Abstract: A new and improved film wrapping machine includes a new and improved film changer, operatively associated with the film wrapping machine, for automatically exchanging rolls of wrapping film, wherein a depleted roll of wrapping film, or a roll of wrapping film that has experienced a breakage in the wrapping film, can be automatically removed from the film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assembly, and wherein further, a fresh roll of wrapping film can be positionally exchanged for the depleted roll of wrapping film, or for the roll of wrapping film that has experienced the breakage.

Abstract: A case packing system concurrently accumulates a plurality of different product ensembles and sequentially packs cases thereof, generally by way of (a) concurrently accumulating a plurality of different product ensembles utilizing a plurality of product conveyer lines, each of which is adapted to separately convey distinct products to one or more transfer points; (b) sequentially transferring different accumulated product ensembles from the conveyer lines to a case-packer, the case-packer including a packing section as well as multiple magazines for receiving different case-blanks; (c) controlling transfer of the product ensembles to the case-packer and selection of the appropriate case-blank. Preferably, substantially continuous operation of the case-packer at a production rate higher than an accumulation rate of any individual product conveyer is maintained.

Abstract: A compact tablet storage and take-out apparatus capable of quickly discharging and filing tablets. The tablet storage and take-out apparatus includes: a cylindrical drum; a drum driving device; a plurality of tablet cassette mounting bases fitted to an outer surface of the drum; tablet cassettes which are detachably mounted on the tablet cassette mounting bases; and a guide passage for guiding discharged tablets inside the drum. Moreover, the apparatus includes a transfer robot provided inside the drum so as to be liftable and also rotatable. The transfer robot is operable to transfers a vial between a delivery position located outside an opening formed in an upper end or a lower end of the drum and a tablet filling position. The position of at least one of the drum and the transfer robot is controlled so that an opening of the vial held by the transfer robot agrees with an outlet of the guide passage.

Abstract: Method for the manufacture of mixed packages and device for carrying out said method. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: Arrangement of plates, cases of plate packages and methods of packing arrangements of plates are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a case of plate packages is disclosed. The case of plate packages comprises a plurality of plate packages and a covering structure surrounding said plurality of plate packages. Each of the plate package includes a plurality of nestable plates and a transparent wrapping for enveloping the plurality of nestable plates. The plates within the plurality of nestable plates include different depictions associated with a common theme. Each of the plurality of nestable plates include a top plate that is at least partially visualized through said transparent wrapping. The top plates for the plurality of plate packages include plates with different depictions.

Abstract: An automatic medicine packaging machine with door lock unit that prevents the supplement and outflow of tablets by an unauthorized person and makes tablets kept and treated more safely is disclosed. The automatic medicine packaging machine comprising a plurality of tablet cassettes and a door includes; a door lock unit that is established on a body of the automatic medicine packaging machine and locks or unlocks the door; a button operation unit that is established on the front of the body and that operation is inputted by a user; and a lock controller that controls the operation of the door lock unit according to a lock or unlock signal inputted by the button operation unit, in which the lock controller includes a user authentication unit that authenticates user of the door lock unit.

Abstract: A method and a commissioning system are provided for commissioning articles (A1) which are suitable for a central belt in a central belt commissioning system and articles (A2) which are not suitable for a central belt, preferably manually from an article warehouse or shelf (5), wherein articles which are suitable for a central belt (1) are commissioned and automatically fall directly onto the driven central belt (1) in a targeted manner, and at the end of the central belt they fall into a stationary container or immediately into a container (10) arranged on the driven central belt. The articles (A2) which are not suitable for a central belt are commissioned manually in containers (10) in a commissioning path to the right and/or left of the central belt (1) of the central belt commissioning device and are directly fed to a dispatching station or preferably to the central belt commissioning device for commissioning with articles (A1) which are suitable for a central belt.

