Device and method for treating containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for treating containers (B). The device (1) comprises at least one treatment machine (M) of rotating design with at least one rotor (2) which can be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis (MA) and which has a plurality of treatment stations (5, 6) arranged in multiple rows on the circumference of the rotor (2) and distributed in several treatment circuits (3, 4). Each of the treatment stations (5, 6) is equipped with a respective associated container holder (11, 12) for receiving the containers in a suspended manner, wherein the rotor (2) has at least a first outer treatment circuit (3) and a second inner treatment circuit (4) arranged coaxially thereto.The container receptacles (11) of the treatment stations (5) of the first outer treatment circuit (3) are arranged at a first height level (h1), and the container receptacles (12) of the treatment stations (6) of the second inner treatment circuit (4) are arranged at a second height level (h2) at a different height. The device (1) has at least one transfer unit (7) with several transfer devices (8, 9, 10, 10') for transferring the containers (B) to the treatment circuits (3, 4).At least one first transfer device (8) of the transfer unit (7) is equipped with a plurality of gripping and / or holding elements (24, 25) for gripping and / or holding the containers (B) in a suspended manner, and at least some of the gripping and / or holding elements (24) of the first transfer device (8) are arranged on the first transfer device (8) in a height-adjustable manner, such that at least some of the containers (B) are height-adjustable during the transfer and can be transferred with a height offset.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for treating containers, preferably plastic containers, such as PET bottles. In particular, the invention is directed to a device and a method for treating the containers using so-called "neck handling."

[0002] The invention thus particularly relates to devices for container treatment in container treatment plants in the beverage industry, which can also be referred to as beverage filling plants or filling lines. The present invention is primarily directed to container treatment devices or container treatment machines with high efficiency and productivity that allow for treatment, especially filling, at high output.

[0003] Container treatment systems of the type mentioned generally comprise a plurality of container treatment machines, particularly those which interact in sequence and which each have different functions, via which the necessary successive process steps for filling liquids, such as beverages, are carried out. The core of such container treatment systems are machines for filling the containers, namely so-called filling machines or fillers, and downstream machines for closing the containers, so-called closers. As is known, further, different container treatment machines can be provided as additional system components, which are arranged, for example, upstream of the filler or downstream of the closer. The present invention also relates to such filling machines orFillers, namely devices and methods for filling containers with a flowable or fluid filling material, in particular with a liquid filling material, wherein a flowable, fluid or liquid filling material also includes in particular a free-flowing or viscous or pasty filling material, such as syrup, yoghurt, smoothie, honey, porridge, cereals or the like.

[0004] Such container processing machines, especially filling machines, are usually rotating or rotary machines of a revolving design that rotate at high speeds due to their high performance. Container processing machines typically have a multitude of processing stations or positions arranged around the machine, particularly on a rotor, where the respective containers are held for the duration of the processing and moved along with the rotor during the processing.

[0005] Since the fundamental goal of production plants is to operate highly efficiently, there are also efforts to increase the efficiency of the corresponding container processing devices in container processing and beverage filling plants. For example, it has become known from the prior art to design rotating container processing machines with multiple rows to increase performance and to provide the accompanying processing stations in several rows on a machine rotor. For example, DE 10 2005 032 175 A1 discloses such a multi-row container processing machine.

[0006] However, increasing performance (or container throughput) in such multi-row container handling machines known from the prior art often comes at the expense of system flexibility, partly because these machines are not compatible with conventional container loading and unloading systems, for example. Therefore, there is a continued need for container handling systems that can be operated in an improved manner with the desired high performance and greater efficiency.

[0007] An object of the invention is to provide a device for treating containers which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and which allows a flexible installation configuration, particularly with high performance and a structurally simple design.

[0008] This object is achieved by a device for treating containers according to the features of independent patent claim 1. Furthermore, a method according to the features of independent patent claim 17 is proposed to achieve this object. The dependent patent claims relate to particularly advantageous developments of the invention.

[0009] The present invention provides a device for treating containers. The device comprises at least one treatment machine of a rotating design with at least one rotor that can be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis and has a plurality of treatment stations arranged in multiple rows on the circumference of the rotor and distributed in several treatment circuits. Each of the treatment stations is equipped with a respective associated container holder for suspendedly receiving the containers. The rotor has at least one first outer treatment circuit and a second inner treatment circuit arranged coaxially therewith. The container holders of the treatment stations of the first outer treatment circuit are arranged at a first height level. The container holders of the treatment stations of the second inner treatment circuit are arranged at a second height level, offset in height from this.The device comprises at least one transfer unit with a plurality of transfer devices for transferring the containers to the treatment circuits, wherein at least a first transfer device of the transfer unit is equipped with a plurality of gripping and / or holding elements for gripping and / or holding the containers in a suspended position. At least some of the gripping and / or holding elements of the first transfer device are arranged on the first transfer device in a height-adjustable manner, such that at least some of the containers are height-adjustable during the transfer and can be transferred at a height-adjusted position.

[0010] In the present device, the container receptacles of the respective treatment circuits are arranged at different vertical heights of the rotor and are therefore essentially located on different horizontal levels, which in the present case can also be understood as floors or treatment levels, so that the respective treatment levels of the treatment circuits differ from one another and the treatment machine operates in several floors, in particular in two floors.

[0011] Since the treatment circuits form an inner and outer treatment circuit, they have different diameters or radii, for example. This would make it conceivable that the number of treatment stations per treatment circuit might differ. It is also conceivable that a pitch or pitch distance might be different for the respective treatment circuits, whereby a pitch or pitch distance is to be understood as a relative distance between the treatment stations, in particular between the container receptacles that hold, in particular grip or carry, the containers, and essentially corresponds to an angular distance between the treatment stations belonging to a respective treatment circuit. Depending on the selected angular distance between the treatment stations, their number per treatment circuit can therefore be the same or different, even if the diameters or radii of the treatment circuits differ.

[0012] In this context, "container receptacles for suspended receiving" of containers means that each container receptacle is designed such that it grips or holds the containers in an upper container section or region, so that a bottom of the container is free and the containers are preferably held without any support or support on the bottom. The container receptacles are designed, for example, for suspended receiving of bottle-like containers, in particular bottles, such as plastic bottles, for example PET bottles, wherein the container receptacles grip the bottles in their neck region, in particular picking them up and holding them at the bottle neck. In particular, the container receptacles for suspended receiving of the containers are therefore designed for so-called neck handling.In the present sense, container receptacles can be formed by gripper-, clamp- or carrier-like elements, for example several individual container carriers, or by corresponding recesses or cutouts in a container carrier common to the treatment circuit, such as a support ring, which accommodate the containers.

[0013] The "transfer unit" with the multiple transfer devices for transferring the containers to the treatment circuits is preferably understood, within the meaning of the invention, as an arrangement of multiple transfer devices conveying in a general transport direction and arranged, for example, one behind the other or consecutively in this general transport direction. For example, the transfer unit is an arrangement of multiple rotating conveyors, such as transfer star wheels. The transfer devices of the transfer unit cooperate to transfer the containers to the treatment circuits of the treatment machine located at different heights, in particular starting from a unit supplying the containers, such as a container feeder and / or a container treatment device upstream of the treatment machine.

