Abstract: A plant for manufacturing and packaging tubes feeds the tubes via a conveyor belt to a packaging station, where they are packaged to form larger units. The foil strip is a dual or multiple-strip, cut by at least one partitioning blade into individual webs respectively welded in parallel planes to form endless tubes and cut by transverse cutters. The tubular bodies are assembled into a larger transfer group and jointly transferred to a turn table including a corresponding number of mandrels. The turn table conveys them jointly and stepwise to stations for fitting the shoulder portion with a threaded neck and the closure cap. The finished tubes are deposited on a discharge belt and fed to control regions for checking. Flawless tubes are received by the discharge belt and fed continuously to a tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling small objects into upwardly open blisters of a strip moving in a transport direction and formed with an array of the blisters has a feeder formed by a carrier or base plate juxtaposed with the strip and formed with an array of throughgoing holes aligned with the pockets of the strip and respective tubes joined seamlessly to the plate at the holes and extending upward from the plate.

Abstract: A plurality of cassettes, each filed with a supply of pills and positioned over a target location. A platen is provided beneath the target location with receptacles configured to hold both vials and blister packs. The platen or the cassette is movable so that any blister of the blister pack or the vial can be positioned under the target location to receive a quantity of pills from the cassette.

Abstract: A device for picking up articles from a supply station and depositing the articles in corresponding blisters of a blister strip, comprising: at least a group of depression-activated gripping units, each of which units is shaped to a specific format for receiving and retaining a corresponding article having predetermined lie and orientation; connecting organs of the gripping units to an operating head whereby the gripping units are positioned in relation a positioning of the corresponding blisters afforded in the blister strip; organs for moving the operating head in outward and return runs, respectively between the supply station of the articles and a release station of the articles in the corresponding blisters of the blister strip; enabling organs being activated in phase-relation with the movement organs, for activating the gripping units in the supply station, which gripping units collect a number of articles equal to a number of the gripping units, and for deactivating the gripping units in the release s

Abstract: Small objects are loaded into blisters of a passing packaging film in a fill station of a packaging machine. An apparatus for distributing the objects to the blisters has a pair of generally parallel rods extending along respective axes and having inner and outer ends. Respective guides support the rods for movement parallel to their axes, and a bar extends transversely between the outer ends. An actuator mechanism periodically synchronously rotating the rods. Respective couplings between each of the outer ends and the bar transversely shifting the bar relative to the rods on rotation of the rods.

Abstract: An installation for packaging tablets in a blister strip moving beneath a bulk feed device for tablets, the installation includes a distribution system comprising a mounting stand (1) for motorized control elements which has an attachment surface (100) provided with at least two sets of fixing members (41, 42) for detachably mounting thereon at least two interchangeable distribution units, each in working relationship with at least some of said motorized control elements in order to drive corresponding parts to execute the distribution of the tablets between the bulk feed device and the blister strip. Such interchangeable units may preferably include at least one dispersion-based distribution unit with rotating brushes in succession above the travel path of the blister strip, and at least one channel-based distribution unit with descending guide ramps for the tablets.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a blister band moved in a forward direction, with a number of interconnected walls defining a bottom closed by the blister band set in motion, to define a chamber. At least two units are arranged in series and separated by a plate, and operate in the chamber. An article supply leads to each unit of the chamber for feeding articles onto the blister band in motion, while a brush works near the plate and near a fore wall in counter-rotation with respect to the forward direction of the blister band to reject possible articles not entered into the blisters of the band or placed in the blisters in double.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading small objects into respective blisters of a foil web has a plurality of substantially identical fill plates each having an array of receptacles corresponding to the blisters of an area of the foil. A conveyor moves the fill plates one after another in a transport direction at an upper level from a fill station remote from the web to a transfer station close to the web, then lowers them to a lower level, then returns them in an opposite return direction from the transfer station to the fill station, and finally raises them in the transfer station to the upper level. At the fill station the receptacles of the plates are filled with the small objects. At the transfer station the small objects are taken out of the receptacles of the plates and put into the blisters of the web.

Abstract: Pairs of first and second rolls are supported for rotation in a roll frame located below a pan for receiving pharmaceutical products loaded as bulk material, each first roll having a plurality of axially successive non-cylindrical sections separated from respective non-cylindrical sections of a respective second roll by a gap, the first and second rolls of each pair being rotated in opposite directions so that surfaces of the rolls facing the gap move upwards. An isolating block having a matrix array of isolating channels is positioned below the rolls for receiving pharmaceutical products from respective gaps and for distributing these products to respective individual wells of a blister pack in a single machine cycle.

