An apparatus for automated capping and de-capping of test tubes having an ejector pin system for individualized cap ejection.

An ejection head for an ejection device of a sealing machine for sealing a container includes a supporting element with a supporting axis and a sliding end, and a sliding element for sliding the supporting element along a sliding profile of the sealing machine. The sliding element is arranged at the sliding end and a force acting essentially in the direction of the supporting axis is capable of being transmitted via the sliding element to the supporting element. So that the sliding element and the sliding profile are subject to reduced wear, the sliding element is a rotatable rolling element, so that in the operating state the supporting element is capable of being unrolled over the rotatable rolling element along the sliding profile.

A beverage bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled beverage bottles with screw-type and other caps. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading Abstract of the Disclosure. The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

A bottle capping chuck that uses serrated segments with a cap torque ramp angle to grip and torque a bottle cap combined with other segments that utilize holding segments both combining to eliminate slippage and stripping and holding of bottle caps during a bottle capping process.

A device for placing threaded lids on containers includes a holder for lids to be placed and a mechanism for retaining the lids stored in the holder. The retaining mechanism has a predetermined retaining position in which the lids stored in the holder are retained and a release position in which one of the lids stored in the holder is dispensed. The device also includes a lid positioner, which places a threaded lid on a container through a first rotation about a first axis when the positioner is in the placing position. When the position is in the receiving position, the positioner causes the retaining mechanism to change from the predetermined retaining position to the release position through rotation about the first axis.

A system and method for a self-actuating, mechanically-biased container restraint. The system requires no computer-aided control or timing, nor is any external power source needed, other than the force exerted as a container is inserted into the restraint. The system relies upon an assembly including mechanically-biased pivoting levers, each of which has a horizontal element and a vertical element. All actuation occurs as the base of an inserted container comes into contact with the upper surface of the horizontal elements of multiple pivoted levers positioned at the base of a channel adapted to serve as a guide for the inserted tube. The levers are biased in this elevated position by mechanical means, such as a spring. As the inserted tube presses the horizontal members downward, the top portions of the vertical members are pivoted inward toward the container's exterior. Friction pads situated upon the interior surface of each vertical element are brought into contact with the exterior of the container, thereby gripping it. This gripping action holds the container with sufficient friction to permit the removal or attachment of a screw cap. Further embodiments of the invention include a mechanically biased platform supporting the channel and the pivoting levers. This base is biased and positioned to permit the channel and the pivoting lever assembly to be translated downward against the force biasing the platform and translate through the body of the container restraint. This further advancement of container, the channel and the lever assembly cause the pivoting levers to assume fully engaged gripping positions, and brings the vertical elements of the levers (and flexible friction pads upon them) into full upright positions. In this position the friction pads apply a maximum static friction force to the exterior of the container.

An apparatus and methods of sealing a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to capping apparatus and methods that reduce the amount of force applied to a metallic bottle to seal the metallic bottle with a ROPP closure. The capping apparatus may include more thread rollers than known capping apparatus. Optionally, the thread rollers may use more forming passes to form threads on the ROPP closure. The capping apparatus may also rotate one or more of the ROPP closure and the metallic container in a closing direction before the metallic container is discharged. In one embodiment, the thread rollers form the closure threads before or after a pilfer roller applies a sideload to the ROPP closure.

A screw cap is aligned using a loading piston by a method for aligning the screw cap and the loading piston in relation to each other, and after alignment a method for screwing a screw cap onto a threaded neck portion of a packaging container is performed. The screw cap includes a base portion having a top and a bottom surface, and an annular portion raised from the base portion, the annular portion having an inner surface and an outer surface; and at least one first threaded portion arranged on the inner surface of the annular portion. The base portion includes engagement features, such that the screw cap is configured to engage a tool with at least one complementary engagement feature in a process of screwing the cap onto the container with the complementary threaded neck portion.

A laboratory capper, decapper or combination capper/decapper includes a deck containing with a nest designed to hold an SBS-formatted tube storage rack, and a bit exchange magazine assembly containing one or more sets of adapter bits. The adapter bits are mounted on and unloaded from motor driven fittings, and are exchanged in order to cap or decap laboratory sample tubes or vials that have different head configurations. The bit exchange magazine assembly enables the bit to be exchanged robotically.

The present invention relates to a filler machine and method. The filler machine and method allow efficient and/or accurate filling of containers such as bottles, and have particular application to filling bottles or similar containers with carbonated beverages.