Patent ID: 7717477

Claim:
A manipulator operative in hygienic environments, comprising: a swivel operative to flexibly transport gas and comprising a fixed part comprising a horizontally oriented plate and a vertically oriented upwardly opening cup having an opening detachably connected to the plate, a bottom opposite the opening, a side wall, and an exit passage extending through the sidewall, wherein the plate and the cup are divisible to permit the swivel to be cleaned; a rotatable vertically arranged moveable part journaled in the plate and including a closed first end extending up through the plate and an open second end extending down through the bottom of the cup, the movable part being rotatable with respect to the plate and the cup, the moveable part including a channel extending from the open second end into the moveable part and laterally facing opening in a side of the moveable part; and a cavity defined by the plate, the bottom of the cup, and side wall of the cup and the moveable part, the cavity being operative to decrease a speed of gas and particles present in the gas flowing up through the channel of the moveable part into the cavity, the moveable part and the cup being arranged such that the particles present in the gas are deposited on the bottom of the cup under the influence of gravity and the gas exits through the exit passage of the cup.