Abstract: An automated medication preparation system for preparing a prescribed dosage of medication in a drug delivery device. The system includes a plurality of stations for receiving, handling and processing the drug delivery device so that the prescribed dosage of medication is delivered to the drug delivery device and a transporting device that receives and holds more than one drug delivery device and moves the drug delivery devices in a controlled manner from one station to another station. The system is configured so that two or more separate drug delivery devices can be acted upon at the same time.

Abstract: A device for ensuring reliable data packet throughput in a redundant system includes a splitter that creates copies of a data packet and sends each copy to a separate intermediate source for processing, parallel buffers for receiving the processed packets from the intermediate sources, and a comparator for determining whether the data packets are equivalent.

Abstract: A cigarette packing machine has a first drive normally transmitting motion to packing units which are employed to advance a series of arrays of cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry and to confine each array in a discrete packet by providing each of successive arrays of the series with one or more envelopes, labels and the like. The first drive is decelerated and brought to a halt in the event of malfunctioning of one or more packing units of the machine and/or for other reasons, and this initiates or prevents an interruption of operation of at least one second drive which transmits motion to one or more packing units during deceleration and/or during a period following stoppage of the first drive. The second drive(s) causes or cause the respective packing unit(s) to complete operations which, if not carried out prior to restarting of the first drive, would entail the making of numerous defective packets.

Abstract: A system is provided to monitor and control operational functions in a baler such as a big square baler. Clutches and drive components associated with the system are switchable via a speed regulator. Depending on the switch position of the clutches, additional adjusting devices can be engaged or disengaged. The system automatically swings the cutting knives into and out of the feed channel to preclude clogging of the knife slots in the bottom of the feeding channel. It is advantageous to build such a system with several job processing units sharing the same processing software and, at least in part, identical hardware.

Abstract: A method and device for detecting a shortage or excess of an article enclosed in respective envelopes in an automatic mail enclosing and sealing machine. The method comprises the steps of receiving information relative to the number of sheets enclosed in respective envelopes, detecting a variable corresponding to the number of sheets enclosed, discriminating whether the detected variable is within or out of the allowable range corresponding to the sheet number information, and deciding whether a shortage or excess of article is enclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting material into an envelope in which a first conveyor supplies insert material and a second conveyor supplies envelopes to an insert station. The flap of the envelope is opened while being carried by the second conveyor to the insert station. The insert station includes a kicker or pusher to move the insert material into the envelope. A first radiation type detector is provided to detect buckling of the envelope or insert material during insertions. A second radiation type detector is provided to detect failure of the pusher to complete an insertion operation.

Abstract: Plates mounted on support structure of a machine for packaging articles in sleeve-type carriers act as guides for the moving articles and as detectors of article jams which occur inside open sleeves prior to the closing of the end panel flaps of the sleeves. The plates are mounted for movement toward and away from the moving carrier sleeves and are biased inwardly toward the path of movement of the carrier sleeves. When a jam occurs the pressure of articles moving outwardly of the sleeve causes the plate to pivot away from contact with a sensor, thereby automatically shutting down the machine. The plate extends to the flap closing area so as to detect jams at any point between the loading station and the flap closing station.

Abstract: Each unit number of coins to be stacked and wrapped are centrifugally aligned on a rimmed turntable and fed in a row along a horizontal coin guideway to a stacking position, where the successive coins are stacked by a toothed stacking wheel capable of placing each new coin under the preceding one. Thus the coins are stacked on, rather than under, the plane of the coin guideway with a view to the reduction of the vertical dimension of the machine to a minimum. Disposed around the stack of coins thus formed are a set of parallel wrapping rolls at least one of which is displaceable for rotatably engaging the coin stack between itself and the other wrapping rolls. With the forced rotation of the wrapping rolls together with the coin stack, a piece of wrapper strip is wound around the latter, and the side edges of the wrapper strip are folded against the opposite ends of the stack. The wrapped stack of coins is ejected downwardly.

Abstract: A mechanism for automatically feeding individual pre-cut sheets and stuffing a personalized letter or some other pre-cut insert into a personalized envelope. The mechanism has means to permit additional inserts to be automatically added to the envelope and to automatically seal the contents within the envelope. The mechanism will also combine pre-cut inserts and envelopes fed from different sources and form them into a completed mailing envelope.

Abstract: A dropped-article sensor is positioned beneath the platform conveyor of a wrapping machine wherein articles are received at a feed-in station and conveyed to a wrapping station along a conveyor path extending between and including the feed-in station and the wrapping station with sheets of wrapping material being wrapped about the packages at the wrapping station. Articles dropped from the conveyor path fall upon the dropped-article sensor which not only catches the articles, but generates a wrapping machine stop signal or interrupt such that the dropped article must be retrieved before restarting the wrapping machine.

Abstract: A plurality of grids are mounted individually on spokes of a wheel so that each grid moves through an article infeed station where groups of articles are fed into the grids without interrupting their forward speed. The orbit of the grids is such that each grid also moves through a discharge station where the article groups are dropped into packing cases again without interrupting the motion of the articles in the direction of a packing case conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing plastic material from an extruder into a container; "plastic material" being a material sufficiently viscous to enable dispensation by severing, for example ice-cream, grease, margine or the like. The plastic material is extruded through an extruder opening having a flange therearound and the container is firstly raised to a position whereat the plastic material is downwardly extruded thereinto, whereafter the container and the extruder are relatively moved so that the container opening and peripheral edge thereof are moved across the extruder opening and flange, thereby severing the plastic material away from the extruder.