Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for conveying containers having an annular neck flange, in particular, a guided suspended conveyor chain having support elements each defining a "U" shaped recess having a pair of substantially parallel sides which are oriented transverse to the path of travel of the conveyor chain so that the "U" shaped recess is accessible from the side of the path of travel. The "U" shaped recess is sized to receive the container neck, is sized smaller than the annular neck projection of the container and is further sized so that the substantially parallel sides of the "U" shaped recess extend beyond the container neck of any container received therein so that the container may hang suspended in the "U" shaped recess. In addition, the conveyor chain is designed to be driven by a suitable drive stand to provide mechanical energy to associated container processing apparatus having sprockets adapted to engage the conveyor chain.

Abstract: A plurality of rotatable members are formed with patterns of given shapes which permit the passage of a laser beam, and which are arranged in concentric circles about the axis of rotation of the members. Part of each rotatable member is disposed in the path of the laser beam so that a combination of the individual patterns on the respective rotatable members define a pattern to be printed or marked. In this manner, a variety of printing or marking patterns can be easily obtained by merely controlling the angular position of the respective rotatable members.

Abstract: A cartoning machine which folds a carton blank into a carton having a box body and a box lid which are connected together during a single rotation of an intermittently rotating rotary body. The rotary body is provided with a plurality of pairs of positive dies, each pair of positive dies having dies respectively corresponding to the box body portion and the box lid portion. Disposed at certain angular intervals around the rotary body are a magazine for supplying carton blanks, a box body folding device having a box body negative die, a box lid folding device having a box lid negative die, and an ejecting section for discharging completed cartons. Cartons are continuously formed by the intermittent rotation of the rotary body and the relative movement between the above two box folding devices and the pairs of positive dies, the dies in each pair being movable back and forth separately.

Abstract: A positioning device for setting a bottle at a predetermined angular position, which device is provided with a bottle supporting mechanism to support the upper end portion of the bottle and a mechanism which imparts relative rotary motion to the bottle and an engaging member or members being brought into engagement with the positioning spot of the bottle. When the engaging member is turned, the bottle is rotated to a predetermined angular position together with the engaging member after the spot is brought into engagement with the engaging member. In the case where the bottle is turned, the bottle is not rotated after the spot is brought into engagement with the fixed engaging member.

Abstract: A gas precharged, liquid filling machine operating with dual rows of containers includes a pair of concentrically disposed inner and outer rows of container receptacles, and an array of pairs of inner and outer gas precharged, filling mechanisms which are disposed directly above the respective rows of container receptacles. The pair of inner and outer filling mechanisms each include a valve which is independently operated, in accordance with the presence or absence of a container, by means of coaxially disposed rotary shafts. Snifter mechanisms for both filling mechanisms are simultaneously operated by a common snifter shaft. Each pair of inner and outer container receptacles, which are modularized, are mounted on a common elevating member in a manner to permit their elastic downward displacement in response to undue stresses applied thereto, thus avoiding the risk that the containers or bottles may be broken.

Abstract: A filling device for use in a bottling machine, which device is provided with a sealing member for closing the opening of a bottle, a filling tube for supplying the bottle with a filling liquid and an exhaust tube for discharging the air from the bottle to the outside during the filling operation. When the opening of the bottle is closed by the sealing member, the filling liquid is fed into the bottle through the filling tube and the air in the bottle is simultaneously discharged outside. The filling device is provided with a valve mechanism which receives the pressure of the air remaining in the bottle as an indication pressure when the filling liquid in the bottle blocks the lower end of the exhaust tube. The valve mechanism closes the exhaust tube or the filling tube when the indication pressure exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An air chuck for use in a capping or uncapping machine, in which air chuck a plurality of hard members are circularly disposed and a cap receiving recess is formed in the central portion of the hard members. The hard members are so arranged as to be slid in the directions of the radii of the cap receiving recess and the sliding movement of the hard members enlarges or reduces the inner diameter of the cap receiving recess, the air chuck thereby grasping or releasing a bottle cap which is introduced into the cap receiving recess. The hard members are made of materials which are excellent in wear resistance and deterioration resistance, such as metals and synthetic resins, so as to be usable for a long period of time. The sliding movement of the hard members is effected by a driving member which is driven by compressed air.

Abstract: A washing device for a rotary filling machine which device is provided with the same number of washing liquid pipes as the number of filling nozzles. During the usual filling step, the washing liquid pipes are positioned so as not to interrupt the movement of the bottles to be filled. During the washing step, the washing liquid pipes are positioned directly below the filling nozzles. The washing liquid pipes are then brought close to and pressed against said filling nozzles, the valves mounted in said filling nozzles are pushed open by the tip ends of said washing liquid pipes, and thereby the flow passages for the filling liquid including the inner parts of said filling nozzles are washed with a washing liquid.

Abstract: A bottle handling apparatus in which bottles being fed continuously to the apparatus are ejected from a feed device into groups of a given size and are loaded as groups into a series of bottle holders on a bottle-handling conveyor of the apparatus by bottle insertion means arranged at a plurality of stages along the conveyor. The different stages of the insertion means causes the bottle groups to be regularly inserted into the bottle holders in a alternate or regularly spaced sequence. The delivery side of the bottle handling conveyor is provided with bottle removal means arranged at a plurality of stages along the feed direction of the conveyor.