrapping material of the product 10 and is pressed into the product, which may be a block of cheese 10. A sample core or plug of cheese is held within the tubular trier 30 as described above with reference to Figures 13 and 16 of the drawings. The trier containing the plug of cheese is withdrawn into the envelope 4.

The neck portion 40 of the bag 4 is now heat-sealed along parallel lines 12, 12a in the manner described above with reference to the first embodiment. The membrane is then cut between the two heat seals. Thus, the top portion of the envelope/bag 4 containing the trier 30 and sample care of cheese is maintained in an aseptic environment. The sealing means 5 comprising the annular ring 42 and flange 41, air-tightly sealed by the weld 12a, remain attached to the wrapping material of the product 10.

- 14 -

A further embodiment of a sampling device of the invention is now described with reference to Figures 20 and 21 of the drawings. Where appropriate, like numerals have been used to denote like parts as described in the previous embodiments. In this embodiment, the encapsulating envelope 4 is defined by walls 46 made from a semi-rigid plastics material, for example, polyethylene. Suitably, the encapsulating envelope or container 4 is blow-moulded from the plastics, and the walls 46 are formed in concertina fashion, so that they may be compressed into folds (or corrugations), as shown in Figure 20.

A trier 30 of the kind described above in relation to Figures 13 to 16, is contained within the envelope 4. However, in this case the top end of the trier 30 is sealed in an airtight manner and the flange 31 is bonded or welded to the top ends of the walls 46 of the envelope 4.

The bottom ends of the walls 46 are bonded or welded to sealing means 5, of the kind described above in relation to Figures 5 and 6. Thus, the interior of the envelope 4 is aseptically sealed from the atmosphere. The interior of the container 4 may contain an inert gas as described above.

In use, the sealing means 5 is adhered to the wrapping of the product to be sampled, as described above. The trier 31 is then pushed downwards, to pierce the self-adhesive membrane or tape 21, and in turn pierces the wrapping of the product and is inserted into the product to withdraw a sample core.

As the trier 30 is pushed downwards, the walls 46 assume the folded shape shown in Figure 20. On removal of the sample, the trier is again fully contained within the envelope 4 as shown in Figure 21. The envelope 4 is then sealed by welding along the weld line 12. A second weld line 12a is provided to seal the sealing means 5 as described above.

The embodiment shown in Figures 22 and 23 is a modified version of that described in Figures 20 and 21, and like numerals denote like parts. In this embodiment, a second upper blow-moulded envelope or container

47 is connected by a neck 48 to the open top of the trier 30. Thus, the interior of the upper container 47 is in fluid communication with the interior of the trier 30 and the interior of the envelope 4. The walls 49 of the container 47 are also of a concertina-like construction so that they can collapse in folds as shown in Figure 23. The purpose of the upper container 47 is to accommodate any excess gas or air which may escape from the interior of the product being sampled. Otherwise, the embodiment shown in Figures 22 and 23 operates in the same manner as that of Figures 20 and 21.

A further embodiment of a sampling device of the invention is illustrated in Figure 24. This device is particularly suitable for extracting samples from products in a powder, or essentially granular form, such as dehydrated foodstuffs, sugars, flour and pharmaceuticals e.g. bulk pharmaceutical powders and the like.

Figure 24 shows a sampling device 51. The sampling device 51 comprises a hollow sampling tube 52, an envelope 54, a sealing means 5, a collar 56 having an aperture 57, a lid 58, and a sample receiving container 59.

The sampling tube 52 comprises a hard durable material preferably with one tapered end 53, the tapered end 53 having sharpened edges. The sampler 1 may be disposable with a reusable handle 3. It is desirable that the sampler 1 is biodegradable.

The sampling tube 52 extends through the aperture 57. The aperture 57 is of sufficient diameter to hold the sampling tube 52 in place but the sampling tube 52 is displaceable along its longitudinal axis through the aperture 57.

The envelope 54 comprises a durable flexible membrane. Suitably the envelope 54 is made from a transparent non-permeable polymeric film. The envelope 54 encapsulates the sampling tube 52. Suitably the envelope 54 extends from the collar 56 in dimensions sufficient to allow ease of movement of the sampling tube 52 along its longitudinal axis.

The sealing means 5 is attached to the envelope 54 by an airtight

bond. The sealing means 5 is similar in construction to that of the first embodiment described above. That is, it comprises a base pad 20 which is bonded, to the lower end of the envelope 54. The base pad 20 comprises an adhesive tape 21 having an adhesive layer 22 on the surface remote from the envelope 54. A removable protective covering film 23, which may be a polymeric film, protects the adhesive layer 22 when not in use. The peripheral edges of the adhesive tape 21 are protected by a rigid backing 24 of flexible polyethylene. The rigid backing 24 comprises an aperture 27. The aperture 27 is large enough to accommodate the sampling tube 52. The envelope 54 is sealed in an airtight manner to the rigid backing 24 between the circumference of the aperture 27 and the edge of the rigid backing 24.

The sealing means 5, which defines a substantially flat surface, is attached to the exterior of the envelope 54 at its 'base end', that is the part furthest from the collar 56. The opposite end of the envelope 54 is bonded or welded to the surface of the collar 56. The collar 56 preferably comprises a rigid plastic material in particular a plastic material suitable for heat sealing. The lid 58 is used to seal the aperture 57 when the sampling tube 52 has been removed. Preferably the lid 58 provides an airtight seal when placed over the aperture 57.

Preferably, the receiving container 59 is attached to the collar 56 by an airtight bond, for example by welding. The receiving container 59 may comprise any suitable material and be in the form of a semi-rigid container, or a flexible bag, for example a transparent plastics bag. In particular the receiving container 59 is designed to have sufficient dimensions to hold the required amount of the sample.

Figures 26 to 28 illustrate one mode of operation of the second embodiment of the invention. The adhesive layer 22 of the base pad 20 is attached to the wall or wrapping 66 of the container of powder or granular products 60 from which the sample is desired as described in the first embodiment of this invention. The sampling tube 52 is pushed through the adhesive tape 21, the wall or wrapping 66, and then into the product 60.

As illustrated in Figure 27, the free-flowing particles 61 of the

product then flow through the sampling tube 52 into the receiving container 59.

As shown in Figure 28, the sampling tube 52 is then withdrawn from the aperture 57 and the flip-top lid 58 is placed as a cap on the aperture 57 thus sealing the aperture 57. The envelope 54 is then stretched as shown in Figure 16 and two heat seals 62 are made in the membrane of the envelope 54. The sampling tube 52 may be isolated by placing a heat seal each side of it. Inversion of the product and sampler may be required to stop the flow of the product into the sample container.

Alternatively the sampling tube may be fitted with a lid to stem the flow of the product when so required. A cut 63 is then made between the two heat seals 62 and the envelope 54, is thus divided into two portions, one portion 64, attached to the product 60 and the other portion 65 encapsulating the sampling tube 52.

The heat-seal 62 of the portion 64 may be bonded, for example by heat-sealing or by adhesive, to the wall or wrapping 66 of the product 60.

In this way the sample has been removed from the product 60, and the wall or wrapping 66 of the product 60 has been re-sealed without permitting the entry of contaminated air into the product 60. Likewise, the sample is retained in the sealed container 59.

If desired, the envelope and container 59 may first be filled with an inert gas, or with sterilised air, as described with reference to the first embodiment. The gas displaced from the container 59 by entry of the sample 61 enters the wall or wrapping 66 of the product 60.