A cap attachment-detachment device includes an operation portion that moves in an up-and-down direction, and grips and rotates a cap so as to attach the cap to or attach the cap from a container. The operation portion includes a first grip claw, a second grip claw and the pressing member. The first grip claw and the second grip claw are provided to be opposite to each other and configured to be capable of applying an obliquely upward force inwardly to an upper portion of a side surface of the cap. The pressing member is configured to be capable of coming into contact with an upper surface of the cap.

A distribution unit for feeding lids (1) to necks (9) of containers (10) comprises a chute element (102) arranged for receiving a row of lids (1), an outlet opening (103) arranged for releasing said lids (1) one at a time, said outlet opening (103) being intended to be positioned above a conveying device (100) suitable for conveying said containers (10) along an advancement direction (F) so that each of said containers (10) interacts with said chute element (102) to remove a corresponding lid (1) from said outlet opening (103), said distribution unit (101) further comprising a guide element (105) having an active surface (106) extending on an opposite side of said chute element (102) with respect to said outlet opening (103) and arranged for interacting with said lids (1), said active surface (106) having a stepped profile.

Apparatus for engaging a cap releasably secured in a container includes a carrier that is selectively movable up and down relative to the container and carries a cap engagement tool and a centering collar. At least one among the cap engagement tool and centering collar is biased downwardly by at least two spaced-part biasing members during operations.

In a production system 100, containers have hollow main bodies 1a having openings at their top parts and caps 1b for closing the openings. The production system 100 includes a conveyor line L for conveying the containers 1, a capper 5 for attaching the caps 1b to the main bodies 1a of the containers 1 on the conveyor line L, a reading apparatus 18 configured to read first information attached to top surfaces of the caps 1b of the containers 1 for identifying the containers 1 on the conveyor line L at one or more predetermined points after the capper 5, and a memory apparatus 52 configured to store linked together the first information of the containers 1, second information attached to the main bodies 1a of the containers 1 for identifying the main bodies 1a, and times at which the containers 1 passed the one or more predetermined points.

Apparatus for installing a bung plug in and/or extracting a bung plug from a container positioned below the apparatus includes a carrier selectively movable up and down relative to the container, a bung plug engagement tool carried by the carrier and including a bung plug wrench and a centering collar carried by the carrier and at least partially surrounding the bung plug wrench.

A cap attachment-detachment device includes an operation portion that moves in an up-and-down direction, and grips and rotates a cap so as to attach the cap to or attach the cap from a container. The operation portion includes a first grip claw, a second grip claw and the pressing member. The first grip claw and the second grip claw are provided to be opposite to each other and configured to be capable of applying an obliquely upward force inwardly to an upper portion of a side surface of the cap. The pressing member is configured to be capable of coming into contact with an upper surface of the cap.

A system and method for precisely applying threaded caps using a linear rotary actuator is provided. The method includes aligning the threaded cap with the threaded top of a container, soft landing the threaded cap in contact with the threaded top, aligning the ends of the threads, soft landing the threaded cap in contact with the threaded top, and snugging the threaded cap. The system includes a linear rotary actuator and a tool for driving and coupling to the threaded cap.

An automated drum manipulation system and methods include at least one among an automated drum rotator, bung locator, bung plug extractor and bung plug installer. The bung locator includes at least two spaced-apart bung location sensors and at least one downwardly-extending foot spaced outwardly relative to the sensors and configured to rest upon the drum's outer rim, positioning the sensors over the upper surface of the drum so they can concurrently detect the presence of opposing sides of the lip of the drum's bung opening as the drum is rotated below the bung locator.

A distribution unit for feeding lids (1) to necks (9) of containers (10) comprises a chute element (102) arranged for receiving a row of lids (1), an outlet opening (103) arranged for releasing said lids (1) one at a time, said outlet opening (103) being intended to be positioned above a conveying device (100) suitable for conveying said containers (10) along an advancement direction (F) so that each of said containers (10) interacts with said chute element (102) to remove a corresponding lid (1) from said outlet opening (103), said distribution unit (101) further comprising a guide element (105) having an active surface (106) extending on an opposite side of said chute element (102) with respect to said outlet opening (103) and arranged for interacting with said lids (1), said active surface (106) having a stepped profile.

Disclosed is a method for inspecting sealing between a closure arranged on a mouth region of a container by performing a screwing-on operation on a mouth region of the container while the container is transported along a transport path, and during transport illuminating the containers by a lighting device and recording at least one spatially resolved image of the container. An image evaluation device determines, on the basis of the relative position depicted in the at least one spatially resolved image, at least one closure rotation angle by which the closure was rotated in the course of the performed screwingin operation, a characteristic closure rotation angle variable.