Patent ID: 7533701

Claim:
An apparatus for transferring a liquid from one location to another location, comprising: a source container for holding the liquid; a destination container into which the liquid is transferred; a liquid transfer mechanism transferring the liquid from the source container to the destination container, the mechanism including; at least one unidirectional valve between the source container and the destination container preventing backflow into the source container; a source needle, inserted into a sealed closure of the source container, withdrawing the liquid from the source container; a destination needle separate from the source needle, inserted into a sealed closure of the destination container, for depositing the liquid into the destination container; an inert gas container supplying an inert gas to the source container via a conduit; a driven mechanism for controllably moving the source needle and destination needle relative to the respective container, the mechanism accommodating the conduit that delivers the inert gas to the source container so that movement of the conduit is permitted; and a passive vent system including at least one vent check valve releasing pressure from at least one of the source container and the destination container when the pressure in the respective container exceeds a predetermined pressure limit, the vent check valve opening when a pressure within the container exceeds a threshold pressure; wherein the source needle and the destination needle are connected to the liquid transfer mechanism to transfer the liquid from the source container to the destination container.