Abstract: In a packaging apparatus, when replacing a preceding single-faced corrugated fiberboard (wrapping material) with a subsequent single-faced corrugated fiberboard, a draw-out roller is operated such that the preceding single-faced corrugated fiberboard is drawn out to its trailing end. At this time, a reserve roller, around which the single-faced corrugated fiberboard is trained, is moved such that the single-faced corrugated fiberboard, which has been drawn out, is accumulated thereat. Then, the trailing end of the preceding single-faced corrugated fiberboard and a leading end of the subsequent single-faced corrugated fiberboard are joined together at a joining device. In this way, the preceding single-faced corrugated fiberboard can be used up until its final end, and thus there is no waste of the single-faced corrugated fiberboard.

Abstract: A case packing system concurrently accumulates a plurality of different product ensembles and sequentially packs cases thereof, generally by way of (a) concurrently accumulating a plurality of different product ensembles utilizing a plurality of product conveyer lines, each of which is adapted to separately convey distinct products to one or more transfer points; (b) sequentially transferring different accumulated product ensembles from the conveyer lines to a case-packer, the case-packer including a packing section as well as multiple magazines for receiving different case-blanks; (c) controlling transfer of the product ensembles to the case-packer and selection of the appropriate case-blank. Preferably, substantially continuous operation of the case-packer at a production rate higher than an accumulation rate of any individual product conveyer is maintained.

Abstract: A method and system of security screening of packages before packages are shipped by a commercial shipper. The method and system compares the configuration of the contents of the package when it is packed to the configuration of the contents of the package just prior to placement of the package on a commercial carrier. A first image of the configuration of the contents of the package is created when the package is packed. A second image of the configuration of the contents of the package is created by scanning the package at the shipping station. The images are compared to determine whether the images are the same within preset parameters. The package is segregated if the image differs beyond a preset amount.

Abstract: An improved tablet feeder includes a rotating body defining multiple chambers that are arranged in fluid communication with one another in a serial manner. Tablets flow through the multiple chambers for discharge from the tablet feeder. The rotating body has a rotational axis that is oriented at an inclination angle less than 60 degrees from horizontal. The chambers preferably include a primary chamber that holds a large number of tablets, a secondary chamber (which may have a frusto-conical sector or wedge shape) that is disposed at a position offset from the rotational axis, and a third chamber and exit tube disposed along the rotational axis. The device may be adapted to provide for singular and/or non-singular discharge of tablets from the exit tube during rotation of the rotating body.

Abstract: An automatic medication dispensing and packaging system comprising a medication dispensing unit having base and door cabinets, the door cabinet rear portion correspondingly and detachably engaged to the base cabinet rear portion, the base cabinets distanced from each other to form a space that allows therein a manual management of the dispensing unit. The manual management includes cassette replacements, tablet filling in the cassettes, and spatial shaft cleaning.

Abstract: A closure feed system for use on an associated dual train form, fill, and seal packaging machine for feeding, diverting and singulating closures from a common closure storage region to a closure applicator includes an upper chute for conveying the closures from the storage region to a diverter/singulator, two lower chutes for conveying separated closures from the diverter/singulator to respective applicators, and a diverter/singulator for diverting and separating the closures. The upper chute defines an upper conveyance path, while the two lower chutes define two lower conveyance paths to their respective applicators. The diverter/singulator includes a reciprocating plate with two closure-holding grooves. As the plate slides between the upper and lower chutes, the grooves alternately align with the upper chute, or with the first or second lower chutes. A form, fill, and seal packaging machine including the closure feed system is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging products having different shape and dimensions, such as for example food products of different size, into pre-formed bags of appropriate size, such as for example heat-shrinkable bags of thermoplastic material, comprises a conveyor for carrying in sequence a plurality of products to be packaged from a product loading portion to a product packaging bracket end portion thereof, means for detecting the dimensions of each product to be packaged while it moves from said product loading portion to said product packaging bracket end portion of said at least one conveyor and a plurality of bag dispensing devices for dispensing a plurality of bags varying in at least one dimension thereof.

Abstract: Computer assisted systems, methods and mediums for filling one or more orders. One embodiment of the present invention is a system that includes an order consolidation station configured to receive at least one bottle containing pills individually counted and/or at least one package containing pharmaceutical products without having been designated for any of the orders when the package was created and/or at least one literature pack optionally including patient specific information. The order consolidation station is further configured to combine automatically the received bottle and/or package and/or literature pack into a container to be sent to a recipient including, for example, mail order pharmacies, wholesalers and/or central fill dealers for subsequent distribution or sale including retailer distribution or sale. The bottle is specifically designated for the order, and the order generally includes at least one prescription for the package.

