A device for gripping and
centring containers, in particular bottles of which the neck is provided with a
rigid collar, in a capping and / or control
station of a capping installation is provided and includes a
centring ring, intended for being inserted onto a container and for resting on an upper portion of the body of the container, and a plurality of jaws, distributed along the circumference of the
centring ring and arranged to receive, in an operating condition, the region of the neck of the container located immediately below the
rigid collar. The centring ring is associated with moving members arranged to control a displacement thereof in vertical direction, and the jaws are associated with moving members arranged to control a displacement thereof in vertical direction, simultaneously with or independently of the
vertical displacement of the centring ring, and a displacement in horizontal direction. A capping installation is also disclosed.