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A handling system for use in the manufacture of syringe barrels includes a tray having an array of apertures with a tubular upstand around each aperture, each upstand at the upper end thereof defining a support surface for a syringe barrel. Each syringe barrel comprises a cylindrical part and an enl

A handling system for use in the manufacture of syringe barrels includes a tray having an array of apertures with a tubular upstand around each aperture, each upstand at the upper end thereof defining a support surface for a syringe barrel. Each syringe barrel comprises a cylindrical part and an enlargement at or adjacent the rear end of the barrel and carries at its forward end a safe needle device or a needle shield of a greater diameter than the syringe barrel. At least one of the enlargement of the syringe barrel or the support surface has a profile tapering or rounded inwardly in the downward direction so that when the tray is supported generally horizontally and a syringe barrel is lowered into an upstand, the syringe barrel is centered by co-operation between the enlargement and the support surface. The enlargement may be a flange at the rear end of the syringe barrel or could be a further component fitted to the barrel.

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1. A combination of a plurality of tubular syringe barrels with a tray of a handling system for use in the course of manufacture and preparation of syringes pre-filled with a drug for subsequent injection, each syringe barrel having a needle and a safe needle device to confer protection on the needl

1. A combination of a plurality of tubular syringe barrels with a tray of a handling system for use in the course of manufacture and preparation of syringes pre-filled with a drug for subsequent injection, each syringe barrel having a needle and a safe needle device to confer protection on the needle subsequent to an injection; wherein each syringe barrel has a forward end and a rearward end, and an enlargement at or adjacent the rearward end and the needle being fitted to the forward end;each safe needle device includes a protective shield having a larger diameter than that of the syringe barrel so that rearward sliding movement of the protective shield over the syringe barrel exposes the needle; andthe tray has an array of apertures therethrough each of a sufficient size for a syringe barrel and protective shield to pass therethrough, wherein each aperture is provided with a respective tube surrounding the aperture and projecting from the tray, and a support surface is formed at an end region of the tube, and wherein said support surface has a generally conical profile of reducing cross-section in a direction of the tray, whereby interengagement of the enlargement of the syringe barrel with the support surface suspends the syringe barrel through the tube and centers the syringe barrel to be co-axial with the aperture. 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the enlargement is integrally formed with the syringe barrel and comprises an outwardly projecting flange formed at the rearward end of the syringe barrel. 3. The combination of claim 1, wherein each tube is of substantially circular internal cross-section and of a greater internal diameter than the diameter of the protective shield but of a smaller diameter than the syringe barrel enlargement. 4. The combination of claim 3, wherein each tube has a reducing internal cross-sectional area in the direction away from the tray towards the support surface. 5. The combination of claim 1, wherein a plurality of ribs extend along the external surface of the tube to the support surface thereof. 6. The combination of claim 5, wherein parts of the ribs project beyond the end region of the tube remote from the tray and the support surface is in part defined by the projecting parts of the ribs. 7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said support surface is defined by an in-turned flange formed at the end region of the tube. 8. The combination of claim 1, wherein the enlargement of the syringe barrel is formed to have a generally conical profile of reducing cross-section in the direction towards the forward end of the syringe barrel. 9. The combination of claim 1, wherein the enlargement of the syringe barrel has a first part nearer the rearward end of the barrel of a substantially constant diameter and a second part further from the rearward end of the barrel of a generally conical profile of reducing cross-section in the direction towards the forward end of the barrel. 10. The combination of claim 9, wherein said first part has a diameter which is a close fit in the support surface. 11. The combination of claim 1, wherein a collar is positioned on the barrel, the collar being formed to have a generally conical profile of reducing cross-section in the direction towards the forward end of the syringe barrel. 12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said collar has a first part nearer the rearward end of the barrel of a substantially constant diameter and a second part further from the rearward end of the barrel of a generally conical profile of reducing cross-section in the direction towards the forward end of the syringe barrel. 