Method, system, and apparatus for handling, labeling, filling, and capping syringes

Abstract

An inventive method, system and apparatus are provided for syringe handling, and more particularly, for syringe labeling, filling and capping operations. To facilitate syringe handling, an inventive apparatus includes a plurality of syringe bodies interconnected in a predetermined orientation by a belt. Such belt may be of pliable construction and may define a predetermined spacing in between adjacent ones of the syringe bodies, such predetermined spacing corresponding with a distance between holders provided in a handling apparatus. The syringe handling apparatus may provide for the placement of contents-related information on belt segments between adjacent syringe bodies and for separating the belt segments, wherein a flap is left interconnected to each syringe body. The syringe handling apparatus may alternatively or also provide for automated filling of the syringe bodies wherein cap removal, filling and cap replacement operations are completed free from manual handling.

1 - 78 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         79 . An apparatus adapted for automated handling, comprising: 
 a plurality of syringe bodies, each comprising a barrel having a dispensing end, an opposing end, and graduated volume indications along a length thereof, a plunger slidably disposed in the opposing end of the barrel, and a cap removably disposed on the dispensing end of the barrel, wherein a clean, contained and empty volume is defined within the barrel between the plunger and the cap; and,    a flexible belt fixedly attached to each said barrel of said plurality of syringe bodies, wherein said plurality of syringe bodies are positionable in a predetermined orientation and at least one of said dispensing end and said opposing end of each said barrel of said plurality of syringe bodies is accessible, and wherein said belt comprises: 
 a first portion extending between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies; and,  
 a substantially transparent second portion that extends about at least a portion of the barrels of each of said plurality of syringe bodies, wherein said graduated volume indications of said barrels of each of said plurality of syringe bodies are visible through said substantially transparent second portion.  
   
     
     
         80 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 79 , wherein dispensing ends of the barrels of the plurality of syringe bodies extend in a common direction in said predetermined orientation.  
     
     
         81 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 79 , wherein said belt defines a predetermined spacing between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies.  
     
     
         82 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 81 , wherein said predetermined spacing is substantially the same between each pair of adjacent ones of the plurality of syringe bodies.  
     
     
         83 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 79 , wherein said plurality of syringe bodies are aligned in side-by-side, series relation in said predetermined orientation.  
     
     
         84 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 83 , wherein at least the barrels of the plurality of syringe bodies are of a common length, and wherein the belt is fixedly connected to the barrels along a common portion of the length of each.  
     
     
         85 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 79 , wherein said belt is of a width that exceeds a majority of a length of each of the barrels comprising said plurality of syringe bodies.  
     
     
         86 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 79 , wherein said belt comprises: 
 opposing layers adjoined in face-to-face relation between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies and wrapped about opposing sides of the barrels of each of said plurality of syringe bodies.    
     
     
         87 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 86 , wherein at least one of said opposing layers is substantially transparent.  
     
     
         88 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 87 , wherein said opposing layers are adhesively adjoined, and wherein at least one of the opposing layers is adhesively connected to the barrels of the plurality of syringe bodies.  
     
     
         89 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 79 , wherein said belt is of a predetermined length between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies, said predetermined length being sufficient to define label flaps upon severance of the belt between said adjacent ones of the plurality of syringe bodies.  
     
     
         90 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 89 , wherein said flaps are of a predetermined length sufficient for the placement of contents information thereupon.  
     
     
         91 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 89 , wherein each said predetermined length of said belt includes contents information corresponding with an adjacent one of said plurality of syringe bodies.  
     
     
         92 . An apparatus adapted for automated handling, comprising: 
 a plurality of syringe bodies, each comprising a barrel having a dispensing end, an opposing end, and graduated volume indications along a length thereof, a plunger slidably disposed in the opposing end of the barrel, and a cap removably disposed on the dispensing end of the barrel, wherein a clean, contained and empty volume is defined within the barrel between the plunger and the cap; and    a flexible belt fixedly attached to each said barrel of said plurality of syringe bodies, wherein said plurality of syringe bodies are positionable in a predetermined orientation and at least one of said dispensing end and said opposing end of each said barrel of said plurality of syringe bodies is accessible, and wherein said belt comprises: 
 opposing layers adjoined in face-to-face relation between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies and wrapped about opposing sides of the barrels of each of said plurality of syringe bodies, wherein at least one of said opposing layers is substantially transparent, and wherein said graduated volume indications of said barrels of each of said plurality of syringe bodies are visible through said substantially transparent one of said opposing layers.  
   
