SAMPLING BAG CARRYING APPARATUS

Carriers for a sampling bag are described herein. The carriers have a body having a first segment; a second segment; and a central segment integrated with and extending between the first segment and the second segment. The central segment is laterally spaced apart from a longitudinal axis of the body. The first segment and the second segment are coaxial with the longitudinal axis. The carrier also includes a pair of clamps coupled to the body and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis. Each clamp of the pair of clamps is configured to retain the sampling bag against the body of the carrier when the sampling bag is hanging downwardly relative to the body.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to carriers for sampling bags, and more specifically to carriers for sampling bags used in food safety testing.

BACKGROUND

The following paragraphs are not an admission that anything discussed in them is prior art or part of the knowledge of persons skilled in the art.

Currently, food testing is manually intensive and often performed by lab technicians with support equipment to help augment labor, where possible. In simple terms, a sterile plastic bag is commonly used as a container or vessel to hold the food sample being testing. Although there are different bags used in various processes, one of the most common bags used in food safety testing is sold under the trade name Stomacher® bag.

Typically, a food sample is initially weighed into the sample bag. The target weight is typically specified by regulatory methods. Presently, the sampling bag used to hold the sample is held in a stand during the filling process. Media, or bacteriological media which is a nutrient-rich growth medium, is added to the sample bag to help encourage cell recovery and bacteria growth. The sample is then homogenized and thoroughly mixed in a device before being taken to an incubator for growth and/or enrichment. After the sample has incubated in the incubator, the sample is subsampled and tested to eventually yield a result.

In another form of testing commonly performed, once the sample is added to the Stomacher® bag, a buffer (e.g. liquid) is added to the bag and the sample is homogenized. The sample is then processed using serial dilutions and then plated on agar petri dishes or equivalent. Once plated, they are taken away for incubation and subsequently processed and tested further after incubation.

Unfortunately, as noted above, the processes described above are labour intensive and have proved difficult to automate. The physical properties of the Stomacher® bags have particularly led to some of these difficulties. The Stomacher® bags are typically square sealed bags and used for handling samples of, for example, a volume in a range of about 80 mL to about 3,375 mL. Therefore, any carrier that is developed to be used in automated processes needs to be able to releasably carry the sampling bag and be configured to not tear or stretch the bag. The Stomacher® bags are generally made from high quality food grade virgin low density polyethylene (LDPE) granules extruded to 65 um film thickness and irradiated to be sterile. Care therefore needs to be taken to avoid inserting anything into the bag that isn't the sample being tested.

Accordingly, in view of the above, there is a need to develop new carriers for sampling bags and, more specifically, new carriers for sampling bags used in food safety testing.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a broad aspect, a carrier for a sampling bag is described herein. The carrier has a body having a first segment; a second segment; and a central segment integrated with and extending between the first segment and the second segment. The central segment is laterally spaced apart from a longitudinal axis of the body. The first segment and the second segment are coaxial with the longitudinal axis. The carrier also includes a pair of clamps coupled to the body and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis. Each clamp of the pair of clamps is configured to retain the sampling bag against the body of the carrier when the sampling bag is hanging downwardly relative to the body.

In at least one embodiment, the first segment includes a free end and a joined end, the joined end being coupled to the central segment of the carrier.

In at least one embodiment, the second segment includes a free end and a joined end, the joined end being coupled to the central segment of the carrier.

In at least one embodiment, the central segment comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the central segment being coupled to the joined end of the first segment and the second portion of the central segment being coupled to the joined end of second segment.

In at least one embodiment, the central portion further comprises a middle portion coupled to each of the first portion and the second portion.

In at least one embodiment, the pair of clamps includes a first clamp and a second clamp, the first clamp being positioned between the free end and the joined end of the first segment and the second clamp being positioned between the free end and the joined end of the second segment.

In at least one embodiment, each clamp of the pair of clamps is one of a c-clamp, a screw clamp, a hand screw clamp, a spring clamp, a bar clamp, a hose clamp, a magnetic clamp, a pneumatic clamp, and a clip.

In at least one embodiment, the body has a ribbon-like shape having a length greater than a height and the height greater than a thickness.

In at least one embodiment, the body has a ribbon-like shape having a length greater than a height and the height less than a thickness.

In at least one embodiment, the body as a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side extending between the top edge and the bottom edge.

In at least one embodiment, the central portion is offset laterally in a direction towards the second side of the body.

In at least one embodiment, each clamp of the pair of clamps is a compression clamp having a spring coupled to the second side of the body and a lever hingedly coupled to the spring and extending though an aperture of the body, the lever being configured to retain the sampling bag against the body of the carrier.

In at least one embodiment, the lever has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface contacting the sampling bag when each clamp is in a first position.

In at least one embodiment, each clamp has a first position and a second position and is biased to the first position, the first position being configured to retain the sampling bag against the carrier and the second position being configured to release the sampling bag from the carrier.

In at least one embodiment, the carrier is retaining the sampling bag, the sampling bag generally extends along the longitudinal axis of the carrier and the central segment being laterally spaced apart from the longitudinal axis provides for the sampling bag to be opened when retained by the carrier.

