Abstract: Apparatus for automatically lifting containers, such as bottles, especially bottles from moving cases. A series of closely adjacent, self-operating grippers are carried along an endless path above a moving case or cases to be emptied. The grippers are laterally aligned with the columns of containers in a case and randomly grip the containers in an aligned row as they are guided into engagement. The grippers yield upwardly if obstructed as they are guided toward engagement with containers, thereby permitting full depth cases to be emptied without coordinating a longitudinal relationship between any particular group of grippers and the case.Each bottle gripper has two tong arms pivoted to each other and connected by links to a support for movement between a downwardly depending closed condition and an upward retracted open position. A gravity-actuated detent is mounted in one tong arm and is adapted to move into engagement with the other tong arm.