Transport device for containers

An apparatus comprising a transport device for transporting a container, said transport device comprising a star wheel, a drive, bearings, a column, a machine frame, a plurality of receptacles, a plurality of first flanks, a plurality of second flanks, a first star wheel element, a second star wheel element, and a function element set, wherein said drive drives said star wheel about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by said star wheel, wherein said star wheel is mounted on said bearings within said column, wherein said column is part of said machine frame, wherein said plurality of receptacles is disposed circumferentially about said star wheel, wherein at least a portion of said column is hollow, wherein said at least a portion of said column defines a first space and a second space, wherein said first space is inside said at least a portion of said column, wherein said second space is outside said at least a portion of said column, wherein each receptacle comprises one of said first flanks and one of said second flanks, wherein said first flanks lead in relation to a rotation direction of said star wheel, wherein said second flanks trail in relation to said rotation direction of said star wheel, wherein at least a portion of said second flank forms one of said receptacles from said plurality of receptacles, wherein each of said receptacles from said plurality of receptacles receives said container to be transported, wherein said star wheel comprises said first and second star wheel elements, wherein said plurality of first flanks is formed by said first star wheel element, wherein said plurality of second flanks is formed by said second star wheel element, wherein said first and second star wheel elements are adjustable about said axis perpendicular to said star wheel to define an angular offset between said first and second star wheel elements, wherein, during transport of said container, said drive rotates said first and second star wheel elements synchronously in a common direction while maintaining said angular offset, wherein said function element set comprises one or more function elements necessary for at least one of setting said angular offset and maintaining said angular offset, wherein said one or more function elements is disposed entirely within said first space, and wherein, as a result, said column protects said one or more function elements from said second space.