Patent ID: 6531096
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: B65B,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus which opens the lid of a vial containing a liquid, the vial having a container portion open at its upper end and a lid attached to the upper end of the container by a hinge, the lid having a latch provided with an aperture and the vial having an outwardly projecting post on its upper end, wherein when the vial is received by the apparatus, the lid is closed onto the container and the post is positioned within the latch aperture, wherein the vial is opened by the apparatus, which comprises:a) an orienting device for situating the vial container to a predetermined position in preparation of opening the lid of the vial; b) a latch opening device for separating the latch of the lid from the post of the vial thereby placing the latch in an opened position; c) a lid opening device for opening the lid of the vial; and d) a limiter situated above the lid and lid opening device which abuts the lid when the lid is opened the limiter situated at a location that prohibits the lid from opening to a position in excess of a first open position at which the lid overlaps the upper cylindrical end wall of the container.