Abstract: A device having a plurality of cassettes, each filed with a supply of pills and positionable over a target location. The device has a platen beneath the target location with receptacles configured to hold both vials and blister packs. The platen or the cassette is movable so that any blister of the blister pack or the vial can be positioned under the target location to receive a quantity of pills from a cassette.

Abstract: A linear translation table for use in conjunction with a sheet feeding machine and a conveyor for laterally translating the sheet feeding machine over rows of product receiving portions of boxes or blisters in sheets of bubble packaging such that the sheet feeding machine can deliver product in an array of rows and columns of product receiving portions as the linear translation table is pitched. The rows of product receiving portions are indexed and linear translation table reverses direction to fill the next row. A controller on the linear translation table is programmed for the distance between columns and stops long enough for the sheet feeder to dispense a product into the product receiving portion. In this manner boxes with rows and columns of segments to be filled with product or formed pocket sheets can be filled with a sheet feeding machine which normally only delivers product linearly.

Abstract: A conveyor advances a web horizontally parallel to rows of upwardly open pockets formed in the web underneath a loader having a plurality of object-filled passages each having a downwardly open mouth open immediately above a respective one of the rows of pockets. As the sheet is advanced underneath the loader the objects drop out of the mouths into the pockets. Respective arms are pivotal on the loader downstream of the mouths at each of the rows about a horizontal transverse axis and have upwardly deflectable lower ends normally positioned immediately above the sheet. These lower arm ends are horizontally engageable with any of the objects projecting upwardly out of the respective pocket so that, as the sheet is advanced, the arm lower ends horizontally strikes any upwardly projecting objects and then pivots up while sliding the projecting object up out of the respective pocket.

Abstract: In an apparatus for feeding articles to a blister band, a box-like container, situated close to said band, is fed by a delivering device with a quantity of articles such as to allow accumulation of the articles on the surface of the band. A brush strikes and pushes the articles in a direction opposite to a forwarding direction of the band. A sensor, downstream of the brush, detects the thickness of the layer of articles on the band and interacts with the brush to maintain substantially constant the thickness of the layer of articles.

Abstract: A blister packaging machine comprises a forming station in which a plurality of cup-shaped depressions can be formed into a bottom sheet, a filing station, in which a product can be filled into the cup-shaped depressions, and a downstream sealing station, in which a cover sheet can be sealed onto the bottom sheet. The filling station comprises a brush box disposed above the bottom sheet, in which several rotatably driven roller brushes are disposed parallel to each other. The roller brushes are connected to a rotary drive which is received in a drive gearbox disposed next to the brush box. A magnetic coupling is thereby provided for transmitting a drive motion of the rotary drive to the roller brushes through a wall of the drive gearbox.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the flow of articles from an infeed stream at an infeed end of a packaging machine which apparatus comprises a plurality of article feed lanes for supplying a row of articles converging at a predetermined position, each feed lane having a regulator to control article flow, one of said regulators providing a reference position by which the relative positions of the articles may be controlled such that as the lanes converge one row of articles is offset from the or each other rows of articles.

Abstract: A method for packing containers, in particular bottles, in transport boxes in which on the inside, on flat-lying transport boxes, flat-lying multi-piece packagings are releasably fastened or compartment units are fastened, the transport boxes and the multi-piece packagings or compartment units contained therein are set up, containers are applied through openings of the set-up transport boxes into receivers of the multi-piece packages or compartment units, and the openings of the transport boxes are closed.

Abstract: A packaging device for a pill packaging apparatus is provided, the packaging device cooperating with a plurality of pill receptacles, defined by a web and conveyed by a conveyor under the packaging device in a packaging direction, to manipulate pills deposited in the receptacles into a laid-down position. A first wiper device extends across the web, non-perpendicularly to the packaging direction, to engage pills protruding from the receptacles. A second wiper device downstream of the first wiper device extends across the web, substantially perpendicularly to the packaging direction, to engage any pills still protruding from the receptacles following engagement with the first wiper device. The first and second wiper devices oscillate substantially transversely to the packaging direction so as to vibrate laterally with respect to the web.