[0014] The "transfer devices" as such, i.e., the transfer devices of the transfer unit, are essentially devices that are specifically designed for neck handling. The transfer devices can also be referred to as handover devices or transfer devices.

[0015] According to the invention, at least the first transfer device of the transfer unit is equipped with a plurality of gripping and / or holding elements for gripping and / or holding the containers in a suspended manner, of which at least some of the gripping and / or holding elements are height-adjustable, i.e., can be changed or adjusted in height or height position, in such a way that the containers gripped or held by the height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements can be adjusted in height during the transfer and can be transferred to the treatment machine with a corresponding height offset.

[0016] In the present understanding, this means that the first transfer device, starting from a further transfer device or container feeder or upstream container treatment device arranged upstream, receives or receives the containers at a receiving or receiving level. Depending on the embodiment of the present device, the receiving or receiving level can be at the height of the first height level of the outer treatment circuit or at the height of the second height level of the inner treatment circuit. Via the height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements, the containers held and transferred by the height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements are adjusted in height during the transfer and thereby brought to a transfer level that differs from the receiving or receiving level.The transfer level can thus - depending on the corresponding embodiment of the present device - also be at the height of the first height level of the outer treatment circuit or at the height of the second height level of the inner treatment circuit.

[0017] In simple terms, at least some of the containers taken over or picked up by the first transfer device are picked up at the takeover or pick-up level and returned to the different transfer level. For example, containers can be picked up at the first height level and transferred at the second height level, or vice versa can of course also be recorded at the second height level and handed over at the first height level.

[0018] With the device according to the invention, a height offset of containers between the different height levels of the treatment circuits can thus advantageously be realized on the feed path to the treatment machine. In other words, a height adjustment can be carried out during container transfer in order to transfer the containers that enter or arrive at a (same) feed level to the different levels or tiers of the treatment machine. The terms "height offset" or "height-adjustable" are defined in the present sense as a change in the height of both the gripping and / or holding elements and the containers, whereby this height change occurs at least in sections along the transfer path, for example, on a partial circle of a first transfer device designed as a transfer star.

[0019] The different levels or stages of the treatment machine can also be referred to as treatment levels or treatment stages. The containers to be treated or treated in the device thus enter a common feed level – the same for all containers – and are then distributed to the different treatment levels or treatment stages by the transfer unit. Each container is treated in exactly one treatment level or treatment stage and, following its treatment, is conveyed out of the treatment machine again in exactly one of the respective treatment levels.

[0020] In particular, further transport of the containers from one treatment circuit to the other, i.e., a successive passage through both or more treatment levels, is avoided. In other words, an intra-rotor transfer of the containers between the treatment circuits, i.e., a transfer within the rotor between the treatment circuits, is eliminated or excluded.

[0021] The device according to the invention offers the particular advantage of achieving high process performance with optimized machine complexity and space requirements. Furthermore, the device can be integrated into existing production lines with exceptional ease, as both the treatment machine and the transfer unit are highly compatible with existing machine components of conventional container treatment systems. Furthermore, the device according to the invention offers the advantage of increased flexibility, particularly increased system flexibility.

[0022] Further advantages of the device according to the invention arise from the fact that nothing stands in the way of automatic CIP ("cleaning in place") cleaning with regard to both treatment circuits of the treatment machine, and automatic CIP cleaning is possible at both height levels, namely on both floors. In particular, conventional CIP processes can be used using known CIP caps for automatic cleaning in both treatment circuits of the treatment machine. This also results in particular from the fact that, due to the inventive container supply to the treatment circuits by means of the transfer unit, the container receptacles of the treatment circuits of the treatment machine, in particular the neck ring holders of the treatment circuits, arranged at different height levels, allow a substantially fixed and rigid arrangement.This means that the container holders of the treatment circuits do not represent a spatial obstruction for the CIP caps.

[0023] Due to the inventive design of the treatment machine with the two vertically offset treatment circuits in combination with the transfer unit, the present device can be easily combined with other container treatment devices, in particular those that also operate in multiple rows or "multi-circuits", and / or integrated into corresponding container treatment systems.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the present device, the first height level of the container receptacles of the first outer treatment circuit is higher than the second height level of the container receptacles of the second inner treatment circuit. The first outer treatment circuit of the treatment machine forms an upper treatment circuit - and thus an outer, upper level, in particular a treatment level. The second inner treatment circuit of the treatment machine forms a lower treatment circuit - and thus an inner, lower level, in particular a treatment level. The two treatment levels of the treatment machine are thus offset coaxially from one another in the direction of the vertical machine axis.

[0025] The container receptacles of the treatment stations are preferably formed by respective container carriers, in particular designed as container grippers or container clamps, or by respective pocket-shaped recesses of at least one support ring, and the gripping and / or holding elements of the first transfer device are preferably formed by container grippers or container clamps. Both the container receptacles and the gripping and / or holding elements are designed to hold a neck portion of the container, in particular to hold the container by its neck ring. The container receptacles and the gripping and / or holding elements are thus preferably so-called neck ring holders for neck handling of bottles, in particular PET bottles. In this way, the present device can be advantageously and easily integrated into beverage filling systems that operate according to the neck handling principle.

[0026] For the purposes of the present invention, "pocket-shaped recesses of at least one support ring" means that one support ring or several support rings or support ring segments are provided for supporting or holding the containers, wherein corresponding recesses or cutouts, namely pockets, are formed in the support ring(s) or support ring segments, in which the containers can be supported. The pocket-shaped recesses or pockets can also be referred to herein as ring pockets, receiving pockets, or star pockets. It is understood that the number of pocket-shaped recesses in the support ring corresponds to the number of treatment stations, and the support ring with its pocket-shaped recesses formed therein is arranged and aligned such that each treatment station is assigned exactly one pocket-shaped recess and is aligned and centered within or to this station.Thus, for example, the container receptacles can also be provided by a single support ring with many individual pockets (e.g. many semicircular recesses for receiving the neck sections of the containers).

[0027] Particular advantages arise from the fact that the transfer unit is designed to distribute the containers entering the transfer unit as a container stream into at least two substreams. The transfer unit feeds the respective containers of one of the substreams to the first outer treatment circuit and, at a different height, the respective containers of the other substream to the second inner treatment circuit. The respective containers of each substream pass through exactly one respective treatment circuit.

[0028] By dividing the container flow entering an inlet area of ​​the transfer unit, which in the context of the present invention can also be understood as a container inflow or container inlet flow, the efficiency of the treatment in the treatment machine is increased and the container throughput rate can be increased. Each of the at least two partial flows formed by the division then serves to feed or equip a respective treatment circuit with containers. Each partial flow is thus essentially assigned to or allocated to a respective treatment circuit.

