Container Processing Equipment

Abstract

To provide a container conveying device capable of adjusting a position of a container before checking the container.SOLUTION: In an outer periphery of a filling wheel, plural neck grippers are provided which each grips a lower part of a flange Vf, and a filling nozzle is provided corresponding to each of the neck grippers, the nozzle filling a container V with contents. A capping wheel is arranged downstream the filling wheel, the capping wheel including in an outer periphery plural neck grippers 22 which each grips an upper part of the flange Vf. The capping wheel is provided with a cap supply chute 34 that supplies a cap C, a cap-fitting roller 38 provided downstream the cap supply chute 34 and fits the cap C to the container V, and a support rail 36 that supports an undersurface of the flange Vf of the container V conveyed from the neck gripper 22. When fitting the cap to the container V, The undersurface of the flange Vf is supported by the support rail 36.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container processing apparatus for carrying out processes such as filling and capping containers having outwardly protruding flanges. [Background technology]

[0002] In a container processing device that uses a rotary-type filling machine and capper to fill and cap plastic containers with flanges, the neck of the container is gripped by a neck gripper to prevent the container from deforming, and then transported (see Patent Document 1). In the filling machine and capper, a downward load is applied to the container held by the neck gripper, so it is desirable to fill and cap the container by gripping the bottom of the flange with the neck gripper. For this reason, in a container processing device such as that in Patent Document 1, an intermediate wheel is disposed between the filling machine and the capper so that the bottom of the flange is gripped by the filling machine and the capper. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5003021 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when the configuration as in Patent Document 1 is adopted, the intermediate wheel only transports the container, which is inefficient. If the intermediate wheel is not used and the container is handed over directly from the filling machine to the capper, one of the wheels must grip the upper part of the flange, which may cause the container to slip off during filling or capping.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a container processing apparatus that can reliably cap a container while gripping the container above the flange. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first invention of the present invention is a container processing apparatus for filling and capping containers having an outwardly protruding flange, the container processing apparatus comprising: a first rotating wheel having a plurality of first grippers provided on its outer periphery for gripping the lower part of the flange; filling means provided corresponding to each of the first grippers for filling the containers with contents; a second rotating wheel arranged downstream of the first rotating wheel and having a plurality of second grippers provided on its outer periphery for gripping the upper part of the flange; cap supply means for supplying caps; support means capable of supporting the lower surface of the flange of the container transported by the second rotating wheel; and capping means arranged downstream of the cap supply means for capping the containers, the lower surface of the flange being supported by the support means when capping the containers.

[0007] The second invention of the present invention is a container transporting device characterized in that, in the first invention, the cap supplying means is a cap supplying chute provided above the second rotating wheel, and the cap held at the downstream end of the cap supplying chute is engaged with the container transported by the second rotating wheel, thereby removing the cap from the cap supplying chute and placing it on the container.

[0008] The third invention of the present invention is a container transporting device according to the first or second invention, characterized in that the support means is a pair of rails arranged on both sides of the container being gripped and transported by the second gripper and abutting the underside of the flange.