     
     
         93 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 92 , wherein dispensing ends of the barrels of the plurality of syringe bodies extend in a common direction in said predetermined orientation.  
     
     
         94 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 92 , wherein said belt defines a predetermined spacing between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies.  
     
     
         95 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 94 , wherein said predetermined spacing is substantially the same between each pair of adjacent ones of the plurality of syringe bodies.  
     
     
         96 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 92 , wherein said plurality of syringe bodies are aligned in side-by-side, series relation in said predetermined orientation.  
     
     
         97 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 96 , wherein at least the barrels of the plurality of syringe bodies are of a common length, and wherein the belt is fixedly connected to the barrels along a common portion of the length of each.  
     
     
         98 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 92 , wherein said belt is of a width that exceeds a majority of a length of each of the barrels comprising said plurality of syringe bodies.  
     
     
         99 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 92 , wherein said opposing layers are adhesively adjoined, and wherein at least one of the opposing layers is adhesively connected to the barrels of the plurality of syringe bodies.  
     
     
         100 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 92 , wherein said belt is of a predetermined length between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies, said predetermined length being sufficient to define label flaps upon severance of the belt between said adjacent ones of the plurality of syringe bodies.  
     
     
         101 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 100 , wherein said flaps are of a predetermined length being sufficient for the placement of contents information thereupon.  
     
     
         102 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 100 , wherein each predetermined length of said belt includes contents information corresponding with an adjacent one of said plurality of syringe bodies.  
     
     
         103 . An apparatus adapted for automated handling, comprising: 
 a plurality of syringe bodies, each comprising a barrel having a dispensing end, an opposing end, a plunger slidably disposed in the opposing end of the barrel, and a cap removably disposed on the dispensing end of the barrel, wherein a clean, contained volume is defined within the barrel between the plunger and the cap; and    a flexible belt fixedly attached to each said barrel of said plurality of syringe bodies, wherein said plurality of syringe bodies are positionable in a predetermined orientation and at least one of said dispensing end and said opposing end of each said barrel of said plurality of syringe bodies is accessible, wherein said belt is of a predetermined length between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies, and wherein at least one said predetermined length of said belt includes contents information corresponding with an adjacent one of said plurality of syringe bodies.    
     
     
         104 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 103 , wherein said contents information is printed directly upon said at least one predetermined length of said belt.  
     
     
         105 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 103 , wherein at least one surface of said at least one predetermined length of said belt is defined by a sheet label affixed to said belt, and wherein said contents information is printed on said sheet label.  
     
     
         106 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 103 , further comprising: 
 a sheet label affixed to said at least one predetermined length of said flexible belt, wherein said contents information is printed upon said sheet labels.    
     
     
         107 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 106 , wherein said belt comprises: 
 opposing layers adjoined in face-to-face relation between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies and wrapped about opposing sides of the barrels of each of said plurality of syringe bodies.    
     
     
         108 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 107 , wherein said sheet label is affixed to an outside surface of one of said opposing layers.  
     
     
         109 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 107 , wherein said sheet label is sandwiched between said opposing layers.  
     
     
         110 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 103 , wherein said belt comprises: 
 opposing layers adjoined in face-to-face relation between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies and wrapped about opposing sides of the barrels of each of said plurality of syringe bodies, wherein at least one of said opposing layers is opaque.    
     
     
         111 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 110 , wherein said contents information is printed on said opaque one of said opposing layers.  
     
     
         112 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 110 , wherein at least one of said opposing layers is substantially transparent.  
     
     
         113 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 110 , wherein said opposing layers are adhesively adjoined, and wherein at least one of the opposing layers is adhesively contacted to the barrels of the plurality of syringe bodies.  
     
     
         114 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 103 , wherein said contents information comprises at least one of the following types of information: 
 information regarding a fluid contained or to be contained in the corresponding syringe body;    information regarding a fluid fill date for a fluid contained or to be contained in the corresponding syringe body;    information regarding a volumetric fluid content for a fluid contained or to be contained in the corresponding syringe body;    information comprising a product code corresponding for a fluid contained or to be contained or to be contained in the corresponding syringe body;    information regarding a lot or batch number for a fluid contained or to be contained in the corresponding syringe body; and,    information regarding storage or handling instructions for a fluid contained or to be contained in the corresponding syringe body.