Agricultural sample handling system and related methods

A method for unloading a sample container comprising:

• inserting a capped sample tube containing a sample into an unloading apparatus;
• uncapping the sample tube which creates an opening at a top end of the sample tube;
• rotating the sample tube to an inverted vertical position;
• ejecting the sample from the sample tube;
• and
• wherein the uncapping step includes engaging a decapper with a snap-fit cap on the top end of the sample tube.

A method for unloading a sample container comprising:

• inserting a sample tube comprising a top end and containing a sample into a rotatable carriage disposed within an unloading apparatus;
• gripping the sample tube with a tube gripper mechanism comprising a gripper actuator, the tube gripper mechanism disposed on the rotatable carriage;
• rotating the sample tube to an inverted vertical position;
• inserting a piston-plunger through the sample tube in a downward stroke to engage a push cap disposed inside the sample tube;
• moving the piston-plunger and the push cap downwards towards the top end to extract the sample from the sample tube;
• retracting the piston-plunger in an upward stroke and disengaging the push cap;
• rotating the rotatable carriage into a horizontal position;
• moving the piston-plunger in a downward stroke to engage the gripper actuator to ungrip the sample tube.

A method for unloading a sample container comprising:

• horizontally inserting a capped sample tube containing a sample into an unloading apparatus;
• uncapping the sample tube which creates an opening at a top end of the sample tube;
• rotating the sample tube to an inverted vertical position;
• ejecting the sample from the sample tube;
• rotating the sample tube to a horizontal position;
• and
• removing the sample tube out of the unloading apparatus.