Abstract: A case unloader for removing empty beverage bottles from cases and delivering them to a conveyor conducting the bottles to a bottle washer prior to recycling. Each longitudinal row of bottles has its own individual arm or plate on which opposed V-belts are mounted for gripping the bottle necks, and the arms are adjustable vertically and laterally to accommodate different bottle heights and different lateral spacings of the bottle necks of different sizes of bottles. The lateral spacing of each pair of V-belts is adjustable to accommodate different sizes or shapes of bottle necks.

Abstract: A bottle gripping apparatus having laterally spaced frame plates. The frame plates are pivotal and axially slidable on a mounting pin that may be secured to a supporting bar, or the like, on a conveyor means. A pair of first class lever arms are pivotal on a fulcrum extending between the frame plates in spaced relation below the mounting pin, and a first end of each lever arm presents a gripper jaw -- the two gripper jaws being movable toward and away from each other by pivotal movement of the lever arms. A spring means is operatively connected between said second ends of the two lever arms biasingly to urge the two gripper jaws toward each other. A pair of links connect the second ends of the lever arms to a common control member that is mounted on the frame plates to be axially translatable with respect thereto.