Automatic decapper

A decapping machine adapted to receive capped bottles and operable to decap bottles so received, said machine comprising:

• a decapping station wherein individual capped bottles having peripheral edges are securely positionable in bottle decapping relation with an assembly comprising a lever arm rotatable about a pivot, anvil means secured to said lever arm in spaced apart relation from said pivot, said lever-arm-rotating means operable to rotate said lever arm;
• said assembly being located relative to said station such that on rotation of said arm about said pivot by said lever-arm-rotating means, said anvil means is moveable from a first position wherein said anvil means contacts said peripheral edge, along a divergent, arcuate path relative to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of said bottle, when said bottle is securely positioned at said decapping station, to a second position whereupon said anvil urges said cap out of secured frictional engagement with said bottle and wherein said lever arm comprises first and second portions, said first portion extending from said pivot at a height above said decapping station sufficient to permit successive, individual capped bottles to be positioned at said decapping station beneath said first portion, said first portion further extending beyond said capped bottles when so positioned, to a side thereof substantially diametrically opposite said pivot where said first portion terminates in said second portion extending generally downwardly from said first portion and being adapted to receive said anvil means in mutually secured relation therewith, said pivot being a vertically slotted pivot adapted to accommodate minor variations in the individual heights of successive capped bottles such that said first portion of said lever arm is adapted to float from top to top of each succeeding capped bottle positioned at said decapping station.