[0029] Since the container receptacles belonging to the respective treatment circuits are arranged at different heights and the treatment circuits thus form different treatment levels in the rotor and in the treatment machine, each of the partial streams serves to feed a respective treatment level. The partial streams thus form, in particular, an upper and lower feed or transfer path for the containers to the treatment machine, or an upper and lower feed or transfer stream. The common container stream flowing into the inlet area at the transfer unit is thus divided or split by the transfer unit into the upper and lower feed or transfer streams, i.e. the incoming container stream forks into the upper and lower feed or transfer streams by means of the transfer unit.

[0030] It goes without saying that each individual container only passes through one treatment circuit of the treatment machine. Depending on which of the substreams a particular container is located in, this container is treated either in the first or second treatment circuit, but in each case exclusively in one of the treatment circuits.

[0031] Advantageously, the first transfer device is designed as a transfer star, in particular as a height-adjusting star, wherein the gripping and / or holding elements are arranged distributed around the circumference of the transfer star. According to particularly preferred alternative embodiments, in particular, every second of the gripping and / or holding elements arranged successively in the circumferential direction is arranged so as to be height-adjustable, or in particular, every gripping and / or holding element is arranged so as to be height-adjustable.

[0032] Particularly preferably, the first transfer device is designed and arranged to transfer the containers to the first outer treatment circuit, with a second transfer device also being provided to transfer the containers to the second inner treatment circuit. Alternatively, the first transfer device is designed and arranged to transfer the containers to two further transfer devices of the transfer unit arranged downstream of the first transfer device.

[0033] InIn the preferred configuration, in which all of the gripping and / or holding elements arranged successively in the circumferential direction of the transfer star are height-adjustable, the first transfer device serves, for example, as a transfer star for the direct transfer of the containers to the container receptacles of the outer, upper treatment circuit and can, for example, be used in combination with the second transfer device, for example a conventional transfer star for transferring the containers to the container receptacles of the inner, lower treatment circuit, wherein an upstream container flow is distributed between the two transfer stars or between the first and second transfer device.

[0034] InIn the preferred configuration, in which only every second of the gripping and / or holding elements arranged successively in the circumferential direction of the transfer star is height-adjustable, the first transfer device forms, for example, a distribution star and serves to transfer the containers to the two further transfer devices, for example, essentially conventional transfer stars that differ in their transfer level. The first transfer device, acting as a distribution star, alternately transfers the containers to the transfer stars, which in turn are designed to directly transfer the containers to the respective treatment circuits.

[0035] Particularly preferably, the second and the further transfer devices are each designed as transfer starwheels. In particularly preferred embodiments, one transfer device comprising the second and further transfer devices can be formed by a pitch-delay starwheel. Alternatively or additionally, the transfer unit can also comprise further transfer and / or distribution devices arranged upstream or downstream of the first transfer device. Depending on the design of the device, the transfer unit can thus be composed of several transfer devices, for example, depending on the application and / or the local and spatial conditions within a system.In the different embodiments of the device, the plurality of transfer devices can be variably combined to form the transfer unit with regard to their number, design, configuration and / or relative arrangement to one another.

[0036] Particularly preferably, each of the height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements of the first transfer device is movable between a first height position and a second height position. The first height position is at the same level or substantially at the same level as the first height level of the container receptacles of the first outer treatment circuit, and the second height position is at the same level or substantially at the same level as the second height level of the container receptacles of the second inner treatment circuit. Particularly in embodiments in which the first outer treatment circuit forms the upper treatment circuit and the second inner treatment circuit forms the lower treatment circuit, the first height position defines an upper height position of the height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements, and the second height position correspondingly defines a lower height position of the height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements.

[0037] Preferably, the containers can be lowered and / or raised during transfer by means of the height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements arranged on the first transfer device. The lifting / lowering movement advantageously occurs during ongoing operation during the transport or transfer of the containers, so that the containers experience a height offset during their transfer by means of the lifting / lowering movements of the gripping and / or holding elements.

[0038] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, a parallelogram suspension is provided for each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element of the first transfer device for height-adjustable fastening, and each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element is attached to the first transfer device via a respective parallelogram suspension. The parallelogram suspension can advantageously ensure that the gripping and / or holding elements, in particular the sections or support sections of the gripping and / or holding elements that come into contact with the neck ring of the container, are always oriented horizontally, regardless of their respective height position, whereby the gripping and / or holding elements can always grip and support the containers securely and / or precisely.

[0039] Alternatively, and equally preferably, a lifting rod unit is provided for each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element of the first transfer device for height-adjustable fastening, and each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element is attached to the first transfer device via a respective lifting rod unit. The alternative option of the lifting rod unit also allows for consistently safe and / or precise gripping and carrying of the containers.

[0040] The first transfer device advantageously has a cam track control with a cam track for adjusting the height of the height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements. Particularly preferably, each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element is equipped with a sliding piece that interacts with the cam track or with a roller element that interacts with the cam track. The cam track control enables precise height adjustment in a mechanically and structurally simple manner, in particular precisely coordinated with the rotational movement of a transfer unit designed as a transfer star.

[0041] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the treatment machine is a filling machine whose treatment stations are designed as filling stations for filling the containers with a liquid filling material. Preferably, at least one closing device is also provided downstream of the filling machine. The closing device is particularly preferably designed with at least two rows.

[0042] Furthermore, a blow molding machine, in particular a stretch blow molding machine, is preferably provided in front of the treatment machine for producing the containers from preforms, wherein the transfer unit is arranged between the blow molding machine and the treatment machine.

[0043] Likewise, the treatment machine can preferably be designed as a labeling machine, whose at least two treatment circuits are thus respective labeling circuits. According to particularly preferred embodiments, the labeling machine can be arranged downstream of the blow-molding machine in a processing or transport direction of the containers and, for example, can be interlocked with it. The transfer unit is arranged between the blow-molding machine and the labeling machine. A filling machine, for example, can be provided downstream of the labeling machine, which in turn can be followed by a capper.

[0044] InIn variants with such a dual-circuit labeling machine, it is important to ensure that the height offset between the two labeling circuits is large enough to allow the containers to be accessible at their respective outer container circumferences for (stationary) labeling units. It is conceivable to reduce the existing or maintained height offset between the labeling circuits during the transfer of the containers to the downstream filling machine and / or during their subsequent transport to the closer.

[0045] For example, in the case of a design as a labeling machine with at least two labeling circuits, a floor guide and / or a lateral guide for the containers can be provided at the respective treatment stations, in particular in addition to the container receptacles. The floor guide and / or lateral guide serve to guide and support the containers, in particular during labeling. Container plates, in particular turntables, can be provided as the floor guide, and support or railing elements can be present for laterally supporting the containers. In addition, means can be provided by which the containers are pre-tensioned from the inside with a gas, e.g. compressed air, during labeling in order to prevent deformation of the containers.

