Abstract: The invention relates to a cassette for supporting a material sample, the cassette including a housing and a retaining assembly for retaining the sample in the housing. The retaining assembly includes a plurality of retaining members adapted to be disposed about the periphery of the sample for movement radially thereof, a biasing spring encircling the retaining members for biasing the retaining members into engagement with the sample, and a cover supported by the housing for securing the retaining members and the biasing member within the housing.

Abstract: A sample divider for fine-grained loose material samples contains - arranged symmetrically below one another - a sample delivery pipe, a divider and collecting vessels for sub-samples provided below the divider. The divider is constructed as a divider cone which has distributed over its base surface sample distribution holes to which a plurality of first sub-sample pipes is connected, below which are arranged a collecting funnel, a second divider cone and below that a plurality of second sub-sample pipes which are connected to the collecting vessels. In this way a starting sample quantity can be divided up into a comparatively large number of sub-sample quantities extremely well and reliably with the sample only passing through the sample divider once.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic-tube conveying installation in which a tube section accommodating the sample carrier at the despatch and receiving stations is designed to be tilted into a filling or emptying position about an axis extending transversely of its longitudinal axis. A conveying installation such as this is distinguished by its particularly simple construction and operational reliability.

Abstract: A pneumatic-tube installation for posting samples of fine material comprises at least one sample despatch station for filling, sealing and despatching sample carriers, a sample receiving station for receiving, emptying and returning the sample carriers to the sample despatch station and a pneumatic tube system connecting the sample despatch and receiving stations. When a carrier arrives at the receiving station it automatically is opened, emptied, reclosed, and readied for return to the despatch station at which it automatically is conditioned to receive a fresh sample.