Abstract: A packaging system includes a cushioning conversion machine for converting stock material into relatively low density cushioning material or dunnage and a packaging system controller. The packaging system controller provides packaging instructions related to a part or parts to be packaged and instructs the cushioning conversion machine to produce the cushioning material. In one aspect of the present invention the packaging system controller provides packaging instructions by retrieving a predetermined set of packaging instructions associated with a particular part. In another aspect of the present invention the packaging system controller provides packaging instructions by determining an optimized packaging methodology using one or more characteristics of the part or parts to be packaged. The packaging system also provides for automated inventory control and productivity monitoring.

Abstract: A wrapping device provides at least a circular track structure which forms a closed track, and a film feeding device which is arranged to circulate along the track and to feed a film around a piece to be wrapped. The film feeding device includes a frame structure with a rotatable film roll and a feeding mechanism through which the film is arranged to be fed at a desired film tension. The frame structure can be disconnected from and reconnected to the film feeding device for the change of the film roll, and for the change of the film roll, the wrapping device also includes an automatic change system for the change of the frame structure. The frame structure is an integrated unit which can be independently disconnected from and reconnected to the film feeding device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a produce bagging machine including a filling station positioned on a support frame, and including a filling chute movable to a first position for receiving produce from a produce supply and to a second position for delivering the produce into a bag. The filling chute may preferably be shaped as a box having a first opening positioned at an upper end for receiving produce, an interior cavity for therein holding the produce, and a second opening or door positioned at a lower end for therethrough delivering the produce. The filling chute door panels form angled walls at the lower end of the interior cavity so as to thereby guide individual pieces of elongated produce, preferably carrots, into substantially parallel alignment as the produce is delivered. Thus, the machine is useful for bagging elongated produce such as carrots in large, institutional sized bags of approximately fifty pounds capacity.

Abstract: For supplying production and packaging machines, in particular for supplying lines (10, 11) for producing and packaging cigarettes, an intermediate store (12) is provided for storing packaging material, to be precise for pallets (20) with reels (18) of web-like material. Pallets (20) with the packaging material are fed to the intermediate store (12) by a pallet conveyor (28). A separate reel conveyor (48) transports reels (18), as required, to the individual machines and subassemblies of the lines (10, 11).

Abstract: A medication dispensing apparatus of the present invention contains a plurality of different kinds of medication separately, dispenses the medicament to pack them into package belt, and discharges the package belt. The medication dispensing apparatus comprises a cutting device for cutting the package belt into short package belt including at least one medication package for specified period in accordance with prescription data, a stacking device for stacking the short package belts and a bundling device for bundling the stacked short package belts. According to the medication dispensing apparatus, it is possible to cut off medication packages and empty packages from the package belt automatically and rapidly, reducing medication distributing job in a hospital. The medication dispensing apparatus is applicable to a medicament collecting system comprising a tray feed station, a medication dispensing station and a tray recovering station.

Abstract: For supplying production and packaging machines, in particular for supplying lines (10, 11) for producing and packaging cigarettes, an intermediate store (12) is provided for storing packaging material, to be precise for pallets (20) with reels (18) of web-like material. Pallets (20) with the packaging material are fed to the intermediate store (12) by a pallet conveyor (28). A separate reel conveyor (48) transports reels (18), as required, to the individual machines and subassemblies of the lines (10, 11).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed providing a plurality of sterile zones within a sterilization tunnel in an aseptic packaging apparatus. The sterile zones provide a plurality of sterilant concentration levels within the sterilization tunnel. Additionally, the sterile zones provide a plurality of gas flow rates within the sterilization tunnel.