[0046] The present invention also provides a method for treating containers using a treatment machine of a rotating design. The treatment machine has at least one rotor with a plurality of treatment stations arranged in multiple rows on the circumference of the rotor and distributed in several treatment circuits. Each of the treatment stations is equipped with a respective associated container receptacle for suspendedly receiving the containers. The rotor has at least one first outer treatment circuit and a second inner treatment circuit arranged coaxially therewith. The container receptacles of the treatment stations of the first outer treatment circuit are arranged at a first height level, and the container receptacles of the treatment stations of the second inner treatment circuit are arranged at a second height level, offset in height therefrom.In the method, the containers are transferred to the treatment circuits of the treatment machine by means of at least one transfer unit with multiple transfer devices. At least some of the containers are gripped and / or held suspended by gripping and / or holding elements arranged at adjustable height on a first transfer device, are vertically offset during the transfer by the first transfer device, and are transferred with a height offset.

[0047] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the figures. They show: Fig. 1 shows a roughly schematic overview of an embodiment of a device for treating containers in plan view; Fig. 2 shows a roughly schematic and highly simplified view of a section of the device in a side view; Figs. 3 to 8 each show various alternative embodiments of the device for treating containers using a roughly schematic overview view in plan view; Figs. 9 to 13 show, by way of example and using highly simplified, partially illustrated views, various embodiments of the first transfer device with height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements.

[0048] Where appropriate, identical reference numerals are used in the figures for identical or equivalently functioning elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. Furthermore, the invention is shown in the figures only as a schematic view to explain its operation. In particular, the representations in the figures serve only to explain the basic principle of the invention.

[0049] Figure 1 shows, by means of a roughly schematic and highly simplified overview representation in plan view, a variant of a device 1 for treating containers B, in particular bottles, such as plastic bottles, in particular PET bottles. The Figure 2 shows a partial and only roughly schematic sketch of an embodiment of the device 1 in a side view.

[0050] The Figures 1 and 2 The device 1 sketched by way of example comprises a rotating treatment machine M with a rotor 2 that can be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis MA or rotates in a direction of rotation R. On the rotor 2 of the treatment machine M, which can also be referred to here as a container treatment machine M, a plurality of treatment stations 5, 6 are provided, which are arranged distributed around the circumference of the rotor in two treatment circuits 3, 4. In the example shown, the rotor 2 comprises a first outer treatment circuit 3 with its treatment stations 5 and a second, inner treatment circuit 4 arranged coaxially thereto with its treatment stations 6.

[0051] As can be seen from the top view of the Figure 1 not recognizable, but in Figure 2As can be seen, the container receptacles 12 of the treatment stations 6 of the second inner treatment circuit 4 are arranged at a height offset from the container receptacles 11 of the treatment stations 5 of the first outer treatment circuit 3. The container receptacles 11 of the first outer treatment circuit 3 are located at a first height level h1 and the container receptacles 12 of the second inner treatment circuit 4 are located at a second height level h2. In the example of Figure 2 the first height level h1 is higher than the second height level h2, so that the outer treatment circuit 3 forms an upper treatment circuit 3 and the inner treatment circuit 4 forms a lower treatment circuit 4. The treatment machine M thus operates in two levels or two treatment levels and can also be referred to as a double-row treatment machine or container treatment machine M.

[0052] Solely for reasons of simplified presentation and clarity, the Figure 1 By way of example, only very few of the multitude of treatment stations 5, 6 of the first and second treatment circuits 3, 4 are shown, each with a container B accommodated. It is understood that this is only a simplified graphic representation, but in reality the treatment stations 5, 6 are provided all around the circumference of the rotor 2 and are evenly distributed over its entire circumference.

[0053] In the example shown, Figure 1The treatment machine M is a filling machine, which can also be referred to as a filler. In the exemplary filler, both treatment circuits 3, 4 are formed by respective filler circuits, whose treatment stations 5, 6 are in turn each designed as filling stations for filling the containers B with a flowable, in particular a liquid, filling material, for example with a beverage, and for this purpose each have a filling element as a treatment element, which can also be referred to as a filling element or filling valve.

[0054] For example, to load the containers B from a (in the Figures 1 and 2not shown) container feed and / or a container treatment device upstream of the treatment machine M and thereby transferring the containers to the treatment circuits 3, 4 arranged at different height levels h1, h2, a transfer unit 7 with several transfer devices 8, 9 is provided in the device 1. In Figure 1 the arrow z should mark the containers B entering or being fed to the transfer unit 7.

[0055] The transfer unit 7, which is essentially to be understood as an arrangement of several interacting transfer devices 8, 9, can in principle have a different number of transfer devices 8, 9 and comprises in the example of Figures 1 and 2a first transfer device 8 and a second transfer device 9, each designed as a transfer star. For illustrative purposes only, the transfer unit 7 is shown in Figure 1 represented by a dashed oval, which is intended only to illustrate that the multiple transfer devices 8, 9 belong to the transfer unit 7. This representation does not indicate the structural and / or geometric design of the transfer unit 7.

[0056] In the example shown, the first transfer device 8 feeds the containers B to the first outer treatment circuit 3 and transfers the containers B accordingly to the container receptacles 11 located at the first height level h1. The second transfer device 9 feeds the containers B to the second inner treatment circuit 4 and transfers the containers B accordingly to the container receptacles 12 located at the second height level h2.

[0057] The first transfer device 8 of the transfer unit 7 is equipped with a plurality of height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements 24 for suspended gripping and / or holding of the containers B. In this way, the containers B can be transferred at a different height during the transfer by means of the first transfer device 8. With reference to the Figures 9 to 13 The height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements 24 are described in more detail below with regard to their structural design and their mode of operation.

[0058] The Figures 3 to 8 show, by way of example, various alternative embodiments of the present device 1. The various embodiments can also be understood as exemplary installation variants according to various alternatives of the device 1.

[0059] All variants or embodiments shown have in common that they each form larger or more complex systems for treating the containers B and each have a double-row filling machine M operating in two levels arranged at a different height as the treatment machine M. The supply of the containers B to be treated or filled to the two treatment circuits 3, 4 of the filling machine M is in each case realized by means of the transfer unit 7 with the several transfer devices 8, 9, 10, 10'.

[0060] In the respective Figures 3 to 8The devices 1 or systems shown are, in particular, container treatment systems in the beverage industry, namely, in particular, beverage processing systems or beverage filling systems. In the exemplary, complex devices 1 or systems, the containers B are treated in a general production direction or process direction by means of various container treatment devices arranged successively in the production direction or process direction and are transported from one container treatment device to the next for the respective treatments.

[0061] The Figures 3 to 8The devices 1 shown, for example, all have a blow molding machine 20, in particular a stretch blow molding machine, for producing the containers B from preforms upstream of the filling machine M, i.e. - viewed in the production direction or process direction - before the filling machine M. In all of the examples shown, at least one closing device 18, 18', 18" or closing machine 18, 18', 18" is provided downstream of the filling machine M. The transfer unit 7 is in all cases arranged downstream of the blow molding machine 20 and upstream of the filling machine M, i.e., with respect to the production or process direction, between the blow molding machine 20 and the filling machine M.

