Abstract: Gripper apparatus for gripping a row of glass containers moving on a lehr conveyor. The apparatus includes a pair of elongated gripping members arranged parallel with one another and relatively movable toward one another to grip a row of glass containers. Actuating means is connected to the gripping members for controlling their relative movement and thus gripping and releasing of the containers. The actuating means may include a series of actuating devices spaced apart along and connected to the gripping members. Those actuating devices are actuable, at least substantially following movement of the gripping members to grip containers on the lehr conveyor, to move the gripping members in a direction away from the lehr conveyor so as to move the depending gripped containers clear of the conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for coating exterior surfaces of glass containers such as bottles. The containers are conveyed along a coating path by conveying means so that the containers are arranged in a non-contact relationship with one another. A coating vessel is provided for containing a bath of liquid coating material M. The conveying means is arranged to dip containers being conveyed at least partially into the bath of liquid coating material so as to apply a coating of material to exterior surfaces of the containers. Setting means operates to set the coating applied to the containers. The method and apparatus may be incorporated into a continuous container manufacturing line so that the containers to be coated are continuously received from a lehr conveyor for conveying along the coating path by the conveying means.