Abstract: A system is provided for automatically dispensing prescriptions according to a patient's order. The system includes at least one line of machines that can automatically fill a patient's prescription order with countable oral solid medication under the control of an appropriate control system. The system includes containers provided to store the oral solid medication. One or more medication-containing containers are detachably coupled to a vibratory dispenser according to a patient's order. The vibratory dispenser automatically vibrates the container to dispense a predetermined amount of medication from the container into the vial according to the patient's order. Labeling and capping apparatus may be provided to apply a patient-specific label to the vial and to apply a cap or closure to the vial. Vials containing medication according to the patient's order may be collected in accumulation receptacles prior to delivery to a patient.

Abstract: A system and method for order packing forms a mixed pallet or a mixed multi-pack. In this system, a first embodiment utilizes a high volume module, a low volume module, a sorting and packing module, a prepackage module and a mixed palletizer module for picking, sorting, packaging and palletizing articles. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a bulk load can be fed via a carrousel to a bank of elevators. A transfer device will load different levels of the elevators which can then be moved adjacent a discharge conveyor. A lane is provided in this discharge conveyor for each of the elevators in the bank of elevators. The different levels of the elevators are positioned adjacent the lanes and can discharge articles onto the conveyor in order to form groups of the same or different types of articles. Many different types of articles including beverage containers such as cans, bottles or beverage boxes can use this system.

Abstract: A coin packaging apparatus has a structure facilitating confirmation of the correction or incorrectness of packaging paper when the wrong packaging paper is set, and facilitates replacement of the packaging paper.

Abstract: A drug filling machine has a plurality of feeders containing a plurality of different kinds of drugs. A plurality of drugs are discharged from one or some or the feeders into a vial. A sealing unit is provided for sealing the mouth of the vial with a transparent sheet. The sealing unit includes a sheet presser for pushing the transparent sheet into the mouth of the vial to form a sealing sheet having a tray-shaped section, a cutter for cutting the transparent sheet into a predetermined shape, and a heater for fusing the transparent sheet to the top end of the vial to seal the mouth of the vial.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method to produce magazines, books, catalogues, brochures, periodicals, or the like on a collation or binding line, transport these products in a single stream of products towards a packaging line, divide the single stream of products into distinct streams of products where one such stream comprises products requiring wrapping and another such stream comprises products which do not require wrapping, transport the products requiring wrapping to a wrapping machine and sending these products through a wrapping process, transport the products that do not require wrapping around the wrapping machine, and merge the separate streams of products back into a single stream of products such that the products are arranged in a predetermined output order, such as demographic order.

Abstract: An automatic tablet dispenser comprising a tablet dropping unit having a first drum body, a second drum body, a means for rotating the first and second drum bodies and a packaging unit disposed below the tablet dropping unit to package tablets released through the tablet release holes from the tablet dropping unit and discharge packaged tablet bags to an exterior of the automatic tablet dispenser. The first and second drum bodies are closedly looped by first and second arc-shaped outer drums and inner drums. Tablet cassettes form an outer periphery of said each drum, and the drum rotating means allows the tablet cassettes to be filled with tablets when required. Tablet release holes are downwardly formed in each of the drums by tablet release guides to correspondingly communicate with the tablet cassettes for the tablet release.

Abstract: A method and a system 100 is provided for automatically dispensing prescriptions according to a patient's order. The system 100 includes at least one line 105 of machines that can automatically fill a patient's prescription order with countable oral solid drugs and unit of use drugs, under the control of an appropriate control system, within the same machine 105. The apparatus of the invention includes numerous components that are integrated into a singular process. A robotic assembly 140 may be used to manipulate and transport vials, canisters 130, and bins 145 within the system. The robotic assembly 140 may further include a gripper assembly 20. The canister 130 may include means to accelerate a drug during the drug's movement through the canister 130 in order to increase the separation distance between drugs. The canister 130 may also include singulation control for maintaining drugs in a nearly single-file order as the drugs move through the canister 130.

