Clamp device and method for transporting a container

A transport device for containers, comprising:

• a clamp star rotatable about a rotation axis and having a plurality of clamp devices, each one of the plurality of clamp devices including:
• a first clamp arm pair and a second clamp arm pair, which are arranged one above the other for the simultaneous holding of a container and which are pivotable independently of each other, wherein the first clamp arm pair and the second clamp arm pair are coaxially pivotable independently of each other about a common pivot axis of the respective clamp device, each clamp device having its own common pivot axis, which runs spaced apart from the rotation axis, the first clamp arm pair and the second clamp arm pair being clamp arm pairs;
• at least one pivot pin attached to the clamp arm pairs, the at least one pivot pin extending coaxially along the common pivot axis;
• a first actuating device, which is operatively connected to the first clamp arm pair to bring about the pivoting of the first clamp arm pair;
• and
• a second actuating device, which is operatively connected to the second clamp arm pair to bring about the pivoting of the second clamp arm pair, wherein the first actuating device and the second actuating device are decoupled from each other.

A method for transporting containers via a plurality of clamp devices of a clamp star rotatable about a rotation axis, the plurality of clamp devices each including a first clamp arm pair and a second clamp arm pair that are arranged one above the other for the simultaneous holding of the container and which are pivotable independently of each other, wherein the first clamp arm pair and the second clamp arm pair are coaxially pivotable independently of each other about a common pivot axis of the respective clamp device, each clamp device having its own common pivot axis, which runs spaced apart from the rotation axis, the first clamp arm pair and the second clamp arm pair being clamp arm pairs, at least one pivot pin attached to the clamp arm pairs, the at least one pivot pin extending coaxially along the common pivot axis, a first actuating device that is operatively connected to the first clamp arm pair to bring about the pivoting of the first clamp arm pair, and a second actuating device that is operatively connected to the second clamp arm pair to bring about the pivoting of the second clamp arm pair, wherein the first actuating device and the second actuating device are decoupled from each other,

• wherein the container has a first outer circumferential section and a second outer circumferential section which are offset from one another with respect to a vertical axis of the container and which differ from one another in size and/or shape,
• wherein the method comprises:
• mutually independent pivoting of the first clamp arm pair and the second clamp arm pair, which are arranged one above the other, about the common axis of the respective clamp device until the first clamp arm pair comes to bear against the first outer circumferential section and the second clamp arm pair comes to bear against the second outer circumferential section, with the result that the container is held simultaneously by the first clamp arm pair and the second clamp arm pair.

A clamp device for holding a container for a container processing plant, comprising:

• a first clamp arm pair and a second clamp arm pair, which are arranged one above the other for the simultaneous holding of the container and which are pivotable independently of each other, wherein the first clamp arm pair and the second clamp arm pair are configured to pivot independently of one another in such a way that:
• a pivoting in of the first clamp arm pair brought about by preloading is continued until said pair is resting against the container, regardless of whether a pivoting in of the second clamp arm pair brought about by preloading is already ending owing to said pair resting against the container, and
• a pivoting open of the first clamp arm pair brought about via actuation takes place in a manner decoupled from a pivoting open of the second clamp arm pair brought about via the actuation;
• an actuating device having a transmission element;
• a first preloading element, which preloads the first clamp arm pair for closing;
• and
• a second preloading element, which preloads the second clamp arm pair for closing,
• wherein the first preloading element and the second preloading element are helical springs, at least one of the first preloading element and the second preloading element is supported on the transmission element of the actuating device of the clamp device, and the transmission element extends through a respective one of the first preloading element and the second preloading element.