[0009] The fourth invention of the present invention is a container transporting device according to the first or second invention, characterized in that the support means is a third gripper that is provided on the second rotating wheel, is capable of gripping the lower part of the flange, and can be opened and closed independently of the second gripper, and the third gripper opens when the second gripper receives a container from the first gripper to prevent interference with the first gripper, and closes before the container reaches the capping means to grip the lower part of the flange. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a container processing apparatus that can reliably cap a container while gripping the container above the flange. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing a partial arrangement of a container processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the filling wheel in FIG. 1 near its outer periphery. [Diagram 3] 1 is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the filling wheel and the vicinity of the outer periphery of the capping wheel at a position where a container is transferred from the filling wheel to the capping wheel of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the outer periphery of the capping wheel of the first embodiment at a position where a support rail is provided. FIG. [Diagram 5] 4A to 4C are side views showing the process from cap supply to capping in the capping wheel of the first embodiment in time series. [Figure 6] 13 is a side view of a capping head used in a modified example of the container processing apparatus of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the arrangement of a container processing apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 11 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a capping head provided on a capping wheel of a second embodiment, in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the capping wheel. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view near the outer periphery of the capping wheel, showing the structure of an opening and closing mechanism of a neck gripper of the capping wheel of the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the outer periphery of the filling wheel and the capping wheel at the container transfer position in the third embodiment. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the outer periphery of the capping wheel of the third embodiment at a position where capping is performed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the arrangement of a container processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] The container processing device 10 of the first embodiment is a device that alternately grips and transports, for example, resin containers V by their necks between rotating wheels, and fills and caps the containers V. The container processing device 10 includes a filling wheel (first rotating wheel) 14 that receives the containers V from the supply wheel 12, and a capping wheel (second rotating wheel) 16 that receives the containers V that have been filled by the filling wheel 14. The containers V that have been capped by the capping wheel 16 are discharged downstream via a discharge conveyor 18.

[0014] The supply wheel 12, filling wheel 14, and capping wheel 16 convey the container V by alternately gripping the upper and lower parts of a flange Vf that protrudes outward from the neck of the container V using neck grippers provided along the outer periphery of the rotating wheel of each device. In this embodiment, the neck gripper of the supply wheel 12 grips the upper part of the flange Vf, the neck gripper (first gripper) 20 (see FIG. 2) of the filling wheel 14 grips the lower part of the flange Vf, and the neck gripper (second gripper) 22 (see FIG. 3) of the capping wheel 16 grips the upper part of the flange Vf again. In other words, the neck grippers of adjacent wheels are vertically different in height, thereby preventing interference between the grippers of both wheels during transfer.

[0015] 2 is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view near the outer periphery of the filling wheel 14. Neck grippers 20 are arranged radially outward at predetermined intervals along the outer periphery of the filling wheel 14. Each neck gripper 20 has a pair of gripper pieces 20A, and each gripper piece 20A is attached to a leaf spring 20B attached to the left and right of the gripper base block. The left and right leaf springs 20B are biased by a spring 20C in a direction to close the gripper pieces 20A, and the neck part below the flange Vf of the container V delivered from the supply wheel 12 is pushed between the gripper pieces 20A, so that the lower part of the flange Vf is gripped by the neck gripper 20.

[0016] A filling nozzle (filling means) 24 that supplies filling liquid into the container V is arranged above each neck gripper 20, and the filling liquid is filled into the container V while the container V is transported along the outer periphery of the filling wheel 14.

[0017] 3 is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the outer periphery of the filling wheel 14 and the capping wheel 16 immediately before the position (transfer position P) where the container V is transferred from the filling wheel 14 to the capping wheel 16. Neck grippers 22 are arranged radially outward at predetermined intervals along the outer periphery of the capping wheel 16. The neck gripper 22 has a pair of gripper pieces 22A, and the base end of each gripper piece 22A is attached to the lower end of a rotation shaft 26 that is attached vertically to the capping wheel 16.

[0018] The rotating shaft 26 is rotatably supported by the capping wheel 16 and a support member 16A extending downward from the capping wheel 16, and the rotating shaft 26 is engaged through a gear 28 provided at its intermediate portion, and rotates in opposite directions by the same angle. One end of a lever 30 is provided on one side of the rotating shaft 26, and a cam follower 32B that engages with a fixed cam 32A is provided on the other end of the lever 30. The other end of the lever 30 is connected to the capping wheel 16 via a spring 32C, and is biased by the spring 32C in a direction to close the gripper piece 22A. In other words, when the cam 32A is not engaged with the cam follower 32B, the lever 30 is positioned inward in the wheel radial direction by the biasing force of the spring 32C, and the gripper piece 22A is maintained in a closed state. On the other hand, when the cam follower 32B engages with the cam 32A and is pushed outward in the radial direction of the wheel against the biasing force of the spring 32C, the lever 30 rotates the rotating shaft 26 in a direction to open the gripper piece 22A. Note that Fig. 3 shows a state just before the cam follower 32B and the cam 32A separate and the neck gripper 22 is completely closed.

