An automated storage and retrieval facility includes an automated decant system for decanting cases of eaches received from manufacturers or others. The automated decant system includes a decant workstation which receives the cases of eaches, cuts and removes the packaging of the cases. Once case packaging has been removed, the decant workstation separates and organizes the eaches, and drops them into totes waiting beneath the workstation.

An apparatus for emptying bags containing loose material. The apparatus comprises a cutting member for cutting the bags and a support grid including a row of rods arranged downstream of the cutting member and onto which the bags are carried once they have been cut. The rods are associated with a motovibrator designed to cause the rods to vibrate, facilitating the emptying of the bags. Furthermore, a resilient spacer is interposed between each pair of adjacent rods.

Apparatus for receiving and retaining the contents of a bag of flowable material comprises a rectangular base bordered on two sides by upstanding walls. An upstanding dividing member is positioned between and generally co-extensive with said walls to define two separate compartments. The dividing member includes a narrow upper edge on which a bag of flowable material can be supported with the two overlying sides or ends of the bag extending downwardly one into each said compartment.

An apparatus for cutting containers. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic cutting blade that has a flat cutting edge of a cutting length; a container positioner that secures a container in a position relative to the ultrasonic cutting blade so that the flat cutting edge of the ultrasonic cutting blade may be positioned to be in contact with a flat surface of the container; a press actuator that causes the flat surface of the container and the flat cutting edge of the ultrasonic cutting blade to press against each other; and a control system that operates the ultrasonic cutting blade and the press actuator to cause the ultrasonic cutting blade to vibrate ultrasonically while the container and the flat cutting edge of the ultrasonic cutting blade press against each other until the ultrasonic cutting blade penetrates the flat surface of the container by a predefined depth.

An emptying station for a flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC) is provided. The emptying station has a body having a front wall, a rear wall defining an aperture, and left and right side walls, the walls collectively defining a hopper for receiving particulate matter contained in the FIBC, at least one power source connected to the body, a lift assembly operatively connected to the at least one power source and to the body. The lift assembly moves the FIBC between lowered and raised positions. A cutter is connected to the body and is disposed in the hopper. The cutter is positioned for cutting a bottom of the FIBC when moved from the lowered position to the raised position. At least one mixer is connected to the body for mixing the particulate matter received in the hopper. The at least one mixer also conveys the particulate matter towards the rear wall.

The package opening device generally comprises a body portion, neck portion, and cutting member. In a preferred embodiment, the body portion comprises an elongated ovular configuration. The body portion comprises an upper surface and a lower surface. Adjacent to a distal end of the body portion is a through opening penetrating the upper and lower surfaces. Adjacent to a proximal end of the body portion, the upper surface comprises a recessed area. The neck portion extends from the proximal end of the body portion. Extending downward from a neck portion proximal end is the cutting member. The cutting member comprises a tapered tip.

An opening assembly for bags housing containers for pharmaceutical use, including at least one clamping mechanism for clamping a portion of said bag spaced apart with respect to an end flap of the bag, said clamping mechanism arranged so as to clamp together sections of opposing sheets of said bag, and at least one cutting element for the trimming and the separation of said end flap with respect to said sections of said opposing sheets of said bag mutually clamped together by said clamping mechanism.

An unpacking system having a folding-out device for folding outwards an initially folded-in packaging portion of an item of packaging for an object, and having a stretching device for stretching an item of packaging for an object. The item of packaging herein is in particular a pouch, and the object is in particular a pharmaceutical or cosmetic object. The unpacking system furthermore has a transportation installation for transporting the object in a transportation direction. The packaging portion in the stretching device is stretched parallel with the transportation direction. A filling system is disclosed having such an unpacking system, and methods are disclosed for folding outwards, for stretching, and for unpacking.

In a method for removing a wrapping, such as plastic film, from a roll of material an apparatus is used, which has a roll supporting unit, and a cutting means. The roll supporting unit is configured to rotate the roll supported thereon, and the cutting means is movable into cutting abutment against the envelope surface of the supported roll for removal of the wrapping during rotation of the roll.

A device for processing spray cans includes a first space, separating means for separating spray cans in the first space, a second space, first transport means for transporting gas from the first space to the second space, and compressing means for compressing gas in the second space. The device also includes second transport means for transporting heat, released during compressing of the gas, from the second space to the first space. The second transport means includes a conduit for having a fluid, flow therethrough. A method for processing of spray cans by means of such a device.