A method for sampling using a sampling device with a sampler that comprises a sampler bousing which defines a sample collection chamber for receiving a sample to be taken and which has a sample inlet communicating with the sample collection chamber for introducing a sample to be taken, and a sample outlet communicating with the sample collection chamber for discharging the sample contained in the sample collection chamber into a sample vessel fixed to the sampler and defining a vessel interior,
- wherein,
- that the sampler bas a valve member which is movable relative to the sampler housing to selectively open or close the sample outlet by performing valve element movements, which comprises a closure section which, in a valve element closure position, seals the sample outlet tightly and, in a valve element open position, is displaced into the sample collection chamber and clears the sample outlet for sample passage,
- that the sampling device comprises a sleeve-shaped vessel adapter which can be attached or is attached to the sample vessel in a vessel position in the area of a vessel opening which is traversed axially by an adapter opening connected to the vessel interior in the vessel position,
- that the sampling device comprises a closure plug which can be moved both into a plug closure position inserted into the adapter opening and thereby tightly sealing the adapter opening and into a plug open position pulled out of the adapter opening and thereby clearing the adapter opening, wherein the vessel adapter and the closure plug together form an adapter-plug unit in the plug closure position,
- that parts of a plug connection device are arranged on the valve element and on a fastening section of the closure plug, by means of which the closure plug can be detachably fastened to the valve element in a plus coupling position, wherein the closure plus follows the valve element movements of the valve element,
- and that parts of an adapter connection device are arranged on the sampler bousing and on the vessel adapter, by means of which the vessel adapter can be detachably fastened to the sampler housing in an adapter coupling position, wherein the adapter opening is connected to the sample outlet,
- wherein, while the valve element is in the valve element closure position, the closure plug can be brought into the plus coupling position attached to the valve element and the vessel adapter can be brought into the adapter coupling position attached to the sampler housing, forming the adapter-plug unit, so that the adapter-plug unit is attached to the sampler on the one band via the sampler housing and on the other hand via the valve element,
- wherein the adapter opening can initially be cleared by valve element movements of the valve element due to the closure plug moving with the valve element, so that a sample contained in the sample collection chamber can be transferred to a sample vessel arranged on the vessel adapter and enclosed therein,
- wherein the adapter plug unit is detached in the valve element closure position of the valve element while maintaining the blue closure position of the closure plug by releasing both the adapter connection device and the plug connection device together with a sample vessel attached to the vessel adapter from the sampler wherein the sampler, wherein the sampler is connected in a position of use with its sample inlet to a media container which contains a flowable medium from which a sample is to be taken,
- the method comprising:
- providing a sample vessel, a vessel adapter and a closure plug,
- positioning the valve element of the sampler in the valve element closure position,
- manually fastening the closure plug in the plug coupling position to the valve element in the valve element closure position by means of the plug connection device,
- subsequently manually fastening the vessel adapter in the adapter coupling position in the area of the sample outlet of the sampler housing using the adapter connection device, wherein the pre-assembled closure plug is inserted into the adapter opening of the vessel adapter to be in the plug closure position, so that the adapter opening is closed by the closure plug, forming the adapter-plug unit,
- attaching the sample vessel to the vessel adapter before or after it is fastened in the adapter coupling position,
- transferring a sample introduced into the sample collection chamber from the sample collection chamber into the sample vessel fixed to the sampler housing via the vessel adapter, by first clearing and then closing the adapter opening by means of valve element movements of the valve element as a result of the closure plug following the valve element movements so that the sample contained in the sample collection chamber is transferred through the opened adapter opening into the sample vessel and enclosed in its interior and
- removing the sample vessel from the sampler together with the adapter-plug unit which now functions as a closure cap, in the valve element closure position of the valve element by detaching both the adapter connection device and the plug connection device while maintaining the plug closure position of the closure plug.