A cover plate for use in lyophilization processes is provided. The cover plate includes a base portion and a plurality of protuberances which project from the base portion. The protuberances are adapted to fit in one or more delivery containers, such as syringe barrels. The cover plate permits the escape of vapor from the one or more delivery containers during a lyophilization process. In addition, the cover plate prevents the escape of lyophilizate from the one or more delivery containers during a lyophilization process. Vent features provided to provide enhanced and preferred venting operations during lyophilization processes.

Disclosed are systems and methods for aseptically filling pharmaceutical containers with a pharmaceutical substance and then lyophilizing it. In one general aspect, the system and method can employ a lyophilizer loader subsystem having an interior chamber in communication with an interior chamber of a lyophilizer subsystem via a portal with a sealable door, with the collective interior being aseptically sealable. An articulated robotic arm can be employed to batch transfer to the lyophilizer subsystem container nests bearing the pharmaceutical containers. In one embodiment, the nests may be transferred serially to the loader subsystem, with the articulated robotic arm being configured to transfer the nests of containers in batches to the lyophilizer subsystem. The articulated robotic arm can also be configured to be used to move batches of nests within the lyophilizer subsystem. One implementation includes two articulated arms and a joint rotary wrist driven by two rotary shoulders.

An apparatus for separating a ribbon of uncooked embossed dough into separated pieces patterned/shaped like the embossed pattern. The apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart rollers for receiving a ribbon of dough there between. One of rollers has a pattern embossed on its surface to emboss the ribbon of dough with the pattern. The surface embossing and the spacing between the rollers maintains the structural integrity of the embossed ribbon of dough. The apparatus has a two spaced apart rotating arms to receive the embossed dough ribbon there between. A plurality of spaced apart fingers extend outward along the length of each of the arms and are configured to tear the dough, without sticking, into dough pieces reflecting shapes embossed in the dough ribbon. The dough pieces can be dried, and patterned shaped pieces are separated out for expansion to three dimensions by cooking.

A conveyance system includes a chamber 1, a plate 7A disposed in the chamber 1, the plate 7A being used for disposing an article thereon, an in-chamber bridge 19 disposed in the chamber 1 and capable of coming into contact with the plate 7A, a moving member 3A that moves along the in-chamber bridge 19 and the plate 7A to move the article on the in-chamber bridge 19 and the plate 7A, and a sterilization device 100 that sterilizes an interior of the chamber 1, in which the chamber 1 is allowed to be tightly sealed, with the moving member 3A disposed on the in-chamber bridge 19.

A conveying device includes first guide rails 2A, 2B; second guide rails 12A, 12B for being connected to the first guide rails 2A, 2B; a movable holding part that holds the second guide rails 12A, 12B such that the second guide rails 12A, 12B are movable in transverse directions with respect to longitudinal directions of the second guide rails 12A, 12B; and moving parts 3A, 3B that move by being guided by the corresponding first guide rails 2A, 2B and the corresponding second guide rails 12A, 12B.

A conveyance device includes: moving members 3A and 3B that move along a table 7 for disposing an article 5 thereon; shafts 21A and 21B that are rotatably connected to the moving members 3A and 3B; a contact member 22 configured to come into contact with the article 5, the contact member 22 being connected to the shafts 21A and 21B; inhibiting mechanisms 23A and 23B that inhibit rotation of the shafts 21A and 21B so that the contact member 22 is held above the article 5, the inhibiting mechanisms 23A and 23B being disposed at the moving members 3A and 3B; and dogs 24A and 24B that come into contact, at a predetermined location with the inhibiting mechanisms 23A and 23B to deactivate inhibition of rotation of the shafts 21A and 21B by the inhibiting mechanisms 23A and 23B, thereby lowering the contact member 22 toward the table 7.

An apparatus for treating a substrate includes a drying chamber that performs a drying process on the substrate having an organic solvent remaining on an upper surface thereof, a bake chamber that heats the substrate subjected to the drying process, and a transfer assembly that transfers the substrate between the drying chamber and the bake chamber.

The disclosure in some aspects relates to systems and related methods for the continuous freeze-drying of materials (e.g., pharmaceuticals) with high speed and control.

The disclosure relates to a baking apparatus for secondary battery. The baking apparatus for secondary battery comprises: a feeding device, a discharging device spaced from the feeding device in a horizontal direction, a baking device disposed between the feeding device and the discharging device, and a transferring device. The baking device comprises a baking oven including a housing and a cover for connecting hermetically with the housing. The transferring device is configured to put a secondary battery to be baked, which is conveyed by the feeding device, into the baking oven, and take the baked secondary battery out of the baking oven and convey it to the discharging device.

A baking device including a body having an access port, through which a baked object is allowed to be placed into or taken out of the body. The access door is mounted at the body and is configured to open and close the access port. An inner side surface of the access door defines therein grooves configured to receive condensate.