[0019] The neck gripper 22 is positioned at a height at which it grips the upper cylindrical portion of the flange Vf of the container V held by the neck gripper 20 of the filling wheel 14. At a transfer position P where the container V is transferred from the filling wheel 14 to the capping wheel 16, the engagement between the cam follower 32B and the cam 32A is released, and the neck gripper 22 is closed. The neck gripper 22 extracts the container V from the neck gripper 20 which grips the lower portion of the flange Vf, and transports the container V along the outer periphery of the capping wheel 16.

[0020] 1, a cap supply chute (cap supply means) 34 is disposed above the capping wheel 16 to supply caps C to be placed on containers V. The downstream portion of the cap supply chute 34 is disposed obliquely so as to descend along the outer periphery (container conveying path) of the capping wheel 16 downstream of the receiving position P of the capping wheel 16. The cap C located at the downstream end of the cap supply chute 34 partially extends obliquely downward from the tip of the cap supply chute 34 and engages with the edge of the mouth of the container V conveyed by the neck gripper 22, and is placed obliquely on the mouth of the container V (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0021] Immediately downstream of the cap supply chute 34, a pair of support rails (support means) 36 are fixedly disposed along both sides of the transport path for the containers V, engaging with and supporting the underside of the flanges Vf. Disposed above the support rails 36 are capping rollers (capping means) 38 that press the caps C, which are placed obliquely on the mouths of the containers V, against the mouths to cap them. The capping rollers 38 are constantly rotated at a predetermined speed by driving means (not shown).

[0022] Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the outer periphery of the capping wheel 16 at the position where the support rail 36 is provided. In the section where the support rail 36 is provided, as shown in Fig. 4, the container V is gripped by the neck gripper 22 and conveyed along the outer periphery of the capping wheel 16, and the lower surface of the flange Vf is supported from the radially inner and outer sides of the wheel by the support rail 36. In this embodiment, with the lower part of the flange Vf supported by the support rail 36, the cap C is pressed against the mouth of the container V by the capping roller 38 to cap it (see Fig. 5). Thereafter, the neck gripper 22 is opened on the discharge conveyor 18, and the container V which has been filled and capped is transferred to the discharge conveyor 18 and discharged downstream.

[0023] 5(a)-(d) are diagrams showing the state of the capping wheel 16 from cap supply to capping in a time series, and are side views of the container V at each position as seen from the outside of the wheel. As shown in FIG. 5(a), in the capping wheel 16, the container V is conveyed while being gripped above the flange Vf by the neck gripper 22. As shown in FIG. 5(b), the cap C, which is supplied obliquely from the cap supply chute 34, engages with the front edge of the mouth of the container V, is pulled out, and is placed on the mouth of the container V while being inclined in the traveling direction. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5(c), the support rails 36 engage with the lower side of the flange Vf from both sides, and the container V is conveyed by the neck gripper 22 while the flange Vf is supported by the support rails 36. In addition, in the section where the flange Vf is supported by the support rails 36, the capping rollers 38 are arranged above the container conveying path, and the rotation axis of the capping rollers 38 is arranged so as to be horizontal and perpendicular to the conveying path. 5(c) and 5(d), the capping roller 38 rides up from the front edge side of the cap C that is placed diagonally on the container V, and presses the cap C onto the mouth of the container V. This causes the cap C to fit into the mouth of the container V, completing the capping of the container V.

[0024] As described above, according to the container processing device of the first embodiment, the container is gripped above the flange by the neck gripper while the support rail supports the bottom of the flange, thereby enabling reliable capping without lowering the container during the capping operation. This allows the container processing device using the neck gripper to omit the intermediate wheel and transfer the container directly from the filling wheel to the capping wheel, thereby reducing the installation space.

