An automated tracking system for a pharmacy that tracks unique identifiers (“UI”) with a stock supply of an item or items within a supply container and that provides a security system for determining a discrepancy associated with the stock supply. The UI information automatically travels with the stock supply until it is dispensed to a customer or patient, thereby allowing the system to monitor and track supply for replenishment of the supply or improper or potentially fraudulent transactions. If desired, the improved security allows supply containers and individual supplies within those containers to be stored in the same storage area thereby maximizing available storage space while still improving dispensing and filling accuracy and minimizing loss.

A package for preserving respiring produce contained in the package, in particular vegetables, fruit, herbs, spices and/or flowers, and an associated method are provided. The package defines a package volume for containing a portion of the produce and a package atmosphere, and comprises a packaging material, in particular a polymer film (1A), provided with at least one perforation (3) enabling gas exchange with the atmosphere surrounding the package (1) to form the package into a Controlled Atmosphere Package (CAP). The packaging material has a Water Vapour Transmission Rate (WVTR), a carbon dioxide transmission rate (CO.sub.2TR) and an oxygen transmission rate (O.sub.2TR), wherein the WVTR of the packaging material is in a range of 50-1200 ml/(m.sup.2.Math.24 hrs), the CO.sub.2TR of the packaging material is larger than 1000 ml/(m.sup.2.Math.24 hrs), and a ratio β=CO.sub.2TR/O.sub.2TR of the packaging material is larger than 4.

A combined weighing system 1 includes a first X-ray inspection device 20, a combined weighing device 40, a bag making and packaging device 50, a weight inspection device 60, a second X-ray inspection device 70, and a management device 90 that manages each device. The management device 90 revises a weight conversion table of the first X-ray inspection device 20 and a correction value of the combined weighing device 40 based on an average value of weights of products B, which is calculated from a result of inspection over a certain time period in the weight inspection device 60.

A combined weighing system 1 includes a first X-ray inspection device 20, a combined weighing device 40, a bag making and packaging device 50, a weight inspection device 60, a second X-ray inspection device 70, and a management device 90 that manages each device. The management device 90 revises a weight conversion table of the first X-ray inspection device 20 and a correction value of the combined weighing device 40 based on an average value of weights of products B, which is calculated from a result of inspection over a certain time period in the weight inspection device 60.

A packing method and unit to pack articles, includes: moving first seats by a first conveyor and second seats by a second conveyor along first and second paths at first and second moving speeds, respectively; and cyclically transferring an article from a first seat to a second seat in a transfer station. The first seats and second seats each designed to house an article. During normal operation with no rejected articles, the first moving speed is functionally equal to the second moving speed, and the same number of first and second seats pass through the transfer station in a given time interval. Where at least one article is rejected in a first seat, the second moving speed is functionally decreased relative to the first moving speed so that two first seats (one containing the rejected article) passes through the transfer station in the time interval as one second seat.

A packing method and unit to pack articles, includes: moving first seats by a first conveyor and second seats by a second conveyor along first and second paths at first and second moving speeds, respectively; and cyclically transferring an article from a first seat to a second seat in a transfer station. The first seats and second seats each designed to house an article. During normal operation with no rejected articles, the first moving speed is functionally equal to the second moving speed, and the same number of first and second seats pass through the transfer station in a given time interval. Where at least one article is rejected in a first seat, the second moving speed is functionally decreased relative to the first moving speed so that two first seats (one containing the rejected article) passes through the transfer station in the time interval as one second seat.

A container packaging system 20 is composed of a registration system 22 for arranging articles 24 at a staging location 26 into a loading registration configuration. A loader 28 lifts the articles 24 from the staging location 26 for placement into predetermined locations in containers 30. Although not necessarily always the case, the containers 30 can be sized and configured to receive a plurality of articles 24. A control system 32 controls the operation of the packaging system, including controlling the registration system 22, so that the articles 24 are placed in the correct registration configuration at the staging location 26, and controlling the operation of the loader 28 to transfer the articles 24 into predetermined locations in the containers 30.

A container packaging system 20 is composed of a registration system 22 for arranging articles 24 at a staging location 26 into a loading registration configuration. A loader 28 lifts the articles 24 from the staging location 26 for placement into predetermined locations in containers 30. Although not necessarily always the case, the containers 30 can be sized and configured to receive a plurality of articles 24. A control system 32 controls the operation of the packaging system, including controlling the registration system 22, so that the articles 24 are placed in the correct registration configuration at the staging location 26, and controlling the operation of the loader 28 to transfer the articles 24 into predetermined locations in the containers 30.

A film adhering apparatus for adhering a protective film on a work piece includes a controller, a conveyor belt, a rotating bracket configured to assemble the protective film, a suction driving member, a sensor, a first suction member, a cutting assembly, and a moving assembly. When the work piece is sensed by the sensor, one end of the protective film is pulled by the moving assembly to pass by the first suction member, and the protective film is sucked by the first suction member. The moving assembly releases the protective film and reset to suck the protective film again, and the protective film is cut off by the cutting assembly. The suction driving member drives the first suction member to move toward the work piece and the protective film is adhered on the work piece.

A film adhering apparatus for adhering a protective film on a work piece includes a controller, a conveyor belt, a rotating bracket configured to assemble the protective film, a suction driving member, a sensor, a first suction member, a cutting assembly, and a moving assembly. When the work piece is sensed by the sensor, one end of the protective film is pulled by the moving assembly to pass by the first suction member, and the protective film is sucked by the first suction member. The moving assembly releases the protective film and reset to suck the protective film again, and the protective film is cut off by the cutting assembly. The suction driving member drives the first suction member to move toward the work piece and the protective film is adhered on the work piece.