[0062] In the example of Figure 3The transfer of the containers B from the blow molding machine 20 to the filling machine M is realized by an overall arrangement or combination of a total of five interacting transfer, transfer and / or distribution devices 8, 9, 14, 14'. Coming from the blow molding machine 20, the containers B are first transferred in an outlet area of ​​the or takeover point 13 from the blow molding machine 20 to a first transfer and / or distribution device 14' arranged there. The transfer of the containers B by this first transfer and / or distribution device 14' starting from the blow molding machine 20 takes place in the variant shown according to Figure 3 at a transfer or takeover level which corresponds to the lower, second height level h2 of the lower, inner treatment circuit 4 of the filling machine M.

[0063] The first transfer and / or distribution device 14' is in the example of Figure 3designed as a finger star for a division delay, in particular as a division delay star, and transfers the container stream discharged from the blow molding machine 20 into two partial streams, each with a correct division, i.e., with an adapted division, to two downstream transfer and / or distribution devices 14. The two downstream transfer and / or distribution devices 14 are also in turn designed as finger stars for a respective division delay, in particular as division delay stars. The two division delay stars 14 each receive and transfer the containers B at the same level, namely at the level corresponding to the lower, second height level h2 of the lower, inner treatment circuit 4 of the filling machine M.

[0064] The transfer and / or distribution devices 14 of the example according to Figure 3transfer the containers B to the respective downstream first and second transfer devices 8, 9 of the transfer unit 7. The first transfer device 8, designed as a height-adjusting star, is arranged and designed to transfer the containers B to the first outer treatment circuit 3. The second transfer device 9, which can be formed, for example, by a classic, conventional transfer star, is provided to transfer the containers B to the second inner treatment circuit 4. For this purpose, the first and second transfer devices 8, 9 are both arranged in an inlet area 15 of the filling machine M.

[0065] In the first transfer device 8 designed as a height-adjusting star, each of the several gripping and / or holding elements 24 distributed over the circumference of the height-adjusting star (see Figures 9 to 13) is height-adjustable, so that each container B picked up or taken over by the first transfer device 8 is height-adjustable during the transfer and can be transferred at a height-adjusted level. By raising the height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements 24 of the first transfer device 8 from a second height position P2 (in the example shown, this is the lower height position P2) to a first height position P1 (in the example, the upper height position P1 (cf. Figures 9 to 13 ) the containers B are raised during the transfer to a level corresponding to the higher, first height level h1 of the upper, outer treatment circuit 3 of the filling machine M and finally transferred to the container receptacles 11 of the first, outer treatment circuit 3 located at the first height level h1.

[0066] The second transfer device 9 transfers the containers B from the transfer and / or distribution device 14 to the inner treatment circuit 4 of the filling machine M without changing the height of the containers B.

[0067] The containers B supplied to the respective treatment circuits 3, 4 are filled in the two treatment circuits 3, 4 corresponding to the two levels of the filling machine M, namely in the two filler circuits, and transferred in an outlet area 16 of the filling machine M by means of transfer stars 21, 22 arranged there to the closing machine 18, which in the example of the Figure 3is designed as a two-row closing machine 18 with a first outer and a second, inner closing circuit, wherein the closing circuits are also arranged at a height offset from one another. The first, outer closing circuit is arranged essentially at the same level as the first height level h1 of the first treatment circuit 3 of the filling machine M, and the second, inner closing circuit is arranged essentially at the same level as the second height level h2 of the second treatment circuit 4 of the filling machine M.

[0068] The containers B filled in the first, outer treatment circuit or filler circuit 3 are thus fed to the outer closer circuit via the transfer star 21 and sealed there. Analogously, the containers B filled in the second, inner treatment circuit or filler circuit 4 are fed to the inner closer circuit via the transfer star 22 and sealed there. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealed containers B are discharged or ejected from the closing machine 18 via two discharge stars or ejection stars, each of which is assigned to one of the closer circuits. Alternatively, however, it can also be provided here that the discharge or ejection of the sealed containers B takes place without discharge stars or ejection stars, i.e. without discharge stars or ejection stars, by pushing the containers B onto a horizontal conveyor, for example onto a discharge belt.Of course, this alternative is conceivable for each embodiment described here.

[0069] The Figure 4 shows an example of a further, alternative installation or design variant of the present device 1. According to this equally preferred design variant, the transfer of the containers B from the blow molding machine 20 to the filling machine M is realized by an overall arrangement or combination of a total of four cooperating transfer, transfer and / or distribution devices 8, 10, 10', 14. Similar to the variant according to Figure 3The containers B coming from the blow molding machine 20 are first transferred in an outlet area or at a transfer point 13 from the blow molding machine 20 to the transfer and / or distribution device 14 arranged there and also designed as a finger star for a dividing delay, in particular as a dividing delay star. In contrast to Figure 3, however, the transfer and / or distribution device 14 does not divide the container flow leaving the blow molding machine 20 into two partial flows, but transfers all containers B directly to the first transfer device 8 designed as a height delay star, which immediately follows the transfer and / or distribution device 14.

[0070] In this example, the first transfer device 8 is arranged and configured to transfer the containers B to two further transfer devices 10, 10' of the transfer unit 7, which are arranged downstream of the first transfer device 8. For this purpose, in the first transfer device 8, every second of the gripping and / or holding elements 24 arranged successively in the direction of rotation is height-adjustable, so that every second picked-up or accepted container B is height-adjustable during the transfer and can be transferred at a height-adjusted position.

[0071] In this way, every second container B picked up by the first transfer device 8, namely each container B picked up and held by a respective height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element 24, is raised during the rotation of the first transfer device 8 and transferred at this raised level, which corresponds to the higher, first height level h1 of the upper, outer treatment circuit 3 of the filling machine M, to the transfer device 10, whose transfer or takeover and transfer level is the same as the first height level h1. The transfer device 10, which in the example shown is designed as a finger star for a dividing delay, in particular as a dividing delay star, finally transfers the containers B to the container receptacles 11 of the first, outer treatment circuit 3, located at the first height level h1.

[0072] The remaining containers B of the container stream picked up by the first transfer device 8, in particular those containers B picked up and held by the respective non-height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements 25, are transferred without changing their height to the transfer device 10', which is also designed as a dividing delay star, whose transfer or takeover and transfer level is the same as the lower, second height level h2 and which finally transfers the containers B at this height or at this second height level h2 to the lower, inner treatment circuit 4 of the filling machine M.

[0073] According to a Figure 5 In the further, alternative installation or design variant of the present device 1 shown, a total of seven interacting transfer, transfer and / or distribution devices 8, 9, 14, 14', 14" are provided for transferring the containers B from the blow molding machine 20 to the filling machine M.