In at least one embodiment, the lever has a U-shape.

In at least one embodiment, the first end of the carrier is configured to be retained in a rack of a sampling bar carrier shelving unit.

In at least one embodiment, the carrier further comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag positioned on a second end of the carrier.

These and other features and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the application, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the application will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Further aspects and features of the example embodiments described herein will appear from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various compositions and methods will be described below to provide an example of one or more embodiments. No embodiment described below limits any claimed embodiment and any claimed embodiment may cover compositions or methods that differ from those described below. The claimed embodiments are not limited to compositions and methods having all of the features of any one composition or method described below or to features common to multiple or all of the compositions and methods described below. It is possible that a composition or method described below is not an embodiment of any claimed embodiment. Any embodiment disclosed below that is not claimed in this document may be the subject matter of another protective instrument, for example, a continuing patent application, and the applicants, inventors or owners do not intend to abandon, disclaim or dedicate to the public any such embodiment by its disclosure in this document.

The problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned problem(s), and other problem(s) not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In general, the present document is directed to an apparatus for carrying a sampling bag. Turning toFIGS.1and2, illustrated therein is a carrier100for carrying a sampling bag.

Carrier100includes a body102having a first segment104, a second segment106and a central segment108. Although the first segment104, second segment106and central segment108are clearly differentiated in the embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that in other embodiments the first segment104, second segment106and central segment108may be integral with each other and may be divided by bends and/or coupling points.

Body102is typically made of aluminum, plastic or composites. In the embodiments shown in the drawings, body102has a ribbon-like shape having a length LL that is greater than a height HH. For example, in at least one embodiment, the length LL may be about 20 inches. For example, in at least one embodiment, the height HH may be about 1.5 inches. Further, in at least one embodiment, the height HH of the body is greater than a thickness TT of the body. For example, in at least one embodiment, the thickness TT may be about 0.375 inches. In the embodiments shown in the drawings, the ribbon-like shape of body102provides for the carrier100to be easily transported by, for example, a robot. Further, the ribbon-like shape of body102, and particularly the thickness TT of the body102being about 0.375 inches, corresponds with the flat, square nature of most sampling bags and provides for the carrier100and a sampling bag carried by the carrier100(for example as shown inFIGS.5-7) to be efficiently stored (i.e. with minimal spacing between adjacent carriers and bags) in a storage cabinet, incubator, or the like, as described in further detail below. Further, the ribbon-like shape of body102may provide for efficiently closing of the sampling bag, such as by rotating the body102about the longitudinal axis XX, thereby folding an upper portion of the sampling bag over itself and closing the bag.

Returning toFIGS.1and2, body102has a top edge110, a bottom edge112, a first side114and a second side116. The first side114and the second side116extend from the top edge110to the bottom edge112. First side114and the second side116are separated by thickness TT and top edge110and bottom edge112are separated by height HH.

First segment104and second segment106are each configured to support at least one clamp118. For example, in the embodiments shown in the drawings, first segment104includes a free end120and a joined end122. Joined end122is coupled to, or integral with, central segment108. Likewise, second segment106includes a free end124and a joined end126. Joined end126is coupled to, or integral with, central segment108of the carrier100. Each clamp118, described in greater detail below, is supported by one of first segment104and second segment106. In at least one embodiment, free end120may be configured to support a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag109. In at least one embodiment, placing the RFID tag109at free end120may provide for an RFID reader in the gripper of the robot to passively scan the RFID tag.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, each of joined ends122and126of first segment104and second segment106, respectively, are integral with central segment108at a bend128. It should be understood that although first segment104and second106are shown as being linear segments, they should not be limited to being linear. First segment104and second segment106may have a different shape than is shown in the drawings. As noted above, first segment104and second segment106may have any shape that provides for each to support at least one clamp118.

Central segment108extends between first segment104and second segment106. Central segment108extends from first segment104to second segment106to support the second segment106when first segment104is coupled to a rack or a shelf, as described below. By doing so, when clamps118are coupled to or retaining a sampling bag filled with a sample (e.g. liquid sample), carrier100can be releasably attached to a rack, a shelf, a cart, an incubator, or the like and support the sampling bag holding the sample above the ground.

Central segment108is at least partially laterally spaced from a longitudinal axis XX passing through the first segment104and the second segment106. Axis XX is shown as a dashed line onFIG.2, for reference. In at least one embodiment, central portion108is offset laterally from longitudinal axis XX in a direction towards the second side116of the body102.

By being laterally spaced apart from the longitudinal axis XX, central segment108provides for a user or piece of machinery, such as but not limited to a robot, to more easily open the sampling bag. As described in greater detail below, each sampling bag is retained against the carrier100by two clamps118spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis XX. To open the sampling bag, for example as shown inFIGS.5,8and10, two pieces of the plastic film forming the sampling bag are pulled apart from each other in a direction away from each other. In the embodiments shown, at least a portion of central segment108is laterally spaced apart from the longitudinal axis XX, along which the sampling bag is positioned when it is clamped by the clamps118, to provide a space SS for one of the pieces of the sampling bag to enter to open the sampling bag. Further, at least a portion of central segment108being laterally spaced apart from the longitudinal axis XX may also provide a space SS for a piece of machinery to enter to engage with the piece of the sampling bag to pull it apart from the other piece of the sampling bag. Put another way, lateral space SS provides for one or both sides of the sampling bag to open.

