An automation apparatus for dispensing groups of individually packaged products, the apparatus including a storage arrangement adapted to store a plurality of products each contained in an individual package. The storage arrangement includes a first module and a second module, where the first module is adapted to store products having a first frequency demand threshold and the second module is adapted to store products having a second frequency demand threshold that is lower than the first frequency demand threshold. The apparatus further includes a plurality of fixed first discharge assemblies adapted to move selected ones of the individual packages from the first module of the storage arrangement and a second discharge assembly comprising a moveable pick device adapted to move selected ones of the individual packages out of the second module of the storage arrangement.

A microplate processing device having at least one carriage with a first receptacle for microplates where the at least one carriage is movable in a first horizontal direction, and having at least one lift that is movable in a vertical direction, where the microplates can be removed from and supplied to the carriage, the carriage has a through-opening, the periphery, in the vertical projection, can at least in part be situated horizontally within the periphery of a microplate held in the carriage, and the lift has a second receptacle for microplates, the periphery, in the vertical projection, is situated within the periphery of the through-opening, where the second receptacle can be moved unhindered through the through-opening in the vertical direction.

Embodiments provide for systems and methods related to kiosks for personalizing a packaged article. The kiosks may also be used for storage, inventory management, retrieval, packaging, and/or personalization of packaged articles. The kiosks discussed herein differ from non-kiosk personalization systems, such as personalization systems installed on a factory or warehouse floor, in that the kiosks are self-contained personalization systems. In some embodiments, the kiosks are portable and can be moved between different sites or events. This portability allows the kiosks to personalize packaged articles for concerts, festivals, conventions, trade shows, and the like.

Embodiments provide for systems and methods related to kiosks for personalizing a packaged article. The kiosks may also be used for storage, inventory management, retrieval, packaging, and/or personalization of packaged articles. The kiosks discussed herein differ from non-kiosk personalization systems, such as personalization systems installed on a factory or warehouse floor, in that the kiosks are self-contained personalization systems. In some embodiments, the kiosks are portable and can be moved between different sites or events. This portability allows the kiosks to personalize packaged articles for concerts, festivals, conventions, trade shows, and the like.

Embodiments provide for systems and methods related to kiosks for personalizing a packaged article. The kiosks may also be used for storage, inventory management, retrieval, packaging, and/or personalization of packaged articles. The kiosks discussed herein differ from non-kiosk personalization systems, such as personalization systems installed on a factory or warehouse floor, in that the kiosks are self-contained personalization systems. In some embodiments, the kiosks are portable and can be moved between different sites or events. This portability allows the kiosks to personalize packaged articles for concerts, festivals, conventions, trade shows, and the like.

A container carrier system for carrying containers, especially blister packages, and a method of carrying containers. The system includes a body having a longitudinal channel having a central portion and two side portions, the central portion having a greater depth than a depth of channel portions on either side of the central portion. The body further includes roof portions that cover the two side portions. The channel is configured to allow movement of containers only in the longitudinal direction of the channel. The blister packages may carry unit doses of medication.

A stacking storage arrangement is specified, comprising a rack having multiple container receiving spaces that each have an opening at the bottom end thereof, wherein at at least one opening a latch arrangement is arranged which comprises at least one latch unit having a holding latch that can be moved between a locking position and a release position. An objective is to be able to operate a stacking storage arrangement of this type in an economical manner. For this purpose, the holding latch is configured to be replaced from the inner side of the opening.

A stick distributing unit and corresponding method for laying spacer sticks over a board layer is provided. The unit includes a frame defining a stick-receiving area for receiving sticks and a hold-and-release mechanism configured to dispense each stick one-by-one. The hold-and-release mechanism includes a lower holding member selectively operable to hold and release a bottommost stick, and an upper holding member selectively operable to hold and release a penultimate stick. The unit also includes a controller configured to operate the lower and upper holding members to release the bottommost stick from the stick-receiving area and knock on the penultimate stick. The unit further has a stick-laying mechanism configured to receive and lay the released bottommost stick over the board layer.

A system for assembling and dispensing an order made up of one or more individually packaged items from a plurality of different individually packaged items includes a storage module containing one or more packages of each of the items, and a conveyor having selectively assignable spaces configured to receive the packaged items associated with a particular order and to transport the packaged items to a processing location. A pick device is movable relative to the storage module and is configured to retrieve a package from the storage module. A transfer station adjacent the conveyor receives one or more of the packaged items from the pick device and an actuator associated with the transfer station moves the packaged items from the transfer station to the conveyor when the assigned space associated with the order is in registration with the transfer station.

A device and method for delivering a laboratory sample carrier from a stack of sample carriers includes providing a retaining mechanism that retains the stack of laboratory sample carriers, and an ejector mechanism including a displaceable mechanism comprising a carrier support portion and a carrier transporting portion which are hingeably interconnected. The stack is supported by the carrier transporting portion and the carrier transporting portion is supported by a carrier transporting portion support of the ejector mechanism when the displaceable mechanism is in a first carrier receiving position and configuration. The displaceable mechanism is displaced from the first carrier receiving position and configuration to a second carrier release position and configuration by a further displacement mechanism of the ejector mechanism. This involves moving a lowermost carrier from the bottom of the stack in a carrier accommodating region of the carrier transporting portion as the displaceable mechanism is displaced from the first carrier receiving position and configuration. The displaceable mechanism is displaced such that the carrier transporting portion moves past the carrier transporting portion support and drops so that the displaceable mechanism adopts the second carrier release position and configuration and the carrier in the carrier accommodating region is released. The stack is supported with the carrier support portion when the displaceable mechanism is in the second carrier release position and configuration.