[0074] As in the variant according to Figure 4 The containers B leaving the blow molding machine 20 are first transferred to the transfer and / or distribution device 14 arranged in the outlet area 13 and designed as a dividing delay star and are successively transferred further via the two downstream transfer and / or distribution devices 14', each designed as a classic transfer star, which follow one another in the basic transport direction and are distributed to two transfer and / or distribution devices 14", each designed as a dividing delay star. The two transfer and / or distribution devices 14" then transfer the containers accordingly to the downstream first and second transfer devices 8, 9, which are analogous to the Figure 3 both are arranged in the inlet area 15 of the filling machine M.

[0075] The height offset, namely the lifting of the containers B to be fed to the outer treatment circuit 3 and their height-offset transfer by means of the first transfer device 8, as well as the level-equal transfer of the containers B from the second transfer device 9 to the inner treatment circuit 4 takes place in a similar manner as above in connection with Figure 3 has already been described. In the example of Figure 5 the transfer and / or distribution device 14' there serves to bridge a route through an airlock 17 provided in the embodiment, and at the same time to reverse the direction of rotation on this path through the airlock 17.

[0076] According to a Figure 6In the further alternative installation or design variant of the present device 1 shown, a total of six interacting transfer, transfer and / or distribution devices 8, 10, 10', 14, 14' are provided for transferring the containers B from the blow molding machine 20 to the filling machine M.

[0077] In contrast to the design variant according to Figure 5 the containers B are transferred from the transfer and / or distribution device 14' designed as a classic transfer star directly to the first transfer device 8 forming the height-delaying star, which distributes the container flow to two downstream transfer devices 10, 10', wherein the first transfer device 8 is again configured for this purpose in such a way that every second of the gripping and / or holding elements 24 following one another in the direction of rotation is height-adjustable (as already described in connection with Figure 4 described).

[0078] In the special embodiment according to Figure 6 However, the entire transfer of the containers B from the blow molding machine 20 to the takeover by the first transfer device 8 takes place at a height or at the transfer or takeover level at the height of the first height level h1 of the upper, outer treatment circuit 3 of the filling machine M. The required height offset for the containers B to be fed to the lower, inner treatment circuit 4 of the filling machine M is therefore carried out by means of the first transfer device 8 by lowering the corresponding containers B during the transfer.

[0079] According to the example of Figure 6Each container B picked up and held by a respective height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element 24 is lowered during rotation and transferred to the transfer device 10' at this lowered level, which corresponds to the lower, second height level h2 of the lower, inner treatment circuit 4 of the filling machine M. The transfer or receiving and transfer level of the transfer device 10' is level with the second height level h2. Those containers B picked up and held by the respective non-height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements 25 are transferred to the transfer device 10 without changing their height, the transfer or receiving and transfer level of the transfer device 10 being level with the upper, first height level h1.

[0080] Figure 7shows a further, alternative installation or design variant of the present device 1, in which a labeling device 19 is provided between the blow molding machine 20 and the filling machine M. In this design variant, in addition to the labeling device 19 designed as a carousel, a total of twelve interacting transfer, transfer, and / or distribution devices 8, 10, 10', 14, 14', 14" are provided for transferring the containers B from the blow molding machine 20 to the filling machine M.

[0081] Here, the containers B leaving the blow molding machine 20 are fed to the labeling device 19 via the transfer, transfer and / or distribution devices 14, 14' and two further transfer stars and are removed from the labeling device 19 again by means of two transfer stars and a second transfer, transfer and / or distribution device 14' and transferred to the first transfer device 8 designed for height offset.

[0082] The first transfer device 8 of the example of Figure 7 is analogous to the first transfer device 8 of the embodiment of the Figure 4 designed and only shifts the height of every second container B of the incoming container flow. The first transfer device 8 thus lifts every second container B to the higher height level h1 and transfers the lifted containers B to the upper, outer treatment circuit 3 via the transfer, transfer and / or distribution devices 14", 10, which transfer to this higher height level h1. The remaining containers B are fed to the lower, inner treatment circuit 4 via the transfer, transfer and / or distribution devices 14", 10'. Since the two transfer, transfer and / or distribution devices 10, 10' in the example of Figure 7are designed as classic transfer stars, in the inlet area 15 of the filling machine M there are only classic transfer stars without special functions, i.e. the device 1 can do without "special stars" in direct interaction with the filling machine M.

[0083] The Figure 7 The embodiment shown is of course also conceivable without the integration of the labelling device 19, in which case the total number of transfer, transfer and / or distribution devices 8, 10, 10', 14, 14', 14" is smaller, but their basic relative arrangement to one another can essentially be retained. For example, a single transfer star can be used here to combine the arrangement of the devices shown in Figure 7to replace the stars marked 14' with the intermediate stars and the labeling device 19. Advantageously, in this embodiment, only classic transfer stars 10, 10' are arranged directly on the filling machine M.

[0084] The Figure 8 Finally, Figure 1 shows a further alternative embodiment of the present device 1, in which a labeling device 19 is also integrated. As a special feature of the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 8It should be noted that the first transfer device 8 is arranged entirely within the airlock 17 provided in the embodiment and receives the containers B directly from the carousel of the labeling device 19 in order to transfer them to two transfer, transfer and / or distribution devices 10, 10'. In this embodiment, the height offset is again achieved by means of the transfer device 8 by raising every second container B to the higher first height level h1, which also corresponds to the transfer level of the transfer, transfer and / or distribution device 10, so that the containers can be transferred from the transfer, transfer and / or distribution device 10 to the outer treatment circuit 3 of the filling machine M.

[0085] In contrast to all the previously described embodiments, the variant of the Figure 8Furthermore, two closing devices 18', 18" are connected to the filling machine. Each of the closing devices 18', 18" is designed as a single-row closing device 18', 18" with only one closing circuit, wherein the closing device 18' for closing the containers B at the first height level h1 takes over the containers B from the outer treatment circuit 3 of the filling machine M and wherein the closing device 18" for closing the containers B at the second height level h2 takes over the containers B from the inner treatment circuit 4 of the filling machine M.

[0086] It goes without saying that the configuration with two separate, essentially independent, closing devices 18', 18" is not limited to the specific embodiment according to Figure 8 , but also for all the other described variants is conceivable and possible.

[0087] For all the above-described design variants according to the Figures 3 to 8 These are, in particular, interlocked devices 1 or systems in which, in particular, the filling machine M is interlocked with the respective upstream or downstream container treatment devices 19, 20 and / or closing devices 18, 18', 18". The device 1 can therefore be designed, in particular, as a stretch blow-molding filling block or as a stretch blow-molding labelling filling block, wherein in each case the closing device 18 can also optionally be interlocked.

[0088] If necessary, the airlock 17 - as it Figures 5 to 8 show - also be provided in each embodiment in the respective block. The airlock 17 ensures, in particular by means of a targeted air flow, that the "dry" area (blow molding machine 20) is reliably separated from the "wet" area (filling machine M).

