Method and device for handling containers

A device for performing a method for treating containers of type A and containers of type B with at least two container treatment machines, the device comprising:

• a first and a second container treatment machine,
• a transport device between said first and said second container treatment machines, wherein
• a separating device between said first and said second container treatment machines, wherein the separating device, upon activation, separates a flow of containers into a first and a second transport section such that said containers of type A back up upstream of said separating device, where said first transport section adjoins said second transport section in a direction of transport,
• a control device which is configured to activate said separating device between the first and a second transport section when there is a changeover from said containers of type A to said containers of type B, if no containers of type A are disposed on said first transport section, such that
• said first transport section is already fed said containers of type B while at the same time said containers of type A are conveyed out of said second transport section without said containers of type A and B being mixed, and
• said control device is configured to deactivate said separating device so that said backed-up and following said containers of type B is transported through said second transport section in a direction toward said second container treatment machine, wherein a heating or cooling device is arranged between said first and second container treatment machines and a separating device is arranged upstream of said heating or cooling device and/or downstream of said heating or cooling device.

A method for treating containers with at least two container treatment machines, between which a transport device for transporting said containers is arranged, wherein the method comprises:

• when changing containers of type A to containers of type B,
• a separating device is activated between said first and said second container treatment machines which separates a flow of containers into a first and a second transport section after said first transport section has run empty of said containers of type A, where said first transport section adjoins said second transport section,
• said containers of type B are conveyed already in said first transport section and backed up upstream of said separating device, while said containers of type A are conveyed out of said second transport section to said second container treatment machine, and thereafter
• said separating device between said first and said second transport sections is deactivated in such a way that said backed-up and following said containers of type B are transported through said second transport section to said second container treatment machine, wherein an activated separating device is not deactivated when a control device receives a malfunction signal of said container treatment machine arranged downstream of said separating device or of a conveyor arranged downstream.