Sample Magazine

The Sample Magazine (SM) is a compact automated system designed to fill sample buckets with bulk materials efficiently following the completion of the primary sampling process. Built for mining, industrial, and laboratory environments, the SM reduces manual handling requirements and improves operational efficiency by automating what is otherwise a repetitive and time-consuming stage of the sample management workflow.

The system is engineered to prevent cross-contamination between samples and minimise moisture loss during the filling process, ensuring that each collected sample accurately represents the bulk material at the point of extraction. This sample integrity is maintained throughout handling and storage, supporting the reliability of downstream analytical results in applications where moisture content and material composition must be preserved from collection through to laboratory analysis.

The multi-bucket configuration allows the SM to function as both an automated filling system and a built-in sample storage solution, reducing the frequency of manual intervention required during extended sampling periods and minimising operational downtime between sample collection and retrieval. For operations requiring greater storage capacity or a higher degree of customisation, the Sample Magazine Long (SM-L) provides an expanded solution with enhanced capacity and bespoke configuration options tailored to specific operational requirements.

• Multi-bucket configuration enables continuous sample collection without the need for immediate manual bucket replacement, reducing labour costs and improving efficiency.
• The Sample Magazine (SM) offers a compact design compared to the larger SM-L model, making it ideal for operations with limited space or lower sample volume requirements.
• Sealed system design ensures complete protection against moisture loss and cross-contamination, preserving sample quality.
• Features a safety-interlocked access door that automatically deactivates the turntable during bucket removal, ensuring safe and compliant operation.

The AUTONOMA Sample Magazine is designed for facilities that require consistent, reliable bulk material sampling with minimal manual handling. It is well suited to mining and mineral processing operations, where representative samples are collected from conveyed ore, concentrate, or aggregate streams for quality control and grade verification. It is equally effective in bulk commodity handling environments, sampling materials such as grain, coal, cement, and fertilizer at transfer points, load-out stations, or port terminals.

In process plants and refineries, the system supports quality assurance programs where consistent, contamination-free sample collection is essential to meeting product specifications. It also integrates seamlessly into laboratory workflows, whether samples are retrieved manually or transported via AGVs, helping reduce turnaround time between collection and analysis. For unattended or remote sites, the Sample Magazine enables continuous sampling operations in locations where constant operator presence is not practical or safe.

Its compact footprint allows for easy integration into existing sampling stations, transfer towers, or plant retrofit projects without the need for major structural changes.

The AUTONOMA Sample Magazine is supported by intuitive control software that manages the full sampling cycle, from bucket indexing to fill sequencing, without requiring constant operator input. The interface allows users to monitor active bucket status, track fill increments, and view system alerts in real time, giving plant personnel clear visibility into the sampling process at any point in the cycle.

The software coordinates the turntable rotation and sealing sequence automatically, ensuring each bucket is filled to the correct level before the system advances to the next position. It also manages the safety interlock logic, disabling turntable movement whenever the access door is open to protect operators during manual bucket removal.

For facilities using automated transport, the software can be configured to communicate with AGV systems, triggering pickup requests once a bucket is filled and ready for transfer to the laboratory. This level of integration supports a fully automated sampling workflow, reducing the need for manual coordination between sampling, transport, and analysis.

The control system is designed to be straightforward to operate, with configuration options that allow it to be adapted to different sampling schedules, bucket capacities, and facility layouts.