[0089] With reference to the Figures 9 to 13 various configurations of the first transfer devices 8, each designed as a height offset star 8 in the examples shown, are illustrated. In particular, the height offset realized via the first transfer device 8 is also explained. Figures 9 to 13 show only roughly schematic and only partial views of the respective first transfer devices 8, whereby in Figure 9 (in sections A to C) and in the Figures 11 to 13 (in sections A and B) different operating and / or rotational positions are shown to illustrate the height offset.

[0090] It is understood that the Figures 9 to 13The variants of the height adjustment star 8 shown represent only individual, exemplary examples of simple designs. Naturally, the design of the height adjustment star 8 and the resulting height change are not limited to the examples shown in the figures. Rather, other alternative designs and modes of operation of the height adjustment star 8 are conceivable without departing from the present inventive concept.

[0091] For the variants illustrated by way of example in the figures, it equally applies that all gripping and / or holding elements 24, 25 of the first transfer device 8 are formed by container grippers or container clamps, which are designed to hold and support the containers B by their neck ring 23 and thus form so-called neck ring holders for neck handling of bottles, in particular PET bottles. Furthermore, it equally applies to all illustrated variants that each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element 24 is movable between a first, in particular upper, height position P1 and a second, in particular lower, height position P2.For example, the upper height position P1 is arranged at the same level or substantially at the same level as the first height level h1 of the container receptacles 11 of the first outer treatment circuit 3 of the treatment machine M of the present device 1, and the lower height position P2 can be at the same level or substantially at the same level as the second height level h2 of the container receptacles 12 of the second inner treatment circuit 4. The height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements 24 can be moved between the upper and lower height positions P1, P2 during the rotation or during the rotational movement of the height-adjusting star wheel 8, in order to lower or raise the containers B in the operating mode during their transfer.

[0092] The Figure 9shows a first example of a height-adjustable star 8 according to a variant in which only every second of the gripping and / or holding elements 24, 25 arranged successively in the circumferential direction is arranged in a height-adjustable manner, namely forming a height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element 24. In this variant, a height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element 24 and a gripping and / or holding element 25 arranged rigidly with respect to the height arrangement are arranged alternately over the circumference of the height-adjustable star 8. For the height-adjustable fastening of the height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements 24, in the exemplary height-adjustable star 8 according to Figure 9 respective parallelogram suspensions 26 are provided, wherein each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element 24 is fastened to the first transfer device 8 designed as a height-adjusting star 8 via a respective associated parallelogram suspension 26.

[0093] For height adjustment, the height-adjusting star 8 further comprises a cam track control 27 with a cam track 28. The height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements 24, in particular the respective associated parallelogram suspensions 26, are each equipped with a sliding piece 29 that interacts with the cam track 28 in a corresponding manner and can be designed, for example, as a fork piece, which engages around the cam track 28, wherein the cam track 28 itself preferably has a round, in particular circular, cross-section.

[0094] The lifting / lowering movement of the gripping and / or holding elements 24 causing the height offset thus takes place during the rotation of the height offset star 8 by means of the cam track control 27. During the level change between the upper height position P1 (see section B of the Figure 9 ) and the lower height position P2 (see section C of the Figure 9) each of the gripping and / or holding elements 24 passes over a section A of the Figure 9 shown middle position. In the example shown the Figure 9 the upper height position P1 is at the same height level as the rigidly arranged gripping and / or holding elements 25. In this embodiment, in particular the containers can be taken over in the upper height position P1 and the containers B can be transferred in the lower height position P2.

[0095] By means of the parallelogram suspensions 26, it can advantageously be ensured that the gripping and / or holding elements 24, in particular the sections or support sections of the gripping and / or holding elements 24 resting on the neck ring 23 of the containers B, are always aligned in a horizontal direction, in particular horizontally, regardless of the height or height position, whereby the containers B can always be gripped securely.

[0096] The Figures 10 to 13show further design variants of the height offset star 8. In the example of the Figure 10 is in contrast to the one in Figure 9 In the embodiment described, each of the gripping and / or holding elements 24 arranged successively in the circumferential direction is height-adjustable and is fastened via a respective parallelogram suspension 26, so that all gripping and / or holding elements 24 can be moved, in particular raised or lowered, between the upper and lower height positions P1, P2 during the rotation of the height-adjusting star 8 by means of the cam track control 27 via the lifting / lowering movement.

[0097] In the example of Figure 11 is - similar to the variant of the Figure 9 - every second of the gripping and / or holding elements 24, 25 arranged in succession in the circumferential direction is arranged so as to be height-adjustable, whereby, in contrast to the example of the Figure 9the lower height position P2 is at the same height level as the rigidly arranged gripping and / or holding elements 25. In this embodiment, in particular the containers can be taken over in the lower height position P2 and the containers B can be transferred in the upper height position P1.

[0098] The design variant according to Figure 12 shows a further example in which the height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements 24 or the associated parallelogram suspensions 26 are each equipped with a roller element 30 cooperating with the curved track 28. Finally, the Figure 13a yet further alternative embodiment variant in which a lifting rod unit 32 is provided for each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element 24 for height-adjustable fastening, which lifting rod unit 32 also cooperates correspondingly with the curved track 28 for changing the height of the gripping and / or holding elements 24, wherein for this purpose in particular roller elements 31 are provided on the lifting rod unit 32, which roll on the curved track 28.

[0099] The invention has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments and figures. It is understood that numerous modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. As an alternative to the described examples, further embodiments are conceivable that are not illustrated in the figures and / or not described in the examples.

[0100] For example, numerous and diverse possibilities for generating the height offset are conceivable. For example, it is possible for the height-adjustment star 8 to be equipped with one or more pneumatically or electronically driven and / or assisted lifting devices for the height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements 24. In such embodiments, which function, for example, in the manner of a pre-tensioned pneumatic spring, the height offset or strokes of the gripping and / or holding elements 24 can be carried out more quickly and end positions can be reached more precisely via fixed stops. It would also be conceivable to achieve safe and precise reaching of upper and lower end positions with the aid of magnets. List of reference symbols

[0101] 1Device 2Rotor 3, 4Treatment circuits 5, 6Treatment stations 7Transfer unit 8First transfer device 9Second transfer device 10, 10'Further transfer devices 11, 12Container holder 13Discharge area; Transfer point 14, 14', 14"Transfer and / or distribution devices 15Inlet area 16Outlet area 17Airlock 18, 18', 18"Closing device, closing machine 19Labeling device 20Blow molding machine 21, 22Transfer starwheels 23Neck ring 24Height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element 25Gripping and / or holding elements 26Parallelogram suspension 27Curved track control 28Curved track 29Sliding piece 30Roller element 31Roller element 32Lifting rod unit BBinister h1first height level h2second height level Mtreatment machine MAmachine axis P1first height position P2second height position RDirection of rotation zincoming or supplied containers

