HOUSING FOR RECEPTACLE FILLING

摘要

A method and apparatus for capturing a sample of flowable material from a closed system inside a receptacle (3) without exposing the sample to the ambient environment. The apparatus includes a housing (1) having an opening at one end for receiving a receptacle (3) and stopper (5). An end cap (33) is removably mounted to the housing (1) for opening and closing the opening. An inlet (23) is provided in the housing (1) for feeding a cleaning or sterilizing agent or the flowable material to be sampled into an interior of the housing (1). A clasp is provided to manipulate the receptacle (3) to separate the receptacle (3) and the stopper (5) while the stopper (5) and receptacle (3) are inside of the housing (1). Once the receptacle (3) and the stopper (5) are separated, the flowable material is fed into the receptacle (3) through the inlet (23). The clasp is then manipulated to reattach the receptacle (3) and the stopper (5) in order to capture the flowabel material. The apparatus is particularly useful in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries as well as the fine chemical, food and beverage industries where accurate, uncontaminated samples of materials from a closed system are desired without contaminating the sample of material or the closed system.