Automatic capping machine for containers in the food sector, by means of twist-off lids, carried out in a totally automated way, with the simultaneous application of a vacuum in the container to prevent air from entering in it, which would significantly reduce the preservation time of the food contained inside.

The invention presented affords the main advantage of performing container capping in high-vacuum conditions, using conventional containers that are standard in the glass market, with metal twist-off lids, making food packaging possible without requiring any type of covering liquid inside the container, as well as allowing the control and pre-configuration of the lid closing torque before initiating the work cycle.

A pharmaceutical order filling system uses a physical parameter that occurs during attaching cap to a pharmaceutical container to determine if the cap is properly engaged. The physical parameter may be torque on the cap when placed on the container. An order processing device receives a pharmaceutical order and sends the order to a dispensing device that fills the container with a pharmaceutical in the pharmaceutical order. A cap device is configured to apply the cap the container containing the pharmaceutical from the dispensing device, wherein the cap device is configured to sense the physical parameter, e.g., torque, to the cap when applying the cap to the container.

A pharmaceutical order filling system uses a physical parameter that occurs during attaching cap to a pharmaceutical container to determine if the cap is properly engaged. The physical parameter may be torque on the cap when placed on the container. An order processing device receives a pharmaceutical order and sends the order to a dispensing device that fills the container with a pharmaceutical in the pharmaceutical order. A cap device is configured to apply the cap the container containing the pharmaceutical from the dispensing device, wherein the cap device is configured to sense the physical parameter, e.g., torque, to the cap when applying the cap to the container.

Disclosed is a unique knife plate structure for preventing rotation of a plastic container during the capping operation, wherein the container neck is provided with a finish ring or lip, wherein the knife plate is formed to provide laterally and vertically directed sharp edged or pointed container neck contact spikes each of which spikes penetrates (slightly) a portion of the plastic neck surface at the junction of the underside of the finish ring with the neck to hold the container in a fixed non-rotational position while the cap or lid is being rotationally applied.

The present disclosure relates to a device for holding a bottle to be closed, comprising a holding element for holding, in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the holding element, a neck ring of the bottle to be closed, and a fastening element for fastening the holding element to a bottle closing device or to a bottle transport device, and having a torque sensor for detecting a torque acting between the holding element and the fastening element. Furthermore, the present disclosure discloses a device for closing a bottle and a method for closing a bottle.

A pharmaceutical order filling system uses a physical parameter that occurs during attaching cap to a pharmaceutical container to determine if the cap is properly engaged. The physical parameter may be torque on the cap when placed on the container. An order processing device receives a pharmaceutical order and sends the order to a dispensing device that fills the container with a pharmaceutical in the pharmaceutical order. A cap device is configured to apply the cap the container containing the pharmaceutical from the dispensing device, wherein the cap device is configured to sense the physical parameter, e.g., torque, to the cap when applying the cap to the container.

A capping machine includes a gripper having a pair of gripping arms provided on an outer peripheral portion of a rotating body and configured to grip a cylindrical portion of a vessel, an opening and closing device configured to open and close the gripping arms, and a capping head liftably and rotatably provided on the rotating body. The gripping arms are arranged symmetrically with respect to a radius of the rotating body. The gripper has a protrusion for preventing the vessel from rotating on a vessel gripping surface of the gripping arms. The gripping arms have outer and inner gripping surfaces which are connected in a V shape. The protrusion is formed only on the inner gripping surface of a right gripping arm. A cap held by the capping head is screwed onto the vessel while sticking the protrusion into the cylindrical portion.

A capping machine includes a gripper having a pair of gripping arms provided on an outer peripheral portion of a rotating body and configured to grip a cylindrical portion of a vessel, an opening and closing device configured to open and close the gripping arms, and a capping head liftably and rotatably provided on the rotating body. The gripping arms are arranged symmetrically with respect to a radius of the rotating body. The gripper has a protrusion for preventing the vessel from rotating on a vessel gripping surface of the gripping arms. The gripping arms have outer and inner gripping surfaces which are connected in a V shape. The protrusion is formed only on the inner gripping surface of a right gripping arm. A cap held by the capping head is screwed onto the vessel while sticking the protrusion into the cylindrical portion.

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.

A device for holding a container in a container handling machine, for example for holding a support-ring-free bottle for the application of a screw closure, includes a carrier and a holding arrangement arranged on the carrier. The holding arrangement is movable relative to the carrier between a closed position for holding the container and an open position for releasing the container. The holding arrangement includes a collar-shaped support projection for supporting the container on a retaining ring of the container. The collar-shaped support projection includes a support projection region of a first holding arm and a support projection region of a second holding arm. The first holding arm and the second holding arm are arranged on the carrier so as to be pivotable in relation to one another for moving between the open position and the closed position.