Abstract: A cosmetic material sheet which comprises a sheet substrate 1 having, on an upper surface thereof, a large number of concave portions 5 arranged in a checkered pattern, a foundation layer 6 provided at a given position on the upper surface of the sheet substrate 1 in a state of covering arbitrary concave portions 5 out of a large number of concave portions 5, and a protective cover 3 attached releaseably on the upper surface of the sheet substrate 1 in a state of covering the foundation layer 6, wherein each concave portion 5 has an oblong shape in a plan view and has a bottom part thereof formed into a curved plane of a dish shape.

Abstract: A handling device for electronic chip components includes an indexing table having a plurality of cavities for holding electronic chip components therein and a circulatory feeder for supplying the electronic chip components to the indexing table. One or more cavities are simultaneously disposed at a location which comes close to the circulatory feeder and, by performing a suction operation in the cavities, the electronic chip components are directly put into the cavities, without moving the electronic chip components along the main surface of the indexing table.

Abstract: An improved medication organizing system for allowing patients to rapidly and easily prepare hermetically sealed dosage packages to set up their medication regime for a week, month, or longer period of time. The device includes seven hoppers to allow the patient to prepare a set of hermetically sealed medication packages for a given time for each day of the week. After being filled, each package in the set of seven packages is hermetically sealed simultaneously by simply loading the set into a sealing unit and pulling a lever. Sealing of the packages does not require manual manipulation of the individual packages by the user, such as would be required for medication organizers utilizing individual packages with zip-lock seals. The medication organizing system allows patients who lack manual dexterity, such as elderly patients, to easily prepare medication dosages for an extended period of time.

Abstract: A machine for conveying and moving into position tubes (124), the machine including a chute (42) with a vertical feed station for said tubes, conveyor belts (12) and a motor (31) for moving said conveyor belts, characterized in that said conveyor belts have two areas, namely an area (121) for loading said tubes and an area (122) for positioning said tubes, and a longitudinal recess co-operating with pressing means (44) for inserting said tubes into said positioning area during longitudinal movement of said belts under said chute (42).

Abstract: A device (100) for feeding articles (2) to a blister band (3) moving below and having at least one row of blisters (3a) made therein for receiving corresponding articles (2). The row of blisters is parallel to the blister band forward direction (W). The device (100) has a grid (G) situated over the blister band (3), with at least one longitudinal channel (9), facing the longitudinal row of blisters (3a). A station (101) is provided for feeding the articles (2) to the grid (G), while oscillating means (10,20) generate a relative oscillating motion between the grid (G) and the corresponding blister band (3), to facilitate stabile introduction of the articles (2) into the corresponding blisters (3a) present along said longitudinal channel (9).

Abstract: Electronic computers are brought to a position for a pickup by the movement of a X-Y table, then picked up by suction and held by a holding tool, and transported by the rotation of a rotating table. Then, after the completion of a posture-recognition procedure by a sensing device, the electronic components held by the holding tool are stored one by one in storage compartments within a tape while position of the holding tool with respect to the tape being adjusted by the movement of the X-Y table based on the result of the position recognition. Thus, the electronic components are securely stored in the tape without sacrificing the efficiency of production.

Abstract: This device includes a single enclosure (7) containing and carrying the reservoir (A), the dispenser (B), and the distributor (C) made of cylindrical and rotary brushes (39a to 39c), and the dispenser (B) having two parallel flaps (15, 16) which come into closure contact against the upstream transverse wall (12a) of the enclosure (7), near to the blister sheet (5), and are linked, by their posterior ends, to independent motors (18, 19) able to move the flaps in one direction or the reverse, the control of the opening and closing of each flap (15 and 16) reacting, in respect of the upper flap (15), to a volumetric sensor (34) detecting the quantity of tablets accumulated in the buffer bay (40) and, in respect of the lower flap, to a sensor (38) disposed above the blister sheet (5), upstream of the first brush (39a).

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding items of pharmaceutical product to pockets in a continuously travelling web for the production of blister packs has a plurality of product delivery chutes mounted on a moving carriage having delivery gates for releasing product from the delivery chutes. The carriage cycles the delivery chutes from a stationary position under stationary metering chutes, where product is transferred into the delivery chutes, accelerating and lowering them into alignment with pockets in the travelling web, where product is released, and raising and returning the delivery chutes to the stationary position to repeat the cycle.