[0025] Fig. 6 is a side view of a capping head used in a modified example of the container processing apparatus 10 of the first embodiment. In the capping wheel 16 of the first embodiment, a cap C placed at an angle on the mouth of a container V supported by a support rail (support means) 36 is pressed against the mouth by a capping roller 38 to cap the container V. In the modified example, a capping head (capping means) 39 shown in Fig. 6 is used instead of the capping roller 38.

[0026] A plurality of capping heads 39 are arranged radially on a rotor 39A, for example. The capping heads 39 are slidably held on shafts 39B extending radially from the rotor 39A, and are biased outward by springs 39C. The rotor 39A is rotated in synchronization with the movement of the neck gripper 22, and the capping heads 39 facing downward are pressed against the cap C placed on a container V supported by the neck gripper 22 and the support rail 36, and the cap C is fitted onto the mouth of the container V.

[0027] As described above, the modified example of the first embodiment also provides the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0028] A container processing apparatus according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 7 to 9. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the arrangement of a container processing apparatus 40 according to the second embodiment. In the capping wheel 16 of the first embodiment, the cap C is supplied directly to the mouth of the container V from the cap supply chute 34, and the cap C is capped into the container V by the capping roller 38. In contrast, in the container processing apparatus 40 of the second embodiment, the cap C is supplied to a capping head (capping means) 44, which caps the container with the cap C. Note that other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment, and the same reference symbols are used for similar configurations, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 7, capping wheel 42 of container processing apparatus 40 of the second embodiment is provided with capping heads 44 along its outer periphery in correspondence with each neck gripper 43. Caps C are handed over to capping head 44, for example, upstream of receiving position P. A cap supply disk (cap supply means) 46 is disposed adjacent to capping wheel 42 upstream of receiving position P. Caps C are supplied onto cap supply disk 46 from cap supply chute (cap supply means) 48. Cap holding pins 46A protruding from the disk surface are provided at predetermined intervals on the outer periphery of cap supply disk 46, and each cap C is supplied from cap supply chute 48 in a face-down state so as to be hooked onto cap holding pins 46A.

[0030] 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the capping head 44 provided on the capping wheel 42 in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the capping wheel 42. The capping head 44 is provided below the tip of the arm 50, and sucks and holds the top surfaces of the caps C on the cap supply disk 46 by using a suction mechanism (not shown).

[0031] The base end of the arm 50 is attached to the upper end of a vertical lifting rod 52. The lifting rod 52 is supported via a spline mechanism or the like so as to be able to move up and down on a cylindrical portion 54 which is rotatably attached to the capping wheel 42. The lifting rod 52 extends below the cylindrical portion 54, and a lifting cam follower 56A is provided at its lower end for lifting and lowering the lifting rod 52. The lifting cam follower 56A engages with a cam groove of a lifting cam 56B which is arranged to surround the capping wheel 42.

[0032] Meanwhile, a lever 58 is provided at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 54. A swing cam follower 60A for swinging the arm 50 holding the stoppering head 44 is provided at the tip of the lever 58. The swing cam follower 60A engages with a swing cam 60B fixedly disposed along the outer periphery of the capping wheel 42. A spring 62 is wound around the approximate center of the cylindrical portion 54, one end of the spring 62 being fixed to the cylindrical portion 54 and the other end being fixed to the capping wheel 42. In other words, the cylindrical portion 54 and the lever 58 are rotationally biased by the spring 62 so that the swing cam follower 60A is pressed against the swing cam 60B.

[0033] As shown in the longitudinal cross-sectional view of Fig. 9, the drive mechanism of the neck gripper 43 provided on the capping wheel 42 is configured by turning the opening / closing mechanism of the neck gripper 22 of the first embodiment upside down. That is, the gripper pieces 43A constituting the neck gripper 43 are attached to the upper ends of the rotating shafts 26, and the rotating shafts 26 are engaged with each other through the gears 28. At the lower end of one rotating shaft 26, a lever 30 is provided, the tip of which is provided with a cam follower 32B that engages with a cam 32A, and the lever 30 is biased by a spring 32C in the direction in which the neck gripper 43 is closed. As in Fig. 3, Fig. 9 shows a state immediately before the cam follower 32B and the cam 32A are separated and the neck gripper 43 is completely closed. The configurations of the filling wheel 14 and the neck gripper 20 are omitted in this figure.

