A bottle neck gripper includes first and second jaw components, each pivotally mounted for rotation about a respective pivot axis, the first jaw component including a first permanent magnet mounted thereon, the second jaw component including a second permanent magnet mounted thereon. The first permanent magnet and second permanent magnet are positioned to be attracted to each other. An attractive force of the magnets urges grip ends of the first and second jaw components toward each other. The pivot axis of the first jaw component is located between the first permanent magnet and the grip end, and the pivot axis of the second jaw component is located between the second permanent magnet and the grip end.

A handling device includes a support element, a support plate fixed to the support element, a drive shaft, a rotation plate hinged to the drive shaft and an elastic return element. Clamps connect to the rotation plate and include first and second jaws, each having a handling portion and a drive portion. A conduction wheel connects to the drive portion of the first jaw. The second jaw drive portion has a slot with a pressure surface. The second jaw drive portion connects to the first jaw drive portion. A cam profile at a peripheral area of the support plate provides for opening. The first jaw opens when the conduction wheel rotates on the cam profile. A wheel mounts onto the first jaw drive portion inserts inside the slot. The second jaw opening couples to the first jaw opening by the wheel, which acts on the pressure surface.

In embodiments, a conveyor apparatus can include a conveyor ribbon having a length, a width, a thickness less than the width, and a plurality of receiving apertures located along the length and extending through the thickness of the conveyor ribbon. The plurality of receiving apertures are dimensioned to receive and hold a plurality of glass articles. A conveyor drive and guidance system directs the conveyor ribbon along a predefined conveyor path. The predefined conveyor path can include an immersion section and a drain section. The immersion section can be oriented to direct the conveyor ribbon into and out of an immersion station and the conveyor ribbon is rotated about a horizontal axis in the drain section after being directed out of the immersion station.

A transport system for the transport of containers in a container treatment facility includes a transport track with at least one long stator of a linear motor and multiple transport elements for transporting one or multiple containers. The transport elements are arranged movably on the transport track and formed to be guided along the transport track through magnetic interaction with the at least one long stator. The front and back sides of the transport elements are formed to driven into one another at least in pairs and to have a minimal attainable transport spacing that is smaller than the longitudinal extension of the transport elements.

In embodiments, a conveyor apparatus can include a conveyor ribbon having a length, a width, a thickness less than the width, and a plurality of receiving apertures located along the length and extending through the thickness of the conveyor ribbon. The plurality of receiving apertures are dimensioned to receive and hold a plurality of glass articles. A conveyor drive and guidance system directs the conveyor ribbon along a predefined conveyor path. The predefined conveyor path can include an immersion section and a drain section. The immersion section can be oriented to direct the conveyor ribbon into and out of an immersion station and the conveyor ribbon is rotated about a horizontal axis in the drain section after being directed out of the immersion station.

A holding device for holding a container, for example for holding a container in a transport device of a beverage filling plant is described. The holding device includes a fastening part and two gripping arms, which are pivotably connected to the fastening part and can be brought into a closed position in order to hold the container and can be brought into an open position in order to insert and remove the container. A preloaded elastic bow is disposed between the gripping arms, and the elastic bow can be brought into a first position, in which the gripping arms are in the open position, and into a second position, in which the gripping arms are in the closed position. The preload of the elastic bow in the first position holds the gripping arms in the open position and the preload of the elastic bow in the second position holds the gripping arms in the closed position.

A gravity rail system for transferring wide-mouth preforms comprising a first rail configured to support a first portion of the wide-mouth preform, and a second rail proximate the first rail, where the second rail further comprises a body that defines a cavity. The cavity is configured to receive a second portion of the wide-mouth preform. The cavity has an inner surface configured to prevent jamming of the wide-mouth preform as the preform is transferred along the gravity rail.

A device for gripping containers is provided. The device includes clamps adapted to clamp a container and a centring cone adapted to receive a cap of the container. The centring cone has a longitudinal axis and comprises an inlet mouth, for entrance of the cap, and an inner lateral surface. The inner lateral surface comprises a first, substantially cylindrical portion and a second portion comprised between the first portion and the inlet mouth and diverging outwards in the direction from the first portion to the inlet mouth. The centring cone is a component separate from and independent of the clamps.

A container-conveying segment includes a driving conveyor and a driven conveyor that couple to each other at a handoff area at which containers are transferred from one to the other. The conveyors comprise star wheels that rotate in opposite directions about their respective vertical machine axes. The rotors interact with one another at the handoff area. A drive couples to the driving conveyor but not to the driven conveyor. The driving conveyor transfers torque to the driven conveyor at a torque-transfer area.

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 colinear. 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.