Abstract: A packaging device for a pill packaging apparatus is provided, wherein the packaging device is used for inserting pills into a series of pill receptacles being conveyed generally horizontally thereunder. The packaging device generally comprises a resilient pad driven in an orbital motion. The orbitally driven resilient pad is brought into engagement with pills protruding from the pill receptacles. The orbital motion of the resilient pad imparts a rotational motion to the pills in contact with the pad and thereby urges the protruding pills into the receptacles. An associated method of packaging pills is also provided.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a remanufacturing kit that reduces the assembly functions and time required for remanufacturing a 50 DN generator is disclosed. The kit includes a box member, a pre-tested 50 DN generator subassembly, a rotor, an installation kit and an insert structure for securing the 50 DN generator subassembly, the rotor and the installation kit within the box member.

Abstract: In a device for feeding tablets to a blister band moving in a packaging machine, a vibrating container, containing a mass of tablets, features a bottom wall having channels for feeding the tablets. The channels communicate with relative slots made in the bottom wall, and the slots communicate with conveying means which feed the tablets along a predetermined feeding path and release the tablets into respective blisters of the blister band. The conveying means include a plate featuring a plurality of grooves, arranged one beside the other, and a covering element. The covering element is coupled with the plate and is adjustable with respect to the plate and has transversal wings situated inside respective grooves of the plate, so as to define respective channels for conveying the tablets.

Abstract: A device for feeding tablets in a blister packaging machine includes a vibrating container containing a mass of tablets. The vibrating container features a bottom wall, one portion of which includes tablet feeding channels, communicating with related slots made in the bottom wall. The slots communicate with the conveying means, which feed the tablets along a predetermined feeding path and release the tablets into respective blisters of a blister band. The blister band moves in a determined direction inside the packaging machine. The conveying means include a plate with a plurality of grooves, arranged one beside another and a covering element. The covering element is coupled with said plate, so as to move with respect thereto and includes transversal wings, each of which is situated inside a respective groove of the plate, so as to define a respective channel for conveying said tablets.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus includes first and second conveyors for moving products from a receiving station to a first transfer station and a plurality of product-carrying elements mounted on the conveyors. The product-carrying elements of the first and second conveyors form respective first and second groups of product-carrying elements. The products are conveyable from the receiving station to the first transfer station alternatingly by the two conveyors. A first discharge mechanism at the first transfer station includes a plurality of product-pushing elements for displacing products transversely to the advancing direction. The product-pushing elements are spaced identically to the spacing of the product-carrying elements. A third conveyor extends from the first transfer station to a second transfer station.

Abstract: An assembly for handling and packaging pharmaceutical dosage forms includes an infeed structure, a laning structure, and a plenum structure extending from the infeed structure to the laning structure. The infeed, laning and plenum structures guide dosage forms as they are carried in a downstream direction by a surface movable with downstream direction. A guide portion guides the dosage forms into the laning structure to avoid jamming of tablets. A form handling device receives dosage forms and transports the dosage forms to a packaging device. A timed controller and dump gate operate so that debris is carried out of the assembly. The assembly is particularly useful for fragile dosage forms. A packaging device having a bottom plate with floatably supported blocks is provided for sealing dosage forms into packages.

Abstract: A device for placing pipes (5′) into a case (1) and taking pipes (5) out therefrom, wherein the pipes (5) are placed in stacks (2, 3, 4) each with one pipe across, and wherein the stacks are supported laterally by supports (6, 7, 8, 9) projecting upwardly from the bottom of the case (1). The bottom of the case 91) is provided with apertures (10, 11), and the case (1) is carried by a tilting device (13) capable of raising and lowering the case 91), respectively, and of turning it about an axis (14) parallel to the pipes (5) within the case (1), to take an unloading position and a loading position, respectively, wherein the supports (6, 7, 8, 9) are nearly horizontal, flushing with a substantially horizontal support for pipes (5), and wherein a pushing device (16) is adapted to be guided through the apertures (10, 11) in the nearly vertical bottom of the case (1), in order to push pipes (5) laterally out of the case (1), upon said support, which may be a conveyor belt or another conveyor (12).

Abstract: A loading head for loading food articles into packaging includes a transfer conveyor in operable communication with a source of articles to be loaded. The transfer conveyor communicates the articles from an upper receiving position to a lower loading position. A first drive drives the transfer conveyor at a variable speed. A second drive oscillates the transfer conveyor between a first position and a second position. A controller is in operable association with the first and second drives for varying the driving speed of the transfer conveyor as a function of the position of the transfer conveyor. An article holder is disposed at the loading position for receipt of a transferred article.