Abstract: A handling system 1 for filament bobbins 4 or doffs 5 in a spinning mill, which has a spinning area 2 and a storage area 12. The handling system 1 has a transport device 16, a separating device 17 and a transfer station 11. The transport device 6 and the transfer station 11 have multi-column supports 7 for a plurality of doffs 5. The transfer station 11 is arranged between the transport device 6 and the separating device 17 and is located at the edge of or outside the spinning area 2. The separating device 17 is arranged in or at the storage area 12. As a result, the separation of the filament bobbins 4 is performed outside the spinning area 2.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method to produce magazines, books, catalogues, brochures, periodicals, or the like on a collation or binding line, transport these products in a single stream of products towards a packaging line, divide the single stream of products into distinct streams of products where one such stream comprises products requiring wrapping and another such stream comprises products which do not require wrapping, transport the products requiring wrapping to a wrapping machine and sending these products through a wrapping process, transport the products that do not require wrapping around the wrapping machine, and merge the separate streams of products back into a single stream of products such that the products are arranged in a predetermined output order, such as demographic order.

Abstract: Stacks (2) of flat articles supplied in a serial stack stream are wrapped with a film (3) in a first packing step so the film (3) covers the top, bottom and two vertical sides of each stack and projects beyond both sides of the covered stack sides. Packing of the film-wrapped stacks (2.3, 2.4) is finished in a second packing step at a strapping/welding position. Depending on the stack height (d.1, d.2), stacks (2.3) having a height (d.1) greater than a predetermined limit stack height are strapped and stacks (2.4), whose height (d.2) is equal to or smaller than the limit stack height, film areas (3.1) projecting beyond the top and bottom of the stack are welded together, strapping being suppressed or performed simultaneously with the welding operation.

Abstract: A hopper opening and closing apparatus for an automatic tablet dispensing system is disclosed. The hopper opening and closing apparatus includes a door hingedly connected to a discharge hopper for swing down to open and swing up to close the release port, wherein the tablets released from the tablets dropping unit are temporarily gathered in the tablet release hopper when the release door is closed. The door is formed to cover a release port provided through a lower portion of a discharge hopper. The hopper apparatus further includes a door control, which includes a horizontal opening bar engaged at the release port, a rotation shaft driven by a motor which simultaneously drives a heat assembly, a cam carried on said rotation shaft, an opening lever making an angular movement by said cam, and an opening link engaged to the opening bar and linked from the opening lever, whereby the tablets gathered in said discharge hopper are simultaneously dropped into a target packaging paper.

Abstract: A tablet dropping unit for an automatic tablet dispensing system is disclosed, and an automatic tablet dispensing system which incorporating the tablet dropping unit is disclosed. The automatic tablet dispensing system includes a drum unit communicating with a plurality of release holes which fixate a plurality of tablet cassettes, storing therein and releasing therefrom, a measured quantity of tablets. Tablet released from the tablet cassettes drop via release holes to a guide hopper of a tablet packaging unit. The packing unit packages the tablets released from the tablet dropping unit and discharges the packaged tablet bags to an exterior of the automatic tablet dispensing system. The drum unit has a pair of arc-shaped drum bodies partitioned by a predetermined space therebetween. An auxiliary arc-shaped drum is further located within each of the arc-shaped drum bodies.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for placing corner protectors upon corner regions of loads or articles to be wrapped, banded, or otherwise packaged comprises a plurality of corner protector magazines and operatively associated corner protector pick-up arm and transfer assemblies which are divided into two groups of diagonally opposed magazines and pick-up arm and transfer assemblies wherein the two groups of magazines respectively house corner protectors having two different height dimensions. Depending upon the sensed height dimensions of the loads or articles, one of the two groups of magazines and pick-up arm and transfer assemblies are selectively activated so as to place the proper dimensioned corner protectors upon corner regions of the loads or articles.

Abstract: A medication dispensing apparatus of the present invention contains a plurality of different kinds of medication separately, dispenses the medicament to pack them into package belt, and discharges the package belt. The medication dispensing apparatus comprises a cutting device for cutting the package belt into short package belt including at least one medication package for specified period in accordance with prescription data, a stacking device for stacking the short package belts and a bundling device for bundling the stacked short package belts. According to the medication dispensing apparatus, it is possible to cut off medication packages and empty packages from the package belt automatically and rapidly, reducing medication distributing job in a hospital. The medication dispensing apparatus is applicable to a medicament collecting system comprising a tray feed station, a medication dispensing station and a tray recovering station.