13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said first part has a diameter which is a close fit in the support surface. 14. The combination of claim 11, wherein the collar is located on the syringe barrel adjacent the enlargement thereof. 15. The combination of claim 1, wherein a collar is positioned on the syringe barrel adjacent the enlargement thereof, the collar being formed to have a rounded external profile of reducing diameter in the direction towards the forward end of the syringe barrel, for at least a part of the axial length of the collar. 16. The combination of claim 1 and in which each aperture has a respective tube upstanding from the tray and having a region remote from the tray, said region being profiled to have a reducing cross-section in the downward direction when the tray is disposed generally horizontally, and at least a part of the enlargement adjacent the syringe barrel or of a collar fitted thereto also is profiled to have a reducing cross-section in the direction towards the forward end of the syringe barrel, whereby the two profiles co-operate to centre the syringe barrel in the aperture. 17. The combination of claim 1, wherein the tray has an underside and at least one of the underside of the aperture and the underside of the support surface is profiled to facilitate removal of the syringe barrel carrying a safe needle device from the tray. 18. The combination of claim 1 and including a tub of rectangular cross-sectional shape and comprising a base with an upstanding side wall having an out-turned lip around the upper periphery of the side wall, the tray being carried and supported generally horizontally above the base of the tub. 19. The combination of claim 18, wherein a cover member is sealingly secured to the out-turned lip of the tub following the loading of the syringes into the apertures of the tray, to enclose the syringes carried by the tray. 20. The combination of claim 1 in conjunction with a tub for the tray and syringe barrels carrying respective safe needle devices, the tub having a base with an upstanding side wall configured to support the tray above the base with clearance between the base and the lower ends of the safe needle devices. 21. The combination of claim 20, wherein the upstanding side wall has a free edge remote from the base and a cover member is provided for the tub, the cover member being sealingly secured to the free edge. 22. A combination of a plurality of tubular syringe barrels with a tray of a handling system for use in the course of manufacture and preparation of syringes pre-filled with a drug for subsequent injection, each syringe barrel having a needle and a safe needle device to confer protection on the needle subsequent to an injection; wherein each syringe barrel has a forward end and a rearward end, and an enlargement at or adjacent the rearward end and the needle being fitted to the forward end;each safe needle device includes a protective shield having a larger diameter than that of the syringe barrel so that rearward sliding movement of the protective shield over the syringe barrel exposes the needle; andthe tray has an array of apertures therethrough each of a sufficient size for a syringe barrel and protective shield to pass therethrough, wherein each aperture is provided with a respective tube surrounding the aperture and projecting from the tray, and a support surface is provided at an end region of the tube, and wherein said enlargement is formed to have a generally conical profile of reducing cross-section in a direction toward the forward end of the syringe barrel, whereby interengagement of the enlargement of the syringe barrel with the support surface suspends the syringe barrel through the tube and centers the syringe barrel to be co-axial with the aperture. 23. A combination of a plurality of tubular syringe barrels with a tray of a handling system for use in the course of manufacture and preparation of syringes pre-filled with a drug for subsequent injection, each syringe barrel having a needle and a safe needle device to confer protection on the needle subsequent to an injection; wherein each syringe barrel has a forward end and a rearward end, and an enlargement at or adjacent the rearward end and the needle being fitted to the forward end, wherein said enlargement of said syringe barrel has a first part nearer the rearward end of the barrel of a substantially constant diameter and a second part further from the rearward end of the barrel of a generally conical profile of reducing cross-section in a direction toward the forward end of the barrel;each safe needle device includes a protective shield having a larger diameter than that of the syringe barrel so that rearward sliding movement of the protective shield over the syringe barrel exposes the needle; andthe tray has an array of apertures therethrough each of a sufficient size for a syringe barrel and protective shield to pass therethrough, wherein each aperture is provided with a respective tube surrounding the aperture and projecting from the tray, and a support surface is provided at an end region of the tube, whereby interengagement of the enlargement of the syringe barrel with the support surface suspends the syringe barrel through the tube and centers the syringe barrel to be co-axial with the aperture.