Patent ID: 7455084

Claim:
An automated process of opening seals on sealed containers, said process comprising the steps of: a) positioning a sealed container in alignment with a seal opening device, said seal opening device comprising a blade having an overall chevron configuration and longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, and a first surface and a second surface on opposing sides of the blade, wherein said blade defines an outer perimeter shared by said first and second surfaces, wherein said distal end of said blade has a curved first edge and a curved second edge located on opposing sides and converging to form a pointed apex tip, and wherein said distal end of said blade further comprises an arcuate bend initiating at a position proximal to the apex tip and continuing to the tip, such that one of said first and second surfaces is concave and the other of said first and second surfaces is convex; b) introducing said tip of said seal opening device to said seal of said sealed container thereby puncturing and peeling said seal; and c) withdrawing said seal opening device from said container; wherein steps b) and c) include linearly moving said seal opening device along a longitudinal axis and substantially perpendicular relative to a planar surface defined by said container seal.