Abstract: A wrapping apparatus including parallel conveyors for moving loaded pallets to wrapping areas of the conveyors, a mobile wrapping machine on wheels, a guide for maintaining the wrapping machine along a path, position sensors for detecting loaded pallets at loading areas, and a computer control for directing the mobile wrapping machine to wrap the loaded pallets on a prioritized basis. The invention is extremely mobile, and is computer controlled to wrap the pallets without need for an operator.

Abstract: A heater assembly for an automatic tablet dispenser is disclosed. The heater assembly includes a pair of heating rollers respectively having an insertion hole formed through each shaft thereof to receive a heating line therethrough, and a pair of peripheral sealing surfaces and a pair of axial sealing surfaces are appropriately provided on the heating rollers. The packaging paper is foldedly provided between the corresponding pair of sealing surfaces of the heating rollers. The sealing surfaces of the heater assembly has a plurality of continuously-and-linear ridged teeth formed on and along said sealing surfaces, thereby preventing a paper slipping phenomenon from occurring during the paper sealing process.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically and continuously supplying retractable spouts for cardboard boxes, which includes first and second storing devices for storing first and second spout webs and for continuously supplying said first and second spout webs from which spout elements are formed and cut and also includes feeding means for feeding said first spout web coming from said first storing device as well as end of web sensing means which actuate auxiliary feeding means for taking up the second spout web coming from the second storing device and also including a shaft supporting a first cam for operating the feeding means and the auxiliary feeding means and also including a second cam for operating a punch element for forming and shaping said spout elements, the feeding means including levers pivoted, at a respective middle portion thereof, to a support element and having an end portion thereof coupled to supports associated with the first cam wherein the web sensing means are arranged at said punch element.

Abstract: A carrier (300) for loading medical items in the helix (74) of a dispenser module (28) includes a plurality of chambers (314) formed by side walls (316) attached to a rear wall (310). Cover (322) seals the medical items within the chambers (314). A plurality of tapered projections (312) meshes with the turns of the helix (74) to align chambers (314) with the spaces between the turns of the helix. Cover (322) is then slidably released from channels (318, 320) in side walls (316) for releasing the medical items within the helix (74). An alternate embodiment includes a support member (342) with a plurality of apertures (346) spaced to correspond to the spaces of the helix (74). The plurality of holders (348) with medical items contained therein are secured to support member (342) through the apertures (346) with a strap (354). By removing strap (354), the medical items are released within the helix (74) in the selected locations.

Abstract: A tablet packing apparatus of the present invention have a tablet feeding section 2 for feeding tablets, tablet vessel feeding sections 3 for feeding tablet vessels 11, and a tablet packing section 4 for packing tablets fed from the tablet feeding section 2, into a tablet vessel 11 fed from the tablet vessel feeding sections 3. The tablet feeding section comprises a plurality of feeder vessels 36 for storing different types of tablets and a tablet conveyor 27 for conveying the tablets discharged from the feeder vessels 36, to the tablet packing section 4. In the apparatus, the following restoring process is executed. After the apparatus is stopped due to abnormality, the tablets remaining in the guide paths 31 and the tablets conveyor means 27 are conveyed to the tablet packing section 4 by the tablets conveyor means 27 to recover them into the tablet vessel 11 and then the tablet vessel 11 is transferred to the container chamber 6 of the storage shelves 1.

Abstract: A vending machine is provided for packaging a plurality of articles into a unitary package. This vending machine includes a packaging area and a packer. The packer affixes a carrier to the discrete articles in the packaging area to form the package. The formed package is then discharged from the vending machine. The present vending machine therefore provides for forming a plurality of articles into a package within a single vending machine. A consumer can select what articles, such as different brands of beverage containers, which are combined to form the package. Also, the number of articles for each package can be selected by the consumer.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and dispensing medical items which are dispensed for administration to patients includes a data terminal (76, 338, 538) which is connected through a network (82, 328, 536) to at least one computer (84, 324, 532) having a processor and a data store. The system also includes a reading device (348, 538) which is operatively connected to the network. A user of the data terminal or the reading device is enabled to select a patient for whom medical items will be used, and responsive to a request to dispense items the requested items are dispensed from dispensing devices (96, 100, 344, 346, 450, 527, 540) connected to the data terminal. Storage locations in dispensing devices may be restocked using removable liners. The removable liners are stocked with medical items in a stocking location (550) and transported in a secure condition to the storage locations. The storage locations are accessed by an authorized restocking user.

