# US 2019/0376990 A1 · Apparatus having one or more sensors for sampling the headspace and process for sampling the headspace

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- Number: US 2019/0376990 A1
- Document ID: US20190376990A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/433,368
- Filed: 2019-06-06
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-08
- Assignees: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
- Applicants: Thermo Fisher Scientific SPA
- Inventors: Tiziano BOSAGLIA; Riccardo FACCHETTI; Eugenio PETTENON; Flavio ANTONIUCCI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190376990A1

## CPC

- G01N 30/12: by evaporation
- G01N 35/00584: {Control arrangements for automatic analysers}
- G01N 35/02: using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations {(G01N35/0098 and G01N35/0099 take precedence)}
- G01N 35/025: {having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes}
- G01N 30/16: Injection (G01N30/24 takes precedence)
- G01N 30/24: Automatic injection systems
- G01N 35/1095: {for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers (for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00)}
- G01N 2001/2229: {Headspace sampling, i.e. vapour over liquid}
- G01N 2035/00346: {Heating or cooling arrangements}
- G01N 2035/0441: {for samples}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for sampling the headspace, comprising: a mobile station (2) provided with a plurality of housing seats (21) to house a plurality of containers (100) for sampling the headspace; an oven (3); a blocking device (4) comprising at least one first mobile element (41) that moves between a first position adapted to prevent a container (100) from passing from the mobile station (2) to the oven (3), and a second position adapted to allow a container (100) to pass from the mobile station (2) to the oven (3); at least one first sensor (5a) placed upstream of the first mobile element (41), to detect the presence of a container (100) in a housing seat (21); a movement element (6) moving between said mobile station (2) and the oven (3), the movement element being configured to move a container (100) from the mobile station (2) to the oven (3).

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus (1) for sampling the headspace, comprising:
a mobile station (2) provided with a plurality of housing seats (21) to house a plurality of containers (100) for sampling the headspace;
a heater (3);
a blocking device (4) comprising at least one first mobile element (41) that moves between at least two positions, a first position adapted to prevent a container (100) from passing from said mobile station (2) to said heater (3), and a second position adapted to allow a container (100) to pass from said mobile station (2) to said heater (3);
at least one first sensor (5a) placed upstream of said first mobile element (41), to detect the presence of a container (100) in one of said housing seats (21);
a movement element (6) moving between said mobile station (2) and said heater (3), the movement element being configured to move a container (100) from said mobile station (2) to said heater (3).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, comprising a second sensor (5b) placed downstream of said first mobile element (41) to detect the presence of a container (100) in said heater (3).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first mobile element (41) can be rotated and is provided with an opening (410) adapted to define said first and said second positions.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first mobile element (41) is movable to a third position adapted to prevent a container (100) from passing from said mobile station (2) to said heater (3) and to allow the contact between a container (100) and said movement element (6).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein said blocking device (4) comprises a second mobile element (42) placed downstream of said first mobile element (41), said second mobile element (42) being movable between a first position adapted to prevent a container (100) from passing from said mobile station (2) to said heater (3), and a second position adapted to allow a container (100) to pass from said mobile station (2) to said heater (3).

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

Apparatus (1) according to claim 5, comprising a second sensor (5b) placed downstream of said first mobile element (41) to detect the presence of a container (100) in said heater (3) wherein said sensor placed downstream of said first mobile element (41) is placed upstream of said second mobile element (42).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Process for transferring a container (100) from the mobile station (2) to the heater (3) of an apparatus (1) according to claim 1 comprising the steps of:
i) moving the mobile station (2) so that a housing seat (21) is arranged in the desired position;
ii) operating the first sensor (5a) to verify the presence of a container (100) in said housing seat (21);
iii) operating said movement element (6) to reach said container (100);
iv) moving said first mobile element (41) to the second position;
v) operating said movement element (6) so that said container (100) is moved from said station to said heater (3);
wherein steps iv) and v) are carried out only if in said step ii) the presence of the container (100) in the housing seat (21) has been confirmed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

Process according to claim 7 wherein, in said step iii), the first element is moved to a third position adapted to prevent a container (100) from passing from said mobile station (2) to said heater (3) and to allow the contact between a container (100) and said movement element (6).

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

Process according to claim 7 wherein, in said step v), the volume and/or the height of the container (100) are estimated, as a function of the signal of said first and/or, if present, the signal of said second sensor (5b).

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

Process for transferring a container (100) from the heater (3) to the mobile station (2) of an apparatus (1) according to claim 2, which comprises the steps of:
i′) moving the mobile station (2) so that a housing seat (21) is arranged in the desired position;
ii′) operating the first sensor (5a) to verify the absence of a container (100) in said housing seat (21);
iii′) operating said second sensor (5b) to verify the presence of a container (100) in the heater (3);
iv′) moving said first mobile element (41) to the second position;
v′) operating said movement element so that said container (100) is moved from said heater to said mobile station (2);
vi)′ moving said first mobile element (41) to the first position;
wherein step iv′), v′) and vi′) are carried out only if in said step ii′) the absence of a container (100) in the housing seat (21) has been confirmed and if in said step iii′) the presence of a container (100) in the heater (3) has been confirmed.