Receptacle conveying and cooling apparatus, a method of operating such a receptacle conveying and cooling apparatus and a receptacle treatment machine having such a receptacle conveying and cooling apparatus

An apparatus for conveying and cooling a plurality of receptacles, the apparatus comprising:

• a conveying device configured to advance the receptacles along a conveying path from a receiving station to a transfer station, wherein the conveying device includes a plurality of retaining units, each retaining unit configured to retain at least one respective receptacle during advancement of the respective receptacle along the conveying path;
• and
• a cooling device configured to cool the receptacles, wherein the cooling device includes a supply unit for supplying a cooling medium and a plurality of injection nozzles configured to direct the cooling medium onto the receptacles for cooling the receptacles during advancement of the receptacles along at least a portion of the conveying path, and wherein:
• each injection nozzle is associated with at least one respective retaining unit;
• the injection nozzles are movable along a nozzle path at least partially parallel to the conveying path and through the receiving station and the transfer station;
• the cooling device further includes a plurality of valve members, each valve member being associated with at least one respective injection nozzle and being adjustable between an open configuration, in which the valve member is configured to open the fluid connection between the supply unit and the respective injection nozzle, and a closed configuration, in which the valve member is configured to close the fluid connection between the supply unit and the respective injection nozzle;
• a control unit configured to control operation of the conveying device and the cooling device,
• wherein the control unit is configured to selectively control each valve member between the open configuration and the closed configuration during advancement of the injection nozzles between the receiving station and the transfer station.