Abstract: A dispensing apparatus comprises a robot device (14) having gripping means (20a, 20b) presentable to a plurality of stations, each station being adapted to provide an operation in a sequence of operations such as to produce a measured quantity or dose from a supply of a hazardous substance, and one of the stations (32) comprising a multi-syringe receiving and filling station comprising syringe receiving means (106) capable of receiving and holding syringes of different sizes each adapted to contain a said substance, the said station having means (95) for operating each syringe when located at that station whereby syringes of different sizes may be operated automatically as selected. The said station may comprise a hazardous liquid filling station for filling items one of which comprises a syringe.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus comprises a base, and a robot device on the base having opposing jaw members. A number of stations locate on the base, and cooperate with the robot device in a sequence of operations such as to produce a measured pharmaceutical dose from a supply of a pharmaceutically acceptable substance. One of the stations locates several hypodermic syringes in parallel and a container, and produces relative movement of the appropriate syringe and the container towards and away from each other to arrange that the syringe penetrates and withdraws from the container.