[0034] 7, the arm 50 is disposed at the entrance of the support rail 36 in a direction along the radial direction of the capping wheel 42, and the capping head 44 is disposed at a raised position. When the flange Vf of the container V reaches the capping position supported by the support rail 36, the capping head 44 is lowered by the engagement between the lifting cam follower 56A and the lifting cam 56B, and the cap C adsorbed to the underside of the capping head 44 is attached to the mouth of the container V.

[0035] Thereafter, the capping head 44 is raised to its original height by the engagement of the lifting cam follower 56A and the lifting cam 56B, and moves toward the cap supply disk 46 while maintaining the orientation of the arm 50. The outer periphery of the cap supply disk 46 is disposed so as to overlap with the outer periphery of the capping wheel 42, and at this position the lifting rod 52 is lowered by the engagement of the lifting cam follower 56A and the lifting cam 56B until the capping head 44 abuts on the top surface of the cap C on the cap supply disk 46. As a result, the cap C is attracted to the capping head 44, and the lifting rod 52 is raised to its original height.

[0036] Thereafter, arm 50 is swung backward in the conveying direction in front of filling wheel 14 by the engagement of swinging cam follower 60A and swinging cam 60B so that capping head 44, which has adsorbed cap C, does not interfere with filling nozzle 24. This causes arm 50 to be retracted inside capping wheel 42, preventing interference between capping head 44 and filling nozzle 24 at transfer position P. During this time, container V is transferred from neck gripper 20 of filling wheel 14 to neck gripper 43 of capping wheel 42 at transfer position P.

[0037] As described above, the container processing apparatus of the second embodiment also provides the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

[0038] Next, a container processing apparatus of a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. With the capping wheels of the container processing apparatus of the first and second embodiments, the capping operation is performed while the underside of the flange Vf of the container V is supported by the support rail 36. On the other hand, the capping wheel of the third embodiment is provided with a support gripper (third gripper, support means) 64 that supports the underside of the flange Vf during capping, instead of the support rail 36. Note that other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment, and the same reference symbols are used for similar configurations, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0039] Figure 10 corresponds to Figure 3 of the first embodiment and is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view near the outer periphery of the filling wheel 14 and the capping wheel 66 at the transfer position P, and Figure 11 is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view near the outer periphery of the capping wheel 66 at the position where capping is performed.

[0040] 10 and 11, the neck gripper 22 (gripper piece 22A) provided on the capping wheel 66 of the third embodiment is opened and closed by an opening and closing mechanism consisting of the rotating shaft 26, gear 28, lever 30, cam 32A, cam follower 32B, and spring 32C, similar to the first embodiment. Note that in the third embodiment, the rotating shaft 26 is rotatably supported by the capping wheel 66 and a support member 66A extending downward from the capping wheel 66.

[0041] As described above, the capping wheel 66 of the third embodiment is provided with the support grippers 64 corresponding to each neck gripper 22. The support grippers 64 are located directly below the neck grippers 22 at a height that grips the lower part of the flange Vf of the container V gripped by the neck gripper 22 (the position where the support grippers 64 abut the lower surface of the flange Vf). In the capping wheel 66, the opening and closing mechanism of the neck gripper 22 (the rotating shaft 26, the gear 28, the lever 30, the cam 32A, the cam follower 32B, and the spring 32C) is located above the gripper piece 22A. Meanwhile, the opening and closing mechanism of the support gripper 64 is configured by substantially reversing the opening and closing mechanism of the neck gripper 22.

[0042] That is, on the outer periphery of the capping wheel 66, below the neck gripper 22, a support gripper 64 is disposed radially outward along the outer periphery. The support gripper 64 includes a pair of gripper pieces 64A, and a base end of each of the gripper pieces 64A is attached to a rotation shaft 68 that is attached perpendicularly to the capping wheel 66.

