An apparatus (100, 820a, 820b, 1000) for container coning and/or deconing, wherein the apparatus (100, 820a, 820b, 1000) comprises: a processor (190, 1316) for executing instructions to operate the apparatus (100, 820a, 820b, 1000); a store for storing a plurality of connectors; and a conveyor mechanism comprising a plurality of holders for holding the plurality of connectors, the conveyor mechanism being configured for moving one or more of the plurality of holders to a location for retrieving a connector used for coning a container or for moving one or more of the plurality of holders to a location for receiving a connector obtained from deconing a container, characterised in that the apparatus (100, 820a, 820b, 1000) further comprises: a sorter (106a-f, 220, 1006a-h) for identifying type of connector; a dispensing mechanism configured to tilt one of the plurality of holders in a manner to dispense a connector out of the tilted holder; and a memory for storing indexing data indicating: a presence of a connector in each of the plurality of holders; a type of the connector that is held in each holder; and a position of each holder on the conveyor mechanism, wherein the sorter (106a-f, 220, 1006a-h) is configured to pick up one connector stored in the store, identify type of the picked connector, orientate the picked connector to an orientation for placement into a holder; and place the orientated connector with type identified into one of the plurality of holders that is indicated as having no presence of a connector in the indexing data, and the processor (190, 1316) is configured to operate the apparatus (100, 820a, 820b, 1000) to update the indexing data in the memory to indicate presence of a connector in the holder containing the placed connector, and the identified type of the placed connector. a processor (190, 1316) for executing instructions to operate the apparatus (100, 820a, 820b, 1000); a store for storing a plurality of connectors; and a conveyor mechanism comprising a plurality of holders for holding the plurality of connectors, the conveyor mechanism being configured for moving one or more of the plurality of holders to a location for retrieving a connector used for coning a container or for moving one or more of the plurality of holders to a location for receiving a connector obtained from deconing a container, characterised in that the apparatus (100, 820a, 820b, 1000) further comprises: a sorter (106a-f, 220, 1006a-h) for identifying type of connector; a dispensing mechanism configured to tilt one of the plurality of holders in a manner to dispense a connector out of the tilted holder; and a memory for storing indexing data indicating: a presence of a connector in each of the plurality of holders; a type of the connector that is held in each holder; and a position of each holder on the conveyor mechanism, wherein the sorter (106a-f, 220, 1006a-h) is configured to pick up one connector stored in the store, identify type of the picked connector, orientate the picked connector to an orientation for placement into a holder; and place the orientated connector with type identified into one of the plurality of holders that is indicated as having no presence of a connector in the indexing data, and the processor (190, 1316) is configured to operate the apparatus (100, 820a, 820b, 1000) to update the indexing data in the memory to indicate presence of a connector in the holder containing the placed connector, and the identified type of the placed connector. a sorter (106a-f, 220, 1006a-h) for identifying type of connector; a dispensing mechanism configured to tilt one of the plurality of holders in a manner to dispense a connector out of the tilted holder; and a memory for storing indexing data indicating: a presence of a connector in each of the plurality of holders; a type of the connector that is held in each holder; and a position of each holder on the conveyor mechanism, a presence of a connector in each of the plurality of holders; a type of the connector that is held in each holder; and a position of each holder on the conveyor mechanism, wherein the sorter (106a-f, 220, 1006a-h) is configured to pick up one connector stored in the store, identify type of the picked connector, orientate the picked connector to an orientation for placement into a holder; and place the orientated connector with type identified into one of the plurality of holders that is indicated as having no presence of a connector in the indexing data, and pick up one connector stored in the store, identify type of the picked connector, orientate the picked connector to an orientation for placement into a holder; and place the orientated connector with type identified into one of the plurality of holders that is indicated as having no presence of a connector in the indexing data, and the processor (190, 1316) is configured to operate the apparatus (100, 820a, 820b, 1000) to update the indexing data in the memory to indicate presence of a connector in the holder containing the placed connector, and the identified type of the placed connector. presence of a connector in the holder containing the placed connector, and the identified type of the placed connector.