A re-stacker assembly used to stack container closures that are output by a can liner system includes at least one offloading assembly having a receiving portion, at least one loading device coupled to the offloading assembly, and a motion control system for detecting motion of the container closures and, in response to detecting such motion, driving the loading device to stack, or re-stack, the container closures in a predetermined manner.

A re-stacker assembly used to stack container closures that are output by a can liner system includes at least one offloading assembly having a receiving portion, at least one loading device coupled to the offloading assembly, and a motion control system for detecting motion of the container closures and, in response to detecting such motion, driving the loading device to stack, or re-stack, the container closures in a predetermined manner.

A control device performs a method for configuring a capping machine, which is operable to engage a threaded cap with a threaded neck of a container. In the method, angular positions, APs, are sequentially selected from a predefined set of APs of the cap, where each AP corresponds to an orientation of the cap relative to the neck. For each AP, a cap mounting test is performed, in which the capping machine is operated to engage a plurality of caps, arranged in the selected AP, with the neck on a respective container. The capping operations are evaluated for consistent capping performance. The method is performed until consistent capping performance is detected for a sequence of adjacent APs corresponding to a sequence of spatially adjacent cap orientations. The capping machine is then configured by setting its operational AP in relation to the sequence of adjacent APs.

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.

A cap opening and closing apparatus comprises: a first arm including a catch portion that moves, engages with an edge portion of a cap of a microtube, and opens the cap as the first arm rotates about a first rotation axis in a first direction; and a second arm including a pressing member that presses and closes the cap as the second arm rotates about a second rotation axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction. When opening the cap, the first and second arms are rotated in the first direction while the cap is positioned between the catch portion and the pressure member and an angle formed by a line joining the first rotation axis and the catch portion and a line joining the second rotation axis and the pressing member is kept within a predetermined angle range.

A cap opening and closing apparatus comprises: a first arm including a catch portion that moves, engages with an edge portion of a cap of a microtube, and opens the cap as the first arm rotates about a first rotation axis in a first direction; and a second arm including a pressing member that presses and closes the cap as the second arm rotates about a second rotation axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction. When opening the cap, the first and second arms are rotated in the first direction while the cap is positioned between the catch portion and the pressure member and an angle formed by a line joining the first rotation axis and the catch portion and a line joining the second rotation axis and the pressing member is kept within a predetermined angle range.

A capping apparatus includes a capping chuck assembly having (i) one or more peripheral ejector projections to facilitate ejection of an upside down cap and/or (ii) a single collet style cap gripper with an adjustment assembly to facilitate handling of different cap sizes.