[0043] The upper end of the rotating shaft 68 is rotatably fitted inside the rotating shaft 26 of the neck gripper 22, and the upper end is supported by a support member 66A. The lower end of the rotating shaft 68 is journaled on a lower rotating body 66B of the capping wheel 66. The rotating shafts 68 are engaged through a gear 70 and rotated by the same angle in opposite directions. One end of a lever 72 is provided on one side of the rotating shaft 68, and a cam follower 74B that engages with a fixed cam 74A is provided on the other end of the lever 72. The other end of the lever 72 is connected to the lower rotating body 66B via a spring 74C, and is biased by the spring 74C in a direction to close the gripper piece 64A.

[0044] In the first embodiment, in the section where the support rail 36 is provided, the cam 74A and the cam follower 74B are disengaged, and the support gripper 64 is maintained in a closed state. On the other hand, at the delivery position P, the cam follower 74B is pushed outward in the wheel radial direction against the biasing force of the spring 74C by the cam 74A, and the lever 72 rotates the rotating shaft 68 in a direction to open the gripper piece 64A. As a result, the support gripper 64 is opened widely to a position where it does not interfere with the neck gripper 20 of the filling wheel 14. FIG. 10 shows a state where the gripper piece 64A of the support gripper 64 is opened widely, and FIG. 11 shows a state where the support gripper 64 is closed and the lower part of the flange Vf is gripped by the gripper piece 64A. As shown in FIG. 11, the capping roller 38 presses the cap C against the mouth of the container V while the lower surface of the flange Vf of the container V is supported by the support gripper 64, and attaches the cap C to the mouth of the container V. Alternatively, the neck gripper 22 may be configured to be released after the support gripper 64 grips the bottom of the flange Vf of the container V.

[0045] As described above, the container processing apparatus of the third embodiment can also provide the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10 Container processing equipment 14 Filling wheel (first rotating wheel) 16 Capping wheel (second rotating wheel) 20 Neck gripper (first gripper) 22 Neck gripper (second gripper) 24 Filling nozzle (filling means) 34 Cap supply chute (cap supply means) 36 Support rail (support means) 38 Capper roller (capper means) 39, 44 Capper head (capper means) 46 Cap supply disk (cap supply means) 48 Cap supply chute (cap supply means) 64 Support gripper (third gripper, support means) C Cap V container Vf flange

Claims

1. In a container processing apparatus for filling and capping containers having outwardly protruding flanges, a first rotating wheel having a plurality of first grippers provided on an outer periphery thereof for gripping the lower portion of the flange; a filling means provided corresponding to each of the first grippers and configured to fill the container with a content; a second rotating wheel disposed downstream of the first rotating wheel and having a plurality of second grippers provided on an outer periphery thereof for gripping an upper portion of the flange; a cap supplying means for supplying a cap; a support means capable of supporting a lower surface of the flange of the container conveyed by the second rotating wheel; a capping means provided downstream of the cap supplying means for capping the container, A container processing apparatus comprising: a support means for supporting a lower surface of the flange when the container is capped.

2. The container processing device described in claim 1, characterized in that the cap supply means is a cap supply chute provided above the second rotating wheel, and the cap held at the downstream end of the cap supply chute is engaged with the container transported by the second rotating wheel, thereby removing the cap from the cap supply chute and placing it on the container.

3. 3. The container processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support means is a pair of rails arranged on both sides of the container being gripped and transported by the second gripper and abutting against a lower surface of the flange.

4. the support means is a third gripper provided on the second rotating wheel, capable of gripping a lower portion of the flange, and capable of opening and closing independently of the second gripper; 3. The container processing device according to claim 1, wherein the third gripper opens when the second gripper receives a container from the first gripper to prevent interference with the first gripper, and closes before the second gripper reaches the capping means to grip the lower part of the flange.

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