Abstract: In a process and an apparatus for introducing individual products into containers for receiving a given number of individual products for filling the containers, by means of a picker line, the individual products and the containers are not advanced with a transportation movement in co-flow relationship, and delivery of the next container to be filled, into the working region of the pickers of the picker line, is controlled in dependence thereon.

Abstract: A method for the automated filling of pharmaceutical multichamber packages for clinical studies. The multichamber packages include a plurality of individual chambers, e.g. in the form of blisters, arranged in one plane. The products to be packed are fed from a storage container by a conveyor device into a mobile duct; the free end of the feed duct is guided to the desired chamber by a robot arm capable of swinging parallel to the plane of the individual chambers, and the product is introduced into the chamber. The individual steps are controlled by a computer. The robot arm has one or more freely programmable axes of movement, allowing the products to be conveyed to and introduced into the predetermined chambers in the plane in accordance with a freely selectable program which can be stored in the computer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for labelling digital discs. In the method, a disc is provided that has an alignment mark. An image is printed onto the disc in registration with the alignment mark.

Abstract: A component tray handling system is provided which is capable of handling vacuum formed plastic component trays which have very different controlled surfaces and tolerances. In these vacuum formed trays, a leading ridge is formed at a known location with respect to each of a plurality of component cavities. The present system utilizes a unique drive system which is capable of interacting with this ridge rather than interacting with the leading edge of the tray. The present system also has a dual drive characteristic wherein the component trays are quickly removed or taken away from the first drive system so as to avoid any interference by the drive system with the trays or damage to the trays. This tray handling system is designed to allow easy incorporation into any number of automated manufacturing and component handling systems.

Abstract: A method of transporting cells in culture commences with the provisions of a multiwell plastic plate, wherein at least one well contains a sample of cells. A sheet of sterile adhesive film is applied to the top of the plate with sufficient pressure to seal the sample of cells into the well. The sterile adhesive film and the multiwell plate are covered with a plate cover, with a flexible plastic pad being optionally inserted between the sheet of sterile adhesive film and the plate cover. This method can be practiced with a kit containing these components in a unitized package.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for shifting objects from a first conveyor to a container transferred by a second conveyor. The apparatus includes a holder guide, a displacing mechanism for moving the holder guide, a plurality of holders carried by the holder guide and spaced from each other for receiving the objects from the first conveyor. The holders are movable on the holder guide. A pitch changing mechanism is mounted for selectively causing the holders to move on the holder guide in response to the movement of the holder guide. A discharging mechanism causes the holders to discharge the received objects into the container. The pitch changing mechanism includes a first cam arranged adjacent to at least one of the holders for selectively causing the one of the holders to move on the holder guide. The pitch changing mechanism further includes a second cam held in contact with the first cam for positionally adjusting the first cam.

Abstract: In a system for stepless feeding of articles (2) such as tablets, pills, capsules and the like, to blisters (41) of a blister band (4), moved in direction (M), placement means (3) are located between an article storage magazine (1) and the blister band (4) running thereunder. An outer cylindrical mantle (33) of the placement means is rotated by a brushless motor (5), in a direction (N) that is in accordance with the band motion direction (M). The mantle (33) features depressions (31) which receive articles from the magazine (1), and is rotated in phase relation with the movement of the band (4), so that in every moment, the position of the depressions (31) is in register with the position of the blisters (41) in the band (4).

Abstract: A blister-pack package is made by forming a strip with a plurality of fields of upwardly open pockets and filling the pockets with respective objects while leaving at least one pocket empty and then scanning the fields and determining an address of the empty pocket in the respective field. A refilling head is then loaded at a stationary location with at least one of the objects. The loaded refilling head is then positioned above the empty pocket in accordance with the determined address, and the object is dropped from the loaded and positioned head into the empty pocket.

Abstract: A collapsible container (30) includes a collapsible section (31), having orthogonally shaped walls (3), each having a fold line (6) extending in a common direction from a bottom corner (7) on a bottom edge (8) to a diagonally opposite top corner (9) on a top edge (10). A base section (32) and top section (33) which may or may not be collapsible are attached to opposite sides of the collapsible section (31). The container (30) may be collapsed or extended by twisting the base section (32) relative to the top section (33). It thus provides, for example, a convenient means for containing products such as concentrates or two pot mixes, which can be mixed within the container (30) when extended.

