Abstract: Disclosed herein is an automated bottle capping system comprising a bottle handling assembly and a capping head assembly. The bottle handling assembly comprises a conveyor belt having a spacing mechanism to time and deliver spaced bottles to the bottle conveyor section. The conveyor belt further comprises parallel gripping belts in the bottle conveyor section. The capping head assembly comprises a cap sorter/feeder having a gravity or linear track, thirteen chuck spindle assemblies to pick up and grip the caps, and a combined pickup/conveyor/torqueing means, for picking up the caps, spinning the caps at a pre-selected amount of torque, tightening them to a closed configuration, and moving the capped bottles away from the linear capping section to a subsequent handling station. The capping head assembly also comprises a timing means for pairing bottles and caps. The capping head assemblies are mounted around a racetrack, having two linear tracks. The chuck spindle assemblies only move around the racetrack.

Abstract: A carrier puck is provided which can be adjusted quickly with minimal efforts, such as by using a slider, screw or other mechanical means, to allow a wide range of article shapes and sizes to be accommodated on the processing line. The carrier puck comprises a base piece, at least two substantially identical holding pieces piled in two or more stacks, a means for securing each of the stacks of holding pieces, and a means for adjusting the distance between the stacks. The two or more stacks of holding pieces enclose a void therebetween for accommodating a container. The distance between the stacks can be adjusted quickly with minimal efforts to accommodate containers of different sizes, shapes and contours.

Abstract: A carrier puck is provided which can be adjusted quickly with minimal efforts, such as by using a slider, screw or other mechanical means, to allow a wide range of article shapes and sizes to be accommodated on the processing line. The carrier puck comprises a base piece, at least two substantially identical holding pieces piled in two or more stacks, a means for securing each of the stacks of holding pieces, and a means for adjusting the distance between the stacks. The two or more stacks of holding pieces enclose a void therebetween for accommodating a container. The distance between the stacks can be adjusted quickly with minimal efforts to accommodate containers of different sizes, shapes and contours.