Abstract: In bottle transporting apparatus, noise resulting from bottles colliding with each other and noise emitted by the transport mechanism is suppressed by moving the bottles in a water bath which immerses the mechanism and at least partially immerses the bottles so the sound is absorbed and attenuated by the water. Means are provided for partially filling the bottles with liquid before they reach locations where noise would be generated and this further suppresses noise. Water jets are used to assist bottle movement where the bottles are transported on conveyors and the jets may be used as the sole propulsion force in apparatus wherein the bottles are simply pushed along smooth support surfaces.

Abstract: A bottle filling and closing machine and a bottle labeling machine are mounted on opposite sides of a bottle conveyor line close enough together so that both machines can be operated by a single operator. The filling and closing machine, the labeling machine, and the conveyor means extending therebetween are normally driven in synchronism by a common motor. A clutch is included in the drive means for the labeling machine to enable it to be disconnected from the filling and closing machine, and an auxiliary drive motor is coupled to the labeling machine to enable it to be driven independently of the filling and closing machine. The conveyor means extending between the two machines can comprise conveyor star wheels or conveyor worms.

Abstract: Conveying apparatus for upright standing bottles between two synchronously driven bottle treating machines. The apparatus comprises a star wheel and a worm, both being driven synchronously with the bottle treating machines. Supporting and guiding rails for the bottles are provided with gaps through which broken bottles and fragments thereof are discharged.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying upright standing containers such as bottles includes a driven star wheel which advances the containers in spaced relationship along a curved path. Curved support and guide rails are concentric to the star wheel and are spaced apart a distance to engage the container bottom and top and to restrain the container from being discharged centrifugally from the star wheel path. Abnormal containers such as bottles broken off at their tops or necks will not be confined to the curved path of the star wheel and will be rejected by centrifugal force.

Abstract: In order to save time and labor when reloading the label magazine of a labeling machine, a relatively large number of labels, such as 3000 to 8000, are piled into a stack, and binding means running along relatively opposite longitudinal sides of the stack and across its opposite end faces are applied to the stack so as to stabilize it. The binding means consists of adhesive tape or of a band of stretchable synthetic material, with or without a low backing trough of cardboard along one side of the stack. The binding means is removed after the unitary label package has been inserted into the magazine of the labeling machine.