Patent ID: 7287792

Claim:
A bottle gripping device for gripping a crown neck of a bottle during cleaning, capping, and filling, comprising: a first stationary gripping member; a support body coupled to the first stationary gripping member; a first biased gripping member that is biased toward the first stationary gripping member by at least one spring and is adapted to move away from the first stationary gripping member as a result of pressure from the bottle; an opening formed between the first biased gripping member and the first stationary gripping member capable of receiving a crown neck of the bottle to apply the pressure; a second stationary gripping member coupled to the support body; a second biased gripping member coupled to the support body wherein the second biased gripping member is biased toward the second stationary gripping member; a movable pneumatic finger which automatically moves the biased gripping member away from the stationary gripping member thereby releasing the bottle; and wherein the device is adapted to contact the bottle at a plurality of distinct points comprising a total of less than 25% of a total circumference of the crown neck.