Abstract: An ampule opener is provided for automatically opening ampules. The ampule opener is especially suitable for use in a robotic sterility test system and is provided with a pneumatic actuator means releasably connected to an ampule opener arm. The head of an ampule is positioned with its neck on a knife edge so that when the ampule opener arm is rotated by the actuator means, the arm applies a pressure on the head of the ampule and the ampule head drops away.

Abstract: According to the broader aspects of the invention, there is provided an improved arrangement which reduces the effort required in aligning optical sensors in optical heads under which capsules are transported and which decreases the relative time variances among certain signals utilized in the evaluation of capsules, most notably those dealing with color recognition and defect detection.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for high-speed automatic inspection and processing of large numbers of solid discrete particular objects such as multicolored capsule dose forms in regard to color and/or defect detection, in which virtually all unacceptable material is isolated and an accurate running and total count of acceptable material is provided. The objects are transported in a number of channels past respective optical heads comprising an electro-optics system, the transport mechanism being arranged to provide signals representative of relative object location. The electro-optics system is comprised operatively of separate color recognition and shape inspection subsystems. For the former, a plurality of optical channels are arranged in each optical head operatively in P groups of R optical channels each. The R optical channels of each group view different object segments to provide a spatially integrated output for minimizing noise and particularly the effects of printing on the objects.