Abstract: A fill hopper assembly (30) includes two fill hoppers (50) and (52) which are reciprocated back and forth beneath a feed hopper (14) and over discharge openings (72 and 74) of a discharge bridge plate (32). The upper fill hopper bridge plate (34) includes an intermediate bridge (48) that closes the hopper extension (28) when the fill hopper assembly is in transition to place one of its fill openings (36 or 38) beneath the feed hopper extension (28). The fill hopper bridge (48) closes the fill hopper extension until one of the fill openings (36 or 38) is in registration with the extension (28). Likewise, the discharge bridge plate (32) includes a bridge (76) that closes the bottom openings of the open-ended fill hoppers (50 and 52) when the fill hoppers are centered and as they approach their laterally displaced discharge openings (72 or 74).

Abstract: A tablet packing apparatus is provided which can split a tablet into halves and wrap each of the half tablets automatically. Tablet supply section 1 supplies tablets housed therein kind by kind. Tablet cutting section 2 cuts a tablet supplied from the tablet supply section 1 into two parts. Tablet accumulating section 3 temporarily accumulates each tablet cut at the tablet cutting section. Tablet packing section 4 packs tablets stored in the tablet accumulating section 3.

Abstract: Packing apparatus for packing mail items, magazines, books, CDs and like products composed of one or more layers, comprising a product-assembling path, a folding station, and a separating station, the folding station comprising a first conveyor belt on which at least a part of the packing material web is located which extends below the products to be packed, a pulling element which is arranged above the first conveyor belt and engages parts of the packing material web located at the top side of the products to be packed, and connecting means by means of which the longitudinal edges of the packing material web are interconnected, a pressure plate which is arranged above the first conveyor belt, the top side of which pressure plate is engaged by the pulling element, in operation, with the interposition of at least the longitudinal edges of the packing material web, the distance between the first conveyor belt and the bottom side of the pressure plate being such that products of different thicknesses can pass th

Abstract: A packaging system having a multiple magazine for providing different carton blanks to a single form, fill and seal packaging machine is disclosed in the present invention. The packaging system has the multiple magazine apparatus, the packaging machine, a carton opener and optionally an automatic carton loader. The present invention also discloses the multiple magazine apparatus having a plurality of magazines, and means for retrieving blanks therefrom.

Abstract: The invention concerns equipment receiving continuously and individually delivered objects and arranging these objects into sets for discharge to a packaging station. Two conveyor chains (3, 4) fitted with compartments to receive the objects are mounted transversely to the objects' conveyor belt (2) so that these compartments shall be colinear in the direction of object delivery. A stop (7, 8) is mounted between the two conveyor chains (3, 4) in the extension of the objects' direction of delivery and is designed to open and close the compartment of the conveyor chain (4) located at the rear as seen in the direction of object delivery.

Abstract: In an automated prescription pill dispensing system, a multiplicity of pill dispensers are provided each operable to count out and dispense pills from supply hoppers. The dispensers are controlled by a computer which selects up to five of the dispensers to operate and control the selected pill dispensers to count out pills simultaneously. The pill dispensers dispense the pills into the first set of output hoppers, from which the pills can be released into a second output hopper under the control of the computer. The computer will release the pills from the second output hopper corresponding to a selected pill dispenser through a snout into a pill vial in response to sensing the presence of a pill vial at the snout. The computer controls a prescription label printer to print prescription labels for the pill vials. The computer also controls indicator lights to indicate which dispensing cell is selected and ready to have pills released from the second output hopper corresponding thereto.

Abstract: In an automated prescription dispensing and packing system, empty prescription bottles are labeled and loaded in assigned locations in carriers. Pills are automatically dispensed into the prescription bottles in the carriers. Ranks of carriers containing filled prescription bottles are assembled at stations where the bottles are unloaded and packed into shipping containers with literature printed by the system. Multiple bottles of an order are automatically packed in the same shipping container.