An apparatus includes a linear feeding-unit having a first linear section and a transfer device that transfers containers, as a group, from the linear feeding-unit to a clocked processing-machine and an entry device having a main feeding-unit distribution-stars. The first distribution-star receives containers from the main feeding-unit at a first transfer-region and transfers and the second distribution-star receives containers from the main feeding-unit at a second transfer-region. A periphery of the first distribution-star comprises a receiving section that receives containers from the main feeding-unit and an empty section interrupts receiving of the containers. The empty section is devoid of supporting-and-retaining elements. However, the receiving section comprises as many supporting-and-retaining elements as there are containers in the container group.

A gripper assembly for gripping a portion of a container may include a spindle configured to rotate about a vertical axis. The assembly may also include an actuating plate disposed on or about the spindle. The actuating plate may be configured to actuate toward a central shaft in response to a force applied to a first cam follower. The assembly may also include a gripper configured to at least one of open and close in response to the actuating plate being actuated toward the central shaft and a locking cam configured to contact the first cam follower and in at least one position to limit movement of the actuating plate toward the central shaft.

An apparatus for grouped take-up and feeding of a container-group of containers to a cyclical processing machine having a cyclical take-up device for taking up the group of containers includes an intake, a feed, and a transfer apparatus arranged in a transfer region between the intake and the take-up device. The intake forms a closed conveyor section that comprises a linear section, a conveyor, and carrying-and-holding elements that convey containers in a continuous container stream along the conveyor section. The feed uses mechanical propulsion to convey suspended containers to individually transfer the suspended containers to the carrying-and-holding elements. The transfer apparatus has rotatable grippers for taking up a container group from the container stream and after having taken up the group of containers, feeding the group of containers to the cyclical take-up device.

A holding fixture for a final fill container including a pair of rigid support structures. Each rigid support structure including an inner support having an inner surface with a radius of curvature with respect to a longitudinal axis, the inner surface facing radially inward, a support arm connected to the inner support and extending in an outward direction away from the inner surface, the support arm having a base surface at a terminal end opposite from the inner support; and a compression member attached to the inner surface, the compression member being configured to contact the shell at least when the their longitudinal axes are collinear. The pair of rigid support structures has a closed orientation when the compression member from one of the pair of rigid support structures contacts the compression member from the other one of the pair of rigid support structures forming a combined annular compression member.

A container conveyor system includes a first endless conveyor and a second endless conveyor. The first endless conveyor is provided with a plurality of neck grippers that holds the neck of a capped container and conveys the container held by the neck gripper by moving the neck gripper. The second endless conveyor is provided with a plurality of vertical grippers that comprises an upper grip member, which is liftable and abuts against the top of the cap of the container, and a support plate that supports the base of the container. The second endless conveyor conveys the container held by the upper grip member and the support plate by moving the vertical gripper. The container conveyor system conveys the container by transferring the container between the neck gripper and the vertical gripper.

Disclosed is a method for unblocking the movement of hollow bodies travelling in a line in a conveyor, including: a guiding chute in which each hollow body is intended to take up a freely suspended position; a component for continuously driving hollow bodies into the chute in a direction of movement; a hollow body being likely to take up a position in which it is stuck against a stationary surface of a member that complements the chute and thus to block the movement of the hollow bodies that build up behind same. The method includes an unblocking step which consists of applying an unblocking pulse to the hollow bodies of the blocked line against the direction of movement in order to move the blocking hollow body away from the stationary surface and to allow the blocking hollow body to swivel into the freely suspended position thereof in the chute.

The invention relates, inter alia, to a device for transporting objects. The device has a guide track and at least one movement device having a main body and a bracket for holding an object. The bracket is connected to the main body pivotably about a pivot axis, and the pivot axis is oriented at an angle to a vertical axis of the at least one movement device. A pivoting device is arranged separately from the at least one movement device and is designed to cause the bracket to pivot about the pivot axis. The device makes it possible for different handling devices with differing requirements on an orientation of the object to be able to be run with just one movement device without it being necessary, in the meantime, to hand the object over from the movement device.

Plant for processing plastic preforms, includes an injection-moulding machine for producing the plastic preforms, a sterile blow-moulding machine for forming the plastic preforms into plastic containers, and a transport system for transporting, at least partially and/or in portions, the produced plastic preforms from the injection-moulding machine to the blow-moulding machine, wherein during transport, the plastic preforms can be guided in particular at a mouth region of the plastic preforms. The transport system includes a sterile pneumatic conveyor or a plurality of transport shuttles, in particular magnetic shuttles, and the plastic preforms are transported from the injection-moulding machine to the blow-moulding machine by the sterile pneumatic conveyor or magnetic shuttle.

A glass product transport apparatus is provided. The glass product transport apparatus includes a slotted element assembly configured to engage a narrowed portion of a glass product. A carriage assembly has a longitudinal slot configured to receive the slotted element assembly for longitudinal movement. An actuator is connected to the slotted element assembly and configured to move the slotted element assembly in a longitudinal direction. A rail structure is configured to support the carriage assembly. The slotted element assembly is configured to retain the glass product in the event power is removed from the actuator.

An active clamping device for holding a container in a container treatment device, for example for holding a beverage container by a neck section, includes two clamping arms and a pre-tensioning element. Each clamping arm has a holding section for holding the container that is to be held, and a control section for interacting with a control cam to actively displace each holding section. The pre-tensioning element pre-tensions the holding sections in a predetermined position. The clamping arms and the pre-tensioning element are formed as a single piece. A clamping arm and a container treatment device are also provided.