Abstract: An oloid-shaped body is placed on, and driven by, a conveyor belt. Two embodiments of the oloid shaped body are a hollow body with a closable opening, and a skeleton body for attachment of vessels. A shaft is attached to the oloid-shaped body and has the position and direction of the longitudinal axis of the oloid-shaped body. A hollow shaft allows access to the oloid-shaped body during movement. A frame is positioned on either side of the conveyor belt, with a plurality of spring attachments connecting an oval guiding rail to each of the frames. A carriage runs around each of the guiding rails and guides an end of the shaft in an oval path. In this manner the oloid-shaped body tumbles in a stationary location on the conveyor belt. An alternative to using the combination of frames, guiding rails, and carriages, is the use of a mechanism which causes the two ends of the shaft to rotate in the same rotational path but in opposite directions.

Abstract: An oloid-shaped body is placed on either a roller carpet or a free moving conveyor belt. The embodiments of the oloid-shaped body are a hollow body with a closeable opening and a skeleton body for attachment of vessels. A shaft is attached to the oloid-shaped body and has the position and direction of the longitudinal axis of the oloid-shaped body. A hollow shaft allows access to the oloid-shaped body during movement. A frame is positioned on either side of the conveyor belt, with a plurality of spring attachments connecting an oval guiding rail to each of the frames. A carriage runs around each of the guiding rails and guides an end of the shaft in an oval path. Drive units have drive chains which run around a path in each of the guiding rails and attaches to each of the carriages. In this manner, the drive units cause the carriages to move the shaft, thereby causing the oloid-shaped body to tumble in a stationary manner.

Abstract: A tumbler body with an oloid hollow body (7) is positioned on two free-moving, endless conveyor belts (8). A strip (10) runs around and is attached to the hollow body (7) limited by two profiles (9). The strip (10) maintains a positive connection to a driving element in form of an endless belt. The profiles (9) sink into the area of the guiding and driving system (11) in between the conveyor belts (8). The system contains and combines a guide for guiding the profiles (9) and a drive for driving the driving elements. The conveyor belts (8) glide on the low-friction tables (12) supported by a frame (14) which is also the attachment point for the guiding and driving system. The frame (14) is supported by a base (15).

Abstract: A sample taking device comprised of three parts which are axially moveable with respect to each other: the main rod (7), a taking tube (10) and the flask holder (27). Through a tube (9) arranged on the main rod (7) a sterilizing medium, for example vapor, is introduced and flows throughout the whole device and comes out through the tube (29). By the action of an axial force on the cup (31) the needle (36) traverses the plug (35); if the force is intensified, the taking tube (10) is pushed in response to the force of the pre-strained pressure spring (15) into the culture medium (2) which may then flow into the flask (32). At the end of the sample taking, the device may be rinsed and re-sterilized, without the need for adding or dismounting certain parts. The device is also appropriate for the sample taking of pathogen cultures.