Claims

1. Device (1) for treating containers (B), comprising at least one treatment machine (M) of rotating design with at least one rotor (2) which can be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis (MA) and with a plurality of treatment stations (5, 6) arranged in multiple rows on the circumference of the rotor (2) in a plurality of treatment circuits (3, 4), each of the treatment stations (5, 6) being equipped with a respective associated container holder (11, 12) for receiving the containers in a suspended manner, the rotor (2) having at least one first outer treatment circuit (3) and a second inner treatment circuit (4) arranged coaxially thereto,wherein the container receptacles (11) of the treatment stations (5) of the first outer treatment circuit (3) are arranged at a first height level (h1), and wherein the container receptacles (12) of the treatment stations (6) of the second inner treatment circuit (4) are arranged at a second height level (h2) at a height offset therefrom, wherein the device (1) has at least one transfer unit (7) with a plurality of transfer devices (8, 9, 10, 10') for transferring the containers (B) to the treatment circuits (3, 4), wherein at least one first transfer device (8) of the transfer unit (7) is equipped with a plurality of gripping and / or holding elements (24, 25) for gripping and / or holding the containers (B) in a suspended manner, and at least some of the gripping and / or holding elements (24) of the first transfer device (8) are arranged on the first transfer device (8) in a height-adjustable manner, such thatthat at least some of the containers (B) are height-adjustable during the transfer and can be transferred at a different height., 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first height level (h1) of the container receptacles (11) of the first outer treatment circuit (3) is higher than the second height level (h2) of the container receptacles (12) of the second inner treatment circuit (4), such that the first outer treatment circuit (3) of the treatment machine (M) forms an upper treatment circuit (3) and the second inner treatment circuit (4) of the treatment machine (M) forms a lower treatment circuit (4).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe container receptacles (11, 12) of the treatment stations (5, 6) are formed by respective container supports, in particular designed as container grippers or container clamps, or by respective pocket-shaped recesses of at least one support ring, and that the gripping and / or holding elements (24, 25) of the first transfer device (8) are formed by container grippers or container clamps, wherein both the container receptacles (11, 12) and the gripping and / or holding elements (24, 25) are designed to hold a neck section of the containers (B), in particular to hold the containers (B) on their neck ring (23).

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe transfer unit (7) is designed to distribute the containers arriving as a container stream at the transfer unit (7) into at least two partial streams, wherein the transfer unit (7) feeds the respective containers of one of the partial streams to the first outer treatment circuit (3) and, at a height offset therefrom, feeds the respective containers of the other partial stream to the second inner treatment circuit (4), wherein the respective containers of each partial stream pass through exactly one respective treatment circuit (3, 4).

5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe first transfer device (8) is designed as a transfer star, in particular as a height-adjusting star, wherein the gripping and / or holding elements (24, 25) are arranged distributed on the circumference of the transfer star and wherein in particular every second of the gripping and / or holding elements (24) following one another in the circumferential direction is arranged so as to be height-adjustable or wherein in particular each gripping and / or holding element (24) is arranged so as to be height-adjustable.

6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe first transfer device (8) is designed and arranged to transfer the containers (B) to the first outer treatment circuit (3), wherein a second transfer device (9) is also provided to transfer the containers (B) to the second inner treatment circuit (4), or that the first transfer device (8) is designed and arranged to transfer the containers (B) to two further transfer devices (10, 10') of the transfer unit (7) arranged downstream of the first transfer device (8).

7. Device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the second and the further transfer devices (9, 10, 10') are each designed as transfer stars.

8. Device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in thatat least one of the second and further transfer devices (9, 10, 10') is formed by a dividing delay star and / or that the transfer unit (7) comprises further transfer and / or distribution devices (14, 14') which are arranged upstream or downstream of the first transfer device (8).

9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element (24) of the first transfer device (8) is movable between a first height position (P1) and a second height position (P2), wherein the first height position (P1) is at the same level or substantially at the same level as the first height level (h1) of the container receptacles (11) of the first outer treatment circuit (3) and wherein the second height position (P2) is at the same level or substantially at the same level as the second height level (h2) of the container receptacles (12) of the second inner treatment circuit (4).

10. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the containers (B) can be lowered or raised during the transfer by means of the gripping and / or holding elements (24) arranged at a variable height on the first transfer device (8).

11. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element (24) of the first transfer device (8), a parallelogram suspension (26) is provided for height-adjustable fastening, and in that each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element (24) is fastened to the first transfer device (8) via a respective parallelogram suspension (26).

12. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 10, characterized in thatfor each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element (24) of the first transfer device (8), a lifting rod unit (32) is provided for height-adjustable fastening, and in that each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element (24) is fastened to the first transfer device (8) via a respective lifting rod unit (32).

13. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first transfer device (8) has a curved path control (27) with a curved path (28) for changing the height of the height-adjustable gripping and / or holding elements (24).

14. Device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that each height-adjustable gripping and / or holding element (24) is equipped with a sliding piece (29) cooperating correspondingly with the curved track (28) or with a roller element (30, 31) cooperating correspondingly with the curved track (28).

15. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the treatment machine (M) is a filling machine whose treatment stations (5, 6) are designed as filling stations for filling the containers (B) with a liquid filling material, wherein preferably at least one closing device (18, 18', 18") is provided downstream of the filling machine, wherein the closing device (18) is designed in particular in at least two rows.

16. Device (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that Furthermore, a blow molding machine (20), in particular a stretch blow molding machine, is provided in front of the treatment machine (M) for producing the containers from preforms, wherein the transfer unit (7) is arranged between the blow molding machine (20) and the treatment machine (M).

17. A method for treating containers (B) by means of a treatment machine (M) of rotating design with at least one rotor (2) which can be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis (MA) and which has a plurality of treatment stations (5, 6) arranged in multiple rows on the circumference of the rotor (2) in a plurality of treatment circuits (3, 4), each of the treatment stations (5, 6) being equipped with a respective associated container receptacle (11, 12) for receiving the containers in a suspended manner, the rotor (2) having at least one first outer treatment circuit (3) and a second inner treatment circuit (4) arranged coaxially thereto, the container receptacles (11) of the treatment stations (5) of the first outer treatment circuit (3) being arranged at a first height level (h1) and the container receptacles (12) of the treatment stations (6) of the second inner treatment circuit (4) being arranged at a second height level (h2) at a different height.wherein the containers are transferred in the method by means of at least one transfer unit (7) with a plurality of transfer devices (8, 9, 10, 10') to the treatment circuits (3, 4) of the treatment machine (M), wherein at least some of the containers (B) are gripped and / or held suspended by gripping and / or holding elements (24) arranged at a variable height on a first transfer device (8) and are offset in height and transferred with a height offset during the transfer by means of the first transfer device (8).

18. Method according to claim 17, characterized in thatthe containers arriving as a container stream at the transfer unit (7) are distributed into at least two partial streams, wherein the respective containers of one of the partial streams are fed to the first outer treatment circuit (3) by means of the transfer unit (7), wherein, at a height offset therefrom, the respective containers of the other partial stream are fed to the second inner treatment circuit (4) by means of the transfer unit (7), and wherein each container is treated in exactly one of the respective treatment circuits (3, 4) and, in particular, is conveyed out of the treatment machine (M) after the treatment in exactly one treatment circuit (3, 4).

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