A system and method for systematic, controlled removal of sterile products from blister packs for use during surgery is disclosed.

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.

A package reducing device includes a hopper having lap over rings, first and second main shafts which traverse the hopper, first and second pipe shafts are secured to the main shafts, where the ends of the pipe shafts are positioned interior to the lap over rings. First and second rings extend from the pipe shafts having recessed openings to position a fastener interior to the surface of the rings. Tooth plates having teeth are attached to the rings. A first motor rotates the one pipe shaft at a first rate and a second motor rotates another pipe shaft at a slower rate of rotation. The pipe shafts are rotated in an inboard direction, and the motors include variable frequency drives. The teeth reduce the size of packaging and food transported inside of the packaging during use of the invention.

The apparatus includes a moveable support platform within the container to reduce a distance that items fall into the container when stowed. The support platform is lowered by a movement mechanism as items are placed into the container. The movement mechanism may be a bladder filled with air, a biasing device, a pneumatic device, or a mechanical device. The moveable support may form a bottom portion of the container during transport of the container. In some instances, the movement mechanism may lift items out of the container to empty the container at a destination.

A method for unpacking a workpiece, in particular an optical lens or an optical lens blank, from a package, includes an automated cutting open step of a first package side of the package, and an automated sliding of the workpiece out of the package step on the first package side. An unpacking apparatus for unpacking a workpiece from a package, has a feed station for receiving a package in which a workpiece is arranged, a cutting-open station having a first cutting or sawing tool for the automated cutting open of a first package side of the package downstream of the feed station, and a slide-out station downstream of the cutting-open station. A relative movement can be produced between the package and the workpiece in an automated manner so that the workpiece slides out of the package on the first package side.

A device for separating infusion capsules comprises a base unit and a plunger, the base unit having a face with an aperture for receiving a body part of the capsule, wherein a portion of the face surrounding the aperture has a surface that undulates in a longitudinal direction relative to a central axis through the aperture; the plunger comprising a projection sized to fit within the aperture. A capsule can be placed, rim side down, on the base unit over the aperture, and the plunger used to urge the capsule down into the aperture. The result is that the capsule inverts, rupturing the foil layer and emptying the coffee or other infusion into the base unit below the aperture. The coffee (etc) and the capsule can then be removed for separate recycling. The undulating surface ensures that the rim section of the capsule is distorted during this process, which assists in separating any layers that have been provided for example by way of sealant.

A package reducing device includes a hopper having lap over rings, first and second main shafts which traverse the hopper, first and second pipe shafts are secured to the main shafts, where the ends of the pipe shafts are positioned interior to the lap over rings. First and second rings extend from the pipe shafts having recessed openings to position a fastener interior to the surface of the rings. Tooth plates having teeth are attached to the rings. A first motor rotates the one pipe shaft at a first rate and a second motor rotates another pipe shaft at a slower rate of rotation. The pipe shafts are rotated in an inboard direction, and the motors include variable frequency drives. The teeth reduce the size of packaging and food transported inside of the packaging during use of the invention.

An automatic device for emptying bags of frozen blood product includes a product removal device, a product reception hopper, a transporter for transporting the bag from a reception area to the product removal device, and at least one cutter located in the path of the bag between the reception area and the product removal device. The at least one cutter is housed in a support configured to oscillate for absorbing energy of impacts of the bag against the cutter and to return the cutter to its initial position.

A pill dispensing apparatus for use to dispense a pill from a blister package includes a base assembly having an interior cavity formed by an upper plate coupled to a lower housing, the upper plate having an opening and partially extending over the lower housing to form a spout in the lower housing, an arm pivotably mounted to the base assembly and having a post protruding downward toward the base assembly, and a spring coupled to the arm and upper plate of the base assembly. The apparatus is designed to receive the blister package between the base assembly and arm. Pivotal movement of the arm toward the base assembly allows the post of the arm to push the pill in the blister package through the opening in the upper plate of the base assembly. This allows the pill to travel in the base assembly's internal cavity and out the spout.

A food dispensing module for a delaminating food dispensing system includes an outer housing; and a delaminating housing. The delaminating housing has a first portion being located within the outer housing and a second portion located outside the outer housing. The delaminating housing includes delaminating nips, a first film take-up roller, a second film take-up roller, an output opening, and a trap void. The output opening is located in the second portion of the delaminating housing.