Sort of repeats in personal openers (9)

I believe the answer is:

aperients

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'personal openers' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'sort of repeats in' is the wordplay.
'sort of' is an anagram indicator.
'repeats'+'in'='repeatsin'
'repeatsin' with letters rearranged gives 'APERIENTS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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