B67 OPENING, CLOSING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
Description
Class B67 encompasses apparatus and methods for opening and closing rigid or semi-rigid containers such as bottles, jars, cans, and similar vessels, along with devices for handling and dispensing liquids. It covers mechanisms including capping/uncapping machines, sealing equipment, and cork extraction devices used in industrial and commercial settings. This classification also includes liquid transfer, pumping, pouring, and measuring systems associated with container operations. Adjacent classes address packaging machinery (B65) and general container structures (B65D), distinguishing B67 by its focus on the operational mechanics of container access and liquid control rather than container design or primary packaging processes.
Filing statistics
CPC B67 recorded 53,287 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 3 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 3,674 in 2013 to 3,905 in 2023 (+6%), peaking at 6,112 applications in 2017. The most active applicants in class B67 are KRONES (1,493 applications), LG ELECTRONICS (869 applications) and KHS (843 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
3 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B67B APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS (opening or closing devices attached to, or incorporated in, containers or container closures B65D)
- B67C CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
- B67D DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- KRONES DE 1,493
- LG ELECTRONICS KR 869
- KHS DE 843
- ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV BE 515
- COCA-COLA COMPANY US 488
- PEPSICO US 477
- KRONES 417
- HEINEKEN SUPPLY CHAIN NL 398
- COWAY COMPANY KR 339
- FREEZIO CH 322