Abstract: Freshly filled containers (such as cans for confinement of carbonated beverages which are admitted at an elevated pressure) are overlapped by caps or other suitable closures not later than at the point where they leave the filling unit of a combined filling and capping apparatus. The closures are maintained in alignment with and are pressed against the open tops of filled containers during advancement from the filling unit to the capping or sealing unit. This ensures that the confined liquid cannot be affected by atmospheric air and cannot escape from the respective containers irrespective of the distance of the filling unit from the capping or sealing unit.