In the embodiments shown in the drawings, the central segment108is formed by three linear segments that are joined at obtuse angles. However, central segment108should not be limited to the arrangement shown in the drawings. For example, central segment108may comprise a single curved segment that also provides space SS between a portion of the central segment108and the longitudinal axis XX.

That said, in the embodiments shown in the drawings, central segment108comprises a first portion130, a second portion132and a third portion134. These are each shown inFIG.1andFIG.2.

First portion130is integral with or coupled to joined end122of first segment104and third portion134of central segment108is coupled to the joined end126of second segment106. Second portion132, also referred to as a middle portion of the central segment108, is coupled to each of the first portion130and the third portion134. In the embodiments shown in the drawings, first portion130is integral with or coupled to joined end122of first segment102at a point along the longitudinal axis XX and third portion134of central segment108is coupled to the joined end126of second segment106at a point along the longitudinal axis XX. Conversely, second portion132is coupled to each of the first portion130and the third portion134at points that are laterally spaced apart from the longitudinal axis XX.

As noted above, the carrier100also includes at least a pair of clamps118. Clamps118are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis XX passing through the first segment104and the second end106of body102. Each clamp has a first position and a second position and is biased to the first position, the first position being configured to retain the sampling bag against the carrier and the second position being configured to release the sampling bag from the carrier. Clamps118are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis XX by a distance that is less than a width of the sampling bag.

Each clamp118of the pair of clamps is configured to retain a sampling bag against at least a portion of the body102(e.g. against a portion of first segment104or second end106) when the sampling bag is hanging downwardly relative to the body.

In the embodiments shown in the drawings, carrier100a first clamp118aand a second clamp118b, the first clamp118abeing positioned between the free end120and the joined end122of first segment104and the second clamp118bbeing positioned between the free end124and the joined end126of the second segment106.

Each clamp118a,118bmay be any clamping mechanism that is suitable for supporting the sampling bag and a sample therein to the carrier100. For example, the clamps may be one of a c-clamp, a screw clamp, a hand screw clamp, a spring clamp, a bar clamp, a hose clamp, a magnetic clamp, a pneumatic clamp, a clip, or the like.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS.1-7, each of clamps118aand118bis a spring clamp having a spring140coupled to second side116of body102and a lever142hingedly coupled to the spring140and extending though an aperture144of the body102.

Spring140can be any type of spring that biases in tension and is compressible. For example, in the embodiment ofFIGS.1-7, spring140is a rubber spacing block.

In the embodiment of carrier100shown inFIGS.1-7, lever142generally has a U-shape and extends from a hinged coupling point, where one or more pins (not shown) couple the lever142to spring140, through aperture144of body102and presses against first side114of body102. More specifically, lever142has an inner surface146and an outer surface148. Inner surface146contacts the sampling bag when each clamp118is in a first position, the first position being defined by the position of lever142when spring140is at its natural orientation. To move the clamps118a,118bbetween the first and second position, a force is applied to lever142adjacent to the spring140. For example, a user may press on the lever142adjacent to the spring140or a pneumatic fixture of a robot, or similar machine, may press on the lever142adjacent to the spring140.

FIGS.8and9show another embodiment of a carrier200having clamps218aand218b. In this embodiment, clamps218aand218bare screw clamps, each having a lever242(seeFIG.9) coupled to first side214of body202. Lever242can be tightened and/or loosened by a screw to provide for the lever to retain the sampling bag against the body202.

FIG.10shows another embodiment of a carrier300having clamps318aand318b. In this embodiment, clamps318aand318bare magnet clamps, each having a magnet348that is attracted to body302. A user or a robot can move the clamp between a first position and a second position by removing and returning the magnet348to the position shown inFIG.10. Magnet348is of sufficient strength to retain the sampling bag and sample therein against the carrier300.

Turning now toFIG.11, shown therein is a magnified view of free end124of second segment106. Second segment106may be configured to be retained in a rack, or shelving unit, such as rack400shown inFIG.11within, for example, a storage system500as shown inFIG.12. For example, second segment106may include one or more grooves, and/or notches,160that engage with features of rack400to support any carrier100,200,300. Further, it should be understood that the carriers described herein may also be supported by other structures, such as but not limited to the structures shown in inFIGS.5and8during a filling process.

While the applicant's teachings described herein are in conjunction with various embodiments for illustrative purposes, it is not intended that the applicant's teachings be limited to such embodiments as the embodiments described herein are intended to be examples. On the contrary, the applicant's teachings described and illustrated herein encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, without departing from the embodiments described herein, the general scope of which is defined in the appended claims.