An end effector configured to open and close a screw-type lid for closing an opening of a container body, is provided, which includes a container gripper configured to grip the container body, a lid gripper configured to grip the lid and be movable on a screw axis of the lid, a rotating part configured to rotate the lid gripper, a guiding part configured to guide the lid gripper being rotated by the rotating part to move on the screw axis, and a detector configured to detect that the lid gripper is moved to one of an opened position and a closed position of the lid. According to this, the end effector capable of appropriately opening and closing the screw-type lid while gripping the container body can be configured.

An end effector configured to open and close a screw-type lid for closing an opening of a container body, is provided, which includes a container gripper configured to grip the container body, a lid gripper configured to grip the lid and be movable on a screw axis of the lid, a rotating part configured to rotate the lid gripper, a guiding part configured to guide the lid gripper being rotated by the rotating part to move on the screw axis, and a detector configured to detect that the lid gripper is moved to one of an opened position and a closed position of the lid. According to this, the end effector capable of appropriately opening and closing the screw-type lid while gripping the container body can be configured.

Novel closures for bottles comprising a bottle closure having a socket shaped and sized to receive the drive head of a convention winch handle and a closure means for securing the closure to the neck of the bottle to seal the bottle. Two such closures are described, one of for use with beer style bottle and another for rum or whiskey style bottles. The closures are particularly useful for bottled beverages brought aboard sailboats that use manual winches. The closures can be removed from the bottles using winch handles that are already aboard the sailboat, allowing the beverages to be consumed.

A chuck for a capping machine includes a plurality of chuck members, a biasing member configured to bias the plurality of chuck members radially inward, an abutting portion configured to abut against a top face of a cap, and a plurality of chuck jaws provided on an inner surface of each of the plurality of chuck members to engage knurls of the cap. Each of the plurality of chuck jaws includes a leading flank and a trailing flank. An angle of the trailing flank with respect to an outer circumference of the cap is less than an angle of the leading flank with respect to the outer circumference of the cap.

A capping chuck assembly having a chuck housing, a retaining assembly and a cap gripping assembly. The chuck housing receives a cap and has longitudinal axis of rotation. The retaining assembly includes a plurality of retaining jaws and a biasing member. The retaining jaws are movable radially, with biasing member inwardly biasing the jaws. The cap gripping assembly includes a plurality of gripper assemblies spaced apart from each other about the axis. Each gripper assembly has a cam arm rotatably mounted to the chuck housing with a lever arm portion extending toward the axis of rotation configured to rotate relative to the cap receiving opening. An engaging jaw is coupled to the gripper assembly. Rotation of the cam arm away from the cap receiving opening directs the engaging jaw radially toward the axis of rotation. An ejection assembly is disclosed as well as a method of retaining a cap.

A capping chuck assembly having a chuck housing, a retaining assembly and a cap gripping assembly. The chuck housing receives a cap and has longitudinal axis of rotation. The retaining assembly includes a plurality of retaining jaws and a biasing member. The retaining jaws are movable radially, with biasing member inwardly biasing the jaws. The cap gripping assembly includes a plurality of gripper assemblies spaced apart from each other about the axis. Each gripper assembly has a cam arm rotatably mounted to the chuck housing with a lever arm portion extending toward the axis of rotation configured to rotate relative to the cap receiving opening. An engaging jaw is coupled to the gripper assembly. Rotation of the cam arm away from the cap receiving opening directs the engaging jaw radially toward the axis of rotation. An ejection assembly is disclosed as well as a method of retaining a cap.

A capping and de-capping apparatus (100) for capping and de-capping tubes (112) disposed in a tube holding rack (111) having a two-dimensional array of apertures (114) for holding the tubes (112). The apparatus (100) comprises a rack support (110) for supporting the tube holding rack (111), a head unit (120) adapted for carrying a cartridge (152) comprising at least one capping and de-capping gripper (122), a drive system (130) for moving the rack support (110) and the head unit (120) relatively towards and away from one another, in order to cause engagement or disengagement of the capping and de-capping gripper (122) with or from a cap (113) of at least one tube (112), and a drive system (140) for rotating the capping and de-capping gripper (122), wherein rotation in one direction causes attachment of the cap (113) to the tube (112) and rotation in the opposite direction causes detachment of the cap (113) from said tube (112).

A capping and de-capping apparatus (100) for capping and de-capping tubes (112) disposed in a tube holding rack (111) having a two-dimensional array of apertures (114) for holding the tubes (112). The apparatus (100) comprises a rack support (110) for supporting the tube holding rack (111), a head unit (120) adapted for carrying a cartridge (152) comprising at least one capping and de-capping gripper (122), a drive system (130) for moving the rack support (110) and the head unit (120) relatively towards and away from one another, in order to cause engagement or disengagement of the capping and de-capping gripper (122) with or from a cap (113) of at least one tube (112), and a drive system (140) for rotating the capping and de-capping gripper (122), wherein rotation in one direction causes attachment of the cap (113) to the tube (112) and rotation in the opposite direction causes detachment of the cap (113) from said tube (112).

A metal bottle assembly adapted for use on a plastic bottling includes a metal bottle with an outsert assembled on the neck portion of the bottle. The outsert may be constructed from plastic material and may be fixed to the bottle using an interference fit. The outsert enables the bottle to be placed on a plastic bottling line with minimal or no modifications to the bottling line. The outsert also ensures that the metal bottle is not damaged by handling on the plastic bottling line. In some embodiments, the outsert is designed to elastically deform as it is pressed on the neck of a pre-formed metal bottle and therefore create the interference fit between the outsert and the bottle. In some embodiments the outsert is retained on the neck of the bottle through the interference fit alone.

A metal bottle assembly adapted for use on a plastic bottling includes a metal bottle with an outsert assembled on the neck portion of the bottle. The outsert may be constructed from plastic material and may be fixed to the bottle using an interference fit. The outsert enables the bottle to be placed on a plastic bottling line with minimal or no modifications to the bottling line. The outsert also ensures that the metal bottle is not damaged by handling on the plastic bottling line. In some embodiments, the outsert is designed to elastically deform as it is pressed on the neck of a pre-formed metal bottle and therefore create the interference fit between the outsert and the bottle. In some embodiments the outsert is retained on the neck of the bottle through the interference fit alone.