Patent ID: 7241422

Claim:
A device for sampling a flowable material, said device comprising: a housing for receiving a receptacle therein, said housing sealing the receptacle from the ambient environment outside the housing; an opening formed in said housing; a device for opening and closing said opening, the receptacle being receivable into said housing through said opening when said opening is in an open condition, said device including a sealing element for sealing the opening when the device is in a closed condition; an inlet formed in said housing for receiving the flowable material therethrough; a first mechanism mounted within said housing for engaging one of the receptacle and a stopper for sealing the receptacle; a second mechanism mounted within the housing for engaging the other of the receptacle and the stopper, said second mechanism cooperating with said first mechanism to open the receptacle, close the receptacle or open and close the receptacle by removing the stopper, attaching the stopper or removing and attaching the stopper on the receptacle when the opening of the housing is in the closed condition.