A cap sterilization device (50) includes an introduction unit (52), a sterilant spraying unit (53) that sprays a sterilant onto a cap (33) supplied from the introduction unit (52), an air-rinsing unit (54) that subjects the cap (33) onto which the sterilant has been sprayed by the sterilant spraying unit (53) to air-rinsing, and a conveyance guide (70) that is disposed to extend successively through the introduction unit (52), the sterilant spraying unit (53), and the air-rinsing unit (54) and along which the cap (33) is conveyed from the introduction unit (52) toward the air-rinsing unit (54). The air-rinsing unit (54) is provided with an air-rinsing nozzle (83) that supplies hot air to the cap (33). The air-rinsing nozzle (83) is disposed such that a distal end (83a) thereof is in front of a proximal end (83b) thereof in a conveying direction of the conveyance guide (70).

The capping head body is a body of a capping head used for the capping head that attaches a cap having a topped cylindrical shape to a mouthpiece portion of a can having a bottomed cylindrical shape, the capping head body including: a body main portion having a cylindrical shape; a spindle attachment portion disposed inside the body main portion and attached to a spindle; and a swing shaft housing portion disposed between an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion of the body main portion, in which the swing shaft housing portion is disposed around a periphery of the spindle attachment portion, and has a through-hole into which a swing shaft that swings a forming roller toward a peripheral wall of the cap is inserted, and the through-hole penetrates the body main portion in an up-down direction.

A capping and de-capping apparatus for capping and de-capping tubes disposed in a tube holding rack having a two-dimensional array of apertures for holding the tubes. The apparatus comprises a rack support for supporting the tube holding rack, a head unit adapted for carrying a cartridge comprising at least one capping and de-capping gripper, a drive system for moving the rack support and the head unit relatively towards and away from one another, in order to cause engagement or disengagement of the capping and de-capping gripper with or from a cap of at least one tube, and a drive system for rotating the capping and de-capping gripper, wherein rotation in one direction causes attachment of the cap to the tube and rotation in the opposite direction causes detachment of the cap from said tube.

A closing apparatus for closing a container with a container closure, for example for closing a container with a screw cap in a beverage filling plant, includes a gripping mechanism for gripping the container closure with at least one gripping arm pivotable about a bearing, an actuating unit for actuating the gripping mechanism, and a detection unit for detecting a stroke of a stroke element of the actuating unit acting on the gripping mechanism. A corresponding method is also described.

An apparatus for securing a cap on a cylindrical container includes: a stage for separately receiving a cap and a container; an elevator movable upwardly away from the stage and downwardly toward the stage; and a cap holding assembly mounted on the elevator. The cap holding assembly comprises: a capture member platform, the capture member platform including a capture unit configured to capture the cap; at least one extendable member extending through the capture member platform, the at least one extendable member movable from a home position with the extendable member above a center of the cap captured by the capture unit and an engagement position with the extendable member engaging the center of the cap and urging the center of the cap downwardly relative to an outer sidewall of the cap; and a claw member attached to the capture member platform that is movable between an unengaged position, in which the claw member is not positioned to engage the cap, and an engaged position, in which the claw member is positioned to engage a lower edge of the cap.