A cannabis bud sorting, picking and filling system includes a computer vision system operable to view and estimate the weight of a plurality of buds on a bud picking tray and to direct a bud picker robot to pick a plurality of buds from the bud picking tray and deposit the picked buds in an amount to load a container to its predetermined loaded target weight. A computer vision system acquires a digital image of product items having a product type, identifying each product item in the image, determining a pixel-based area for each identified product item, predicting a weight of each identified product item based on a size thereof, the determined pixel-based area and a predetermined density based on the product type, grouping, based on the predicted weights, the identified product items into groups satisfying the target weight, and automatedly picking and placing each group into a container.

A cannabis bud sorting, picking and filling system includes a computer vision system operable to view and estimate the weight of a plurality of buds on a bud picking tray and to direct a bud picker robot to pick a plurality of buds from the bud picking tray and deposit the picked buds in an amount to load a container to its predetermined loaded target weight. A computer vision system acquires a digital image of product items having a product type, identifying each product item in the image, determining a pixel-based area for each identified product item, predicting a weight of each identified product item based on a size thereof, the determined pixel-based area and a predetermined density based on the product type, grouping, based on the predicted weights, the identified product items into groups satisfying the target weight, and automatedly picking and placing each group into a container.

Production systems for producing a radioactive drug product include a hot cell having a radiation isolating shielding and a dispensing unit positioned within the hot cell. The dispensing unit includes a manipulator arm for manipulating a closure component of a vial. The system further includes a pneumatic line extending from the manipulator arm and through the radiation isolating shielding to a location outside of the hot cell and a pressure sensor connected to the pneumatic line and positioned outside of the radiation isolating shielding. The pressure sensor is operable to detect air pressure within the pneumatic line.

Production systems for producing a radioactive drug product include a hot cell having a radiation isolating shielding and a dispensing unit positioned within the hot cell. The dispensing unit includes a manipulator arm for manipulating a closure component of a vial. The system further includes a pneumatic line extending from the manipulator arm and through the radiation isolating shielding to a location outside of the hot cell and a pressure sensor connected to the pneumatic line and positioned outside of the radiation isolating shielding. The pressure sensor is operable to detect air pressure within the pneumatic line.

A method for producing sterile solution product bags includes positioning a manifold assembly onto a filling machine. The manifold assembly includes a plurality of bags, a first filter, and a connection line in fluid communication with the first filter. Each of the plurality of bags includes a bladder and a stem in fluid communication with the bladder and with the connection line. The method includes activating a pump and at least partially filling one or more of the bladders by pumping fluid through the feed line, the first filter, and the connection line. The method includes sealing the stem of each of the filled product bags at a location between the connection line and the bladder, thereby creating one or more at least partially filled and sealed product bags. The method includes separating each of the at least partially filled and sealed product bags from the connection line.

A method for producing sterile solution product bags includes positioning a manifold assembly onto a filling machine. The manifold assembly includes a plurality of bags, a first filter, and a connection line in fluid communication with the first filter. Each of the plurality of bags includes a bladder and a stem in fluid communication with the bladder and with the connection line. The method includes activating a pump and at least partially filling one or more of the bladders by pumping fluid through the feed line, the first filter, and the connection line. The method includes sealing the stem of each of the filled product bags at a location between the connection line and the bladder, thereby creating one or more at least partially filled and sealed product bags. The method includes separating each of the at least partially filled and sealed product bags from the connection line.

Disclosed is a system for, or method of, packaging a product within a packaging bag, wherein the packaging bag includes an inner liner and an outer liner. The method including the steps of marking the inner liner with a first marking unit, filling the bag with the product, and subsequently marking the outer liner with a second marking unit. The markings may be machine readable and/or randomly generated and stored in a database. The system may further include a machine reader, which is capable of accessing the database, and which is capable of reading the markings on the inner liner and/or the outer liner, to thus determine if an outer liner subsequently removed from an inner liner is/was the same outer liner associated with the same inner liner, at the time when the bag was filled and/or packaged.

Disclosed is a system for, or method of, packaging a product within a packaging bag, wherein the packaging bag includes an inner liner and an outer liner. The method including the steps of marking the inner liner with a first marking unit, filling the bag with the product, and subsequently marking the outer liner with a second marking unit. The markings may be machine readable and/or randomly generated and stored in a database. The system may further include a machine reader, which is capable of accessing the database, and which is capable of reading the markings on the inner liner and/or the outer liner, to thus determine if an outer liner subsequently removed from an inner liner is/was the same outer liner associated with the same inner liner, at the time when the bag was filled and/or packaged.

A food processing system is disclosed. The food processing system includes a food scaling portion, a food bagging portion and a chute portion connecting the food scaling portion to the food bagging portion. The food processing system also includes a foreign object sensor arranged about the chute portion. The foreign object sensor and the chute portion cooperatively form a foreign object sensing zone within a passage formed by the chute portion that extends along a portion of a length of the chute portion. The food processing system also includes at least one sensor testing conduit extending through one or both of the food scaling portion and the chute portion. An exit opening of the at least one sensor testing conduit is arranged in an opposing relationship with respect to the foreign object sensing zone. A foreign object sensor apparatus for detecting non-foodstuff material is also disclosed. A method is also disclosed.

A food processing system is disclosed. The food processing system includes a food scaling portion, a food bagging portion and a chute portion connecting the food scaling portion to the food bagging portion. The food processing system also includes a foreign object sensor arranged about the chute portion. The foreign object sensor and the chute portion cooperatively form a foreign object sensing zone within a passage formed by the chute portion that extends along a portion of a length of the chute portion. The food processing system also includes at least one sensor testing conduit extending through one or both of the food scaling portion and the chute portion. An exit opening of the at least one sensor testing conduit is arranged in an opposing relationship with respect to the foreign object sensing zone. A foreign object sensor apparatus for detecting non-foodstuff material is also disclosed. A method is also disclosed.