Systems, apparatus and methods for engaging a cap releasably secured in a container

Apparatus for extracting a bung plug from and installing a bung plug into a container, the container having a bung opening formed in at least one surface thereof, the bung opening configured to contain the bung plug therein, the apparatus comprising:

• a carrier selectively movable up and down relative to the container;
• a bung plug engagement tool carried by the carrier and including at least one shaft having upper and lower ends and a bung plug wrench disposed at or proximate to the lower end of the at least one shaft;
• a centering collar carried by the carrier, wherein the bung plug wrench and centering collar are both biased downwardly relative to the carrier and container and the bung plug wrench is additionally biased downwardly relative to the centering collar, carrier and container during use of the apparatus;
• and
• at least two spaced-apart inner springs that provide downward biasing forces upon the bung plug wrench relative to the centering collar, carrier and container.

Method of engaging a bung plug extractor/installer with a bung plug that is releasably secured to a container, the container having a bung opening formed in and facing upwardly from at least one surface thereof, the bung opening configured to contain the bung plug therein, the method comprising:

• selectively moving a carrier of the bung plug extractor/installer over the bung opening and bung plug contained therein, the carrier carrying a centering collar and bung plug engagement tool, the bung plug engagement tool including at least one shaft and at least one bung plug wrench;
• at least first and second spaced-apart springs positioned radially outwardly of at least one shaft of the bung plug engagement tool assisting in biasing the centering collar downwardly into contact with at least one surface of the container around the bung opening and biasing at least one bung plug wrench downwardly into contact with the bung plug;
• and
• at least third and fourth spaced-apart springs separately downwardly biasing the at least one bung plug wrench relative to the centering collar, carrier and container.

Apparatus for extracting a cap from a fill hole of a container with the use of at least one vacuum source that provides suction pressure, the fill hole formed in at least one surface of the container, the apparatus comprising:

• a carrier selectively movable up and down relative to the container;
• a cap engagement tool carried by the carrier and selectively at least partially engageable with the cap, wherein when the cap engagement tool engages the cap, at least one space is formed between at least part of the cap engagement tool and the cap;
• a centering collar carried by the carrier and being positioned at least partially radially outwardly of at least part of the cap engagement tool;
• a first plurality of spaced-apart biasing members positioned radially outwardly of at least part of the cap engagement tool and which provide downward biasing forces upon the centering collar and at least part of the cap engagement tool relative to the carrier and container;
• a second plurality of spaced-apart biasing members which are separate and distinct from the first plurality of spaced-apart biasing members and provide downward biasing forces upon at least part of the cap engagement tool relative to the centering collar, carrier and container;
• and
• at least one passageway fluidly coupling the at least one space and the vacuum source and which allows suction pressure to be selectively provided to the at least one space to retain the cap with the cap engagement tool after the cap is extracted from the container.

Apparatus for extracting a cap from a fill hole of a container with the use of at least one vacuum source that provides suction pressure, the fill hole formed in at least one surface of the container, the apparatus comprising:

• a carrier selectively movable up and down relative to the container;
• a cap engagement tool carried by the carrier and selectively at least partially engageable with the cap, wherein when the cap engagement tool engages the cap, at least one space is formed between at least part of the cap engagement tool and the cap;
• a centering collar carried by the carrier and being positioned at least partially radially outwardly of at least part of the cap engagement tool;
• a first plurality of spaced-apart biasing members that provide downward biasing forces upon at least part of the cap engagement tool relative to the centering collar, carrier and container;
• and
• at least one passageway fluidly coupling the at least one space and the vacuum source and which allows suction pressure to be selectively provided to the at least one space to retain the cap with the cap engagement tool after the cap is extracted from the container.