Abstract: A cookie tray loading machine (5) constructed and arranged to divert a single file lane of cookies (12) moved along an infeed conveyor belt (9) into a plurality of separate and generally parallel lanes (34) of cookies, which are formed as rows (44) of cookies on a plurality of alignment belt assemblies (36) and spaced apart from each preceding row of cookies, each row of cookies being placed onto a tray loading conveyor belt (46) and moved toward a tray loading station (60) for placement directly into a packaging tray (62), is disclosed. The loading machine includes a sweep arm diverter assembly (20) having a sweep arm diverter (21) directly driven by a sweep arm servomotor (23), a first lane alignment arm assembly (26) and a second and opposed lane alignment arm assembly (30) for aligning the cookies into the separate lanes of cookies, and an alignment belt assembly (36) for each lane of cookies.

Abstract: Thin and lightweight baked products such as crackers and the like are dispensed from a stack and placed into a compartment of a packaging tray or the like. An escapement gate assembly supports the product as it falls into a accumulator opening and before it drops into the compartment of the packaging tray. This engagement need be for only a small fraction of a second, long enough to dissipate virtually all of the horizontal velocity components imparted to the products during handling of the products prior to dropping into the compartment. A preferred application moves a sub-stack of crackers from a larger stack and into the compartment.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus is provided for placing pills into a series of pill receptacles moved under the apparatus at a predetermined speed by a conveyor. The packaging apparatus includes an escapement mechanism positioned above at least one drop chute and a vertical positioner for moving the drop chute adjacent to the pill receptacles so that pills may be sequentially placed into the pill receptacles. The apparatus includes a first horizontal positioner for moving the drop chute in a horizontal direction parallel to the path of travel of the pill receptacles and at a speed independent of the speed of the pill receptacles so that the lower end of the drop chute can be moved horizontally with respect to a pill receptacle while a pill is being placed therein. The apparatus may also further include a second horizontal positioner for moving the drop chute in horizontal directions transverse to the path of travel.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the packaging of articles, in particular of sausages (1) or of raw sausage meat (50) formed into sausages (1a) which arrive at a packaging station (3) via a feed device (2), at least one trough wheel (22) is to be arranged in the packaging station (3) above a packing means (36) and to be associated with the feed device (2), wherein the trough wheel (22) and packing means (36) are movable relative to each other.

Abstract: The present invention has at least a continuous belt or chain, a sliding bar, at least two drivers--one for moving and driving the belt--, and a plurality of constraining rollers for guiding the belt around all the other components such that the portion of the belt between the rollers and the extreme ends of the sliding bar is substantially parallel thereto. Suction cups or grippers disposed at regular intervals along the belt and having distance which is greater or equal to that of the tray pitch and frame pitch picks up outputs from a packaging system and places such outputs into carrier trays. The sliding bar accommodates automaticaly troy change without interrupting the operating of the packaging system. By matching the flow of outputs from packaging system with that of the offloading trays, space economy is achieved without requiring modification to existing packaging systems.

Abstract: A device loading/unloading apparatus for a device handler is disclosed including a customer tray containing a finished device; a test tray having a plurality of carrier modules, the carrier modules forming a space on its bottom so that the device's bottom is mounted to be exposed downward, the carrier modules having a stop member for supporting the device not to fall freely from the space; bottom loading assembly for picking up the device of the customer tray, moving it under the test tray, and loading it to a bottom space of the carrier module; and stop member spreading assembly installed above the test tray to be conveyable in the same direction as the bottom loading assembly and then spreading the stop member by a predetermined interval when the bottom loading assembly loads/unloads the device on/from the space of the carrier module.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading ligating clips into ligating clip cartridges. The apparatus has a frame and a rotatable indexing table mounted to the frame. A plurality of nest members for holding cartridges and cartridge components is mounted to the outer periphery of the indexing table. The nest are rotated and indexed to a plurality of work stations located proximately on or about the frame. Components are loaded into the nest members at the work stations to form assembled cartridges loaded with ligating clips. One work station removes the assembled cartridges from the nest members.

Abstract: A method of automatically transferring contact lenses from a plurality of cups good positioned at a first location to a plurality of packages positioned at a second location wherein each good cup contains a transferable contact lens for placement in an individual blister package comprises a step of communicating positional information of good cup locations to a robotic device having an arm with one or more end effectors thereon, each end effector having a tip in connection with a vacuum and air pressure supply device, each end effector independently moveable with respect to the arm. Then, steps of applying a vacuum to the end effector tip to enable pick-up of a transferable lens from a cup located at a good cup location, and, controlling the robot to effect positioning of one end effector tip within the cup having the transferable lens therein to pick up the lens are performed.